Boruto the Akatsuki: In Search of Power

In the previous chapter, Boruto obtained a new summon called Galaga and discovered what had happened to the attacked shinobi. Now, he was jumping between the trees, an intrigued smile on his face, as he thought, "Artificial humans… I wonder how they created them."

Boruto suddenly stopped and muttered:

—Now that the genin know about this, they must already be at the Rock Village… how troublesome. I need more speed.

With a firm decision, he made a series of seals and, after hitting the branch under his feet, he shouted:

—Kuchiyose no Jutsu!

An explosion rang out, breaking the silence of the forest. Amidst a cloud of dust, Karasugan appeared, spreading its imposing wings and dispersing the smoke screen. Boruto stood atop its head, his cape fluttering in the wind. Looking ahead, he motioned:

—Karasugan, in that direction, straight towards the Rock Village.

Karasugan nodded and with a powerful flap of his wings, he began to ascend, soaring through the sky toward his destination.

Meanwhile, outside the Earth Village, Saku, Sarada, Shikadai, Inojin, and Chocho rested with obvious wounds on their bodies. Tension was reflected in their exhausted gazes.

"I didn't think Mitsuki would attack you like that, Saku," Sarada commented, worried.

"That hit almost knocked me out…" Saku admitted, rubbing his head.

Shikadai sighed thoughtfully:

—I think it would be best to return to Konoha…

"That can't happen," Saku replied with determination. "We have to move on."

"Those four-legged creatures we were facing…" Shikadai interjected, recalling the fight. "They were human-made waste, just like the ones accompanying Mitsuki."

Saku frowned and continued:

—We can't let Mitsuki go with them.

Sarada, determined, stood up:

—They attacked several Konoha shinobi. Even if we have to bring him back by force, Mitsuki won't go with them.

Shikadai also stood up and said seriously:

—We have to move at once. Boruto is probably approaching… and he won't show mercy to anyone.

They all nodded and began to run again, with all their strength, towards the Earth Village, aware that time and challenges were against them.

After finding shelter in a cave, the genin decided to have Inojin keep watch while they sneaked into the Rock Village. Covered in hoods, they headed to the residence of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, hoping to gain information about the group Mitsuki had left with.

Upon arriving, they met Akatsuchi, who led them to the Tsuchikage Tower, where they finally met with Onoki. However, when they asked for his help, Onoki simply turned his back on them, telling them that they should stay in the village for their own good. At that moment, a strange man appeared, carrying a sword and wearing peculiar clothing, who approached Onoki and, with a bow, called him "father".

Shock filled the genin, and Saku demanded an explanation, but Onoki remained silent. The strange man, named Kuu, asked Onoki what they should do with the youngsters. The Tsuchikage, sitting in his chair, replied coldly:

—We'll keep them here for a while.

Saku, irritated, replied:

—What does this mean, old man?

"I'm doing it for your own good... for peace," Onoki replied, trying to justify himself.

Saku ran towards him, but Kuu appeared behind him and pinned him down, knocking him to the ground. Saku, frustrated, shouted:

—Let go of me! Give us back Mitsuki!

Onoki ordered Kuu to let him go, and when Saku stood up, he continued saying:

—I don't want the tragedies of the past to be repeated. Five years ago, many rogue ninja attacked our village, and many lives were lost. I have to protect those who will bear the burden of the future.

Shikadai, perplexed, intervened:

—Is that why you created this… waste?

Sarada, frowning, added:

—And what does Mitsuki have to do with all this?

Onoki replied that Mitsuki had decided to assist in the plan of his own free will, which further surprised the genin.

"Why would Mitsuki want to help them?" Sarada asked.

"Please let us see Mitsuki," Saku pleaded.

"I can't do that," Onoki replied. "The plan has already entered its final phase; I can't stop now."

Shikadai looked at Onoki seriously and warned:

—Old man, we're not your problem. A pretty strong ninja is approaching, and I don't think you can do anything against him. He's not as patient as we are.

Onoki stared at him and replied:

—Then we will be prepared to receive him.

Saku, tired of the situation, exploded:

—I'm fed up with this!

Onoki looked at Kuu and ordered:

—It's time… make sure they remain under surveillance.

Kuu set out to capture them, but Saku quickly performed a hand seal, summoning branches from the ground that enveloped his companions and destroyed the debris in one fell swoop. Kuu jumped away, while Saku took the opportunity to retreat.

"They always think they're in control," Saku said before turning around, beginning to escape with his companions.

Onoki, visibly upset, ordered Kuu:

—Send the waste after them! I don't want them to escape; bring them back alive!

The debris emerged from the ground and began the chase. Sarada, keeping calm, shouted:

—We'll meet again in the cave, split up!

They each nodded and disappeared in a Shunshin. Kuu, seeing this, muttered in frustration:

—Damn it… They escaped! Find them!

As night fell, the genin moved silently between the houses of Rock Village, avoiding the dregs that searched for them relentlessly. The darkness gave them the cover they needed to remain hidden, and the night passed in apparent tranquility.

The next morning, in an underground chamber, Kuu stood before two kneeling figures: a red-haired man named Kako and a black-haired man named Kokuyo. Behind them, a gigantic crystal towered over a pit of dark mud where new debris seemed to slowly form and emerge.

