He looked up, his gaze first landing on his son, who was trying hard to stay serious but could not keep the corners of his mouth from rising. Relief and a trace of pride shone in Naruto's eyes.
"Boruto, you did exceptionally well this time. You protected your teammates and, when it mattered most, took on the responsibility of protecting others."
"Given the mission's difficulty and your contribution, as Hokage, I'm crediting you with one completed A-rank mission. Everyone else will receive credit for one completed B-rank mission."
"Yes! That's awesome!" Boruto's composure vanished. He threw both hands up, grinning from ear to ear. "Of course I did! I'm Boruto Uzumaki! You can always count on me when it matters!"
Watching his son preen as though he were glowing from head to toe, Naruto felt momentarily dazed.
The blond hair, the bright blue eyes, the boundless energy and touch of recklessness—along with that infectious enthusiasm and the potential that emerged at crucial moments—reminded him so much of himself when he was young.
And now he sat where Grandpa Third and Granny Tsunade once had, listening to the next generation's adventures and judging their achievements.
That strange sense of coming full circle and passing the torch filled him with a complicated warmth and wistfulness.
What surprised Naruto even more was that Sarada did not immediately call Boruto out for getting carried away, as she usually did.
She adjusted her glasses. Her tone remained calm, but her praise was unusually direct. "Boruto really was dependable this time. In Kirigakure, he saved me and helped a lot of other people too."
Teacher Moegi added with a smile, "That's right. Boruto may cause the occasional mishap, but he never loses sight of what matters. He exceeded my expectations this time."
Hearing his teammate and