Chapter 22:

There was no contest. No way to compare their difference in strength. Naruto easily defeated all the men who came his way, breaking their weapons and drawing blood. He threw them through the air, stepped on them, bit them and sent them flying just by screaming.

Shikamaru had seen Naruto lose control before but this was something else. It could have been because Naruto was an adult now and stronger than before, allowing him to boost his own strength with the Nine-Tailed Fox's, but somehow Shikamaru didn't think it would result in this. This must have been the mirror's doing on top of whatever changes Naruto had gone through by progression.

He was no longer certain the fear he felt was on account of Naruto being like this as an adult with all his new power, the mirror morphing Naruto into something slightly different or his cat instincts. It could have been a blend of all three, but Shikamaru decided that didn't matter right now.

Thanks to the guards' most recent attempt to stop him, Naruto was more riled up than ever and Shikamaru failed time and again to get through to him. With the last of the guards defeated, Shikamaru was the only one left standing to oppose Naruto and the corrupted Naruto seemed to understand that.

He stalked Shikamaru, swiping at anything that moved, even if it was light filtering into the throne room through a crack in the wall.

Shikamaru tried to think of a plan but Naruto was unpredictable in this form. His plans meant nothing if he couldn't account for that fact. Some of Naruto's behavior defied logic, making it next to impossible to fight him or trap him. He was too strong and unruly.

He tried using his shadows but Naruto would either move out of the way, confront them or break free. Shikamaru hid anywhere he could, trying to conserve strength. Fleeing from Naruto's attacks while trying to restrain him had Shikamaru running ragged.

Naruto gave a roar and slammed his head into the pillar Shikamaru hid behind, cracking it and sending chunks to the ground. Naruto barely batted an eye. Any injures he had sustained during the battle had already healed. He didn't look tired at all but could tell the same couldn't be said for his prey.

Shikamaru tried to find another hiding spot but Naruto cut him off and took a swipe at his chest. Shikamaru avoided it and wedged himself behind the king's broken throne and a pile of debris. He saw the shadow eclipse his body and tried to get out of the way before Naruto could strike.

A burst of air struck Naruto and sent him into the wall behind the throne, giving Shikamaru an opening to bolt to safety. Temari was standing in the doorway with her trusty fan. When she saw Naruto emerge, she nearly dropped it.

"What the hell am I looking at?" she asked, her eyes wide. The sight of Naruto sent chills down her spine and gave her a vague sense of familiarity.

"It's Naruto but not him exactly." Shikamaru came to stand by her side. "It's, uh…"

"The Nine-Tails?" She looked scared. "I thought he was on good terms with it now. I thought he could control it."

"It's that noble," Shikamaru told her. "He forcibly turned Naruto into this. It's not his fault."

She thought Gaara was terrifying when he lost control, but this was a different level of fear. She was an adult and to feel fear like this was…

It wasn't to say she never got scared as an adult. She just didn't feel it to this extent. Feeling like a mouse in a cage with a hungry cat.

It made her almost lose her nerve, which was uncommon for her. She even caught herself shaking when Naruto looked in her direction.

"How do we fight him?" she asked Shikamaru, seeing Naruto step forward, hunched over on all fours.

Shikamaru gave her his honest answer. "I don't know."

Boruto stood up in his cell, looking at the ceiling. "Did you feel that?"

"Feel what?" asked Yuji.

Boruto tried to gage what it was but he couldn't feel it anymore. "Was that an earthquake?" He could have sworn he felt the ground vibrate just then.

The door to the dungeon opened and Sota came in with a ring of keys. He stuck one into the lock on Boruto's cell and turned it, but it wasn't the right one.

"What are you doing?" Boruto asked, stepping closer.

"Getting you out of here," answered Sota, trying another key.

"You can't. I… You… Why?"

"Something's going on upstairs. I think it's your dad."

"My dad?"

Sota tried another key but this one wasn't working either. "I think he's on a rampage. He might calm down if he sees you."

"Whoa, slow down. What? My dad wouldn't…"

Sota found the right key and opened Boruto's cell.

Boruto didn't step out. "You can't just let me out."

"You didn't mean any harm. And you apologized. That's good enough for me."

"But…"

Sota moved to Yuji's cell and tried to unlock his next. "There's a chance the building could come down. I have to free you so you don't get crushed. Most of the other guards have evacuated."

