Boruto the Akatsuki: In Search of Power 20

In the previous chapter: Sakura noticed the urgency in Naruto's voice and determinedly led them to Kakashi's hospital room. Upon arriving, they found Kakashi conscious but weak, accompanied by Shino, Anko, and Konohamaru. The atmosphere was tense, as Naruto searched for answers regarding Boruto's disappearance.

Hiashi intervened, revealing that Boruto had displayed extraordinary power during a recent confrontation. Kakashi confirmed that Boruto had not only rivaled him, but might have had access to the forbidden scroll, which would explain his mastery of advanced techniques. The situation with Boruto was far more serious than anyone imagined.

In this excerpt, Naruto ponders where Boruto might be and concludes that he is likely in Shin's hideout, a place they had visited together in the past. Determined, Naruto declares that they must find his son and confront him, no matter who he is or what he has done.

The mystery surrounding Boruto's true power and intentions continues to grow, as Naruto prepares for an inevitable confrontation.

Naruto arrived at his office with Shikamaru walking behind him. His face was filled with worry as he opened the door. He immediately walked over to his desk and, without turning around, spoke with determination:

—I want you to send a team of shinobi to Shin's hideout. I want them to find Boruto and bring him back. Also, tell Ino to be on the lookout in case Boruto tries to come back to the village. I need to hear him, I need to know what he has to say when he's in front of me —he said as he sat down in his chair.

Shikamaru stood beside her, arms crossed. His expression was calm, but there was a note of uncertainty in his voice.

—I understand. We must find him as soon as possible, but I am still surprised that he has reached that level. I wonder, Naruto, what will you do when you have him in front of you? You are his father... but you are also the Hokage.

Naruto sighed, leaning back in his chair and looking up at the ceiling, as if searching for an answer that had yet to come.

—I don't know, Shikamaru. I feel like the Boruto I knew is a complete stranger now. I just want to hear his words, to know what he thinks... —her voice cracked a little—. What do you think?

Shikamaru thought for a few seconds before answering calmly.

—I can't tell you what to do, neither as a father nor as Hokage. But if what Kakashi said is true, you should be very careful. Boruto could be more dangerous than you think. If he's as cruel as Kakashi says, he could use your emotions against you. If it were me, I wouldn't let my guard down at all.

Naruto nodded slowly, biting his lip as he processed Shikamaru's words.

—I'll be careful what I say. I can't afford to make any more mistakes.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Naruto, without looking up, gave permission to enter.

-Forward.

The door slowly opened, and a familiar figure crossed the threshold. Tsunade, the former Hokage, walked with the same confidence as always.

—Hello, Naruto. How are you? —Tsunade asked, her tone neutral but with a hint of concern. —What's going on? I saw Saku very scared yesterday, but he didn't give me any details.

Naruto looked up at her, surprised by her sudden visit. He scratched the back of his neck, as if he didn't know where to start.

"Hello, Grandma Tsunade..." she replied, her tone tense. "About yesterday... I'm afraid my son had a lot to do with it."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, in disbelief at what she was hearing.

"Did Saku tell me the truth?" he asked as he approached Naruto's desk. "I didn't think Boruto was capable of something so serious. But I'll listen to you, Naruto, tell me what exactly is happening."

Naruto lowered his head and began to recount everything that had happened with Boruto, from the truth about his immense power to the battle in the forest. Tsunade listened to him silently, her eyes growing wider in surprise.

When she finished, she sighed deeply, processing the information.

—I never imagined your son would reach that level, Naruto. This is serious... I hope you can handle it. You're going to need all your strength and more than ever you must be careful.

Naruto nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

—I will, Grandma. I have no other choice.

Tsunade slowly stood up after listening to Naruto and, with a slight smile, said:

—Well, Naruto, let me know when Boruto shows up. I want to meet him, talk to him, and help you in any way I can. You're not alone in this.

Naruto nodded silently, grateful for the former Hokage's support, as she said her goodbyes and left the office. Silence filled the space for a few seconds, until Shikamaru broke it with his usual tone, but with a hint of seriousness.

—Naruto, there's something else. What are we going to do about the genin exam? —she asked, reminding him of one of his pending concerns.

Naruto, staring at the pile of papers on his desk, thought for a moment. His mind was still on Boruto, but he knew that responsibilities couldn't wait.

"I think it would be best to do it tomorrow. Let's give them one more day to recover," he finally replied. "The senseis must be prepared by now, and we can't let this drag on any longer."

Shikamaru nodded, satisfied with the decision. Without another word, he walked towards the door, ready to attend to the day's tasks. Naruto stayed at his desk, looking at the papers waiting for him, but his mind was elsewhere. Thoughts of Boruto, his decisions as Hokage, and the future of the village enveloped him, making the pile of work seem insignificant in comparison.

However, he knew that duty called, and with a deep sigh, he focused again on his work, although his heart remained heavy.

Shikamaru arrived at the office of Ino and Sai, the people in charge of the Konoha barrier and the shinobi of the village. Ino greeted him with a questioning look, while Sai bowed slightly in respect.

"Shikamaru, what's going on? There are rumors everywhere," Ino asked.

Shikamaru sighed, knowing there would be more questions soon.

