The skies were clear, the wind was soft, and the temperature was just right—not too warm, not too cool. A perfect day to be outside.
More than ten days had passed since the Nue incident. The village still bustled with life. Konoha's leadership had quietly suppressed the uproar, and since there had been no casualties and no structural damage, the situation was smoothed over quickly.
After that, the upper ranks gathered to discuss the sudden appearance of "Moon," and to investigate Nue's origin.
The truth couldn't be hidden forever. So, the very next day, Sumire went to meet Naruto—Boruto at her side—and explained everything.
They didn't have much choice. Sai, being the head of the ANBU, had already found the remnants of Root's experiments in the original events. Trying to hide it from him would be pointless.
As far as the higher-ups were concerned, the mysterious leader of Moon had handled the entire situation alone, and the alternate dimension had collapsed once he accomplished his goal.
Boruto and Sumire had rehearsed their story beforehand:
"Don't worry. That dimension is sealed off. They have zero evidence. We'll just say whatever fits. Easy."
As expected, Kakashi's conclusion was:
"It involves an extra-dimensional layer. Even with all our intel, we have no way to investigate it."
No trace of the portal remained at the site. As if the space that held Nue had never existed at all.
Left with no entry point, Shikamaru tried another angle:
"The opponent used Sage Mode in battle. Could that be enough to narrow things down?"
Everyone turned toward Naruto. He understood Sage Mode better than anyone here, and there were only three Sage Lands to begin with.
Naruto shook his head.
"The chakra felt like Ryūchi Cave. Mount Myōboku didn't take in anyone recently, and Shikkotsu Forest hasn't accepted a disciple since Tsunade."
After that, Konoha's leadership treated Sumire with surprising leniency. With no casualties and no damage, and with her sincere remorse, they declared she had "stepped back from the edge."
Her student status was restored.
Now free of the burden she had carried since childhood, Sumire spent the next morning with Boruto at a burger shop. She still regretted the path she had almost walked—how she had nearly thrown away her friends and the quiet life she secretly wanted.
She asked Boruto where his Sage Mode came from.
Boruto answered honestly:
"Mount Myōboku. I made a promise with them. I won't talk about it until I'm strong enough."
Sumire's eyes widened.
"As expected of you… even the Sage Lands watch over you."
They were in the middle of eating when a grating voice cut through the warm mood—like a discordant flute in a calm orchestra.
Sarada had spotted them through the window and walked in with crossed arms.
"Boruto, seriously? Eating fried food with a girl first thing in the morning?"
Boruto: "..."
Sumire quickly sat up straight.
"No, no—it's not like that. He helped me talk to the Seventh Hokage. After that, we… had breakfast."
"Oh." Sarada nodded casually.
Boruto raised an eyebrow.
"Want something to eat too?"
"No. Unlike you, prince, I actually have things to do. I'm running errands for my mom." Sarada's tone was sharp, but only lightly.
"Yes, yes, I'm terribly idle," Boruto deadpanned. "Anyway, I just learned another one of my dad's signature techniques."
He tilted his head toward her. "So? What about you, prodigy? Any big achievements lately?"
Sarada froze.
"Uh…"
The image of Boruto standing before Nue—calm, confident, Rasengan in hand—flashed through her mind.
She'd always prided herself on being above her peers. But here she was… being outpaced by the lazy troublemaker she used to look down on.
The realization stung.
She hugged the doll she had come to return—her expression complicated.
"…Just you wait," she muttered. "I'll show you what I can really do."
Then she left, stubborn and determined as ever.
Boruto watched her go, then calmly returned to his hamburger. Fried food and soda were a perfect pairing, after all.
Closed-minded people stayed satisfied forever, never climbing out of their own narrow wells.
…
Night fell.
The moon hung high, thin clouds dimming the starlight. It was quiet, almost too quiet.
Boruto sat with Mitsuki at the latter's home. The room was minimalist: blue curtains, neatly folded bedding, and a single framed photo of Boruto sitting by Mitsuki's bedside.
"Is Orochimaru finished?" Boruto asked.
"Father said the preparations are complete. Now he's waiting for you," Mitsuki replied.
Boruto nodded.
Orochimaru's cloning and genetic manipulation were already perfected sciences to him—this part was nothing more than arithmetic.
"Let's go now."
"Alright… how do we get there?" Mitsuki asked. "Traveling there normally?"
"Spiritual summoning."
"Oh." Mitsuki understood immediately. It was simple, crude, and—most importantly—the fastest option.
"But… you're not planning to let a giant snake swallow you, right?" Mitsuki asked carefully.
His understanding of summoning-to-entry-space was based on Sasuke's method—complete bodily engulfment.
Boruto snorted.
"No need for something that messy."
He motioned for Mitsuki to summon a small white snake.
After it appeared, Boruto placed his hand on its back. A seal pattern instantly bloomed across its scales—thin, sharp, like the petals of a spider lily.
"What kind of seal is that?" Mitsuki asked, intrigued.
"The mark of the Flying Thunder God."
While escorting Sumire to the Hokage building early that morning, Boruto's shadow clone had slipped into the Forbidden Techniques archive and "borrowed" a few interesting scrolls.
Far away, in an underground chamber lit by candles, Orochimaru paused after receiving the snake with the seal.
Then he smiled—thin, excited, anticipating.
"So," he murmured, "show me, Boruto… exactly how far this wind intends to blow."
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