Boruto the Akatsuki: In search of power 24

In the previous chapter: Sasuke faced the Otsutsuki, but realizing he was no match for them, he decided to retreat. Upon returning to the village, he told Naruto and Shikamaru about their encounter. After this talk, Boruto, frustrated by his father's broken promises, could not contain his anger. Furious, he headed to the Hokage building, where he confronted Sasuke and then attacked Naruto with a Rasengan. Afterwards, he delivered a powerful chakra-charged kick to Shikamaru and placed several seals throughout the Hokage building before retreating.

Following these events, Naruto and Shikamaru came to the conclusion that Boruto would not participate in the Chunin Exams as part of a genin team, which was supported by Sasuke, who also witnessed the entire thing. Sasuke, after hearing the decision, said his goodbyes and returned home, where he told Sarada everything that had happened. Determined to surpass Boruto, Sarada nodded firmly, willing to train and achieve her dream of becoming Hokage.

At this moment, Boruto could be seen walking leisurely through the streets of Konoha, as the sun was at its highest point. With his hands in his pockets, after a few minutes of walking, he arrived at a shop known as Ichiraku Ramen. Boruto looked up and stared at the sign for a moment before entering. Inside the shop, several tables were occupied, but Boruto walked straight to the last spot in the restaurant.

In the background, Kakashi was sitting in front of a bowl of ramen. Without saying anything, Boruto sat down in front of him and asked:

—Why did you summon me to this place, Kakashi-sensei?

Kakashi, who was looking at his ramen, looked up at Boruto and, after hearing his words, replied in his relaxed tone:

—Do you want to eat something, Boruto? It's on me.

Boruto looked at the bowl of ramen for a moment, but then looked down and shook his head.

"No, I'm fine this way." He sighed, and after a brief pause, continued. "Is this why you called me?" He pulled a piece of paper from his ninja bag, slid it across the table to Kakashi, and added, "Kakashi-sensei, this is the form to enter the Chunin Exams."

Kakashi looked down at the document, calmly took it, put it away, and looked at Boruto curiously.

—Tell me, Boruto, once you get the jounin position, what do you plan to do?

Boruto looked at him firmly and replied:

—I plan to leave the village and travel the world. As a Konoha jounin, I will complete missions abroad, the kind that last for years. And along the way, I will become stronger.

Kakashi nodded slowly, processing Boruto's response.

—Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?

"No, thank you," Boruto replied, somewhat impatiently. "Instead of offering me food, tell me, Kakashi-sensei, who will be my team for the genin exams? It's mandatory to have one, right?"

Kakashi pulled down his mask and began to eat calmly. Boruto watched him silently, a little frustrated by the lack of immediate response. After a while, Kakashi finished eating, pulled his mask back up, and looked at him seriously.

—You are different from your father. You don't like ramen.

Boruto didn't say anything, keeping his gaze fixed on Kakashi. Then, Kakashi continued seriously:

—About your genin team... You won't have one. You'll have to pass the test alone.

Boruto opened his eyes slightly and, in a neutral tone, replied:

—I see, then it will be that way.

Kakashi looked at him seriously and commented:

—I heard you did quite a few things at the entrance to the Hokage building.

Boruto kept his gaze fixed on Kakashi and, without hesitation, said:

—It was just a family fight, nothing more.

Kakashi, sighing, replied:

—A family fight, hmm ? Boruto, you should understand how busy the Hokage is.

—You all tell me that I should understand my father because he's Hokage —Boruto replied, frowning—, but you're all wrong about one thing. It doesn't bother me that he doesn't pay attention to me because he's busy with his work. What bothers me is when people aren't able to fulfill what they say.

Kakashi let out a sigh, trying to reason with him:

—You have to understand that if he couldn't fulfill what he promised, it's because he was busy.

"Busy?" Boruto replied sarcastically. "Busy with the village, right? So, we, his family, are less important than the village? He has time for everything related to the village, but not for his family."

Kakashi sighed again, this time a little more tired.

—You have an answer for everything, Boruto.

"You guys always tell me that I should forgive my father because he's busy with the village," Boruto continued. "That's all you keep saying. Don't you have anything else to say? It's annoying."

Kakashi watched him with a mixture of resignation.

—I understand, but... you're not going to stop feeling that way about your father, are you?

"I don't hate him," Boruto said, standing up. "He just annoys me, that's all. It annoys me that he can't do what he says."

Without further ado, Boruto turned around and said:

—I'm leaving now, Kakashi-sensei.

In a flash of yellow, he disappeared from the spot before Kakashi could respond. The former Hokage sighed once more and muttered to himself:

—Boruto, I wonder when you'll realize that your father isn't as bad as you think... He's just busy.

Kakashi stood up, walked to the reception desk, paid for what he had eaten, and left the restaurant with a thoughtful air.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, in a clearing in the forest, Sarada and Sasuke were training together. Sarada threw shuriken with precision, and they curved in the air before hitting the center of the target with force and accuracy.

Sasuke, keeping his expression serious and calm, watched her every move. Finally, he nodded and said:

—You're doing well. You've improved a lot in throwing shuriken.

Sarada smiled, trying to hide her excitement, but unable to help it.

