Hello and welcome back to the next chapter. Took almost two months for the next chapter, but here it is. I hope the waiting paid off for you!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto/Boruto.


Chapter 12: The calm before the storm

O

8:20 PM

Near the border of the land of fire/lightning:

'I need to hurry'

Boruto, who just defeated Nero in battle, continued his pursuit to find the remaining root members and Sumire.

'That fight took long enough. I need to find their hideout before they can somehow interupt the connection between me and Nue, or them extracting Nue's chakra out of Sumire'

Boruto thought about what Nero said to him, which makes the secret behind both his eye power and curse mark more mysterious.

'He said my curse mark can expand to multiple levels of strength. I wonder what happens if my curse mark reaches the highest one. That one Momoshiki alien gave that to me and told me I would lose everything I have. I fear that this curse mark will cause that to happen. This power could cost me my entire life and what I lived for...including my friends'

Then he remembered something which happened much earlier, back in his academy days.

'But that one other guy I met in my dreams...he told me that my eye is the eye of hope. The curse mark which will cause me to lose everything and the eye of hope. Bad power vs good power. This is too confusing, but I need to focus now'

O

Root headquarter:

The helicopter with Sumire and her kidnapper just landed on the landing area. Immidiately some other root agents appeared in front of it.

"Welcome back agent Ramos and Azura. We waited for your return", the one agent said. The other one noticed one agent missing.

"Where's agent Nero?", the other said.

Ramos and Azura left the machine, ready to go.

"Nero is fighting someone who knows to much about our operation. He's going to return later", Azura said.

"My mission is done. Inform the boss about the results", Ramos said.

"That's not necessary, the boss is going to hear that from your mouth in a moment", the other one said.

This quite suprised Azura and Ramos. They never expected the boss to leave his seat for them.

"He's coming here?", Azura asked.

"Yes, together with agent Soli"

"Soli? So the rumors are true about her being an agent now?", Azura asked.

"Yes and the boss even made her part of the elite group", one root member said.

"What? That means she's the same rang as me?", Azura asked in shock.

"You're right. And she even managed to become one in even less time than you", the same one said.

"I know her and she isn't as strong as me. She shouldn't be that much stronger than the normal agents. I don't even know why the boss even likes her", Azura told them.

"It's not her fighting skills that makes her that good, it's her knowledge. That's why"

Azura was in anger that she got surpassed that easily. But she knew that wasn't the time to discuss that.

"I'll fight her later. Now let's finish what we've began", she said.

"You got the target person?", one agent said.

"Yes", Ramos said. "Come out"

...

It took a while before she decided to get out of the helicopter. She was a little bit afraid of them.

'W-Who are they?", she thought. 'M-More of them?'

She now stood before the two and Ramos was ready to introduce her.

"Is she the one we're searching for?", the one root member asked.

"Yes", Ramos answered. "This is Sumire Shigaraki, the daughter of Tanuki Shigaraki, the one man who betrayed us. His experiment lives inside his daughter"

"Then she must have Nue's mark on her body"

Ramos immidiately reacted to this assumption.

"Show us that mark little girl", Ramos spoke to her.

Sumire didn't wanted to do this. She feared them to hurt Nue somehow.

"B-But...", she started before Azura interupted her.

"Remember what we promised you about your friends. And yes, we're still able to do that, especially since those brats are near of one of our elite agents. I bet Nero already killed that blonde guy, so I am sorry for that, but think about your other friends..."

"Boruto isn't dead! He's alive for sure!", Sumire shouted.

"That's what you wish for, but in reality, that kid doesn't have a chance against him. He's only a kid. He got talent but he's still a brat so don't count on him. And now show us your mark!".

"Don't worry. We won't do anything to Nue right now. It will take some time before we're working on your little pet anyway", Ramos said.

Sumire still wasn't sure, but she couldn't do anything against it, so she gave up.

"H-Here. On my left hand", she spoke and showed them her curse mark. She suddenly felt something brewing inside of her. The other one just looked at the mark.

"That's really Nue's mark", the one said. "It's a little bit different to the version we know, but that won't be a problem.

"Tanuki really was a genius when it comes to science and sealing jutsu's. But that was to be expected from a guy who's clan is connected to a specific other one.

That got Sumire's attention. She never knew that much from her parents and from where they actually come from.

"What they are refering to? Did my father belong to clan famous for it's science?"

The root members took a closer look and noticed something they didn't expected.

