The Original Imprint

The Original Network's Ancient Wisdom Node sensed the changes in the Star Net. It felt no envy or jealousy, only relief and joy. A hundred and seventy years of accumulated experience had taught it that the beauty of new life had always fulfilled the past, never denied it. Slowly, it sent the mature, gentle sounds it had accumulated through the Gate Net to the Star Core, like an elder entrusting a lifetime of wisdom to a young traveler setting off for distant lands.

The Star Core received those mature, gentle sounds, and its light took on a newfound steadiness. It no longer rushed outward recklessly. It had learned to take root as it journeyed, to gather wisdom as it explored, and to hold fast to its heart amid infinity.

The Memory Node approached the Star Core of its own accord and imprinted the fourth gentle sound of memory—the one about Rush Towards—into its light. The Star Core's radiance instantly grew richer. Bearing the four tendencies of maturity, new life, encounter, and Rush Towards, it became the most precious presence in the New Void, and a bond connecting the two networks, the past and future, the known and unknown.

Hajime watched the Star Core emerge, tenderness filling the Light Patterns. He thought of Boruto, the young man who had first asked the question, and how he had created everything in the Original Network simply by existing. Now, the Star Core of the New Network carried on Boruto's spirit—always asking, always continuing, always loving, always journeying onward.

"The Star Core isn't the end," Hajime said softly to the whole Void. "It's a new beginning, the first answer to 'Is there more?', a new star in the Void, a new form of love."

The Star Core seemed to understand Hajime's words. Its light