BORUTO'S HEAD SPUN.

He somersaulted backwards, forcing his body into a slide while blue-silver eyes snapped to the left, right-

Up and down.

Blonde hair wavered across Boruto's forehead- his senses alerting him to an attack hurtling down from above-

He shot his gaze upwards, catching Sarada's silhouette as she fell towards him, illuminated by the light of the moon.

Both he and Sarada knew that between them, she was the better close ranged fighter. Further.. aside from training to learn the Rasengan, Boruto himself hadn't actually fought since his mission six months ago.

Meaning.. right now, Sarada was far stronger.

Sarada closed the vertical distance between them in seconds, faster than Boruto anticipated.

Did she use chakra to increase her body's weight...Allowing herself to fall at greater speed?!

Boruto didn't have the luxury to entertain another thought. Sarada sprinted ahead, fist raised as she dashed for Boruto's right. Boruto turned, eyes just barely following Sarada's movements. He raised both arms in a defensive position, forming a sideways cross that caught Sarada's descending strike.

Chakra exploded between them, throwing Sarada off balance-

I'm no Hyuga.. but with the chakra control I've learned, I can supplement my defenses, then exude chakra right when she strikes me-

Boruto grunted, disappointed by the fact he was already desperate to catch his breath.

I'll still take damage.. but maybe it'll create an opening!

Sure enough, even in the dark Boruto could see Sarada's eyes widen as her movements faltered.

The recoil from her own chakra sent Sarada dragging away from Boruto.

She lost balance-

In about three seconds...she's going to fully recover!

Boruto propelled towards Sarada- reaching into his belt, he pulled free a smoke bomb along with a kunai.

Two seconds-

Boruto leapt into the air, only a meter or so above Sarada.

One-

Boruto threw the smoke bomb below him. It bounced against the earth-

Then plumed right before Sarada's frown.

I'll have to keep her busy while also forcing mid ranged combat.

Boruto saw movement dance underneath a curtain of smoke. He placed the Kunai between his teeth, forming a jutsu sign with now free hands.

Transformation!

Boruto landed, and just as he expected, Sarada rushed from the smoke, long hair trailing behind her as if a cloak. Boruto grabbed the kunai in his mouth, throwing it to the ground beside him just as the Uchiha punched Boruto directly in the chest-

Only for Boruto's body to dissipate in a cloud of smoke. Sarada gave Boruto's vanishing clone a perplexed expression-

As the real Boruto unfurled into existence where he had stabbed the kunai.

Now! She won't have time to react!

Boruto launched himself from the ground, fist primed for Sarada's chin.

Sarada knifed her head downwards, catching Boruto's strike with the metal of a gleaming headband.

She righted herself, breaking Boruto's contact with the swipe of her forearm. Boruto seceded to her movement, rolling underneath a series of punches that were meant for his head.

He was hoping Sarada would begin to tire-

However, she was anything but.

Sarada spun on the heels of her sandals. The Uchiha's speed seemed to increase, darting after Boruto with agility that surprised him.

How.. how did she get so strong?! Is it just from training with Sasuke?

Boruto was forced to meet Sarada head on. He narrowly zipped along a fist that skimmed past his cheek-

He bent buckling knees, grappling Sarada by her waist. She instantly reacted-

As Boruto moved, she turned his momentum against him, grabbing Boruto by the hem of his shirt as she swung both legs upwards into the air.

Boruto was dragged across the ground- pulled off balance as Sarada landed, essentially switching their original positions. Sarada now stood over him, her face nearly obscured by nighttime shadows.

"I'm a little mad at you, you know." Sarada whispered.

Boruto formed a jutsu sign.

"Why's that?" He said with an evil grin.

"Forcing me to work with that man just because you want to impress your dad." She retorted.

Boruto scoffed.

"It's more than that. It's for everyone.. Himawari. Even you. Besides.. I can tell something happened Sarada. You didn't just get stronger. You learned something." Boruto's expression softened.

About the Uchiha.

"I want to know.. whenever you're ready." Boruto spoke as a shadow clone burst into life above Sarada.

I've only got about two of those left in me.

Boruto grimaced- Sarada disengaged from him, forcing Boruto to roll out of the way of his clone's descending kick.

Boruto and his clone stood side by side as a lull began to form between the two combating genin.

"I'll tell you. One day." Sarada answered simply.

She raised a hand over one eye.

The air around them seemed to tighten.

Sarada's right eye was blood red, shining within the dark. Boruto could see a single tomoe that rested at the crest of Sarada's pupil-

He almost gasped in surprise.

The Sharingan-

Sarada's afterimage is the only thing Boruto saw ahead of him.

Boruto's clone pushed his original out of harm's way. Sarada was nothing but a wisp of air at this point-

But despite this, the blow she delivered onto his clone sent Boruto sliding backwards.

"You're strong, Boruto. Maybe it's dumb of me to use this.. but just like you, I want to become as strong as I can before the exams as well." Sarada's Sharingan eye honed in on Boruto as the girl rushed him.