Kuu spoke in a stern tone:

—They haven't found the genin who escaped.

Kokuyo, without looking up, replied:

—We haven't located them yet. The debris is searching the nearby areas, but there's no sign of them.

"Send more debris and extend the search to greater distances," Kuu ordered, his tone authoritative.

Kokuyo hesitated for a moment before replying:

—If we send them further away, those in the village will notice their presence.

—That's what we have Kirara for. She'll be in charge of controlling the information that reaches the village —Kuu replied, showing no signs of concern.

With an amused smile, Kako chimed in:

—Mr. Kuu, as humans say, "people always talk." In short, no one can stop rumors.

Kuu looked at him seriously.

—So what do you suggest we do?

Kako slid his hand down his neck in a symbolic gesture and replied:

—It's simple: eliminate all witnesses.

Kuu shook his head.

—That goes against our master's will. We will avoid harming humans as much as possible.

Kokuyo, determined, proposed:

—Let us take care of the genin directly.

Kuu turned around and looked at the glass carefully before answering:

—We are at a crucial moment. Your main task is to increase the number of wastes. Use them to locate the genin and capture them. They must not escape.

They both nodded and, in unison, replied:

—Understood, we will follow orders.

Kuu continued to observe the process of waste formation.

In the sky, Boruto sat with his eyes closed above Karasugan's head as they descended through the clouds. As they got closer to the ground, a village filled with lights became visible. Boruto opened his eyes, observing the place.

"We're here," he said, standing up. "Come down further, Karasugan."

Karasugan complied, rapidly descending until it reached an average height. Boruto closed his eyes, concentrating on the chakras around him, and noticed something unusual.

—How strange... these chakras are peculiar. Apparently, they are the things that those beings created —he thought—. If I find Mitsuki's chakra, it's likely that they are watching him.

With a quick sequence of hand signs, Boruto shouted:

—Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!

Several clones appeared around him, and Boruto gave them instructions.

—You know what to do.

The clones nodded, taking out three-pronged kunai which they threw in various directions before disappearing in a flash. Boruto, satisfied with the strategy, indicated to Karasugan:

—Karasugan, get higher. I don't want them to see us.

Karasugan ascended again, while Boruto remained in his position, concentrating his sensory ability to find any trace of Mitsuki. On the ground, his clones moved quickly until one of them caught something and began to head in that direction.

In a nearby den, Mitsuki was meeting with Kirara, who was showing him a table full of feminine accessories. Mitsuki looked at the items with curiosity.

"What is this?" he asked.

Kirara, excited, turned around and exclaimed:

—This is my collection! Don't I look more human with these accessories?

Mitsuki watched her neutrally.

-Really?

Kirara looked at him in disbelief.

—What? You lived among humans and you don't know anything about this?

"None of the people I knew had anything like that," Mitsuki replied, without losing his composure.

Kirara put on a thoughtful expression.

—Really? Hmm, that's not what I heard…

At that moment, two figures appeared at the entrance: Sekiei and Kako. Sekiei approached Mitsuki, asking:

—What are you doing, Mitsuki?

"Kirara was just showing me her stuff," Mitsuki replied, pointing at the table.

Kako looked at the mess of objects and frowned.

"This is a mess," he said, picking up a hat from the table. "You should get rid of all this."

Kirara glared at him, angrily replying:

—Don't touch it with your filthy hands! Don't you see how beautiful it is?

Kako sighed, disinterested.

"It's garbage," he insisted.

Kirara snatched the hat from him in one swift movement, enraged.

—I'll kill you if you touch my things again!

Kako, ignoring the threat, continued:

—Mr. Kuu said to strengthen information control in the village.

Kirara snorted.

—You will never understand humans.

Mitsuki was watching Sekiei, who was about to speak, when suddenly Mitsuki quickly became guarded. Sekiei looked at him and asked:

—Is something wrong, Mitsuki?

Kirara and Kaku also turned to look at him. Mitsuki spoke firmly:

—How long will you hide?

Kirara and Kaku looked towards the door, and Sekiei turned around as well. At that moment, footsteps were heard, and a person appeared through the door, emerging from the shadows. Mitsuki was surprised.

—Boruto? What are you doing here? —Mitsuki asked, not hiding his astonishment.

Boruto made a hand position, closed his eyes and then opened them before answering:

—Mitsuki, I see you're doing well... you're even wearing his clothes.

Kaku reacted with displeasure:

"A human infiltrated this place?" he said as he began to walk towards Boruto. But Mitsuki extended his arm, stopping him.

Kaku looked at him, confused.

—What are you up to, Mitsuki? Do you want to protect him?

Mitsuki looked at him seriously and replied:

—I protect you from this human. He's dangerous.

Kaku looked at him with disdain.

-Oh really?

Boruto smiled and spoke:

—So you ignore me? You're not afraid of me attacking you?

Sekiei intervened, watching him curiously.

—I feel like I've seen your face before... You're the Hokage's son, right?

Kirara took a few steps towards Boruto, standing next to Kaku.

—So we just have to trap him here, he suggested.