"How'd you even get those keys in the first place?"

"My dad's a soldier, remember? I got them from him. Just don't let him know that."

Boruto's eye twitched, realizing Sota had stolen his father's keys to their cells.

"If you were dangerous criminals, I probably wouldn't be doing this, but you guys didn't really do anything wrong," said Sota. "And none of the guards wanted to throw you in here, either," he told Yuji. "You didn't do anything wrong. You're only in here because a guy threw a tantrum because you disagreed with him. You don't deserve to be locked away for that. It's stupid."

Sota opened the cell door and let Yuji out. Yuji stood and took his first step outside his cell in months. He smiled gratefully at Sota and Sota smiled back. Sota ran to the door and opened it, telling them to hurry.

Climbing the long staircase, Boruto again felt the ground tremble. Dust rained down on them from above and Yuji looked around fearfully.

"I told you I needed to get you out," said Sota. "It's too dangerous to stay in the building. If this place collapses, you'll be trapped underground."

Boruto nodded to Sota. "Thanks. By the way, do you know where my weapons are?"

Sota pointed up the steps. "There's a room where the guards keep contraband and belongs. I have the key to that, too."

"Good, 'cause I might need them." Boruto wasn't sure what they would find in the palace, but it must have been really powerful and frightening to cause all this.

Temari whipped her fan, creating a massive gust to force Naruto back for the dozenth time. He roared and moved behind the broken throne, taking cover. Temari rested her fan against the floor and leaned on it to catch her breath. They had been at this a while and were unable to do anything other than slow Naruto down.

Shikamaru had hoped the mirror's effect would have worn off by now but Naruto was still furious and wanted to fight.

His wife looked at him during the brief respite between attacks. "Shikamaru… We can't keep this up. If we don't stop him, the whole building will come down with us in it. Wearing him out isn't working. It's just exhausting us."

"We can't come at him seriously. Not in that way," he told her, knowing she was suggesting they start slicing at his body until he collapsed from blood-loss. "I know it's taking a while, but we have to wear him out. Eventually, he'll clam down and return to normal."

"How long will that take?" she asked him, glaring. "You might have the patience for that, but come on. A wildfire will eventually burn itself out, but how much devastation will it cost in the meantime? There are children in this city. What happens when Naruto finishes with this building and leaves?"

He knew she was right. They had to stop him but with Naruto's state being what it was, he might not have been able to without doing Naruto serious harm or killing him. Naruto's condition was temporary, making him unwilling to make a permanent decision.

At the same time, Naruto was running them ragged. Shikamaru didn't know any sealing jutsu which would stop Naruto's rampage and, given that this was brought on by spirit magic, doubted it would work.

Shikamaru could hear Naruto hissing at them from his hiding place and knew another attack was coming. He couldn't understand why this was taking so long. Before, he could talk sense into Naruto and he calmed down after a few minutes. This just kept going. The spirit mirror in human hands must have caused this. It was the only explanation. Which meant it would be impossible to accurately judge when Naruto would calm down and return to normal.

Had the mirror given Naruto enhanced strength in addition to the Tailed Beast inside of him? Without knowing what exactly the mirror had done to Naruto, it was impossible to judge and made it unclear if this was Naruto's chakra, the Nine-Tails' or something else. Shikamaru could clearly see the chakra surrounding Naruto's body and understood that this was Naruto and the Nine-Tails but he had no idea how long it would take for their chakra to dwindle or if this was a jutsu Naruto was doing or just strength he was drawing from raw chakra.

Shikamaru gasped, realizing something. Something Naruto had mentioned after being transformed. "Not at the same time…"

"What are you mumbling over there?" Temari asked, getting ready to raise her weapon as Naruto's eyes came into view.

"He can't use fox magic and jutsu at the same time. It's one or the other," Shikamaru said. This gave him an idea. "If we can stop him from using shinobi abilities, he'll be powerless since this comes from the Tailed Beast. We just have to get him to stop using chakra by drawing out the fox in him."

Temari raised her brow at her husband. "I thought the fox was the problem."

"Long story."

"Ok," she said, going along with it. "Then how do we do that?"