"I need you to send a team to investigate Shin's hideout. We think Boruto might be there," he said, without adding any further details.

Sai raised an eyebrow in surprise.

—Boruto? Why would he be there?

"That's what we need to find out," Shikamaru replied. "I can't reveal too many details, but it's related to yesterday's accident. I need the best people for this mission, but keep it low-key. I don't want it to draw attention or get the situation out of control."

Sai nodded his head.

Shikamaru turned his gaze like this and spoke. I want you to report if Boruto's chakra appears in the village.

Ino nodded, focused.

—If we detect Boruto's chakra near the village we will let you know immediately.

Shikamaru nodded in relief upon hearing Ino's words.

—Perfect. Make sure any information goes directly to me or the Hokage —he said, looking between the two of them.

Sai nodded, closing his name pad.

"Understood. We will take care of it immediately," Sai added.

"Thank you," Shikamaru replied. "I'm leaving. I have more things to take care of with Naruto, but keep me informed."

Shikamaru, after saying goodbye to Ino and Sai, walked towards the ninja academy. The day was calm, but tension was in the air, especially after recent events. Upon arriving at the academy, he was greeted with a respectful greeting from the students and teachers .

He headed straight to the office of the academy's director, Iruka Umino . Knocking on the door, he heard the familiar voice of his former teacher:

-Forward.

Shikamaru walked in, finding Iruka looking over some student-related paperwork. Iruka looked up and offered him a smile, though his eyes were filled with worry.

"Shikamaru," Iruka said, "I was waiting for news. I assume you're here to talk about what happened yesterday."

Shikamaru nodded, taking a seat across from him.

"Yes, but I also wanted to inform you that the genin exam will be held tomorrow," Shikamaru began. "After everything that happened, we feel it is important not to delay the event any further. The students and sensei are nervous, but it is best that we deal with it immediately."

Iruka frowned for a moment.

—I understand. The teachers are worried, and some of the students are still scared about what happened. Are you sure it's for the best?

"I know, but we need to move on. Keeping the students in that state of uncertainty will only make things worse. We need to restore normality as quickly as possible," Shikamaru explained, his tone calm but firm.

Iruka sighed, nodding his head.

—You're right. We can't let fear control these kids' future. I'll make sure they're all prepared for tomorrow.

"Thank you, Iruka," Shikamaru said as he stood up to leave. "If any problems arise, don't hesitate to contact us."

Iruka stood up as well, his expression a little more relaxed.

—I will. I trust that everything will turn out well. And Shikamaru... take care. This matter with Boruto doesn't seem easy.

"I know," Shikamaru replied with a slight smile. "But we'll handle it."

After exchanging a final look of understanding, Shikamaru left the office, leaving Iruka to prepare the students for the exam. He knew that the next few days would be decisive, not only for the genin, but for the entire village.

Some time later, Sai's team left the village in search of Boruto. After running for several hours, they reached a barren area where the land was a desolate white color. Sai took out a map and pointed in a direction. The shinobi accompanying him nodded and began to run again, following their leader's directions. However, after a while, Sai stopped abruptly.

"Shin's base is not here," he said seriously.

The shinobi looked at him in surprise.

"What are you talking about, Sai-san?" one of them asked.

—Shin's base should be here, or very close to here... unless the map is wrong, which I doubt. Even I've been here in the past — Sai replied with a mix of confusion and frustration.

One of the shinobi, worried, asked:

—What do we do now, Sai-san?

Sai meditated for a few seconds before giving a new order.

—We'll split into groups of two. We'll search the entire area, and if we don't find anything in an hour, we'll meet back here.

The shinobi nodded and disappeared in a Shunshin, dispersing in different directions. Sai remained in place for a little longer, observing the surroundings, before also disappearing in a Shunshin.

An hour later, all the shinobi returned to the meeting point, appearing in bursts of speed. Sai arrived riding an ink bird, jumped to the ground and approached the group.

"Did you find anything?" he asked, hoping for a positive response.

However, one by one, the shinobi reported that they had found nothing. They searched the entire area, but there was no sign of Shin's hideout. It was as if it had never existed.

Sai frowned and spoke in disbelief.

"What's going on…" he muttered, destroying the ink bird with a quick seal. "Send a message to Konoha, reporting that we found no trace of Shin's lair. It's as if he's disappeared."

One of the shinobi nodded, made some hand positions and shouted:

—Kuchiyose no Jutsu!

From a puff of smoke, a summoning bird appeared. The shinobi took out a scroll, quickly wrote the message, and tied it to the bird's leg. With a quick flap of its wings, the winged messenger flew off in the direction of Konoha.

"Let's wait an hour. The message will arrive after that time," Sai said, his gaze fixed on the sky.

The shinobi nodded, and remained silent, waiting for the village's response.

In Konoha Village, the messenger bird quickly arrived at the information office, where Ino was working. Seeing the messenger on the bird's leg, she gently received it and untied the message that was on its leg. She opened the little piece of paper and read it carefully.

Ino frowned as she read that they hadn't found Shin's hideout. Wasting no time, she activated her mind communication jutsu. With a fluid movement of her hands, she connected her chakra and contacted Shikamaru directly through his mind.