Mitsuki shook his head.

—That's impossible. He can move with a space-time jutsu.

The three of them looked at Mitsuki, surprised. Sekiei commented:

—Space-time jutsu? That sounds annoying.

Mitsuki looked at Boruto, trying to understand his purpose, and asked:

—What are you planning in this place, Boruto?

Boruto looked at him with a calculating expression.

—I was sent to take you back to Konoha… but I'm having second thoughts. Hmm… I see you want to protect these created. Do you feel sorry for them because they're just like you?

The four reacted angrily, and Boruto continued, in a defiant tone:

—I've heard that they say they'll never understand humans, but I don't understand them.

Mitsuki replied, seriously:

—A being like you will never understand others.

Boruto replied without hesitation:

—But I don't go around like a fool trying to be something I'm not.

Kirara glared at him, angrily.

"I'm fed up!" she shouted, and at that moment, Boruto appeared in front of her with a downward kick.

—Boom! —the loud bang was heard as the kick landed.

Mitsuki quickly jumped to the other side, carrying Kirara in his arms, as the ground cracked from Boruto's blow. Boruto pulled himself together and looked in Mitsuki's direction. Kaku and Sekiei were surprised, taking a few steps back.

Mitsuki put Kirara down and said in a serious tone:

—Now you see... this guy is dangerous.

Boruto smiled.

—I see you're fast, Mitsuki. I'll have to get serious.

Boruto took a couple of steps forward, when suddenly Kokuyo appeared behind him, launching an attack with his tonfas. But Boruto quickly turned around, stopping him with a kick and pushing him back.

Boruto lowered his leg and commented:

—That was quick... but oh well.

Mitsuki observed the situation and warned:

—He's a sensor. Surprise attacks won't work.

Boruto glanced at them, sighing.

—How troublesome, Mitsuki... I just came to get you out of here, but it seems you don't want to leave.

Elsewhere in the base, in a laboratory, a clone of Boruto was holding a doctor by the neck while extracting information from a computer onto a USB drive. Boruto looked at the doctor with a cold smile and commented:

—I see you are quite interesting. You are able to create these beings... you have talent.

The doctor, furious and with blood running down his face, replied in a trembling voice:

—Damn it... who are you and why are you here?

Boruto smiled and showed him the Konoha headband on his forehead.

—Don't you see it, doctor? Besides, the information you have is quite... interesting.

The doctor glared at him, and Boruto continued, his tone icy:

—There are dangerous beings in this world. If you don't have the power to protect your creations, you shouldn't have shown them in the first place.

A confirmation sound came from the computer, and Boruto removed the USB. At that moment, someone appeared at the entrance of the laboratory and ordered:

—Drop that USB, or you will die... human.

Boruto glanced at him, then let go of the doctor, who fell to the ground, and looked at the USB flash drive in his hand. In a flash, the USB flash drive disappeared.

—I can't give it to you. I don't have it anymore.

Kuu looked at him, visibly angry.

—I see you are quite an insolent human... I think your heart will be mine.

Boruto looked at him coldly and replied:

—Do you think you're such a big deal? You're just an empty vessel, with a stupid purpose in life... I can see that.

Kuu reached back with one hand, preparing to draw his sword, when the doctor intervened:

—Mr. Kuu! You can't fight here... the plan will be ruined.

Kuu clicked his tongue, and Boruto watched him with a bored expression.

—How disappointing... I thought you would fight.

Kuu frowned.

—What is your name, human? I will remember you.

Boruto watched him for a moment before answering:

—My name is Boruto Uzumaki. And I'll tell you something: you have 24 hours to finish what you're doing in this lab. If not, the next time it will be my original self who comes.

Kuu was surprised.

—To complete the plan... I will need your heart.

Boruto added, with a wry smile:

—You should be worried about your classmates. They might not be having a good time.

With those words, Boruto disappeared in a smokescreen. Kuu, perplexed, muttered:

—A clone?

Then he looked at the doctor and ordered:

—Activate the emergency, now!

The doctor, weakened, got up as best he could and activated the emergency alarm, which resounded throughout the base. Kuu left the laboratory, determined to find his companions.

At the place where the fight was taking place, the alarm started ringing. Kokuyo looked at Boruto and spoke:

—I came here because I followed the trail of the destroyed waste. Were you responsible?

Boruto nodded, not showing any concern.

—That's right. Those things kept coming back, so I deleted them all.

Sekiei looked at Mitsuki uneasily and asked:

—Mitsuki, is there any way to defeat him?

Mitsuki sighed, a mix of frustration and respect.

—I don't know. Boruto is a monster in combat... My father told me to be careful with him.

The created looked at Boruto, shocked by this revelation. Boruto glanced at a nearby table, walked over to it, and began examining the things on it. He took a bag in his hand, looked at it for a moment, and then set it down. Without looking back, he asked:

—Tell me, why do you want to look more human?

Kirara looked at him seriously, her purple eyes shining with energy as she replied:

—I want to experience more emotions… I want to be able to feel more, to find a better meaning in life. To me, those things on the table are beautiful.