—Thanks, Dad! What's next? What else will you teach me? —she asked eagerly, with her usual energy.

Sasuke looked at her sternly.

—Don't be hasty. You still have a lot to learn. Your chakra is limited, and your Sharingan only has one tomoe.

Sarada looked down, her expression showing frustration and impatience.

—How far am I from Boruto, Dad?

Sasuke stared at her and spoke.

—It's hard to compare them. Boruto is… different. If you want to be at his level, you'll have to awaken the second tomoe of your Sharingan.

"How can I do this?" Sarada asked, a spark of determination returning to her gaze.

"There is no exact formula," Sasuke replied, not softening the truth. "Only in life-or-death situations. When you're at your limit, you'll have to break it. That's where you'll awaken that second tomoe."

"And if I do, will I be able to face him?" Sarada asked, her voice filled with a genuine desire to grow.

Sasuke showed a slight, almost imperceptible smile.

—If you manage to awaken that second tomoe, I will teach you a jutsu that is on par with the Rasengan.

Sarada opened her eyes in surprise and excitement.

—A jutsu like the Rasengan? The one the Seventh Hokage uses?

"That's right," Sasuke replied, as calmly as ever. "But only if you reach the second tomoe will you be able to learn the jutsu, since it's necessary to have it."

Determined, Sarada nodded vigorously. Sasuke took a few steps back, holding a scroll in his hand and holding it in a puff of smoke.

—Now, I'll throw shuriken and kunai at you. Dodge all attacks with your Sharingan activated.

Sarada nodded and activated her single-tomoe Sharingan. Sasuke threw the scroll above her, the scroll opened and the seals activated and a puff of smoke, and in that moment a shower of shuriken and kunai fell upon Sarada.

She moved with agility, dodging each weapon. Although the training was demanding, Sarada remained steadfast. Sasuke, despite his serious expression, watched with a mixture of calmness and various images passing through his mind from when he was training when he was Sarada's age.

—Don't get distracted, Sarada. —The Sharingan isn't just for seeing, it's for predicting!

Sarada leapt back, dodging a flurry of shuriken as she spun in the air, landing on her feet on the ground. Despite her exhaustion, her Sharingan was still activated.

"Not bad," Sasuke muttered, still keeping his serious tone. "But if you really want to catch up to Boruto, you'll have to try a lot harder." "I'll increase the speed of the attacks."

Sarada nodded determinedly and prepared for the next attack.

And so the training continued, with Sarada determined to push her limits, while Sasuke, true to his character, guided her with the same discipline and rigor he had experienced on his own path to his ninja way.

In a quiet house in Konoha, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, was kneeling in front of her grandson, Saku. Calmly and determinedly, she extended an ancient scroll towards him. Saku's hands trembled slightly as he received it, aware of the value and power it contained.

"In this scroll," Tsunade began in a solemn voice, "are the techniques of the First Hokage, those that use the Kekkei Genkai of the Mokuton.

Saku, with a smile full of gratitude and emotion, took the scroll in his hands and bowed in respect.

"Thank you, Grandma Tsunade," she said softly, unable to hide the admiration she felt for her mentor.

Tsunade smiled tenderly at her grandson's reaction . Despite the years and everything she had lived through, at that moment, looking at Saku, she couldn't help but remember those who had also carried that same youthful energy.

"Don't worry, Saku," Tsunade replied, her tone filled with warmth. "You are part of my clan, and the only one who has inherited the Mokuton. These techniques only respond to you. And the Chunin Exams are coming up, and you must be prepared."

Saku nodded excitedly, her eyes shining with anticipation as she opened the scroll, scanning every symbol and technique written on it.

Tsunade looked at her grandson with affection and nostalgia. There was something in Saku's gaze, in his determination, that reminded her of her brother Nawaki and Naruto when they were young. That same spark, that smile full of dreams.

"How about I help you master some Mokuton jutsu?" Tsunade asked with a slight smile, though her eyes showed deep emotion.

Saku looked up in surprise and joy, his eyes filled with a special light. He smiled widely and nodded enthusiastically.

"Thank you, Grandma Tsunade!" Saku replied, almost speechless with emotion.

Tsunade, seeing that hopeful expression, couldn't help but feel a slight lump in her throat. She gently placed her hand on Saku's head and lovingly ruffled his hair.

"You have the same smile as them..." Tsunade murmured to herself, her thoughts returning to those distant memories, filled with nostalgia and love. Nawaki and Naruto, with their indomitable spirits, had brightened her life in the same way that Saku did now.

Saku, not knowing exactly what was going through her grandmother's mind, felt the warmth of that gesture and the determination in her heart grew even more.

In another corner of Konoha, Team 10 was training under the watchful eye of Temari, Shikadai's mother. Inojin, Chocho, and Shikadai were exhausted but determined to improve.

Chocho released her " Baika no Jutsu", enlarging her body and sending a powerful attack straight towards Temari. However, with a quick movement of her fan, Temari deflected the attack as if it were a simple blow of wind. The precision and strength of her technique left no room for error.

—Come on, team! You can't give up so easily! —Temari said in a firm voice, but with a defiant tone that motivated the young shinobi.