"Shikamaru," he said calmly, "I just received a message from Sai. They searched the location of Shin's hideout, but found nothing. It's as if he never existed. What do we do now?"

Shikamaru, who was in Naruto's office, listened to the message seriously as his mind began to analyze the situation.

—Ino, connect our minds with Naruto —Shikamaru requested, without wasting time.

Ino nodded, concentrating her chakra. Moments later, she felt the link and spoke:

—That's it, they're connected.

Naruto quickly intervened.

—I already heard what you told Shikamaru. If what you say is true, then Boruto could be in that place. Is there a reason why they didn't find Shin's hideout?

Shikamaru took a moment to think before answering:

—The Sixth Hokage mentioned that in order to learn Hiraishin, it is necessary to master Fuinjutsu. It is possible that Boruto has placed a barrier that hides the lair.

—So what do we do? —Naruto asked worriedly— We have to find him. I'll go with my Sage Mode, I'm sure I can locate him.

Shikamaru interrupted him:

—You can't leave the village, Naruto. Besides, it's possible that Boruto has prepared himself so that even with Sage Mode, it will be difficult to find him. The only option is a sensor. Boruto is also a sensor, so he may have created a barrier capable of hiding from normal sensor techniques. But, if my theory is correct, we need an extremely strong sensor. What do you think?

Naruto thought for a while, then spoke cautiously:

—I can think of someone... but I'm not sure it's the best idea.

Shikamaru looked at him curiously.

—Who are you talking about?

"She's a subordinate of Orochimaru," Naruto replied. "She's capable of detecting chakra from a great distance. She might be at Boruto's level or even above him."

Shikamaru frowned.

"Karin Uzumaki?" he said, understanding. "It could work."

Ino intervened.

—So I should send that message to Sai?

"Tell him we'll send reinforcements soon," Naruto confirmed.

Ino nodded and disconnected the chakra communication. Then, Shikamaru, who had been watching Naruto with concern, spoke:

—Are you sure about this, Naruto?

"We have no choice," Naruto replied, determined.

With that determination, Naruto picked up the phone from his desk and pressed a few buttons before bringing it to his ear.

Meanwhile, in Orochimaru's lair, Orochimaru himself was immersed in his laboratory, staring at various computers with a calm yet calculating expression. Beside him, Suigetsu watched him silently. Suddenly, the ringing of the phone interrupted the peaceful atmosphere.

Orochimaru turned his gaze curiously towards the phone, picked it up and brought it to his ear.

"Who is it?" he asked in an intriguing tone.

"It's me, Orochimaru... Naruto," the Hokage replied on the other end of the line.

Orochimaru smiled.

—Ku... ku... ku... But it's Naruto-kun. I didn't think you would call me. How can I help you this time?

"Orochimaru, I need a favor," Naruto said, his voice firm. "I want to borrow one of your subordinates."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

—Another favor you ask of me, Naruto-kun. I wonder, why would you want one of my shinobi? And... who do you have in mind? I only have three under my command at the moment. Ku... ku... ku...

"I want to borrow Karin Uzumaki," Naruto replied bluntly. "She's so she can help me find someone."

Orochimaru opened his eyes slightly, but quickly returned to his usual expression.

—Of course I can lend it to you, after all, you owe me a lot for taking care of my son. But tell me, how is Mitsuki?

—Don't worry, he's fine. He's made a lot of friends —Naruto replied.

"I'm glad to hear it," Orochimaru let out a small laugh before continuing, "But since I'm lending you Karin, I'm curious. Who do you want to find, Naruto-kun?"

There was a brief silence before Naruto answered, his voice tense.

—My son. I want to find Boruto.

Orochimaru looked surprised for a moment.

—Ku... ku... ku... Missing, you say? Or is it possible that something else happened?

Naruto didn't answer directly.

—Send Karin to Shin Uchiha's old hideout. Some Konoha shinobi will be waiting for her there.

Orochimaru, with an even wider smile, replied:

—Naruto-kun, I wonder... Can I accompany you on this mission? My subordinates and I could also be useful, besides... I'm interested in investigating the remains of Shin's laboratory. I don't think there'll be a problem, right?

Naruto frowned, noticing the hidden ambition in Orochimaru's words.

—What are you planning, Orochimaru?

—Don't worry, Naruto-kun. I just want to collect some data for my research. Can I go?

Naruto was silent for a moment before answering.

—Alright. You will meet the Konoha shinobi at that place.

—Thank you, Naruto-kun. It will be interesting. Ku... ku... ku... —Orochimaru replied, hanging up the phone.

Shikamaru, who had heard the entire conversation, approached Naruto.

—Are you sure it was the right thing to let Orochimaru get involved? I don't trust him.

Naruto nodded, though not entirely convinced.

—It's true that he's not trustworthy, but if what Kakashi-sensei said is true, having Orochimaru nearby could prevent Boruto from attacking them directly. At least this way we'll be able to control the situation better.

Shikamaru nodded, accepting Naruto's words.

Back in the lair, Orochimaru let out another of his sinister laughs.

—Ku... ku... ku... Suigetsu, we have a mission. Go find the others. We're heading to an interesting place to look for someone.

