The Night of the Total Lunar Eclipse

"What's the solution?" the Tsuchikage asked. "We can't just sit here and wait for disaster to strike."

Boruto stood up. Over the past few days, he and Bridge had run countless simulations, searching for possible countermeasures. Now he was ready to propose the riskiest plan.

"Reverse Resonance," he said. "We use Bridge's ability to establish a global Purification network. When the total lunar eclipse occurs, we'll channel all the rampaging energy into the network and purify and convert it in real time."

"A global network?" Tsunade frowned. "Even you couldn't cover an area that large."

"Not by myself," Boruto said. "Everyone who can purify will work together. Sarada, Okita, and the others who've learned the basic techniques. We'll serve as the Nodes, with Bridge at the core, and build the network together."

"What are the risks?" Naruto asked. He'd noticed that his son hadn't mentioned the most crucial part.

"If the energy exceeds the network's capacity," Boruto said calmly, "the core—that is, Bridge—might overload and dissipate. And I, as the host in Symbiosis with Bridge, might... suffer severe consequences too."

"What kind of consequences?"

"Death, or something worse. My consciousness could scatter permanently, leaving me as an energy being with no sense of self."

The meeting room fell silent. Naruto felt as if something had clenched around his heart. Too many memories came flooding back—his parents sacrificing themselves to protect the village, his teacher dying to protect his students. Now it was his son's turn to face the same choice.

"Is there another option?" he asked with difficulty.

"Yes," Boruto said. "Passive defense. We establish as many isolated zones as possible, save whoever we can, and accept the rest of the losses. The projected death rate... is over 60%."

Both choices meant sacrifice. One carried a small but certain chance