Boruto the Akatsuki: In Search of Power 12

In the center of Konoha, the large digital screen that dominated the main square was broadcasting the latest news, capturing the attention of all passersby. The announcer, with a firm and solemn voice, reported: "From the Land of Waves we receive an urgent announcement. Our feudal lord, Ikkyu Madoka, is facing serious problems in the Central Sea. The situation is worsening and its resolution seems uncertain. How will our leader face these challenges that threaten peace?"

At the academy, inside the headmaster's office, Iruka Umino stared at the screen with a frown, his face reflecting deep concern. Sitting at his desk, his fingers drummed on the wood, a sign of the uneasiness that was taking over him. "It's worrying," he finally muttered, his voice thick with tension.

In front of him, Anko Mitarashi stood with her arms crossed and a serious expression rarely seen on her. "There are still many who believe that the war is not over," she commented, her tone reflecting a mix of realism and disappointment.

Iruka nodded, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "It seems so… Although our village did well, you don't believe it, Naruto?" He said, turning his gaze to the couch where Naruto Uzumaki was sitting, watching silently.

Naruto, with a tired but warm smile, replied, "It's all thanks to you all."

Iruka let out a light laugh, but there was a glint of pride in his eyes. "That's right, but Konoha achieved peace thanks to everyone's efforts. I'm proud of what we've accomplished."

Naruto nodded silently, but his gaze turned thoughtful as Iruka continued, "The only thing I'm worried about is you being the Hokage," he joked, though there was an underlying seriousness to his words.

Naruto, who had been staring at the ground, looked up and smiled again, this time with an air of resignation. "Iruka-sensei…" he muttered, feeling a mix of nostalgia and gratitude for his former mentor's words.

Iruka, remembering the old days, couldn't help but add with a mischievous smile: "With how troublesome you were as a child…"

Naruto turned his head to the side, trying to hide his smile, as memories of his youth came back to him. The lines in his eyes, a unique feature, became more pronounced as he remembered his past.

Anko, who was watching the interaction with an amused smile, decided to step in to ease the tension. "So, what brings the Seventh Hokage to us, if he's so busy?"

Naruto, shaking off the thoughts of his youth, stood up and approached Iruka's desk, handing him some papers with an air of officialdom. "I've come to discuss a new project," he began, his tone serious but excited. "We've been in talks with the Land of Water, and starting this year, academy field trips can be included without the need for a prior mission."

Anko raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Without a mission? Is that a good idea?"

Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "I think so. It's an excellent opportunity for students to experience the outside world before taking on responsibilities as ninjas."

Iruka, now deeply interested, replied, "It could be. It takes courage, but it may be time to step forward."

At that moment, a sudden wind caused Iruka's hair to flutter slightly, drawing his attention to the window. When he looked over, he saw Boruto sitting on the windowsill, looking at him curiously.

"Looks like you don't have a wig, Iruka-sensei… Although at the academy they said otherwise," Boruto commented with a mischievous smile, as he swung the window wide open.

The sound of the window opening made Iruka frown. "Boruto!" he exclaimed, his tone stern, causing Boruto to quickly stand up, his expression of surprise mixed with nervousness.

"What are you doing, Boruto?" Iruka inquired, his voice firm.

Boruto, scratching his head, tried to divert the topic. "Everyone says you have a wig…"

Anko, arms still crossed, watched him with interest. "That was the wind jutsu, right? We haven't taught it yet."

Boruto, quickly regaining his composure, tried to appear nonchalant. "I was just practicing my jutsus," he said lightly.

Iruka, however, wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily. "Don't change the subject, Boruto," he replied, his voice a mix of frustration and concern.

Naruto, who had been watching from inside, walked over to the window with an amused smile. "What are you doing, Boruto?"

Boruto, without wasting a second, replied, "Dad! What are you doing here?"

Naruto smiled and raised an eyebrow, his tone somewhat playful. "I'm working… But you should get up to better pranks."

Boruto looked at him with a mix of annoyance and defiance. "Shut up! I don't need you to tell me what to do."

Naruto, now more serious but still with a mischievous glint in his eyes, replied, "What did you say?"

The conversation turned into a light argument, filled with playful reproaches and sarcastic comments, while Anko and Iruka watched them with a mix of amusement and resignation.

Iruka, shaking his head with a smile, commented, "Like father, like son."

A few minutes later, in the classroom, Boruto was hanging upside down, tied with a rope and a tape over his mouth preventing him from speaking. The students watched him curiously, wondering what had happened. Sarada, crossing her arms, commented indifferently, "It seems he did something mischievous to the principal and this is his punishment."

"That Boruto!" they all exclaimed in chorus.

Sarada, muttering to herself, added with a sigh, "What a baka …"

Meanwhile, Boruto was swaying back and forth like a worm, trying to free himself from his awkward situation, while the others watched him with a mix of amusement and pity.

__ In the Ninja Academy classroom, Shino Aburame and Sumire Kakei stood at the front, ready for a new lesson that would capture the attention of all the students. Sumire wrote on the blackboard in large letters: "Flight to the Land of Water."

