A/N:So, we're still in the kiri arc but I'm planning the future arcs as I write.( I say "planning" but I really mean daydream. I dont typically plot out the story, I weirdly picture it in my head like an anime im watching as im going about my day, then i sit down and write lol)
anyway.
I'm a big fan of JJK, so I'm basically warning that there's going to be a character in the next arc (which will be the chunin exams/momoshiki arc Spoiler alert) heavily inspired by a JJK character.
Just saying this now because I don't want your brain saying that I ripped it off.
BORUTO. ALTER
Qirūi's body felt as if it was singing. Electrical currents harmlessly travelled through the steel rope that formed bulging, writhing muscles underneath his stretched skin. Purple hair was splotched with blood- but now not all of it was his.
His blade, Sermon of the Jellyfish, not only made him immune to poison. It could meld itself into its user, allowing them to control its steel vines.. but also channel electricity through water and tendril.
Qirūi's wounds were no longer bleeding, but they still caused pain when he moved.
Qirūi gritted his teeth. The aftermath of his attack left a shivering hole upon the roof he stood on. Pieces of stone crumbled away, falling into the darkness of the building below.
He knew that, for a moment, his jutsu had made contact with the boy- but he also knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that his jutsu hadn't killed him.
No, it would take more than that.
Rain fell heavily still, though now it was backed by distant sounds of fighting. Screams, some triumph.. more death.
Qirūi inhaled deeply, lifting both of his arms.
Yes.
This was truly the land of the bloodied mist once more. Win or lose.. this was the true lineage of his people.
The man closed bright eyes.
Six cords of steel broke away from Qirūi's body. They stabbed into the shadowy flooring of the ruined building within, steadily lowering Qirūi downwards as his blade trailed behind almost as if a tail.
I underestimated the boy. He's definitely above genin level. I can tell from the way he fights that he hasn't just killed before. He's a killer himself.
Qirūi smiled at the prospect, blood dripping from steel rope as it slicked between muscles and bone.
He took in his surroundings-
It seemed he was now within some sort of darkened library. Rows upon rows of scrolls were found standing around him, some toppled now from the debris that rained from above.
A sheen of smoke seemed to float in the air. Qirūi stepped forward, coughing as he spoke.
"You're strong, Shikadai Nara." Qirūi's eyes bounced from left to right, up and down.
"I didn't think Konoha was able to produce a genin of your capability. Not anymore, at least."
He could be anywhere.
Qirūi suddenly leapt upwards. Rope erupted from his back, shooting into what remained of the roof.
Qirūi's heart was thudding in sudden awareness.
He had almost forgotten about that Shadow jutsu.
Qirūi's suspicion seemed to be correct. The boy was of the Nara clan clearly- but he was something else too. And that something gave him a unique fighting style that caught even Qirūi off guard.
The boy was not only a unique and natural fighter.. but he was smart. That was the most dangerous thing about him. His skill wouldn't be a threat to Qirūi if it had been born within a weaker mind.
Qirūi chuckled within himself.
Is it possible I could die here? No. Not to this child..
Qirūi continued moving across the library, stalks of steel holding him above the stone flooring. Then-
His head snapped to a hallway at his left.
Footsteps!
Qirūi jerked in the air before descending, summoning more cords of steel from his body. Qirūi lashed the cords to the left and right, destroying columns of scrolls with a hissing and smoky slash. Fumes rose from his destruction.. but the boy was unseen.
I heard him..
Now the footsteps were-
Behind?
Qirūi turned as he commanded his rope to lift him in the air once more.
The boy ran forward, kunai in hand.
Qirūi scoffed, stabbing the boy through the leg with a vipering cord. The boy faltered before exploding into smoke.
Shadow clone.
Silence settled once more. Inside, the fighting couldn't be heard.. only the persistent beat of rain.
Qirūi resumed moving, stalking ahead meters in the air.
The electrical current through my body should keep his shadow jutsu from attaching to me or my sword..
Qirūi shuddered inadvertently, his mind conjuring the image of that damned puppet-corpse.
