"What's the solution?" Tsuchikage asked, "We can't just wait for disaster to happen."
Boruto stood up. In the past few days, he and Qiao had conducted countless deductions to find possible countermeasures. Now, he was ready to propose the most risky plan.
"Reverse Resonance," he said, "Use the ability of the bridge to build a global purification network. When a total lunar eclipse occurs, all the runaway energy will be directed into the network for real-time purification and transformation."
"Global network?" Tsunade frowned, "Even you can't cover such a large area."
"It's not just me," Boruto said, "It's the union of all the purifiers. Sarada, Okita, and others who have mastered the basic technology. We, as Node, with the bridge as the core, build this network together."
"What about the risks?" Naruto asked, noticing that his son did not mention the most critical part.
"If the energy exceeds the carrying limit of the network," Boruto said calmly, "The core - that is, the bridge - may be overloaded and dissipated. And I, as the host of the bridge Symbiosis, will also be... severely affected."
"To what extent?"
"Death, or worse than death. The permanent dispersion of consciousness into an energy body without a self."
The conference room fell into dead silence. Naruto felt his heart being clenched by something. He remembered too many similar moments - his parents sacrificed to protect the village, and the teacher died fighting to protect the students. Now, it was his son's turn to face the same choice.
"Is there any other plan?" he asked with difficulty.
"Yes," Boruto said, "Passive defense. Establish as many isolation areas as possible, save those who can be saved, and accept other losses. The estimated mortality rate is... more than 60%."
Both choices mean sacrifice. One is a certain small probability of death, and the other is a high probability of large-scale death. From a rational point of view, it is more reasonable to choose the latter; but from an emotional point of view, no one can accept this calculation.
"I voted for Boruto's plan," Raikage said suddenly, "Not because I believe it will succeed, but because I don't believe in waiting. Land of Lightning never passively takes a beating, even if it is fate itself."
"I support it too," Mizukage said, "Kirigakure owes Boruto his life. Without his Purification Technique, we had lost half the village in the last crisis."
"Tsuchikage abstained," Kurotsuchi said, "I need more time to evaluate the risks."
"Hokage?" Everyone looked at Naruto.
Naruto looked at his son. Boruto's expression was calm, even with a hint of a smile - that kind of smile he was too familiar with, it was the expression of someone who is prepared to sacrifice his life to protect someone important.
"I..." Naruto's voice choked up, "I support it. But as a father, I ask to participate. My Nine-Tails Chakra can be used as an auxiliary energy source for the network to reduce the burden on the core."
"Dad," Boruto shook his head, "That's too dangerous. Nine-Tails's power is different from the nature of the bridge, and there may be a conflict."
"Then let it conflict," Naruto said firmly, "If the network is overloaded, I will act as a buffer to protect you and the bridge. This is my decision, as Hokage, and as a father."
The father and son looked at each other and saw the same determination in each other's eyes. In the end, Boruto nodded.
"Well," he said, "Let's start preparing. In three days, we will decide the future of this world."
The preparation time is both long and short. The global mobilization is unprecedented in the history of Shinobi World - the ninjas of Five Great Nations put aside their prejudices and jointly build a barrier network; the samurai of Land of Iron and Kirigakure trained side by side with the ninjas, learning the basics of energy control; even the always mysterious Kumogakure opened their library of forbidden techniques, providing ancient knowledge about Chakra's transmission.
Boruto has almost no rest. He is training new purifiers every day, from Leaf to Sunagakure, from Iwagakure to Mist Village, Pass the bridge's knowledge fragments to every potential student. Sarada became his deputy, responsible for theoretical teaching; Okita trained the transformed warriors and taught them how to stay rational on the edge of losing control.
"Your body is collapsing," Qiao said in Boruto's consciousness in the early morning of the third day, "Chakra is overdrawn, nerve damaged, and immune system disordered. If you don't rest, even if the network is successfully established, you may not survive until the operation stage."
"I know," said Boruto, who was checking the settings of the last Node, "But there are still seventeen remote areas without coverage. Those small villages, without strong ninja protection, if they lose control during a total lunar eclipse..."
"I will deal with those areas," Sarada's voice came from behind. Her Sharingan has evolved to Three Tomoe. During the purification training, her mental strength has been exercised like never before. "I have remembered everything you taught me. Believe me, Boruto."
Boruto turned around and looked at this friend who had grown up together. She had changed so much - not only the increase in strength, but also the change in temperament. The unique aloofness of the Uchiha Clan was still there, but it had been wrapped in something warmer. It was responsibility and growth.
"Are you sure? The energy environment in those areas is very complex and may..."
"It may inspire me Mangekyō Sharingan," Sarada answered calmly, "I am ready. If that is the price that must be paid to protect others, I am willing to pay it."
Boruto wanted to object, but Qiao stopped him. "Let her go," Qiao said, "This is her choice and her destiny. Uchiha Clan's eyes can only evolve under the impact of strong emotions. And the determination to protect others is one of the purest emotions."
Finally, Boruto nodded. "Be careful," he said, "If you encounter a situation that you cannot handle, retreat immediately. The network can bear some losses, but I can't bear to lose you."
Sarada smiled. There was a trace of girlhood in that smile, but also the perseverance of a warrior. "You too," she said, "Don't die. We still have a lot of things to do."
She turned and left, her long red hair fluttering in the wind. Boruto stared at her back and felt some complex emotions surging in his chest. It was friendship, the love of comrades, and something deeper that he had not yet fully understood.
"You love her," Qiao said suddenly.
"What?"
"It's not romantic love," Qiao explained, "It's a broader, deeper connection. You have shared Mental Space, shared memories and fears. This connection is closer than blood, and more lasting than an oath. In the human concept, this is closest to the definition of 'soul mate,' although not in the traditional sense."
Boruto There is no denial. In front of the bridge, denial is meaningless. "Will this affect the operation of the network?"
"On the contrary," Qiao said, "This connection will enhance the stability of the network. When you operate on different Node at the same time, the emotional Resonance can span space and coordinate the flow of energy. This is an advantage that technology cannot replicate."