Shino, with his usual calm, but with a hint of seriousness in his voice, announced: "This will be the first time that the Academy allows a field trip outside the village… This is very important, so I want you to be very careful and pay attention."

Chocho, who always had food on her mind, muttered to herself in a longing tone: "The Land of Water? Beach, sea… Barbecue!"

Wasabi, excited by the prospect, commented out loud, "Looks like we'll have to buy swimsuits!"

Namida, at his side, nodded happily, already imagining herself enjoying the sea breeze.

However, not everyone shared this enthusiasm. Shikadai, ever the pragmatist, commented in a sombre tone: "There it is… the Hidden Mist Village. Its reputation is not very good."

Denki, who was right below him, looked up and replied, "That was a long time ago," as he turned to look at him curiously.

Shikadai shrugged and replied, "Well, that doesn't affect us directly."

Shino, taking control of the class again, cleared his throat and said firmly, "This class will represent the village, and to avoid any problems, if anything happens, the field trip will be cancelled immediately."

The students began to murmur amongst themselves, some wondering if this meant there would be no classes. Denki, ever diligent, clarified, "A field trip is not a walk," but his classmates interrupted him with a chorus of "Don't be bitter, Denki!"

Sarada, who watched the scene with a mixture of exasperation and maturity beyond her years, muttered, "How stupid some children are…"

Shino, ignoring the murmurs, continued, "Now, we will choose the person in charge of the field trip." At that, all the students looked at each other, then looked away, trying to avoid being selected. The classroom fell into an awkward silence, broken only by the soft sound of Boruto swinging back and forth, still hanging from the ceiling as punishment for his latest prank.

Shino, frustrated, asked, "No one?"

Shikadai, deep in thought, mused, "Of course no one would volunteer… We are the problematic class."

Sumire, for her part, closed her eyes tightly, repeating to herself: "Don't let them choose me, don't let them choose me…"

Finally, Sarada broke the silence, raising her hand confidently. "Sensei, I think Boruto Uzumaki would be a good candidate for the representative position."

Shikadai, always up for a bit of fun, added with a mischievous smile, "I think it would be, too."

Sarada stood up, firmly supporting his proposal. "Boruto is optimistic and lively, always at the center of everything. He will be very competent."

Wasabi, seeing the idea gaining traction, also joined in: "I think so too."

Boruto, hearing his companions nominate him without his consent, began to move more vigorously, desperately trying to break free from his bonds, while shaking his head vehemently.

After a few minutes of discussion, most of the class had reached a consensus: Boruto was the one.

Shino, surprised but somewhat amused by the situation, asked, "Really, guys?"

Mitsuki, who had been watching silently, commented with an enigmatic smile, "So this is what Boruto meant when he talked about companionship…"

Sumire, turning her gaze back to Boruto, then looked away, feeling a mix of relief at not being chosen and sympathy for her partner. Meanwhile, Boruto continued to frantically move, trying to break free.

Finally, on the blackboard it was written in large letters: "Representative: Boruto Uzumaki."

Sarada, watching Boruto's struggle, commented with a malicious tone, "It seems the representative wants to talk." Then, with a quick movement, she threw a shuriken that cut the rope, freeing Boruto.

Boruto landed nimbly on his feet, removing the tape from his mouth and pointing an accusatory finger at the class. "You guys think I'll forgive you for doing this to me…!"

A few minutes later, Boruto was cleaning the classroom, accompanied by Shikadai and Denki, while Iwabe watched from a corner.

Shikadai, with a satisfied smile, joked, "We're counting on you, manager."

Boruto, who was wiping the blackboard, turned to look at them and replied with a grimace, "You guys decided it…"

Denki, while cleaning a desk, said sincerely, "But I do think you could be a good choice. After all, you are the one who brings the class together the most."

Boruto, touching the back of his neck, smiled and said: "If there is no other way… But you will have to listen to me."

Shikadai approached Denki and quietly commented with a mischievous smile, "You're really good at manipulating Boruto."

Denki let out a small laugh, amused by the situation.

At that moment, the classroom door opened and Sarada appeared, wearing a disapproving expression. "You're skipping class again. Don't embarrass us like this."

Shikadai, with a sigh of resignation, replied: "But what a pain…"

Sarada, crossing her arms, continued firmly: "They only think about playing."

Shikadai stepped down from the desk he was sitting at and approached Boruto, commenting, "But I heard that the Village Hidden in the Mist is very rural. Will there be places to play?"

Boruto, with a spark of excitement in his eyes, replied, "Don't worry, I don't know what it will be like, but I'm already excited!"

Shikadai, raising an eyebrow, replied, "And that confidence?"

Boruto, putting his hands in his pockets, confidently declared, "Now that I'm the class leader, it's inevitable."

Sarada, not entirely convinced, warned him: "Show that spirit in class too."

Iwabe, who was sitting at his desk, intervened in a gloomy tone: "Don't get so excited. In the past, it was known as the Blood Mist Village."

Boruto and the others looked at him with concern, while Iwabe continued: "It's not a very cheerful place."

Denki, intrigued, asked, "Did something happen to you?"

