"Boruto, what are you saying…?"
Sarada looked dazed. Ignoring the blade that had already drawn blood on her neck, she stumbled forward mechanically.
Hua hurriedly withdrew her sword.
"H-Hey, are you crazy, girl?!"
Bang!
Mitsuki knocked Feng's blade aside and rushed forward, pinning Sarada to the ground.
"L-Let go of me! I'm going to Boruto! Let go!"
Mitsuki lowered his voice.
"Calm down. We should've guessed this!"
"Boruto traveled all this way—if it wasn't for revenge, what else could he want from Uchiha Akira?"
"The direction of this situation isn't something we can decide!"
"It depends entirely on Boruto and Uchiha Akira!"
"If you go over now, you'll only make things worse!"
Akira observed everything, a faint, unreadable smile forming on his lips.
He looked down at Boruto.
"You've thought this through?"
"Yes! I've made up my mind! I came here specifically to become your disciple!"
Akira said seriously,
"The stance between An-Yin and Konoha depends on your father, the Hokage."
"From Konoha's perspective, I'm practically their enemy right now."
"Have you considered what your father—and your other master—would think if you apprenticed yourself to an enemy?"
Boruto looked up in confusion.
"Other master? I don't have another master."
In the original timeline, Boruto became Sasuke's student before the Chūnin Exams.
But now, that path had been disrupted by Akira.
Sasuke had been hospitalized, then rushed off to Ryūchi Cave, missing the chance to bond with Boruto.
Akira paused, then nodded in understanding.
"Then forget the second half of that."
Boruto continued,
"I already left a letter for my father."
"I also left behind my forehead protector."
"I've decided—"
"I'm becoming your disciple and joining the Hidden Dark Village!"
Akira pressed on.
"Have you considered that I might truly be Konoha's enemy?"
"I don't believe it!" Boruto replied without hesitation.
"Absolutely not!"
"It's just a misunderstanding between you, my dad, and Uncle Sasuke!"
"One day, when it's cleared up, Konoha will definitely become An-Yin's ally!"
"And if it isn't a misunderstanding?"
"There's no such 'if'!"
"Even if there were—"
"That would only mean I misjudged you as a ninja!"
"I'd take responsibility myself!"
"That way, I wouldn't betray Konoha's upbringing…"
"And I wouldn't betray your trust in me either!"
Looking into Boruto's unwavering eyes, Akira nodded in approval.
"…Alright."
"To reach this level of resolve at your age—impressive."
Boruto stared at the hand extended toward him, hope surging in his eyes.
"U-Uncle Akira… does that mean…?"
Akira smiled.
"That's right."
"Uzumaki Boruto, from today on…"
"You are a ninja of the Hidden Dark Village."
"And my disciple."
This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Soon, he would clash with Isshiki and Kara.
Not to mention the cyborgs Amado created using Shibai's abilities.
Some of them were even more dangerous than Isshiki.
Especially Eida.
Her divine technique was something no one could ignore.
Only those with Ōtsutsuki blood could truly resist such powers.
Akira was stronger than most Ōtsutsuki.
But in terms of lineage, he still wasn't a pure one.
He couldn't completely negate divine techniques.
Boruto, bearing Momoshiki's Karma, perfectly filled that gap.
Training him quickly would benefit both Akira and the future of the ninja world.
Akira pulled Boruto to his feet.
Then he withdrew his smile and walked toward Sarada and Mitsuki.
Sarada had been ready to question him—
But the pressure emanating from Akira silenced her.
Her words stuck in her throat.
S-So this is Uchiha Akira…
The man who defeated Dad and the Seventh…
In front of him, I can't even speak…
Akira stopped and spoke calmly.
"This location is classified."
"You're not leaving freely."
"I'll give you three choices."
"First: Stay here with Boruto."
"Without my permission, you'll never leave."
"Second: I erase your memories and send you back."
"Third: Die."
"Ten seconds."
"No answer means option three."
He didn't count aloud.
He simply looked down at his watch.
"I'll stay."
Mitsuki answered without hesitation.
"Boruto is my sun."
"Where the sun rises is where I belong."
Akira kept watching his watch.
Waiting for Sarada.
Facing a life-altering decision, Sarada finally calmed down.
I'm sorry, Dad. Mom. Seventh…
I know this means betraying the village.
But I can't leave Boruto alone.
And…
I want to see for myself.
Is Uchiha Akira really the great ninja and hero Boruto believes in?
She removed her forehead protector.
With a kunai, she slashed a deep line across its center.
