SENJU PARK
With a dismissive wave of Hikaru's hand, the oppressive pressure that had been suffocating the park seemed to dissipate. The invisible barrier shimmered and vanished. The eerie stillness of the fallen clones also began to fade, their forms dissolving into nothingness, leaving behind only the churned earth and the lingering scent of ozone.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed in utter confusion, exchanged bewildered glances with Sai. 'What just happened? One moment we were trapped, facing certain doom, and the next… nothing? The red barrier, the creepy serpent, even those silent, blank-faced clones – all gone at once. It was totally unexpected.'
Naruto stood in the center of the ravaged park, his chest heaving slightly, the golden glow of Kurama's chakra now completely receded. He stared at the empty space where Hikaru's clone had just vanished, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. 'Don't tell me… did he actually run out of chakra? That clone was strong, but maybe maintaining that barrier and all those copies took more out of him than I thought.'
A small, almost predatory grin stretched across Naruto's face. 'If that's the case…'
But the grin vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a look of intense, unwavering seriousness. 'No. Don't get cocky, Naruto.' That brief moment of reprieve, the sudden absence of immediate threat, was a precious opportunity.
It was the first real opening he'd had since this whole nightmare began. Nothing was actively trying to kill him or his comrades at this very instant. This was his chance, his single, unobstructed moment to finally confront and defeat the one responsible for the devastation before him, the one whose actions had already brought ruin to a village of the past. The weight of that responsibility settled heavily on his shoulders. 'I won't waste this chance.'
'Damn it!' Hikaru thought, hovering high above the ravaged Senju Park, his Rinnegan eyes narrowed in frustration. 'Of all the times to run out of chakra! Just when I had them cornered, ready to wipe out this entire pathetic resistance…' He glanced down at the two remaining Kurama avatars, the golden chakra forms flickering slightly.
Within one, he could make out the figures of Kakashi, Naruto, Sai, Himekawa, and a cluster of other battered shinobi. Naruto seemed to be speaking, his mouth moving, but his words were lost in the distance.
Then, in a blink, both Kurama avatars vanished. One moment they were there, shielding the remaining Leaf shinobi, and the next, they were gone. All that remained was Naruto, standing amidst the destruction, his body now radiating a vibrant yellowish-orange glow – his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode was still active.
Naruto gave a subtle nod, a silent signal to the group he had been protecting. Immediately, the remaining shinobi scattered, running in various directions across the park's vicinity. Hikaru watched them, a frown creasing his brow. 'Where exactly are they all going? It's not a straight retreat… they seem to have a specific destination in mind.'
Among the retreating crowd of shinobi, Kakashi moved with a swift, practiced efficiency that belied his earlier shock. Hikaru, watching their movements from above, focused his gaze on the silver-haired former Hokage. 'Why is that Hatake brat running with such purpose? There's definitely something they're planning.'
In the very next instant, the familiar surroundings of the ravaged park began to shift and distort. A soft, purple luminescence emanated from the ground, spreading rapidly until the entire area was bathed in an eerie violet light. Hikaru's eyes widened slightly as he took in the sudden change. He looked around, his gaze sweeping across the now purple-tinged landscape, and then upwards.
To his growing horror, a massive, intricate purple barrier had materialized, sealing off a large section of the park. And directly across from him, within the confines of this new, ominous enclosure, stood his primary target: the Seventh Hokage... Uzumaki Naruto.
Outside the ominous purple barrier that now enclosed a significant portion of Senju Park, Kakashi stood with the other surviving shinobi. The violet glow cast an eerie light on their faces, a mixture of relief at their escape and deep concern for their Hokage etched upon them. The barrier, intricate and pulsating with chakra, had been erected with swift precision. Kakashi recognized the familiar weave – it was the work of four barrier specialists, their earlier assignment now taking on a desperate new significance.
Inside the barrier, only Naruto and the menacing figure of Hikaru remained, a stark contrast to the scores of fallen shinobi whose still forms littered the ravaged ground.
Just then, a small group of figures arrived at the edge of the devastated park, their expressions a blend of shock and urgency.
It was Boruto, Sarada, Mitsuki, Shikadai, and Inojin. They took in the scene of destruction, their eyes wide with disbelief before spotting their parents among the survivors outside the purple enclosure.
Inojin rushed towards Sai, his voice filled with worry. "Dad! What's going on? What is this purple thing?"
Sai's expression was grim as he addressed Inojin and the rest of the young shinobi. "Naruto… he's fighting that Rinnegan user alone, inside that barrier."
Sarada's eyes widened in disbelief. "All alone?"
Boruto, his gaze fixed on the pulsating purple barrier, finally caught a clear glimpse of the figure facing his father. His eyes widened, and he stared intently at the man. He had a sharp, angular face and his eyes… they were a striking, unsettling shade of purple, the intricate ripples of the Rinnegan clearly visible.
Seeing that face, a wave of shock and something akin to recognition washed over Boruto. He stumbled back, his face paling, and he swayed precariously.
Shikadai, ever observant, quickly reached out and grabbed Boruto's arm, steadying him. "Boruto? What's the matter? Are you okay ?"