Iwabe shrugged and replied, "It's nothing." Then he stood up and, walking towards the back exit of the classroom, added, "If anything happens, tell me." He left the classroom and with a final goodbye, left his classmates with an uneasy feeling.

Sarada, her eyes twitching and visibly irritated, exclaimed: "What do you mean, 'if something happens'? Didn't you hear Sensei?"

Shikadai, without losing his carefree attitude, commented with a smile, "It seems that Sarada is very excited…"

Boruto, on the other hand, remained silent, thoughtful, as the reality of the excursion began to settle in his mind.

At the Jiuga estate, Hiashi and Hanabi sat in a traditional room, surrounded by the soft evening light filtering through the sliding paper doors. They sat in silence, sipping the freshly poured tea. Though the atmosphere seemed calm, the tension in the air was palpable.

Hanabi, with a worried expression, broke the silence:

—Father, we've talked about this before... When will we tell my sister and Naruto about Boruto's true personality? We can't keep ignoring it.

Hiashi let out a deep sigh, as if the question had been weighing on his mind for some time. With a calm but firm look, he replied:

—Hanabi, it's best not to say anything for now. This matter is more complex than it seems.

Hanabi's frustration became evident as she slammed her fist on the table, causing the teacups to rattle.

—Why? What's the problem? It's our responsibility to warn them!

Hiashi looked at her with a serious expression, but his eyes reflected an internal conflict.

—You see, Hanabi... It's not easy to face this situation. Boruto is their son, and the truth about him could cause them great pain.

Hanabi, with a mix of frustration and concern in her voice, replied:

—But if we don't do anything, things could get worse. We've already seen how Boruto acts when no one is watching.

Hiashi nodded slowly, acknowledging the truth in his daughter's words.

—I know, and that's why we have to be cautious. Boruto is strong, but also unpredictable. We can't rush and provoke a reaction we can't control.

Hanabi crossed her arms, still angry, but listening to her father attentively.

—It's true that Boruto has shown to have a complicated personality, but hiding this won't make it go away. Sooner or later, they'll have to face it.

Hiashi took a sip of his tea before replying:

—Naruto seems to be quite focused on work. It would be a mistake to distract him at this crucial moment. We must wait until those academy exams are over.

Hanabi looked at her father, seeing the wisdom in his eyes. She sighed, resigned.

—I understand... but we can't put it off forever. Hinata-nee-san and Naruto deserve the truth, and the others too.

Hiashi nodded again, this time with more determination.

—After the academy exams, we'll go to Naruto's house. It'll be the right time to talk to them.

Hanabi, though still unsatisfied, understood the logic behind her father's words. She nodded determinedly.

—Okay, we'll wait. But after the exams, we must face this situation once and for all.

After a moment of silence, Hanabi leaned forward, curiosity shining in her eyes as she asked:

—Father, there's something that puzzles me. Why did Boruto show up that day? If he wanted to remain hidden, why did he show himself?

Hiashi took a sip of his tea before calmly replying:

—Boruto is quite intelligent. The words he said must be the truth. Besides, if he hadn't shown up that day, we would have talked to Naruto and Hinata.

Hanabi frowned, not fully understanding.

—What are you talking about, father?

Hiashi explained, his voice calm but full of conviction:

—If Boruto hadn't shown himself, we would have started to have doubts about him. We would have wondered why Boruto was acting that way, what he was hiding. And to find answers, we would have gone straight to Naruto and Hinata.

Hanabi opened her eyes in understanding.

—Of course! When he introduced himself, he did so in a mocking manner, taunting us, as if he wanted us to ask him questions about his change in attitude.

Hiashi nodded, satisfied with his daughter's perception.

—Exactly. It was all planned. He probably planned to use anyone who discovered his true identity for his own purposes.

Hanabi, still in doubt, continued:

—But why show himself? He could have let his clone deny it completely and lie about his change. It would have been much easier, wouldn't it?

Hiashi put down his teacup and said firmly:

—Boruto made it clear that day: he wants to be strong.

Hanabi muttered, still perplexed:

— Mmm ... I don't understand.

Hiashi continued:

—In the days following that visit, what changed in Boruto's life?

Hanabi opened her eyes wide, realizing:

—It can't be... The academy?

Hiashi nodded, his expression serious.

—Exactly. It seems that Boruto wants to show himself to the world, but in a way that avoids awkward questions about his abilities. He probably plans to use the academy to reveal himself little by little and then, at the Chunin Exams, he will surprise everyone with his power. That way, the public will admire him for his skills and there will be no questions that compromise him. In this way, he escapes from his father's expectations and avoids being questioned.

Hanabi, unable to quite believe it, exclaimed:

—So, we just have to tell Naruto everything first.

Hiashi shook his head, his voice full of resignation:

—We can't do that. Boruto has cornered us so we don't say anything. He knows we love him and that we won't reveal anything until he becomes a ninja. He trusts us to protect him.

Hanabi clenched her fist in frustration.

—How can it be so...?

"Clever," Hiashi finished. "He manipulated the situation so that we wouldn't act to a certain extent. Boruto can only be described with one word: dangerous. Also, the combat power he displayed is too high. He's really strong."

