Moonlight Journey

Moonlight diffused, the moon's glow becoming increasingly hazy, the path even more blurred.

Boruto temporarily returned home, naturally through the window sill, and dispelled his shadow clone. Due to a lack of information, Boruto left after having a clone stay behind to continue the plot.

The village at night was filled with lights. In the neon moonlight, a solitary shadow was stretched long by the bright lights, leading all the way to the village walls.

Well, defecting from the village will be treated as becoming a rogue ninja, but I believe this trip will change many things.

Easily crossing the wall, he was met by a whistling breeze, chilling enough to better invigorate him.

According to the original (movie) plot, going to the Moon requires passing through a cave, inside which flows a spring of glowing water, which is the connecting passage between the Shinobi World and the Moon.

Fortunately, the Shinobi World already has convenient Thunder Trains; otherwise, just traveling at Boruto's speed would take him from dawn till dusk.

The whistling sound of the Thunder Train went from near to far as Boruto jumped off the top of the Thunder Train and entered a primeval forest.

Just as Boruto was racking his brains about how to find that mysterious cave, a person wearing a cloak suddenly emerged from the jungle not far away. Could it be...?

Just as Boruto thought he was being followed, the person completely covered by the cloak took off their hat, revealing a head of pure white hair.

...Toneri Ōtsutsuki's puppet.

"Since you want to see me, then I have no choice but to make a trip and personally welcome your arrival, Child of Destiny!"

"Personally?" Boruto's obviously questioning voice made Toneri slightly stunned, a little embarrassed.

"I've been discovered, haha, due to chakra issues, I dare not risk my main body coming to the Shinobi World."

"Well, take me to the spring of the passage. The Shinobi World isn't a good place to talk."

"Okay."

Toneri nodded, taking Boruto's hand and flying into the distance.

There was no other way. With Naruto's powerful sensory abilities, after learning that the one staying in the village was a clone, he would definitely search the entire Shinobi World for him.

It would be awkward if he mistakenly thought he had been kidnapped.

Arriving at the outer edge of the cave, Toneri looked with some headache at the passage interface filled with wasteland. It would probably be a little difficult to enter for a while, and he couldn't use large-scale ninjutsu, as there was a possibility of being sensed by the Shinobi World's strongmen.

"Toneri, lend me some chakra. It's enough to open the Jōgan."

"Hmm?" Toneri was slightly surprised. Although he didn't understand what he was going to do, he still did as he was asked.

In the original work, the Jōgan has the ability to open different dimensions. Theoretically, it only needs to resonate with the spring water in the cave to directly open the connecting passage to the Moon.

"It seems you are very familiar with your eyes. If I remember correctly, you should have only awakened them yesterday," Toneri said casually.

Ah, but didn't you also arrive ahead of time? Boruto complained in his heart.

The Jōgan's glow was like a key, quietly connecting to the space passage leading to the Moon.

In the golden spring water, countless bubbles diffused, seemingly blurring space and distance. The two distant coordinates successfully arrived in a burst of intoxicating gold.

The Moon, outside the towering palace, was decorated with lush vitality on this ancient, crafted castle.

Toneri stood quietly in place, feigning a pensive look, closing his eyes and recalling the former glory of this place.

"You've come, Boruto," he said softly.

Still that head of pure white hair, a neat blue kimono, skin so white it was almost albino-like, but his eyes were closed, and the slightly upturned corners of his mouth could be seen.

Staying on the desolate Moon, having a lively person come would also be something to be happy about.

"Hello, Toneri-senpai," the two simply greeted each other.

"In short, I foresee turmoil in the Shinobi World's situation. The future Shinobi World will inevitably be turned upside down. Plunderers from the Starry Sky will violently take everything," Boruto said simply.

"Oh?" Toneri was visibly shocked.

"So, I need power, the power to change everything." Boruto's tone was obviously heavier, as if it were very infectious. Toneri's body paused slightly. "I can feel your determination."

"You should have more say in the opening of the Tenseigan, will you help me out?"

"Your physique doesn't seem to be able to bear the power of the Tenseigan."

Toneri sensed Boruto's state, frowning and saying solemnly, "How much resolve do you have, and how much can you dedicate to the future of the Shinobi World?"

Faced with what could be called an interrogation, Boruto smiled easily, with a hint of killing intent: "Claiming to be a mortal, slaying gods."

"Then, please let me witness it."

After Toneri finished speaking, he grabbed Boruto's hand with one hand and threw it away so carelessly, as if throwing away garbage.