Suigetsu, curious, asked:

—Who are we going to look for this time, Orochimaru-sama?

Orochimaru looked at him with a mischievous smile.

—The Hokage's son. It seems Naruto has already discovered who Boruto really is. Ku... ku... ku...

Suigetsu opened his eyes in surprise.

—Boruto? The Hokage's son?

"That's right," Orochimaru replied with amusement. "My dear son Mitsuki told me something interesting: Boruto Uzumaki was able to defeat Kakashi Hatake."

Suigetsu gaped.

—The Sixth Hokage?

—That's right. But stop being surprised and go gather the others. We're leaving immediately —Orochimaru ordered, losing interest in the conversation.

Suigetsu quickly left in search of the other subordinates, while Orochimaru muttered to himself:

—Ku... ku... ku... This is fascinating. Boruto-kun, I'm looking forward to seeing what else you have in store...

Suigetsu, after running off, returned to Orochimaru's office shortly after, accompanied by Karin and Jugo. Karin, with an irritated expression, was the first to speak.

—Orochimaru, what's going on? I was just checking some important samples. What's so urgent?

Orochimaru, with his classic smile, turned in his chair to look at them all.

—Ku... ku... ku... Karin, we have a special mission. Apparently, the Hokage has requested us. They want you to help find a person... and that person is Boruto Uzumaki.

Karin frowned upon hearing the name.

—Boruto? Why would they want me to look for him? He has a pretty unique chakra, doesn't he?

"That's right, Karin. But it seems he's learned a few new tricks, and now even ordinary sensors can't locate him. Naruto-kun wants you to use your skills to help," Orochimaru replied, amused. "Besides, I'm also interested in observing him closely. There's something else about Boruto that's starting to catch my attention."

Jugo, who had remained silent until now, raised an eyebrow.

—And why us, Orochimaru-sama? Is it so dangerous that they need it?

Orochimaru looked at him with an enigmatic smile.

—It could be. There's a lot more to Boruto than meets the eye. He defeated Kakashi Hatake himself in combat, and that should say a lot. Plus, I want to investigate the remains of Shin's lab. I think we might find something valuable.

Suigetsu, who was leaning against the wall, let out a nervous laugh.

—This sounds like an interesting mission. I wonder what will happen if Boruto decides to confront us.

Karin looked at him with a mixture of annoyance.

—This isn't a game, Suigetsu. If Boruto has gone this far, he may be more dangerous than we think.

Orochimaru slowly stood up from his seat and began walking towards the door.

—We'll leave immediately. Konoha's team is already waiting at Shin Uchiha's old hideout. We don't want to keep the Hokage waiting, do we?

The three subordinates nodded and, without another word, followed Orochimaru out of the lair. Upon reaching the entrance, Yamato stood in front of Orochimaru and spoke seriously:

—The Seventh has contacted us. Everything is already settled, we will go with you, Orochimaru.

Orochimaru gave his usual mischievous smile.

—Ku... ku... ku... I understand. But I hope you can keep up with me —he replied in a mocking tone.

Yamato looked at him for a few seconds before calmly replying:

—Lead the way, Orochimaru.

Orochimaru glanced at his subordinates, who instantly understood. Each of them took out a dark cloak and put it on, concealing their identities.

"We can't let them see us so easily," Orochimaru said, also covering himself with a cloak that Suigetsu had given him. "It's better to travel this way."

Yamato, unfazed, replied:

—I don't care. It's time to fulfill the Hokage's mission. Let's go!

Orochimaru chuckled softly as he adjusted the cloak around his shoulders.

—But what violence... Weren't you taught to be civilized?

Yamato looked at him coldly.

—Coming from you, those words sound quite ironic. Maybe you should have said them to yourself in the past.

Orochimaru smiled, revealing a flash of his fangs.

—Ku... ku... ku... You're right. Well, it's time to go.

With that signal, Orochimaru and his subordinates disappeared in a Shunshin, moving quickly through the trees. Yamato looked at his team, who nodded before also disappearing in a Shunshin, following Orochimaru's team.

They spent several hours running and jumping through the trees before they finally reached a barren area of a whitish hue. Orochimaru stopped his pace and spoke:

—We're close now. Just a little bit more.

They ran for a few more minutes until they finally reached a Konoha shinobi team. Sai was watching the place intently. Noticing the group's arrival, he turned his gaze and spoke:

—Reinforcements have arrived.

The shinobi beside him stood on guard, watching from afar as a group of cloaked men, along with the Konoha team, approached. As they got closer, Sai stepped forward.

—Captain Yamato, everything is ready.

Yamato approached Sai, maintaining formality.

"Well, if everything is ready, this is where we will begin the search," Yamato replied.

Sai nodded, but couldn't help but cast a distrustful glance at the hooded men accompanying Yamato.

—Why did you bring someone so troublesome?

Yamato, with a serious look, replied:

—The Hokage gave them permission. I'm here to watch over them. I won't interfere with your mission, Sai.

Sai nodded again, though not very convinced. Then, he turned his attention to the hooded men and spoke loudly:

—So, Karin, can you help us?

Karin removed her hood, revealing her face.

"That's what I'm here for. I'll do everything I can," he replied, determination in his voice.