Hanabi, still full of uneasiness, asked:

—But why this way? We can just go and tell his family everything.

Hiashi sighed, his voice reflecting the difficult decision they faced:

—We can't do that, because we would destroy that family. Boruto planned this knowing that we love his family and that we wouldn't hurt them. That's why we'll wait until after the exams, so we can talk more calmly and find out more things. Right now, it's very complicated.

Hanabi, a little angrily, nodded silently.

Hiashi continued:

—I also want to give that confidence to Boruto. I want to trust that he will tell you everything in due time.

A few minutes after Hiashi and Hanabi's conversation, the sun was already setting over Konoha, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Mitsuki stood atop Mount Hokage, watching the day give way to night. A small white snake slithered up her arm, coiling around her shoulder.

Mitsuki spoke in a low voice:

—Hello, father.

From Orochimaru's base, another small snake rested on Orochimaru's shoulder, who sat in front of a computer, his face illuminated by the screen.

Orochimaru replied with an amused smile:

—Hello, Mitsuki-kun. How have you been? How is your life at the academy going?

Mitsuki replied calmly:

—I'm fine, Father. The academy is fun, I'm learning a lot.

Orochimaru nodded, his voice soft but filled with a strange warmth:

—I'm glad to hear it, Mitsuki-kun… I hope you continue to grow and accomplish what your father couldn't.

Mitsuki replied with determination:

—Thank you, Father. I will try to accomplish what you could not. But, Father, why did you call me?

Orochimaru smiled enigmatically, his eyes shining with a glint of interest:

—I wanted to know how you were doing at the academy… but seeing you doing so well makes me very happy. However, I also have some information about Boruto. It seems that we made a mistake in our assessment of him. Even I was surprised… ku… ku… ku… —Orochimaru laughed as he remembered the conversation he had with Boruto a few days ago.

Mitsuki spoke, his voice filled with curiosity and a slight nervousness:

—What information do you have, Father?

Orochimaru let out a small laugh, letting the suspense linger before answering:

—Ku… ku… ku… You see, the Boruto that the world knows is not the real Boruto.

Orochimaru's words made Mitsuki widen his eyes in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

—What do you mean, Father? I don't understand.

Orochimaru continued, his voice dripping with intrigue:

—The Boruto you talk to at the academy... is just a clone of him.

Mitsuki was shocked, his mind struggling to process the revelation.

—So... what's the mistake we made?

Orochimaru replied with an enigmatic smile:

—The Boruto you know is just a fake personality. Or, to put it another way, the clone he created has a different personality than the original. What you see is just a clone with a facade.

Mitsuki, still trying to process what he was hearing, asked in disbelief:

—Are you saying that what I've seen all this time was just a clone?

Orochimaru, with a low, disturbing laugh, replied:

—Ku… ku… ku… That's right, Mitsuki-kun. That "sun" you thought you saw in Boruto was nothing more than a false light.

Mitsuki fell silent, her expression one of disbelief and deep disappointment. She had seen Boruto as her "sunshine," someone she could rely on.

Orochimaru noticed the silence and asked:

—Are you there, Mitsuki-kun?

Mitsuki finally spoke, with a cold gaze and a betrayed tone:

—Why is Boruto doing all this? What is the real Boruto like?

Orochimaru, with an understanding tone, replied:

—Don't blame yourself, Mitsuki-kun. It's our fault for giving you incorrect information.

Mitsuki, still searching for answers, insisted:

—Do the questions I asked you have an answer, Father?

Orochimaru replied in a gloomy tone:

—We only have fragments of information. Not even Konoha, nor the world, knows that the Boruto they see is just an empty shell. But, Mitsuki-kun, do you want to hear what we have, even if it doesn't fully answer your questions?

Mitsuki nodded determinedly:

—Yes, father. I want to know who Boruto is.

Orochimaru began to reveal the information carefully:

—We only have data on the real Boruto up until he was 6 or 7 years old. After that, the information becomes confusing. It was during that period that Boruto switched with the clone.

Mitsuki, impressed, asked:

—During those years, was Boruto able to fool everyone? How did he do it?

Orochimaru spoke in an enigmatic tone, leaving a pause before continuing:

—We don't know... But I'll stick with the information. Boruto, from the moment he was born, showed a mental capacity superior to that of other children. Even I observed him once and found him... unusually promising. I was somewhat curious, so I decided to have him watched from a distance, without giving it much importance at the time.

He paused, as if recalling those moments in detail before continuing:

—At nine months old, Boruto was already able to walk with the same dexterity as an older child, which still amazed me. Three years later, Boruto could read and write as if he were seven or eight years old, but he was only three. That impressed me, but what really blew my mind was when Boruto awakened his chakra… at three years old. When I heard about it from my informant, I couldn't believe it. How was it possible for such a young child to accomplish something like that?

Mitsuki, surprised by his father's information, could barely hide his astonishment.

Orochimaru continued, his voice growing deeper:

—During that same year, Boruto made two friends: a five-year-old boy named Jiro Takahashi and his little sister, Yuki Takahashi, barely three years old.

