Anomalies in Cultivation

The mirror shattered, and the tower's summit began to collapse. Boruto struggled to his feet and staggered toward the stairs.

He had to survive. He had to tell Sarada what had happened. He had to find a way to control this new power.

The stairs collapsed behind him, and he practically rolled all the way to the bottom. Sarada rushed over and caught him. When she saw how he had changed, her face went pale.

"Boruto! Your eyes—"

Boruto reached up to touch his eyes. His fingers told him his left eye was still blue, but his right had turned gold.

"I'm fine," he said weakly. "At least... for now."

A bell rang in the distance, signaling the end of the trial.

But they both knew the real challenge had only just begun.

The stone door slowly opened, and the dazzling light made Boruto squint.

He and Sarada supported each other as they emerged from the underground maze. Behind them lay collapsed passages and endless darkness. The other groups of contestants came out one after another. Some were covered in blood, some had lost limbs, and others... never came out at all.

"Ten went in, seven came out." The White-haired Elder counted the survivors, his voice as flat as if he were reading off a menu. "A passable rate."

Boruto looked around but didn't see Yamada. The mysterious elder seemed never to have appeared, but Boruto knew he was watching everything from somewhere.

"Boruto!"

At the familiar voice, Naruto appeared in front of his son in a flash. His gaze swept over Boruto, then fixed on his golden right eye. His face turned ashen.

"Your eye..."

"Father, I—"

Naruto grabbed Boruto by the shoulders and sent his Chakra probing into him. His expression shifted from shock to anger, then finally