Sai spoke, with a mix of concern and curiosity:

—Then go ahead, I hope we can find him.

Karin nodded and crouched down, placing a hand on the ground and closing her eyes. Everyone fell silent, attentive to Karin's movements. With deep concentration, she began to spread her sensory ability across the desolate field, searching for any trace of chakra.

A few moments later, he opened his eyes and spoke:

—I can't find anything... It's like I'm not even in this place.

The others looked at each other, confused. It was then that Orochimaru, still hooded, intervened:

—Focus more, Karin-chan. Use all the chakra you need.

Karin nodded, closing her eyes again. This time, with greater intensity, she sent her sensory ability out in all directions, searching for even the tiniest trace of chakra. As she did so, she delved deeper into her thoughts, thinking: How can there be nothing here? So, she redoubled her efforts, stretching her mind out even further.

After a few minutes, something caught his attention. His eyes snapped open, his expression one of determination.

"I found the chakra," he said, his voice firm.

Sai quickly stepped forward.

—What direction is it?

Karin frowned, somewhat confused.

—I'm not sure in which exact direction, but I know it's in this place. I sensed its chakra, though... there's something strange.

Sai looked at her, intrigued, and just as he was about to say something, Orochimaru spoke again:

—What do you mean, Karin-chan?

Karin took a deep breath before answering.

—I could sense three other chakras in this place, besides ours. But, when I tried to locate where exactly they were coming from, something threw me off… as if the chakra had been altered. I couldn't track it precisely.

Sai crossed his arms, thinking.

—So he's here, but... how will we find him? This place is quite big. We might need to bring in more Konoha shinobi to comb the area.

Orochimaru brought a hand to his chin, thinking for a moment, before speaking with a smile almost invisible under his hood.

—I think I know what's going on. Boruto-kun... he's quite the genius.

Everyone looked at him expectantly, including those who didn't know it was Orochimaru.

Sai, still skeptical, asked:

-What do you mean?

Orochimaru dropped his hand and explained:

—Karin-chan, when you sensed the chakra of those three people and strayed… at that moment, you felt like this was the right place, but it wasn't really, right?

Karin nodded slowly, remembering the strange feeling.

—Yes, it's like I've been disoriented...

Orochimaru continued his explanation.

—It's possible that Boruto created some kind of seal or barrier that disorients the sensors. It's similar to a compass that goes haywire when there's a magnetic field nearby. The needle spins without being able to point north. Boruto probably did that so they couldn't track him.

Sai, visibly frustrated, asked:

—So how will we find him?

Orochimaru smiled slightly under his cloak.

—We just have to find the source of that "magnetism", and everything will be resolved.

Sai raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

—And how will we find it?

Orochimaru looked at Karin and her team, and with a smile barely visible under his hood, he began to explain:

—The trick will be to find the anomaly. In compasses, it is impossible to identify the magnetic field until we leave its area of influence, but with chakra it is different. The further we are from the center of the seal or barrier, the better the sensory ability will work. So, we just have to look for the area where the disorientation is greatest. There we will find the source, and Boruto will be within that field.

Sai thought for a few seconds before speaking, with a somewhat worried expression:

—It might work, but I only have one sensor on my team and Karin and I would be two. It will take us quite a while to cover such a large area.

Orochimaru shrugged, dismissing the complaint with a sarcastic smile.

—It is what it is. Unless you have a better idea, of course... —he said mockingly.

Sai looked at him indifferently, scratched his head and replied with resignation:

—We'll do as you say. I just hope it doesn't take too long.

Karin prepared herself again, while Sai and the rest of the team began coordinating the sweep of the area. They all knew that time was of the essence, but they also knew that finding Boruto would not be an easy task.

Sai spoke, taking command of the situation:

—We'll split into two teams. You'll search in the north, and we'll search in the south. If you find anything, let us know immediately.

Turning his gaze to Yamato, Sai added:

—You know what to do.

Yamato nodded confidently.

"Don't worry," he replied firmly.

Orochimaru, hearing the plan, let out a barely audible laugh before speaking.

—Ku... ku... ku... Since everything is in order, I'll take my leave for now.

With that last word, Orochimaru and his group disappeared in a Shunshin, moving towards their assigned area.

Yamato and his team, following the plan, also vanished in a quick Shunshin, while Sai watched his own team.

"We too. Let's go," Sai said, and in an instant, he and his group were gone, heading south.

Thus, the search began with each group taking their position to try to locate Shin Uchiha's lair.

As night fell, progress was slow. The day passed without the search being concluded, and the first light of a new day was already beginning to appear on the horizon.

In Boruto's hideout, Kuroshi was staring at the computer screens, with Moku resting on his shoulders. Both of them were watching their master's recovery.

Moku spoke, his tone worried:

—You should rest, Kuroshi. You've been awake for too long.

Kuroshi, his eyes fixed on the screens, replied:

—I have to wait for Boruto-sama to wake up.

Moku insisted:

—But your body won't hold out much longer.

Kuroshi was about to retort when a high-pitched sound echoed throughout the lair. The noise suddenly stopped, and the water in the incubator where Boruto was resting was violently ejected. A few seconds later, the incubator opened, revealing Boruto, who slowly opened his eyes. He stepped out of the incubator as the remnants of the liquid still dripped down his body.