Orochimaru continued, his tone growing more somber as he recounted:

—Apparently, the situation in those children's lives was even more tragic. Jiro and Yuki's mother died giving birth to the girl, and their father, a survivor of the Fourth Great Ninja War, took out his pain and resentment on the little girl. He blamed her for his wife's death, and instead of offering her love, he ignored her. It was her older brother, Jiro, who took it upon himself to take care of her and protect her, despite his youth. Jiro also turned out to be a genius, and in the following years, he met Boruto.

Orochimaru paused meaningfully, watching Mitsuki's reaction before continuing:

—Mitsuki-kun, have you ever heard the saying 'like and opposite attract'?

Mitsuki, still processing the information, replied:

—No, father, I haven't heard it.

Orochimaru let out a soft, almost mocking laugh:

"You're so boring, Mitsuki-kun, ku... ku... ku..." He paused before resuming the conversation in a more somber tone. "Well, I'll continue with the information. Years later, as I told you, Jiro and Yuki met Boruto. They were both incredibly intelligent children for their age, and they got along well from the beginning. Boruto visited the Takahashi house several times, and on one of those visits he learned that his father was mistreating them. Determined to help them, Boruto taught them how to awaken their chakra, but only Jiro was able to do it.

Orochimaru paused, letting the information sink in to Mitsuki before continuing:

—For two years, Boruto helped Jiro train. However, Jiro's body did not have the genes to withstand the rigorous training, though he did not give up. But one special day came... On the same day Naruto took over as Hokage, Jiro and Yuki died.

Mitsuki, surprised by what he had just heard, asked:

—But it is not known how they died?

Orochimaru replied coldly:

—The autopsy revealed that little Yuki, only five years old, had a glass bottle stuck in her abdomen, which went all the way to her spine. Jiro, on the other hand, had fragments of the same bottle embedded in his head. That is how they died. Apparently, Jiro's dream was to become Hokage so that people like him would not suffer.

The silence that followed was thick, filled with emotions and unanswered questions, as darkness enveloped the room.

Orochimaru continued speaking:

—That's all the information we have so far about Boruto. I don't know if that answers your questions, Mitsuki-kun.

Mitsuki, with a thoughtful expression, asked:

—Father, who was the murderer of Boruto's friends and who gave us this information?

Orochimaru, with an amused smile, replied:

"Well, as for the killer of those little children… there's no concrete information. But it was most likely the father, since he disappeared without a trace. Ku… ku… ku…" he laughed softly before continuing. "As for the informant… it was Karin-chan. I left her in Konoha during those years for various reasons, and she wanted to spend time with Sasuke-kun's little daughter. So I asked her to keep an eye on Boruto from a distance. With her ability to sense chakra, she was able to detect Boruto's awakening."

Mitsuki nodded gratefully:

—Thank you, father.

Orochimaru replied in a casual tone:

—It's nothing, Mitsuki-kun. But, do you want to hear another part of what Karin-chan said about Boruto's chakra?

Mitsuki, intrigued, asked:

—What do you mean, father?

Orochimaru explained:

—You see, Karin's ability allows her to sense chakras and differentiate between them, knowing if a person is bad or good, or if they're lying or telling the truth. For example, Karin-chan has always described Naruto's chakra as warm and comforting. But when she described Boruto's chakra, she only said one thing: dangerous! It was neither good nor bad, just... dangerous. I'm telling you this because I don't want you to be in danger, Mitsuki-kun. If you decide to look for him, I don't want you to risk it.

Mitsuki asked cautiously:

—But, father, how did you know that Boruto was using a clone?

Orochimaru, with an enigmatic smile, replied:

—He came to visit me a few days ago, and that's when I realized he was a clone. We had a very interesting conversation, ku… ku… ku…

Mitsuki pondered for a moment before saying:

—It seems that only a few of my questions have been answered. Thank you, Father.

Orochimaru replied in a relaxed tone:

—You're welcome, Mitsuki-kun. Are you thinking of looking for him?

Mitsuki stated:

—Yes, father. I want to find the real Boruto. I already have the clone's chakra signature, I just have to follow it.

Orochimaru, with a slight concern in his voice, warned:

—Be careful, Mitsuki-kun. We don't know what abilities he might have.

Mitsuki nodded:

—Yes, father.

At that moment, the small white snake descended from Mitsuki's shoulder and disappeared into the shadows. Mitsuki began to run and jump between the rooftops, determined to find Boruto's clone.

In Orochimaru's lair, a being similar to Mitsuki, but more mature in appearance, watched the scene and commented:

—Was it a good idea to tell him all this?

Orochimaru, with a serene smile, replied:

—I don't know, but a father should always tell his children the truth.

The Mitsuki-like being nodded silently, as the light from the screen illuminated their faces.

Moments before Orochimaru and Mitsuki's conversation ended, dusk covered the village of Konoha in a warm orange glow. Shadows lengthened as the sun slid toward the horizon, and a cool breeze announced the arrival of night.

Boruto walked calmly through the streets of Konoha, a small smile on his face. He seemed carefree, as if he was enjoying the serene atmosphere of the village at the end of the day. However, as he approached a dark alley, that tranquility vanished.