Inojin, seeing the opportunity, activated his " Choujuu Giga" and sent ink birds swooping towards his mother. But Temari, with a sharp gaze, spun her fan and created a gust of wind that scattered the drawings into the air.

"Inojin, your drawings are fast, but if you don't make them more unpredictable, they'll be easy to counter," Temari commented as she dodged the last vestiges of the technique.

Shikadai, keeping his cool, took advantage of the moment when Temari was focused on the other two and launched his shadow towards her. However, with a nimble and precise movement, Temari moved away from the shadow as if she had anticipated its every move.

"I'm sorry, son. I know that technique all too well," he said with a satisfied smile, as he easily dodged Shikadai's strategy.

Shikadai sighed and muttered to himself:

—What a problem... mother always has the advantage in this type of training.

Chocho, exhausted but still energetic, shouted in frustration:

—It's not fair, Aunt Temari! Your wind techniques are too strong!

Temari chuckled and, slowing down a bit, replied:

—The enemy won't be fair, Chocho. You can't expect real battles to be easy. They have to learn to adapt.

Team 10 gathered together, panting, but their eyes reflected a renewed determination. They knew that training with Temari would not be easy, but each session made them stronger. Every day they were closer to honing their skills for the upcoming chunin exams.

It wasn't just them who were preparing. On another training ground, Team 15, led by Hanabi, was also training hard. Hanabi supervised with a mix of firmness and encouragement. However, one of her students, Sumire, seemed to be caught up in her thoughts, momentarily losing focus. Her mind wandered, but something inside her clicked: she remembered her purpose, and with renewed determination, she threw herself back into training with redoubled energy.

Meanwhile, Team 5 trained amongst themselves, with the same passion and competitive spirit. Each of its members was clear that the chunin exams would not be a simple test, but a battlefield where they would demonstrate their true worth. None of them wanted to be left behind, and that internal rivalry pushed them to continue improving. With each blow and movement, the day progressed, bringing the teams a little closer to their goals.

That afternoon, Konoha was filled with the echo of young shinobi giving their best, preparing for the challenge that was to come.

Night fell upon Konoha, and the shadows of the moon filled the quiet streets. Atop the roof of his house, Mitsuki sat silently, a snake coiled around his shoulder. His golden eyes gazed out at the horizon, as he whispered softly:

—Everything is quiet around here, nothing out of the ordinary has happened... father.

Miles away, in a hidden lair, Orochimaru answered from the darkness with his calm yet sinister voice holding a white snake on his shoulder.

—That's good, Mitsuki. However, with the chunin exams approaching, keep in mind what I'm going to tell you: you must not use your sage powers. If you do... you will no longer be able to stay in Konoha.

Mitsuki looked down for a moment, thoughtful.

"I won't use them," he assured. "But what will happen if I face Boruto?"

Orochimaru let out a soft, evil laugh that echoed through the cave.

—Ku... ku... ku... If you meet him, Mitsuki, you'll have to decide for yourself what to do.

Mitsuki calmly nodded.

—Understood, Father. If I come across him, I'll think about it myself.

The snake on his shoulder hissed softly, and Mitsuki remained silent, taking in the tranquility of the night around him as he pondered what fate had in store for him in the exams.

The days passed with an eerie calm in the Uzumaki household. Every time Boruto returned home, the interactions between him and his mother, Hinata, became brief and distant. They barely exchanged a few words:

—I'm here.

—Thanks for the food.

That was it. The relationship between mother and son seemed to be fading away little by little, as if an invisible barrier separated them. Hinata felt a lump in her chest, unable to deal with what had happened that day, or what Naruto had told her. She didn't know how to approach her son, how to start a conversation that would allow him to express what he really felt.

For his part, Boruto didn't know what to say either. Sometimes, a small voice inside him told him to talk to his mother, to try to break the silence, but another part of him felt empty, disconnected. There was no anger or sadness, just an emptiness that prevented him from acting.

Still, Boruto didn't completely distance himself from family life. During those days, he dedicated himself to training with Himawari, his new katana. Those moments were the only ones in which he felt a slight connection.

Time went on, and so, almost without realizing it, the big day arrived: the day of the chunin exams.

In a remote place, far from the five elemental villages, there was a hellish landscape where lava flowed like fiery rivers. The heat was stifling, palpable, and yellow and red hues shone brightly, giving the environment a hellish appearance. On top of a mountain, there was an imposing red castle, surrounded by statues, the most prominent being a figure with enormous horns that represented a member of the Otsutsuki clan.

In front of this statue, two figures were standing. One of them, sitting on a rock, broke the silence.

"So not this one either," the being said, its voice deep and full of frustration.

Kinshhiki, who was standing in front of him, held a scroll in his hand that was slowly disintegrating into dust.

"It seems so. Not a single one of Kaguya's scrolls has been deciphered," he replied, watching the remnants of the scroll disappear into the air.

Suddenly, a third voice was heard from the top of the castle.

—Momoshhiki- senpai ! Are you still here?

The being called Momoshhiki, who had remained silent, looked up with his Byakugan activated, glancing sideways at the newcomer.

"Where is the chakra fruit, Urashhiki?" Momoshhiki asked in a cold and authoritative tone.

