Chapter 34:
When Boruto saw the rooftops through the trees, it was a huge relief and he nearly fell to his knees in gratitude.
Last night Neji had led them to a different portal in the spirit realm which took them to a different location in the human world, far from the old shack and the men inside. He didn't know what had become of them after the mass of crows stormed the decrepit building but Boruto was a little upset he hadn't dealt with them to his personal satisfaction.
The portal brought them to a thicket where there was no rain and were able to sleep on the dry ground to get an early start in the morning. Boruto and the others traveled nonstop all day just to reach this place.
Coming into view was a cluster of hills in the distance surrounded by white walls. Beyond the walls was the ocean which fought the sky for a position on the top of the winding wall. As they got closer, they could see that the wall's additional job was a preventative against flooding for the city resting on the shore of the sea. The pale green stains on the outer wall facing the sea indicated that waves could reach such a height during terrible storms.
Sarada checked the map one more time before putting it away. "Well, the visiting king did mention that he traded fish with King Akio so it would stand to reason that his kingdom would be near the ocean."
Mitsuki was looking past the walls. "The kingdom is built on an incline. The city moves up hill from here and has a number of gates."
Since the city was built on an incline of hills, from here they were able to see inside the kingdom before the gates were opened to them. The city seemed to be divided into sections with smaller walls separating them into districts. Hopefully, this would make their search easier.
Boruto's jaw dropped at the splendor of the city. Not only was it lavish but very modern. There were screens directing people to different parts of the city and flashing advertisements. Speakers were mounted on tall poles on every corner and every now and then a woman's cheery voice would encourage the people to shop at a certain store and list the sales. The streets were paved in elaborate tiles like grey and reddish-brown fish scales fanning uphill. There were street peddlers and stores with giant window displays. One shop featured a light show in its storefront, humming lights shaped in the form of a dress-clad woman danced under a neon sign reading 'ballet studio' in pink letters.
This was an upscale shopping district and tourist trap. There were other shops displaying trinkets such as magnetic seashells and fishhooks with the city's name and clothing with the same.
"Want bread? How about cake? Come visit our local bakery located on west street in the plaza. It's a sweet treat," said the female voice coming from the speaker they passed under.
They walked under an awning of jade and silver which brought them to another area of the city, this one with just as many shops but fewer tourists. This must have been where the locals did their shopping. The signs and advertisements weren't as elaborate and the displays less showy. Even the ground was different. Same scale-shaped stones but these were blue and grey. The districts must have been color-coded in case people got lost or to give the city some individuality.
"Hot soup? Cool smoothies? Get it to go," said the woman's voice in the speaker. "Fabulous take-out options are available at your favorite restaurants. Pick something up today."
"Man, that's got to get annoying after a while," complained Sarada, glaring at the speaker. "Imagine having to live next to that playing all day."
"Yeah," said Boruto, thinking of home. "We don't have that in the village. Just the TVs playing in the shopping area and they're not this loud."
This city was modern with almost everything looking brand-new, even the buildings, but the resplendent splendor was hurting Boruto's eyes more than coax him.
It didn't feel homey. It was just one big advertisement. No, actually, it was a polished piece of glass. The sumptuous gleam of the city was just someone flaunting their wealth. Boruto doubted anyone in the city needed half these things, but it looked good. The decorative awnings, flashing lights in the windows, speakers calling out the latest sales and the stores to visit that day was just the king hanging his money on the buildings.
It wasn't just about attracting people; it was looking good. Showing off. King Akio didn't do this. His humble town didn't sparkle like this and wasn't nearly as large, but he also had a reason not to entice people or show off. It made Boruto wonder what this king was compensating for.
They passed through another archway, this one having two guards positioned on either side. It made Boruto wonder if they were getting close to the king's palace.
"Are we here to question the king or Kai?" Mitsuki asked just as another announcement came over the speaker.
"Need a new look? New hat? Why not make it two? Our local shops always have the latest style. Stop by today."
"The king is the one who was supposed to punish Kai for threatening the prince like that. He probably knows where he is. We should find the king first and ask."
Mitsuki looked straight ahead. "That building looks promising."
