Kota's Mentor

Boruto touched his face.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you can still control it," Sasuke said. "If both eyes change, then it's dangerous."

"Train your control," Sasuke said. "Make this power obey you."

"Idiot." Kiyomi's eyes reddened, and her voice was as soft as a sigh in the wind. "Do you know how scared I was when I saw you fall?"

Her fingertips gently brushed Boruto's pale cheek as she sensed his faint but steady breathing. Even though she couldn't see, she could still "see" the shape of every wound on his body and the rhythm of each heartbeat.

"The whole village was shaking... Your Chakra suddenly vanished, then erupted... and then you stopped responding." Her voice trembled slightly. "At that moment, I thought... I'd never hear you call me 'Kiyomi' again."

Boruto raised his hand, took hers, and squeezed it. "I'm sorry... for making you worry all by yourself."

Just then, the door opened gently.

Kota poked his head in, still clutching the little notebook covered in drawings of "Dad fighting monsters."

"Kota." Boruto beckoned to him, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

Kota immediately rushed in and threw himself into Boruto's arms, his little fists tightly clutching his father's hospital gown.

"Dad, you're finally awake!" His voice was choked with tears, but he tried hard not to cry. "Teacher said you collapsed from exhaustion because you were protecting everyone... but I don't want you to fall down!"

"Mm." Boruto gently patted his back. "Sorry for worrying you."

"I wasn't worried!" Kota lifted his face, blinking stubbornly. "I knew you'd win! You're the Hokage! The Hokage never loses!"

Boruto smiled, his eyes growing a little moist. "That's right, I won. Because you were all waiting for me to come home."

Just then, Sylvie walked in, carrying a