Contract Seal

Ninjutsu Library.

Outside the door, Boruto confidently greeted the guard.

"Hello, I came to see Hidden Leaf Village's collection and whether there are any ninjutsu suitable for new students to practice."

"Welcome, Seventh Hokage, sir. Please come in." The guard, a jōnin, politely raised his hand and gestured for Boruto to enter.

Boruto nodded with an air of importance, then entered the library.

A dazzling array of scrolls filled the bookshelves. Various Release techniques and scrolls with other effects had all been neatly categorized.

It certainly made things convenient for Boruto to browse.

Well, the purpose of the ninja library had always been to allow instructor jōnin to select suitable ninjutsu, whether for their own use or for their students to learn.

So, for now, the ninjutsu collection in the ninja library was fairly comprehensive. It even had medical techniques like the Mystical Palm Technique, though they were of little use to Boruto.

However, the ninja library did not contain the Flying Thunder God Technique or some powerful sealing techniques.

With a slight headache, Boruto came out and asked the guard, "Are there any stronger ninjutsu?"

The guard replied, "For new students, ninjutsu that are too difficult aren't easy to learn, and with insufficient Chakra..."

"No, I'm the one who wants to learn them. Recently, a massive Chakra leak was discovered in another country. It's suspected to be the remains of the God Tree. That thing absorbs the Chakra of any ninja who approaches it, so I have no choice but to personally go and seal it as the Hokage."

Boruto spouted this nonsense with a completely serious expression.

"So, I wanted to ask where I could learn ninjutsu like the Four Symbols Seal."

The guard broke out in a cold sweat, wiped his forehead, and respectfully said, "Seventh Hokage, sir, isn't that level of ninjutsu kept in the Hokage Building?"

Uh... Boruto scratched his head awkwardly, then said with perfect composure, "Ah, I've been so busy lately that I forgot about that."

The guard forced a smile. "Hahaha, Seventh Hokage, sir, you've been busy with work. It's only natural that you'd forget something like that."

"I'm leaving. Thanks for the reminder." Boruto used the Body Flicker Technique and fled the awkward scene.

Well, I used the Transformation Technique anyway. He doesn't know who I am.

Outside the Hokage Building.

Boruto activated the Jōgan and used its x-ray vision to silently observe the layout of the Hokage Building.

Naruto and Shikamaru were in the top-floor office. Aside from heaps of documents and Naruto looking drained, there probably weren't any stored ninjutsu there.

His gaze shifted downward, and on the second floor of the Hokage Building, Boruto found his target: a place where a large number of scrolls were stored. (I made that up.)

Confidently, Boruto used the Transformation Technique again, turning into Naruto. He flicked his flowing Hokage cloak and strode toward the Hokage Building.

But the moment he entered through the main doors, he saw a young ninja approaching with a delighted expression. She seemed to be looking for Naruto?!

Shit, I'm going to be exposed!!!

Sarutobi Mirai said, "Great, Seventh Hokage, sir, you're here! Earlier, you said you wanted to strengthen the Sealing Team and Barrier Team, and that you would personally guide us. Let's go quickly."

This is bad!

"Seventh Hokage, sir, what's wrong? Your complexion doesn't look very healthy," Mirai asked with concern.

"Ah, it's nothing. I'm just a little tired from work, haha." Boruto laughed awkwardly. He remembered that she was Naruto's guard. This had gotten seriously out of hand.

At the training grounds, several Barrier Team ninjas stood on an open field, skillfully erecting a rectangular barrier. The pale purple, translucent barrier walls looked like glass.

"Seventh Hokage, sir, you're here. It's time to inspect the Barrier Team's results," one of the Barrier Team ninjas said with a smile.

"Let's begin." Boruto kept his words brief, afraid that saying too much would expose him.

Boruto did not enter the barrier. He could tell that it had some real strength. If he wanted to break free through brute Chakra force alone, he probably could not do it without activating Tenseigan Chakra Mode. After all, he was still a Shadow Clone.

"Whew..." Boruto took a deep breath. Under everyone's expectant gazes, he silently began gathering natural Chakra. To deal with this thing, it was safer to use Senjutsu.

Naruto needed roughly five minutes of meditation to enter Sage Mode. Boruto, who possessed a Sage Body, could do it in one minute. However, due to his lack of proficiency, it took Boruto a minute and a half to stabilize the distribution of Sage Chakra within his body.

