Here's Chapter 2. I started writing it one day after I published Chapter 1. I've seen my story getting attention so I decided to post again.
Himawari arrived home and knocked on the door. Naruto appeared, smiling and opening the door. His clone hadn't dissipated yet so he was shocked to find the unconscious Boruto on the ground. He opened his mouth to speak when Himawari simply said, "Once your Clone is done with whatever business it has, you'll know." Naruto simply nodded. So they had done some sparring at the training ground and Himawari had came out on top. Himawari placed Boruto in Naruto's hands and then walked over to the cupboard and picked up a cup of Shoyu Ramen and heated up some water. She began to wash some of Boruto's blood of her hands. Boruto had woken up as Himawari had began to tuck into her dish.
"Arigatō." Thank you. She bowed before using her chopsticks and slurping some ramen, "Oh hey Boruto!" Himawari chirped, her Byakugan was activated right now, she could almost see 360° so she had spotted Boruto with ease. Sneak attacks were almost impossible on her.
"Hey! Who said you could start on the ramen without me!" Boruto shouted, grabbing a cup of Shio Ramen and pouring hot water in the cup, "Now I have to wait three minutes! I hate the three minute wait! It's so annoying." He pouted, crossing his arms and sitting down.
"I have to wait even longer than you, Boruto! Stop complaining!" Naruto shouted, bonking a dazed Boruto on the head before getting some Miso Ramen and pouring hot water into his cup.
"No need to be so aggressive Naruto. It's just ramen." Hinata chuckled soothingly. Even though everyone in the house knew that she had an enormous appetite for ramen herself. Even greater so than Naruto's. She poured hot water into a cup of Tonkotsu Ramen. Soon enough, they were all slurping on hot ramen. Stop it! The Uzumaki family all shared a conversation over some ramen. Himawari even stayed behind to stay in the conversation.
"So how did your team's test go? Mum?" Himawari asked her sweetly. She knew they hadn't passed and that it was a touchy topic but she wanted to know.
"Well, I told them to find a scroll with information and hand it back to me and show me your true abilities and they took it upon themselves to find the scroll, they didn't work together once. They tried to show off and didn't find the scroll in the allotted time. They're going back to the academy for some time." Hinata explained, smiling. It was quite a laughable event and soon Himawari and Naruto all cracked up in laughter but Boruto showed no emotion. He looked around.
"But that mission has nothing to do with teamwork. They were just fools who couldn't complete a simple mission. They don't deserve the title of Shinobi. If you must, hand them over to the Genin Corps. This stupid teamwork has nothing to do with being a terrible disgrace to Konohagakure." Boruto frowned at his family, they looked at him in shock. They hadn't expected that.
"Boruto!" Hinata and Naruto chorused in complete sync.
"Yeah, bro, what's that for?" Himawari liked calling Boruto bro because people always thought that she was too girly. In truth though, she was quite a tomboy. Boruto turned and left, hands sunken in his pockets. He slouched and walked away.
"That attitude. It reminds me of..." Hinata began, her lips trembling.
"Hinata! Not in front of Himawari, Hima, go to your room! Mummy and daddy need to talk!" Naruto ordered her daughter in the nicest angry tone possible. Himawari caught the situation and nodded, turning to walk away. Instead, she went to Boruto's room. They needed to talk. She had never seen her father so angry.
"Sasuke." Hinata said, pushing her empty cup of ramen away.
"I'll stop that attitude from spreading. In fact, I noticed it since yesterday. Here's basically what he introduced himself as, "My name is Boruto Uzumaki, I like a lot of things but I also don't like a lot of things so don't ask. I don't have any dreams and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. I also don't have any hobbies that concern you so don't ask. If I did, I wouldn't tell you." I ignored it but today he started talking about things that spiralled into him saying that Team 7 didn't deserve to be called Shinobi if they couldn't complete a simple mission. I, once again, ignored it. It didn't concern me but now... This attitude could easily sway him to go rogue. He needs to be suppressed. Mitsuki should be a good person to do this. It should've been, him, Mitsuki and Himawari. I just needed Himawari on Sasuke's team. Sarada and Zabuto could've worked but I highly doubt those three would work well together. They aren't exactly the greatest if friends. Zakashi is like his father so I needed someone like Hima to calm him down. Sarada would annoy him to no end." Naruto explained and Hinata looked deeply concerned.
Meanwhile, in my room. Himawari had a talk with me that would change my life, for both the better and the worse.
"Brother. What was that about downstairs? You sounded evil." Himawari asked her younger brother, placing her hand on his.
"Evil hmmm? Evil! You don't understand a thing about Shinobi Himawari! You're just a soft-spoken, kind-hearted idiot who is a disgrace to the title of Shinobi. We Shinobi, we aren't heroes nor saviours. We are tools and weapons at our village's disposal who are dispatched to protect their village from crumbling. We are merciless creatures who will kill if it means avoiding danger within our village. Have you already killed people on your mission. Have you ever dirtied your hands with blood. I have. I don't feel anything though. I am not a person. I am a weapon for Konohagakure. Don't give me foolish talk about evil. I will kill you. My mission is to become a Shinobi. Not an idiotic Konoha Ninja. That's a sorry excuse of Ninja, let alone Shinobi. You aren't part of my mission. I can kill you and still receive my pay cheque. Shut up. Stop crying and do something. What, you haven't lost a family member who was trying to protect you? If you have. Not my problem. You don't protect your teammates, you complete the mission. You prioritise the mission over everything else. You think I have any family. My entire family and clan is gone. You guys are not my family. Do you think that true Shinobi have family? We don't. We are not people. We have no personality, emotions nor background life. All we have is our mission. Stand up and fight for yourself. Stop crying and make a move. This is your problem, only you can solve it. I'm not one for lectures but it's brats like you who drive me round the bend." Boruto lay down on his bed. Himawari noticed her parents outside the door. Tears began to swell up in her eyes.
"Is that what you truly believe, Boruto?" She asked, wiping her eyes. It couldn't be true.
"I won't elaborate any further. There could be people spying on us." Boruto had noticed Himawari glancing cautiously towards the door and had figured out what was going on. He knew that his parents were listening in on this conversation. He didn't care. If his parents were true Shinobi, they would be in complete agreement with their son.