Boruto glanced at her, his expression reflecting a hint of understanding. Then he spoke:

—I understand… So, that's why Mitsuki came with you. To find out if what she feels is real or just an illusion created by her father.

Boruto turned around and, in a thoughtful tone, continued:

—I'll give you some advice. From the moment you can move, you make your own decisions. But if that's not enough for you, then move forward without looking back. Observe and learn. Only then will you know if what you feel is true or not. You focus so much on humans that you forget what you really are. If you want to feel more... then do what I tell you.

The created ones fell silent, shocked by his words, as if Boruto had read their thoughts. After a moment of silence, Boruto added:

—I can feel their chakras slowly fading, but I also feel that they know how to become perfect… Although they seem to be afraid to do so.

The creatures could not respond, immersed in a mixture of astonishment and uncertainty. At that moment, an unknown voice resounded from the door:

—Don't pay attention to this guy. He's just human. We have to follow the master's plan.

The created looked towards the door, where a new figure was watching them with determination.

Boruto looked at the figure at the door with disdain and spoke coldly:

—I see you're their leader... Hmm, you think you're all that great, but you're nothing but trash.

Kuu, furious, drew his sword from his back and shouted:

—Prepare to attack! We'll take this guy down, whether he's a clone or the real one.

Mitsuki, hearing those words, stopped looking at Kuu and turned her gaze to Boruto in astonishment.

—You're a clone? Now it makes sense… That's why you didn't attack us right away. You didn't have the confidence that you could win.

Boruto stared back at him, with a defiant smile.

—It seems so, but I'll tell you something. Even though I'm a clone, I'm strong enough to take down a few of you.

At that moment, Boruto appeared next to Kuu and kicked him, sending him flying against the wall, creating a deafening roar. Boom! Boruto remained standing, observing the space around him.

"This place is quite spacious... ideal for moving around," he commented calmly.

Everyone was shocked by the speed and strength of Boruto's clone. From behind, Kokuyo tried to attack him, but Boruto disappeared in a flash and appeared in the spot where he had been standing. Kokuyo turned around, glaring at him.

Boruto looked at them all from the corner of his eye and, after a brief silence, he spoke in a firm voice:

"I don't want to fight with you now. I've come to like you, so I'll offer you something. You created ones, join me. I'll give you what you seek… You're incomplete, and I can complete you. The only condition is that you work for me. I don't know why you were created, but it was surely for a stupid reason. I, on the other hand, offer you freedom. You'll be able to move around the world without being tied to this village, exploring and observing everything. What do you say?"

The created ones exchanged glances, but no one responded. Boruto sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them and adding:

—No words, huh? Fine. I'll give you time to decide. You have until we meet again. If you haven't made up your mind by then... my real self will kill you all.

With those words, Boruto disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving the creatures in uncertainty.

Kuu emerged from the crater in the wall, furious.

—Damn it! Why did they let him get away? That guy stole the information from the lab!

The created looked at each other, surprised, as Mitsuki spoke up.

—That was just a clone, it didn't have the information. The original is the one who has it.

Kuu turned to Mitsuki and looked at him suspiciously.

—You're Mitsuki, right? Tell me, what do you know about him?

"His name is Boruto Uzumaki," Mitsuki replied calmly. "He is the son of the Seventh Hokage and the best genin in Konoha. He currently holds the rank of elite jounin. His talent is so great that not even Konoha can stop him… and what you faced was just a clone, weaker than the real one."

Kuu clenched his jaw, visibly irritated.

—Damn! We have to finish that heart today.

Mitsuki watched him, somewhat thoughtful.

—I heard you had an encounter with him before. What did he say to you?

Kuu frowned.

—He gave us 24 hours to finish what we are doing… and that means the heart.

Mitsuki thought for a moment and then nodded.

—We'd better get ready for battle. It'll be here in 24 hours.

Sekiei looked at him uneasily.

—Do you think we can beat him, Mitsuki?

Mitsuki was silent for a few moments before answering honestly.

—From what I just saw, he's gotten a lot stronger. The odds are low.

Kuu clenched his fists in determination.

—Damn it! Mitsuki, go to the doctor so he can examine you so we can work on the heart.

With his sword already placed on his back, Kuu left the place.

Sekiei approached Mitsuki and smiled at him with a slight gesture of support.

—I'll take you to the doctor. Don't worry.

Mitsuki nodded and began to walk alongside Sekiei, but was then stopped by Kaku.

—Mitsuki… what that guy said, is it true? Can he complete us?

Mitsuki paused for a moment, thoughtful, then continued forward.

—There is a good chance that he has a solution. But… he is very dangerous. I do not recommend following him. Even if he is right, his common sense is broken, distorted… he advances without caring about others, even if it means destroying everything in his path.

The created looked at each other, silently, as Mitsuki's words echoed in their minds.

In the sky, Boruto had his eyes closed. He slowly opened them and a smile appeared on his face.

"How interesting..." he murmured, observing the landscape from above.

He stood up and, with a calm but firm look, spoke again.

—You may go, Karasugan.

The crow, upon receiving the order, disappeared in a puff of smoke. At the same time, Boruto did the same, disappearing in a flash.