Urashhiki, surprised by the coldness of the question, replied:

—It's the first thing you tell me after so long...

Momoshhiki glared at him, and Urashhiki, uncomfortable, continued speaking:

—Of course, I've looked into it.

At that moment, a black portal appeared beside Momoshhiki and Kinshhiki, revealing a blue-colored planet on the other side. Momoshhiki looked at the image projected on the portal and spoke calmly.

—That's the area under Kaguya's supervision. Let's collect the chakra immediately.

Without wasting any time, Momoshiki climbed down from the rock he was sitting on and started walking towards the portal. Urashhiki watched him with a mischievous smile.

—Hey, you're leaving now... hey... —he tried to tell him, but Momoshiki ignored him completely, going through the portal without paying attention to him.

—Momo-chan has always been so cold... He thinks he's so great for being the head of a main family, but he's only the last of his family... I feel sorry for you, Momo-chan —Urashiki murmured sarcastically, watching his superior disappear on the other side of the portal.

On the other side, floating in the emptiness of space, Momoshhiki and Kinshhiki looked down upon the blue planet. The view was breathtaking.

"So the Divine Tree's chakra has split into nine monsters?" Momoshiki asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Urashhiki appeared behind them, floating.

"Yes, on this planet they call them Biju," he replied, moving a little closer. "Those who harbor the Biju within themselves are known as Jinchuriki."

"Do jinchuriki possess that chakra?" Kinshhiki asked thoughtfully.

—Exactly. And for some reason, the chakra of those beings becomes enormous when they control it —Urashiki explained.

Momoshhiki , with an expression of growing interest, spoke:

—Interesting... They increase their power by housing monsters inside them. Their actions are fascinating.

Urashhiki added with a smile:

—There are currently only two Jinchuriki left. Killer Bee , the bearer of the Hachibi, and Naruto, the bearer of the Kyubi.

Momoshhiki narrowed his eyes, sensing the great chakras from space.

—I can feel his chakra. It's incredibly large for such lowly beings.

Elsewhere, more specifically in Konoha, in the Hokage building, were Naruto, Shikamaru and Kakashi.

Naruto spoke with concern:

—The presence of White Zetsus in some ruins of Kaguya was confirmed.

Kakashi answered seriously while having his hands in his pockets:

—The two Otsutsuki that Sasuke mentioned... no matter how you look at it, there is a relationship.

Shikamaru also spoke seriously:

—Kaguya prepared the white Zetsus to respond to any threat.

"If they were activated now... that threat is close," Naruto added thoughtfully.

Elsewhere, in the cloud village, Killer Bee was sitting on a rock calmly, while the water of the waterfall sounded behind him. At that moment, Momoshhiki, on Kinshhiki's shoulder, arrived at the place floating from the sky until he positioned himself in front of Bee .

Killer Bee raised his head and looked at Momoshiki.

"I think this is the Jinchuriki," Kinshhiki said.

"I certainly sense a lot of chakra... it seems that he possesses great power, like the man with the Rinnegan," Momoshiki added, interested.

Killer Bee stood up and spoke in his usual rap tone:

—Yes, I am the Jinchuriki, don't be morbid or you will soon see that I am very powerful. They will not be able to see the Hachibi without Killer Bee ... oh yeah .

Momoshhiki and Kinshhiki were silent for a brief moment.

Killer 's mindspace Bee , the Hachibi spoke:

—Hey, hey, they don't look dangerous.

Killer Bee , sitting on top of Hachibi's nose, replied:

—How can you ignore me?

Outside the mental space, Momoshhiki spoke disdainfully:

—But how dissonant...

Kinshhiki spoke seriously:

—Let's collect the chakra.

Kinshhiki raised his arm with his palm outstretched, and at that moment, BOOM! Something hit the mountain, causing a rumble. A cloud of dust rose, and from it, a being emerged. Tentacles moved, expanding to the sides. The being that had appeared was the Hachibi, who shouted:

—Oh yeah !

He looked at the Otsutsuki and smiled.

"So this is the Biju," Momoshiki said with interest.

Momoshiki extended his hand, and with the Rinnegan activated in his palm, he launched several large black rods towards the Hachibi.

The Hachibi used its tails to stop the attack and destroyed the staffs in the process, smirking.

Momoshhiki watched him and, extending his hand again, sent out more black rods, but in a large quantity.

The Hachibi was shocked, and the fight began. After a while, the landscape around them could be seen completely destroyed, and the Hachibi was stuck against a mountain with several wounds.

Momoshhiki floated in front of the Hachibi, standing on Kinshhiki's shoulder. He looked at the Hachibi and spoke disdainfully:

—It's sad that it ended up as such a hideous beast.

The Hachibi slowly raised his head and shouted:

—Bijudama!

A huge sphere of energy began to form in the Bijū's mouth.

"Can you still move?" Momoshiki said as he saw the attack being prepared.

The Hachibi finished concentrating the energy and launched it at the Otsutsuki at an enormous speed. Momoshiki extended his hand, and with the Rinnegan activated, the Bijudama suddenly stopped in front of them, causing a powerful pulse of wind. Momoshiki's Rinnegan began to absorb the Bijudama until it swallowed it completely.