"Please. What you think is wrong! Stop thinking like this, Boruto! This is wrong! We are way past the rural methods of ninjas of old. Please. I beg of you? Rethink your actions. You prioritise your team over the mission. Comrades are more important. Why can't you see this? Why are you so complicated?" Himawari got on her knees and begged him.
"You... Disgust me. You are no Shinobi. You fall to your knees in the presence of another ninja. I am a Shinobi. A warrior! I have truly ascended to the level of Shinobi. I am an emotionless tool at the disposal of my village. I am what the Sage of Six Paths wanted. I am the true incarnation of Shinobi. You will now all follow my ample! This world has gotten too soft. Soon, war will break out again. Our forces have gotten weak. We will fall and won't be able to win this upcoming war! So why don't you all be like me. A Shinobi. That's the way that Konoha wil achieve peace. Wipe out all enemy forces! Ruthlessness, a dictatorship, no mercy. We could've taken a good example from Kirigakure. An exam that requires us to kill our classmates in order to induce mercilessness in our Shinobi. We have become weak. Say, Himawari, if you are truly my sister, how about you join me in becoming a true Shinobi. Join me, Boruto Uzumaki. You love me, don't you?" Boruto smiled venemously at her sister, beckoning her forwards.
Himawari hesitated, looking down at the ground and twiddling her fingers. She needed a way to talk some sense into Boruto.
"That's enough!" Naruto and Hinata stormed in together and stood in front of Himawari,
"Boruto Uzumaki, you are in big trouble in case you didn't already know." Hinata told him, putting an extraordinary emphasis on the word "big."
"That's putting it lightly! You're in so much trouble that not even your nightmares will scare you enough." Naruto added, making sure to induce fear into Boruto. He raised more killing intent than he had the day before. Significantly more. Boruto couldn't handle it until for a moment, his eyes turned blank and the Killing Intent was overpowered. Boruto wasn't the one feeling fear. Hinata had taken Himawari out of the room. Naruto glared at his son before his son clutched his head and groaned.
"Leave Dad! It will come out if you don't distance yourself I won't be able to try and suppress it." Boruto collapsed to the ground.
"What on Earth are you trying to pull Boruto?" Naruto looked completely and utterly furious. His son was using tricks to try and get himself out of the situation.
"Dad! Listen to me! This is exactly why nowadays Shinobis are useless! They can't take a simple order and always overlook things! Just leave!" Boruto struggled some more, beginning to sweat.
"Don't try me Boruto! I'm not falling for your tricks." Naruto stood firm, still glaring unimpressed at his son. He then saw his son getting back to his feet. When he stood up, he was different.
Boruto's eyes were blank except they were a very light shade of blue and had a very faint pupil.. He smiled a twisted smile, looking at his hands before deciding what he was going to do, he rushed in and before he outstretched his right arm and began forming something reminiscent of a Rasengan. It was quite massive.
He isn't planning on...
As if to confirm Naruto's worst thoughts, Boruto attempted to slam the Rasengan down to the ground but Naruto was fast enough to dive and grab his arm. Boruto looked up and his face was completely demonic. He twisted his face into a devilish grin and coated his arm in Chakra. He used this to break free of Naruto's guard as Naruto wasn't focusing on this. Naruto glared at his son.
Where was all this power in the bell test.
Boruto lifted his arm and the desk and chair were all lifted off the ground. He then flicked his arm towards Naruto and they zoomed at him. Naruto caught both and lightly placed them down but as he did, Boruto dived in with a kick and Naruto caught his leg just about. Boruto coated his leg in Chakra but this time, Naruto coated his arm in Chakra to counter. Boruto smirked. Boruto was tossed backwards but Boruto used Chakra to cling to the wall, he then stuck both of his arms out and formed two Rasengans at once, flinging them at Naruto. They then vanished. Naruto smiled.
His son wasn't ready for that yet.
Boruto twisted his face into a look of rage.
This was all an act.
Naruto suddenly felt two giant Chakra orbs pierce his back. He screamed in agony. Boruto smiled demonically. He walked over to Naruto on his knees. Naruto then cursed.
He had underestimated Boruto.
This must be his form of when demonic Chakra slips takes over due to Naruto possessing Chakra of all the tailed beasts.
Boruto smiled forming a Rasengan before he fell over on top of Naruto, his eyes turning their normal blue again. Hinata and Himawari stormed in the room at this point to see Naruto carrying an unconscious Boruto on his shoulder and placing him carefully on the bed.
"Wha-what happened Papa?" Himawari trembled at how evil Boruto had sounded when she left the room.
"I-I don't know but he awakened some sort of Doujutsu or something." Naruto remembered how Boruto's eyes changed into such a pure light blue with a wide thin circle in the middle of the eye.
"The Byakugan?" That was Hinata's first instinct. It must've been the Byakugan. Boruto must've somehow awakened it.
"No." Naruto said shortly.
"Then what was it?" Hinata tapped her fingers, Boruto had acted like a demon of some sorts.
"That's what I want to know." Naruto told her. He needed to find out what sort of Doujutsu Boruto was using, "What I do know is that Boruto had enough Chakra control and the Chakra required to perform a medium Rasengan in this state, two Rasengans, one in each arm, had the ability to lift things off of the ground and gained a massive boost in strength. This must be some sacred Doujutsu. Maybe one of the Uzumaki Clan." Naruto came up with his own theories about Boruto's mysterious Doujutsu.
"What was he saying?" That was Himawari's only question after her first one.
"Nothing, he didn't speak. Just smiled. Like a demon. It seemed that he lost his ability to talk and simply was pure evil. His skills far surpassed that of a Chunin even and would give many Jonin a run for their money. I reckon that at that level of power, he could defeat Gaara back at the Chunin Exams." Naruto tried to guage Boruto's power.
"If you want to know if there's a sacred Doujutsu of the Uzumaki Clan, why don't you ask Kargetsu's mother?" Himawari suggested. It seemed perfectly logical to her. Karin was an Uzumaki so she could know about this. They weren't perfectly rebuilding the Uzumaki Clan but they were at the same time.
"That's a great idea Hima. I'll be back." Naruto Body Flickered away before dashing from roof to roof before he finally jumped down and knocked on the door. A bored Suigetsu took some time before he opened the door and melted as he saw Naruto.
"Woah, you Shocked me there. For a second I believed it'd be Lord Orochimaru." Suigetsu formed back into a normal person. His son really liked doing that. He was made of liquid.
"Come on Suigetsu, I need to talk to Karin... and Kargetsu." Naruto told him as Suigetsu moved aside to let Naruto walk through the door before shutting it firmly.