Boruto's body floated uncontrollably, and soon came to a high altitude, even touching the outer membrane of the Moon. This height was enough to overlook most of the Moon's outline and scenery.

The castle was indeed full of vitality. Everything in this area was so beautiful, with flowers and towering palaces.

But, beyond that, it was a ruin.

In the original work, this place was already a ruin. The prosperous Ōtsutsuki Clan had been glorious here, but slowly declined until it withered.

"Do you see it? Everything here." Toneri's voice echoed in his ears.

The sad words were not weakened by the distance. His tone was full of sorrow, even loneliness. The high altitude was not cold, but Toneri's revealed emotions clearly had some lonely chill.

"I originally planned to change all of this, but at that time I didn't know the truth, and attempted to destroy the Shinobi World and re-establish the Shinobi Sect."

But in the end, I failed. Your father, Naruto Uzumaki, woke me up and prevented it all from happening.

He not only helped me understand the truth but also saved my life in the end."

Boruto knew all of this, but hearing Toneri say it now still made him feel a nervous sweat in his palms.

He made it sound easy, but with Toneri's strength at the time, combined with the power of the artificial Tenseigan, even Naruto wouldn't have been able to stop him, I believe. (Plot armor)

"The Shinobi World contains the expectations of our ancestors. Naruto and the others made me realize that the Shinobi World hasn't failed, and the Sage of Six Paths' approach was correct!

So I choose to support you with all my strength!"

As if he had made up his mind, Boruto returned to the ground and came before Toneri.

The eyes are the windows to the soul, and through a person's eyes, you can see a little of what they want to express.

Toneri's figure was deeply engraved in Boruto's eyes, and in those invisible, hollow eyes, Boruto seemed to read the sad rhythm of parting.

"I will give you my chakra. You are the son of Naruto Uzumaki. I believe in him, and I believe in the shining star of the Shinobi World."

"Part of the chakra will help you awaken the Tenseigan, and part of the chakra will help you transform your physique."

He paused. "This is all I can do now."

A ball of deep blue chakra floated like a flame, and that gentle and peaceful power slowly floated into Boruto's body.

Feeling the majestic chakra pouring into his body, the first thing Boruto felt was the vast power and strong vitality.

A very small portion was injected into his right eye, and the Jōgan slowly opened. The other part was injected into his left eye, which was closed, emitting a hazy glow through the eyelid, as bright as a star.

The remaining large part flowed throughout his body, washing over and over again in the chakra pathways, and changes were quietly taking place.

Like a tender sprout of bamboo shoots after the rain, exuding vigorous vitality and the tenacious power to pierce the ground, Boruto's bloodline seemed to be awakened, and the power dormant in his body was quietly reviving.

——Pseudo-Six Paths Body!

"The transformed physique is enough to bear the use of a single Tenseigan. As for the Jōgan, it is too mysterious, and I am sorry, but I am powerless to help."

Toneri's body was obviously faltering. Through the Jōgan's vision, Boruto could see the hollowness inside Toneri's body. The originally vigorous flame now had only a few flickering sparks left.

"Your body..."

"Well, I probably can't help much anyway, so I might as well fulfill you," Toneri said with a free and easy smile.

"Power can make people lose their way. Your path is still long, even full of hardships. I'm afraid I also..."

"Oh, right!"

As if he had thought of something, Toneri suddenly changed the subject. "I once felt the resonance of another Tenseigan in the Shinobi World. It seemed to be taken from Kaguya's descendants on the ground."

"Hmm?" Boruto was obviously a little puzzled.

"If you have the chance, please go and unravel the truth for me."

"Okay," Boruto solemnly agreed.

"Alright, you should go back now. You'll have a lot to do next, right? I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of glory the Shinobi World can achieve under your leadership!"

Seeing Toneri's generous dedication, Boruto was moved and reminded him, "Be careful of the Ōtsutsuki Clan in the Starry Sky..."

"That's probably what Kaguya's ancestor feared, the powerful clansmen... I will be more vigilant."

The two smiled at each other, feeling a little reluctant.

Author's note:

As for why Toneri doesn't directly take Boruto to the Moon, it's because he doesn't have the ability. The power of all the puppets in the Palace comes from that artificial Tenseigan, but it was shattered by Naruto and his wife long ago.

As for why it's a Pseudo-Six Paths Body, firstly, Boruto himself is a Sage Body. His bloodline can be traced back to the Sage of Six Paths, and he also has Hinata's genes. It can be said that he is the human closest to Kaguya.