A/N: I actually finished this a while ago - more than a year ago to be honest. And I kind of just forgot about it. I don't really follow the Boruto manga or anime that much anymore but I realized it has progressed a lot and so a lot of what I write won't be consistent with the world-building. Oh well, I had a bit of time on my hands and discovered this draft on my laptop that's just... kind of there? Had to wrap up this but don't expect too much.
"Well, my chakra natures are fire and water, which means I have a natural affiliation for fire and water ninjutsu," Keisuke explained. He blew out a giant fireball - something his mother taught him a year ago - which gripped Kakko in awe. Then, he rapidly weaved a few handsigns to generate a torrent of water right behind it, extinguishing it before it made any impact. "My genius of a brother - he frustrates me sometimes with how good he is at everything - has three chakra natures: lightning, fire and wind. My sister Eriko has wind and lightning. My other sister Asami's chakra is earth, which is kind of rare in our family but oh well. Let's see yours!"
As Keisuke touched his paper, it caught fire and turned into ash, causing him to jump back, mildly frightened.
"Awesome! Your nature is fire!" Keisuke exclaimed. "That's just like mine and Sasuke's!"
Kakko gave a small smile.
"That means I can totally teach you some stuff!" Keisuke piped up excitedly, trying to engage Kakko's attention and keep his mind off the thought of Sasuke being away. "Right, the first thing you need to know is that-"
BAM! He was interrupted by a loud crash, followed by a rush of angry voices. Heavy footsteps, sounds of paper and smashing. Keisuke felt his heart pound harder and harder, tearing its way out of his chest.
They were under attack.
"They're probably after Master Sasuke's stuff... I'm going to stop them!"
"No!" Keisuke quickly held the boy back, grabbing him viciously by the arms and Keisuke placed his hands over Kakko's mouth, blocking silent protests at the risk of causing a mild case of suffocation.
"But the scrolls," Keisuke's muffled protests still managed to finagle their way out into the open, "We can't let them take the scrolls…"
The scrolls. Scrolls. Gramps – no, Sasuke (it was going to take way more than a few days to get used to not calling someone who looked exactly identical to gramps Sasuke instead) had given them a scroll for emergency scenarios best exemplified by what's happening now. Pulling it out, Keisuke whispered the words: "Sasuke Uchiha."
Now, all they needed to do was wait. Waiting for rescue sounded rather sordid and cowardly in the eye of someone who craves for glory and bravado; it was surely nothing to brag about in front of your friends. Still, Keisuke knew his limits and doubted his own abilities in taking down the intruders. More than that, he was exposed to various mission examples both in the Academy and around the dinner table (having your mother as Hokage has its perks.) There were times when genin who were out of their depth elected to go ahead and things did not always end with smiles and cheers.
"No!"
Miraculously, Kakko wriggled free while Keisuke was operating the scroll and was rushing inwards towards Sasuke's desk, under which the man probably kept most of his items.
Idiot, what an idiot! Keisuke cursed under his breath and followed the boy. He had no other choice. He could stand outside and wait, but he knew he was up for a thousand restless, sleepless nights if the boy was harmed as a consequence of his inactions or if he simply stood out here and waited in safety. Was this how Itachi usually felt when he got all protective around his siblings?
Responsibility. Keisuke was not unfamiliar with it. There were many things, causes and sentient creates – humans included – that he felt responsibility for. At the same time, in the larger context of his life, being the youngest member of his family meant that he rarely exhibited the kind of responsibility he did now.
He almost rammed into an intruder's back, backing down just in time. Eyes flickering left and right, he finally caught sight of Keisuke hiding behind a small shelf, brandishing a small shuriken. The sight of it made him want to crawl into a deep hole and never get out once the inevitable chaos ensues. Suppressing the thought, Keisuke slowly made his way towards Kakko.
He had to be delicate and discreet with the steps he took, revel in the art of stealth (which was not bad at, given the years of going behind the back of adults.) Stay in the shadows, something easier said than done, figure out the lighting of the area, treat silence as a divine instruction, breath quietly and sparsely and minimize the quivering of every single piece of skin, bone, sinew and joint. A seemingly insignificant flaw, an uncontrollable chink in the armour, can undo all the work.
The shouts in the air were tinged with anger. They had been unable to locate the objects they were seeking, which brought some relief to Keisuke. Now, if only Sasuke could be a little faster on his way back and he would spare Keisuke the need to come to Kakko's aid. Really, Keisuke could understand the boy's motives and he would not vouch for acting differently if he had just lost most of his family, yet the irrationality, the recklessness, he wished he had the ability to calm the boy down, that he possessed Asami's superhuman listening abilities or Itachi's interpersonal acumen. But alas, they were –
"I see you, boy, I hear you and… I even smell you," came a soft, silky voice that rang dully through the room, lacing itself around Keisuke's limbs and making them feel heavier and heavier, "I would say that I can taste you, but I have no desire to. The Canines are far too uncivilized, don't you agree?"