"Karin, Kargetsu! Down here!" Karin walked down the stairs and met Naruto in the front room before Kargetsu slid down the stairs as a puddle of liquid. He had bright red hair like most Uzuamkis did. Boruto had also inherited that trait from his grandmother.
"What is it Naruto? Came to rub salt in the wood that our Uzumaki isn't better than yours. Just because he hasn't made Genin yet? Even though he has another chance in three months. We're still the same clan. No need to do that." Karin instantly thought that these were Naruto's intentions.
"Umm, Mom, there's only 5 known members, me, you, Master Naruto, Boruto and Himawari. That's not really a clan." Kargetsu pointed out.
"Tsunade technically counts." Naruto added.
"Six." Kargetsu stared at him.
"Also, that's not what I was here for." Naruto tried to begin.
"So you're here for some more advice on Fuinjutsu?" Karin butted in. Naruto started to get annoyed.
"Even I'm a prodigy at the art." Kargetsu added on.
"I'm actually here to discuss the clan." Naruto got straight to the point.
"Like what?" Suigetsu joined the conversation. He didn't really know much about the Uzumaki Clan. Except what Karin and his mother had told him.
"Kekkei Genkai." Naruto finally dropped the bomb. Everyone turned and stared at him.
"K-kekkei genkai. You mean that Kekkei Genkai?" Kargetsu was shocked.
"I'm not talking about that chains thing. That's not what I want to speak about, I mean Doujutsu."
Now everyone was listening. Had Naruto awakened some sacred Doujutsu of the Uzumaki Clan.
"There is no Uzumaki Clan Doujutsu, Naruto. Why'd you ask? Don't tell me that you've awakened one." Karin assured him, Naruto didn't look so sure.
"Not me, Boruto." Naruto expected the looks of pure horror and shock. Boruto had awakened a Doujutsu that Naruto hadn't.
"You mean the Byakugan? Not surprised." Suigetsu tried to diffuse the situation but Naruto shook his head.
"It was just a blank eye. A very bright shade of blue. A thin, wide circle in the centre. Marking a pupil. It gave him so much power. He had telekinesis. He lifted his arm into the air and lifted a desk and chair off of the ground and was able to fling his hand at me and the objects were tossed at me. It gave him so much Chakra and control over it, he was able to form a medium Rasengan, form two Rasengans, one in each hand and coat his arm and leg in Chakra. That has to account for to say that he could wield a Rasengan in such a way that it vanished when he threw the two at me. Normally, Boruto doesn't have that skill and it wasn't the Byakugan so I decided to ask the only other Uzumaki member that I know of." Naruto tried to explain what had just happened. It had all happened too fast for his liking to give a thorough explanation.
"Could it be?" Karin wondered, scratching her chin. Kargetsu looked at her then back at Naruto. He didn't know that his clan possessed a sort of Doujutsu. That was impossible. They weren't supposed to have one.
"What are you thinking, Mum?" Kargetsu looked blankly at his mother, oblivious to what she was thinking.
"Hmm. Was it that Tenseigan thing you guys were all talking about?" Suigetsu looked at Naruto with a bored expression. It could've easily just have been that and then problem sorted.
"No. Something different. Like, like, like. I don't know. A Pure Eye. Just Pure." Naruto tried to come up with a name.
Meanwhile, Karin was deep in thought. Now that Naruto said it.
"THE JOUGAN!"" Karin screamed a little too loudly.
Everyone froze and looked at her.
"I didn't exactly mean Pure Eye, Karin." Naruto chuckled a little. It was quite a good name. Like Copy Wheel Eye for Sharingan and All-seeing Eye for Byakugan.
"No, no, no. That was an Uzumaki legend. My mother said that that tale had been passed down through generations as folklore. It can't be real. It was an old story the Uzumaki Clan used to spread though its descendants." Karin rushed through her words. She was clearly flustered and scared.
"Woah, slow down, Cousin Karin." Naruto told her. Karin still hadn't gotten to grips with the fact that Naruto and her were related in some way.
"Well. I remember a story my mother used to tell me in the Land of Grass. It was about somebody. A man who had achieved nirvana. A man who had achieved enlightenment. It was said that he was so pure that his eyes became a pure shade of blue. He had achieved the state of Pure Eye. It was said within the ruins of Uzushiogakure that there had been a scroll saying that when the two sides, Sun and Moon are connected once more, only then can one achieve the Pure Eye. Though this process was said to happen once a millennium within the Uzumaki Clan. The Jougan. The Uzumaki Clan's sacred Doujutsu. Only appearing once every thousand years within special circumstances. I understand now, within your Chakra, it's so bright and warm like the Sun but with Sasuke's, it's so dark and shallow, like the Moon. Though that doesn't make any sense. You and Sasuke didn't breed." Karin tried to come up with a logical hypothesis, meanwhile, Naruto had his own.
"Thanks Karin, I think I know what you mean by now." Sun and Moon, eh? Naruto had finally figured out why Mitsuki had been created. It had all made sense.
Naruto needed to talk with the Bijuu.
He Body Flickered away and began to run back home. When he found his way into his room, he sat cross-legged on the bed and focused.
("You guys, we need to talk.")
"The Jougan, eh? It's been a long time since I last heard any of those shenanigans." Kurama tried to make a joke but at the same time seemed... frightened.
("What exactly do you know about the Jougan?") Naruto demanded, he needed to know about the so-called Jougan.
"I see. So that's how it is? The legendary Pure Eye that originated from the Ōtsutsuki." Son Goku sighed. He had hope that that name hadn't turned up again.
("Õtsutski? You mean like Old Man Six Paths?") Naruto asked him, he didn't know how that would be bad.
"Exactly. Except it originated from Momoshiki Õtsutsuki. Hagaromo's father." Isobu added on. He also trembled. He hated to have to mention that name.
("Oh... But what exactly does it have to do with the Uzumaki Clan.")
"That's what we don't know." Shukaku was absolutely scared. Naruto still wondered why everyone was so scared, "No one inherited the Jougan. That legend that Karin told you was about Momoshiki. The Uzumaki Clan are descendants of Senju, who are descendants of Ashura, who is Hagaromo's son and Hagoromo is Momoshiki's son. So what I don't understand is how the Uzumaki Clan of all people are said to have awakened it. The prophecy within the-" Shukaku stopped as he realised something.