Qirūi knew the boy's story was true.. from the look of the puppet's hair, to the slight sheen of the wood upon its face.. it was clear that parts of human flesh were used in its creation.
That thing was a danger too. Perhaps moreso. However, like all puppets, its use carries continuous risk to the controller.
Qirūi knew that even with the chakra pills, the boy was running low.
Would his ability to control the puppet diminish? Or would he shy away from more advanced techniques.. like that Shadow Transfer jutsu..
"I know you're close, Shikadai Nara." Qirūi began. His gaze shifted.
"Your prowess is impressive. You're even adept at masking your chakra." Qirūi laughed softly. His metal vines cracked upon the ceiling and floors.
"I could submerge this entire room in water within seconds. I'd prefer not to as it would waste too much chakra on one opponent.." Qirūi trailed off. His senses-
A kunai flew for his neck from-
Above?!
Qirūi allowed the kunai's blade to puncture into a superficial layer of skin- before being halted completely by a web of steel underneath it.
He turned with a laugh, goading the tendrils of steel to raise him upwards, over the shelves of the tall columns of scrolls.
The boy leapt from shelf to shelf-
Qirūi smirked.
"Foolish!" He bellowed. He twisted steel ropes together, combining them into one taught trunk of trembling metal.
Qirūi's chakra lurched as he supercharged the steel with electricity.
"Storm Release: Crescendo Ball!" Qirūi cried. The weight of his chakra caused scrolls to fall free from their cases, spilling outwards onto the cramped hallways down below.
Qirūi's combined steel shot forward as if a bullet, creating a ring of air behind it. Water formed itself into a vortexing ring around the projectile- it screamed with venomous glee.
The writhing ball of electrified metals smashed into the boy's upper body-
Qirūi smiled as the boy's shadow clone dissipated. The Swordsman's jutsu curled into an adjacent column, erupting old Kiri scrolls in snaking flame.
I can sense you now!
Qirūi roused his tendrils ahead- at the same moment he clapped hands together.
"Storm Release: Keen Gale!" Qirūi shouted.
Six of his tendrils rose into the air, pointing themselves downwards at the columns of scrolls. In the next moment, a thin laser of water superheated by electricity erupted from the tips of Qirūi's vines.
They cut across column after column, before transfixing upon one point-
Die! Your blood will feed th-
Just as Qirūi knew his lasers were about to cut through the boy's hiding place-
A cloud of smoke erupted between them.
The puppet? Using it as a last shield?!
Qirūi snarled, clapping his hands together as he dived closer. The boy swirled away, his puppet shedding half of its upper face and both left arms.
Qirūi angled his jutsu once more, hovering where Shikadai had been exposed. The man laughed as burning scrolls fell beside swaying purple locks.
Qirui fired spears of light above the boy- simultaneously whipping free tendrils for the child's feet.
The foreign genin hopped in the air- he dived between the rows of the crumbling shelving, his puppet cutting across it.
Then, Qirūi could see the boy put something in his mouth.
Interesting.. taking another pill now out of desperation? It's too late!
But...
Chakra.. more chakra than one pill could carry, exploded from the boy.
He ate more than one at once? That much chakra infused at one time could kill you.. what is h-
Qirūi felt something.
He looked down.
Confusion, for a moment, painted his mind before he recognized exactly what his cords were lifting him upon.
A.. sealing circle..!
The boy's carefree hum rang within Qirūi's ears as shadows encapsulated both of them. It suddenly became very dark.. Qirūi could still see, but only vaguely.
It was then Qirūi noticed that the shadows captured the growing fire as well.
Qirūi drew his tendrils back into his body, standing now on his own legs.
Wait.
The oxygen here.. is diminishing!
Panic, true panic, spat against Qirūi's thoughts.
The man was about to speak aloud in snarled reprisal- but abruptly shut his mouth.
Need to retain my air..!
The boy, however, seemed to be silent.
Qirūi swirled around. Clanging was heard between the curves of the shadow's circling walls.