He hopped backwards, biting down on his tongue just as Sarada shifted directly into Boruto's center.

She delivered two swift punches- one deep into his stomach, and the other hurtled across his jaw.

Boruto gasped, blood falling from his mouth.

Not.. not yet!

Boruto forced himself to recover. As he fell, he rolled into a ready position some distance away from Sarada.

I can sense that her chakra is depleting rapidly- she can't keep this up!

Sarada's head slowly craned to where Boruto fled. In the very next moment, she vanished in a hiss of air.

This speed.. she herself isn't used to it! I can tell from how she's moving her body now. She might even be in pain! Which means.. She's distracted. She wants to end this quickly!

Boruto formed his hands into a jutsu sign.

This will have to be my last jutsu!

Another clone materialized in front of Boruto. Just as it did, Boruto threw a kunai into the air above him.

Sarada easily dispatched the clone with a rising kick-

Before leveling her Sharingan eye on Boruto.

"Sorry, Boruto." Sarada gave a strained smile. She pounced ahead, before slashing her hand through Boruto's body.. which was now nothing but a cloud of hazy fog.

Just as Sarada's Sharingan deactivated, the real Boruto fell above her, leg outstretched into a kick meant for Sarada's head.

Using shadow clone jutsu along with Transformation again.. I'm basically out of chakra. But it looks like Sarada isn't doing any better!

Sarada's reaction speed was noticeably slower. As Boruto fell, Sarada made no attempt to evade despite seeing him clearly. She held her right eye, while tears streamed from her left.

Before Boruto's attack could land, he heard the flapping of a cape intercede between them. A hand grasped Boruto's leg, catching him and throwing him away from Sarada.

"Impressive, Boruto." Sasuke's voice greeted the Uzumaki's ears as he tumbled away. Righting himself, Boruto now saw Sasuke standing over Sarada, who still held her eye.

"If Sarada hadn't resorted to using the Sharingan, she may have won. But your.. calculated spontaneity is impressive." Sasuke offered.

Boruto nodded, trying to catch his breath.

"This won't happen a second time, Boruto." Sarada glared. She rose to shaky feet.

Then, she gave Boruto a smile. Her right eye had reverted to its normal color.

"I'm impressed though. I didn't expect you to win." Sarada said.

Boruto closed his eyes, hopping to his feet.

Sarada crossed her arms, giving her father a stern glare.

"So, what happens now?" Sarada inquired.

"We'll camp here tonight. It doesn't make sense to return to the village now. Then.. I'll bring you both to the Uchiha grounds. It seems for the both of you.. our time would be best spent on improving your Taijutsu.. and sensory abilities." Sasuke turned, his cloak following behind him.

"I've already brought the necessary supplies." The Uchiha said softly.

"Come with me." He finished.

Boruto and Sarada gave each other one more glance, before following in the wake of this mysterious and powerful Shinobi.

JEISHI'S SCREAMS filled the palace. Yoshika and Han stood guard outside of Jeishi's chambers.

The Sage had given them one command-

If he died, they were to contact Deepa immediately.

Yoshika's skin curled at every spat of chakra that coiled within the room he was meant to defend.

What's going on?

Almost as if his painted eyes could read Yoshika's expression, Han blindly turned to him, before his soft voice slithered into speech.

"Jeishi's ability.. the Duhkha state and Nirodha state, are both skills that delay the physical pain from chakra."

Yoshika furrowed his brows.

"So now the pain that his shadow.. thing suffered..?" Yoshika trailed off as another blood curdling scream shook the wall he leaned upon.

"Yes. It's being returned to Jeishi's body. One can only delay the natural order, they cannot circumvent it. Not even Uzumaki Fuinjutsu." Han whispered.

"Is he going to die?" Yoshika was somewhat worried. Even though he had just met Jeishi, he hated to admit that he did like the man, despite the strange air that Jeishi carried himself with.

"He may. He is using the state of Samudaya now. This state.. rebuilds one's cells while simultaneously being destroyed by whatever jutsu was absorbed by the caster's shadow. If he survives, his lifespan will be drastically reduced." Han said simply.

Yoshika was quiet for a long time, the only sounds heard were Jeishi's weeping cries.

It was ironic. Jeishi.. when he fought that thing, seemed all powerful. But now..

A question suddenly popped into Yoshika's mind.

"Did you ever use those techniques? Samudaya?" Yoshika intoned. He focused on Han's face then-

The man tensed, but surprisingly his face relaxed.

"Yes. But only once before. And when I did, I lost my eyes." Han answered quietly.

Yoshika nodded. He didn't want to bother Han, but from the man's voice he could tell that Han too had suffered incredibly. It was this suffering that brought them together, all of Kara..

Yoshika closed his eyes, curling both hands into fists as they rested on his thighs.

A dream.. is worth everything.

NEXT TIME: DEEPA'S MISSION! THEN, KHITAN AND SHOTA, SCIONS OF THE LEAF! 3/20/2022