Crouched on the top of the sloping hill, above all the shops and houses, was a white building that stood above the rest. It was tall, wide and decorated extravagantly with banners, stain glass windows and the best materials money could buy. The palace was one big work of art.
"Safe bet that's where he is," Boruto grumbled.
They marched uphill toward the palace and the closer they got, the more guards they saw. There was a deep trench around the outside of the palace with a decorative drawbridge. Six guards were stationed in front of it. As expected, the guards stopped them and demanded to know who they were and what their business was.
"We have an audience with the king," said Sarada authoritatively. "It's urgent."
"He has no meetings with children," said one of the men.
Boruto was getting pretty sick of being called a child. Would no one take them seriously?
Sarada pointed to her head-band. "We're shinobi, not children. It's vital that we speak with your king immediately. We have reason to believe he might be in danger."
The men didn't believe her. One guard whispered to the other how he thought this was an assassination attempt, having the young shinobi lie about the king being in danger just to get close to him. One pointed out that they didn't even know the king's proper name.
If it was a name they wanted, then…
"It involves Kai," Boruto announced. "Right-hand man of the king. Surely you know him."
The guards' expressions changed as they looked at one another.
Moments later, they stepped aside. One guard put a hand to his left shoulder and spoke into his hand, saying, "We have three shinobi here to see His Majesty. Send an escort at once." When Boruto looked closer, he saw the guard had an earpiece and suspected he was taking into some sort of small radio.
The drawbridge started to lower. As it touched down, the guards thumped their staffs on the ground in unison and permitted the Genin to cross. Once on the other side, a woman in sky-blue robes greeted them. "Come with me," she said.
Boruto tried not to look around too much as everything inside the palace was glowing as if coated in layers of polish and the sunlight pouring in reflected its abundance. Boruto's feet made little noise on the carpeted hallway. Long red velvet stretched down every corridor and there were large statues everywhere and paintings galore.
Akio's halls were lined with paintings depicting the family bloodline in a single row. This king's paintings were of various noblemen and warriors, which Boruto guessed might have been relatives, as well as landscapes, female muses and tabletops spilling over with food. The paintings climbed up the wall, stacked in a random order just to fit them all. Even the domed ceiling was painted to look like the surface of water. It even shimmered. Upon closer inspection, Boruto realized this was because tiny diamonds had been fastened to the painted ceiling as well, adding to the ambiance.
Flaunted wealth every which way he turned. Boruto wondered what else this palace contained beyond this one hallway.
The woman brought them to a chamber and told them to wait a moment while she went in to announce their arrival. She opened the large double doors and stepped inside, leaving them wide open.
"Your Majesty, three shinobi are here to see you. They say it's urgent."
Sarada prepared herself for an audience with the city's king while Boruto waited impatiently. He already knew this king was different from Akio but that didn't mean he wanted to try to win him over. He had a low opinion of this king already. Rather than make an effort to get on the king's good side by appealing to his vanity, Boruto was just going to treat him like he did everyone else.
The woman bowed and stepped aside, gesturing for the Genin to enter. When Sarada's foot passed hers, the woman threw out her arm, signaling that they weren't allowed any closer than this. At Akio's palace, they could walk right up to the stairs of his platform before being asked to stop. This king kept even visitors at a distance.
The king sat in his throne, decorated in wealth, and looked down at the Genin. "Don't I know you?" he asked. "Yes, I have seen you before. At Akio's place, yes?"
"That was a different mission," said Sarada. "We're here on other business. King Akio did not send us. He doesn't even know we're here."
She hoped saying that would protect the king in case this meeting went south. Most of what she said was true anyway.
"Who did send you and why?"
"We're not at liberty to say," she told him.
"Then I am not at liberty to help you," said the king as he sat back in his throne. He waved his hand and four guards approached to remove them.
"It's got nothing to do with you," Boruto said hurriedly. "It involves that man who worked for you. Kai."
The king held up his hand and the guards stopped, hands outstretched to grab their arms. At the king's command, they backed off.
"Someone who wants to remain anonymous sent us to investigate something. They think while Kai was getting gifts for you, he was given the wrong item by mistake and they need it back."
Interested, the king leaned forward. "What item is that?"
Boruto had been doing great improve so far but now couldn't come up with anything. Even they didn't know what they were looking for or how recently it had been received.