Inside the cave near the Rock Village, Sarada walked forward with a firm step. Upon entering, she saw her companions already gathered: Saku, Shikadai, Chocho and Inojin, who looked at her with relief.

"I'm glad to see you're okay. What do we do now?" he asked, taking a seat next to them.

—I'm glad you're okay too, Sarada. If you didn't arrive in an hour, we were going to go out looking for you —Saku replied.

Chocho walked over and hugged Sarada, who smiled, somewhat uncomfortably.

"I saw a lot of rubbish scattered along the way," Sarada murmured, looking at her companions.

—Now that we're all here, what are we going to do, Shikadai? —Saku asked, looking at the group's strategist.

Shikadai brought a hand to his chin, pondering.

—From what I could see, it seems that the Third Tsuchikage has taken control of the village. It is likely that Kurotsuchi, the Fourth Tsuchikage, has been imprisoned.

Everyone nodded, taking in the situation.

"So, what's the plan? We can't just leave without doing anything," Sarada said, worried.

Shikadai frowned thoughtfully.

"I have a plan, but I'm worried about something… Boruto hasn't shown up. With his speed, he should already be here. Or maybe they didn't send him," Shikadai replied, a note of doubt in his voice.

Saku sighed.

—We don't have time to worry about Boruto now. What's the plan, Shikadai?

—We will split into two teams. One will go to the village Kage's office to contact Konoha and report what is happening. The other team will search for the Fourth Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi.

Inojin intervened:

—Understood. How do we split up?

Shikadai nodded.

—We will keep the usual teams: Team 7 and Team 10. Team 10 will be in charge of reaching the Kage's office to contact Konoha, while Team 7 will search for the Fourth Tsuchikage. Afterwards, we will meet up and begin the search for Mitsuki.

Saku nodded.

—Understood. When do we start?

"We'll go tomorrow morning. We'll let the day pass so they can let their guard down," Shikadai explained.

In the silent, shadowy lair, Mitsuki lay on a gurney as a scanner slid over him, recording every detail of his condition. From the other side of a thick glass, Sekiei, the doctor, and Kuu watched intently. As the scan finished, a series of results appeared on the computer screen, causing an uneasy expression to appear on the doctor's face.

"We have a problem, Mr. Kuu," the doctor said cautiously. "Mitsuki's heart has an ancient cursed seal. It's from Orochimaru."

Kuu frowned, a mix of anger and impatience showing on his face.

—You have to take it off and make the heart. Understood? We don't have time for mistakes.

The doctor gulped, clearly intimidated, and nodded quickly before beginning to manipulate various controls on his computer.

"I'll go inform the master of what's going on," Kuu said before leaving the laboratory, leaving Sekiei and the doctor with Mitsuki.

Once Kuu left, Sekiei entered the room where Mitsuki was being monitored and approached with a worried expression.

"Mitsuki, are you okay?" he asked with genuine concern.

Mitsuki sat up, calmly standing up.

"I'm fine, Sekiei. But this situation is complicated. The seal on my heart is a safety measure from Orochimaru. I don't think they can do much about it," he replied, his tone neutral, though a spark of uncertainty flashed in his eyes.

Sekiei tried to reassure him, showing him an optimistic smile.

—Don't worry so much. I'm sure we'll find a solution. Everything will be fine.

At this moment, the doctor entered the room, and although his face was serious, his tone was more relaxed.

—You're right, Mitsuki. Don't worry too much. We'll run a few more tests, and then we can create a new heart.

Mitsuki nodded, agreeing to the procedure, as tests continued in the operating room.

Elsewhere, in a secluded, dimly lit room, Onoki, the elderly and legendary Third Tsuchikage, sat on his bed. In front of him, kneeling respectfully, was Kuu, who stood up when he noticed that his father had awakened.

"Good morning, Father," Kuu said, bowing slightly.

Onoki looked at him with a questioning look and spoke in a firm voice, although the tiredness was evident on his face.

"What happened? Were they able to find the genin or create the heart they needed?" he asked, hoping for good news.

Kuu shook his head, his face darkened with frustration.

—This morning someone infiltrated our facilities and stole important information.

Anger immediately flashed across Onoki's face, who, unable to help it, frowned and began to cough lightly due to the tension.

—And what did you do? Did you kill him? Did you manage to stop him?

Kuu looked down, feeling the weight of his father's disapproval.

—Father… we couldn't stop him. He managed to escape.

Onoki took a deep breath, his anger evident, but his years of experience made him restrain himself.

"Who was it?" he finally asked, his tone more controlled now.

Kuu, concerned at his father's deterioration, answered him cautiously.

—He said his name was Boruto Uzumaki.

Hearing the name, Onoki opened his eyes in surprise. A spark of concern and recognition crossed his gaze.

"So it was that brat…" he muttered with a hint of resignation. "Damn, this could be a problem. What else did he say?"

Kuu remembered Boruto's words and replied:

—He said he would attack in 24 hours, giving us time to finish what we are doing.

Onoki remained silent for a few moments, pondering the words. Finally, he sighed and looked at him sternly.

—I don't want to hurt him... but if he keeps meddling in my affairs, kill him, Kuu.

Kuu nodded, ready to obey without hesitation.