Don't panic, Keisuke mentally uttered. Don't scream – and do not engage. Note: do not engage.
"It's rather… endearing that you believe you can hide your thoughts from me, child," the voice continued, eerie and all-encompassing, enveloping the whole vicinity with its presence, "You can't hide anything from me. Both of you."
We can't win a fight, not a chance, Keisuke concluded. He had a bad feeling that their opponent was strong, very strong.
"Looks like someone has some sense of their own strength. I must admit, not many that I've faced possessed it and ended up rather tragically," came another dry remark.
"Die you dumb idiot!"
Keisuke's heart stopped a beat as he heard the sound of Kakko's voice and footsteps. No doubt the boy was charging towards speaking intruder with his kunai. Then, within seconds, the boy was dispatched with.
"Don't worry, he's merely a little hurt," came a snicker, "he'll wake up soon enough."
Keisuke was afraid, paralysed with dread and fear. "What… what do you want?" His trembling voice finally made its way out of his mouth. He can't think about the scrolls, nothing about the scrolls. The man could read minds.
"It appears you don't know what I'm looking for, nor can you be of much use in helping me find it." A sigh. Disappointment was the overwhelming sentiment exhibited.
"Who are you?" Keisuke came out of the shadows and what greeted him was a figure cloaked in dark black robes, adorned with a large mask with a hooked beak and several ominous symbols carved deep near where the forehead was situated. They looked like two twin trees bound together by an eye, one that looked particularly evil. Keisuke also thought that the figure resembled one of the plague doctors in uncle Mitsuki's old bedtime stories.
"Who I am is but an insignificant detail. What I am part of, what I will do – now, that's what really matters."
Keisuke hated it when people talked around in circles. His parents did it at times.
"What do you want to do?"
"Rebirth."
"That's not very specific."
"An uncouth, plebian mind like yours could never comprehend the high task we Intouchables are bequeathed with." The man sounded very pompous. Keisuke had some experience with pretentious, self-important human beings. They surrounded the Fire Daimyo and, at times, frequented his mother's office.
"Alright. If that's what you say." There was really no point in arguing with the man. But – Keisuke realised with a flicker of hope that the figure simply loved talking about himself, as all self-important men do – stalling him to make time for Sasuke's return was a worthwhile strategy. "It's a shame because I'm actually quite interested. Uncouth, ignorant minds like mine are to be educated by enlightened minds such as yours, don't you agree?" He did his best to suppress any trace of snarkiness and sarcasm, hoping to coax the man into a long, incessant monologue. It always worked in the movies.
"Little boy, look at the world around you and what do you see?"
"That's not a very specific question? I'm not sure what you're looking for-"
"Decadence, imbalance, chaos, sin, nihilism and hedonism roam abound. There is no purpose, no meaning in the multitudinous lives that multiply like flies. Can you not sense the pervading feelings of despair inundating reality? This universe lacks direction. Only a select few who have gone through tremendous suffering, who have exhausted their petty libidos, who can transcend the meager notion of self and embrace the Destiny of Masterhood – only for those do lives mean anything at all." He spoke with relish, sounding rather pleased with himself. Keisuke felt his surroundings vibrate, the ground trembling ever so slightly. "I was once a mere sovereign of the Nine Nebular Nations, consumed by avarice and indulgence. Power was once all I craved, a selfish man I was… But I was rescued, redeemed by the Intouchables, a group of like-minded beings who merged together into one collective consciousness and became a higher being..."
All this time, Keisuke resisted the urge to make a snide comment. That man sounded positively insane. All this talk of destiny, power, purpose, it was far too pretentious for his liking. He was digging himself deeper and deeper into an irretrievable hole.
"…This destitute world of ours needs to be forged anew. We need to completely wipe it clean, turn it back into a blank slate and, from its original point, build it anew, eliminate all its excesses and imperfections. Utopia, it's not too far from our reach. During the Great Convergence, the grip of reality weakens and potential for interdimensional collisions arise. We have all the ingredients ready, all the symbols and rituals are in place, all the elements of the puzzle are together – all but two. We need to extract the essence of one, very particular, dimension traveller, just a small portion of something you Terrans call chakra?"