"Our current employer thinks it's best if we don't involve you too much," Sarada stepped in. "After all, this could have just been an accident on their part but since it was Kia who received it for you, they don't want you to look bad."
Boruto breathed a sigh of relief.
"We also don't know how many gifts you have been given or by whom. We only have what our employer has said to go on," she continued. "It was probably received recently or used recently. That's all we know so far."
The king nodded his head and smiled. "Well, while I do feel bad for the mistake, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do. I wouldn't know what the item is or when I received it or when it was used last. I am a busy man and can't keep track of everything."
"Yes, but it was a mistake. If we can just find the item…"
"It's been in my possession for how long and now they want it back?" said the king. He chuckled haughtily. "If it's taken them this long to notice an item given by mistake, perhaps the current owner should keep it."
Boruto bit his lip. If a spirit item was in this city and being used to open portals at random, it couldn't stay here. They had to get it and couldn't let this king stop them.
As Boruto opened his mouth, he heard Mitsuki beside him say, "It could be dangerous if the item in question remains here."
That got the king's attention. "Dangerous? In what way?"
Mitsuki smiled. "I don't know. But since it was given in error, it obviously wasn't meant to go to you. Why keep it?"
"Especially if it doesn't benefit you and might actually do you harm," Boruto added, thankful for Mitsuki's quick thinking.
Keeping it vague had the king's mind run wild with possibilities. It appeared something Konohamaru once told them had some truth to it; that fears brought on by one's imagination were often worse than reality.
Though Boruto couldn't see what the king was imagining, he clearly didn't want to be at any disadvantage.
The king stood. "Very well. Allow me to help you."
Boruto grinned.
The Genin were brought out of the throne room and into a different room by the servant. The king went a different way and a minute later another servant showed up with a leather-bound book in his hand.
"I have a log of items the king has received through trade and as gifts dating back to six months ago. I can't let you look at it but I can tell you if anything looks amiss."
"Are these all the things he's gotten over that course of time?" asked Sarada.
The servant hesitated. "Uh… Not all gifts are documented."
Sarada frowned. "He must have some record of them."
"Usually stories as he shows them off to the people who come by."
"Can we start with those?" Sarada asked.
Boruto had a feeling Sarada was hoping the king would display a spirit's glamorous item under a glass dome for all to see as they entered his palace. However, Boruto learned that not all spirits were showy and neither were their items. Many powerful things came in unbecoming and unassuming packages.
He remembered what Naruto had said to the Jonin who came into his office to complain about the kitsune. "They don't value money, they value food," Naruto had said. Jewels weren't worth more than a shiny pebble and would easily give it up when asked.
The kitsune didn't live in a palace, they lived in a mountain. They hunted for their meal and feared humans. The lizard spirit lived in a crumbling tower in the spirit realm and didn't seem to mind. The tiger spirit did live in a palace but it had no roof and was overgrown. Despite this, he was quite comfortable. Many disguised themselves as beggars when in the human world, surviving on human generosity. Even the snow spirit, though beautiful and well-dressed, didn't hang riches from her body. A brooch carried a portion of her power and wasn't for show.
Looking around this palace, Boruto didn't think an average spirit item would be displayed in a glass box on a satin pillow. It wouldn't be showy enough for this king.
Boruto leaned closer to Sarada to whisper his thoughts on the matter. "Maybe it's a humble gift. One worth keeping but not worth showing off, you know."
Sarada thought about it and realized Boruto was right. The spirit item probably wasn't encrusted with jewels. Maybe a wooden staff or something similar.
Sarada asked the servant if the king had received anything like that. No matter what, he wouldn't let her see his book. "It would be a gift Kai gave to the king specifically," she added, hoping to narrow it down. "He probably would have given it to him in person and said it was a gift from someone they visited."
"Half the things on this list were given to the king because of Kai's haggling."
"I think you mean threatening," Boruto grumbled under his breath.
"Can we just see those items, please?" Sarada urged the man. "We need to be sure."
The servant looked over the list in his book.
"Recent ones, or ones that have been touched or moved recently. Maybe even broken."
The servant glanced at something on a page in his book. "Well… We were doing inventory. A couple weeks ago, perhaps. If we're looking for things that are still in the palace, that is. Other items have been sold to fund upgrades."
