PART 4.

"Here is the main room." The woman announced, her voice echoing through the walls of the immense stone room, from floor to ceiling. 

He moved to the side to give the children more space and allow them to go into the group.

One by one, the children explored the room with their own eyes. At first glance, the room did not differ much from the previous ones. The only distinction was the absence of a second floor from which to observe from above.

Upon close inspection of the huge room, it became apparent why the woman called it "main room."

It was like the hall of a castle: large and empty. However, in front of them, were several separate doors, the fate of which they did not know.

They didn't find it funny to conclude that, when they entered through those doors, they would be led to more anthill-like corridors, further complicating navigation if you didn't know the place like the back of your hand.

The young ninjas allowed themselves to separate themselves a little from each other, as they had built trust with the woman and did not feel the need to constantly watch their backs.

Exploring the place for themselves, they were impressed.

"How is it possible that this exists underground?" Boruto exclaimed, surprised. He turned to the old woman with his eyes wide open, recovering from the impact. "How can it be...?! Has this been under the desert all this time?"

"I'm not sure if there's still something like that in your home, but..."

"How long did it take you to build all this? And how did they do it?" Boruto continued with his series of questions, although his spirits were calmer than the night before. 

"It seems to be a refuge." Tsubaki commented, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. He observed his surroundings with fascination as he walked alongside the others. "It is not only about this; That's all we've seen so far."

"It's huge." Namida muttered quietly, trying to hide behind his hands. "If the ceiling is so high... So, we are very low ground..."

"It's impressive..."

"Wow!

"Hm."

The young ninjas of the future were quick to express their amazement at the fortune of having found such a place. The old woman watched them in silence, with only the Uzumaki's attention at her disposal.

Boruto was showing his palms upwards, as if he was asking the old lady to deliver the answer into her hands. His expression was serious and determined, though somewhat broken.

Seeing that the others continued to explore on their own, the old woman decided to provide the blond with an answer:

"Although it may not seem like it, my age has allowed me to build these walls." He said. "But don't trust my ability blindly, boy." The advice made Boruto raise an eyebrow, confused. The old woman leaned on her staff, giving the impression that she could not stand on her own. "The elderly are wise, but, just as there are intelligent children, there are also forgetful adults."

"So..." Boruto began to ask. "Don't you remember how you did it?"

"..."

In the midst of the tense silence, the old woman seemed to be brought out of her reverie.

"Are you an idiot? How can I not remember it?! If I was the one who built it!"

"Gh...! Then...! What did that come about...?!"

"This..."

Before they could continue, an alien presence got in the way of their conversation.

It was Doushu, one of the members of Ibiki's team. The old lady knew from Mirai that Doushu hadn't had an easy trip there, which won her some of her attention.

"Hm." she exhaled, causing a slight expression of discomfort on the young man's face. "What's going on? Feeling bad?"

"Huh? Ah...! No!" Doushu was quick to deny. "I'm fine!"

"So?"

"It's just... I wanted to ask what is the purpose of coming here."

She had a goal.

Or not?

She had it...

"That's true." He nodded. "It's obvious that staying here with me is much safer than outside. Therefore, I think it is a good time to resume what we left pending."

The old woman, with an imperturbable serenity, noticed Boruto's expression when he mentioned the possibility of continuing the training that had been left unfinished the night before. With determination in his closed eyes, he nodded slightly.

"Your decision at this advanced stage of the destruction of your home is very admirable. The least I can do is to entrust to you the methods of survival that I possess. But remember, it's the only thing I can do for you action-wise. From now on, it's up to you how you'll live." The old woman replied in a calm tone. 

The other Ninja children nodded with contained enthusiasm, convinced that it was a necessary step to continue breathing peacefully in the soils of the past.

However, some looked worriedly towards the entrance, waiting for the arrival of Mirai, who had not yet joined them.

The old lady, noticing the uneasiness on their faces, decided to broach the subject of Mirai before continuing.

"Don't worry about Mirai." She will be here as soon as they finish their training. "This is an experience that only concerns you and me, given the special circumstances in which you find yourselves." The old woman explained in a reassuring tone. 

The children nodded, accepting the old woman's explanation, although some still showed slight concern about the absence of their companion. However, they trusted the old woman's wisdom and her ability to handle the situation.

It was then that the old woman, as if she had thought of something else, turned her gaze to the children's worn and battered clothes. A comment about his appearance seemed to come out of nowhere, accompanied by a heaviness from the bottom of his gut.