It seemed there were other voices too- chanting was heard. Almost as if some sort of play-
It was then the boy's voice, along with that of the chanters.. spoke in unison.
"Shadow Puppet Technique: Ningyō jōruri!"
LOG WALKED through a burned down village. It was small, perhaps three or four families- a safe haven nestled between the tall, foggy mountains on the outskirts of Otogakure.
Until now.
Orochimaru's voice rose above the darkness of Log's thoughts. He could almost see his creator standing before him, mouth closed in a condescending smirk framed by onyx silk hair.
Shin is weaker than Koiē, but he still possesses a large amount of chakra. In truth, I am not sending you on this mission to succeed. Like Shin, you have become a liability, I fear.
Log's yellow eyes dimmed at the memory of Orochimaru's quiet, matter-of-fact laugh.
Your death would be as useful to me as your success.
Log emotionlessly purged Orochimaru's parting words. He closed his eyes, before opening them with a slow and dull anger that softly whispered away.
On his back a curved dao sword waited within a white sleeve that revealed the tang of the blade. Log adjusted his sword, glancing upwards at the skies above.
Midday light was dim.
Low clouds obscured the sun, giving the setting an eerie daylight darkness as Log's boots crunched charred wood.
As the homunculus continued, he spied a collection of corpses piled within what seemed to be the village center. Strangely, they were unburned.
Log narrowed yellow eyes.
He scanned about what remained of thatched roofs and even the mists beyond. Upon sensing no immediate danger, he approached the pile of bodies.
Log gently knelt beside them. The village was indeed a family. The corpses were of mixed ages- some of them adult, some children, some old, already close to death. However, there seemed to be no women.
Just like the shinobi who guarded Shin, their wounds were strange. A mix of missing organs- eyes mostly. Then, foreign objects that were not punctured through the bodies, but appeared within them.
There was something else, too.
Log pressed his hands against the body of an old man missing both eyes and a tongue. Log moved his fingers across the cooling corpse, pressing against the man's stomach-
These bodies are missing more organs than the ones at the hideout.
Log inspected another corpse. Then another.
He performed an investigation upon all of the bodies. All of them seemed to be missing more than half of their crucial organs.
When it comes to the organs themselves.. hearts, lungs, intestines. Shin wasn't just killing these villagers.. he was harvesting them.
Log rose, gathering a black cloak around him as the wind picked up strands of his dark green hair.
Is the Sharingan truly worth this horror..
Log smiled blankly.
Such thoughts were a part of his defect, as Orochimaru said. Somehow, Log had more human emotion.. and as a result, his state was a volatile mixture prone to outbursts if he didn't control himself.
Of course, that didn't matter.
Only his mission did.
Log left the desecrated village center. More buildings curled along the bend of a towering mountain. Goats bleated plaintively- the structures seemed to be holding pens.
The pen gates were open.
Log frowned.
It's possible that Shin attacked just as the villagers were going about their daily tasks.. but each pen gate is open.
Log counted the pens themselves- there were seven.
How likely is it that the village would leave each one open at the same time?
Log lowered his head with an aware caution, proceeding towards the belt of goat pens with a deliberate slowness.
Confused goats huddled together in small groups somewhat about the pens. As Log drew closer, he saw that within the pens, blood was found.
Log walked faster, causing the nearby goats to bleat in fear as they fled his harmless march.
The homunculus entered the pen closest to him.
The body of a goat was found before him. From the deflation of parts of its stomach, Log could tell that the animal was missing organs as well. But.. this was different.
Log looked at the goat's legs- its muscles were gone, all that remained was skin and bone.
The homunculus' ear twitched.
Log spun on black boots just as a rattling chain axe swung for his forehead.
Log ducked into a spin, rushing for the pen's exit as his attacker shifted in the air.
He's fast-
Log suddenly saw his assailant's dark brown cloak flutter from the corner of his eye.
Orochimaru's project formed jutsu signs with one hand while drawing his curved blade.
seconds later, the hidden foe reappeared at Log's left just as chains curled around him.
"Lighting Style: Curtain Wall!" Log shouted- arches of lighting sped above him, forming a cage of lethal energy that expanded outwards.
