The Awakening

The brothers finally emerged from the hall. They were now in a wide room. Multiple torches were hanging on both sides of the wall. The door stood right in front of them a massive stone door.

Kawaki hurried towards the door.

"Wait," Boruto cried but it was too late.

Kawaki had placed his palm on the door and blue luminescent light burst forth across the stone and the door opened.

Kawaki turned to look at his brother. "What?"

Boruto was breathing hard now.

"I'll tell you something Kawaki. It is good you are here." then a thought hit him. "Or did I let you follow me on purpose?"

"What?"

"Never mind. Listen. That door can only be opened by a person with a mix of the Uzumaki, senju or Uchiha and Hyuga blood or better phrased, by someone bearing the DNA of both the descendants of Hogoromo and Hamura. And when you open that door, you cannot turn back for every step you take will bring it closer together until it is shut against you when you can never open it again. I have once opened that door and can never do it twice."

Kawaki listened with his mouth open then smiled. "It's a good thing I'm here brother! Come on. We'll go out together."

Boruto looked at his brother directly and slowly shook his head.

He walked towards a wall at the right side and pressed into it. one of the stones shifted in and suddenly the stones started rearranging and a door took shape. It glowed with golden light when it had emerged completely. 

Kawaki gasped. This was too much.

"There is something you must know. I am the last watchman of these caves. If the watchman leaves the land, the caves will crumble to dust. If it must crumble, then I must discover the secret of the cave first. It is my destiny."

"No, it's not. Stop. Just stop and let's get out of here. You don't know what lies behind that door!"

"Kawaki, there was a sage who lived here for many years. He waited in solitude for a long time, concealing himself in the ruins of this land hoping that someone would come and they would open that door. Before he died, he gave me transferred his will to me and made me the watchman of these caves and its secrets. He cast a spell on me as well. A spell that would bring me here."

"The man in the cape. You told me you met him that night."

"I thought it was a dream. But from that moment, some strange force had control of my body. And my will." He started speaking hastily. "I have to do this. You must wait here. Do not let that door close by all means. If you leave, it will shut itself and if you come back in it will shut itself as well. You must stay where you are. I'll take a look and be out as soon as I can. Trust me."

Their eyes locked. Kawaki's uncertain and Boruto's, pleading. Finally, Kawaki rolled his eyes.

"But if a monster dog jumps out that door, I'm hightailing out of here."

Boruto smiled. He went up to the golden doors. From his pocket, he brought out a golden stone and placed it in the middle of the door where it fit. Golden luminescent lights spread across the door but instead of creaking open, the door became a portal with golden clouds wafting inside.

"Matte," Kawaki said. "A portal?"

"It'll be fine. Believe in me, brother." Boruto said and stepped confidently inside. Immediately, the portal emitted a blinding golden light then the door suddenly disappeared leaving in its wake an ordinary stone wall.

"Boruto!" Kawaki cried. He made three quick steps forward then stopped short as he heard the door behind him come together with a loud groan. There was some space left. He went back to sit in front of the open door and wait. As he did he whispered. "I trust you this once, Boruto. I'll trust you this once."

The festivities were in full swing. All across Konoha, people were drinking heartily, eating, and laughing together. There was plenty to eat as many stalls were giving out free food, courtesy of the new Hokage. Naruto, Shikamaru, Sasuke, Sai, Choji, Shino, Kankuro and Kiba were all talking together. Hinata, who had been present during the main event was now back in the hospital to look after her baby. Although her injuries had healed, she felt pretty weak. She was kept company by Hanabi. Kakashi had joined the elders and looked not at all, held down by an illness. He had recovered quickly but the danger was still there.

The children were all hanging around, moving from place to place, flying kites, buying dolls and playing games in the fair.

Sarada who had spent the earlier part of the day with Inojin and Shikadai was walking through the fair when she stopped short.

"Say, I haven't seen the terrible twins anywhere. I wonder where they're having fun."

She started towards the places she thought either of the twins could be. They were not anywhere to be found. She doubled back to Naruto's house but still no one. Finally, she went to the hospital.

Hinata was talking with Hanabi when Sarada burst in.

"Hello, Lady Hinata." Her eyes fell on the baby and she rushed to the cot where baby Himawari lay and stared.

"kawaii," she exclaimed looking intently at the tiny features. Hinata and Hanabi smiled watching her. The baby opened her eyes and peered, closed and opened them again.

"Konichiwa… er…"

"Himawari," Hinata said.

"Konichiwa Himawari." Sarada straightened then moving up to the bed she asked. "How are you feeling, Lady Hinata."

"A bit peculiar here and there but I'm fine."

"Have the boys been in here? I've looked practically everywhere for them."

Hinata's brow furrowed with worry and she glanced at Hanabi before telling Sarada. "They were not playing around with the rest of the children then? I thought it was strange that I hadn't seen them all day. Kawaki was here all of yesterday and, knowing him, he would have peeped in today as well."

Sarada mused, her fingers rubbing her jaw as she thought."Come to think of it, they weren't anywhere during the first event either. it's evening soon it'll be dark. I wonder if they're having fun somewhere. The hot springs perhaps. I'll look around I guess. Have a good rest Hinata sama."

After saying goodbye to the baby, she rushed out again.

Hinata turned to Hanabi. "Sister, please get Hikan."

As Hanabi was leaving the room, Naruto entered. He went straight to Hinata and placed a kiss on her forehead. Hinata knew it was the kage bushin but it didn't matter.

"I'm sorry for leaving you these few minutes you were speaking with your sister."

"Naruto, it's ok to not be here every second. If you want to be somewhere, could you please check on the twins? Did you have a shadow follow them around this time?"

"I was quite busy it skipped my mind. I'll check on them. He kissed her again. I can't bear to leave you and Himawari. You remember what happened the day the twins were born."

"Whatever that was did not happen with Himawari. I'm fine."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there," Naruto said softly. "It's fine. Hanabi and Hikan stayed and kept watch." the door opened and she added. "Speaking of the devil."

Naruto gritted his teeth as Hikan approached. "Hikan konoyaro," he swore under his breath.

As always Hikan had a sad look on his face and his eyes were washed like white pebbles in the sea.

"Lady, Hinata." His voice was firm yet with a slight twinge of sadness.

"Hikan. Please could you look around for my sons?"

Hikan's vision was the most developed in Konoha. He could look into the farthest distances and differentiate people well.

Bowing softly he activated his byakugan and concentrated to the east, then the west, then the north and the south turning around slowing as he did. His frown deepened. 

"They are not in Konoha."

"What? Wait." Naruto turned on sage mode. After a moment he said, "He's right."

Jumping off the bed, he said quickly, "I must go." Hinata held his hand and their eyes locked. Then the shadow left.

Hikan bowed curtly and followed after him.

Back at the caves, Kawaki was keeping watch. The evening light had slowly faded and the world had grown dark. Except for the light from the overhead moon, it was pretty hard to see. Suddenly in the deep parts of the caves, he heard a loud groan. And he jumped to his feet. There was also the sound of crumbling stones. He swallowed as he stared into the dark interiors they had emerged from. He dared not go further to check. Glancing back at the wall Boruto had entered earlier, he saw no sign of action. He looked back into the caves as the groans became louder and this sounded more stones seemed to fall.

"Come on, Boruto," he thought breathing hard.

Suddenly the first pair of lights on both sides of the walls went out.

He gasped. The next followed. So did the next.

A tingling came up his spine. His spider senses were reeling out of control.

Something was coming.

Something he could not see.

It was coming closer and closer.