Keisuke felt his blood go cold. What if he was the one they were looking for? Him. Keisuke Uzumaki-Uchiha. Could that be the reason why he was brought here? Were the Intouchables the ones who summoned him?
"Don't flatter yourself, Keisuke. Your chakra and interdimensional trace is still far too weak. In order to succeed, we require a stronger presence." The voice chuckled. "On top of this, really, there's also one particular man we're seeking to recruit, if it's possible. You may be familiar with him. He is known as the Wanderer and he has something we want. But – but you're just making me talk about myself aren't you?" There was a sudden switch of tone, as the figure seemed to sense Keisuke's true intentions. It sounded peeved, offended even. "Did you pay any attention to anything I just said?"
"As a matter of fact I did," Keisuke said, looking straight at the coal black holes of the mask where the eyes were supposed to be, unflinching, doing his best to suppress all his other thoughts, "You want to use the Great Convergence to remake the universe in your own image."
"Very good summary. But I am curious, child, what is your name?" Slowly, softly, smoothly, every single syllable washed over Keisuke like cold water.
"Keisuke. And may I know yours?" Keisuke asked quietly, still fixing his gaze on the figure. He had to pretend to be unfazed.
"No," the figure said with a shrug.
"That's hardly reciprocal."
"Most things in this world aren't. It's a shame, isn't it?"
"Sure?" Keisuke wasn't sure if the guy was making any sense, whatsoever.
"Terrans are quite rare in Sekai no Hashi," the figure whispered, edging closer and closer to Keisuke. When in immediate proximity, the figure caressed the surface of Keisuke's face with his black gloves, which was really, really creepy, in the boy's humble opinion, "So what brings you here?"
"Leave him," another voice commanded, brimming with threat.
Sasuke was back.
He stared at the masked intruder coldly and Keisuke could feel the air around them darkening.
"So, you do have what we're looking for," the masked man cooed, "The Wanderer. I'm sorry to impinge on your hiding place like this, it was rather impolite."
Keisuke resisted the urge to snort at the man's blatantly manufactured cordiality. Another part of him wanted to run from the spot as he sensed an impending conflict.
"I am most delighted to make your acquaintance. I've heard many illustrious things about you," the man continued, "About your background, your past deeds-"
"Then you should know that I do not appreciate people intruding upon my living quarters," Sasuke interjected, evidently not amused, "More than that, I despise the likes of you. And lastly, I do not tolerate those that I despise well. Don't circumvent the topic, spare your saccharine language, cut the crap. I know what you're here for."
"You don't know all that I'm here for, my friend. It appears that there is more here than I've anticipated. Don't lie to yourself, you agree with us, our beliefs. By all means, you should be one of us." He sounded rather pleased with himself.
"Dream on," Sasuke snorted as he activated his Rinnegan.
"Ah the Rinnegan, what a marvelous ability," the masked man expressed rather reverently, "You will make an excellent addition to us. For years we were watching you, even as you thought you were tracking us down inconspicuously. For years we have collected information about you, followed your tracks, interviewed various grateful if gullible people, visited your hometown even" -Keisuke thought he saw Sasuke tense – "oh don't look all agitated, we haven't done anything to your old people or that awful pink-haired woman who tried to find out about us, though I must confess, there is little to love about them."
"Not that's some creepy stalking," Keisuke blurted out.
"Shut up while the adults are talking!" The masked intruder hissed. His tone immediately cooled down. "Why do you still defend them? Those that scorn your name, though admittedly, you have wronged them. But, why? What do you stand to gain from this? When we Intouchables make the universe anew, you can be part of the project. Your insight would be greatly appreciated."
"Maybe because you are batshit crazy and he still has a semblance of sanity left?" Keisuke couldn't help butting in. This was getting ridiculous. There was no way gramps – Sasuke was going to stand any of the verbal diarrhea the man was defecating from his mouth.
"Will you stop interrupting us?!" The masked man appeared visibly irritated.
"I'm afraid that's not within my nature," Keisuke quipped, "And for the record, I understood most of your delirious ranting. It's just that I rather enjoy this world."
"As expected," the masked man huffed. His temper was finally on edge. "Most mortal minds do not possess the vision."
"One man's vision is another's definition of insanity."
"Do you not understand the meaning of shut up?!"
"I'm just saying, your ideas are dumb-"
"One more word from you dumb kid and I'll-"
"That's enough," Sasuke interrupted brusquely as the man began squirming with discomfort. Gasping, Keisuke realised that Sasuke had pierced the masked figure with a blade embedded with sealing symbols. Without so much a semblance of resistance, the intruder shrunk and dissolved until only the black fabric was left.