That was the issue. If Naruto wasn't in his right mind…

No, that didn't matter, Shikamaru deduced. The mirror might have brought out this side of Naruto but he was still under a kitsune's curse. He still had kitsune abilities. Abilities which showed themselves at certain times, the same way Shikamaru became part cat. Something had to draw it out. Like fish or a beam of light or…

"Seki." He turned to Temari. "Temari, go get Seki."

"I thought you didn't want him here."

"He might be able to reach Naruto. Please, hurry and find him."

Temari hoisted her fan over her back and ran into the hall to locate the kitsune. Shikamaru looked back in time to see Naruto dart after Temari and managed to stop Naruto by throwing a kunai into his shoulder. Naruto roared, abandoned the escaping woman and turned to snarl at Shikamaru.

Boruto stumbled into a wall as the building shook violently. They were getting closer to the source. He told Sota to escape while he dealt with the danger and after some protesting agreed. Yuji said he would make sure the boy escaped and the two went down a separate hall while Boruto went in the direction of the throne room.

On his way, he ran into Shikadai who had gotten the noble to a safe place and returned to find Mitsuki, only to find Boruto instead.

"You're ok?" was the first thing he asked, seeing Boruto free.

"Yeah." Boruto looked down the hall where the throne room stood. "You know what's going on?"

"Something troublesome. I just saw my mom not too long ago getting people out but I haven't seen my dad yet."

"He must be fighting whatever's in there." Boruto pointed. He took out a kunai from the belt Sota returned to him. "Let's go check it out."

Nodding, Shikadai followed Boruto to the throne room. The doors were off their hinges and something was moving fast across the floor. Something jumped to the ceiling to avoid the flash of red and jumped again.

"Dad?"

Shikamaru looked down, midjump. His eyes widened. "Shikadai, Boruto, get out of-"

"Raugh!" Naruto roared and slapped Shikamaru out of the air and into the wall beside the broken door.

"Dad!"

"Shikamaru!"

He struggled to get up. The blow was like getting hit by a truck. Everything hurt and it was difficult to get his body to respond. He heard Naruto coming and looked up in time to see him charging in to finish him off. Shikamaru dragged himself closer to the wall to evade but it was no use.

Instead of going for a direct blow, Naruto slammed his fist through the wall behind Shikamaru and jumped aside as the wall crumbled and fell on top of his friend.

"Dad!" Shikadai ran to help but Boruto held him back.

"Please have used a substitution," Boruto begged quietly. "Please be a Substitution Jutsu."

They couldn't hear or see any signs of Shikamaru and both boys feared he had been crushed.

Then a little furry head poked itself through the rubble and squeezed itself to freedom. A cat scampered away from the broken wall and over to the boys. It had Shikamaru's brown eyes.

"That was close," the cat said in Shikamaru's voice. "Of all times for me to go full cat, this was arguably the best."

Not only had he shrunk down in size but his flexible body was able to avoid serious injury and crawl through the gaps between stone until he found his way out.

"What the hell are you doing here, Shikadai? I thought I told you to stay home. Doesn't anyone listen to me?"

Shikadai was too shocked to realize he was being scolded. "Dad? Is that you? You're a cat. Why are you a cat?"

"Long story." His ears twitched. "Move!"

The three dove out of the way as Naruto launched another attack. He threw back his head and screeched, as if venting his frustration at having missed his target.

"Is that… Dad?" Boruto gaped at the creature in front of him. His father looked so different, despite most of his body looking the same. His eyes and face were full or hate and malice and he was covered in red chakra.

"That can't be the Hokage… can it?" asked Shikadai, hiding behind Boruto.

"It's not his fault," said Shikamaru. "The human using a special mirror did this to him and we have to change him back before he destroys the place."

"How do we do that?"

"Have you tried wearing him out?"

Shikamaru laughed wearily, changing back into human form. "Been there, tried that. Reinforcements are coming, so I need you two to get out of here."

"No way," said Boruto. "It's my dad."

"Who has no idea who you are right now," Shikamaru said firmly. He pointed out the door. "Go! You, too, Shikadai."

"But-"

Naruto roared and galloped towards the trio on all fours, ready for another attack. Shikamaru sprang up and kicked Naruto in the face, flipped in the air and landed on all fours in a very catlike fashion.

"I said go!"

The boys hesitated. "We can help."

"Help by getting out of here. If this place goes, I don't need you guys trapped under the rubble."

