Sumire Kakei gripped the Communicator. "Father, what exactly should I do next?"
The middle-aged man's voice turned cold. "The plan hasn't changed. Tonight, under cover of darkness, activate Nue's core trigger device near Konoha's Training Ground."
"It has absorbed enough negative Chakra and emotion. Once released, it will instinctively seek out and latch onto the nearest suitable targets, causing chaos and panic."
"When Konoha's attention shifts there and its defenses briefly open up, leave through the cliffs behind Konoha, near the Valley of the End."
"When I left years ago, I took advantage of a geological shift and a gap in routine Barrier maintenance to leave a well-hidden weak point there."
"I'll send you the coordinates and instructions through an encrypted message shortly. Once you're out of Konoha, lie low in the Land of Waves for a couple of days. We have a contact point there."
"When Konoha's search dies down, I'll send someone to bring you in safely."
Sumire Kakei's gaze drifted to a corner of her desk, where a group photo of the Ninja Academy's entire graduating class stood.
In the photo, she stood in the middle of the crowd with a gentle smile. Beside her were Boruto, grinning without a care in the world, Shikadai, and their other classmates, each wearing a different expression.
"Father..." she finally said, unable to hide the hesitation in her voice. "Won't what we're doing have terrible consequences for Boruto?"
"He really trusted me today. And if Nue gets out of control, or someone gets hurt in the chaos..."
"Consequences?" A derisive chuckle came through the Communicator. The middle-aged man's voice filled with resentment. "My daughter, when did you become so naive? Now you're worrying about the consequences for Konoha's little prince?"
"The worst that will happen to Boruto Uzumaki is that