6 Prologue P.6

As the dust settled and victory hung in the air, Boruto's voice crackled over the radio, urgency lacing his words as he called out to Sarada.

Sarada met Boruto's gaze, determination etched in her expression as she nodded firmly. "Got it. I'm on my way," she affirmed, her voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them.

With swift, purposeful strides, Sarada moved towards the enemy team's flag, her mind sharp and her senses keen as she dissected the illusion shrouding its true location.

With a surge of clarity, Sarada pierced through the genjutsu, her Sharingan ablaze with determination as she seized the flag, victory within her grasp.

As jubilation swept through the team, Sarada's stern words cut through the celebration, her concern evident in the furrow of her brow.

Sarada: "You should be happy, Boruto! We won!"

Boruto, caught off guard by Sarada's blunt admonition, struggled to find the right words, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Boruto met Sarada's gaze, his expression sheepish. "I...I am happy, Sarada. It's just..."

Before Boruto could articulate his thoughts, Sarada stepped closer, her tone teasing as she remarked on the vivid hue of his eyes.

"Sarada: Your eyes are bluer than Naruto's, you know."

Mitsuki, always the mediator, interjected with a light-hearted tone, diffusing the tension with his easygoing demeanor.

Mitsuki grinned at the duo. "Come on, you two. Let's focus on the next round."

Meanwhile, Naruto, his heart pounding with anticipation, awaited news of the second round, his anxiety palpable as Shikamaru delivered the long-awaited verdict.

Shikamaru's words cut through the tension, delivering the news they had all been waiting for.

"Shikamaru: Boruto passed, Naruto. He did it."

Naruto's eyes lit up with pride and relief, his faith in Boruto reaffirmed in the wake of their victory.

Naruto beamed. "That's my son. I knew he could do it."

...

As the day drew to a close, Sasuke made his way to Naruto's office, a sense of urgency tugging at his heart. Upon arrival, he wasted no time in addressing the matter at hand.

"Sasuke: Naruto, is the scroll deciphered?"

Naruto, his brow furrowed in concentration, nodded solemnly. "It won't be long now, Sasuke. We're making progress."

The weight of their conversation lingered in the air, unspoken truths hanging between them like a veil of shadows.

Naruto's gaze softened as he broached a more personal topic. "I heard from Konohamaru that you're training Boruto," he remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness masked by stoicism.

A fleeting moment of understanding passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of the sacrifices they had both made in the name of duty and honor.

Sasuke nodded, his expression unreadable as he absorbed Naruto's words. "You're right, Naruto. The nature of a shinobi never changes."

With a curt nod of farewell, Sasuke took his leave, the weight of their conversation heavy on his shoulders as he disappeared into the shadows of the night.

Later that evening, as the gentle glow of twilight enveloped the village, Naruto made his way home, his heart heavy with unspoken truths and unresolved emotions.

Entering Boruto's room, Naruto's gaze softened as he beheld his son, a swell of pride and affection swelling within him.

"Boruto," he began, his voice filled with warmth and pride, "I just wanted to say how proud I am of you. You did great today."

Boruto's eyes widened in surprise, his heart swelling with emotion at his father's words. A soft smile graced his lips as he soaked in the warmth of Naruto's praise.

With a gentle gesture, Naruto initiated a fist bump, a silent affirmation of their bond forged in the fires of adversity.

But as Naruto turned to leave, Boruto's smile faltered, a pang of guilt gnawing at his heart as he concealed the truth behind his father's unwavering pride.

It's fine, he'll be even happier when we win and then it won't matter.

Alone once more, Boruto's excitement bubbled to the surface, his heart light with the knowledge that his father believed in him, even if the truth remained hidden in the shadows of his insecurities.

As the night stretched on, Boruto drifted into slumber, his dreams filled with visions of a future where father and son stood side by side, bound by love and the unbreakable bonds of family.

...

Amidst the grandeur of the arena, Boruto faced off against Yurui, his opponent from the Village Hidden in the Clouds.

The air crackled with anticipation as they squared off, determination etched into every line of Boruto's face.

Yurui's technique was as dazzling as it was dangerous. Explosive bubbles burst forth from his palms, shimmering in the sunlight like iridescent orbs of destruction.

Boruto's eyes narrowed, his focus unwavering as he prepared to meet the onslaught head-on.

"You think those bubbles can stop me?" Boruto taunted, his voice ringing out with confidence.

Yurui smirked, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Guess you'll just have to find out, won't you?"

With a flourish of his hand, Yurui sent a barrage of bubbles hurtling towards Boruto, each one a miniature explosion waiting to happen.

Boruto leaped and dodged, his movements fluid and precise as he danced between the shimmering orbs.

But Yurui was relentless, his attacks coming faster and fiercer with each passing moment. Boruto gritted his teeth, his muscles straining against the relentless onslaught.

"Impressive, but not impressive enough," Boruto muttered under his breath, his determination fueling his every move.

With a swift motion, Boruto activated his scientific Ninja Tool Kote, channeling his chakra into a powerful Water Style: Waterfall Jutsu. A torrent of water cascaded forth, crashing against the explosive bubbles with unyielding force.

The arena erupted into a symphony of chaos and destruction, water and explosions colliding in a dazzling display of power and skill.

Boruto's resolve never wavered, his focus laser-sharp as he pressed forward, his eyes locked on his elusive opponent.

Yurui faltered, his defenses crumbling beneath the relentless assault. With a swift motion, Boruto closed the distance between them, his movements a blur of speed and precision.

"It's over, Yurui," Boruto declared, his voice ringing out with quiet determination.

Yurui's eyes widened in disbelief, the realization dawning upon him as Boruto's hold tightened around him. With a resigned sigh, Yurui conceded defeat, his pride tempered by the undeniable strength of his opponent.