"We can fight him together," Boruto insisted.

"I don't have time to argue. Get-"

A strong arm cut Shikamaru off there and slammed him into the floor. Naruto stood on top of him, pressing Shikamaru into the floor with one hand. It felt like a horse was standing on his ribcage. Shikamaru could barely breathe. Naruto roared in his face, making his head ring. Naruto raised his other hand and got ready to bring it down on Shikamaru's head.

"Dad! Dad!"

Naruto was forced off by several swordlike shadows produced from Shikamaru's back. Naruto was thrown backwards, allowing Shikamaru to get up. He could not restrain Naruto with his shadows for very long but he could use them to push Naruto aside.

"We can help," Boruto said again.

"Help by getting out of the way. I've got this," said Shikamaru.

"It's my dad!" he shouted. "I'm staying!"

Naruto huffed and started to climb up one of the walls, digging his fingers into the stone as if they were made of soft clay. He was planning to launch himself at them from above.

Shikamaru didn't have time to deal with the children and Naruto while he was already on his last legs. Arguing with them would have been a waste of time and distract him from the danger. He had no choice but to include them. If he tried to carry them off, Naruto would only follow them, putting even more people in danger. He had to keep Naruto confined in this room.

"Fine," he said, keeping an eye on Naruto as he reached the highest most point of the wall and prepared to jump. "Just don't let him out of your sight and don't get too close."

Roaring, Naruto jumped, targeting Shikamaru.

Shikamaru used his shadows to grab Naruto in the air, knowing where he'd be, but it wasn't enough. Naruto easily ripped through them and twisted in the air, trying to continue the attack. Shikamaru again used his shadows to grab Naruto and hold him off the ground. Naruto opened his mouth, gathering red light until it formed a red sphere and unleashed it.

"Get down!" Shikamaru abandoned his jutsu to throw himself on top of the boys as Naruto fired something equivalent to a cannon ball above their heads.

"Was that a red Rasengan?" Boruto asked, seeing the blast soar over their heads and into a wall.

Shikamaru lifted his head to survey the damage. The opposite wall had a massive round hole blown through it, continuing into the hall and the room adjacent. He doubted they would survive a direct hit from that attack. He wanted the boys to leave but knew they wouldn't even after seeing this.

Out in the hall, Sarada shrieked and fell, the wall behind her disintegrating. She covered her head with her hands and looked back to see what remained of the wall. Sugata helped her to her feet, looking at the damage.

"We're close to whatever's causing this. Should we leave?"

Sarada shook her head. "No." She stood firmly, her conviction shining through. "Stay close," she told him. "I'll protect you."

Sugata gave an amused grin and looked at her jaw instead of her eyes. "To think a human would say that to me…"

"Don't you guys rely on humans, though?" she asked, some of the seriousness in her eyes being replaced by curiosity. "I thought each had their roles."

"While that is true, since spirits tend to be more powerful, humans looked to us more than the other way around. It's only in situations like mine where we have to…" Sugata frowned, bringing his hand close to his chest, feeling empty without his mirror.

"Then it is balanced," Sarada said. "In a way. But I get it."

"Do you?"

"Everyone has their roles based on their abilities. It's like with shinobi. We have to be on balanced teams otherwise it won't work. You have to have skilled fighters but that doesn't mean medics aren't important. Without them, who will treat the injured? It's like that with spirits, too, isn't it? You can do things humans can't and in returned, humans do things or give you things you need. Some of it's gratitude and some of it's just necessary. After all, there are times when you need help, so you're not all powerful, even if that's what some people think."

Sugata opened and shut his mouth again. He looked away. "You have an odd understanding of us yourself…"

"Am I wrong?"

He didn't answer right away. "Every creature is different. But I suppose you're right about everyone having a role to play."

Sarada took Sugata's hand. "You don't have to tell me everything if you don't want to. Just know that I'll protect you the best I can. Not because I want anything but because it's my role."

Sugata nodded. He pointed down the hall. "It's that way."

Shikamaru could barely move anymore, his body was in so much pain. When he saw Naruto coming, all he could do was shield his face with his hand and wince.

"Naruto!"

He stopped and looked towards the door.

Temari stood beside a human who looked worried upon seeing him. The human stepped closer.

"Do you know who I am?"

Naruto snarled at him and approached.