His attacker somersaulted backwards with inhuman mobility, reeling the chain axe back while midair...before landing safely and regarding Log from a predator's distance.
Log returned the gaze. His assailant was young, perhaps sixteen or younger. He had a sharp jaw and long, curly blonde hair that obscured his eyes. He was dressed in flared slacks, grey in color, while a red sleeveless tunic was tied at his waist with a thick, black cord.
Log glanced down to the boy's hands. His fingernails were painted a dark purple.
It was then the attacker's bangs parted- revealing a pair of glowing, fully matured sharingan.
Wait- how?!
The bodies bore witness of the fact that Shin was here. However, this clearly wasn't Shin.
Shin's face was deeply disfigured- his skin was mottled and harshly wrinkled. Not to mention Shin was larger and older as well.
Log narrowed his eyes as the strange entity charged.
But..It does like a younger Koiē!
The Sharingan boy pounced between Log's dissipating jutsu. Log flipped his dao into his other waiting hand, slicing downwards at the boy's chest.
The boy twisted his body lengthwise, dodging the attack before spinning his body into a kick. the chain axe cut into the earth as it whirled upwards for Log's neck.
Log danced backwards, eyes widening as the boy's landing heel formed a small crater in the ground.
This physical strength..!
The boy entered Log's zone of defense with a whisper of air- he grasped the axe's handle while chains chirped behind his shoulders.
Log opened a pale mouth as a writhing snake leapt between his teeth. The boy's sharingan tracked Log's summon just as Log lurched forward, flipping his blade towards the boy's left.
The Sharingan wielder caught Log's snake between a vein-covered fist, crushing its body with a loud squelch.
However.. he hadn't noticed Log's sword.
The boy's Sharingan glanced over in surprise as a curving slash was moments away from cleaving into his shoulder.
It was then the boy's Sharingan dilated. He dropped his weapon.
The chakra around the boy instantly grew denser- his feet slightly sunk into the ground. His Sharingan itself changed into a large black pupil that had three long dagger-like points jutting from it. Like all Sharingan, it sat within a sea of red sclera. But this was different. This..
Was the Mangekyō.
A bloody appendage consisting of twisting muscle and bone burst from the Sharingan boy's shoulder. The newly birthed limb commanded two hands with shell-like hooves- it caught Log's sword with a rebounding clack.
Log twirled away, pulling his sword with him. The Shin clone crouched downwards as the bloody limb was slurped back into the boy's body.
The clone charged for Log, clapping its hands together-
Log felt chakra circling around his insides. He directed his own to disrupt the foreign jutsu, before vanishing in place with a flash of snakes.
Four rocks curled into existence where Log had been, falling to the ground just as Log erupted from the earth directly below the Shin clone.
The boy's left eye pulsed as he gazed downwards at Log, Sharingan alerting him to Log's attack seconds before it occurred.
Suddenly, Log felt a horrific pain within his right eye- almost as if it was being torn out.
The Homunculus realized it was.
Log again substituted himself with a bouquet of hissing, snapping snakes.
Log erupted into existence at Shin's back, right eye bleeding, both hands on the hilt of his sword. He thrust his blade downwards in a bisecting cut-
Shin turned into the strike, flipping himself over Log's back-
Log winced as he felt a cutting pain slash across both of his shoulders as the boy's shadow passed over him.
Log turned, watching Shin as the clone landed some meters away.
The Homunculus ignored blood that stained his clothes, honing in on the boy's hands.
They seemed to be covered with a sharp, chitin-like material, giving him claws that were now painted with Log's blood.
Log pointed his dao at the boy.
"You possess a cruel technique." Log said aloud.
The Shin clone said nothing.
Then, it charged.
He's faster!
The clone kicked up dust as it burst ahead, twisting into a flurry of blows as Log's sword flashed across his body in hurried defense.
The clone's claws sparked across Log's steel- he seemed to be everywhere at once.
Shin's claws locked Log's sword into place- before flipping it out of Log's hands. His blade flew in the air helplessly as Shin stabbed for Log's stomach.
