Chapter 45: He's Back

Three years had passed since their days at the Academy, and the students had now graduated to the rank of Genin. Teams were formed, with most comprising three members each. However, Sarada and Mitsuki's team, Team 7, was one member short.

Despite this, their designated teachers remained the same. Sarada was under the tutelage of Naruto and Kakashi, while Mitsuki was being trained by Orochimaru.

Now, Genin from Konoha and other villages had gathered in Konoha for the Chunin Exams.

"Sarada looks a bit different," Chocho observed, her eyes scanning Sarada's transformed physique.

Shikadai nodded in agreement, noticing the subtle but defined muscles on Sarada. "True, it seems like she's been training a lot," he remarked.

Inojin expressed his relief at Boruto's absence from the exams. "I'm kind of glad Boruto isn't participating in the exam," he admitted.

Shikadai shared his sentiment. "Yeah, if he was here, he would have obliterated the exam on his own," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice.

The two of them sighed, their thoughts drifting to their absent friend. Meanwhile, Chocho continued munching on her chips, seemingly unfazed by the conversation.

Elsewhere, Metal was eagerly looking for Boruto. However, he was slightly disappointed at not being able to find him.

The first round of the Chunin Exam was a trick test designed to assess the shinobi's quick thinking.

Meanwhile, Boruto found himself on a train journey towards Konoha. He was comfortably seated, his eyes closed as he rested. He had chosen to take the train, not out of necessity, but simply because he felt like it. There was something about the rhythmic clattering of the wheels and the passing scenery that gave him a sense of peace.

Three years had passed since he had left Konoha, and Boruto was now 16 years old. His face had matured, losing its youthful roundness and gaining a sharper, more defined look. He had grown taller, his body now lean and muscular, a testament to the intense training he had undergone. His physical transformation was impressive, thanks to the Jutsu he had been practicing.

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As Boruto slept, the train came to a halt at a station. Among the passengers who boarded was none other than the Kazekage, Gaara, accompanied by his subordinates. However, they didn't notice Boruto, who had cleverly concealed his face beneath a hood.

As the train continued on its journey, Boruto remained oblivious to the presence of the distinguished guests. Lost in his own thoughts, he was miles away from the hustle and bustle of the train.

Several hours into the journey, Boruto's senses were suddenly jolted awake by a powerful wave of malice. The sheer intensity of the emotion was so strong that it seemed to invigorate his body.

"Huh? It's unusual for a human to emit such a strong aura of malice, but I suppose there could be exceptions," Boruto mused, not entirely dismissing the possibility. "Let's see what's going on." With that, he swiftly made his way towards the source of the disturbance.

Upon arriving, Boruto was met with a chilling sight. A man with pale skin was wielding a red chakra fishing rod, its hook already embedded in Gaara. Without a moment's hesitation, Boruto's Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan activated, and he appeared in front of Gaara. Summoning his Chakra Axe, he swiftly cut the fishing line, preventing the pale man from extracting anything from Gaara.

As Boruto severed the fishing line, his hood fell back, revealing his face. The pale man was taken aback, clearly not expecting anyone to interfere.

Gaara, momentarily confused, looked at the young man who had just saved him. In the dim light, the yellow hair and determined expression seemed familiar. "Naruto?" Gaara muttered, his voice filled with uncertainty.

Boruto, however, didn't respond. His focus was solely on the pale man, whom he charged at without hesitation. The pale man attempted to block Boruto's jumping diagonal slash, but the force of the attack was too strong. His Chakra fishing rod was sliced in half, and he barely managed to evade the attack, receiving a deep gash across his chest.

"What kind of chakra is that?" the pale man asked, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and fear.

"Come and find out pale ass alien," Boruto retorted, his axe engulfed in a dark aura.

The pale man quickly conjured another Chakra fishing rod, and his wound started to heal. However, it stopped halfway, much to his confusion. "What did you do?!" he demanded, noticing the black color spreading around his wound. The tension in the air was palpable as Boruto prepared for the next move, his eyes never leaving his opponent.

Boruto flashed a confident smile at the pale man. "Just a little something I've been working on to fight against the Otsutsuki," he said, his voice filled with determination.

Without a moment's hesitation, Boruto charged at the pale man. The pale man retaliated by flicking his Chakra fishing rod towards Boruto, aiming to hook into his body. To his surprise, Boruto allowed it, even going as far as to hold onto the fishing line with a smug smirk on his face.

Suddenly, a surge of dark chakra flowed from Boruto's hand, traveling along the fishing line and heading straight towards the pale man. The moment the dark chakra made contact with him, the pale man began to cough up blood uncontrollably. Realizing the severity of the situation, he quickly released his grip on the Chakra fishing rod.

"What is this vile chakra?" the pale man demanded, his voice shaking as he noticed his hand growing darker from absorbing the chakra.

Boruto's response was cryptic, his voice laced with an ominous undertone. "You don't need to know." As he spoke, his left eye began to spin, activating its unique abilities.

Suddenly, the pale man found himself unable to move. Boruto had used telekinesis to immobilize him, leaving him helpless and terrified. The fear within him intensified as he realized that death was closing in on him, taking the form of a young man with scarlet red eyes, shrouded in a dark aura.

The pale man's voice trembled with fear as he mustered the courage to ask, "Who... who are you?" He could sense the impending doom drawing near.