Shikamaru lumbered over to Temari and thanked her. He also tried to keep her distracted so Seki could change without being seen. She immediately ran over to the boys and tried to get them to leave but they refused. Boruto believed there was no point now that Naruto seemed to be under control.

Seki shifted into his fox form and stood in front of Naruto. Naruto lowered himself, a rumbling growl leaking from his lips.

"What have they done to you?"

Naruto stared at him, red eyes glowing behind the vail of red chakra.

"You're stronger than this. I know you are."

Naruto flexed his fingers, preparing to strike.

"You're one of us," said Seki.

Naruto stopped growling.

Boruto breathed a sigh of relief. It was over.

"Ruagh!" Naruto bellowed and took a swipe at Seki with his left hand.

Seki avoided the attack and landed on the other side of Naruto's arm.

Boruto's heart sank. This wasn't over yet.

To his surprise, Seki was smiling.

"Want to play tag, Naruto?" He took off running and Naruto followed.

Seki jumped over rubble with ease and Naruto followed, stumbling slightly. Seki wove past the broken pillars and Naruto crashed through the first one instead of going around it. He maneuvered around the rest in the same fashion as Seki. The nimble fox jumped over the throne and Naruto did the same. Seki let out a burst of blue flame behind him in the form of a ring which Naruto leapt through.

This was just like the forest. The pillars were the trees, the rubble the stones and shrubs. They were playing. Hunting. It brought back all those memories.

The red chakra vanished and Naruto pursued Seki as a hybrid fox.

Shikamaru looked relieved. "He should be easier to handle now."

Naruto lost interest in Seki and looked in the direction of the humans watching him. He didn't like being stared at. They were mocking him with their vile eyes. He made a beeline for the group, going for Temari first.

Shikamaru stepped in front of her. "Naruto, that's enough-"

It didn't matter if he was using chakra or not. Naruto was just too powerful. He slammed his shoulder into Shikamaru so hard, he flew across the room and into the wall, blood spraying from his mouth upon impact.

Temari took her fan and prepared to club Naruto over the head with it. He sprang up using all four limbs and kicked her in the chest with his back legs. She flew through the open doors into the hall.

When Naruto landed, he took aim at Boruto next.

"Dad, stop!"

Seething with rage, he charged.

"Dad! Stop!" Boruto took the kunai he had been carrying and threw it in Naruto's direction, never intending to hit him. Naruto caught the kunai in his teeth and bit it in half. Boruto was chilled to his core. "Dad!"

He roared and took a swing at his son.

Seki pounced off Naruto's head to distract him and Naruto tried to grab one of Seki's tails, missing. He turned back to the boy who was no longer there. He roared with fury and looked around. There was no one in the room anymore.

Not that he could see.

Seki managed to not only distract Naruto but created an illusion as well, masking everyone in the room. As far as Naruto could see, there was no one there.

However, Naruto wasn't all human right now and kitsune could see through illusions.

Naruto lowered himself into a crouched position and looked around slowly, trying to pinpoint their location. Squinting, he willed the kitsune part of him to take hold and saw a blurry Boruto standing near the open doors.

He roared and galloped towards him, his arms raised over his head. He was going to attack.

Shikamaru restrained Naruto with his shadow but Naruto was still coming. Shikadai lent a hand, using his own shadow with his father's to successfully hold Naruto back.

Frozen in place, Naruto bellowed and fought hard to free himself, wanting to continue.

Boruto stood directly in front of his father, one step away from being blown off his feet into a wall like the others. This close, he could see all the hate and anger in Naruto's eyes. His face was scrunched up as he bellowed and raged, desperate to continue his rampage. He was furious with Boruto and he couldn't blame him.

He had been down in that dungeon for over a week, unable to see his father or explain himself to him. He ruined their meeting. He made the king think it was an ambush. He caused his father and the village problems. He may have started a war. He heard all about how Naruto had been pleading with the king to release him, going on a mission to bring something back to appease the king in hopes of having his wish granted.

This was all his fault. If he hadn't been so reckless…

Yet his father was still trying to help him.

He could see the bags under his father's eyes, his torn clothing. He looked like he had lost some weight as well.

What had Naruto gone through to try to help him?

More than that, more than his father's devotion, he saw his father's fury.

