Chapter 184:
"Hey, Boruto. It's early in the morning—what are you doing sneaking around by yourself?"
Sarada had run into Boruto lurking suspiciously by a corner of the wall.
"Ah!" Startled, Boruto turned his head and saw Sarada. "Oh, it's you, Sarada. Didn't you see I'm tailing Hanabi-nee? Hmph, Kawaki said it's a waste of time, and Shikadai's nowhere to be found."
As he spoke, Boruto continued spying on Hanabi from a distance.
"Huh? Why are you tailing Hanabi-nee?"
"Shh, keep your voice down, Sarada." Boruto kept his eyes on Hanabi and whispered, "I heard from my grandpa that Hanabi-nee might be dating someone, so I'm here to investigate."
"Hanabi-nee is supposed to be the next head of the Hyūga Clan, right? Is she even allowed to marry outside the clan?" Sarada asked, crouching beside Boruto and watching Hanabi too.
"According to my grandpa, if the guy is willing to marry into the clan, it's not totally out of the question," Boruto explained. "Crap, Hanabi-nee turned a corner—I'm going ahead. Later, Sarada!"
He hurried after her, with Sarada following behind.
"Why are you following me too, Sarada? I get it—you're curious about Hanabi-nee's boyfriend too, aren't you?" Boruto grinned at Sarada, who was right on his heels.
"Of course not. I'm just worried you'll cause trouble if left alone."
Adjusting her glasses, Sarada trailed closely behind him.
Outside the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Hanabi-nee stopped," Boruto suddenly said, halting in his tracks. They watched as Hanabi looked around cautiously for a moment. Then, a man leapt down from a tree and landed in front of her.
"Looks like they're talking about something," Sarada squinted. "But I can't hear clearly. Boruto, can't we get a little closer?"
"No way. If we get any closer, Hanabi-nee will definitely notice us," Boruto shook his head. "But I really didn't expect Hanabi-nee to fall for someone with only one arm."
"I've got it!" Sarada suddenly exclaimed, eyes lighting up.
"Huh? Got what, Sarada?"
"It must be that he lost his arm protecting Hanabi-nee. That's why she fell for him!"
"Huh?!"
Back in the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Well, I'm heading out."
Naruto spoke to Hinata, Himawari, and Kawaki.
"Take care, Naruto."
"Be careful, Dad. I'll take good care of Shukaku-baby."
"I told you, I'm Lord Shukaku!"
Naruto chuckled and looked over at Kawaki.
Kawaki hesitated, about to say something, when suddenly a sharp pain made him cry out. He dropped to his knees, staring at the diamond-shaped mark—his Kāma—on his palm.
"Are you okay, Kawaki?"
Naruto looked at him with concern.
Black matter oozed out from Kawaki's Kāma, forming a spatial tunnel. From it, a man slowly emerged.
"Th-This is…"
Naruto stared at the unfamiliar man who appeared before him. Hinata instinctively pulled Himawari into her arms.
"It's you! Jigen!" Kawaki glared at the man with fury in his eyes.
"Jigen? The leader of Kara?!"
Naruto immediately moved into a battle stance.
"Relax, Uzumaki Naruto. I'm not here to fight. My good-for-nothing son has caused you trouble lately—I've just come to take him home."
Despite the tense atmosphere, Jigen didn't make the first move. Instead, he tried reasoning with Naruto.
"I'm not your son!" Kawaki snapped back.
The truth was, Kawaki was nothing more than a vessel Jigen had bought from somewhere.
"Don't spout nonsense like that!" Naruto clenched his fist and charged at Jigen. "Hinata! Take Himawari and get out of here!"
"Got it."
Hinata picked up Himawari and vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Jigen countered with a swift kick that sent Naruto flying. "Relax, Uzumaki Naruto. I won't lay a hand on your wife or kids. I told you—I'm just here to retrieve my useless son."
With a wave of his right hand, Jigen summoned four black rods made from Yin-Yang Release, pinning Naruto's limbs to the ground.
"So for now, don't get in my way, Uzumaki Naruto." Containing Naruto, he turned to Kawaki. "Now then, my useless son—your vacation is over. Come home."
"I'm not your son! You've never once treated me like one. And for the record, I've never seen you as a father either!"
"Are you done? If so, get up. Kawaki—or should I call you 'Daemon'? Are you looking to suffer again?"
"My name is Kawaki!" Kawaki stood up and punched at Jigen, but his blows were easily deflected. "And tell me how to get rid of this disgusting mark!"
"Oh? You don't like the Kāma? Even though it gave you such great power?"
"This thing that monitors me 24/7? I hate it!"
"Hmph. And what—do you really think living in the Leaf means you aren't being watched?"
"Shut up, you shameless scumbag! The Seventh Hokage is nothing like you!"
Kawaki knew full well that Naruto was keeping him under surveillance—but even so, he liked living there.
Because more than surveillance, Naruto made him feel warmth. Naruto cared about him.
"Looks like the idiot's been completely brainwashed by the Leaf."
The rise of S.H.I.E.L.D., which had managed to kill an Ōtsutsuki, made Jigen feel a hint of unease.
Even though Ōtsutsuki Urashiki had already been badly injured, the one who killed him wasn't even an official S.H.I.E.L.D. member—just an auxiliary one, much like Kara's outer circle.
"Kawaki, I'll make you see reason. I'll make you understand that the one who truly cares about you is me—not that peace-obsessed Hokage."
"You bastard! Don't you dare insult the Seventh Hokage!"
A horn slowly emerged from Kawaki's forehead.
"Well, you've really given me quite a few surprises, haven't you, Kawaki? When did you—"
Before Jigen could finish, Kawaki suddenly leapt back to dodge an attack.
"Sasuke—you're finally here."
"To think you were restrained by a few black rods… how embarrassing, Naruto."
Sasuke walked up to Naruto and pulled the black rods out of his limbs.
"Thanks, Sasuke."
As soon as the rods were removed, Kurama's chakra quickly began healing Naruto's body.