Chapter 34: Land of Demons

In the quiet solitude of their room, Naruto and Hinata shared a moment of silence. Hinata's gaze was locked onto Naruto's, a mix of worry and anger reflected in her eyes. "Why didn't you stop him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Naruto sighed, guilt evident in his eyes. "I... couldn't. I was afraid he would grow to resent me."

Understanding washed over Hinata as she reached for Naruto's hand, intertwining their fingers. "How did our son end up with a Sharingan?" she asked, her voice filled with dread.

Naruto swallowed hard before confessing, "He took it from an enemy's corpse."

Hinata's eyes widened in shock. "And you just allowed it?" she asked, her voice rising in disbelief.

Naruto nodded, his expression pained. "If I hadn't, he might have been killed by the enemy."

Hinata's mind raced as she tried to process the information. "When did this happen?" she asked.

Naruto sighed, "A few days before the Kage Summit."

Hinata was silent for a moment before she finally spoke, "Explain it to me."

As Naruto began recounting the events, Hinata's heart ached. She hit Naruto's shoulder in frustration, "Why didn't you tell me about this?!"

Naruto looked at her with regret in his eyes, "I thought it was better if you didn't know. But now that it's out in the open, it doesn't matter anymore."

Hinata's worry was evident as she asked, "What are we going to tell Boruto's classmates?"

Naruto had already thought about this, "I'll send a notice stating that Boruto is on a secret mission since he's already a Genin. It's the best explanation Shikamaru and I could come up with."

Hinata wrapped her arms around Naruto, her voice trembling as she confessed, "I'm worried about our son."

Naruto sighed as he held Hinata close, "I am too. But he's smart and resourceful, he even managed to evade my clone using teleportation. I've sent a group of Anbu to look for him."

Hinata's grip tightened as she whispered, "Let's just stay here for a while. My heart is still shaking from seeing our son leave."

In the quiet of their room, Naruto and Hinata held each other, each lost in their own thoughts and worries about their son.

Next Day,

News of Boruto's sudden graduation took his classmates by surprise. The classroom was filled with a celebratory buzz, but amidst the excitement, Mitsuki found himself unable to join in. He knew the truth behind Boruto's abrupt departure, having discovered it through his own investigations.

Inojin, noticing Mitsuki's unusual silence, nudged him gently. "Why are you zoning out, Mitsuki?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Mitsuki managed a small smile, choosing to keep his thoughts to himself. "Just lost in thought," he replied, his gaze distant.

Iwabe, on the other hand, was brimming with newfound motivation. Boruto's graduation had sparked a fire within him, a desire to improve his grades and graduate as well. He made a silent promise to himself, vowing to work harder and achieve his goals.

Yet, amidst the excitement, Shikadai couldn't shake off a sense of unease. He had overheard a conversation between his father and Naruto, and he knew that graduating to Genin at their age was unusual. His instincts told him something was amiss, but he decided to keep his suspicions to himself for the time being. The truth, he knew, would reveal itself in due time.

In the Land of Water, Boruto, now under the guise of a mature man with black hair, awaited the ship that would carry him to the Land of Demons. The Land of Water was strategically closer to his destination and had become a familiar place to him, thanks to a previous field trip. This familiarity had made it easier for him to teleport there using his Sharingan.

Leaning against the ship's railing, he gazed up at the sky, lost in thought. "I never thought Tenten-sensei would gift me a Chakra Axe and a Chakra Arming Sword," he mused to himself, appreciating the tools' craftsmanship. "I wonder how much they cost her. I'll have to repay her in the future."

With that, he made his way back to his cabin, a determined look in his eyes. His days on the ship fell into a simple routine: training, eating, and sleeping.

In some forest,

A falcon, its feathers glistening in the sunlight, descended gracefully onto Sasuke's shoulder. Tied to its leg was a small piece of parchment - a letter from Naruto. Unfolding the note, Sasuke read the urgent plea for him to coax Boruto into returning home if their paths crossed.

Sasuke couldn't help but let out a sigh, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Isn't this too ironic?" he muttered to himself, reflecting on his own rebellious youth. He remembered the time when he had been the one to leave Konoha, the village he now called home.

Despite the irony, Sasuke knew he would honor Naruto's request. If he did encounter Boruto during his travels, he would do his best to persuade the young Uzumaki to return home. He understood all too well the dangers and loneliness that came with choosing a solitary path.

Land of Demons,

The Priestess Shrine was a place of great importance, not only to the country but also to the people who lived there. It was here that the current priestess, a woman named Shion, resided. Naruto had saved her in the past, and she had since risen to become the ruler of the country.