Then put it back on.
Her answer, without words.
Stay—
But as a missing-nin of Konoha.
Not as an An-Yin ninja.
Akira's lips curved slightly.
Fine.
Yuki, Feng, and Hua needed more peers anyway.
And eyes capable of producing extraordinary dōjutsu…
Were worth keeping close.
Naruto. Sasuke.
Don't blame me.
If you don't reflect soon, even the next generation will surpass you.
The summoned crane vanished into the mist.
Jinghua held Sumire's hand and smiled.
"See? I told you—you're not alone~"
Sumire thought silently:
So Aunt Jinghua knew they'd come…
She's amazing…
I remember that sudden gust of wind…
Then I was already on the crane…
What kind of jutsu was that?
At the Peach Haven gate, Hikaru, Samui, Fuko, Kansuke, and Zetsu No. 17 all relaxed.
So it was a false alarm.
"I'll take my leave, then," Zetsu No. 17 said, sinking into the ground.
Akira formed seals.
Rumble!
A brilliant gate opened.
Beyond it—
A true paradise.
As the door vanished behind them, Sarada finally realized…
There was no turning back.
So this is where An-Yin is hidden…
No wonder no one ever found it…
Whoosh—
Paper butterflies fluttered from the trees and formed into Konan's graceful figure.
Obito instinctively slowed down, hiding behind Akira and Madara.
Konan and Jinghua exchanged smiles.
Then she looked at Akira.
"Back already? Did you take the top three?"
Akira waved lazily.
"Don't mention it. It felt scripted."
"Only three matches. At least our kids got to fight~"
"That's enough," Konan said softly.
Then she noticed the four unfamiliar faces.
Her gaze lingered on Boruto.
A faint haze of memory passed through her amber eyes.
So many years…
His child is already this big.
Amegakure was long gone.
That promise had faded into dust.
The flower of hope that never withers…
Could only bloom in a sanctuary like this.
"Konan, help settle these four."
"Standard An-Yin ninja待遇."
"Alright."
She gestured.
"I'll go get funds from Kakuzu. Follow me~"
After Konan led the four away…
Fuko approached awkwardly.
"Lord An-Yin… can you change me back now?"
"Oh, right."
Akira placed a hand on her shoulder, his left eye glowing.
Using Twin Blossom to reverse gender:
First—sync bodies.
Second—apply Twin Blossom.
Third—release.
He activated the technique.
"Damn—!"
A sudden urge hit Akira.
He almost lost control.
Now he finally understood Fuko's suffering.
You've been holding it in that long?!
Since arriving in Konoha, she hadn't gone once…
Externally Fuko, internally Yamato.
Didn't know which restroom to use.
So she held it.
For over a day.
Critical level.
Hurry!
Akira finished the process at lightning speed.
"AAAAAAH—!"
Yamato bolted for the forest, dignity forgotten.
Kansuke collapsed.
"…So the aunt I dreamed of marrying…"
"…is my dad?"
Back in An-Yin, Samui took Feng and Hua home.
Hikaru brought Xiaoyue back.
Madara and Yuki went to train.
Obito went to find Tobi.
Jinghua's home in the north district was a Zen-style compound.
With rock gardens and ponds.
Servants were cleaning when she arrived.
"Miss Jinghua is back!"
"Thank you, everyone. Take paid leave."
"I need to talk with my brother."
After closing the door—
"Brother!"
She hugged Akira.
"I missed you!"
Akira patted her head.
"I missed you too, my little sister."
"I'm sweaty. Wanna bathe together?"
"…No. You're grown now."
"Go. I'll wait."
Akira prepared tea.
After bathing, Jinghua sat across from him in a white yukata.
"How was your journey?"
"Fun~ Just lonely without you."
"And fruitful?"
"Of course."
"Helping your plans comes first."
Akira poured tea.
"But bringing that girl back surprised me."
"Sumire?"
Jinghua nodded.
"My research needs an assistant."
"People with the right qualifications are rare."
Akira thought:
Normally, she'd join Katasuke's lab.
But Jinghua's research…
Was theology.
She could "communicate with gods."
Literally.
At thirteen, she'd already developed ritual-based pseudo-divinities.
Akira was surprised.
"You think Sumire qualifies?"
"Absolutely."
She grew serious.
"There's something else."
"A Byakugan boy is causing trouble in Konoha."
"He attacked Sumire."
"He has a mark like Boruto's."
"He tried to strip the Ox-Head Seal."
"I stopped him."
Jinghua finished.
Akira's teacup froze midair.
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