Log raised one arm, elongating it as it curled around both of the clone's wrists. He pulled the clone ahead before throwing it against the ground, releasing it just as it was tossed back up into the air by the force of Log's strike.
Log folded his hands together.
"Lighting St-"
A sliver of steel popped into existence within Log's palms. Blood instantly began pouring from the wound. Log grimaced-
He used a part of my sword?!
Sure enough, as Log's blade fell, he noticed a portion of it was missing. His sword cut into the ground just as the Shin clone bolted past, retrieving the blade with a silent flourish.
Log pulled his hands apart, metal clanging against the hard ground. He ducked just as the Shin clone rounded upon him.
Log's chipped sword passed over his dark green hair. He rose from the ground with a rising kick, catching Shin at the jaw. Shin faltered, Mangekyō flexing at Log.
Log whipped himself inches away, stones snapping into existence only milliseconds too late- each one no doubt meant for Log's organs as opposed to craggy ground.
The Shin clone's skin rose as if something was traveling underneath it-
Suddenly another limb broke free of its skin, this one a spear of muscle and bone.
It shot out from Shin with inexplicable velocity, cutting through Log's stomach.
The Homunculus gasped, coughing up blood.
Then, the spear vanished from Log's body.
No-
Log felt Shin's Mangekyō target his neck-
The spear reappeared inside Log's throat. Blood poured from Log's neck as he staggered backwards. Shin rushed for Log, blonde hair bouncing across his forehead as he ran.
Log spun drunkenly about-
Shin was nearly upon him. The spear vanished from Log's neck, curling into existence between Shin's fingers as the clone primed for a killing blow.
Suddenly, Log's back ruptured.
Shin paused-
A giant snake exploded from Log's back- his body fell over in a pile of trembling skin.
The snake zipped for Shin, mouth open.
The Shin clone spun as it ran for the snake, throwing his spear at the snake's mouth.
The spear stabbed through the snake's head, holding it in place as it writhed upon the ground.
Shin's Mangekyō flexed-
But before Shin could use his jutsu-
Log again burst from the earth below. However, this time only his head sped at Shin, his neck stretching to impossible lengths. Shin turned just as Log's fangs bit into a pallid neck. Venom from Log's teeth instantly caused the boy's eyes to bleed.
Log's neck recoiled back to the rest of his body as he pulled himself free of the ground, clumps of dirt rolling off of him.
The Shin clone fell before rolling about, gagging silently as its eyes watered and bled. Its Mangekyō reverted back into a three tomoe Sharingan, before finally it offered one last heaving breath... before falling still.
Log regarded the corpse for some time. Wind blew between the mountains as nearby fires dwindled to coughing embers.
It was clear that Shin, the real Shin, knew he was being tracked. He left behind some sort of living entity.. one that possessed his abilities.
Log closed his eyes. He thought of the corpses again, the organs they were missing.
Is it possible Shin is.. creating artificial beings with his Mangekyō..?
SARADA regarded the man with a silent glare.
It was early evening. They still were within the old Uchiha grounds. A setting sun cast old stone in red and orange hues, while the sound of a hissing kettle filled cold air.
Across from Sarada, Sasuke Uchiha sat cross legged. Spiked bangs covered one eye, while the visible one looked down at the burning kettle.
It seemed the man was in deep thought.
Sarada sighed loudly, crossing her arms. She was wearing her glasses now, dark purple hair pushed away from her forehead.
"Are you going to make me ask again?" Sarada said brusquely.
Sasuke's eye instantly snapped to Sarada, meeting her gaze. Despite herself, she flinched.
She then hardened her own glare.
"You say all of these crazy things then you say nothing. You don't respond when I ask about it. I understand that something bad happened. No.. something horrible. But that doesn't mean you have to act like thi-"
Sarada cut herself short as Sasuke dropped his eyes away from hers. His face.. it changed.
It seemed.. softer. But also confused and sad. For a moment, Sarada felt as if a smile was about to form at the corner of her Father's mouth.
