Gathering of the Tailed Beasts

Hokage Building.

The afternoon sunlight was abundant, and the lingering glow in one corner of the office was adorned with a remnant cloud of sunset, fiery red and bewitching.

Documents were piled like mountains in the office. Naruto was troubled when he suddenly sensed Kurama's anger and asked curiously.

"What is it, Kurama?"

"Naruto, the situation in the Shinobi World is already on the verge of collapse. Those members of the Moon you mentioned have set their sights on the Tailed Beasts."

Kurama stated it calmly, but his eyes held unimaginable fury, as though he had returned to the time before he was sealed away.

"Seven-Tails Chomei... has lost contact."

"Nani?!"

Naruto trembled and shot to his feet. Just as he was about to leap out the window, the Nine-Tails stopped him.

"Forget it. The enemy used a special barrier to block all information, naturally concealing the Seven-Tails' location as well. We can't find him." Kurama sighed and forced himself to calm down.

Naruto silently returned to his chair and rubbed his temples, trying to ease the pressure.

Before long, Boruto arrived at the office. Having half of the Nine-Tails himself, he naturally received this news as well—though he was the mastermind behind it all. (Evil grin.)

After entering the office, Boruto immediately saw Naruto, his brow tightly furrowed as he slumped weakly in his office chair, lost in thought.

Seeing Boruto enter, Naruto let out a slight breath and said helplessly, "I'm starting to feel more and more useless. Everything I once swore to protect is slowly disappearing now."

It seemed the Seven-Tails' disappearance had dealt him quite a blow.

"Well, Father, we should be thinking about how to minimize the losses. The Seven-Tails may only be the beginning. Don't forget that there are still six other Tailed Beasts living alone like this."

"Yeah, I really should think this through," Naruto thought.

"Collective management is, in itself, a form of imprisonment. Tailed Beasts who love freedom probably won't agree so easily." Boruto touched his abdomen, where a familiar pattern was inscribed.

By the way, Boruto had carved this Eight Trigrams Sealing Style himself.

A trace of the Nine-Tails' Chakra leaked out, quietly conveying his emotions. Kurama... neither approved nor objected.

Some Tailed Beasts were bound to slack off anyway, but what did that have to do with Kurama? (Evil grin.)

"Anyway, let's gather the nine Tailed Beasts first." Naruto was connected with the Nine-Tails in mind and spirit, then had Boruto raise his hand and bump fists with him.

Mental World.

Other than the Seven-Tails, the massive bodies of the remaining Tailed Beasts stood together in a circle, surrounding two tiny humans in the middle.

The seven Tailed Beasts examined the child beside Naruto. Seeing his many shared traits with Naruto, they understood that he was likely Naruto's son.

Boruto spoke first. "Let me introduce myself. Boruto, Boruto Uzumaki."

Although the Tailed Beasts found this novel, the current situation was extremely urgent. Someone had already begun targeting the Tailed Beasts, which meant their free and carefree lives were about to end.

It was a very serious matter, yet a child had suddenly inserted himself into the discussion.

"At the same time, I'm one of the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," Boruto added.

The Tailed Beasts' gazes swept over the Nine-Tails, only to be fiercely glared back at by Kurama's vertical pupils, as if he were saying, What the hell does it have to do with you?

"Enough. This father and son are here to help us solve the problem." Kurama took the initiative to explain.

"There are two methods. First, we can hide you within a barrier constructed by Space-Time Ninjutsu Masters. That way, the people of the Moon won't be able to find you, solving the problem at its root," Boruto said.

"Second, you can gather together on your own. With the strength of six Tailed Beasts, even the Moon would have a headache dealing with you, right?"

Naruto listened and found himself rather agreeable to both methods. He then added, "The choice is yours."

The Tailed Beasts nodded to one another. Their hesitation and uncertainty were visible, but in the end... they still chose freedom. Once they had left their cages, they did not want to return to them.

Once a caged bird took flight, it would never wish to return to its cage. This was the freedom they had yearned for their entire lives.

"Do as you please. We've shown enough sincerity. When the time comes, I hope all of you Tailed Beasts can bear the consequences yourselves," Boruto warned.

The Tailed Beasts thought, This kid is really hard to deal with. He understands things better than Naruto and is far more decisive.

Thus, the Six-Tails said, "Then shall we act immediately? The sooner we gather, the greater our ability to resist."

The other Tailed Beasts agreed.

"Don't rush." Boruto spread his hands. "You're all rather important forces in the Shinobi World. If you suddenly gather in one place, you'll attract the attention of people throughout the Shinobi World."

Naruto nodded, acknowledging Boruto's reasoning.

"So wait a little longer, until Father informs the higher-ups of the Allied Shinobi Villages. By the way, Shukaku can be told directly to Gaara," Boruto said.

Seeing Boruto arrange everything so meticulously, Naruto finally felt that he had grown old.

After this incident, the Tailed Beasts held Boruto in exceptionally high regard and vaguely came to believe that, like Naruto, he was someone worthy of entrusting with their power!

Ninja Academy.

Shino was writing something on the blackboard with chalk. Below the podium, Boruto and Mitsuki sat close together.

During class, Boruto quietly said to Mitsuki, "Next, let's act together again after so long—the plan to capture Three-Tails Isobu."

"But... we're leaving the Academy again? And it won't be easy to find where the Tailed Beasts live," Mitsuki quietly reminded him, voicing his concerns as well.

"Mm, I've considered all that. But since we'll be spending tomorrow and perhaps the next few days in the Land of Water, maybe the Three-Tails happens to live nearby?"

Boruto spoke with a smile.

Since he had not yet figured out how to avoid Kurama while carrying out the mission, he might as well borrow Mitsuki's strength. At the same time, he wanted to see just how powerful Mitsuki had become with Orochimaru's latest results enhancing him.

"Okay." Mitsuki agreed without hesitation.

"Hehe. I like people who are this straightforward." Boruto smiled and patted his shoulder. This kind of trust was always worth being happy about.

Shino had long since written a prominent title on the blackboard. He silently stood there, watching Boruto's little performance.

Only after Boruto finally settled down did he let out a heavy breath and say weakly, "Tomorrow is the school trip. Thanks to the efforts the Seventh has made recently, this school trip will take place in the Land of Water."

"Awesome!!" The entire class cheered loudly.

Mitsuki's reaction was calm. He turned to glance at Boruto and thought, As expected... you had already planned everything.

"Then, for this school trip's committee member... I think Boruto will do." After pausing to think for a moment, Shino ultimately chose Boruto.

A boy acknowledged by the Seventh and the Allied Shinobi Villages deserved some training within his capabilities. After all, only by first learning to manage a group could he manage a village in the future...!

After the Five Kage Summit, practically everyone was posting comments questioning why Boruto had the right to appear before the entire Shinobi World.

They thought their Kage would not indulge the Hokage's obvious favoritism, but to their great surprise, their Kage not only saw nothing wrong with it, but felt that Boruto's appearance before the Shinobi World was only natural.

Was Naruto's influence truly that great, or had their Kage... been bought off?

In short, with the tacit approval of every shinobi village, Boruto was qualified to attend any public occasion. He also had the right to participate in—and even speak at—any high-level meeting!!

This represented Boruto's weight and status among the Five Kage. He was in no way inferior to any Kage, and his authority surpassed that of Kage guards!