Chapter 18: A Dragon?

Underneath the vast, azure sky, Son Goku was guiding Boruto on a journey far from the familiar confines of Konoha. Boruto, with his eyes wide open, was soaking in the picturesque scenery that unfolded before him. As the wind gently caressed his face, he closed his eyes, surrendering himself to the serenity of the moment.

"Hey, kiddo, are you dozing off?" Son Goku's voice broke the silence, a playful tone lacing his words.

"Not yet," Boruto replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seeking to engage Boruto in a conversation, Son Goku asked, "Is there anything you desire in this life?"

Boruto paused for a moment before answering, "I suppose power that surpasses all, a loving wife, and a content family."

"Power?" Son Goku echoed, a hint of hesitation in his voice. He was concerned that Boruto might tread the same path as some humans he had encountered in his past.

"Without power, my life will always be in danger," Boruto explained.

"Why do you believe your life would be in danger?" Son Goku inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"When my father passes away in the future, the peace agreements between the countries will be shattered by someone seeking power. There will be no one strong enough to keep them in check," Boruto said, his voice heavy with concern.

"Why do you think that?" Son Goku asked, intrigued by Boruto's perspective.

"Greed," Boruto replied simply. "Everyone will covet such a prosperous land. When my father and Uchiha Sasuke are no longer around, humans will attempt to capture the tailed beasts again, repeating the cycle of history."

"And what would you do then?" Son Goku asked, his gaze fixed on Boruto.

"I would change it to minimize the harm. All the countries need to unite as one to prevent unnecessary deaths," Boruto said, his voice firm. "But I don't want the responsibility. There are other things I need to worry about."

"What are those things?" Son Goku asked, intrigued.

"An invasion," Boruto said, his voice dropping to a whisper. He then swiftly changed the subject. "Enough about that, can you tell me about your past, Goku? I want to see things from your perspective."

"Why are you interested in it, kiddo?" Son Goku asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Because I enjoy listening to stories," Boruto replied, a smile playing on his lips.

"Ah, you're still a kid at heart. Alright, I'll start my tale," Son Goku said, settling down comfortably. "I was born from a...."

As Son Goku began narrating his past, Boruto listened intently, completely engrossed in the tale. The storytelling session lasted for about four hours, and by the time it ended, the sky was cloaked in darkness.

"It's quite late already, let me escort you home, Boruto," Son Goku said, noticing the blanket of stars that had replaced the daylight.

"Okay," Boruto responded, stifling a yawn. The day's journey and the captivating storytelling session had taken a toll on him. He was tired, but his heart was filled with a sense of contentment. He had not only enjoyed the beautiful scenery but also gained some valuable insights from Son Goku's life story.

As they began their journey back to Konoha, the silence of the night was only broken by the soft rustling of leaves and their synchronized footsteps. The moon, hanging high in the sky, cast a soft glow on their path, guiding them through the darkness.

As they approached the imposing gates of Konoha, Son Goku gently set Boruto down on the ground. The guards on duty stiffened at their approach, their eyes wide with apprehension. However, recognizing the pair as friends of the Hokage, they refrained from any aggressive action.

"Thanks, Goku," Boruto said, his voice filled with gratitude.

"No worries," Son Goku replied, his tone casual yet sincere.

"If you ever find yourself in trouble, don't hesitate to call me," Boruto said, extending his fist towards Son Goku in a gesture of camaraderie.

"I should be the one saying that, Boruto," Son Goku responded, meeting Boruto's fist with his own in a friendly fist bump.

"Did you give me some of your chakra?" Boruto asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Son Goku simply smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "See you again, friend," he said, his voice carrying a promise of future encounters.

"See you too, friend," Boruto replied, his smile mirroring Son Goku's.

With that, Son Goku took his leave, disappearing into the night. Boruto, on the other hand, made his way into Konoha. As he entered, a few guards approached him, their faces etched with concern.

"Are you hurt, kid?" one of them asked. "Where are you from?"

"I'm fine, I'm from Konoha," Boruto reassured them.