At the time, Naruto didn't seem too upset with him. Not to this extent. He was more upset at having his son dragged away by the king of another land. The look of concern in his father's eyes and the echoes of his voice promising to find Boruto and help him weighed heavily on Boruto's heart.

It must have been his father's priorities, or he just wasn't letting his anger show at the time. But it was showing now. He saw everything.

His father was furious with him, even if he didn't know who he was. He made Naruto go through all this, he ruined his father's meeting, he turned Naruto into this.

Was he not changing back because his anger hadn't been resolved? Was he still like this because he had that much anger and hate towards Boruto?

It probably had nothing to do with it, but that was all Boruto could think of in that moment.

The shadows binding Naruto were being stretched to their limit. Shikamaru and Shikadai both begged Boruto to run away before the jutsu broke but he never moved. The shadows were starting to tear and shrink. They couldn't hold him back for much longer.

"Boruto, get out of there!"

"I'm sorry!" Boruto shouted.

Everyone looked at the boy standing before his father.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I know you're angry with me and you have a right to be. I screwed up. It's all my fault. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

His father was angry enough to kill him and Boruto feared he would. But that wasn't why he was shaking. It was because he realized how much it hurt to have his father angry with him to this extent.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry. Please…"

He would destroy everyone just to get to him. He was still like this because of the amount of anger and hate he felt. Boruto was certain of it.

Naruto was still coming, inching closer and closer.

He was going to kill him.

"I can't hold it!" Shikamaru shouted. "Run, Boruto!"

Shikadai's shadow broke first and he fell backwards onto a pile of rocks. Shikamaru's shadow broke next and he fell backwards as well.

With the jutsu gone, there was nothing holding Naruto back and he lurched forward with his right arm raised high above his head.

Tears welled up in Boruto's eyes as he saw him coming. "Dad..!" He shut his eyes and prepared for the blow that would surely snap his neck where he stood.

Naruto brought his hand down on top of Boruto's head. Softly.

Boruto opened his eyes and looked up.

Naruto's hand was resting on his son's head. As if he were patting him on the head with pride.

Naruto's eyes were still red, his face contorted between pain and rage. He was fighting back.

"Dad?"

Naruto growled softly at his son. The red disappeared from his eyes and, energy spent, Naruto collapsed where he was.

The sound of Naruto's body hitting the ground echoed off the remaining walls of the throne room. He lay face-down at Boruto's feet.

"Dad? Dad!" Boruto bent down to check on him.

Shikadai rushed over and Shikamaru dragged himself to Naruto using the last of his strength to do it. Temari climbed her way back into the throne room and rushed over as well.

Naruto wasn't responding but he was still breathing.

As they called his name, Mitsuki walked into view, saw what was happening and hurried over, crouching down beside Boruto.

Sarada saw Mitsuki enter the room and went over to see what was happening. Upon seeing the Hokage on the ground, she ran inside to join the group. Sugata walked slowly behind and stood away from the group, observing from a distance.

After some coaxing, Naruto opened his eyes and looked at all the faces pressed in around him. He saw Boruto and reached for him. "You're ok."

Boruto nodded. "Yeah, Dad." He sniffled and blinked away his tears. "Dad, I… I don't know how much you heard, but… I'm sorry. I screwed up and I'm sorry."

Naruto cracked a weak smile. "It's ok. Kids are supposed to mess up sometimes."

He chuckled and nodded, wiping his nose on his sleeve.

Naruto looked at Shikamaru. His clothes were torn and he was bleeding and filthy. Temari's clothes were dirty, too, but she didn't have blood on her. The children seemed unharmed but their clothes were covered in dust.

He looked at the crumbling building and grimaced woefully. "Did I...? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

Shikamaru nodded. "I know. It wasn't your fault."

Naruto frowned harder, remembering. "That noble jerk showed me the mirror and I… I don't know what happened after that. I just… All I remember was rage."

Upon hearing the word, Mitsuki pulled the mirror from his clothes and looked over at Sarada.

"Sarada." He handed her the mirror, being sure not to point it towards anyone. "I think this belongs to him. You should be the one to give it to him."

Sarada took the mirror from Mitsuki and looked at him. "You found it? But… Wait, don't you...?"

"You promised you'd get it back to him." He smiled.