Killer 's mind space Bee , the Hachibi exclaimed:

—He absorbed the Bijudama like it was nothing!

Meanwhile, Killer Bee kept moving his shoulders and body, as if he was listening to music, and rapped:

—I was going to see Naruto and they got in the way of what I was doing, I'm more skilled. I'm a master of the Bijū!

—This is no time for rapping! —Hachibi protested.

Outside the mental space, Momoshhiki spoke lazily:

—Looks like we'll have to collect them one by one.

He raised his other arm, which had a glove on it, and with the Rinnegan he made a Bijudama appear that began to grow rapidly in size.

Seeing this, the Hachibi thought:

—But what is this?

Killer Bee , in his usual rap tone, exclaimed:

—It's not fair to boost techniques. I'm going to lose and I'm going to get scared.

"I think double should be enough," Momoshiki commented.

The massive Bijudama was launched towards the Hachibi, who opened his eyes in shock and tried to escape the attack, but it was too late.

—BOOM!

The impact destroyed everything in its path, creating a dome of pure energy that shook the earth around it. When the explosion ceased, a huge crater could be seen in the ground and the Hachibi embedded in a ravine, no longer able to move. Momoshhiki got off of Kinshhiki's shoulder, approached the Hachibi and, with his Rinnegan in the palm of his hand, absorbed it completely.

Behind Momoshhiki, Urashhiki came from the air, with his fishing rod on his shoulder and in a relaxed tone he said:

—That was easy.

"If Kaguya had generated a divine tree here, none of this would be necessary," Momoshiki replied.

Urashhiki, in his usual tone, continued:

—Kaguya fell in love with an inhabitant of this planet and betrayed us. She even had children with him.

"It's a disgrace for the clan, that's why we didn't receive the chakra we were owed," Momoshiki said with disgust.

—Exactly. By betraying us, Kaguya began to fear us and even tried to create biological weapons — Urashhiki commented with a mocking smile — But her own children stopped her and sealed her away.

"They saved us the trouble of having to deal with her. That's why those lower beings deserve praise," Momoshhiki added.

"That's true," Kinshhiki nodded.

Momoshhiki looked at his closed hand, opened it, and three small burgundy spheres called tan appeared! With displeasure, he commented:

—There are so few...

—Calm down, there's another Jinchuriki —said Urashhiki.

Kinshhiki added:

—I detect an even larger chakra not far from here. That's probably the chakra we're looking for.

Momoshiki smiled maliciously.

Elsewhere, more specifically in the sand village, at the train station, five people could be seen gathered together. Three of them were genin. One was wearing a strange cloak, as if she was alive, and had brown hair. Another was wearing a mask with a staff on the back and also had brown hair. The last person was a woman with a hood and long blonde hair. All of them were wearing the sand headband.

In front of them stood Kankuro, in his usual clothes, and Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure.

Kankuro spoke seriously to the genin:

—The Chunin Exams are coming up. Are you ready?

The masked genin answered for the entire group:

-Yeah.

The one wearing the strange cloak looked at Gaara and spoke:

—Father, we will make sure to win so as not to tarnish your name.

Gaara looked at his son and said:

—Don't be hasty, Shinki. You shouldn't focus on me, but on the rivals from the other villages.

The person, now called Shinki, confidently replied:

—They don't pose any problem.

Kankuro sighed, while Gaara said:

—Well, never mind. Make sure you get some rest during the journey.

The genin responded in unison:

-Yeah!

They turned around and walked towards the train, while Kankuro did the same. Gaara turned to Kankuro and said:

—Take care of them. I'll take part when I finish my work.

Kankuro turned around and looked at him, as Gaara continued:

—I guess I'll be there when the second test starts.

Kankuro replied:

—I know. I'll go visit Temari when we get there.

Gaara nodded:

-Yeah.

Kankuro turned around, boarded the train, and it departed towards Konoha.

As the train left, Gaara turned to leave the place, but a voice echoed:

—GAARA!

Gaara made a thoughtful expression and spoke to himself:

—That voice is... Shukaku.

Inside Gaara's mindspace was Shukaku, the One-Tailed Biju. Gaara spoke:

—How long... It's very unusual for you to be the one to contact me.

Shukaku replied in his characteristic tone:

—Hehehe... it's so you can see how important it is. My connection with the Hachibi was suddenly cut off, something must have happened to it.

"Did your connection to him just get cut off?" Gaara asked.

—Yes. I'm still connected to Naruto and the rest. I have a bad feeling —Shukaku answered.

"I see," Gaara said.

—Anyway, I already warned you. Do what you want —Shukaku said, unconcerned.

Gaara smiled slightly and replied:

—I appreciate it, my friend.

Gaara opened his eyes and came out of his mental space and thought for a moment starting to walk out of the place,

Back in Konoha, the night had passed and a new day was beginning. Boruto, sitting on his throne, opened his eyes as the morning light filtered through the broken and weathered windows of the abandoned factory. He stretched his body, and with a simple wave of his hand, summoned a table that appeared in a puff of smoke. He then pulled out a scroll, and upon activating it, a seal released food before him.