"This place doesn't need a bigger spotlight." Just walking to the palace was like walking through a row of mirrors set before the summer sun. Too much splendor was blinding and Boruto hated the way it made his eyes sting.
The king didn't know the meaning of moderation and Kai was an enabler. He threatened others to fund the king's need for the divine. Boruto now saw that the king was just as to blame for Kai being able to take things this far. If only the king had done a little investigating into how Kai came by these gifts and verified that they were given without any prodding, Kai's deviousness might have been caught sooner. Seeing how the king was in his own kingdom, he realized that the king didn't care about the details as long as he got something he wanted. All Kai had to say was that they were gifts and that was that. If the king didn't care so much for wealth, he might have questioned Kai more thoroughly.
This palace was blinding the king, as well.
Boruto fixated on this as the servant brought them to a different wing of the palace to show them some of the items Kai had obtained for the king. Some items were mounted on the walls, paintings and a tapestry and fine silks which had been repurposed as table cloths to better accentuate the items they supported.
None of these items could be it. Paintings and silks were too common for a spirit to carry. Something plain but different, Boruto thought. He believed he would know it when he saw it.
The servant took a key from his belt and opened a door to one of the king's treasuries. Inside were a number items the king wasn't comfortable enough to show off but was still protective of, as seen by the fact that this room had no windows and was locked with a key.
Chests, suits of armor, old weapons behind glass, fancy embroidered robes hanging from hooks on the wall or beside a bookcase which held even more items. Locked boxes, old books, helmets, decorative ornaments, sculptures and even a pair of wooden shoes.
The wooden shoes seemed odd enough to find in a treasury, but not something, Boruto thought, a spirit would have or want. He looked over everything in the treasury but all the items he saw were something he had either seen in the human world or knew existed because of pictures in books or scenes in movies. Many of the items were old, which was why they were valuable, but others were newer, shinier.
Something that wasn't manmade, he thought. Something plain enough to not be given a second glance but rare enough to make the king find it valuable. Unassuming, common. Something that wouldn't draw too much attention but still be deemed unique and desirable.
It had to be here. He knew Sarada only brought them here on a hunch, but now that he was here, he believed whatever was causing these creatures to enter their world must have been here.
If it wasn't, he didn't know where else to look.
Sarada went to open one of the chests and the servant sputtered in protest.
"Please, don't touch anything in here," he said anxiously, as if they were toddlers in a glassware store where if they broke it, they bought it.
"How else are we going to find what we're looking for?" Sarada asked.
"You don't even know what it is that you want."
That was true. They were searching blindly for an item which might not have been there.
Sarada thought about the snow spirit's brooch and started to wonder if it was a piece of jewelry. If hers held a bit of her magic power, then a similar item might have been here which would explain why the portals were opening.
"Did the king get any jewelry? A watch, a ring? A pin?"
"Why would they have a watch?" Boruto wondered aloud, not able to imagine a spirit needing or wanting such a human thing.
The servant looked at his book. "Uh…" He motioned for them to get out of the room. "Some, yes, but they're not here." He closed the door and locked it.
"We might still need to look around in there," complained Boruto.
The servant returned the key to his belt. "Maybe later. I can't have you poking around without supervision. The items you suggested are in a different wing. And in the king's private chamber where he keeps his personal favorite jewels and pins. He has a ring in there which he received as a gift last week."
That was around the time Naruto disappeared. But if he received it last week, that was two weeks after Kai was found out by the king. He probably wouldn't allow him on any new outings after that so it might not have been the item.
"Any other books or records of things Kai has gotten for the king?" Sarada asked, exasperated. The people in Akio's kingdom were more helpful. Akio even personally assisted them along with the servants when able. Akio and this king were like night and day, both in personality and in the running of their kingdom.
The servant slumped his shoulders and groaned. "Let me check. Stay here." The servant left them alone in the hall.
Mitsuki held up the key from the servant's belt. "Should we go back in and continue the search?"
Boruto was thrilled but Sarada was horrified. "Mitsuki, did you pickpocket that from him?"
"I did," he confessed. "We need to search and without him breathing down our necks, we can touch things now, too."