"Did you just stab him in the back?" Keisuke whispered, a little shocked. Also, it was a little unexpected. It seemed too easy. He had expected a full-blown confrontation.
What a pity, the Wanderer, for you to reject our hand of friendship. You will come to regret it. The voice enveloped them, surrounding the air in the vicinity in an ethereal trance. You may have vanquished my flesh but my consciousness lives on and will be passed onto the rest of us. This will not be the last of me. I am everywhere, I am… indestructible.
~X~
Kakko's head throbbed and in his blurred vision, he thought he could sense and hear Keisuke and Master Sasuke in deep conversation.
"They're looking for me! That's what the crazy guy said – some one who travelled between dimensions. They're looking for part of my chakra. They're after me," Keisuke seemed to assert.
"Looks like they're after me too," Sasuke said, grimacing. "They were probably searching for the last missing scroll. It contained information on the creation of life."
"They want to use it to recreate the universe, the crazy guy told me. The massive amount of energy released would be used to remold reality," Keisuke speculated.
"Kakko is awake," Sasuke noticed, walking towards him. Kakko finally mustered the strength to get up. "I'm sorry, to both of you. I shouldn't have left you guys here. Turns out you guys are the safest when I'm around."
In what must have been a gesture of affection, Sasuke poked both of their foreheads in turn.
"Dude!" Keisuke suddenly shouted. "Your hands look faded!"
~X~
Chocho Akimichi was having a rather pleasant day as she just finished a nice coffee chat with her former genin students. They brought her favourite red velvet-flavoured coffee and heaps of chocolate cake. It was a decent break from the toils and drudgery of everyday shinobi life, given that she was in charge of supervising agricultural and culinary traders, which sounded interesting, but in reality, being situated in an office, involves more paperwork than anything. Of course – and this goes without saying – she would never complain to her best friend, who was also the Hokage.
Her husband, Iwabe, was away on a mission beyond the continent and their two daughters Kizumi and Nami were growing up well and good. All was well, if a little dull at times.
Anyhow, she also appreciated the ginormous bag of potato chips her students got her. Munching on them, Chocho took a stroll down the street and then decided to visit her best friend's home. Sarada was most likely still in the office, but Boruto may well be there, alongside their children. She hadn't caught up with them for a week, which was a bit of an anomaly, really, seeing as she loved frequenting their place and doting on their kids. Not to mention, Kizumi and Eriko were also best friends, much like their mothers.
Just as she was about to cross the bridge, she felt a wave of faintness hitting her and almost stumbled. It was strange. Could it be the lack of blood sugar? It may well be. She got out a chocolate bar and began chewing. Didn't help at all.
Her hands. They were almost… transparent? Freaking out, Chocho accidentally dropped her chocolate bar down the small stream that ran through the East section of Konoha.
She immediately stopped her tracks. She was getting herself checked at the nearest hospital.
~X~
Sakura Haruno was pacing up and down the living room, along with Sasuke and Naruto. Team 7 reunited again.
Staring at her fingers to confirm her most recent predicament, she concluded that they were indeed, getting a little translucent. Sasuke reportedly experienced the same phenomenon. Naruto was scratching his head, confused at the whole scenario. Aside from that, he seemed to be the most well out of them three, physically, that is. Temperamentally, he was just was worried as Sakura and Sasuke.
"We've received another message from Sumire," Boruto announced as he came downstairs with Sarada. They were both extremely agitated. "Apparently, her friend Kagami – they're just friends – is looking faded was well. Also, she had a strange vision of me in that other place… with, well, our son Keisuke and your counterpart." He pointed at Sasuke.
"Sakura and I look a little translucent, whilst you, Naruto and Sarada seem perfectly fine. Asami's friend was also faded. There's got a be a reason why…" Sasuke speculated, frowning. "Boruto, could – could this have anything to do with what happened all these years ago, with the other universe? Both Sakura and I and perhaps Asami's friend are still alive there. And, as you stated before, when the two universes collide…"
"They cancel each other out!" Sakura gasped. "It would be like we never existed."
"Disturbing as it is, what can we do about it?" Sarada inquired.
"I've got to get there, somehow," Boruto concluded, "So far, Asami's visions don't seem to be inaccurate. If so, then I've got to find a way to reach Keisuke. I…"
A swirling portal manifested itself in the middle of the room, stirring up a whirlwind as the nearest flowerpot got sucked into the commotion. It seemed to beckon for something.
"This is meant for me, " Boruto said, realisation dawning, as he edged closer and closer. "It's the way things are meant to be."
"Will you be okay?" Sarada whispered, choked even.