In the dimness of the alley, a figure waited silently, almost invisible in the shadows. It was the real Boruto, who had been waiting patiently for his clone to pass by. The clone, noticing an unusual presence, stopped in his tracks and looked towards the alley, where the twilight light barely managed to penetrate.

Without a word, Boruto's clone made his way into the alley, leaving the safety of the brightly lit streets behind. As he walked forward, darkness enveloped them, hiding them from the outside world. Only the soft sounds of their footsteps on the ground and the distant murmur of the village broke the silence.

The clone spoke, his voice filled with confusion:

—What happened? Why did you show up?

Boruto looked at him with disinterest and replied:

—What happened today? Why did you take so long?

"I had to clean the classroom," the clone answered, somewhat uncomfortable.

"I see," Boruto said, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me what exactly happened."

The clone continued:

—Well, I played a prank on the principal and it seems that was my punishment. Oh, there will also be a field trip to the Land of Water.

Boruto thought for a moment before answering:

—So that's what happened. Well, you won't be going. I won't be able to cover for you this time, I have things to do and I'll need a lot of time.

The clone was surprised and protested:

—But I'm the representative! And how can I avoid going?

"What's wrong with you?" Boruto replied, not bothering to hide his apathy. "I don't understand you."

The clone glared at him and declared:

—I'll go on the excursion!

Boruto watched him without much interest, but a small smile appeared on his face:

—I see why you want to go on that pointless excursion.

"I want to spend time with my friends, I want to get back what we lost," the clone replied, with a mixture of frustration and determination.

Boruto let out a sarcastic laugh and said:

—Looks like you got what you were looking for, Boruto.

The clone looked at him in surprise:

-What do you mean?

Boruto spoke mockingly:

—Hahaha, how funny. I didn't think it would work. Did you really think that all I did was fool others and not myself, or in other words, fool the clone?

The clone, full of rage, took out a kunai and pointed it at him furiously:

—What did you do to me?

Boruto looked at him with amusement, almost mocking:

—Look, you already think you're a person, capable of making friends like those in the past.

The clone ran at full speed towards Boruto, sending his kunai attack towards Boruto's head with the intention of damaging him. Boruto quickly took out a three-pronged kunai and removed the clone's arm in one fluid movement.

The clone recoiled in surprise as blood began to flow from the wound, dripping everywhere. With a trembling voice, the clone exclaimed:

—Damn it! Why don't you give the people from the academy a chance? They're good people! And what's going on? Why don't you react to the experiences and feelings I give you when I disappear?

"You see, it's simple," Boruto replied coldly. "To answer your first question, I can't and I don't want to. And to answer your other question, those 'feelings' never come because I've manipulated what you feel and think from the beginning."

The clone, in shock, could barely ask:

-What do you mean?

—Hahaha, I'll explain it this way. I created a three-point connection: the clone that disappears, the clone that appears, and me. When a clone disappears, its experience reaches me, and when the new clone appears, I transfer that experience to it. However, the emotions of the clone that disappears are sent directly to the new clone. I did this so that this jutsu, which is more advanced than that of the shadow clones, would not affect me. In order to create a perfect clone, the clone must have emotions, or, so to speak, it must be an extension of myself.

The clone, eyes wide, unable to process what he was hearing, remained silent.

Boruto continued, his tone becoming more serious and dismissive:

"The game is over. What I see before me is just a shadow, a Boruto who hasn't known true suffering, who has forgotten the pain of defeat. You are someone pathetic, desperately seeking his father's attention, unable to move forward on his own. You cling to others, seeking to save others as if that would give you a purpose, as if that would fill the void inside you. It's pathetic… no, more than pathetic, it's a pitiful existence. But I… I am different. My goal is strange, I admit, but at least I can live in solitude, without needing the hypocritical support of others. I don't need their empty words, their attempts to comfort me. I have learned to walk alone, to find my strength in the darkness, without anyone dragging me towards the light. And that, my dear clone, is what makes me stronger than you."

With a quick gesture of his hands, Boruto made a sign and the clone disappeared, along with the blood and severed arm that dissolved into smoke. Boruto made another hand position and a new clone appeared.

"Go home quickly," Boruto ordered.

The clone nodded and, without saying anything else, skipped between the houses, leaving Boruto alone in the darkness.

In Boruto's mind, everything seemed to be in order. "I'll make the clone sick and not be able to go on that field trip. I have a lot of things to do," he thought. "The first thing will be to create my subordinate, or modify him would be the best way to put it." Boruto adopted a thoughtful pose, closing his eyes, and then spoke in a low voice, "Well, it's time to go. It's not good to stay in this place for too long; someone might see me, and it's not yet time for me to be seen."

At that moment, Boruto felt a chakra approaching at full speed.

"This chakra... it looks like a snake's..." he thought. " Mmm , it must be Mitsuki. It seems that Orochimaru has already told him everything. He's probably trying to catch up with my clone, but it's too late; my clone has already arrived home. Or has he sensed my chakra? That's impossible; I have a seal on my body... Mmm , what could it be?"