"Come on, Sarada, you know this is better. We don't have a lot of time and it's not like we're going anywhere fast. Let's just look around in there one more time and this time look under and inside of things, you know."
She looked torn. "Boruto… I don't know if…"
Mitsuki approached the door with the key, deciding for her.
A shadow loomed over them and Mitsuki looked to the left.
"What are you doing?" asked a guard in a gruff voice.
Mitsuki smiled. "We're helping the king with something. He gave us permission to take a dangerous item off the premises."
"A likely story, you…"
"It's the truth," interjected Boruto. "What if something happens to the king because you stopped us? Who do you think will get blamed?"
"Are you threatening an officer of the king?!"
"What? No! I was…"
Three more people showed up and for a minute, everyone in the hall was frozen.
"You…" seethed a man in green robes embroidered with gold around the cuffs and hem. "You again? Haven't you caused enough problems, you horrid brats?"
"Kai," asked the guard, "you know these children?"
He never looked at the guard and didn't seem to be speaking to him but acknowledged the question in his own way by ranting to the three Genin about how much trouble they caused him.
"Haven't you done enough damage to me? Because of you, I am under scrutiny like never before. I've been demoted, to boot!"
"You should be in jail after the stunt you pulled," Boruto snapped. "Attempting to kill the prince like that."
"If the king of Ayahuasca had given me what I wanted, I wouldn't have had to resort to such measures."
Kai didn't think he had done anything wrong. No, he knew his actions were wrong which was why he hid it from his king and sneaked around. His reasons, he felt, were justified. That was the difference.
He felt Akio was lying to him and withholding important information so Kai escalated in an effort to get what he wanted. His desperation, however, wasn't founded on facts but a hunch because he heard rumors. While Boruto knew some were true, Kai didn't know that with absolute certainty, which was part of the reason Kai made Boruto's blood boil. Akio hadn't done anything wrong so there was no reason for Kai to do what he did. It was like having someone tormented because their friend told them in secret who they had a crush on and other children wanted to know, too. They didn't have to know and withholding that information from others wasn't hurting anyone. Those who tortured them into telling were in the wrong.
The information Kai wanted was something he couldn't get. Keeping the kitsune a secret from him was vital. Since he was still bringing it up, Boruto knew Kai hadn't given up.
Ryosuke and the other kitsune had been good to him, even if he hadn't formally met them all. His mother and sister were in their care now. If Kai went back to the mountain to search, his family would be in danger. Ryosuke was helping him find his father and returning the lost creatures back to their world before they caused further damage. Kai had no right to cause him additional problems or hinder their mission. Reki was trying to get over his fear of humans because of a trauma in his past. Someone like Kai would make things worse and Boruto couldn't allow that.
"You're an idiot," Boruto told him.
"What did you say, boy?" Kai stepped closer, insulted.
"I said, you're an idiot," Boruto repeated, unintimidated. "We've been all over that mountain keeping an eye on your cronies and in town and in the palace protecting the king, and none of us have seen any foxes. Not even a tuft of fur. You set traps, which was illegal, and only ended up catching someone's pet. If that had been a beartrap, you could have killed that kid's pet and how would that make you look? Would you get it through your thick skull? There are no foxes in Ayahuasca."
"You are so naïve," Kai scoffed, shaking his head. "There's enough evidence if you look for it."
"If you make the pieces fit, you can convince anyone of anything," said Mitsuki. "That doesn't make it true. Forcing something is never good."
"Your king told you that he didn't care about kitsune actually existing anyway," said Sarada. "He said they would grant him nothing and, looking around your kingdom, I have to say he's right. You've got all the latest and greatest technology money can buy, your kingdom is huge and well-off and you have enough cash left over to hang from the ceiling. Why would he need anything else? There's nothing a kitsune can give him that he doesn't already have."
Kai snorted. "Except a kitsune itself. That is something no one has. He'll be the envy of all kings. Actual proof of their existence. And with a kitsune's power on our side, no one will be able to take it away. No one will invade our land or hurt our people. We would be the greatest empire of all."
"If kitsune did exist, what makes you think they would allow that?" asked Mitsuki.
Kai glanced down at him. "What?"