"Oh, it's evident that your clothes are in a pitiful state. Not only is it an emotional issue, but it also represents a potential danger. Their garments carry with them the history of their clans and their future. It is essential that they change their clothes as soon as possible." The old woman warned, her wrinkled eyes shining with a mixture of concern and cunning. "I will provide you with something much more comfortable to use. And of course... something that does not give away that they are Shinobi."

The children looked at each other, acclimatized, but also suspicious. Although they understood the logic behind the old lady's words, they couldn't help but feel a certain reluctance. However, the wisdom that radiated from her, together with her convincing tone, managed to penetrate their minds.

In the background, Shikadai, with a facial expression of discontent, expressed his distrust. The old woman, sharpening her eyes, noticed him out of the corner of her eye, aware that he suspected her true intentions. However, he kept his face impassive, not revealing any sign of uneasiness.

Thus, the young Ninja, convinced by the old lady's convincing words, finally nodded and accepted her recommendation.

Recognizing the importance of their clothes and the need to change them, they set out in search of new clothes, leaving behind the old woman who had pointed them out where the boys and girls would go separately.

As they walked away, Shikadai kept his gaze fixed on the old woman, his eyes expressing a latent suspicion.

I knew something wasn't quite right, but I couldn't put my finger on the sore spot. The old woman, with her apparent calm and confidence, watched him out of the corner of her eye, aware of the doubts she harbored in her heart.

When Nara's back was visible to her, and the family drawing torn into view, the old woman tightened her grip on her staff, keeping her composure so as not to be noticed by the black-haired man's sharp tension.

" Just a little more..." He said to himself. " I just need to entertain you a little more."

(~~~)

Under the hot desert sun, Mirai withstood with fortitude the relentless onslaught of the heat, which burned her skin and defied her resistance.

Aware of the need to shield his eyes from the blinding glare, he raised his hands in front of his face, creating a makeshift shadow that offered some relief. Through the gaps between his fingers, his eyes scanned the vast landscape.

From the top of a rock, Mirai looked out over the endless expanse of desert. The rolling dunes stretched out like motionless waves, bathed in the golden light of the sun.

The air vibrated with the heat, distorting the horizon and making it difficult to see. But despite the adversities, Mirai held on to her mission and persevered in her quest.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Mirai saw in the distance the ruins she had longed to discover. Like a mirage from another time, the eroded structures rose majestic, silent witnesses of past glories. Sunlight filtered through holes in the crumbling walls, creating a play of shadows and sparkles.

Though exhausted from the journey, Mirai could not afford to rest. He felt as if the ruins themselves were whispering promises of answers and hidden secrets. The thirst for knowledge mixed with fatigue in her tense muscles, driving her to keep going.

With careful steps, Mirai descended from the rock and into the desolate landscape. Each step kicked up a cloud of dust and sand, which clung to his sweaty clothes. His heavy breaths echoed in the silence, marking his determination as he made his way through this place forgotten by time.

The ruins stretched out before her like a messy puzzle. Crumbling columns and crumbling walls stood like silent monuments of a lost civilization. Mirai stopped short, contemplating the decision to venture into this labyrinth of mystery and danger.

With sharp eyes, he painstakingly surveyed the surroundings. The cracked ground and scattered debris seemed to contain untold stories. However, her survival instinct kept her on guard, moving away from the obvious path to the surroundings of the ruins.

In the midst of her frantic inspection, Mirai spotted something that captured her attention. Footprints marked in the sand, both of animals and of human beings, revealed the recent presence of life in that desolate place.

His heart began to pound more strongly in his chest, and his mind filled with questions. Who would have left those traces? Were they friends or enemies?

Even though her curiosity was clamoring to get in, Mirai knew very well the real reason for her visit. With the ruins beside her, the lone red-eyed Sarutobi stared at the shattered walls, as the Grand Elder's promptings echoed again and again in her mind.

The inhabitants of this desolate place, where the echo of the laughter of those who once inhabited it could still be heard, were not far away.

With determination and caution, Mirai followed the trail of the footprints, delving deeper and deeper into the mystery. Every step she took brought her closer to the heart of uncertainty and the possibility of discovering the truth that was hidden in that abandoned place.

A spark of intrigue shone in his eyes, and his adventurous spirit was fueled by the expectation of the unknown.

He would not be easily defeated by a past he had heard countless times about. If her teacher could do it, then she could too, with effort and courage.

" I hope you're watching me, Mother." Those words echoed in his mind.

His mother could not be left out of his adventurous heart.