She smiled back and nodded. Standing, she walked over to Sugata with the mirror in her hands. He looked her way when he saw it exchange hands and kept his eyes on her as she walked towards him. She stopped and extended her arms, presenting him with the mirror.

"Here. This is yours, isn't it?"

He looked at the mirror and at Sarada. "You're returning it to me? Just like that? No conditions?"

"It's not mine to hold onto. And…" She frowned. "If it has the power to do this…" She thought of the building falling apart around them and the Hokage laying on the ground. "You can keep this from happening again."

"You sure?"

"In the wrong hands, it can't be controlled. You said so. Humans shouldn't have something like this. Even if it is powerful, what's the point if it can't be tamed? It's a spirit item and you're its owner. This belongs to you."

"And you still ask for nothing in return?"

She shook her head. "As long as it's going to its rightful owner, I don't need anything. Besides, I told you I'd get it back for you. That's all I need."

Sugata stepped forward and put his hand on the mirror. He lifted it from Sarada's hands and, as he did so, was transformed. His hair turned silver and his skin became ghostly pale. His eyes changed from being two coal orbs to being two round diamonds.

Sugata smiled at Sarada. "Thank you."

"You," came a voice.

Everyone turned towards the door where Yuji stood staring at Sugata.

Having gotten Sota to safety, Yuji returned to find Boruto after the rumbling stopped to see if he was alright only to stop in his tracks upon recognizing the boy standing with the mirror in his hands.

Shocked to see Sugata, Yuji was unable to express any emotion and stood blankly in the doorway, staring at him. "It's you," he managed to say after a long silence.

Boruto looked from Yuji to the boy with the mirror, having no idea who this other person was.

Sugata turned his body towards Yuji, holding his mirror close to his chest with both hands. "Do I know you?"

Yuji's eyebrows slowly lowered, his face taking on a bitterness he hadn't displayed before. "We've never formally met, but I never forgot you."

Boruto realized who this stranger was.

"When I was a small child, you walked through our camp one night. The two men on lookout abandoned their post after speaking with you. Minutes later, we were attacked by bandits. Because of whatever you did, those two men didn't want to protect us anymore. They didn't warn us about the danger. Our people abandoned them after we were raided."

Sugata stared blankly back at Yuji which only made the young man more upset.

"I looked up to one of those men and couldn't understand why he would let that happen to us. No one listened to me when I said you did something to them. I don't know what you did but…" Yuji gritted his teeth and took a step forward. "Why? Why did you..? What did you do to them? Why did you let that happen?"

Sugata's eyes looked sad when he answered the young man, understanding that this had been burdening him for some time.

"I was traveling that night. I never stay in one place for too long. I happened upon your camp by chance and asked for safe passage. The two men standing guard refused and said they were going to alert everyone if I didn't go back the way I came. I couldn't allow that, so I used my power to make them more permissive of my request," he told them. "I had no idea there were bandits there that night. I only wanted to be on my way peacefully without drawing attention. I am sorry for what happened to you that night. I didn't know."

Sarada was sure this young man would want revenge on Sugata. She understood why he would, but if she had to take sides, she was going to take Sugata's. She knew he didn't mean it and she also knew that anything his mirror did was only temporary when it came to altering someone from their natural state. What happened to the two men that night wore off long ago.

Boruto, having never seen Sugata before this moment, would take his cellmate's side. It sounded like he had every reason to be upset and seek revenge. He also had yet to realize that Sugata was a spirit. In addition, he didn't know that what Sugata had done was temporary.

However, this wasn't their choice to make. It was between Yuji and Sugata.

This took place years ago. No one knew how long Yuji had been holding a grudge or what he would do now that he was face to face with the spirit of the past.

Yuji lowered his head and bit his lip. This was his moment to choose.

He took a long time to decide, weighing everything against another in silence. Finally, he looked up at Sugata who hadn't moved since he started speaking minutes ago.

"I just wanted to know," said Yuji. "All this time, I just wanted to know."

"Now you do," said Sugata. "I am sorry for what happened but it was never my intention. I just wanted safe passage without a quarrel. And I am sorry. I know what it's like to have something taken by force and injured." Sugata stroked his mirror's frame with his fingertips.

Yuji nodded. "I forgive you. I know you didn't mean it."