—I understand, Father. The next time I see him, I will attack without mercy.

Onoki, watching Kuu seriously, thought silently: Forgive me, Naruto… but this is for a greater peace.

Meanwhile, at the abandoned factory in Konoha, Boruto was focused on reviewing important information. He was sitting in front of a computer, located on a table behind a throne, near several recovery machines. After reading the data on the screen, he smiled, satisfied, and looked at the contents of the table: several test tubes lined up containing DNA samples.

Looking at the tubes, Boruto muttered: So these are the DNAs that the other clones sent... then he thought.

—The most interesting thing here is not the creation of beings like Mitsuki or the others… but the possibility of transferring kekkei genkai to other living beings .

Boruto stood up and slowly walked to his throne, where he sat down, letting his mind wander between the plans now taking shape in his mind.

"I just need to get the techniques from the other villages… and I will be able to achieve things that no one has imagined," he whispered, his eyes shining with determination and lust for power.

In the Rock Village, night had fallen, blanketing the place in an eerie calm. In an operating room, Kuu lay unconscious on a gurney as the doctor carefully prepared to implant a heart contained in a glass container. Watching from a window, the created, along with Mitsuki and the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, watched the procedure closely.

Onoki broke the silence, his voice heavy with the weight of years and difficult decisions:

"This will take time. It is best that you go and keep watch," he said, nodding towards the created.

They all obeyed without question, retreating from the room one by one. Mitsuki, however, stayed a few seconds longer, watching the operation in silence,

Onoki noticed this and glanced at him before speaking, in a lower tone.

—Mitsuki, this wouldn't have been possible without your help. You're free to do whatever you want. I just want... for no one else to suffer. For everything to be at peace.

Mitsuki nodded slightly, his thoughts revolving around those words. He turned to leave, but before he left, he muttered to himself:

—Boruto was right.

The first light of day was illuminating the Rock Village as the genin teams, after completing their missions, gathered in an alley. Next to them was the Fourth Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi, who looked at them approvingly.

"I see you did well," Shikadai commented.

"There weren't that many guards. We got rid of them as quickly as we could," Saku replied with satisfaction.

Shikadai nodded, also satisfied, and added:

—I contacted Konoha and informed them of everything we saw.

Kurotsuchi, crossing her arms, watched them with interest.

—They are good genin. The Hokage asked me to protect them and return them to Konoha, but I see that they know how to defend themselves. I will go meet my shinobi. I imagine they came for their partner.

The genin nodded with a smile, and Shikadai, curious, asked:

—Tsuchikage, why did Onoki lock her up?

Kurotsuchi sighed before answering:

—There's no point in keeping it from him. About five years ago, old man Onoki's grandson was killed by some rogue ninja. His dream was to be like the Hokage and protect everyone. When he died, Onoki was devastated. He decided to follow his grandson's dream, but... a few months ago he presented a project to create artificial beings, "waste" we call them. I cancelled the project because of its risks, but he secretly went ahead with it, and this is the result.

The genin nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Without another word, Kurotsuchi began to jump between the buildings, and the genin looked at each other before setting off, determined to find their partner.

Moments later, at the entrance of the main building, the created, the doctor, and Mitsuki were gathered under the leadership of Kuu, with Onoki in front. Suddenly, an explosion echoed through the village, catching everyone's attention. In front of them appeared the genin of Konoha, along with Kurotsuchi and his shinobi. Without wasting any time, a series of fights broke out around the village: the shinobi of Konoha and the Rock facing off against Onoki's created.

The atmosphere was tense as the combatants faced each other. Onoki glared at Kuu, who was clutching his chest, clearly shaken.

"What's wrong, Kurotsuchi?" Onoki asked, unable to understand what was happening.

Kurotsuchi, with a frown on her face, replied:

—What does this mean, old man?

Onoki sighed, somewhat exasperated, and said:

—You wouldn't understand, you're too young.

At that moment, Saku, his voice full of despair, shouted:

—Mitsuki, come with us! We are your companions!

Sekiei, observing the change in Mitsuki, was quick to place his arm over her shoulder, saying with determination:

—He is our partner, not yours.

But Mitsuki, without thinking twice, pushed Sekiei's arm away and leapt towards where his companions were.

"I see you're all doing well. I'm glad," Mitsuki said sincerely.

Sekiei, completely stunned by Mitsuki's decision, took a couple of steps towards him, shouting:

—What does this mean, Mitsuki?!

Mitsuki turned around slowly, with a serious expression.

"I wanted to know if what I felt was true or false, and also what kind of organization they were. Now I know," he replied, his gaze full of firmness.

The "Created" glared at him, and Sekiei took a few steps towards Mitsuki, but Kuu stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I see that my conversation was very helpful. But if this is what you choose, you will only die," Kuu said in a serious tone.

Mitsuki, with a tense calm, replied:

—This is what I want. But when I joined you, I considered you my companions.

He made a sign with his hands, and in a flash of energy, he unleashed a powerful Raiton attack. The lightning streaked through the air and struck Kuu, who was about to speak, but instead spat out blood and screamed while clutching his chest. Sparks of electrical energy shot out from his body, and the fury on his face intensified.