"The Shigaraki's are really above other families when it comes to advanced technology. They were even able to expand the powers of the Nue and it's chakra. Our scientist are going to have their fun analysing the differences"

'I-It's happening again!...", Sumire thought as she felt a huge power leaving her body.

Suddenly Sumire's Nue mark on her left palm started to glow in a purple light, which attracted the attention of the root agents and elite agents.

"W-What's that? A strange light!", the two root said.

"Is that the monster?", Azura asked as she looked to Ramos.

"Yes definitely", Ramos told her and activated his Sharingan.

Then a huge pile of chakra left Sumire's hand, flying up into the sky.

"What's happening", the root member started saying.

"Nue's chakra is leaving her body", Ramos explained them. With his Sharingan he could see everything.

"What you've done brat", Azura neared Sumire before she got stopped by Ramos.

"Shut up Azura. Give me the chakra container device", Ramos told her.

"Don't interupt me again Ramos", Azura returned.

"Give me that device or before I beat you up Azura!", Ramos shouted.

"O-Okay. You're really scary you know", Azura told him before she gave him the requested device.

Ramos activated the device and some kind of green chakra sword appeared.

"I am gonna catch Nue's chakra with this. That chakra is the reason why that kid from Konoha was able to find us...twice"

"Twice?", Azura said.

"Yes. One time when we were waiting in the hideout...and the other time when we were in Senju-Park. That blonde kid is able to sense chakra. That's why he was able to find us that quickly in Konoha, because Nue's chakra inside the girls body was strong enough. And the second time Nue directly send a little bit of it's chakra to reach up that blonde miles and miles away from us and all he had to do was to follow back the trace. And now Nue's gonna do it again"

"That means that girl betrayed us!", Azura shouted.

Sumire didn't knew about anything Nue was doing and also was shocked about the recent happenings.

"N-No. I had no clue", Sumire explained.

"Lier!", Azura shouted.

"NOW SHUT UP!", Ramos shouted back before he left her and the two root members. "You're seriously an embarassment for all elite agents. All I have to say is that Soli is truly the better agent between you two. You're strong but mentally you're not made to be an elite agent":

This shoutout muted Azura immidiately.

"You're not allowed to even touch that girl from now on except if she tries to run away. And now you stay here while I try to catch Nue's chakra. Understood?"

Azura simply nodded, she was quite afraid from Ramos now.

'At least that stupid woman got what she deserved, but I am still worried about Nue'

"Okay I am ready. It won't take long", Ramos said and started to levitate. Him being able to do so suprised Azura.

"What the heck? Since when does he know how to fly?", Azura asked herself. The two other root member heard that.

"He's not the only one able to do that. X is also able to do so. He and Ramos are definitely the two top agents of our organisation", one root member told her.

"I've never heard or saw something from that X. Is he really that strong?", Azura asked.

"He's more than strong. I've heard he may be even stronger than the boss himself. You may be able to met him soon, he's currently operating near of our current headquarter location"

...

At the same time, Ramos levitated higher in the sky. He pursuited Nue's chakra, which was still visible for Ramos with the help of his Sharingan. Nue's Chakra was already able to fly away a little bit, but Ramos was quick enough to catch up.

"You stay here", Ramos said and was ready to swing the green blade of his chakra container.

Nue's chakra just stood still as Ramos was trying to hit it with his weapon. But then, just before Ramos hit it, Nue's chakra started flashing out a bright light.

'Ahhh! That's bright!', Ramos thought. 'How is that even possible with my Sharingan?!'

...

Sumire and the others were watching him from the distance and they were also quite suprised. Sumire once again felt something in her.

'A-Again?', Sumire thought. 'What's the meaning of this? Nue?'

For another time, Sumire felt Nue's chakra leaving her body, but this time was different. It seems like Nue also used Sumire's chakra.

'Nue is using my chakra. I-I feel weak', Sumire almost collapsed onto the ground, but she was able to stay conscious.

'I need to hold myself up for a little bit longer so they won't notice anything'

She sensed that Nue needed Sumire's chakra this time. She exactly knew how many times Nue tried to split up his chakra and it seems like it wasted it's whole chakra now yet she still didn't know why Nue actually did that.

...

The flash Nue's chakra caused after Ramos caught up slowly started to fade away and Ramos was now able to see again.

'What was that?', Ramos thought and looked around him, but he wasn't able to see. 'It dissappeared?'

Ramos failed to catch Nue's chakra, which caused him to anger.

"Crap! That's not good", Ramos shouted.