"I see. Since Kaguya was the source of all Chakra, she then used the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Turning those victims to White Zetsu. She saved one though. Her creation. Momoshiki Õtsutsuki. Kaguya dreamed of having children so she used her Doujutsu powers to create a being of her image. Unfortunately, after Hagoromo and Hamura were born, Momoshiki became too powerful for Kaguya's liking and she erased her own creation. She feared the powers of the Jougan. She then killed Momoshiki, hoping that the Jougan would never appear again. Then Hagoromo inherited the Hyuga eyes but not the Byakugan, that manifested into the Sharingan before turning into the Rinnegan. Hamura, however, possessed the Byakugan. Hagoromo then had two children. Ashura and Indra. I know you know this but I'm saying it again. Yes, we know, Ashura is the ancestor of the Senju Clan who are the ancestors of the Uzumaki Clan. However, the Uzumaki Clan possessed the sealing powers of Hagoromo but the Senju possessed the brute force even though both had amazing fighting prowess. Indra, however, he inherited the Sharingan. Not the Rinnegan though. He then became the ancestor of the Uchiha Clan who are the ancestors of the Hyuga Clan. The Uchiha possessed the Sharingan whilst the Hyuga Clan inherited Hamura's Byakugan, therefore making them descendants of Hamura. So essentially, if you combine the Chakra of the Sun and the Moon, Hagoromo inheriting power from the Sun, Hamura the Moon, Hamura inheriting the power of the moon, which went into Indra and Ashura, then combined, which would either mean Momoshiki or Kaguya, you begin to unlock the power of the Pure Eye, the Jougan. That's all we know, it's abilities are said to be above the Rinnegan and rival the Tenseigan. The Reincarnation Eye. Seeing as how Himawari possesses the same cells as Boruto but inherits the Byakugan, she could easily gain the Tenseigan. Though I don't understand. The Jougan requires so much Chakra that even you, Naruto, would struggle to wield even one. But two! It must mean that Boruto. Your son. Is the true reincarnation of the spirit of Momoshiki Õtsutsuki." Matatabi gave Naruto a lecture on the history of Chakra.
"What I don't get is, where do all these people get off? Like, how are there all these descendants." Naruto asked. He didn't understand how clan's were descendants of each other.
"Simple. Sons of Ashura and Indra became the Õtsutsuki Clan, who were wiped out by the growing Kaguya Clan, Kaguya's descendants. The Kaguya Clan came to be as people with a bone Kekkei Genkai began to crossbreed with those in the Õtsutsuki. They became so fierce that they became the Kaguya Clan and got rid of the threat to them known as the Õtsutsuki Clan. Though Indra's family in the Kaguya Clan soon began crossbreeding with those who possessed a legendary knack for fighting, those who named themselves Uchiha. They soon found out that these Uchiha and Kaguya hybrids could awaken the Sharingan, well the potential to awaken it anyways. Yes, you heard me. Then with Ashura's family within that Clan, they soon began crossbreeding with those who also possessed a knack for fighting, the ones who named themselves, the Senju Clan. Yep. You did hear me right. Soon though, warriors who had a great ability in Taijutsu began breeding with Uchiha. Then their descendants soon began to unlock the All-seeing Eye, well the potential to unlock it. The Byakugan. This eye, is a fragment of the Reincarnation Eye. The Tenseigan. Soon, those people came to be known as Hyuga. Within this clan, three people were able to unlock the Bankakyou Byakugan. They soon died of Chakra Exhaustion as it required so much Chakra to pour enough Chakra into the eyes to keep the Bankakyou Byakugan active. It is kind of like the Hyuga Clan version of the Mangekyou Sharingan. The Kaleidoscope Copy-wheel Eye. Except this time, the Kaleidoscope All-seeing Eye. This power was the next stage to unlocking the Tenseigan. It was said that Jigen Hyuga, stole his father's Bankakyou in order to attain the Eternal Bankakyou Byakugan. This way, his body was able to handle the amount of Chakra pouring into his eyes. He had achieved the ultimate power. Soon though, he died. The Bankakyou being forgotten for generations to come in the Hyuga Clan. The secret to awakening the Bankakyou is located in a scroll that somehow found its way in the Land Of Smoke. It seems that your next Chunin Exams is there. If you can somehow retrieve the scroll, maybe more information on both the Tenseigan and the Jougan can be revealed. Though this isn't the point. The point is, the Senju Clan began to crossbreed into those with unbelievable Chakra manipulation skills, menacing red hair and an amazing knack for fighting. They called themselves Uzumakis. This Clan began to have great Fuinjutsu skills. They became distant relatives and it is said that the Uzumaki and Hyuga, the Byakugan and non Doujutsu users were the branch families of the Uchiha and Senju. This is true but they possessed something that the other two clans didn't. Whilst the Hyuga had their direct link to the Tenseigan, it is said that if they were to unite forces with those of the Uzumaki, the Yin and Yang paths of Hamura and Hagoromo would combine into that of Momoshiki. The Reincarnation Eye combined with the pureness of the Uzumakis turned that eye into a Pure Eye. A Jougan Doujutsu. This was burnt away for nobody to ever find out as the Uzumaki Clan were feared enough as it were. If they had the ability to grow even more powerful, then it would not be beneficial for other nations as such a Doujutsu could spell doom for the rest of the world. The Senju were quick to sign a pact with them on the condition that they could stay in their village in the hopes of them never ever meeting with the Hyuga Clan. Now that you and Hinata have finally done it. The Jougan has manifested into the younger child of the two and the first-born possesses the potential to awaken the Reincarnation Eye." Gyūki tried to say to Naruto. He didn't really give much information on the Jougan but it had helped in understanding how Boruto possessed it. Also this Tenseigan and Bankakyou Byakugan thing sounded completely horrifying so he needed to check it out sooner or later. He'd see if there were any missions in the Land of Smoke soon enough. He needed to know more about that. Wasn't the Byakugan already strong enough? Did the Bankakyou close off the blind spots. Also he really needed to see if the Tenseigan thing worked with Himawari. Boruto couldn't leave her in the dust plus it would be a great asset if Boruto ever left the village.
("So what Boruto was saying is true?") Naruto trembled himself. That couldn't be true.
"In the eyes of a true Shinobi, yes. You guys would indeed be a disgrace but you are not true Shinobi. You follow your own Shinobi way." Kurama admitted. Naruto looked a bit down after hearing this but he had known that he had not been following Shinobi rules from the start.