Mitsuki, showing no remorse, spoke coldly:

—You think I wouldn't do anything. Now it's over.

Saku, watching the scene with a smile, gave Mitsuki a friendly punch on the arm.

"Welcome, Mitsuki!" he said with a warm expression.

Sarada, seeing what happened, did the same, punching him in the other arm while smiling.

"We'll talk about this when we get back to Konoha," he added, with his usual confidence.

Onoki, seeing the scene, glared at Kuu, his face filled with anger.

"What did you do to him?" he shouted, while Kuu, weakened by the attack, struggled to his feet.

Kuu, with anger reflected in his eyes, replied:

—My heart is not working anymore...

He glared at Mitsuki and pointed at the doctor.

"Let's go to the lab, we have to get this off me," he ordered.

The doctor, nodding quickly, began to walk into the building. Onoki, without wasting any time, followed them, shouting:

—You guys, stop them!

The "Created" looked at each other, realizing that the situation was becoming even more dangerous. Without hesitation, several "waste" began to appear, ready for a new confrontation.

Tension was mounting in the air when suddenly a familiar voice was heard from the side, interrupting the chaos.

Kurotsuchi, recognizing this, frowned and said:

—Brat, I see you've arrived.

Boruto, without changing his posture, calmly replied:

—Well, it took me a while to get there.

Then he fixed his gaze on the "Created" and, firmly, continued:

—So these are the Konoha genin... I'll take care of them. You guys can go after the others, what do you say?

Sarada, worried, stepped forward and asked:

—Boruto, are you okay? Can you do it alone?

Boruto started walking forward without hesitation and confidently replied:

—I'm fine. I'll make a way for them.

Those present, although surprised, nodded silently.

When Boruto reached the front of the stairs leading to the building's entrance, he stopped and addressed the "Created", challenging them.

"You," he said in a deep voice, "I want you to move and let them pass."

The "Created" glared at him, but Boruto didn't falter. His tone became even more serious.

"If you don't, I'll take you away," he warned calmly.

Kako stepped to the side, looking at Boruto with a mix of defiance.

"I want to fight you," he said, preparing for combat.

The other "Created" looked at him in silence and, little by little, began to do the same.

Boruto, I look at the genin out of the corner of my eye and speak.

—You may pass. Follow them, but only the six of you. The rest will go to support the village shinobi —I order them.

Everyone nodded and without wasting any time, the genin and Kurotsuchi jumped towards the entrance, starting to run in the direction of their objective.

Sekiei, full of fury, looked at Mitsuki, who, with a calm expression, replied:

-I'm sorry.

Boruto watched as the "Created" descended around him, their gazes filled with fury and defiance. Cold and unfazed, he spoke in a controlled voice:

—Now that the discomfort is gone, what do you say to my proposal?

Kaku stepped forward, his expression showing a mix of contempt and desire to fight.

—I'm not interested in your proposal. I just want to fight you.

Sekiei, not hiding his anger, interrupted with a threat:

—I'll blow you up and then I'll go after Mitsuki.

Meanwhile, Kokuyo, in a more thoughtful attitude, spoke in a curious tone.

—Tell me, what will change if I join you?

Boruto stared at him and replied with calculated seriousness.

"You fight for a stupid reason. At least I'll give you something worthwhile." He raised his arm and clenched his fist in determination. "I offer you power. With it, you could accomplish anything."

Kokuyo hesitated, but eventually shook her head.

"Your offer is tempting, but no," he declined, although his voice revealed a hint of uncertainty.

Boruto's gaze slid to Kirara, who was silent, observing the situation. He coldly asked her:

—And you? What do you choose?

Kirara remained silent for a moment, her companions looking at her expectantly. Finally, she spoke, her voice filled with a suppressed longing.

—Why are you helping us? You said you could give us a heart, that you could complete us... Is that true?

A sinister smile crossed Boruto's face as he replied.

—It seems that your will is not entirely with them. And as for your first question... Well, you can say that it is a whim. You are beings without a purpose of your own, you just follow the path that someone else has laid out for you. I offer you another path; it is up to you to take it. And as for the second... It is not difficult to help you; after all, you are made of chakra.

Kirara frowned in confusion and asked:

—What do you mean we are made of chakra?

Boruto, keeping an enigmatic tone, replied:

—I can't say more. We'll only talk about it if you join in.

The "Created" looked at each other, and Kirara jumped back, making a decision. Her companions glared at her, and Kaku shouted at her, frustrated:

—Damn you! How dare you betray us?

Kirara looked at him firmly, without regret.

—I don't want this to be the end of me, fighting alone for someone who doesn't care about us. You know very well what our wish is... I want to live, not just exist this way. I want to feel like everyone else. I want to be free.

At that moment, Boruto smiled and, with a swift movement, appeared beside her, hitting her in the back of the head with precision, knocking her unconscious. He caught her before she fell to the ground and took out a scroll. Without wasting any time, he sealed Kirara inside it and put the scroll away.

"I can't allow others to know about you," he murmured with a calculating look.

As he put away the scroll, the "Created" looked at Boruto with fury and confusion, the tension in the air increasing.