'The boss is gonna punish me if someone finds out where the headquarter currently lies. We probably need to move it away as soon as possible', Ramos thought.

With that he returned back to the others.

"Get the girl already into the headquarter and get ready to put her somewhere where her and Nue's chakra get restrained"

"Roger!", the two root members said.

'Their trying to restrain our chakra reservoir? But Nue needs a lot of chakra and it already spended to much! That's not good for Nue's health!'

"Azura, you're going to accompany", he said to her.

"And what are you going to do?", Azura asked back.

"Informing the boss about the recent happenings...or do you want to do that and saying him we got some problems?", Ramos said to her.

"N-No. It's better for us two for you to do it", Azura stuttered.

"My pride is in danger", Ramos told her. "Now go with them"

"Okay", Azura said and turned around . "You two lead her to the prison now", Azura commanded them.

"Roger!", the two roots said.

Azura and the other two started moving away from Ramos. He still waited at the entrance for his boss to arrive.

'I never thought Nue is able to split up it's chakra. Nue tricked us with that. I should've paid more attention to the girl'

O

8:30

In the forest:

Mitsuki, Sarada and the others were still running through the forest.

"He seems to still move", Mitsuki said to his group.

"Where is he heading to?", Taki asked

"I don't know. He may know where the root members are"

"You said that Boruto is fighting one of those people. Is he running away from that person?", Sarada asked.

"I am not sure. He may was able to defeat him", Mitsuki said.

"One of them defeated Inojin's father. I don't think Boruto is possible to defeat him", Wasabi asked.

"Wasabi is right. They are professional killer and we just became Genin about a year ago", Namida said.

"That boy is really something special. He may be able to put up a good fight but he still has some fatal flaws", Taki said.

"Maybe Boruto is finally able to control his hidden powers", Mitsuki told them.

"Hidden powers?", Sarada asked.

"His eye...and the curse of the Otsutsuki", Mitsuki said.

"Curse? What do you mean?", Namida asked.

"He may never told you about it but he received some kind of curse mark when Konoha got attacked by those alien warriors"

"That sounds scary. Does that mean he could become as strong as those alien creatures?", Wasabi asked.

"That may be true...but I am still skeptical", Mitsuki returned.

'Boruto might become even stronger than his dad or Sarada's father'

O

Near the border of the land of fire/lightning:

'I think I need to take a rest. I am pretty exhausted but I am not allowed to do so', Boruto thought

Boruto noticed that slowly Nue's chakra completely faded away and only the mere direction is the only thing he knew.

'I think I am going to lose them again. The fight against that root guy took to much chakra and I may accidently used Nue's chakra during the battle'

Boruto's running pace also decreased over time. He knew that he won't be able to run that fast for too long.

'I need a trace where they actually fleed. Other than that I think Mitsuki and the others should've noticed that I am missing by now so they probably are searching me', Boruto thought.

He tried continuing running but then he stopped to quickly catch air.

'I am probably going to lose them again'

...

Then he suddenly felt something approaching him from a short distance.

'Huh? What's that? That feels familiar'

Boruto felt the tiny bit of Nue's remaining chakra inside of him suddenly restoring energy.

'Is that Nue?', Boruto thought and quickly after got the confirmation.

...

"You're right", someone said to him.

"N-Nue? Where are you?", Boruto shouted.

"I am not physically by you. I am actually talking to you per telepathy because this time you're not asleep so I can get into your mind. I am using my chakra I just gave to you as a help to speak with you".

"Oh that's how...", Boruto returned.

"I don't have that much time and this is the last time I am able to speak with you. I used mothers chakra and the rest of mine this time. And I needed to split that little bit of chakra so I can message Mitsuki and your other friends about the current situation"

"Mitsuki? You also contacted him?", Boruto asked.

"Yes, he and the other know about you having left them", Nue said.

"You also told him about my fight with that root member?", Boruto asked.

"No not yet but soon. But I am not here to talk you about that. We're in the headquarter now, but it's able to fly away and they knew that I am able to contact you so you only have a limited amount of time to get here to me and mother"

"That's good", said Boruto.

"My chakra once again will lead you to the location where we are imprisoned. You're not going to be alone this time"

"I needed to spend all my chakra for only one guy. I definitely need my friends for the rest of them. I think I overestimated my abilities and strength in this mission"

"Together with your friends, you can save mother...I count on you Boruto", Nue said.

Nue dissappeared shortly after his last message. Boruto was glad that it was able to tell him everything he needs to know. He knew that another confrontation against the other root members is unavoidable and that he needs the help of his friend.