Boruto pondered for a few seconds, then quickly turned around and looked towards the spot where the clone that had disappeared had been. There, in the purest shadows, he saw a small white snake. Without wasting any time, Boruto disappeared in a Shunshin and appeared next to the snake, cutting off its head with his three-pronged kunai.

"Mitsuki really has us under surveillance..." Boruto muttered. " Mmm , the chakra is approaching faster. It's time to go." And with a yellow flash, Boruto disappeared from the spot.

A few minutes later, Mitsuki arrived at the spot and looked into a dark corner where the setting sun was not able to shine. There he saw his dead snake.

"It seems like he's able to sense chakra... it's a sensor," Mitsuki thought. "When I felt my snake die, I came faster, but I don't feel any trace of him. It's like he's disappeared." Mitsuki turned his gaze away and thought, "I can't go after the clone either; he's already arrived home. It seems like I won't be able to rest today. I'll search the entire village; I have to find him. I want to know if the light I'm following exists, and if it doesn't appear, I just have to attack Boruto from the academy tomorrow."

With that determination, Mitsuki disappeared in a Shunshin, determined to continue his search.

In an abandoned factory, Boruto appeared in a flash of yellow, the evening light filtering weakly through the broken windows. He began to walk towards his throne, located in the center of the factory, surrounded by three-pronged kunai and swords, all held in place by seals that stretched across the walls in an intricate pattern. A word written on the far wall, in large, dark characters, read "death," underscoring the ominous tone of the place.

The orange light of dusk bathed the ruins in a deceptive warmth, which contrasted with the coldness emanating from the young man. Boruto, after walking a few steps, arrived in front of the six clones of Shin that he had captured. Their bodies were inert, their expressions frozen in a mixture of bewilderment and despair.

—Moving them behind my throne was a pain —Boruto said disdainfully—. I didn't want to see them in front of me. I didn't want the visitors to see them. That would be rude... hahaha, I'm just kidding. It's time to have some fun, but first I'll get things ready for you.

The clones glared at him.

Boruto disappeared in a flash of yellow and reappeared in another place: the place where he had fought Shin's clones. The scene was gloomy, the dried blood had darkened, leaving reddish stains on the floor and walls.

—I left a mark of the Hiraishin here so I could return—he thought as he observed the place coldly. He wanted to find the laboratories that Shin had used to clone himself, hoping to take advantage of his equipment. —I hope Konoha didn't take anything.

He placed his hand on the ground, closing his eyes and sharpening his senses, searching for any trace of chakra at the base. After a few seconds, Boruto stood up, confirming in his mind:

—It seems like there's no one there. I thought Konoha would have intervened more, but it seems they left everything as it was before Shin's death. The only thing they took are the clones' bodies and Shin himself.

After a few minutes, Boruto was walking on the lake, his footsteps barely disturbing the surface of the water dyed red by the blood from the recent battle. He stopped at a part of the lake and looked down. The red water reflected his image: empty eyes, devoid of emotions, but with an amused smile curving his lips. He wore a black jacket that fluttered slightly in the breeze, matching pants and sandals, while a white shirt peeked out from under the open jacket. His hands, sheathed in black gloves, remained tucked into his pockets, completing an appearance that radiated a dark, cold confidence.

"This place is well hidden," Boruto thought, raising his head and continuing to walk on the lake.

—In Boruto's mind I will use this place from now on, but I have to hide it, make it disappear from the face of the world.

He stopped in the center of the lake and, with a firm gesture, made a sign with his hands and said:

—Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.

In a puff of smoke, 20 clones appeared, ready to receive his orders.

"Split up into groups of 10," Boruto ordered. "One group will place seals on the surface. Make sure there are no people around, and if there are, eliminate them. I want you to hide this place completely. The other group will search for the labs. Use Doujutsu to find them if necessary. If the labs were destroyed, find the parts and bring them back. I will assemble the machines. Now, go."

The clones disappeared in a Shunshin, and Boruto was left alone, darkness beginning to envelop the place as he prepared for his next move.

Boruto continued walking across the lake, his steps barely causing any ripples on the surface. Upon reaching the edge of a ravine, he made a nimble jump and sat on the edge, letting his legs dangle in the air as he watched the water and the subtle vibrations that spread through it.

A few minutes later, two clones arrived in a Shunshin and stopped in front of him.

"How did it go?" Boruto asked, not taking his eyes off the water.

The first clone spoke first, with a neutral but firm voice:

—We have already placed all the seals to hide the place. All that is missing is the activation.

"I'll take care of that," Boruto replied calmly.

The clone continued his report:

—We also scattered the seals of the Hiraishin and there was no one around.

Boruto nodded, his gaze then moving to the second clone.

The second clone took the floor:

—We found the lab. It's quite far from here, further back, in a completely dark area.

Boruto watched him with interest.

—Continue.

The clone nodded:

—The laboratory was hidden in one of the pillars, and we also found several rooms full of ninja weapons.

A smile appeared on Boruto's face.

—That's good. But we need to move all of that stuff here. We'll use the teleportation jutsu for large objects and place it in this place where I'm sitting. This will be my new training site. Here I'll be able to do high-powered jutsus… it'll be very interesting. But first things first.