Later that night, while in her deep slumber, Shion had a vision of the future. In it, she saw Boruto, her savior's son, standing before her, his body bleeding from wounds he had sustained while protecting her. In that moment, he activated his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, summoning his Susano'o to shield her from harm.

Startled by the vividness of her dream, Shion awoke, her body drenched in sweat. "Who was that?" she murmured to herself, her heart racing. "I thought there would be no more threats to this country."

Deep down, however, she knew that her vision was a warning. She couldn't shake off the feeling that danger was looming, and that Boruto's presence was crucial to their survival. With a heavy heart, she resolved to seek out the person.

Few days have passed,

As the ship docked at the port, Boruto's eyes fluttered open, the sound of the anchor dropping signaling their arrival at the Land of Demons. He gathered his belongings - a bag filled with everyday essentials and the clothes he had purchased for his journey - and stepped off the ship, taking in the sights around him.

The Land of Demons was a marvel to behold. The buildings were reminiscent of Japan's Nara period, with intricate designs and traditional architecture. The streets were adorned with cherry blossom trees, their pink petals fluttering in the breeze. Boruto couldn't help but feel awestruck by the beauty of it all.

"I think I could make this place my home," he murmured to himself, a smile spreading across his face.

As he made his way into the city, he noticed that many of the locals were dressed in yukatas, adding to the already enchanting atmosphere. Lost in thought, Boruto wandered the streets, admiring the scenery and taking in the new environment.

However, he soon came to the realization that he needed to find a source of income to sustain himself. That's when he stumbled upon a poster advertising for private soldiers to protect the priestess, with a handsome salary promised to those who were successful.

"I can try this," Boruto thought, a grin spreading across his face as he set off to find a place to stay and prepare for the recruitment process.

Before heading to the recruitment process, Boruto decided to find an inn to spend the night. Luckily, he stumbled upon an inn with affordable rates, so he made the choice to stay there temporarily until he could find a suitable house to rent. As he entered the inn, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

Feeling the need to freshen up, Boruto made his way to the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror, he let out a heavy sigh. He knew that his Transformation Jutsu wouldn't always be active, and it only took one hit to deactivate it. This meant that he had to take some drastic steps to alter his appearance.

With a resigned expression, Boruto made the difficult decision to remove the whisker marks on his cheeks. Although he didn't want to do it, he knew it was necessary. Carefully, he used a sharp object to cut his skin, causing it to bleed. It was a painful process, but Boruto quickly activated his healing ability to ensure that the wounds would close up. However, he purposely weakened the healing Jutsu so that his skin wouldn't fully recover, effectively removing the whisker marks.

Satisfied with the results, Boruto realized that he still needed to change his hair color. Determined to complete his transformation, he resumed his Transformation Jutsu and began searching for a dye shop. Once he found one, he purchased black hair dye. Making his way back to the nearby bathroom, Boruto proceeded to dye his hair and eyebrows, completely altering his appearance.

As he looked at himself in the mirror, Boruto couldn't help but feel like a different person. With the whisker marks gone and his hair now black.

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Boruto took a moment to appreciate the disguise he had created for himself. "With this transformation, I can avoid being recognized by the Konoha shinobi," he muttered to himself. He knew that staying incognito was crucial for his current mission. However, he also realized that he needed to conceal his exceptional work ethic. "I must hide my dedication and drive. I doubt anyone else in Konoha is as relentless as I am, except for Might Guy and the Lee family," he thought to himself, acknowledging the rare breed of individuals who shared his level of commitment.

As Boruto observed the people around him, he noticed a few individuals with downcast expressions. Curiosity piqued, he approached an old man standing nearby and inquired, "What's going on with those guys over there? They seem quite dejected."

The old man sighed and replied, "They were all rejected by the priestess."

Boruto raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why? I've seen some of them, and they appear to be strong enough to serve as normal guards," he commented, drawing from his keen analytical skills.

"It's been a few days since this started, and we still don't know what requirements the priestess is looking for," the old man explained with a hint of frustration in his voice.

Boruto couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy for the disappointed individuals. "Sounds like a lot of work," he remarked, contemplating the challenges they must have faced.

The old man looked at Boruto intently and suggested, "Why don't you give it a try? I sense that you're strong for someone your age."

Boruto's suspicion grew as he questioned the old man's intentions. However, the old man simply smiled and reassured him, "You bear a striking resemblance to the boy who once saved our priestess. That boy was incredibly powerful."

Boruto rubbed the back of his head, slightly taken aback by the old man's observation. "Well, maybe I should give it a shot," he said, contemplating the possibility.

The old man's smile widened as he nodded and walked away.