After the meeting, Boruto returned home.
The setting sun slanted into the house, elongating the shadows of the furniture. Kiyomi had already begun to prepare his luggage - a light but highly defensive special ninja cloak, Chakra supplement pills, an emergency medical kit, and a small bottle of "Calming Incense" that she had personally prepared, which was said to help him stay awake during battle.
"How long will it take?" she asked softly while folding clothes.
Boruto stood in front of the closet, holding the old Forehead Protector that once belonged to Naruto in his hand. He was silent for a moment and then said, "I don't know. It could be a week, or it could be longer... If the other party is really planning to harvest the entire planet as God Tree said, then this battle may last for many years."
Kiyomi's hands paused, and then he continued to sort them out, with a calm but firm tone. "Then you must come back. Kota is still waiting for you to teach him Rasengan the last Isshiki."
Boruto looked up at her. Even though he was blind, Kiyomi's eyes were still gentle and powerful, as if they could penetrate all the fog and reach the deepest part of people's hearts.
At this moment, the wooden door was pushed open violently.
"Is daddy leaving?" Kota rushed in, his little face full of anxiety, holding the half-painted "Hokage family flag" in his arms.
"Yes." Boruto squatted down and gently wiped the sweat from his son's forehead, "I have a mission and I must go."
"When will you come back?" Kota grabbed his arm tightly, his voice trembling slightly.
"Soon." Boruto tried his best to smile and touched his head, "You have to listen to your mother and practice your senses every day. You are not allowed to sneak around Hokage Rock and jump up and down, you know?"
"But I want to be a ninja!" Kota muttered, "I also want to fight bad guys with you!"
"The day you get Forehead Protector." Boruto said seriously, "I will personally take you on the first mission. It's an agreement between men."
Kota finally showed a smile and nodded vigorously, "Pull the hook!"
The two fingers hooked together and swayed gently in the evening breeze.
Boruto stood up, put his bags on his back, and took one last look at this warm hut - there were unwashed dishes on the stove, family photos hung on the wall, and paper airplanes he and Naruto made together when he was a child were placed by the window.
"I'm leaving," he said.
"Be careful on the road." Kiyomi walked him to the door and gently brushed his sleeves with his fingertips, "Remember to eat and don't stay up late."
"I know." Boruto smiled, "I'm not a child anymore."
But he couldn't help but turn around and take one last look at them.
At that moment, he suddenly understood why his father could always persevere on the most desperate battlefields.
Because someone was waiting for him to go home in a dimly lit place.
Village Entrance, Sasuke have been waiting for a long time.
Hunting in black robe, Kusanagi Sword behind his back, flashing red in the dusk.
"Here we come." He said calmly.
"Let's go." Boruto stood side by side.
The two of them took off into the air, like two gusts of wind passing through the forest and mountains, and flew towards the border.
On the way, the night was getting darker and the stars were shining brightly.
Sasuke suddenly said, "Are you nervous?"
Boruto was startled, then smiled bitterly, "A bit. This is the first time I have played as a "leader" since I became Hokage, and I am no longer a member of the team who relies on my father's protection. I'm afraid... if I make a mistake in judgment, more people will be injured."
"Then don't think too much." Sasuke turned to look at him, "You are calmer than I was when I was young, and you have a better understanding of the overall situation than Naruto. And -" he raised the corner of his mouth slightly, "you have Nine-Tails in your body, Senjutsu in your hand, and you have me as an "old-timer" by your side."
Boruto couldn't help but laugh out loud, "You are really immodest."
"Strong people don't need to be humble." Sasuke snorted, "You just need to win."
The two speeded up and arrived at the border early on the third day.
The sight before me was breathtaking.
The former village has been reduced to ruins, the houses have collapsed, the land is scorched black, and the air is filled with the pungent smell of decay and Chakra burning. Several animal carcasses lie on the roadside, and even the grass and trees show a strange gray-white color.
"Destroyed." Sasuke landed, his eyes stern, "And they used "God Tree roots" to devour life - they were extracting Natural Energy."
Boruto Close your eyes and turn on Byakugan.
Light cyan blood vessels appeared in his temples, and his vision penetrated the rubble and dust.
"There are Chakra residues." He whispered, "It's very strong. It went east. The traces are very new, no more than twelve hours old."
"Chase."
The two set off again, tracking the movements of Chakra Wave and going deep into an ancient dense forest.
The trees here are so tall that you can't even hear the chirping of insects.
Suddenly, Sasuke raised his hand to signal to stop.
Ahead, fallen leaves are moving slightly.
Deep in the woods, a person slowly walked out.
The black robe flutters in the wind, and the face is covered with a bone mask engraved with Otsutsuki patterns. The body is slender and the pace is steady, as if the god of death is coming on the moon.
"Leaf's ninja?" The man's voice was hoarse, with a hint of sarcasm, "Come to die?"
"Who are you?" Boruto took a step forward, and Chakra quietly gathered in his palm.
"Me?" The man chuckled and pointed to his chest, "Otsutsuki God Tree--the son of Kinshiki, the successor of Isshiki, the continuation of God Tree's will."
Boruto's pupils suddenly shrank.
"Ōtsutsuki Clan again..."
"Yes." God Tree slowly raised his hand, "You killed my father, imprisoned my bloodline, and sealed Divine Tree Power. But now -" a scarlet light flashed in his eyes, "I want this planet to become the nourishment of the mother planet again."
"Dream." Boruto yelled angrily, dodged, and rushed away!
The fist wind cuts through the air, carrying lightning-like speed.
God Tree just turned his body slightly and slapped it with his backhand.
Boruto flew upside down like a kite with its string cut off, breaking three giant trees before stopping.
"Boruto!" Sasuke shouted, Chidori suddenly erupted, turning into a bolt of lightning and stabbing the enemy's throat!
God Tree raised his hand, and a dark barrier rose out of thin air, blocking Lightning Blade!
"It's useless." He sneered, "Your strength is just the struggle of ants."
Before he finished speaking, his hands Hand Seals--God Wanshu returned to his clan!
The ground suddenly cracked open, and countless dark tree roots danced like poisonous snakes, instantly entangling Boruto and Sasuke, tightening tighter and tighter, almost crushing their bones!
"Damn it... I can't get away!" Boruto gritted his teeth, and Chakra ran wildly.
At the critical moment, golden light suddenly burst out from his body!
Nine-Tails Chakra is like a raging flame, shattering the roots of the tree!
"Oh?" God Tree looked at him with interest, "You actually have Tailed Beast Power in your body? No wonder you dare to be so arrogant."
"More than that." Boruto stood up, his eyes glowing with gold, and his aura surged, "And Senjutsu."
He tapped his feet lightly on the ground and entered Sage Mode. Golden light flowed around his body, and Natural Energy and Chakra were perfectly integrated.
This time, he took the initiative!