Chapter 20: Team Battle Part 1

With a weary expression etched across his face, Boruto groaned, "Urgh." His exhaustion was palpable, the toll of the day's activities evident in his slumped posture.

Metal, noticing his friend's fatigue, asked with a hint of concern, "You good, bro?"

Boruto sighed heavily, the weight of his frustration audible in his voice. "Nah, this Academy is killing me. I yearn for the thrill of Shinobi work, not this mundane academic stuff," he confessed, his words laced with a longing for adventure.

Iwabe, who had been quietly listening, turned around and chimed in, "True, I also crave the excitement of Shinobi work."

Boruto shot back, "Shut up, all you need to do is get good grades and you can become a Shinobi."

Iwabe, taken aback, stood up abruptly. "Hah? Are you looking for a fight?" he challenged, his eyes flashing with defiance.

Boruto, unfazed, smirked and retorted, "Can you really beat me though?" His confidence was infectious, causing Denki and Mitsuki to exchange amused smiles.

Shikadai, observing the exchange, asked, "Since when did you guys make up?"

Boruto shrugged nonchalantly, "I never held a grudge against him, it was just a small fight."

Iwabe, surprised by Boruto's admission, simply smiled and echoed, "Me too."

Boruto then turned his attention back to Iwabe, "Also, why haven't you studied, Iwabe?"

Iwabe grimaced, "It's just that it's hard."

Boruto scoffed, "Sounds like an excuse."

Iwabe retorted, "Shut up, it's not like you're any good with studying."

Denki, ever the peacemaker, interjected shyly, "Ano, Iwabe-kun, Boruto is actually the number one in written tests."

"Hah? This guy?" Iwabe exclaimed, disbelief etched on his face.

Boruto simply smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Hey, Boruto, are you free today? You've been quite busy lately," Shikadai inquired, his curiosity evident in his tone.

Boruto shook his head, a hint of weariness in his voice. "Unfortunately, I'm not. I'm interning at the Konoha Hospital," he replied, revealing the reason behind his packed schedule.

Denki, intrigued by Boruto's unexpected role, couldn't help but ask, "How did you manage to get an internship there? Don't you need some medical background or knowledge?"

Boruto grinned, his pride evident. "Sarada's mother, Sakura-san, helped me out with that. She's been teaching me the ropes," he explained, grateful for the guidance he received.

Shikadai, always the skeptic, interjected, "Did she find your volunteer work impressive or something?"

Boruto chuckled, a mix of amusement and resignation in his voice. "Yeah, I guess she was impressed. Now I'm stuck with it, but at least I'm earning some money," he sighed, sinking back into his seat.

Denki couldn't hide his envy, his words barely a whisper. "I'm...jealous."

Boruto, catching Denki's quiet admission, offered some advice. "If you're jealous, then put in the work to make it happen," he encouraged, his voice filled with determination.

Denki was taken aback by Boruto's attentiveness, surprised that his friend had heard his soft confession.

Shikadai, ever the pragmatist, couldn't resist teasing Boruto. "Doesn't your internship feel like a drag?"

Boruto nodded, acknowledging the challenges he faced. "Yes, it can be quite demanding, but I know there's still so much for me to learn. So, I'll endure it for now," he replied, his determination shining through his words.

As the school day came to an end, Boruto found himself in Sakura's office, seeking her guidance. With a concerned expression, Sakura addressed him, "Boruto, you can take a break from coming here for the rest of the week. Sarada informed me that you've been pushing yourself too hard."

Boruto shrugged off the concern, determined to continue his efforts. "It's fine, Sakura-sensei. I can handle it," he assured her, his voice filled with determination.

Sakura, however, insisted, "Just for today, go out and give yourself some rest. We can handle the patients without you."

Relenting, Boruto nodded and made his way towards the door. "If you say so, Sakura-sensei. See you tomorrow," he bid her farewell, his gratitude evident in his tone.

Just as Boruto was about to leave, Sakura couldn't resist her curiosity and asked, "By the way, did you finally figure out how the Byakugo Seal works?"

Boruto's confident response caught her off guard. "Yeah, I've actually made one myself," he revealed, a hint of pride in his voice. With that, he left the hospital, leaving Sakura in a state of confusion.

Sakura couldn't help but wonder, as she didn't see any seal on Boruto's forehead. However, she knew firsthand just how talented and resourceful Boruto could be. It was highly likely that he wasn't lying and had found a unique way to utilize the Byakugo Seal. The mystery only deepened, leaving Sakura intrigued by Boruto's ingenuity and potential.

Strolling through the bustling streets of Konoha, Boruto savored the creamy sweetness of his vanilla ice cream as he made his way back home. Unexpectedly, he bumped into his former teacher, Tenten, who greeted him with a warm smile. "Yo, Tenten-sensei," Boruto called out, his cheerful demeanor evident.

Tenten playfully ruffled Boruto's hair, a fondness in her eyes. "Hey, Boruto, my favorite student. How was your day at the Academy?" she inquired, genuinely interested in his well-being.

Boruto rolled his eyes, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Waste of time, as usual," he grumbled, expressing his disdain for the mundane routine of the Academy.

Tenten chuckled, understanding Boruto's sentiment all too well. She patted his back reassuringly. "Hang in there, kiddo. It'll get better. By the way, are you free today?"

Boruto's eyes lit up with anticipation. "Yeah, I am. What's up?"

Tenten grinned mischievously. "Let's go grab a bite to eat. My treat," she offered, extending an invitation to her favorite student.