However, the man's frown returned just as his voice spoke through it.
"Itachi Uchiha." Sasuke said quietly.
He turned then, rustling for something behind him. When he returned to Sarada's view, he held a small cup in his hands.
The man then looked at Sarada. She returned his look, before immediately realizing what he wanted. She frowned, leaning over and tentatively lifting the kettle from its fire. Sarada poured the contents of the kettle into the cup, then returned it to its fiery home.
Sasuke then handed the cup to her.
"For the muscle pain." He said.
Sarada looked down into the metal cup, regarding her distorted reflection within dark tea before taking a long sip.
"He was my brother." Sasuke continued.
Brother? Mom never said anything about a brother. She said grandpa and grandma died long ago.. but- a brother?
Sarada then thought of the Uchiha clan itself. She knew that they had existed within Sasuke's lifetime with significant numbers. She thought of the fear that was still on the faces of the villagers.. and the fear that they held of Sasuke himself.
Sarada shivered. From the sound of Sasuke's voice, she knew that her history was a dark one.
"He was a killer from a young age. Like all skilled shinobi, he was on the frontlines despite being a child. He saw the horrors of war first hand. The blood that he waded through.." Sasuke held Sarada's gaze once more.
"It distorted him. If things had been different, he would have been a very kind, gentle person. But this world is cruel. Itachi inherited its cruel blood within him." Sasuke continued.
Its within us Sarada realized.
Sasuke was silent for a long time. Sarada glanced at him before averting her gaze.
"He killed our parents." Sasuke said simply.
Sarada said nothing.
Killed..?
"Did he hurt you?" Sarada asked quietly.
The kettle whispered in the silence between Sasuke's hidden horrors.
Then, the man spoke.
"In his twisted mind, he was helping me. I think a sane person would've tried to send me somewhere. But he wanted me to.. be prepared for what this world would come to bear." Sasuke said.
Sarada's lenses shadowed.
"There's more."
Sasuke nodded.
"There is."
Then the man stood, turned, and walked away. Sarada watched as the man's shoulders vanished between stone walls.
SASUKE sat high upon an old, looming tree. He extended one leg across a spreading branch. His cloak hung underneath him. Darkness spread across the land beyond. Only Sarada's small fire blipped in the distance as the sun's final cries came to a muted rest.
He inhaled deeply. A lone tear traveled down Sasuke's cheek. He caught it with his gloved hand, regarding the sphere of liquid before curling his fist around it.
When he was younger, during the war, seeing Itachi overwhelmed him. With Itachi at his side, he felt as if he forgot all that Itachi did.
But the years after.. as Sasuke grew older himself..
He wasn't sure if he loved or hated Itachi.
After all of this time, Itachi seemed to still cause him pain of the darkest degree.
Sarada's face.. it was hollow. Sasuke knew she wasn't ready for the full truth of it. Not yet.
I won't do to her what you did to me.
Sasuke's senses rang as a familiar presence burst beside him.
Sasuke chuckled, closing his eyes in annoyance.
"It's really you."
Naruto sat beside Sasuke. Naruto's cloak rustled as he moved to get comfortable, bright eyes tired but friendly.
They had both gotten old. Naruto still had a happy, youthful look, but his eyes were slightly wrinkled now, his blonde hair shorter and more mature. His brows were sharper, more decisive and intimidating.
As Sasuke looked at Naruto, he was constantly reminded that he wasn't the only one who had gone through horrific pain. Just like him, it was that pain that shaped Naruto into the man he was now.
"It's good you're spending time with her." Naruto said with a smile.
Sasuke scoffed.
"She isn't fond of me."
Naruto shrugged.
"You can't blame her. She'll understand one day." Naruto replied.
Sasuke smiled cynically.
"I wonder how many people said that about us when we were children." Sasuke looked at Naruto then.
"I told her about Itachi. Some of it." He said. Naruto's eyes widened in concerned surprise.
Naruto looked away, spying the faraway fire illuminating a small portion of the Uchiha compound in the distance.
"What did she say?" Naruto asked finally.
