Chapter 69: Plan

Boruto, Naruto, Kawaki, and Hinata sat together in the quiet living room, the only missing presence being Himawari, who had already gone to sleep. The atmosphere was tinged with a mix of curiosity, concern, and anticipation as they delved into a conversation about the mysterious Karma seal.

Kawaki, his palm adorned with the distinctive diamond-shaped tattoo, broke the silence. "So, how did you acquire the Karma seal?" he asked, gesturing towards his own mark.

Boruto extended his hand, revealing the same symbol etched onto his palm. "After I defeated Momoshiki, he implanted his consciousness into my body," he explained.

Naruto and Hinata exchanged worried glances, their parental instincts kicking in. Naruto voiced his concern, his voice laced with worry. "Momoshiki is inside your body?"

Boruto reassured them, his tone calm and collected. "Don't worry, Dad. His consciousness is barely hanging on. I managed to overpower him and extract the command to access the powers of the Karma seal. He's much weaker in that space."

Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean by 'that space'?" he asked, seeking further clarification.

Boruto leaned back in his seat, ready to explain. "Inside the Karma seal, there's a separate dimension where Momoshiki's consciousness resides. I was able to confront him there and defeat him. But I wouldn't recommend you going there in your current state, Kawaki. It would be too dangerous. However, I can help you gain more control over the seal, so you won't have to worry about becoming a vessel."

Hinata, her concern evident in her voice, inquired, "How long have you had this Karma seal, Boruto?"

Boruto thought for a moment before answering, "It appeared right after the day I defeated Momoshiki."

Naruto's worry deepened as he asked, "Won't Momoshiki's consciousness try to take over your body?"

Boruto shook his head, his confidence unwavering. "As I mentioned, his consciousness is barely clinging to life. I don't think he poses a significant threat."

Naruto's next question carried a weight of apprehension. "Is it true that you're gradually transforming into an Otsutsuki as time passes?"

Boruto nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, it seems that way. The Karma seal is gradually transforming me into a full-fledged Otsutsuki."

Naruto and Hinata couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as they listened to Boruto downplay the gravity of the situation. To Boruto, it seemed like a minor issue, but to his parents, it was a cause for concern.

"Kawaki, you can trust us. You're safe here, I can guarantee it," Boruto reassured, his voice filled with conviction.

Kawaki, his eyes searching for a solution, asked the question that weighed heavily on his mind. "Is there a way to remove this Karma seal?"

Boruto's expression turned slightly somber as he replied, "Unfortunately, I'm not an expert on this subject. You should seek advice from that old man."

Kawaki raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Amado?" he questioned.

Boruto nodded, confirming his suspicion. "Yes, him."

Naruto, always eager to learn more, interjected with a question of his own. "Who is Amado?"

Boruto leaned back in his seat, preparing to shed some light on the matter. "Amado is the scientist who assisted Jigen," he explained.

Naruto's curiosity piqued further. "And who is Jigen?" he inquired.

Boruto sighed, his frustration evident. "Jigen is the man responsible for starting all of these problems," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. Sensing the late hour, Boruto decided it was time to retire for the night. "I'm heading to bed. It's getting late," he announced, standing up.

Hinata, her motherly instincts kicking in, called out to Boruto, her voice filled with concern. "Boruto," she said softly, causing him to pause in his tracks. "You're not going to leave us again, are you?"

Boruto turned to face his mother, a warm smile spreading across his face. "No, Kaa-san. I'm not going anywhere. I'll see you tomorrow," he reassured her before making his way to his room.

Kawaki reluctantly made his way upstairs, feeling a sense of unease lingering in the air. As he reached the top, he was greeted by Boruto, who was sitting on a chair and motioning for him to enter the room.

"Close the door," Boruto said, his tone serious. "I have more things to say."

Kawaki obediently closed the door behind him and took a seat as instructed by Boruto. The room fell into an uneasy silence before Kawaki finally broke it.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.