Boruto's face broke into a wide grin. "Sure, Tenten-sensei. I'm up for it!"

The two of them headed towards Yakiniku Q, a popular restaurant in town, and settled down to enjoy the mouthwatering array of grilled delicacies they had ordered.

Between bites, Boruto couldn't help but inquire about Tenten's business ventures. "So, how are your sales going, Tenten-sensei?"

Tenten shrugged, a hint of contentment in her voice. "Pretty much the usual. Can't complain."

Curiosity piqued, Boruto continued his line of questioning. "Do you take on any extra missions or jobs?"

Tenten nodded, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Yes, I do. In fact, would you like to join me on one of these missions sometime?"

Boruto's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Can I actually come along?"

Tenten nodded with a reassuring smile. "Of course you can. I'll do my best to convince your dad. It'll be a great learning experience for you."

Grateful for the opportunity, Boruto couldn't resist teasing his teacher. With a mischievous grin, he playfully asked, "By the way, Tenten-sensei, have you found yourself a boyfriend yet?"

Tenten's reaction was swift and lighthearted. She lightly tapped Boruto's head with a wooden spoon that was resting on the table. "Shut up, you little troublemaker," she retorted, her tone filled with mock annoyance.

Boruto chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Understood, Tenten-sensei."

As they continued their meal, Boruto couldn't help but feel grateful for the mentorship and friendship he shared with Tenten. The bond they had formed was a testament to their shared experiences and the trust they had in each other.

A few days had passed since the students of the shinobi academy had been training diligently. On this particular day, they found themselves gathered outside, ready for a new challenge. Shino-sensei, their teacher, addressed the class with an exciting announcement, "Today, we will be engaging in a team battle! Each team will consist of three members. Choose your teammates wisely"

Boruto, being the outgoing and adventurous individual that he is, approached Onikuma Enko, a shy and reserved girl. As Boruto made his way towards her, he couldn't help but notice her delicate demeanor and gentle presence. With a friendly smile, he extended an invitation, "Would you like to team up with me?"

Enko, taken aback by Boruto's unexpected approach, blushed and replied in a soft voice, "Can I? Won't I hold you back, Boruto-kun? I'm not very confident in my abilities."

As Enko finally had a chance to take a closer look at Boruto, she couldn't help but notice his striking features. His spiky blond hair, mesmerizing blue eyes, and the aura of confidence that surrounded him made him undeniably attractive.

Boruto reassured Enko, his voice filled with genuine sincerity, "No, you won't hold me back. So, do you have any ideas about who could be our third teammate?"

Enko pondered for a moment, her eyes lighting up with a hint of excitement. "Can my friend Tsuru-chan join our team?" she asked, hopeful.

Boruto nodded enthusiastically, his enthusiasm contagious. "Of course, The more, the merrier. Let's invite her."

With that, the trio of Boruto, Enko, and Tsuru became a complete team, ready to face the challenges that awaited them in the upcoming team battle.

The list of the other team included;

Shikadai, Chocho, and Inojin

Iwabe, Sarada, and Denki

Mitsuki, Metal, and Taketori Hoki

Sumire, Namida, and Wasabi

Hako Kuroi, Renga Kokubo, and Doushu Goetsu.

Out of all the teams, this one was considered the most important as the others were either too weak or irrelevant.

Once the team was assembled, Shino assigned each group a different location and communicated with the students through his communication bug. "The objective is to take the flag from the other teams and win," Shino explained. "Let's start the team battle in 3, 2, 1...Go!"

Boruto's team found themselves deep in the forest, their flag planted firmly behind them. Tsuru was the first to speak up, breaking the silence. "What's the plan, Boruto?" she asked, her eyes fixed on him.

Boruto paused for a moment, considering his options. "So, do you guys want the simple plan or the intricate one?" he asked, turning to face his teammates.

"What's the simple plan?" Tsuru inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Boruto grinned. "Well, in the simple plan, I handle everything. But in the intricate plan, I'll make you two shine so that you'll have a better record in the Ninja Databooks," he explained.

Enko, however, was more interested in the intricate plan. "Let's go with that one," she said firmly.

"Great. In that case, tell me about your abilities so I can come up with a solid plan," Boruto said, his mind already buzzing with ideas.

Boruto listened intently as Tsuru and Enko described their abilities, taking note of their strengths and weaknesses. After a few moments, he let out a sigh, causing Enko to speak up. "Is it really that bad?" she asked, looking worried.

Boruto rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "Well, to be honest, your skills are a bit lacking," he admitted.

Enko's face fell, and Tsuru looked concerned. "Do you regret choosing us for your team?" Tsuru asked, her voice soft.

Boruto shook his head. "No, not at all. I chose you guys precisely because it's going to be harder for me. But don't worry, the only people you need to watch out for are Sarada, Iwabe, Metal, Mitsuki, Sumire, Shikadai, Chocho, and Inojin. They have more skills and ninjutsu, and their stats are better than yours," he explained.

Enko looked dismayed. "That's like half of our class," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Boruto nodded. "Yeah, and I don't know much about the others, but I'm sure that the one who wears the outfit similar to Rokudaime is also strong," he added.

Tsuru spoke up, her voice determined. "Hoki-kun, huh?" she said, her eyes narrowing.

Enko looked up at Boruto, her eyes pleading. "Can we win?" she asked, a hint of desperation in her voice.

Boruto smiled, channeling his father's words. "Of course we can. Just trust me and believe it," he said, his voice filled with confidence.