Before the guard could ask any further questions, an Anbu appeared behind him, whispering something into his ear. The guard nodded, turning back to Boruto.

"Be careful on your way back home," he said, allowing Boruto to proceed.

The Anbu vanished as swiftly as he had appeared, leaving Boruto to make his way home.

Upon his arrival, he was greeted by the warm smiles of his family - Hinata, Naruto, and Himawari. They stood at the entrance, their faces lighting up at the sight of him.

"Welcome back, how was your ride with Son?" Naruto asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Pretty good," Boruto replied, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction.

Hinata, already aware of what had transpired, chose not to comment on it this time. Meanwhile, Himawari greeted Boruto with her usual enthusiastic hug, her arms wrapping around him in a warm embrace.

As the evening wore on, Boruto and Naruto found themselves seated side by side on the plush couch, their eyes glued to the television screen. The flickering images cast a soft glow on their faces, illuminating the room in a warm, comforting light.

It was Kurama, the nine-tailed fox, who broke the silence. "Did that monkey, Son, give you some of his chakra?" he asked, his voice echoing in Boruto's mind.

"Yes," Boruto replied, his eyes never leaving the screen.

"Hmm," Kurama mused, his tone thoughtful. He hadn't expected Goku to willingly share his chakra with Boruto, despite the boy being Naruto's son. It was a gesture that spoke volumes about the bond they had formed.

"Did you become friends with Son Goku?" Naruto asked, turning his gaze from the television to his son.

"Of course," Boruto responded, a hint of pride in his voice.

A warm smile spread across Naruto's face at his son's words. He felt a sense of relief and happiness, knowing that Boruto had made a powerful ally in Goku. As he turned his attention back to the television, his heart was filled with hope for the future.

The Following Days,

In the midst of a bustling day in Konoha, Boruto found himself engrossed in a conversation with his friends, even as Konohamaru was trying to explain the intricacies of the Summoning Jutsu. The air was filled with the scent of fresh earth and the faint hum of chakra.

"Did you catch sight of that enormous red monkey yesterday?" Metal asked, his eyes wide with curiosity. His voice echoed slightly in the open training ground, bouncing off the tall trees surrounding them.

"Yeah, it was all over the news," Shikadai replied, his tone casual yet intrigued. "But the red monkey managed to escape before anyone could catch it." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "The news reporter speculated that it might be a tailed beast, but it's all conjecture at this point. They don't have any solid evidence to back it up."

"Hmm," was all Boruto said, nodding his head in understanding. His mind was already wandering, thinking about the implications of a tailed beast running loose.

However, their conversation didn't go unnoticed. Konohamaru, their sensei, had been observing them from a distance. Seeing Boruto distracted, he decided to bring him back to the lesson at hand. "Boruto," he called out, his voice firm yet patient. "If you're so fond of talking, why don't you come up here and demonstrate how to use the Summoning Jutsu?"

"Me? I wasn't even talking that much," Boruto protested, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Just get up here," Konohamaru insisted, not willing to entertain any excuses.

With a sigh of resignation, Boruto made his way to the front. "So, I just need to perform the Summoning Jutsu, right?" he asked, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, give us a practical example," Konohamaru instructed, handing him a scroll for the summoning.

Boruto accepted the scroll, unfurling it with a sense of trepidation. 'Please don't let it be Son Goku,' he silently pleaded, his heart pounding in his chest.

With a determined look on his face, Boruto bit his thumb, pressing it onto the ground as he initiated the Summoning Jutsu. A cloud of smoke erupted from the ground, obscuring their vision momentarily.

When the smoke cleared, a small, adorable floating dragon was revealed, its eyes fixed on Boruto, curiosity mirrored in its gaze.

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The sight of the small dragon floating before them elicited a collective "Aww, so cute!" from one of the girls in the group. The other girl couldn't contain her excitement and blurted out, "Can we touch it?"

The dragon, sensing the attention it was receiving, fluttered its wings and gracefully flew towards Boruto. It swiftly found a hiding spot within the confines of Boruto's hoodie, snuggling close to him for comfort and security.