"Nothing. She's like me in some respects. She'd rather stay silent and listen when it comes to certain things, it seems." Sasuke answered.
"Now, what's going on?" Sasuke nodded towards Naruto.
"I can tell from your face you're not just checking up on me."
Naruto's face grew grim.
"It's the Tenno ban'nin."
The Tenno ban'nin project was something of Orochimaru's design- a group of modified shinobi tasked with guarding the tailed beasts, and in extreme situations, a force that could be called upon in times of crisis.
But it was their very existence that could create a crisis as well- each member easily skirted around Kage level, meaning if any of them were to betray Konoha..
"Who was it?" Sasuke felt as if he already knew the answer.
"Shin."
"I see." Sasuke said.
Naruto should've killed him when Orochimaru asked.
Sasuke instantly understood what this meant. Shin was obsessed with the Uchiha- Sasuke had been able to train Koiē.. but Shin..
It already pained Sasuke enough that the eyes of his people were being put to use by Orochimaru.. but to have someone of Shin's level running free..
Sarada's face flashed before Sasuke's mind.
"The sooner he reveals himself, the sooner I can kill him." Sasuke said.
Naruto laughed nervously.
"I suppose that's all there is to it in the end." Naruto said after a brief silence.
A longer silence ensued as the pair sat within the tree, dark omens churning in the night around them.
SHOJOJI's body slinked between walls. His flesh modification jutsu allowed him to twist and contort his being between the wood of the Konoha nin's home. He watched them- the father, the mother, the daughter.
He steadily released a genjutsu upon the home. He filled their dreams with nightmares, made them feel unease. When the girl was alone, he made his presence almost discernible to her.
Shojoji smiled.
She had stopped sleeping.
The girl was home now, alone as she was around this time. It seemed her parents got in some sort of fight, leaving in a rush. Shojoji noticed that the girl's father was cold.. distant and cruel. He verbally berated both his daughter and his wife.
The girl sat in the home's general living space, legs folded in a seated position upon polished wood. Her eyes were shaken, as they tended to be now, glancing nervously at every twist and jump of a shadow.
A knock was suddenly heard at the door.
Shojoji frowned, watching as the girl gasped in surprise, before rushing to her door. Shojoji shifted his being between wood, narrowing his eyes.
A blonde boy with bright blue eyes stood beside another youth, this one eerily pale with light teal hair that was almost white.
"Sumire-" the black haired one began.
The girl seemed upset.
"You shouldn't be here, Boruto, Mitsuki!" The girl said with a worried hiss.
"My father will be back soon-"
"We're worried about you, Sumire." The blonde boy stepped forward-
Into the invisible miasma of Shojoji's jutsu.
The boy's body went rigid. His neck strained outward- his face snapped to where Shojoji hid in the wall.
"Boruto?" The girl said. The boy's friend remained silent, but his face was written over with concern as well.
What's going on-
Suddenly, the boy screamed.
The house shook as chakra-
Shojoji felt as if he were going to vomit.
This chakra.. this is what Otogane felt! But how could this boy possess antichakra?! It's even reacting to Otogane's residual essence within me!
The blonde haired youth's screams fell silent as he fell backwards. He nearly smashed his head against the girl's floor before his stoic friend caught him.
"I- get him out of here, I'm sorry! Please!" Sumire begged.
The white haired one smiled.
"Of course. Have a good night, Sumire." He said, retreating with the blonde haired boy in his arms.
So.. it was him. There's no mistaking it. Nothing, no other chakra feels like that. It seemed..purer than Otogane's. If I hadn't been in its immediate presence, I wouldn't have even sensed it despite its strength.
Shojoji would need to convene with Otogane-
No. Not yet.
He would capture the boy, and bring him back to her.
His eyes fell upon the girl as she paced nervously across wood floor.
The boy.. this Boruto.. he seemed to trust Sumire. He cared about her.
Shojoji's mouth watered as a smile formed on hidden lips.
Yes. This world is quite cruel.
NEXT TIME: SETSUNA HIKAGE, RAGE OF THE MIST!
