(If any resemblance is found, it is purely coincidental.)
Before Sumire sat a beautiful young woman.
She looked about sixteen or seventeen.
Her long, straight sky-blue hair fell over her shoulders.
A black shirt with a white collar outlined her graceful, mature figure—far more striking than girls her age.
She smiled gently at Sumire.
Beneath her matching blue eyelashes were eyes as bright as ocean gems.
Their radiance came not from any dōjutsu, but from pure vitality.
"You're awake. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere~?"
Her voice was crisp and pleasant, soft and soothing, naturally putting people at ease.
Sumire touched her chest where the strange hook had pierced her earlier.
Strangely enough, it didn't hurt at all.
Even the exhaustion was gone.
"I… I'm fine now."
The girl smiled.
"That's good. But you really were naïve. Did you honestly think that kind of summon could destroy Konoha? Even if the Five Kage haven't returned yet, the former Hokage Kakashi and the guards from every village are still here. They'd be more than enough to stop you."
So…
She knew everything.
And she still saved me.
"Why… why would you save someone like me?"
"There's no special reason. I just couldn't bear to see such a lovely girl walk down the wrong path."
Sumire thought silently:
If she didn't look like such a beautiful and approachable big sister, that tone would sound exactly like a weird old man…
Looking at the peaceful smile on her lips, Sumire said sincerely,
"Thank you for saving me. May I ask your name?"
"My name is Jinghua. My hobby is doing all kinds of wonderful things with all kinds of beautiful girls~"
Jinghua introduced herself with a grin, forming a seal with two fingers.
Whoosh!
The summoned crane beneath them spread its wings and soared from the mountain peak into the drifting clouds.
"Sister Jinghua, where are we going?"
"A paradise beyond the world."
Sumire noticed the forehead protector tied at Jinghua's waist.
She paused.
"You're from the Hidden Dark Village?"
Jinghua blinked in surprise.
"How did you know?"
Sumire answered honestly,
"I saw a girl named Yuki wearing the same headband at the Chūnin Exams today."
"Oh~ You met my niece Yuki~? Then calling me 'sister' might not be appropriate anymore."
"Ah? She's your niece? Then you're…"
"Yep. Yuki's father is my older brother~!"
"Brother? R-Real brother?"
Sumire asked without thinking.
Their appearances were completely different.
"Ah, sorry… that was rude."
"It's fine~ He's not my biological brother, but he's closer than one~"
"Closer than real siblings?"
"Mhm. My grandfather was his master. When I was born, he entrusted me to him. He basically raised me. We're close enough to bathe together and scrub each other's backs~"
"Ah…"
Sumire, who was rather traditional, blushed deeply.
She hurriedly changed the topic.
"Then… are we going to the Hidden Dark Village now?"
"Yes."
Jinghua's smile faded.
"Sumire, I have two pieces of news for you. One good, one bad. Which do you want first?"
"The bad one."
"The bad news is… no matter how reluctant you feel, you can never return to Konoha."
Sumire had already expected this.
Her heart sank.
I tried to hurt Konoha… I really have no right to go back…
"Then… the good news?"
Jinghua smiled meaningfully.
"The good news is—you won't be alone anymore~"
Land of Lightning, deep forest.
Three small figures raced through the trees.
Boruto.
Sarada.
Mitsuki.
Boruto had woken up that afternoon.
After leaving Naruto a letter, he rushed out of Konoha and ran nonstop until now.
Sarada and Mitsuki, worried by his frantic 모습, followed him.
"Boruto! Where are you going?!" Sarada shouted.
He didn't answer.
He just kept running.
Sarada frowned.
"Ever since he woke up after being brought back by Lord Seventh, he's been acting strange… Did he panic because he didn't see his dad? But why is he coming to the Land of Lightning?"
What she saw as "frantic"…
Was only her impression.
Boruto was perfectly clear-headed.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
As he ran, he carefully observed his surroundings.
Dad and Shikamaru talked about this in the hospital… It should be around here.
Whoosh!
He darted into a locust forest.
There were craters everywhere.
A giant tree had been pierced through its trunk and was withering.
So… this is where Uncle Akira pinned Dad.
He also saw enormous footprints nearby.
"That was Uncle Sasuke's chakra avatar," Boruto said calmly.
Whoosh!
At the edge of the forest, a simple Japanese-style house came into view.
Boruto's eyes lit up.
He rushed forward and stopped at the door.
Sarada caught up, panting.
"Huff… huff… Why is there a house out here? Did you know about this place all along?"
"More or less."
Boruto stepped onto the wooden stairs and reached for the door.
It wasn't locked.
It opened with a light push.
He paused.
Then walked inside.
He removed his shoes neatly.
Sarada and Mitsuki followed.
In the living room, Boruto's gaze froze on a framed photo.
A family of four.
He picked it up and wiped the dust away.
In the photo, Yuki leaned against her father, smiling brightly.
Nothing like her sharp-eyed battle self.
So…
She really is Uncle Akira's daughter.
Only his daughter could be this strong at our age.
Sarada froze.
Her face turned pale.
T-That's Yuki…
This is her house?
Boruto came all this way… for her?
Since when…?
She clenched her fists, holding back her emotions.
No. It must be something else.
I'll wait.
Boruto put the frame down and examined the dust.
No one had been here for at least a week.
Uncle Akira didn't come back.
So they returned to the Hidden Dark Village?
But… where is it?
He slowly opened his right hand.
A blue mark glowed in his palm.
He stared at it.
Then clenched his fist.
"Momoshiki. Come out."
Inside his mind—
Silence.
Then—
Boom!
A massive divine platform rose from the ground.
Momoshiki sat atop it, legs crossed, dressed in white.
His Byakugan stared down coldly.
"So it was you who left this mark!"
"And this is your real face, you effeminate freak?!"
Boom!
Momoshiki appeared instantly and smashed Boruto's head into the ground.
"Watch your words, inferior creature."
"One more insult, and I'll crush your skull."
"Heh… stop bluffing…"
Boruto stared back calmly.
"You were badly injured by Uncle Akira's Purple Lightning."
"That's why you branded me."
"This thing keeps you alive."
"If I die, you die too."
Momoshiki's eyes flickered.
Boruto thought:
Got it. Maybe not perfect, but close enough.
He can't kill me.
"You're clever," Momoshiki said coldly.
"I can't kill you… but I can make you suffer."
Boruto straightened.
"I take back what I said."
"I want your help."
"Help?" Momoshiki sneered. "Say it."
"Help me find Uncle Akira."
"I want to see him."
"And if I refuse?"
"What, scared?"
"Afraid he'll beat you into the dirt again?"
Boom!
Momoshiki slammed him down.
"Cheap provocation."
"But…"
A strange smile appeared.
"Only this request…"
"I'll grant."
Because—
I want to see him even more.
Uchiha Akira.
That man…
Who makes people love and hate him all the same.
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