"If kitsune are that powerful, why would they allow themselves to be slaves to a human?" Mitsuki asked calmly. "Clearly there's nothing you can do to stop them if they decide to rebel and how would you get them to side with you in the first place? There's nothing you have that they want. You're not powerful enough to be a threat to them so I don't understand why you think having one in your kingdom would be possible in any sense of the word. Keeping it here, getting it to do your bidding and catching it in the first place."
The two servants behind Kai looked at one another and started murmuring. Boruto even heard the guard mutter, "He has a point, there."
Mitsuki smiled. "Just saying."
That smile struck Kai as a hard kick to the shin and he stomped forward. Boruto moved closer to Mitsuki, ready to protect him if Kai tried anything.
"You seem to know a lot about them, boy, yet you claim to have not seen any," he said suspiciously.
"Based on the rumors, I just used logic to reach that conclusion," Mitsuki told him.
"They're just stories," said Boruto defensively. "You've seen the kingdom. It's not nearly as extravagant as this. They're a town, not a city. Their stores don't light up and there are no speakers playing ads all day. It's rustic compared to this. Maybe they thought some of their local legends would help bring in tourists since they don't have much. They don't have much other than stories. Ever think about that?"
"Ayahuasca is pretty poor in comparison," whispered one of the servants. "Not many upgrades."
"The place hasn't changed in decades."
Kai still wasn't convinced. "For them to survive in such a small, poor kingdom, they must have access to some magic."
"Seriously, how do you not hear yourself?" Boruto asked. "Putting a knife to the throat of a prince because you think the stories to lure in tourists are real makes you look like a lunatic."
Clenching his teeth, Kai began to circle around the Genin dangerously. "Do you have any idea how long I've been busting my hump for His Majesty? The things I've had to do to stay ahead of the game, to deliver to him? It's because of me that this kingdom has grown the way it has in such a short amount of time. Trading with inferior kingdoms or ones who can be considered competition. I make sure he gets a better deal. Other people may try to cheat him but I make sure he stays ahead of the game."
"By threatening other lands into giving you stuff."
"Those are gifts they've given of their own free will. I've stolen nothing."
"No, but I'm sure you used some not so idle threats about the rulers of that land being targeted by thugs or threatening to pull out of the trade agreement so they'd rather do as you say or starve."
Kai came to a stop in front of Boruto. "Just how many people are you responsible for, hm? You provide for no one. You're just a kid. But I'm certain you would be among the first to complain if you no longer had access to your favorite foods or toys or clothing. Where do you think it all comes from? To get the best, you have to be the best."
"You don't get to be the best by threatening others. Unless you want to win the title of best jerk." Boruto stepped closer to him. "The leader of our village made us prosperous without cheating or threatening other people. He works hard all the time, unlike you!"
"I've worked tirelessly to get where I am!" Kai spat, putting his hands to his chest to show himself off to the smaller boy. "I've had to claw my way up from the bottom, taking years of effort! Promotions didn't come easily but I proved myself. So now that I've earned the king's favor, why shouldn't I use what I've learned, enjoy the perks that come with the job and reward the man who allowed me to get this far?"
"Everything you did was just to butter up the king so he'd look the other way. You get him what he wants and he gives you what you want. I know how it works."
"Do you?" Kai snarled. He grabbed the front of Boruto's jacket and pulled him closer. "It is only because of my years of loyal service that we are not having this conversation through prison bars. He knows my worth. I have proven myself to the king."
"I knew it!" Boruto explained angrily. "If anyone else had done what you did, they'd be thrown in jail but the king only demoted you and put you on notice because you helped his kingdom get rich."
"And rightly so. I deserve a reward after all I've done for him and I will continue to serve my king, even if some…" Kai's gaze fixed on something by Boruto's hip. "What is that you have there?"
Boruto's hand went to his belt but Kai was just as quick. They struggled for the item and Kai won, shoving Boruto backwards with the hand still grasping his jacket.
Kai held up the purple pouch.
"Give that back!" Boruto made a grab for the pouch but the guard defended Kai, grabbing Boruto's shoulder and pulling him back.
"And what is this?" Kai asked, eyes momentarily drifting to Boruto then back to the pouch.
"Nothing. Give it back," he demanded.