Boruto turned to Konohamaru, a playful smirk on his face. "So, are you satisfied now, Konohamaru-sensei?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of mischief.

Konohamaru chuckled, nodding his head in approval. "Yes, you can take your seat again," he replied, acknowledging Boruto's successful demonstration.

Boruto returned to his friends, but not before whispering a question to the small dragon nestled within his hoodie. "What's your name?" he inquired softly, his curiosity piqued.

"Kyu~" the dragon responded, its voice melodic and gentle. However, Boruto couldn't understand its words, leaving him slightly perplexed. 'I thought dragons could speak. This one seems different,' Boruto pondered to himself, a tinge of disappointment coloring his thoughts.

As Boruto settled back into his seat, Shikadai couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Is your summoning partner a dragon or a snake?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine interest.

In an unexpected turn of events, the dragon hidden within Boruto's hoodie suddenly lunged towards Shikadai, attempting to bite him. Reacting swiftly, Boruto intervened, gripping the dragon's neck firmly to prevent any harm. "Don't be too hasty, or I might snap your neck," Boruto warned the mischievous creature, exerting a subtle chakra pressure to assert his dominance.

Feeling the intensity of Boruto's chakra, the dragon recoiled, curling up into a protective circle. Boruto gently placed the dragon on his lap, ensuring its safety. Even Shikadai couldn't help but shudder slightly, realizing the potential danger he had narrowly avoided.

With a reassuring smile, Boruto addressed Shikadai, his voice filled with pride. "You shouldn't mistake this little guy for a snake. He is a dragon," he clarified, his hand gently caressing the dragon's head.

Metal Lee, a wide grin adorning his face, observed the scene with fascination. The other students in the vicinity also couldn't tear their eyes away from the enchanting sight of the small dragon, captivated by its presence.

Konohamaru clapped his hands to gather the attention of the students, his voice filled with determination. "Alright, everyone, take one summoning scroll and focus on summoning a weapon. Since your Chakra Control is still developing, let's start with something simpler," he instructed, his eyes scanning the group.

Curiosity got the better of one of the girl students as she questioned, "Why is Boruto able to do it?"

Konohamaru's gaze shifted towards Boruto, a sense of pride evident in his voice. "Boruto can because he possesses exceptional strength and has more experience with chakra manipulation. This is also an opportunity for him to acquire a summoning creature, as per the Hokage's orders," he explained. "All of you are still catching up to Boruto in many aspects. So, strive to surpass him, and you will earn your chance."

The students began murmuring amongst themselves, expressing their discontent.

"It's unfair."

"He only gets special treatment because he's the Hokage's son."

"He has privileges that the rest of us don't."

Metal Lee, observing the situation unfold, closed his eyes, silently contemplating the dynamics at play. Suddenly, a loud sound reverberated through the training ground as Boruto unleashed a powerful punch, causing the ground to tremble and leaving behind a deep crater.

"What privilege? My father didn't teach me shit except for some stuff," Boruto retorted, his voice filled with frustration. "So, which one of you said I have privileges?"

The other students were taken aback by the raw display of power from Boruto. It was the first time they had witnessed such a formidable show of strength.

"You're right, I do have certain privileges. I have access to other skilled teachers, but they haven't been enough to help me grow stronger," Boruto continued, his gaze now fixed on Konohamaru. "No offense, Konohamaru-sensei, but they just haven't been able to meet my needs."

Konohamaru couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt at Boruto's words, his dedication as a teacher momentarily questioned.

Boruto pressed on, his voice tinged with a hint of longing. "You guys don't understand how much I want to graduate early. I'm already stronger than most Genin, but the new system won't allow me to advance ahead of schedule. If I were in Konohamaru's or the Hokage's era, I would have become a Jonin by now," he declared, his words carrying a hint of exaggeration.

While Boruto's statement may have seemed grandiose, the truth was that his bloodline and the Chakra he had received from Son Goku had the potential to propel him to great heights at an accelerated pace.

Iwabe, one of Boruto's classmates, nodded in agreement. Boruto's frustrations resonated with him, as he too felt that the system was holding back those who desired to graduate early.