Boruto stood up and, addressing the first clone, ordered:

—Get to your position. This place is too big for one person to handle, but that doesn't matter. I have clones, don't I? —he said with a light laugh.

The first clone nodded and disappeared in a yellow flash, appearing in a place surrounded by a circle of seals. The clones were positioned so that they surrounded the entire area, and the seals were connected like a chain, from circle to circle.

Boruto, standing up, jumped back into the lake and walked towards the center. At that moment, a circle of seals appeared beneath his feet. He looked down, watching the circle glow faintly, and thought, "It seems like it's not enough."

Looking up at the second clone, Boruto spoke:

—Go, join the other group of ten and help the other clones.

The clone nodded and disappeared in a flash of yellow. A few minutes passed, and the clones arranged themselves on the surface, with two clones in each circle of seals, back-to-back. The seals began to glow brighter. Boruto, deep within the cave, stood firm above the lake, eyes closed, while the clones on the surface did the same. At high speed, they all began to perform a series of hand positions. The seals surrounding them began to expand, covering the area completely. It was already nighttime, and the only light illuminating the place came from the seals, which joined together above the water and spread out everywhere.

When everything was covered, Boruto and the clones shouted in unison:

—Fūinjutsu: Genjutsu no Sekai! —(Sealing Art: Escape from Reality).

As his hands slammed into the ground and Boruto into the water, the seals glowed with blinding intensity until they disappeared in a fleeting instant. All of the clones vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Boruto panting and sweating from exhaustion.

"Damn it," Boruto thought as he tried to catch his breath. "The lack of chakra is a problem. I have very little left… I need to rest."

With a visible effort, he began to walk towards the ravine. When he arrived, he dropped down and lay down, looking at the ceiling of the cave. His mind was still active, although his body was crying out for rest.

"The seal is already in place. Even if they know this place exists, they won't be able to find it. It's disappeared from the world," he thought, exhaustion beginning to take hold. "Time to rest."

Staring blankly at the ceiling, Boruto let his thoughts wander, his body relaxing after the exhausting effort.

A few hours later, Boruto woke up, feeling his chakra renewed. With a light smile, he muttered to himself, "Looks like I've already recovered my chakra. It's time to change this place. First, I'll bring the pillar with the laboratory embedded in it." Without further ado, Boruto disappeared in a yellow flash, reappearing in front of the colossal pillar.

As he examined the structure, his thoughts aligned with his clone's memories, "This is where my clone was… I can see it clearly in his memory." Boruto assessed the situation and decided, "I'll have to cut off the top and bottom to move it."

With a confident gesture, Boruto performed a hand stance and uttered, "—Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!— " Amid a puff of smoke, five shadow clones appeared beside him.

Boruto, with a hint of amusement in his voice, said, "Hehehe... I want to try out that other technique I learned with my Dōjutsu." Looking at his clones, he ordered, "You guys will use the Hiraishin: J oso Shosokudo (Hiraishin: Projectile Displacement). This pillar is too big to be moved like a simple weapon. Also, this way, it will take less damage." The clones nodded and took up positions to execute the jutsu at the right time.

Boruto rose up on an earthen tower halfway up the pillar's height. He closed his eyes and concentrated, remaining in a handstand position as his chakra began to surround him with increasing intensity. In his mind, Boruto mused, "This technique is incredibly powerful, even more so than Kaminari no Isshin (One with Lightning). It consumes so much chakra that it could leave me without strength for a while. My biggest problem is still this damn lack of chakra. I can't execute all the jutsus in my arsenal at the same time. Enough thinking about that, focus!"

A few minutes passed as Boruto concentrated deeply, until his chakra began to vibrate vigorously around him. With his hands still in position, he opened his right eye and shouted, "—Ryumetsu no Kiri! (Space Dragon Slash)—." In an instant, powerful invisible slashes pierced through the top and bottom of the pillar, creating a deafening boom that echoed throughout the place. BOOM!

The clones, synchronized, performed various hand positions and shouted in unison: "—Hiraishin: Joso Shosokudo! —". A large seal appeared in the middle of the pillar, beginning to swallow the gigantic structure. The pillar fell into the ravine where Boruto had been before, causing another loud bang, BOOM!

Boruto, in an authoritative voice, shouted, "Go check it out! Fix it if you need to!" The clones disappeared in yellow flashes, and a moment later, they were inspecting the pillar, which had been perfectly aligned with the floor and ceiling of the place. In this way, the pillar ended up positioned next to the lake.

Moments later, Boruto appeared in another yellow flash, but his body was exhausted. He collapsed to the ground face down, but with effort he managed to turn around and shouted, "Clones, help me! Take me to the laboratory and lay me down on one of the beds." The clones, obeying, quickly lifted him up and laid him down on a stone bed. With a mix of frustration and exhaustion, Boruto muttered, "Didn't that Shin's ribs hurt sleeping on this? Agh , well, nevermind... let's rest. My eyes can't take it anymore."

With those words, Boruto fell asleep, and the clones vanished into smoke, leaving only the silence of the place.