Arena Rules

He turned to Naruto, his voice low. "Help me look after Kiyomi and Kota."

Naruto punched him on the shoulder, the familiar force making his eyes grow hot.

"Enough with the nonsense." He grinned. "You'll come back."

"I'm expecting you to treat me to ramen."

"It's a promise." Boruto smiled.

The two slapped their hands together.

In that moment, it was just like the promise father and son had made on the Training Ground years ago.

They would never break their word.

When he walked out of the Hokage Building, the streets were already lined with people.

The villagers had come to see him off of their own accord.

There were old people leaning on canes, children holding signs covered in the words "Good luck," ninjas standing at attention in salute, and merchants silently pressing their palms together.

No one made a sound, but every gaze seemed to say the same thing:

We believe in you.

As Boruto walked past them, his heart burned.

This was the home he had sworn to protect with his life.

These were the people he was willing to give everything to protect.

He looked up at Hokage Rock. The statue of the Eighth was still being carved, the workers laboring through the night so Boruto would see his own face when he returned.

He silently vowed:

I'll be back.

At the Village Entrance, Tsukihime was already waiting.

Dressed in white as pure as snow, she stood alone in the morning light.

"You're here?" she said coolly. "Stop dawdling."

Boruto took one last look back at the Leaf.

Sunlight spilled over the rooftops. Smoke rose in delicate wisps from the chimneys, and the sound of children playing drifted from the distance.

Silently, he said:

Wait for me.

"Let's go." He nodded to Tsukihime.

The two