Sakura, noticing her fluctuation of emotions, sought to reassure her.
"I'll be okay, no matter what happens," Boruto reassured her as he pulled her into his arms. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura watched them communicate and nodded briefly.
"Please," Sarada implored, "Come one in one piece. And keep Keisuke safe."
"I will, I promise," Boruto said as he pulled her even closer. Then their mouths collided, their tongues entangled and, for a moment, in spite of the immensity of the task, Boruto felt everything would be all right.
"I know," Sarada said. "I know," she repeated.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Then, taking a deep breath, he stepped into the unknown. The last thing in his mind was Sarada giving him a warm and trusting smile.
~X~
The place was exactly as he remembered it, extracted from the faint corners of his memory. The ghoulish purple sky and the floating green lanterns and the otherworldly figures going about their daily business. Like last time –and this was more the result of a deeply ingrained intuition for danger – Boruto sensed something was amiss.
Activating his sage mode, Boruto attempted to scan the horizons for any trace of Keisuke… and Sasuke. The former was his purpose of coming, but the latter could lead him to what he wanted, and explain why they were all here. Alas! Alas! A trace and yet… the place was too dense and populated, as expected of a junction between worlds. Consequently, it was virtually impossible to pinpoint just where Keisuke is.
[Think Boruto. Think.]
[Think about last time.]
Indeed, what had happened last time?
Boruto almost felt like an amnesiac. No.
He remembered something.
There was a scroll. A bioweapon. Something about someone sinister trying to do… something.
[Good job Boruto, so very specific.]
[Shut up.]
A fireball.
He leaped out of the way with ease, though the ball of inferno understandably caused ruckus. People began fleeing the scene. It was probably for the better, for he could sense a malicious entity drawing nearer.
"Ah, there you are," a silky voice drawled. Though battle-hardened and tested, Boruto felt a chill down his spine.
"Have we met?"
A pause.
"I don't believe so…"
It was a cloaked figure in a hood. Boruto could hardly trace its figure. It gave off an unreal, profoundly unnerving ethereal quality.
"Rasenshuriken!" He attacked before the other guy could react. Much to his surprise, it passed right through the figure.
"How very rude. Though I suppose, like father like son…"
"Keisuke? You've seen Keisuke? Where is he?!"
"Slow down, slow down Boruto Uzumaki." The figure gestured two black, gloved hands up in the sky, mocking the surrender pose. "We'll have plenty of time to talk after I bring you to our headquarters…"
"Dream on!"
Ten other shurikens passed through the figure. Boruto rushed forward and attempted to kick it… only to pass right through it.
No. He was doing it wrong.
"Careful, Boruto… I hold the answer… to all your questions…"
It was a man – but not a man. It was present and immaterial. It was brimming with energy. Here was someone threatening – and without a trace of chakra. It was alive… or was it? There had to be a way out.
"In the juncture between worlds, one can never truly die… one only evolves… to a higher form, with a higher purpose, one puny mortals can never see!"
Sealing.
"Uzumaki Special Sealing Jutsu!" Boruto began to frantically weave an array of handsigns, whipping out a scroll and preparing to entrap the figure in front of him. He felt his chakra overflow and overpower his surroundings as the buildings basked in bright yellow light.
"Very well… looks like you have made your choice…" The figure seemed eerily nonchalant after being taken down. "Farewell Boruto, so long and farewell…"
It was gone. In a whimper.
"Dad!"
Boruto's heart froze. Could it be-
"Keisuke!" He yelled with joy and relief as he rushed towards the boy. Keisuke leaped into his arms and he lifted the boy up high.
"Not bad, Boruto," snorted a familiar voice.
"Is that you Sasuke? Man you've gotten old?"
A chuckle. "So have you, so have you. Soon you'll be having grey hair just like me," Sasuke mumbled wryly.
"Man don't say that!" Boruto put down Keisuke and then enveloped Sasuke in a bone crushing hug. The man feigned reluctance but was returning it soon after.
"Dad you were awesome!" Keisuke beamed happily. "What cool technique was that?:"
"It's an invention of my own! I created to seal things basically, things that are immaterial," he was trying to simplify things a little for his son. It was a complex procedure after all. "But -"
"Boruto you absolute idiot!" Sasuke froze with sudden realization. He sunk into rumination.
"What?!"
"Boruto, he was after your chakra - and you gave him just that."
A/N: I have the last chapter to this episode/adventure fleshed out, I just need to find time to actually write it yet I had pretty much drifted out of the Naruto/Boruto fandom :/ Maybe I'll re-visit it once my interest is rekindled. Until then please enjoy and let me know what you think of this chapter!