Kuroshi and Moku watched him in silence, unable to utter a word.

Boruto turned his gaze towards them and spoke, his tone firm and direct:

—How long was I asleep?

Kuroshi, coming out of his astonishment, immediately replied:

—Boruto-sama, you were asleep for more than 24 hours.

Boruto looked at him for a few seconds, his eyes narrowed, and asked:

—How do you know my name? I never told you.

Kuroshi gulped before answering:

—I had it in my memories, Boruto-sama.

Boruto watched him for a few more moments and then said coldly:

—I told you to call me leader, but that's okay. Call me that, after all, it doesn't matter.

Kuroshi nodded, as Moku intervened:

—I could call you that too.

Boruto looked at him and nodded indifferently. He made a sign with his hand and, in a puff of smoke, a scroll appeared. He was about to open it, but something stopped him. He raised his head towards the ceiling, as if sensing something.

Kuroshi noticed the change in his master and asked:

—Is something wrong, Boruto-sama?

Boruto lowered his head as he opened the scroll and replied:

—We have visitors. And apparently, a snake too.

Kuroshi strained his eyes, trying to grasp what his master was perceiving:

—Do you want me to take care of them, Boruto-sama?

Boruto took out clothes from the scroll and while looking at them, he spoke calmly:

—You don't have enough strength to finish them off. If they were just Konoha shinobi, there wouldn't be a problem. But... there's the snake. That guy will kill you.

Kuroshi opened his eyes, alarmed:

—Is it Orochimaru? What do we do, Boruto-sama?

Boruto put the scroll away with another wave of his hand, creating a fresh puff of smoke. He walked over to a stone bed and began putting on his clothes. A few minutes later, he was fully dressed, adjusting his gloves with precision.

"Don't worry, Kuroshi," Boruto said in a calculated tone. "I'll take care of that. And besides, the month you had to train won't be met. You'll have to get out of here right now. Things have gone wrong… The plan I had has been shattered, so we'll have to move on to plan B."

Kuroshi looked at him determinedly, nodding, knowing that Boruto's orders were unbreakable.

Kuroshi spoke, accepting his fate:

—So, it's time for me to leave this place.

Boruto walked towards him, with a serious but confident look, and replied:

—I hope you can fulfill what I have entrusted to you, Kuroshi.

Kuroshi nodded.

Boruto continued speaking.

—You and Moku will be partners until I decide.

Kuroshi and Moku, in unison, responded respectfully:

—Whatever you say, Boruto-sama.

A faint smile appeared on Boruto's face. With a quick movement, he pulled out a scroll in a puff of smoke. He unfolded it and, hitting a seal, a black cloak and a white mask with a smile engraved on it appeared. He handed them to Kuroshi firmly:

—From today on, you will wear this mask and this cloak. You will not take them off until I order it. And one more thing: bandage your right arm. Don't let anyone see your sharingans, unless you are in a life or death situation.

Kuroshi received the cloak and mask, and put them on diligently. His voice echoed earnestly:

—Master, what is the mission?

Moku, with the hood of his cloak already up, remained silent, waiting for Boruto's orders.

Boruto watched them for a few moments, assessing them, then closed the scroll in his hand, handing it to Kuroshi. Kuroshi received it, his gaze focused on his master. Boruto turned his gaze to Moku and spoke firmly:

—Moku, you will be Kuroshi's transport. Also, follow his orders, but give him advice when he can no longer continue. You will be his support. Heal him when he is hurt, do you understand, Moku?

"Whatever you say, Boruto-sama," Moku replied without hesitation.

Boruto turned his attention to Kuroshi and explained:

—In that scroll you will find food, clothing, ninja weapons, information, maps and other supplies. There is also a sealed three-pronged kunai. When you can no longer take it, take out the kunai and send chakra to it. At that time, I will appear to support you. Now, I will tell you what you must do. In theory, there will only be two missions.

Kuroshi adopted a more serious expression, waiting for Boruto's next instructions.

—First —Boruto said in a serious tone—, survive. Second, you will look for places for me. In the scroll you will find a list of those places. Your mission will be to collect information about them and locate them. Since you have the ability to move with Moku's space-time jutsu, it will be easier for both of us to accomplish this task. That will be your job… or both of us.

Kuroshi was surprised at the simplicity, yet severity of the first mission. Beneath his mask, a slight smile of determination peeked out as he replied:

—Don't worry, Boruto-sama. I will fulfill my mission, no matter what.

Boruto smiled, satisfied with the answer, and added:

—The scroll also contains the Fuinjutsu technique: Genjutsu no Sekai (Sealing Art: Escape from Reality). When you reach the designated location, place the seal. Do you understand?

"Understood," Kuroshi replied, bowing deeply. "I will fulfill your mission, Boruto-sama."

Boruto nodded and, with a parting tone, ordered them:

—Go away at once. Moku, take him away.

Moku nodded from Kuroshi's shoulder. Activating his Mangekyo Sharingan, they both disappeared in a swirling vortex of black and white, leaving Boruto alone in the room.

