Sarada's Determination

## Chapter 48: Sarada's Resolve

The Mindscape.

The inky black space blurred the light, but with Sarada's intervention, this world began to glow.

First and foremost was the familiar Seven-Tails, Chōmei, behind her.

Like oil lamps filled with lamp oil, only a tiny spark was needed to ignite the light that illuminated the world.

And the Tailed Beasts who arrived one after another were these sparks; as long as there was one more light in this space, it proved that one more Tailed Beast had arrived.

Soon, the Tailed Beasts who received the message entered the mindscape, and as usual, they formed a circle, leaving the central space for the Jinchuriki—the one entrusted with their power.

Clearly, Sarada was not such an existence; she was just an ordinary Jinchuriki who had gained Chōmei's approval.

Eight Tailed Beasts in total were present, looking at Chōmei behind Sarada and Sarada herself with puzzled and somewhat surprised expressions.

"Hey, Chōmei, you disappeared for a few days and then achieved resonance with this brat?"

Matatabi, the Two-Tails, coldly stared at Sarada standing below Chōmei, her mismatched eyes fixed on her with icy intent.

"It's actually an Uchiha?" Shukaku, the One-Tail, immediately looked displeased.

The expressions of the other Tailed Beasts weren't much better either; they even suspected that Chōmei's mind had been bewitched by this little brat.

"Come now, everyone, don't be like that. The Uchiha's brutality is a thing of the past. As for Sasuke now, isn't he fulfilling his mission to protect the Shinobi World?"

Chōmei was embarrassed, not expecting the Tailed Beasts' prejudice against the Uchiha to still be so strong, but thinking about how it had felt the same way just a few days ago.

It believed Sarada would change their minds, just like she had made it acknowledge her!

The Tailed Beasts were briefly silent, temporarily setting aside the matter. Then, two more figures arrived: Boruto and Naruto stood quietly in the empty space in the center.

"Long time no see, Boruto. Did you enjoy your school trip?"

"...It was alright, I guess?" Boruto replied noncommittally.

Seeing Boruto's reaction, Naruto scratched the back of his head in confusion. "What happened?"

"We ran into some trouble during the cruise. A violent storm stirred up the sea late at night; it was unbearable," Boruto described simply.

"Uh... that's not ideal," Naruto said understandingly.

"Stop!" Chōmei suddenly spoke, pausing the father and son's idle chat. Everyone's eyes converged on it.

Only then did the father and son notice the figure who should have been kidnapped. "Sarada? You're alright?"

"It's a long story, but there's something more serious now, something that concerns the safety of the Shinobi World," Chōmei said gravely.

"I was originally sealed by the so-called 'Moon' in some valley, but then I was inexplicably transferred to this kid. It was only later that I discovered she was Sasuke's daughter.

Well, although I went through a lot of confusion and brainstorming, I still acknowledge her as a Jinchuriki."

This was already obvious; after all, being able to come to the Tailed Beasts' mindscape was enough to prove the Tailed Beasts' recognition of the Jinchuriki.

Everyone was silently waiting for its next words. Although intolerable things had also happened on their side, since it was Chōmei who had called the meeting, it was the 'host' of this council in terms of priority.

Chōmei paused, then began to recount the earth-shattering event it had discovered. "The Ōtsutsuki may have already infiltrated the Shinobi World. Sarada and I encountered the Ōtsutsuki's 'followers,' so we hurriedly convened this meeting.

The reason I think so is that among the enemies Sarada and I encountered, someone leaked the Ōtsutsuki's aura, and I definitely couldn't have sensed that wrong!"

"Are you guys alright?" Boruto asked worriedly.

"Well... forcing the enemy to reveal the Ōtsutsuki's abilities is enough to prove their strength, so even I'm not confident I can defeat them.

But fortunately, it was just one of Sarada's Shadow Clones that fought them. The reasons involved are very complicated, but in short, the enemies we encountered don't come from the 'Moon.'

Because Sarada's main body is currently behind that White-Robed Man."

"Could it be other members of the 'Moon'? After we lost contact with you, we lost contact with another Tailed Beast: Isobu, who didn't attend this meeting!"

One of the Tailed Beasts said with a serious expression.

"What?!"

"Even Isobu? It lives in the deep sea area, nearly a thousand meters below the sea. Who can dive to such depths?"

Chōmei was shocked.

"Although we also suspected the Ōtsutsuki were responsible, according to the last information Isobu sent back, it clearly stated that the other party was one of the 'Moon's' members!"