("So what else is there about the Jougan?") Naruto asked.
"Nothing. Not that we know anyways." Shukaku didn't want to admit this but it was true all the while.
("Alright guys, thanks. At least we got somewhere. I need to train Boruto to keep his emotions in check, all the while learning how to use the Jougan.") Naruto opened his eyes, finding Hinata standing on the doorway.
"So?" She asked him, walking over and brushing hair out of Naruto's eyes.
Naruto began to explain all he knew about the Jougan.
"Let's start with a little fairytale. There was once a woman. One that I've explained to you about. Kaguya Õtsutsuki. She longed to have children so she created a man. Her ideal husband. Momoshiki Õtsutsuki. She poured Chakra into him because I suppose she loved her dearly. He achieved nirvana. Enlightenment. Through this, combined with the purest of Chakra, he awakened the Pure Eye. The Jougan," Hinata did not interrupt, "After they had two kids, Hagoromo and Hamura, Kaguya realised that her husband was becoming too powerful, so she killed him. The secrets of the Jougan never being revealed again. Hagoromo inherited the Hyuga eyes, not the Byakugan. Hamura, however, possessed the Byakugan. The second Byakugan use after Kaguya. Hagoromo then unlocked the Sharingan due to this being the other half of Kaguya's Doujutsu. Then he unlocked the Rinnegan. I don't need to speak about Ashura and Indra. What I do need to say though is that, the children and families of Ashura and Indra became the Õtsutsuki Clan. They didn't possess any Doujutsu though. The Õtsutsuki Clan soon met up with special individuals with bone Kekkei Genkai. The Kaguya Clan. Descendants of Kaguya Õtsutsuki. They began to crossbreed and soon, the Kaguya Clan wiped the Õtsutsuki Clan out. Erasing them from the face of the Earth. The Kaguya Clan then met up with people named Uchiha. They didn't have any Sharingan though. They had children and these children had to potential to awaken the Sharingan. Soon, the Uchiha met up with people who called themselves Hyuga. They then had children who began to have the potential to awaken the Byakugan. Then there was the Bankakyou Byakugan. The Kaleidoscope All-seeing Eye. There were only 3 users of this Doujutsu. One of them killed their father, taking their eyes in order to awaken the Eternal Bankakyou Byakugan. In short, the Byakugan is a fragment of the Reincarnation Eye. The Tenseigan. The legendary Doujutsu. The Bankakyou is stage two of reaching the Tenseigan. Only through the combined cells of Hagoromo and Hamura can one achieve the Tenseigan. Except for some reason, when you do this with Uchiha and Senju, you achieve the Rinnegan. Strange, right? So when you do this with Uzumaki and Hyuga, you get the Tenseigan which, in theory, surpasses the Rinnegan. There are no known Tenseigan users except from Toneri. That's why nobody knew about it and no one even knew about Kaguya, let alone Momoshiki. The Jougan being unknown is self-explanatory. Back to the Bankakyou, a scroll on how it works is located in the Land of Smoke. It also was said to drain the user of life force due to it pouring so much Chakra into the eyes. That's why the need for the Eternal Bankakyou Byakugan was so essential. Now for the Uzumakis. The Senju Clan met up with people with flaming red hair and an impressive knack for fighting. They also had good Chakra manipulation. These offsprings gained impressive Fuinjutsu skills. They became known as the Uzumaki Clan. Anyways, when you combine the descendants of Hagoromo and Hamura, Sun and Moon, you achieve enlightenment and gain either the Tenseigan or the Jougan. If they possess the Byakugan, it'll be the Tenseigan, if it's the Uzumaki side, it'll be the Jougan. I think that's how it worked based on the information I was given. That's pretty much it. Karin and the Bijuu gave me some decent information." Naruto didn't bother going into the unnecessary details.
"What about its abilities?" Hinata asked him, that was all good and stuff but they really needed to know its abilities.
"I don't know. I wasn't told. Just know that its extremely powerful. Oh yeah, it's said to manifest once a millennium. So Boruto will be the first user for a thousand years. No other person can utilise the Jougan in the next millennium." Naruto told his wife, he already was prepared for training tomorrow. Boruto would need his evil intentions to be quelled fast. He had seen what had happened with Sasuke. A blank canvas that could be easily painted any colour. Was that what Itachi had said. The same could be said for Boruto. He needed to stop that. He was also sure that Boruto was somewhat interested in Sarada. Though he was too prideful to admit it, so was Sarada herself. Naruto was envious of his son's red hair.
"Wow! That's a lot of information to take in. Though I can see through your soul. You're holding things back, though by your pure intentions, I can see that they aren't any major details." Hinata smiled, using her Byakugan to read Naruto's thoughts.
Naruto clearly still hadn't gotten used to that.
He slipped his headband down to cover his left eye.
Just like his master.
The next day had come faster than expected. It was 04:19 when Himawari snuck into Boruto's room to wake him up. Boruto shifted around in bed and made a lot of grunting nosies, "Brother, wake up, we've got training today!" Himawari kept nudging him when Boruto's eyes burst open and he looked up.
"Hima! You should've said so at first. Man, I've gotta get ready. I also need a haircut. My hair is getting in the way as I fight. I'm gonna cut it shorter and more stylish. Ya know!" Boruto punched the air before sluggishly falling back down. Himawari pulled the covers away as he slid out of bed like a snail, Himawari pulling him out. We soon see Himawari, Boruto and Naruto sharing breakfast. Hinata was still peacefully sleeping.
"So umm, Boruto, remember what happened yesterday?" Naruto asked him, the room went silent.
"What do you mean... Father?" Hesitating to speak.
"Ya know, your idea of a Shinobi and stuff." Himawari cleared some things up for Naruto. Naruto nodded, Boruto noted that his headband was pulled over his left eye. He looked slicker like that. He might have to copy that. Another thing Naruto had gotten from Zakashi's dad.
I think you can make a connection with the ending of my story. This was where I began to change.
"Ah, yes. Then I noticed that my thoughts were pure and I had felt as if I was the purest being on Earth. My eyes were pure and saw everything as it truly was. I noticed the dangerous Chakra of the Bijuu within you and Chakra that did not truly belong to you. Divine Chakra that my thoughts instantly directed to the Sun. Then I remembered, the Safe of Six Paths. I remember everything clearly yet I can't remember the feeling of that power." Boruto slurped his bowl of milk and wiped his mouth, eating a quick ration bar and then wolfing down some cereal.