Boruto made a handstand and shouted:

—Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!

Several clones appeared in a puff of smoke, quickly dispersing around the room. Boruto calmly took out a scroll and ordered them:

—Keep everything in this scroll.

The clones nodded in unison and began to quickly gather the technology and gadgets, storing them into the scroll efficiently. A while later, everything was ready. Boruto lifted the scroll and stored it away in a puff of smoke.

With a smile on his face, Boruto muttered:

—It's time to see what that snake has to say...

In a flash of yellow, Boruto disappeared from the room.

On the surface, a few minutes earlier with Orochimaru's team:

Suigetsu, sitting lazily on a rock, spoke:

—Orochimaru-sama, I don't think he's in this place. I think it's best if we go, I'm already sleepy.

Karin interrupted him:

—Shut up, Suigetsu! You're distracting me.

Suigetsu, yawning with obvious sleepiness, ignored him. Meanwhile, Jugo watched attentively around him, a bird in his hand.

In Orochimaru's mind, he was thinking, "What an annoying barrier. I wonder how he was able to create it. I'm getting more and more curious to meet the real Boruto... ku... ku... ku... It's been a long time since something intrigued me like this."

Outside of her mind, time passed as Orochimaru continued to move from place to place, searching for Shin's lair. After a few minutes, Karin spoke urgently:

—Lord Orochimaru! Two chakras have disappeared from the area.

Orochimaru, interested, replied:

—Two chakras have disappeared? Were you able to locate the place where it happened?

Karin nodded:

—One of the chakras increased sharply and then disappeared, taking another one with it. Just before it vanished, I felt its presence in that direction.

Karin pointed to a spot on the horizon, and Orochimaru gave new instructions:

—Karin, lead us. Yamato, you should call the others.

Yamato looked at him with disdain before turning to one of the shinobi:

—Go and find Sai's team. Tell them we found something.

The shinobi nodded quickly and ran in the direction of Sai's team.

Karin started running, followed by the rest of the team. After a few minutes, she stopped abruptly and declared:

—This is it, we have arrived, Lord Orochimaru.

Orochimaru, who was behind Karin, walked in front of her, crouched down, and placed a hand on the ground. He concentrated a large amount of chakra, causing the ground to begin to crack. However, instead of continuing, the crack disappeared, replaced by a ripple that expanded as if it were water. Orochimaru urgently shouted:

—Jump!

Everyone present followed his order and jumped, landing on nearby rocks. In front of them appeared a dome jutting out from the ground, from where the waves continued to expand from the point where Orochimaru had touched. The dome had an image that camouflaged itself perfectly with the rest of the landscape.

"That's the barrier," Orochimaru said. "If I hadn't sent out my chakra, we wouldn't even have noticed it. The moment you step on it, you enter a genjutsu, making you think you're walking on solid ground."

Everyone was shocked to hear Orochimaru's words.

Yamato spoke:

—So, the one who placed this barrier must be an expert. I don't have all the information, but they said we were looking for Naruto's son. So whoever has it must have been the one who created this barrier.

Orochimaru laughed in his usual sarcastic tone:

—Ku... ku... ku... Do you really believe that? Well, in a few moments you will know the whole truth.

A few minutes later, Sai's team arrived.

"Have you found the place?" Sai asked.

Yamato pointed to the area:

—It's here, but there doesn't seem to be anything visible.

Sai watched, confused.

Orochimaru leaped up, landing on the edge of a rock. With a chakra-charged punch, he launched it forward, crashing into something invisible. The impact caused the ground beneath his feet to crack, and right at the point where his punch had landed, a visible crack appeared. As this crack spread, the hidden dome began to reveal itself, showing its true form. The crack continued to expand across the entire dome until the barrier was completely broken, crumbling like glass to reveal a completely different place.

Sai opened his eyes in surprise and muttered:

—But how?

Orochimaru, without giving it much importance, answered in a firm tone:

—Follow me.

Without wasting any time, Orochimaru disappeared in a Shunshin, followed by his team. The other shinobi did the same, while Yamato addressed Sai:

—I'll explain later. Now it's time to move on.

Sai nodded and they both disappeared in a Shunshin.

A few seconds later, Orochimaru appeared beside a strange rock. At that moment, a voice echoed from the shadows:

—You seem to be in a hurry, Orochimaru.

Orochimaru looked up at the strange rock from which the voice had been heard and spoke:

—So you are the original. I can see the difference with the others...

Behind him, his team appeared in a Shunshin, and seeing where he was looking, they did the same. They opened their eyes in surprise, because there was Boruto, sitting on a wooden chair, with a table in front of him.

Boruto glanced at them and calmly commented:

—It seems that the visitors have arrived.

Orochimaru's team stood on guard, not understanding why.

In Karin's mind, an unsettling feeling invaded her: I didn't even feel his chakra, but I can feel it... it's dangerous. If Orochimaru's chakra is evil, Boruto's is pure danger. It's like standing in front of a monster watching its prey, and that prey is us... She swallowed with difficulty.

Boruto watched Orochimaru's team for a moment, but didn't think much of it. He stood up, made a hand sign, and the table and chair disappeared in a puff of smoke. In a cold voice, he commented:

—They arrived just after my breakfast... too bad, I don't think I'll be able to enjoy it again.