"That's also why Boruto was unable to stop it, even though he was not far from the scene. Even in my Chakra Mode, his limit is only five hundred meters at best!"

Kurama said with some regret and pride.

"What's the use? He still just watched Isobu lose contact," Shukaku retorted dismissively.

Kurama: "We Tailed Beasts won't die, so could you please die once? To reduce our burden a bit."

Shukaku: ...

"So that's why you said the trip wasn't enjoyable," Naruto realized.

"Ahem, so that means Sarada's situation is relatively safe right now, right?" Boruto asked.

"...I guess?" Chōmei answered for her.

After all, she didn't want to contact Naruto before; perhaps she wanted to take this opportunity to hone herself.

While Chōmei agreed, it still felt uneasy being around the White-Robed Man, a terrorist.

Who knows, he might just take Sarada's eyes and my power one day. After all, the fusion for Eternal Mangekyō required another pair of Mangekyō, and as for blood relations, he believed the all-powerful 'Moon' would have a way to solve that.

"Your location is roughly in a village in the Land of Birds, right? Just wait, I'll be there soon!"

Boruto stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders in reassurance.

Their eyes met, and amidst Sarada's slight shyness (after all, it was somewhat intimate contact between a boy and a girl), Boruto quietly took something away.

"!!" Sarada suddenly froze.

She felt a special Chakra being stripped away from her shoulders, and the White-Robed Man had previously used the Chakra left here to find her location. Could there be a connection?

Boruto keenly noticed the change in Sarada's expression, guessing that the White-Robed Man might also be using this jutsu to instantly reach Sarada's side.

After thinking for a moment, he explained, "This is the Flying Thunder God Technique seal, left behind when we were preparing to leave to find your dad. Don't you remember me patting your shoulder heavily that morning?"

Listening to Boruto's explanation, Sarada recalled that there was such a thing. Boruto was carrying a bento in his hand at the time.

"Later, when you were kidnapped by the White-Robed Man, the reason your Uncle Sasuke and I could instantly find your location was also because of the Flying Thunder God coordinates planted in advance."

"I see, no wonder Sasuke and Boruto instantly appeared in the sky behind the White-Robed Man, but I didn't notice your presence at the time?" Naruto asked thoughtfully.

"That might also be the White-Robed Man's dōjutsu. Doesn't he often hide himself in a certain space, leaving an illusion in reality that's immune to damage?"

"Indeed."

Naruto couldn't be clearer on this point. He had even tested the limits of the White-Robed Man's ability to evade attacks, but he didn't expect him to hide for an entire afternoon.

"Then Father, I'll go back to Konoha first, and then take you and Uncle Sasuke to rescue Sarada, okay?"

"Yeah." Naruto nodded in affirmation.

"Actually, you don't have to come, because I've already lost something, so now it's better to honestly be an undercover agent."

Sarada was a little uncomfortable. After all, the Shadow Clone had just been dispelled when she arrived here, so she appeared here the moment the Shadow Clone's memories returned to her mind.

"How can that be? You'll be in danger!" Naruto said anxiously, "Now that we finally have news of you, we definitely want to find a way to get you out of danger!"

Sarada: "I'm very safe right now."

"Why?!" Naruto was stunned.

"Because the reason the White-Robed Man isn't killing me is that he wants to obtain the Eternal Mangekyō, so he's waiting for me to grow up, so he can take my eyes to help him achieve his goal of Sharingan evolution."

"Uh… that's indeed pretty safe." Boruto's mouth twitched slightly.

"What do you mean, hey! I'm now someone with a half-eye awakened Mangekyō, don't underestimate the Uchiha's talent!" Sarada said arrogantly.

"Oh?" Naruto became even more silent. He knew better than anyone what the awakening of the Mangekyō meant. She probably thought that he, Sasuke, and Boruto had all died on the scene at the time.

"Sarada…" Naruto was a little hesitant to speak, but his attitude was firm, "I will definitely rescue you, how can I feel at ease with you staying by the enemy's side!"

"But, can you beat the current White-Robed Man?"

"…"

"So, it's better to let me lurk by his side and slowly collect the characteristics of his dōjutsu and look for weaknesses."

"This…" Naruto's mouth was a little dry, unable to squeeze out a single sound.

"In short, I'm very safe right now, remember to tell Dad and Mom that I'm safe." Sarada said and then left the meeting.

"Boruto… I…"

Boruto interrupted him directly, "Father, you should think carefully about how to justify yourself to Uncle Sasuke!"

After Boruto finished speaking, he also left very simply.

Naruto: …

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