The Path to Becoming the Strongest

But he had too many opponents.

A long blade swept across his shoulder, spraying blood.

A spear pierced his thigh. He grunted, staggering.

A chain wrapped tightly around his ankle and slammed him hard to the ground.

"It's over." The woman walked over and looked down at Boruto, who was covered in blood. "You did your best, you useless piece of trash."

Boruto lay face-down on the ground, gasping for breath as his vision began to blur.

Am I going to die? he thought.

Maybe that was for the best. At least he wouldn't have to fight anymore or endure this pain.

"Wait." The woman suddenly noticed something, her pupils shrinking sharply. "You have... a Karma Seal reaction?"

Boruto froze.

"How interesting." The woman crouched and reached for the mark on Boruto's neck. "No wonder you lasted so long. Let me see what kind of power this is—"

Before her hand could touch him, an invisible force knocked it away.

"What?!" the woman cried, stumbling backward.

Boruto's body began to glow.

At first, it was a faint blue light. Then black markings surfaced again, but this time they quickly changed.

The black faded, replaced by pure white markings.

Like delicate snowflakes or ancient, mysterious runes, they spread along his arms, neck, and cheeks, radiating a sacred, imposing light.

"This is..." The woman took several steps back, her face filled with unprecedented terror. "This Chakra... Is this the power of an Ōtsutsuki himself?!"

Boruto slowly rose to his feet.

His movements were no longer stiff. Instead, they held an eerie elegance.

His eyes turned pure white, with no pupils or whites—only an endless glow, as if they were two miniature suns.

"How interesting."

He spoke, but his voice was no longer Boruto's hoarse one. It had become strange and cold, tinged