Boruto took off his gloves and left them on his throne before beginning to eat. After a while, he finished his breakfast, put everything away the same way he had taken it out, and stood up. He walked over to a nearby faucet, turned it on, and washed his hands.

He took one last look at his throne before disappearing in a flash of yellow. He reappeared in a place a little ways away from Konoha, where there was a river and a waterfall. He took off his clothes and carefully left them on the ground before entering the water. Boruto relaxed as he washed his body, enjoying the cold and freshness of the river.

After a while, he came out of the water and said:

—Katon.

His wet body began to emit steam as it dried completely. He took out a scroll with a wave of his hand, and as he opened it, several seals unfolded. Tapping one of them, clean clothes appeared, which he immediately put on. He picked up the clothes he had taken off and stored them in the scroll before disappearing again in a flash.

Back at the abandoned factory, he walked to his throne and picked up the gloves he had left there. As he put them on and adjusted them, he muttered to himself with a determined look on his face:

—It's time to take that test.

Finally, Boruto finished putting on his gloves and disappeared again in a flash. He reappeared near the entrance of Konoha, where the chunin exam would be held. With a cold look, he began to jump between the buildings with agility.

At the entrance to Konoha, a crowd had gathered. Genin teams from different villages were arriving for the chunin exams, and the atmosphere was charged with excitement and tension. The Konoha genin were talking amongst themselves, exchanging opinions on their potential rivals.

Among them, Inojin, relaxed with his hands behind his head, watched a team from Cloud Village. One of its members was chewing gum with disinterest, which caught his attention.

"They don't seem very cheerful," Inojin commented with a wry smile.

Shikadai, arms crossed, calmly replied:

-Appearances are deceptive.

Meanwhile, Team 15 also observed their rivals, focusing on a group from the Mist Village.

"Those three are identical!" Namida exclaimed, surprised.

Sumire, flipping through a notebook in her hands, searched for information and spoke:

—They are from the Village Hidden in the Clouds. Their names are Takanami , Sazanami and Makina. Senka .

Wasabi looked intrigued:

—They're triplets? I wonder what kind of techniques they'll use.

Elsewhere, Iwabe was studying a group with a peculiar appearance, from the Rock Village. He frowned and commented:

—Those three look strong.

A visibly nervous Metal Lee added:

—Looks like they'll be tough to beat...

Denki, meanwhile, was checking information on his laptop, looking for details about the opponents. At that moment, Saku approached the group with a calm expression, placing a hand on Metal Lee's shoulder.

"Relax. Compared to a certain person, they don't seem like much, don't they?" he said, instilling confidence in his companions.

The others looked at him and slowly nodded, feeling that Saku's confidence was contagious.

Sarada also came closer, contributing with her determination:

—Saku is right, we just have to do our best.

Shikadai, at his side, smiled, while Mitsuki, with his typical calm, added:

—I hope to have a good competition with you.

Everyone nodded, ready for what was to come.

From another side, Shinki watched Team 7's interaction in silence. One of his teammates, noticing his attention, asked:

—Is something wrong with those genin?

Shinki turned to his team and pointed to where Team 7 was.

—Those three are strong. Be careful with them.

His companions looked at him, surprised by the comment. Shinki rarely made such remarks, which put them on alert. They exchanged glances and nodded, trusting their leader's judgment.

Shinki, with the same calm as always, concluded:

—It's time to go. The ceremony is about to begin.

The genin teams were just beginning to move, ready to face one of the most important events of their lives, when suddenly, a figure appeared, causing Shinki to quickly turn around. The air in the place seemed to stop, and all the teams stood still.

Boruto had reached the end of the crowd with a Shunshin, raising a small wind around him. With his hands in his pockets, he observed the genin, who looked at him seriously, not knowing how to react. Boruto began to walk towards the place where the ceremony would be held, and the genin moved out of his way without really understanding why they were doing it, only feeling an inexplicable pressure in the air.

As he walked forward, a figure stood in front of him. Boruto stopped and watched her indifferently.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly.

It was Sumire, who upon seeing him up close and hearing his voice, was paralyzed, unable to articulate what she wanted to say. The words simply wouldn't come out of her mouth. At that moment, she felt a hand on her shoulder and, turning around, she saw Sarada. With determination in her eyes, Sarada stepped forward, standing between Boruto and the path.

"We will defeat you, Boruto," he said, raising his hand and pointing firmly at him. "Get ready!"

Boruto looked at her, unfazed, and then continued walking, passing them without stopping.

"I hope it's fun," he muttered as he continued on his way.

Sumire and Sarada stood still, watching Boruto's back as he walked away towards the ceremony, while the rest of the genin silently stepped aside, giving him space. No one spoke, the air was tense. Boruto had changed the atmosphere of the place with his mere presence.

Once he emerged from the crowd, the silence persisted for a moment longer, until Shinki's companion spoke:

—What's up with that guy? The feeling he gave me was... strange.

The other companion, the one wearing a mask, nodded:

—Yes, it was strange. For some reason, I couldn't stay calm.

Shinki, still watching Boruto's back, spoke seriously:

—Look around you.