Boruto looked at his opponents, who seemed surprised. At that moment, Kaku launched his attack with his tonfas, and Boruto dodged it by tilting his body to the side. Kokuyo continued with his attacks, but Boruto dodged them without much effort. Finally, Kaku stepped back and suddenly, a white centipede emerged from the ground, coiling around Boruto's legs. Sekiei shouted:

—Katsu!

The centipede began to glow and exploded.

—Boom!

Kaku, believing he had guessed right, spoke:

—It wasn't bad. We hit it.

However, from behind, Boruto's voice echoed from the spot where he had previously been standing.

—I see you're pretty stupid. What else are you going to try?

Kaku quickly clasped his hands together and turned around.

—Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu!

A white cube appeared and was thrown towards Boruto, expanding to a large size. Unfazed, Boruto extended his right hand with his palm open.

—First phase.

The jutsu stopped dead in its tracks and was absorbed into Boruto's palm. The "Created" were speechless in shock.

Boruto looked at his hand and thought, So I can use it under the glove, lol. Then, he turned his gaze towards the "Created" and declared,

—The game is over.

Kaku ran towards him, but in an instant Boruto appeared in front of him, grabbing his face and slamming it into the ground with a powerful impact.

—Boom!

Boruto stood up, and Kaku's head, along with his body, disintegrated into dust.

"Who's next?" he asked coldly.

Kokuyo jumped towards Boruto from above, attacking him, but at that moment a chain of chakra pierced Kokuyo and slammed him into the ground, causing another rumble.

—Boom!

Kokuyo began to disintegrate into dust as Boruto's chakra chain returned to his body.

Sekiei tried to jump back to escape, but Boruto appeared above him and kicked him, slamming him into the ground with a loud bang.

—Boom!

Boruto landed on his feet next to Sekiei, who, panicked, grabbed his leg and pleaded:

—Please forgive me… I will join you. I just want to live.

Boruto looked at him with disdain and replied:

—Your will to live is stronger than the cause you follow.

He calmly raised his leg and crushed Sekiei's head, causing it to disintegrate into dust.

Boruto looked at his foot and commented, annoyed:

—It's covered in dust now. What a nuisance.

At that moment, a cylinder-shaped Jinton technique emerged from the building, splitting the structure in two and causing a deafening roar.

—BOOM!

Boruto looked up and muttered:

—It seems that the fight is still going on there… but this chakra… hmm. It seems that they couldn't stop it.

Without further ado, he disappeared in a Shunshin, heading towards the origin of the impact.

A few minutes before...

The genin ran at full speed towards the direction of the laboratory.

Inside the lab, the doctor was hastily tending to Kuu, removing his heart, which was completely destroyed. Cracks began to appear on Kuu's body, and as he opened his eyes and gritted his teeth, he muttered furiously:

—Damn Mitsuki…

Onoki looked at the doctor and asked:

—Is there any way to put another heart in?

The doctor shook his head.

—It will take time to make one, at least half an hour.

Onoki nodded, turned around and said:

—I will go outside to fight. You create his heart.

With an effort, Onoki rose from his wheelchair and began to float. He left the laboratory, leaving Kuu under the supervision of the doctor. Kuu tried to get up, but the doctor stopped him.

—That attack damaged part of your body. Rest.

Kuu lay back down on the stretcher, as the genin's footsteps echoed through the hallways. As they turned the corner, they stopped in front of Onoki and Kurotsuchi spoke, in a serious tone:

—Old man, what are you trying to achieve with all this?

Floating in the air, Onoki replied:

—I just want peace. I don't want anyone else to suffer. Do you understand?

Saku stepped forward.

—Onoki, when we were in Konoha, we were able to spend time together. I know you're not bad and that you lost your grandson... I'm sorry. But he wouldn't have wanted this.

Onoki, visibly annoyed, interrupted.

—Don't talk about him. His dream was always to be Hokage and bring peace, but the world took that away from me. I'm just following his will.

Sarada, with an expression of compassion, added:

—Mr. Onoki, we are truly sorry for the loss of your grandson, but this is not the way. You are only becoming what your grandson wanted to avoid.

Kurotsuchi looked at her grandfather sadly and apologized:

—I'm sorry, old man... I should have thought about you more and taken better care of you.

Onoki began to descend until he touched the ground.

"I just want to do what he couldn't," she said, almost in a whisper.

Kurotsuchi slowly approached and, with a soft voice, replied:

—I'm so sorry… but this is over.

Before Kurotsuchi could approach to help Onoki, a voice echoed from the end of the hallway.

—Father, it seems your will is weak.

Everyone looked in that direction and saw Kuu walking towards them, with a glowing sphere pulsating in his chest. Onoki turned around and, surprised, asked:

—Kuu, where did you get that heart?

Kuu replied, with a cold smile:

—The doctor is dead… But well, it is time to fight. Your peace does not interest me, father. It is stupidity.

Kuu clasped his hands together and exclaimed:

—Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu!

With a quick movement, he generated a cylinder of energy that spread out, growing in size and destroying everything in its path. Those present barely managed to react when the technique ascended, dividing the building in two and causing a devastating rumble BOOM!