Boruto started to use Nue's chakra to locate it's origin and quickly sensed just some miles away from him.

'He was right. I barely can sense where Nue is. His chakra is almost used up'

With that he started to get over to them.

'I can at least try to take a look onto their headquarter until Mitsuki and the other arrive. If they'll start to move their base to another location, then we won't have any other opportunities left. I should at least hide somewhere close to it'

O

8:40

In the forest:

The team of Mitsuki was still trying to find Borut. Suddenly then Nue was once again trying to be in contact with Mitsuki.

'This is...', Mitsuki sensed something and stopped running.

"Mitsuki what's up with you now? Are you still hurt?", Sarada asked him. Namida and Wasabi.

"I feel something in the air", Mitsuki answered.

"Is it Nue again?", Taki answered.

"Yes, I think", Mitsuki returned and closes his eyes, trying to absorb the comming energy.

"Please be quiet for a moment", he spoke again.

Mitsuki knew how it was more easier and faster for Nue's chakra to arrive and activated one of his special abilities.

'What is he doing? Mediating?', Taki and Sarada both questioned themselve.

Mitsuki didn't even move an inch. It really looked like Mitsuki was trying to immobilize energy in his body. It didn't took much longer until someone spoke in his mind.

...

"Mitsuki...", someone said to him.

"You again...", Mitsuki returned. "Something I need to know?"

"Yes...", Nue started. "Boruto was able to defeat one of them"

"That's our Boruto", Mitsuki felt some relief despite him knowing that Boruto's hidden power was giving him the potential to beat high level shinobi on his own.

"Yet he's pretty exhausted right now. He's too weak for the rest of them. There are four more of them you probably have to fight"

This number made Mitsuki felt uneasy. He knew that he and Taki may take out one or two of those guys, but he wasn't sure if Sarada can actually do that and especially for Namida and Wasabi.

"I already told him where their headquarter are. He's running directly to them without taking breaks, but he probably is waiting for you and his other friends just before the building. The headquarter is able to change it's position, that's why he hurred up. Please met with him before the time runs up"

"You can count on us", Mitsuki returned.

"I am not going to contact you once again. My chakra ran out. Good luck..."

With that Mitsuki felt Nue's chakra in body to activate. He opened his eyes again and sensed Nue's real chakra source, but in a weakened state.

...

"What happened?", Sarada asked.

Mitsuki turned around to his team mates, whoh just waited for a response.

"Nue spoke with me again", he returned.

"E-Eh how exactly?", asked Sarada

"It's chakra was absorbed by my one of my jutsu's and Nue was able to directly speak to me"

'A jutsu?', Taki was suprised to hear that. 'Does he mean that jutsu? That's the reason why he didn't moved and why he said we should be quiet. But how was he able...'

"What he told you?", Wasabi asked.

"Boruto defeated one of the root guys...", Mitsuki revealed, which shocked his team members.

"He really beat one of them? How?", Wasabi returned.

"That's quite impressive but what's with the other gangster", Namida added.

"I don't know why he only fought one of them but he was probably able to defeat him thanks to his hidden powers"

'Does that mean that he's able to activate his doujutsu?', Sarada thought.

"But I think it was mainly because of will power to save the class rep. Anyway Nue told me that there are at least four more of them...so we probably have to fight"

"W-We really have to fight?", Namida stuttered.

"No that's a bad idea idea. You're still to unexperienced!", Taki said in a serious tone.

"If Boruto was able to beat one of them, then we are also able to do so", Sarada told him.

"I probably can beat one of them, maybe even two. Sarada may be able to defeat one of them with my or Boruto's assist", Mitsuki said, which triggered Sarada.

"No! I am beating one of them on my own", Sarada said proudly.

"Me also", Taki added. "I am one of the ANBU. It's my duty to help. Boruto already started confronting them so we have no choice. We need to end this"

Mitsuki turned over to Namida and Wasabi.

"You two...you better wait outside when we arrive there and contact the other two ANBU and ask if Inojin's father woke up"

"B-But...", Namida started.

"You're to weak to deal one of them. We're not able to protect you so please do what I say to you", Mitsuki told.

Namida got sad after hearing that from Mitsuki that she's to weak. Wasabi confronted her because of that.

"They may be right Namida. We can still help in another way", Wasabi calmed her.

"O-Okay", Namida returned.

...

"We don't have much time left before Nue's chakra is wasted. Let's hurry up and find Boruto", Mitsuki said.