"I see. Do you have any idea of what your power is?" Naruto asked him. Boruto and Himawari stared at him. Boruto didn't seem affected by it, he wasn't angry. He was just a normal kid.
"Hmm. If I had a name, my thoughts would be Jougan. For some reason, my head was telling me that I possess the Jougan. Though I was only able to use about a fifth of my Chakra pool. It poured so much Chakra into my eyes that I couldn't even use enough Chakra to speak. Everything I did was on pure instinct. I just thought that it was so pure and divine. I felt like I truly realised my full potential. I felt like I truly became a god but yet those things I said... I know that they're completely true but I can't agree with them." Boruto didn't want to admit that he somewhat fully believed all those things he had said. Except slightly less exaggerated. Some of those things he had said were completely evil. So demonic.
"That's the thing. It is the Jougan. Here's what I told your mother. There was once a woman. One that I've explained to you about. Kaguya Õtsutsuki. She longed to have children so she created a man. Her ideal husband. Momoshiki Õtsutsuki. She poured Chakra into him because I suppose she loved her dearly. He achieved nirvana. Enlightenment. Through this, combined with the purest of Chakra, he awakened the Pure Eye. The Jougan," Himawari gasped but Boruto had no reaction. He felt so attached to this conversation. "After they had two kids, Hagoromo and Hamura, Kaguya realised that her husband was becoming too powerful, so she killed him. The secrets of the Jougan never being revealed again. Hagoromo inherited the Hyuga eyes, not the Byakugan. Hamura, however, possessed the Byakugan. The second Byakugan use after Kaguya. Hagoromo then unlocked the Sharingan due to this being the other half of Kaguya's Doujutsu. Then he unlocked the Rinnegan. I need to speak about Ashura and Indra. Hagoromo Õtsutsuki's two children. Indra was the older of the two, possessing the Sharingan. He believed that power was the way of life and only then could one be recognised and accepted. Ashura, was the younger of the two, not possessing any Doujutsu, he believed that love, comradeship, friendship and family were the key to being successful. Due to his wisdom, Hagoromo chose him as the next successor of Ninshu. Ninja Creed. Indra was extremely angry about this. He was the eldest. He was naturally talented. Possessed all the power. Ashura was weak and had no natural talent. They fought several battles but through several bonds and training, Ashura was able to keep up with his older brother. Kinda like me and Sasuke. What I now need to say though is that, the children and families of Ashura and Indra became the Õtsutsuki Clan. They didn't possess any Doujutsu though. The Õtsutsuki Clan soon met up with special individuals with bone Kekkei Genkai. The Kaguya Clan. Descendants of Kaguya Õtsutsuki. They began to crossbreed and soon, the Kaguya Clan wiped the Õtsutsuki Clan out. Erasing them from the face of the Earth. The Kaguya Clan then met up with people named Uchiha. They didn't have any Sharingan though. They had children and these children had to potential to awaken the Sharingan. Soon, the Uchiha met up with people who called themselves Hyuga. They then had children who began to have the potential to awaken the Byakugan. Then there was the Bankakyou Byakugan. The Kaleidoscope All-seeing Eye. There were only 3 users of Doujutsu. One of them killed their father, taking their eyes in order to awaken the Eternal Bankakyou Byakugan. In short, the Byakugan is a fragment of the Reincarnation Eye. The Tenseigan. The legendary Doujutsu. The Bankakyou is stage two of reaching the Tenseigan. Only through the combined cells of Hagoromo and Hamura can one achieve the Tenseigan. Except for some reason, when you do this with Uchiha and Senju, you achieve the Rinnegan. Strange, right? So when you do this with Uzumaki and Hyuga, you get the Tenseigan which, in theory, surpasses the Rinnegan. There are no known Tenseigan users except from Toneri. That's why nobody knew about it and no one even knew about Kaguya, let alone Momoshiki. The Jougan being unknown is self-explanatory. Back to the Bankakyou, a scroll on how it works is located in the Land of Smoke. It also was said to drain the user of life force due to it pouring so much Chakra into the eyes. That's why the need for the Eternal Bankakyou Byakugan was so essential. Now for the Uzumakis. The Senju Clan met up with people with flaming red hair and an impressive knack for fighting. They also had good Chakra manipulation. These offsprings gained impressive Fuinjutsu skills. They became known as the Uzumaki Clan. Anyways, when you combine the descendants of Hagoromo and Hamura, Sun and Moon, you achieve enlightenment and gain either the Tenseigan or the Jougan. If they possess the Byakugan, it'll be the Tenseigan, if it's the Uzumaki side, it'll be the Jougan. I think that's how it worked based on the information I was given. That's pretty much it. Ideas told this by all the Bijuu and Karin. There's not much else to say unless you want to go into unnecessary details which I know you won't bother with." Naruto, once again, gave this explanation. Boruto kept a straight, uninterested face but Himawari was excited and shocked.
"Interesting. So we infiltrate the Land of Smoke and retrieve this scroll, giving it to Lord Seventh, Lord Shikamaru. Then we try and make Hiamwari unlock the Tenseigan. That's a good plan. I think some ANBU members could easily do that. I mean, with Sasuke as ANBU Leader, the position directly underneath Hokage and you as both Jonin Leader, the position directly underneath Hokage and Honourary Hokage, it'll be easy to invade and recapture this scroll." Boruto came up with a thorough plan of stealing the scroll. Naruto and Himawari trembled, turning to him.
"We... We can't do that." Himawari tried to say. What was Boruto planning on doing? It was another one of his Shinobi rants. She didn't want to hear that. Boruto was completely confusing. One second, he was the loving, caring younger brother, the next, he was some demonic monster ranting on about True Shinobi and what not.
"Boruto, that's not what we do." Naruto said. Nagging at his son. It was that attitude cropping up again. He had thought that Boruto was in some sort of possessed state. It seemed that he had been wrong, though.