Sage Mode markings appeared around Boruto's eyes. Having finally entered Sage Mode, Boruto let out a breath of relief. After all, the failure rate was rather high.

After completing his preparations, Boruto took several steps back and gently raised his right hand. Beneath everyone's expectant gazes, the familiar sphere shone with a radiant glow, refracting the sunlight and becoming even more dazzling.

But in the next moment, the Rasengan's size suddenly increased severalfold, enough to obscure Boruto's entire body.

Facing such a powerful ninjutsu, even though the Barrier Team ninjas were confident in the strength of the barrier they had constructed, their opponent was still the Seventh Hokage, the strongest in the Shinobi World.

The Barrier Team ninjas swallowed hard and exerted their full strength as well. The translucent barrier became several shades denser than before, and everyone unconsciously held their breath.

In the next moment, Boruto smashed the Rasengan fiercely into the barrier wall. The tremendous impact, combined with the Rasengan's own weight, made the barrier tremble slightly. Then, as the Rasengan erupted completely—

Cracking and rumbling filled the air. Unable to bear the strain, the barrier shattered, and Boruto instantly exited Sage Mode.

After the smoke and dust dispersed, Boruto stood with his hands behind his back and calmly commented, "A barrier with this level of durability won't meet my expectations."

Mirai, both his guard and fangirl, immediately praised him. "As expected of the Seventh Hokage. With just one strike, you shattered a barrier constructed jointly by four ninjas."

Boruto was unconcerned as he explained, "Because the Rasengan is a single-target attack that breaks through a surface with a single point, there was no wasted force. Everything was poured into the barrier. Though the enemies we will face later are also experts of this level."

"You've already done well enough, but for the troubles ahead, you must do your absolute best. As for the Four Red Yang Formation, I hope to see you use a crimson barrier to protect Hidden Leaf Village!"

"Yes!!!" everyone shouted in unison.

I finally managed to bluff my way through that.

Boruto roughly guessed that Naruto had received a prophecy from the Great Toad Sage. According to the plot, Momoshiki and other Ōtsutsuki would indeed descend upon the Shinobi World later. Once Naruto learned the news, he would take precautions in advance. It was not hard to guess.

"Anyway, let's leave it at that for now. Continue studying barriers in depth. Mirai, take me to see the Sealing Team's results."

"Yes." Mirai replied crisply, and the two of them headed to another open field.

Compared to the Barrier Team, the Sealing Team's work was much simpler. With one glance, Boruto saw nothing but ninjas practicing the Four Symbols Seal, drawing sealing formulas onto blank scrolls.

Boruto could not help but grow suspicious. Could sealing techniques of this level really affect the Ōtsutsuki? Or did they have some other purpose?

"Seventh Hokage, sir, would you like to see their results?" Mirai asked eagerly.

"No. I want to see the scrolls related to the Contract Seal." Boruto kept his words brief.

"Oh." Mirai responded. Though she did not understand his intention, she still asked the Sealing Team for the scrolls related to the Contract Seal.

When the Sealing Team ninjas learned that the Seventh Hokage wanted to see them, they thoughtfully brought over other sealing techniques as well.

Boruto gave them a quick look. They were roughly Contract Seals, Four Symbols Seals, Eight Trigrams Seals, and other types of sealing techniques.

They appeared numerous and varied, but in truth, they were inferior to the First Hokage's Bright Divine Gate. He did not know whether they would work against the Ōtsutsuki, but if Boruto wanted to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, they would be perfect for suppressing the Tailed Beasts.

Well, that fell within the scope of Wood Release. If he had the opportunity later, he should be able to use Wood Release.

Having obtained the sealing techniques, Boruto's trip had ended perfectly. Before Naruto noticed anything strange, Boruto decided that he needed to slip away quickly.

"Not bad. I'll be practicing sealing techniques as well. They'll be of some help in restraining enemies in the future." Boruto started talking nonsense again.

"Please take them, Seventh Hokage, sir. We've already mastered the fundamentals of sealing techniques. It's just that due to our Chakra, we can't display their original power." One of the sealing ninjas scratched his head awkwardly.

"If there are enough people, perhaps a seal built up through small contributions can still serve a purpose," Boruto suggested.

"We'll consider that."

"I'm leaving. You've all worked hard." Boruto offered a simple word of encouragement, then used the Body Flicker Technique to flee the scene.

Mirai sighed to herself. So it was another Shadow Clone. The Seventh Hokage is really busy.