With that he and the other continued their search for Boruto, now knowing what awaits them.

O

Before the root headquarter:

Boruto, after his search, finally saw the headquarter from the distance.

'There is it. It's huge! Almost like a fortress!'

His pace slowed down, carefully approaching the headquarter. He saw some kind of jetpacks attacked on the four corners. He asumed these are necessary for the building to change it's location.

'That's incredible! A fortress capable of flying. I have to confess that their technology may be even more advanced than our one'

Boruto continued approaching it before he passed the last tree in his way, hiding behind it so nobody from the fortress can see him.

'That one guy was able to locate me from a short distance. I think I need to surpress any chakra so they won't find me this time, including Nue's chakra'

Boruto sat down onto the ground, taking a closer look to the headquarter. He could saw some helicopters and other machiner on top of the walls enclosing a tower in it.

'Now I need to wait for Mitsuki and the others to arrive. I bet they're angry now and I am sure dad is going to punish me when we return to the vilage, but at least I achieved something'

He hoped that his comrades would arrive as soon as possible, but he may fear that the root headquarter would just start flying away.

'I should at least run around the building and check it out from outside. Maybe I can see Sumire somewhere. But I need to be careful'

O

Root headquarter:

Ramos still stood at one of the entrances, waiting for the one person to arrive. And finally, he could saw that one person approaching him, together with a woman, who was at the same age as Azura.

'There he is', Ramos thought.

...

"So you finally returned? I hope you succeded", one man, as tall as Ramos himself, clothed in a large coat and smokign a cigar asked.

"We got the target", Ramos said. "She's in our prison"

"She?", the man asked. "I thought I said to you to bring me that artificial beast that one scientist worked on"

"Y-Yes. The beast is inside a little girl. The scientist you mentioned sealed it in his owns daughters body", Ramos returned.

"Oh I forgot about that. Well then extract it out of her body and then start with the experiment", the boss said. "Also say hello to your new partner"

A woman who stood right between him now took a step further and introduced herself.

"My name is Soli. I am your new partner, forming a two person team with you", she said.

"I know you. You actually good the highest score ever in the elite agent graduation examination. Gratulation because of that, but I don't need another partner"

...

"You're going to mentor her in combat", the boss said. "It's not about giving you a partner so she can support you. You're one of the strongest agents of my organization. You don't need that. You were always able to successfully finish your missions without any help. And you even helped out those two younger agents Azura and Nero for this mission. I knew that I should've never gave them a mission this important without you being involved"

...

...

"If that's all you want me to tell, then I am going back to my office", the boss told him.

"I...", Ramos started.

The man turned around, looking to Ramos.

...

"I...failed", Ramos said.

...

"W-What do you mean?", the man asked.

...

"They...know about our mission...and where we are"

...

Around the man suddenly appeared a dark aura, which got stronger and stronger.

"Is that the truth?", he asked.

...

...

"Yes. Whole Konoha might know about our organization and there are already multiple shinobi on their way here. It's my fault", Ramos said.

...

"You're right...IT'S YOUR FAULT", the boss said angrily, the ground started to shake a bit. An immense amount of power got unleashed.

...

"WHY YOU DIDN'T ELIMINATED THEM ALL BEFORE YOU APPROACHED THE HEADQUARTER!", the man said.

...

"Please calm down boss. We're going to kill them", Soli told him.

...

"I-I never thought they would find us that quickly. We used our technology so none could find us, but Nue tricked us and lead them their way to us", Ramos said.

...

"Tell that me later! Now we quickly have to move the headquarter to another location before they find us and our secret projects!", he shouted.

...

"Roger", Ramos said.

"Expect a punishment later. Now get ready. After we moved the headquarter away, you're going to return to the current one and kill all those Konoha ninja's! I want that Tanuki's weapon no matter how much it will take from me!"

With that, the man walked away on his to the office. But he wasn't finished yet.

"Soli, call Martha and tell her that he should immidiately return to the headquarter", he said.

"You mean X?", Soli asked him.

"Yes...", the man said and approached the entrance door.

...

"Call back Killer X!"

...


That's it for this chapter. I thought I could fit in the emotional scene I promised but I'll put it in the next chapter and make it a bit longer and added a bit of more content in this one. With that I think that scene I wanted to show you is going to be even better, so you can be excited. It won't take much longer than this chapter so expect the next chapter in a few weeks.

Thanks for reading and leave a comment and rate this chapter.

Until next time!