Shinki's companions looked at the other genin and were shocked. They were all paralyzed, as if time had stopped. Boruto's presence had affected everyone.

"That guy," Shinki continued, "was able to change the entire atmosphere. Everyone present felt his presence… and this place became a battlefield."

His teammates were in disbelief. The genin from Shinki's team asked:

—But... how is that possible? Who is that guy?

"I'm not quite sure," Shinki replied thoughtfully, "but I think it's Boruto Uzumaki, the Hokage's son."

"The Hokage's son?" the masked genin repeated in astonishment.

Shinki nodded.

—He's dangerous. Be careful not to confront him.

His teammates nodded, sharing the warning. Shinki began walking towards the ceremony site, closely followed by his team. But they weren't the only ones who shared those thoughts. The other genin also felt the same uneasiness, as they all made their way to the place where the chunin exam would begin.

After a while, all the genin gathered in one place and in front of them stood Shikamaru on a wooden platform.

"We will begin the first joint Chunin exam…" Shikamaru announced. "As you know, this is the first exam that the five elemental villages have organized together. The Leaf, the Cloud, the Mist, the Rocks, and the Sand. Nowadays, it is rare for one to have the opportunity to fight against ninja from other villages. This is a good opportunity to test their techniques."

Shikamaru looked at the group of genin. They all looked serious and focused, which struck him as a little odd.

— Mmm , how strange… —he thought to himself—. They seem too quiet.

Shaking off those thoughts, he continued:

—The first test will begin at 1 o'clock at point A. During this time, you may rest or train, as you prefer. Now, you may leave.

The genin dispersed to rest and prepare. Time passed and eventually everyone gathered back at the place where the first test would begin.

The genin were motivated, eager to prove themselves. Boruto, on the other hand, stood apart from the group, watching them indifferently while keeping his hands in his pockets.

His eyes landed on a group that was talking to the Mizukage of the Mist Village; it was Team 7, and Saku was smiling confidently as they held a conversation. Boruto then turned his gaze to another place, where he saw a ravine where Kurotsuchi, the Tsuchikage, was standing, looking at the genin. Behind her was Akatsuchi, a sturdy-looking ninja.

At that moment, Darui arrived, accompanied by Kankuro and his personal guard, and shortly after Chojuro appeared. Boruto observed them all before lowering his gaze, maintaining his indifferent attitude towards the situation.

After that, a voice resounded:

—Gather around, the first phase will begin!

A few minutes passed and when all the genin were lined up, Sai appeared in front of them and spoke:

—I will announce the first task of the first test.

All the genin became serious, attentive to Sai's words, who continued:

—It will be a question test.

Hearing this, all the genin sweatdropped in anime style, and they exclaimed in unison:

-That!?

Boruto, on the other hand, just smiled in disbelief at the others' reaction.

Sai continued speaking:

—The question is at Point Bravo through the forest, 20 kilometers away.

He raised his hand showing a stopwatch, on which the hands were moving rapidly, and added:

—If you arrive late, you will be disqualified and remain mere genin. There will be various traps along the way.

Shinki narrowed his eyes and looked at his partner before starting to run, followed by his team. Sai continued speaking:

—Those who fall into the traps will also be disqualified. Only those who reach the point on time will participate in the contest.

Sarada, who saw that the Arena team had already gone ahead, looked at the watch on Sai's hand and addressed her team:

—Saku, look!

Saku strained his eyes and looked at the stopwatch, noticing that time was running out.

"The stopwatch is moving," he said in surprise.

"We should run!" Sarada added, and her team nodded before starting to run.

The genin around them heard the conversation and, seeing that Team 7 had also started to move, exchanged glances with each other and then began to run, raising a cloud of dust in their wake.

Sai, seeing that the genin had already left, muttered:

—I hadn't finished explaining yet...

Shikamaru, who was standing next to the wooden platform, replied:

—Your explanation was the first part of the traps. If they had listened to you until the end, they wouldn't have arrived in time.

Shikamaru looked at Sai and concluded with a smile:

—This year's are good.

Sai spoke with his trademark smile:

—I expected nothing less.

He was about to take out a scroll when the cloud of dust cleared, and to his surprise, the only one left standing there was Boruto. Shikamaru and Sai looked at him, and Boruto stared back at them indifferently.

"What are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked. "Shouldn't you have left earlier?"

Boruto replied lazily while yawning:

—I have a mark of the Hiraishin in that part of the forest.

Sai looked at Shikamaru, who just shrugged, not knowing what to say. Boruto simply stretched and commented:

—Well, it's time for me to go. See you there.

And with a flash, Boruto disappeared.

Sai and Shikamaru were speechless at his skill. Sai then took out the scroll and drew a bird. Using his ninja art, he made the drawing come to life and flew off towards the place where the first test would take place.

"There's nothing you can do about Boruto," Shikamaru said, watching Sai as he flew through the air on his ink bird. "But even though it's a special day for everyone, he doesn't plan on being lenient with them."

Boruto reappeared in a tree near the place where the first test would take place and began to jump between the branches with agility. In a few moments, he arrived at the place where only the shinobi in charge of the exam were. He observed two large square shapes covered by cloth, which stood out in the middle of the stage.

