A New Life

When they returned to the settlement's temporary base, the support team had already arrived.

Three Anbu from the Leaf and a medical ninja Boruto didn't recognize had come at Naruto's request. The six prisoners were quickly handed over, and Yamada was taken aside by the Anbu for questioning.

At last, Boruto, Naruto, and Sarada could sit down and catch their breath.

The medical ninja came over to examine the bruise on Boruto's chest. Boruto let him look for three seconds. When he saw the man was about to lift his shirt, he reached out and pushed him away. "Nothing's broken. Leave it alone."

The ninja withdrew his hand and turned to Sarada, looking a little put out.

Sarada pointed to her left forearm. There was a scrape there, not deep but fairly long. "Just take care of this."

Only then did Boruto notice the wound. Sarada hadn't mentioned it, and he hadn't seen it. "When did that happen?"

"When we were bringing Yamada out, he struggled, and something in his hand scraped me." Sarada's tone was casual. "It's nothing."

Boruto said no more. He turned to look in the direction Yamada had been taken and narrowed his eyes.

Naruto sat down beside him and tossed over two rice balls. He handed one to Boruto and began peeling the wrapper off the other.

Boruto took it and glanced at the label: sardine flavor. He hated it, but still took a bite.

"What are we going to do with the core?" Naruto asked as he ate. He sounded as if he were making conversation, but there was something probing in his question.

"Seal it away." Boruto swallowed. "We can't destroy it, and we can't use it again. All we can do is seal it up and wait for the Five Kage summit