At that moment, the Konoha shinobi arrived behind Orochimaru's team. Sai and Yamato walked forward alongside them, turning their attention to the rock where Boruto was. Seeing it, they were shocked. Although they knew the Hokage's son, the Boruto in front of them was very different. He was wearing a long jacket with red lines, taller ninja sandals, and leather gloves on his hands. But the most shocking thing was his expression: cold, indifferent, completely opposite to the Boruto they had known.

Sai frowned and spoke with determination:

—Who are you? I met the Hokage's son, Boruto... but you're not him.

Boruto looked at him curiously, put his hands in his pockets and replied:

— Mmm , really? Why is everyone asking the same thing? It's like they can't believe it.

Sai repeated, more firmly:

-Who are you?.

Boruto watched him for a moment before answering in a calm tone:

—My name is Boruto Uzumaki.

Sai opened his eyes in disbelief:

-I don't believe you.

Boruto, without giving it much importance, looked towards Orochimaru and said:

—I'm not interested in you, so go away.

Fury grew in Sai's eyes, but Boruto ignored it, continuing their conversation:

—The only reason I'm here is because of Orochimaru. So tell me, what brings you to this place?

The shinobi who were unfamiliar with Orochimaru were shocked to hear his name.

Orochimaru slowly removed his hood and replied with his characteristic laugh:

—Ku... ku... ku... Boruto-kun, you are really different from the rest. I can see it, your presence is capable of changing things. That barrier was incredible. I wonder if you could teach me how to create it?

Boruto looked at him indifferently and replied coldly:

—You're really annoying... I'm not going to give you anything.

Orochimaru smiled, showing interest:

—You talk like you're the best.

Boruto stared at him, his eyes cold and defiant, as he replied:

—You talk like I should be afraid of you... you're just someone who should have died a long time ago.

Orochimaru spoke with his characteristic malicious laugh:

—Ku... ku... ku... are you planning to kill me? You are weak and insignificant.

Boruto laughed out loud:

—Weak? Look who's talking! You're the insignificant one, constantly watched by these weak shinobi, while being controlled by Konoha. Before, at least, you were someone to be feared. Now... you're just a being who gave in to his own desire or goal.

Orochimaru's smile remained, but his eyes revealed some irritation:

—Ku... ku... ku... You talk too much for a child. You hide here as if your father had scolded you.

Boruto replied, without losing his composure:

—It was you who was scolded. After all, your "father" ordered you not to leave your den without permission, right? Or else he would punish you.

Anger flashed momentarily in Orochimaru's eyes as he replied in a threatening tone:

—I hope you reconsider and give me this place, you spoiled brat. A brat who doesn't know what to do with his life after losing something.

Boruto's eyes narrowed with a flash of suppressed fury:

—Go away, Orochimaru. I will not give you anything.

Sai, who had remained silent until then, exchanged a sidelong glance with one of the shinobi. The latter nodded and disappeared in a Shunshin, appearing next to Boruto with the intention of catching him. However, before he could even touch him, Boruto, without turning his gaze, launched a kick so fast that the shinobi flew towards a nearby ravine, hitting the ground with a deafening crash.

—BOOM!

Sai and the other shinobi's eyes widened, stunned at Boruto's speed. They looked towards the ravine, where the shinobi lay motionless.

"Looks like I hit a fly," Boruto said, calmly lowering his leg.

Orochimaru, still surprised, commented:

—Wow... you sure have some good reflexes.

The shinobi quickly ran to help their companion, who spat out blood as he was pulled out of the ravine. Boruto watched them out of the corner of his eye and then turned his attention to Orochimaru's group.

"The conversation is over," Boruto declared coldly.

Sai shouted:

—You're not going anywhere!

But Boruto didn't even look at him. In a flash, he disappeared in front of everyone.

Surprise filled those present, as Orochimaru, with an alert expression, spoke urgently:

—Get out of here right now!

Orochimaru disappeared in a Shunshin, and his team, along with the Konoha shinobi, followed without hesitation. Something inside the people present told them that it was the right thing to do. They appeared outside Boruto's hideout, running at full speed. Orochimaru performed a series of hand seals rapidly, and as he stopped, he slammed the ground with both hands while shouting:

—Doton: Gaeshi Doroku !

A huge shield of earth rose up, protecting them all.

A moment earlier, Boruto had appeared in the abandoned factory and, after making a hand seal, he calmly said:

—Katsu!

In the other lair, the walls began to glow, both on the surface and within. Suddenly, everything exploded with a devastating crash.

—BOOM!

The earth shook violently, and a powerful wind unleashed chaos, destroying part of the earth wall that Orochimaru had created. The swirling wind carried rocks and debris around, landing with loud impacts.

—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

It was a few minutes before everything calmed down.

Suigetsu, still surprised, commented:

—How did you know, Orochimaru-sama?

Orochimaru, with a serious expression, replied:

—It was just instinct. I guess having been in so many wars has given me some experience.

The earth shield crumbled, revealing a devastated landscape. Smoke rose into the sky, and everything that once existed in Boruto's hideout was now nothing but destruction.

Nobody could believe it.