He walked calmly into the place, showing no signs of worry or hurry. A few minutes later, Sai flew in on his ink bird and noticed Boruto, who was still there, with his hands in his pockets and an indifferent expression.

Sai jumped off the bird and stood next to Boruto, commenting:

—I guess you're the first.

Boruto glanced at him and replied:

—It seems so.

Sai watched him for a few seconds before walking towards the wooden platform to wait for the others. After a while, Shikamaru also arrived and saw that Boruto was the only one who had arrived. He scratched his head in frustration and walked towards Sai.

"It's troublesome. These tests are meaningless to him," Shikamaru said.

"That's true," Sai replied. "We should take him out of the exam; he's on another level."

Shikamaru just scratched his head, not answering.

Meanwhile, in the forest, the other genin continued to face the traps. Explosions echoed everywhere as the obstacles were activated. Tenten was in charge of supervising this part of the exam.

After several minutes, the other genin began to arrive. The first team to do so was Shinki's, followed by Sarada's team. Little by little, the other teams also began to arrive until the allotted time was up.

After that, Sai spoke:

—Time is up, we will begin the next phase.

The genin approached the center of the place, attentive to the instructions. Sai turned to Shikamaru, who was at his side:

—Looks like there are more than we planned.

"It's going more or less as planned," Shikamaru replied, "but now the best part begins."

Shikamaru raised his arm, and the cloth covering the square structures fell away, revealing that one side had an "X" and the other an "O" (circle). On the ground was a large white cloth that covered the entire area.

Boruto watched the scene and thought, "So there are two options... interesting."

Sai, standing in front of the genin, explained:

—After the question, they must choose an answer between true and false.

The genin reacted in surprise, except for Boruto, who remained calm.

"So there are only two options," Sarada said, frowning.

"They sure did put a lot of effort into this test," Inojin commented sarcastically.

Sai continued:

—If you get the answer wrong, they will turn dark and be disqualified.

Boruto smiled as he understood the situation and thought, "So it is that way… but never mind."

Sai raised his arm and pointed at a screen that lit up above him, displaying the question. Upon reading it, all the genin fell silent, unsure of what to answer.

"I have no idea…" Iwabee muttered , scratching his head.

The genin exchanged glances, searching for some clue that would help them decide. Boruto, on the other hand, simply looked at the screen and then at the options. Without hesitation, he began walking towards the "O" area, placing himself on the white cloth.

The Konoha genin watched Boruto's action.

Shikamaru, noticing Boruto's movement, turned to his team:

—Let's go with him.

Nodding, Shikadai's team followed Boruto, and slowly, the other Konoha genin chose the "O" option. Boruto looked at his supposed academy classmates and smiled.

On the other hand, Shinki's team from Sand Village chose "X", as did a few other teams who went with both options. After a while, all the genin had chosen an answer.

When everyone was in place, Sai finally spoke:

—Very well… and the correct answer is…

The screen began to move between the "X" and the "O", and after a few seconds, it stopped, displaying both answers at the same time. The genin were shocked, and suddenly, the white cloth beneath their feet broke, making them fall into a large hole. At the bottom, a black liquid could be seen waiting for the fallen.

Amidst the chaos, Boruto simply disappeared in a yellow flash.

Saku, seeing his teammates falling towards the bottom, quickly formed a seal with his hands. Tree roots emerged from the walls of the ravine and caught his team members, saving them just in time. As he did so, he remembered Sai's words about what would happen when it "got dark" and knew that they couldn't allow anyone to fall.

At another point in the ravine, Team 10 could be seen. Shikadai was clinging to the wall, using his shadow jutsu to create extensions that held Inojin and Chocho, preventing them from falling. Sweat was pouring down his forehead, but he kept his jutsu active with determination, making sure his team was safe. The other genin were also trying their best not to fall, some using techniques from their own village, while others struggled to find support on the walls of the ravine.

The challenge had just begun, and the teams realized that they would need all their skill and teamwork to overcome this first test of the exam.

Sai, from the top of the ravine, looked at the genin with a serious look and spoke:

—Seeing the cesspool below, some resigned themselves to being disqualified and others simply let themselves fall as if nothing had happened. Cowards cannot be chunin.

The genin who were in difficult situations began to absorb Sai's words. Boruto, who was watching the scene from above alongside him, maintained a neutral expression, not showing any kind of surprise or emotion. He had overcome the challenge effortlessly.

Sai continued speaking, as the genin struggled to hold their positions:

—The true intention of this test was to see how they made decisions at a critical moment, whether they would give up or fight to the end. Those who have not fallen into the pit have proven their ability to face adversity. Therefore, all those who stood firm and did not fall have passed.

The genin who managed to stay out of the pit sighed in relief, while some still trembled from the experience. Boruto gave a small smile and thought to himself that the test had been a simple warm-up.

"The first test of the chunin exam is over," Sai announced firmly.

The genin looked at each other, realizing that the real battle had just begun, and that they would need more than just strength to overcome the next trials.

After that, all the genin climbed out of the pit, and Boruto disappeared in a flash, appearing in his abandoned factory. He walked to his seat and thought, "I guess that's it for today. The next test will be held tomorrow. Time to rest."