"Face the facts, a sacred scroll that possesses the knowledge for the several remaining Hyuga Clan to awaken the Bankakyou Byakugan, something which would surpass the Mangekyou Sharingan. Seriously. Then that would lead into them possessing the knowledge of the Tenseigan. The Reincarnation Eye. Which, mind you, probably is the reincarnation of the Jougan. Except what happens when the Hamura side, the moon, takes control. A scroll like that will not be handed over so easily. It would never be handed over through negotiations. No matter how hard you try. The only way people will hand over a scroll in the hopes of making one of the strongest clans even stronger than they already are is through infiltration. The true Shinobi way. No matter how hard you try to deny it, we both know the truth? There is no easy way out of this one. Just listen to me, try to read in-between the lines. It won't be lying around somewhere. It's kept under high security? Nobody wants a scroll like that lying around. I don't wish to do this but we have to infiltrate the Land of Smoke. They only have strong reinforcements from Kumogakure. They are also cash grabbers and magnets for underground businesses and wars. It is said that conflict is still happening in the Smoke country. So the only way to retrieve the scroll is probably the Village Hidden in the Shadows. Kagegakure. Nobody knows what is happening there. Light is said to never penetrate this village. Not to mention its everlasting conflict with the Village Hidden in the Light. There's only one way to obtain such precious information. It would seem that you're just far too blind to realise it." Boruto created a Shadow Clone and told it to head for the barbers. It listened to his command and dashed out of the room.
"Dad... I must say, Boruto... has a point." Himawari hated having to admit it but she had to give his younger brother some points.
Credit is given where credit is due.
Naruto clenched his fists and grit his teeth. Boruto pushed strand of flaming red hair out of his eyes! He knew exactly what haircut he would get. A slick, shoulder-length bowl cut. It would suit his diamond blue eyes and red hair. It would be spiky though! Spiky at the ends, not smooth and silky. That way he could fight properly and also look stylish on the battlefield.
That didn't matter though.
At the time I was a foolish little kid, not a teenager with a superiority complex. I wasn't like Sasuke was. I was just like... Boruto. Following the rules of the Shinobi in spite of the idiotc world I was born and raised into. My father went through so many hardships and conflicts, not to mention my mother. Both were shunned as talented scum and had no use in the world. They had both risen from nothing and became two of the greatest Shinobi to have ever lived. What I didn't understand was why they had been neglected. I was an oblivious little kid with no insight of the world. I thought by following the rules, I could prove that my parents were talented from the start. They seemed to always weigh me down though. Not believing that I could do what I claimed. This led to rage and soon enough. Hatred. Now, I understand things more clearly. I don't just follow the rules, because following the rules is also not following the rules. But not following the rules is also following the rules. So it's a path that you can choose. It separates true Shinobi to modern day Ninja. Though these two things are completely different. A Shinobi is not the image of Hagoromo Õtsutsuki's Ninshu but a manifestation of those who crave power and seized every opportunity to grow stronger or gain more powerful members in their ranks. It's something that doesn't belong in this world. I do not believe in good or evil. There's no such thing. Everyone has their own opinions and are entitled to them but it's those who choose the rival path that are targeted. We all kill. Therefore making us villains. We all fight and protect things that are close to us, even if we don't realise it. This makes us heroes. Therefore we are neither heroes, nor villains. We are all made to die one day. So it's what we do to live life to the fullest that determines our alignment. Will we remain a neutral party, join the side of Shinobi or become a fully-fledged ninja? These are paths in life that could determine how long our lives will be. I didn't know this at the time though. I don't wish I did. Without an experience in our life, we lose a very important lesson. I wouldn't be the same if I possessed the knowledge I do now without all the experiences at the ripe age of 12. It wouldn't be me. It'd be an imitation of Boruto Uzumaki. I don't want to change my path at all. I learned several things along the journey. Life lessons that cannot be replaced. I leave you with that. Life is simply a dream that consists of nightmares. It's how we overcome those nightmares to find out why we're dreaming. I'm not wise or anything. I'm just simply knowledgeable. I've done several things in my life someone my age will never dream of doing. It's because I embraced those nightmares that I finally overcame them. You can see me as a villain but I don't care about your thoughts on me. I don't know you, you don't know me so why would I care? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion so me judging it is absolutely unnecessary and hypocritical of me.
"Why do you have to be so complicated? Boruto." Naruto rounded on his son, his face contorted with anger, Boruto raised his one of chopsticks and pointed them at his father, frowning and using his other arm to do a thumbs down.
"We are all complicated. We are all simple. These things are all superficial. Artificial if you may. We just express ourselves in a way that makes us seem either one of the two. On one hand, I am complicated, believing that infiltration and assassination is the only way to grab this scroll, on the other hand, I am simple for choosing the easy way out instead of a fully fleshed-out plan. Do you understand?" Boruto raised an eyebrow after asking his father the last question. Naruto looked slightly taken aback.
"Dad. Boruto is quite smart. That's something not even you would've thought of." Himawari, once more, gave her younger brother some points. That was a really good argument.
How wrong you were, sis.
"That's not the point! We don't need to infiltrate another nation. We are in a time of peace!" Naruto argued back.
"Do I seriously have to break it down for you? Father. This so-called "peacetime" is a strategic way of devising plans to launch attacks on rival nations and villages. We never know when we may be ambushed. Growing soft is stupid and unnecessary. Conflict is bound to sprout because we are human. We are made to make a wrong in order to develop a right. That's how we learn. Trying to defy this is childish and not something expected of someone so highly-ranked as you." Boruto put his chopstick down and retreated.
From across the table, Naruto grunted and said no more.
"I'll give you time to think about it. Father." Boruto closed his eyes and continued to enjoy his breakfast.
Arriving at the training ground, Naruto smiled at the three of them. Sarada had taken her glasses off. Her early usage of the Sharingan when she was five had poured so much Chakra into her eyes that it had damaged her eyesight but she was regaining her eyesight as her Chakra pool continued to expand. She could see almost normally without glasses now. She had used the Sharingan a second time and hadn't been affected by it. Boruto only now, realised how beautiful she looked. He shook his head. That was the least of his worries. He was a Shinobi, he didn't feel emotionally attached to anybody on this planet.
She was wearing a long back fabric layer over the top of her white and red blouse. Similar to what Tenten wore in Part 1 of Naruto. She had a navy blue rubber band sort of thing over her waist to keep it in check. She had long, back hair which fell down below her shoulders. The black layer had a mini Uchiha crest on the front and an Uchiha crest on the back. She wore white shorts with bandages on them like Sasuke did in Part 1. She wore long black ninja shoes as well. She was smiling sweetly as Boruto and Naruto arrived. She was excited to not be wearing glasses that she had had to borrow from Karin.