Kai ran his fingers over the material, feeling every strange thread woven into its design. The lace holding it closed was of the finest quality, he could tell, but nothing he had ever held before. The tactile sensation was unlike anything he had felt before. This wasn't silk or wool or cotton or any material he was familiar with. The inability to discern its origin made Kai extremely curious. Even excited.
"How did you come by this?" he asked, rubbing his thumb over the pouch as if it would escape otherwise.
"It's nothing. Give it back."
Kai opened the pouch and looked inside. "What is this?"
"My lunch. Give it back."
A greedy grin etched its way over Kai's face and Boruto felt his stomach churn.
Holding the pouch close to his ear, Kai asked Boruto a series of pointed questions. As he was being interrogated, Boruto kept his eyes fixed on the pouch dangling from Kai's fingers, just out of reach.
"This bag isn't made from any material in this or any kingdom I've visited. Tell me, what's it made of?"
"How should I know? Give it back."
"Why were you carrying this?"
"Because it's my lunch and I don't want to go hungry. Give it back."
"Seems strange for you to carry it on your belt. What's it really?"
"My lunch. Give it back."
"Do you take me for a fool? I know this is of special quality. Now tell me, where did you get this? Who gave it to you? Why do you have it?"
"It's my lunch so I don't starve and give it back right now," Boruto demanded. He would not change his story but no matter how many times he said it, Kai wasn't convinced. To Boruto's horror, Kai suspected it was something truly special. Unique.
"Did the kitsune give it to you? Did you acquire this from the mountain spirits?"
"It's a stupid bag of rice for my lunch. I didn't get it from any kitsune." Boruto was truthful about that. Even so, he couldn't let Kai know its true origins.
Still unconvinced, Kai gripped the pouch tightly, now holding it to his chest. "If you are telling the truth and just happened by this, then you have no idea what it truly is. I should keep it."
Boruto had to get him to give it up. He tried numerous tactics to get him to relinquish it. "It's the only food I have for this mission. If you take it, I'll starve."
"I'd be happy to give you a bigger bag of rice from the palace kitchen in compensation."
"I'd rather not trouble the king."
"It's no trouble at all. The king has plenty to spare. A large bag for this meager pouch seems like a very fair exchange in your favor."
"I don't want to owe the king anything. Just give it back. It's mine and you have no right to take it."
"What do you say to some rice balls in addition? Meat buns, canned goods. Our dried fruits are the most delectable in the land."
"I don't care! No trade. I want my bag of rice. Now give it back!"
Kai took a step back as Boruto tried to make another grab for it. "Why so desperate to have this bag? Unless… you know of its true properties."
Boruto thought quickly. "I promised I'd hang on to that bag of rice and you have no right to take it from me."
"I do when you do not understand what it is you're carrying," Kai justified. "And if you do, you don't deserve to have it. Its properties are wasted on the likes of you."
"It's a stupid bag of rice. Give it to me!"
"You made contact with a spirit, didn't you?" Kai leaned in Boruto's face, holding the bag out of reach. "What did you do to receive this? Did they bestow it upon you? Can't see how, someone like you. Did you take it? Steal it? Happen by it and picked it up?"
"You're insane," Boruto snapped.
"Then why will you not relinquish it?"
"Because it's important to me and you wouldn't understand."
"I understand plenty," Kai barked. "I understand that you are undeserving of this."
Kai pulled away and stroked the pouch in his hand lovingly, a hungry look in his eye.
"This bag," he said knowingly, "this material is something no normal person can get their hands on. This rice is no ordinary rice, either. It's special spirit food. Something only powerful creatures can get their hands on. Whether they gave it to you willingly or you happened by it, that doesn't mean you're deserving of it. It's wasted on someone like you, whether you understand or not."
"You don't get to decide that," Sarada chimed in from where she stood. "You have no right to take it from Boruto just because you think you deserve it more."
"I do!" Kai snapped so loud in made Sarada flinch. "Demoted or not, I still work for the king! Everything I do is for His Majesty! For the kingdom! I work day in and day out for him. It's because of me and my work that this kingdom is thriving. I will continue to please the king with my hard work. And this will help me do just that."
"A bag of rice you stole from a shinobi? That won't do you any good. It's less than pointless."
