Boruto looked up and sneaked a glance at his sister, his eyes full of envy.
Naruto noticed Boruto's gaze but did not expose him. Instead, he asked, "Boruto, does your face still hurt?"
Hearing Naruto's question, Boruto could naturally feel the pain in his face, but he would not admit it. He was a future ninja. If he voiced even such a minor injury, what right would he have to become a powerful ninja?
Besides, his dream was to become Konoha's Hokage, just like his father.
So Boruto endured the pain in his face and shook his head resolutely. "It doesn't hurt. Not at all. A little injury like this isn't worth my notice."
Naruto did not hold back in giving Boruto a thumbs-up for pretending to be strong. "Boruto, you're great!"
The moment he heard Naruto's praise, Boruto felt immensely pleased with himself. Still, he did not show it, wanting to act as though it were nothing. But then he saw Naruto suddenly pinch his cheek. "Does it really not hurt?"
"Ow, ow, ow..." Boruto immediately cried out in pain.
"Dad, let go! It hurts... it hurts... it hurts..." Boruto grabbed Naruto's hand with both of his, trying to pull it away.
Only after Boruto begged for mercy did Naruto let him go. "In front of Dad, you'll always be a child. Come here. I'll put some ointment on it."
With that, Naruto took out some ointment and began applying it to Boruto's face.
Boruto had initially looked at Naruto with resentment, but as Naruto gently applied the ointment, the cool sensation on his face was wonderfully soothing. The pain faded away. Boruto secretly raised his eyes and saw Naruto's focused expression.
In Naruto's eyes, Boruto saw a father's love.
For an instant, Boruto's heart felt warm. At the