Boruto looked at Sugata in surprise. "Really? Just like that? But after all these years and…"

Yuji shrugged and gave Boruto a bittersweet smile. "It was years ago. I was a child who could barely see over our kitchen table. I'm a man now and what happened in the past is in the past. Why stir it up now? Besides, all I ever wanted was an answer. I just wanted to know why. Revenge is pointless to me."

"I guess…" Boruto thought he would at least punch the boy in the face or something. After all, he remembered the incident after all these years. It must have meant something to him. Perhaps all he wanted was closure.

"Come on, Boruto," said Yuji, looking at him with a smile. "After all the time we've spent together knowing our stories, you really think I would do something like that? You should know all about good intentions being executed incorrectly."

Boruto blushed and looked away with a grimace on his face.

"I guess I have a soft spot for people like that," he went on. "You didn't mean it and neither did he. Time to get over it."

Boruto looked back and nodded, knowing Yuji was right.

Sugata started to walk towards the door, stopping when Sarada called out to him.

"Are you leaving?" she asked, looking concerned. "Where are you going?"

He looked at the ground and back at her. "Anywhere. I told you before that I travel."

"Why don't you come live with us in the village?" she offered. "The Hokage would love to have you and we don't mind looking after you."

Sugata cracked a smile. "I may look like a child but I'm older than all of you. I don't look any different from when I did fifty years ago or even a hundred. I have my mirror back so I can go anywhere I want."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded and looked at the mirror in his hands. "It's for the best. You may have been willing to return my mirror to me with no conditions, but not everyone is so virtuous. In fact, it was not long after that night at his camp that my mirror was taken and I was sealed away."

In fact, that was why he had used his mirror in the first place to avoid confrontation. It was shortly after someone wanted his mirror and he refused to relinquish it. Not long after, humans came to take it and he fled, traveling constantly. He feared that if the people at the camp were alerted, he would be physically attacked, so he used his power to render them incapable of stopping him. He wandered for days after the incident then was attacked on the stone field and had his mirror ripped from his grasp.

He had no idea how long he had been sealed. To him, it was only a day. When he was freed and saw Sarada's face, he was worried he would be harmed again. Whenever he was around people, there was conflict. However, he came to realize that she and her friends were different. They were the ones he was trying to protect now in addition to himself.

"Wise humans know not to use something powerful they do not understand. Arrogant humans will always challenge that. The foolish will try again after catastrophe."

Sugata looked over at Naruto on the ground surrounded by injured humans relieved to find him alive and back to normal.

"You and the Hokage and your friends are good humans who have suffered from an arrogant and foolish one. Even after this devastation, do you think they will not seek my mirror to try again? What of those who have seen this and believe that they can do better? Just because he failed to control the mirror's power does not mean they will be unable. They will try, Sarada, believing they can do better but it is all folly. And if I stay with you in your village… you will be a target. And I do not want to be responsible for that."

Sugata stroked his mirror again and looked away, imaging the bad humans coming to take the mirror by force and trampling over Sarada and the others to get to him. They may have been shinobi, but he didn't any anyone to get hurt. If they fought to defend themselves against an enemy, there would be injuries and perhaps worse. He wanted to avoid that if possible.

Sarada understood that he was doing this for their sake as well as his own. "If that's what you want…"

"I have to," he told her. "But shinobi travel. Perhaps we will see each other again."

Hearing that, Sarada knew she had won him over. Sugata knew they were good people and that not all humans were selfish and greedy. This was just another bridge built between two races and another step closer to the Hokage she wanted to be.

Sarada stepped forward and gave Sugata a hug, wrapping her arms gently around his shoulders. "See you again, then."

Sugata stood stiffly in her arms, letting her hug him but not returning it. Instead, he just smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Sarada. Tell your mother thank you as well."

They parted and Sugata once again started towards the door, then stopped. He looked back at the humans just once, nodded in farewell, and walked away.

Everyone crowded around Naruto who was able to sit up without pain. Seki hopped down from his perch on a broken column and licked Naruto's cheek. Naruto put an arm around Boruto and the other around Shikamaru and pulled everyone into a hug. He nuzzled Boruto's forehead in affection and didn't say a thing.

Shikamaru tolerated the hug while his mind went to something else.

It wasn't just about the building and the king or the whereabouts of the noble. He realized someone was missing and couldn't help wondering what had become of the cat spirit.