Kai sneered at Sarada and held up the pouch as if it were a bar of gold. "This seemingly common bag or rice holds special properties. Spirits are powerful, so the food they consume must be as well. This bag is a clear indication that its contents are special. By eating the same food a spirit eats, I may obtain something special. A power that can help me do my job even better."
"You think that rice will give you special powers? You really are insane," said Boruto.
"You do not want to give it up for any price because you know I'm right and you want it for yourself. I can't have that."
"Why?" Boruto asked. "You want power to take the throne from the king or something?"
"Foolish child," Kai scoffed. "I don't want the throne. What good would it do me? The position of king is a noble but responsible one. Taxing and vexing. The king is responsible for all the people. When something breaks, he must fix it. When the people are unhappy, he must remedy their grievances. Whether he does his job right or wrong, people will complain. There's always work to be done and no matter how well he does his job, it's impossible to satisfy all. Why would I wish that for myself?"
Boruto was a little surprised. The thought Kai wanted to usurp the throne which was why he tried to get on the king's good side. Boruto couldn't imagine anyone working as hard as Kai did without an ulterior motive. There was no way Kai was that committed to the king.
"No, I know my place. And it's at the king's side," Kai went on. "There's only so much the king can do on his own, so it's vital to have someone who can help manage that load for him. To make his job a little easier. And it's only natural for a good job to be rewarded. The better the work, the better the praise."
Now Boruto understood. It was never about power. It was about comfort. Kai was doing all this to enjoy the perks that came with his promotion. He didn't want to be king. He wanted to be the king's pet. An important, faithful lapdog who was handsomely rewarded with the finest gifts and pleasures. That's what Kai wanted.
"I might be able to obtain the powers of a spirit creature," Kai said and he clutched the bag close. "Think how much more powerful our kingdom would be. We'd be an empire. I'll be of real use to the king and no one will dare try to intimidate us. My good work has just started with this…"
Boruto lunged at Kai who backhanded him across the face and into the guard's chest.
"You dare assault me, boy?" Kai held up the bag. "You want this to threaten the king?"
"No!" Boruto tried again to get the bag but the guard held him back. "I don't care about this kingdom or anything like that. I just want that bag back! I need it! Give it!"
Kai smirked. "You've impeded His Majesty and I for far too long. You need to know your place."
It all happened so fast, Boruto's reaction time was lagging behind by two seconds. He felt the guard pulling him down the hall before he could resist. He saw Sarada being dragged by her wrist and Mitsuki looking between them for answers, unsure what move to make. When Boruto saw Kai's smug face, he made himself react.
He had to get that pouch back, no matter what.
He couldn't use jutsu right now, so he tried the next best thing. He reached for his kunai but Sarada grabbed his arm, squeezing it tightly until he released his grip on the kunai.
"In there," Kai ordered.
"You can't keep that!" Boruto shouted, pulling against the staff pressed across his stomach. He could feel the shaft pressing painfully under his ribcage. "It doesn't belong to you! You can't just take it!"
Kai grabbed something and before Boruto could see what it was, all three Genin were thrown into the windowless treasury.
"You're an ass!" Boruto shouted and tried to escape through the door but the guard shove him into his friends.
Kai placed the pouch in the cupped hands of one of the servants standing behind him with wide eyes. "Prepare this for my lunch. I have a feeling it will be more than satisfying."
The servant's eyes darted from the treasury door to Kai then bowed deeply and hurried away.
"You jackass! Don't!" Boruto made another run for the door but it was slammed in his face. He heard a latch click and that was when he realized what it was Kai had taken: the key Mitsuki borrowed from the other servant. Boruto jiggled the handle but it wouldn't open. He pounded on the door with his fists. "You jackass! Let us out of here! Don't take that pouch! Give it back! Hey!"
He stopped pounding long enough to hear Kai say that he alone would eat the rice and no one else was to have a single grain.
Boruto kicked and punched the reinforced door to no avail. He screamed and yelled but the door remained shut, his pleas ignored.
He stopped and stood, panting and dizzy. His hands were red and his knees were shaking.
'Take this to the Sea King and he will help you.' He remembered those words. The Sea King knew where Naruto was. If they gave him the rice, he would take them to Naruto.
Without the rice…
There was no hope.
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