As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, Boruto stood victorious, his victory a testament to his skill and determination.

And amidst the cheers of the crowd, he allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction, knowing that he had emerged triumphant in the face of adversity.

As the battle raged on in the arena, Naruto's keen senses picked up on a disturbance in the air, a faint whisper of deception that sent a shiver down his spine. Sensing something amiss, he turned to Hinata, his eyes pleading for her assistance.

"Hinata, can you use your Byakugan? Something doesn't feel right," Naruto implored, his voice tinged with urgency.

With a nod of understanding, Hinata closed her eyes in concentration, her Byakugan piercing through the veil of deception to reveal the truth hidden beneath.

In the stands, Sasuke's heart sank as he watched the scene unfold before him. With the scroll deciphered, time was of the essence, and he knew he had to warn Naruto before it was too late.

Racing against the ticking clock, Sasuke made his way to Naruto's side, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he relayed the urgency of the situation.

Meanwhile, Naruto's heart sank as he beheld the truth laid bare before him. His son, Boruto, had resorted to cheating, a betrayal of everything Naruto had worked so hard to instill in him.

With a heavy heart, Naruto approached Boruto, his expression a mix of disappointment and determination. Shikadai, the rightful winner, stood before him, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sympathy and regret.

"Boruto," Naruto's voice was heavy with emotion, his disappointment palpable in the air, "I'm sorry, but I have to disqualify you." he took Boruto's headband, disqualifying him as a genin.

Boruto's world shattered around him, his heart heavy with the weight of his father's judgment. In a fit of rage and frustration, he lashed out, his words a bitter reflection of his inner turmoil.

"When do you ever have time to lecture me, huh?" Boruto's voice cracked with emotion, his anger boiling over as he unleashed the pent-up frustrations of a lifetime.

As the tumultuous scene unfolded in the arena above, down on the ground floor, bathed in the gentle glow of the sun, Kurou stood, a solitary figure amidst the sea of faces.

His gaze lifted skyward, drawn by the commotion echoing from above, his expression a mask of quiet contemplation.

To the casual observer, Kurou appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary genin, his presence blending seamlessly into the backdrop of the bustling arena.

He was part of a normal genin team, his achievements, like his existence, unremarkable in the eyes of those around him.

But it was not yet time, for my splendid appearance.

Amidst the chaos that erupted in the arena, the once jubilant atmosphere turned to one of fear and uncertainty.

The two enigmatic shinobi, whose presence had loomed ominously on the fringes of the village, now descended upon the arena with a fury born of ancient grudges and forgotten vendettas.

Naruto, ever the protector, sought to usher Boruto to safety amidst the maelstrom of violence and destruction. But fate, it seemed, had other plans, as the relentless onslaught of Momoshiki and his malevolent counterpart, Kinshiki, bore down upon them with relentless force.

"Dad, we need to get out of here!" Boruto's voice trembled with fear as he clung to his father's side, the chaos swirling around them like a tempest of darkness.

"We'll make it, Boruto. Just stay close to me," Naruto's voice was a pillar of strength amidst the storm, his eyes burning with determination.

Amid the chaos, Sasuke, ever the stalwart defender, leaped into action, his movements a blur of speed and precision as he shielded Sarada from the falling debris that threatened to engulf them.

"Sarada, stay behind me!" Sasuke's voice cut through the chaos, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume them.

But even the indomitable spirit of the Uchiha was not enough to withstand the full force of Kinshiki's wrath, as the towering figure bore down upon him with the fury of a raging storm.

"Dad!" Sarada's voice rang out with fear and desperation as she watched her father's valiant struggle against overwhelming odds.

Meanwhile, Boruto, his heart racing with fear and uncertainty, sought to stand against the tide of darkness that threatened to engulf them. With his Kote in hand, he unleashed a barrage of attacks against Momoshiki, each one more desperate than the last.

"Take this!" Boruto's voice shook with determination as he unleashed his arsenal against their formidable foe, his eyes burning with a fierce resolve.

But against the might of Momoshiki's Rinnegan, Boruto's efforts proved futile, his attacks absorbed by the swirling vortex of power that emanated from his adversary's gaze.

At that moment, Boruto stood a lone figure in the face of overwhelming adversity, his courage waning in the face of insurmountable odds.

As Naruto grabbed his son, his heart pounded with a mixture of fear and determination.

Beside him, Shikamaru attempted to restrain the two enemies, but his efforts proved futile as Momoshiki effortlessly absorbed his jutsu with a flick of his wrist.

"Sasuke, we need to protect our children," Naruto's voice was firm, his eyes narrowing with resolve as he surveyed the unfolding chaos around them.

Sasuke nodded grimly, his gaze reflecting the gravity of their situation. "We can't use our jutsus on them. They're after you, Naruto," he said, his voice tinged with urgency.

Naruto's heart skipped a beat at Sasuke's words, the weight of their adversary's intentions settling like a heavy shroud over his shoulders.

"Otsutsuki," he muttered under his breath, his mind racing with the implications of their enemy's goals.

As Momoshiki and Kinshiki introduced themselves, their voices resonated with an otherworldly aura, their words carrying the weight of ancient prophecies and forgotten legends.

"We seek Kaguya's scattered chakra," Momoshiki's voice was laced with a sinister edge, his eyes ablaze with an unholy fervor. "With it, we shall cultivate a new 'cinnabar panacea', granting us eternal youth and supernatural phenomena beyond your comprehension."

The gravity of their words hung heavy in the air, casting a pall of unease over the battlefield.

In the face of such overwhelming power and ambition, Naruto and Sasuke stood as the last line of defense, their resolve unwavering in the face of unimaginable adversity.

-----------------------

[Auther: The Chapter basically, "For The Zero Mortal Plan"]