Boruto's response was chilling, his voice carrying an air of menace. "I am the Doom Slayer," he declared, his mind echoing with the iconic theme song from the game.

In one swift motion, Boruto swiftly beheaded the pale man, severing his head from his body. The room fell silent, save for the faint sound of dripping blood. Boruto's gaze then turned to the lifeless body, a sinister glint in his eyes.

Without hesitation, Boruto meticulously plucked the pale man's eyes from their sockets, carefully placing them into a jar filled with a mysterious green liquid. The sight was both gruesome and unsettling, leaving an eerie atmosphere in the room.

Gaara and one of his subordinates approached Boruto, their expressions filled with curiosity and uncertainty. "Who are you?" Gaara inquired, his voice laced with intrigue.

Boruto calmly stowed the jar containing the pale man's eyes into a storage seal, a method of sealing objects for safekeeping. With a small smile, he stood up and turned towards Gaara. "I am Uzumaki Boruto," he introduced himself, his tone filled with a hint of pride.

Gaara's surprise was evident, and even his guard seemed bewildered by Boruto's presence. "Aren't you participating in the Chunin Exams?" Gaara asked, his curiosity piqued.

Boruto's smile widened as he responded, "Ah, it seems my father didn't inform you about me. Well, I left the village when I was just seven years old. But now, I have returned, so there's no need to worry."

Gaara's astonishment grew, his mind racing to comprehend the unexpected turn of events. Sensing the lingering questions in the air, one of Gaara's guards spoke up, unable to contain their curiosity any longer. "What do you plan to do with those eyes?" they asked, their voice filled with intrigue.

Boruto's response was straightforward and unapologetic. "I will use them," he stated firmly. "It would be a waste if I didn't make use of them."

Gaara found himself taken aback by Boruto's brutal honesty, yet he couldn't help but understand the reasoning behind his actions.

"By the way, you might want to step back. I need to ensure this man's body is completely destroyed. I won't allow him to be resurrected," Boruto firmly stated, his determination shining through.

Gaara's curiosity was piqued once again. "Can Otsutsuki be revived on their own?" he inquired, seeking clarification.

Boruto nodded in response. "Yes, they have the ability," he explained. With a surge of Dark Chakra, Boruto personally ignited the pale man's body, ensuring that it turned to ashes, eradicating any chance of resurrection.

Gaara couldn't help but notice the repulsive nature of the Chakra emanating from Boruto's technique. It reminded him of the dark and malevolent Chakra he had once experienced when Shukaku, the One-Tail, had attempted to take control of his body. "What is the origin of that Chakra?" Gaara asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Boruto's expression turned serious as he answered, "It's something I created specifically to counter the Otsutsuki's Chakra absorption abilities. However, I must warn you, it's not something I would recommend for those with weak wills."

With the task at hand completed, Boruto stood up and clapped his hands together. A confident smile graced his face as he declared, "Alright then, let's enjoy the journey back to Konoha. It's going to be quite the ride."

As the guards departed, Gaara and Boruto found themselves alone in the private compartment of the train. Gaara took a moment to gather his thoughts before breaking the silence. "May I ask you a question?" he inquired, his tone filled with curiosity.

Boruto nodded, signaling that he was open to answering Gaara's question. "Of course, go ahead," he replied.

Gaara couldn't help but notice the age difference between himself and Boruto. "I can't help but wonder why you appear older than you should be. You should be around the same age as my son, Shinki," Gaara pointed out, his curiosity getting the best of him.

Boruto chuckled softly, understanding Gaara's confusion. "Ah, that's because I've trained intensively to the point where I've aged beyond my years," he explained, a hint of pride evident in his voice.

Gaara's confusion only deepened at Boruto's response. However, before he could delve further into the matter, Boruto changed the topic, surprising Gaara with his candidness. "Oh, by the way, Gaara-san, have you ever considered changing your hairstyle? Personally, I think your previous hairstyle suited you better," Boruto suggested, a warm smile on his face.

Gaara was taken aback by the unexpected comment. "Huh?" he uttered, slightly bewildered.

Boruto quickly reassured Gaara, not wanting to offend him. "I don't mean to insult you, but I think you looked cooler with your previous hairstyle," he explained, his sincerity shining through.

Gaara contemplated Boruto's words, considering the possibility of changing his hairstyle. However, he couldn't shake off his initial question about the Otsutsuki's ability to revive themselves. "Before I consider changing my hairstyle, I would like to know more about what you mentioned earlier. How is it possible for the Otsutsuki to revive themselves?" Gaara asked, his curiosity reignited.

Boruto leaned back, preparing to share his knowledge on the matter. "Well, they have a technique called Karma. It allows them to transfer their consciousness and DNA into a chosen individual. However, if the host is weak, they can't fully utilize their power without risking the host's life," Boruto explained, shedding light on the dangerous nature of the Otsutsuki.

Gaara nodded, absorbing the information. His gaze fixed on Boruto, he couldn't help but wonder how Boruto had acquired such knowledge. "How did you come to know all of this?" Gaara questioned, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Boruto smirked, his response cryptic. "Let's just say I've had encounters with some individuals who were incomplete hosts," he replied, implying that he had firsthand experience, even though he hadn't actually encountered such individuals.