"Woah, slow down there, Sarada! When'd you get the glow up?" Naruto asked her jokingly and her eyes turned white hitting Boruto on the cheek as she screamed.
"I ALWAYS LOOKED LIKE THIS! IT WAS JUST MY GLASSES IDIOT! I ALSO JUST WANTED TO HAVE A CHANGE OF CLOTHES! STUPID STUPID STUPID!" Sarada continued to hit Boruto. Naruto just thought.
("Scary. Like Sakura.")
"Why am I getting hit?" Boruto complained as Sarada calmed down. Mitsuki was smiling and then said,
"I'd be happy to receive the beating for you, Boruto."
Everyone turned and stared at him, their eyes twitching.
"Are you awake Mitsuki?" Boruto shook him as Mitsuki didn't resist.
"I don't actually need to sleep. I don't eat, drink or sleep, or use the toilet for that matter." Mitsuki added to his explanation. Everyone just frowned curiously. How comes this guy got all the perks?
"Do you feel pain?" Boruto asked him, trying to receive an answer.
"No. I don't feel pain but I receive it. I also never run out of stamina." Mitsuki continued to spill secrets about himself.
"So you're some sort of invincible robot?" Sarada asked him, raising her eyebrows.
"That, I can't answer. I can be killed though. Like any other person. Just kill me like a normal person. I'm just different. If we are even, I could possibly win due to having Infinite Stamina. That's not Infinite Chakra, just Infinite Stamina. So I could die from Chakra Exhaustion but just not feel the strains of it as I'm fighting." Mitsuki noticed that everyone nodded, it made sense to them now.
"Well... Heh heh. How about we get on with your training seeing as it just struck five. Twenty laps around the training ground, go!" Naruto was already off and running. He knew Mitsuki didn't run out of stamina so he shouted,."Mitsuki, do one hundred!"
They set off on their laps. Boruto finished first, six seconds before Sarada who arrived 11 seconds before Mitsuki. He wasn't lying about his Infinite Stamina claims.
Naruto had also finished before them but they didn't count him. He also did one hundred laps, he didn't know if they were fast enough to finish before him.
"Alright then. That's only the first warm up. Now, one thousand push ups, sit ups, squat jumps, 20 minutes of mountain climbers and 30 minutes of plank. Go!" Naruto set to work himself and they were all struggling except from Mitsuki. They were slightly angered at the fact that he didn't get tired. By the time they had finished, it was already eleven minutes past seven.
"Nice work! Now time for a snack break. I'd expect you to bring your own. You'll need three ration bars per day. Mitsuki doesn't need to eat so it doesn't matter for him. I have twelve so I'll let you guys have five each just for today. By next week, you should bring your own. As your Chakra reserves and stamina improve then you'll start to need less and less ration bars as you'll be fit enough to keep going. I'm only having two." Naruto handed them each a ration bar except from Mitsuki.
"I bought some just for Boruto." Mitsuki beamed, brandishing four ration bars and slotting them in Boruto's bag on the floor, "You can save them for another day."
By now, Team 7 were somewhat used to Mitsuki's intentions of being Boruto's slave even though Boruto clearly didn't approve of this.
They had a snack break and began to talk to each other.
"So Sarada-chan, how about we go to Ichiraku's place after. Legend has it that his daughter makes better ramen than he ever did." Boruto suggested, hitching his headband upwards.
"Sarada-chan?" Sarada frowned at Boruto who blushed and looked away.
"I-I was only being nice." Boruto defended himself.
"I can read your mind." Mitsuki stared blankly at him, not sure how to react to this.
"What? Don't say what's on my mind. I beg of you, Mitsuki. I only have good intentions. We can all gather at Ichiraku's place later on. Ya know! It'll be fun!" Boruto rushed through his words. Flustered. Mitsuki really said the stupidest of things at the wrong times.
"If you don't want me to say then I won't." Mitsuki looked back at Sarada. He smiled. Sarada smiled back. Mitsuki was weird but yet nice. He didn't have I'll intentions or anything. It was just the things he said that made you wonder about him. You also didn't want to worry about him. He was so carefree so there was not a single thing to worry about with him.
"Sounds like someone's got a crush!" Naruto poked his son in the side before Boruto's hair suddenly changed into something reminiscent of Nagato.
"Whaaaaaaaaat! Shut up Dad!" Boruto forgot to say Naruto-sensei in that moment. He was so quick to defend himself. He then performed a hand seal.
"If you don't mind me asking, may I ask how you just changed your hair? Is it a new haircutting Jutsu?" Mitsuki asked, confused. He had never witnessed something like this.
"Yeah! What is it Boruto?" Sarada asked him, she also wanted to know this secret.
"That was a smart idea. Using a Shadow Clone to go to the barbers and then use my Reverse Shadow Clone Jutsu to make your Shadow Clone dispel itself. Though his did you get here and not in your clone's position?" Naruto explained what Boruto had done but only created even more questions than answering them.
"Ah! I used your art of having your Shadow Clones communicate with each other and dispelled my clone by using the seal when I was speaking with you. Also, thoughts on the clean cut? Slick, right? Just try and tell me that you aren't a fan." Boruto stroked his hair.
"Alright, that's enough for our break," Naruto announced before making sure that Boruto didn't rant on about his hairstyle any longer, "Your next task is..."
I know, I know, I'm a demon for leaving it on a cliffhanger. Also, thoughts on me using the Zerochan fan sheet of Sarada. It's not mine. I don't take any credit for the design. I can't link it here but know that its on page 2 of 394 on Zerochan. Let me know what you think of my take on the Tenseigan and Jougan, more to be revealed in the series later on. I think I set us up perfectly for a future arc though. I want to hear your ideas on Boruto's mysterious behaviour. I already have my plan. Six months in the story until the Hidden Shadow Chunin Exams. Get hyped, that's where the story sets into proper motion. This is when things get serious. Though there's some sick arcs before it with some being crucial parts to the story that you just can't miss. I'm spoiling too much. Enjoy. Also please give me your thoughts on the story and the chapter. Though I'd also appreciate it if you made it this far. You can also bet that you'll get at least one good arc before the Chunin Exams. Don't think I'm just going to add filler bullcrap. Anyways, I need to write Chapter 3. Cya! Don't be surprised if I keep on updating the chapter. I'm always getting new ideas and spotting mistakes. This is the first take on Chapter 2. I doubt I'll change it anyways. Bye for now!