Boruto took a deep breath before speaking. "Jigen will arrive at this house to kidnap you in the near future. And I want you to let him."

Kawaki's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you crazy? Didn't you promise me?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of anger and betrayal.

"I know, but..." Boruto paused, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a Flying Raijin kunai. He handed it to Kawaki, who looked at it with confusion.

"What is this for?" Kawaki questioned, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"It's so that I can teleport to you," Boruto explained. "With this, I can put an end to this senseless battle."

Kawaki let out a sigh, realizing the weight of Boruto's words. He knew firsthand just how powerful Boruto had become, and he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

"Are you confident in defeating him?" Kawaki asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.

Boruto's expression turned serious as he replied, "It will be a massacre. I have complete confidence."

As Kawaki absorbed Boruto's words, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and determination. He understood that he would have to play the role of bait in order to bring an end to this ongoing conflict.

"So, I have to be the bait?" he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.

Boruto nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Yes, Kawaki. But don't worry, you can trust me," he reassured, his voice filled with conviction.

Kawaki sighed, realizing that he had little choice but to go along with Boruto's plan. "Fine, I'll follow your lead. After all, this is my chance to repay the debt," he conceded, his voice tinged with determination.

Boruto grinned, "Great! You can use this room to sleep. I won't be sleeping here, though," he said.

Confusion washed over Kawaki's face as he questioned Boruto's sleeping arrangements. "Then where will you be sleeping?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Boruto's expression turned serious as he spoke. "I still have work to do. You'll see me at the hideout," he replied, his voice filled with a sense of purpose.

With that, Boruto stood up from his chair and activated his Karma seal. Kawaki's own Karma seal responded in kind, synchronizing with Boruto's.

Boruto couldn't help but comment on the synchronization. "Oh, it's finally synchronized," he remarked, a mix of excitement and intrigue in his voice.

Confusion clouded Kawaki's features as he sought clarification. "What do you mean?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Boruto's eyes sparkled with a hint of mystery as he activated his Jougan, a unique ocular power. "Well, there are supposed to be two Otsutsuki to drain this Earth into a Chakra fruit, and one of them will be the sacrifice," he explained, his voice tinged with a sense of foreboding. As he spoke, he created a swirling black portal with his Jougan.

Without further ado, Boruto stepped into the portal, leaving Kawaki behind.

Kawaki hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But he knew that this was his only shot at victory, so he steeled himself and decided to follow the plan.

However, he couldn't bring himself to sleep in the room Boruto had offered. Hinata had warned him not to sleep there, as it was Boruto's personal space. Instead, he made his way to his own room, the one that had been prepared for him, and settled in for the night, his mind filled with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

As the conversation unfolded, Naruto's face was etched with deep concern, mirroring the worry that Hinata also felt.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. "Can't you do something? He's behaving just as recklessly as you did in the past."

Naruto let out a heavy sigh, his eyes reflecting a mixture of frustration and helplessness. "I wish I could, Hinata," he replied, his voice tinged with regret. "But the truth is, there's nothing I can do to control Boruto's actions. He has his own path to follow, just like I did."

Hinata's gaze softened, understanding the weight of Naruto's words. "I know, Naruto-kun," she said softly, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "I just hope that this won't escalate into a major problem. We've already been through so much."

Naruto nodded, his expression a mix of determination and worry. "I share your concerns, Hinata," he admitted. "But all we can do now is trust in Boruto's choices and hope that he learns from his experiences."

Hinata squeezed Naruto's arm gently, offering him a reassuring smile. "I believe in our son, Naruto-kun," she said, her voice filled with unwavering faith. "We've raised him to be strong and resilient. I have faith that he will find his way."

Naruto's gaze softened as he looked at Hinata, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Hinata," he whispered, his voice filled with love and appreciation. "Having you by my side gives me the strength to face any challenge that comes our way."

With their worries momentarily eased, Naruto and Hinata found solace in each other's presence, knowing that together, they would navigate whatever trials lay ahead.