Boruto abruptly pulled his arm away, his breath coming in short gasps. Without a word, his eyes darted around frantically before he turned and bolted away from Senju Park, his movements erratic and desperate.
"Boruto!" Mitsuki called out, his voice laced with concern.
"Boruto, wait a minute!" Sarada exclaimed, taking a step forward, but Boruto was already sprinting away, disappearing into the night and the young friends followed him.
A collective gasp of relief and dawning hope rippled through the surviving shinobi. Freedom. An escape route had opened.
Naruto turned his head slightly, a small, reassuring smile gracing his lips as he met Kakashi's gaze and gave a subtle nod.
'Naruto…' Kakashi's heart clenched, a wave of emotion washing over him. 'He's willing to put himself on the line like this… to face such overwhelming power alone, just so the others can escape. Even I don't know if I could make such a sacrifice so readily. He truly carries the weight of this village on his shoulders.' A lump formed in his throat, and he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod in return, his thoughts a silent acknowledgment. 'You really are the greatest Hokage, Naruto. Please… please don't fall.'
Hikaru scoffed, his amusement returning as he watched the fleeing figures. "Sentimental fool," he sneered. "You think you can protect everyone while locking me inside this barrier ?" He refocused his gaze on Naruto, his Rinnegan swirling with dark chakra. "Very well, Hokage. You want to play hero? Let's see how long that lasts."
The true battle between Naruto and Hikaru had begun. Naruto, now no longer needing to maintain a large protective shield, focused his immense chakra. The golden chakra of Kurama blazed around him, his whisker marks deepening. "Kurama!" Naruto roared internally, channeling the Nine-Tails' power.
Two massive, swirling Rasenshuriken crackled into existence in his hands, potent with his own chakra and the raw power of the Nine-Tails, the wind blades whining fiercely.
Hikaru launched another dark chakra attack, a volley of sharp projectiles aimed to overwhelm Naruto. "Hmph! You think those toys can stop me?" he taunted. But Naruto met the attack head-on, hurling the Rasenshuriken forward with a mighty throw. The wind blades tore through the dark chakra projectiles, the collision creating a shockwave that ripped through the already ravaged landscape, sending dust and debris flying.
Hikaru, surprised by the raw power of the attack, 'That brat got stronger than before...Don't tell me the villagers are his strength. How fascinating, once upon a time they used to be my strength too.' In that very instant, Naruto closed the distance with a blur.
A powerful right hook, blazing with orange chakra, slammed into Hikaru's side. "Take this!" Naruto yelled.
The impact sent Hikaru reeling back with a grunt. 'He's fast!' Before he could fully recover, Naruto unleashed another devastating blow, his leg a streak of orange as he delivered a chakra-enhanced kick aimed at Hikaru's chest. "And this!"
Hikaru was forced to create a shadowy shield, a dark barrier erupting in front of him, but the force of Naruto's kick cracked it. He staggered back, a look of genuine surprise now etched on his face. "Impossible… a Jinchuriki… this strong?" 'Damn it, I'm almost out of chakra. I can't hold much longer.' He didn't launch a counter-attack, his movements becoming sluggish.
Naruto pressed his advantage relentlessly. He wouldn't give Hikaru a chance to regroup. With a final, explosive burst of speed – a yellow flash – he was ready to launch a third, even more potent attack and was now in full-blown Kurama Mode, the golden chakra cloaking his entire body.
Two massive, chakra-infused hands emerged from his back, one crackling with red chakra and the other with blue. The red and blue chakra intertwined and began to swirl violently, forming a swirling vortex of purple energy – a Tailed Beast Bomb, aimed directly at Hikaru.
Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Sakura and Shikamaru arrived at the edge of the devastated park, their faces grim as they surveyed the scene of destruction. They had been alerted to the emergency and had rushed to assist, but the sight that met them was truly horrifying. The ground was littered with the fallen, and the air was thick with the lingering scent of blood and ozone.
Just as they stepped closer to the edge of the barrier, a deafening boom echoed from within. The ground beneath their feet trembled violently. When the dust settled, the view inside the barrier was obscured by a thick cloud of smoke.
The thick cloud of smoke that had billowed outwards after the explosion gradually began to dissipate, carried away by the gentle night breeze. As the air cleared, the gruesome scenery within the confines of the purple barrier became visible once more.
The once vibrant green of Senju Park, with its meticulously maintained grasses, was now a horrifying tableau of carnage. The ground was stained a deep, sickening red, soaked with blood, and scarred by deep craters and fissures from the destructive power unleashed.
Scattered across this ravaged landscape lay the still, broken bodies of countless shinobi, their forms twisted and lifeless amidst the debris. It was a stark testament to the brutal efficiency of the battle that had just taken place.
Amidst this devastation, only one figure stood upright. It was Uzumaki Naruto. The vibrant yellowish-orange glow of his Kurama Chakra Mode was slowly fading, the powerful chakra receding until he appeared as his normal self. His once pristine white haori, the proud symbol of his office, was now dirty and torn, bearing the heavy, soot-smudged kanji for "THE SEVENTH HOKAGE" across the back.
He stood panting slightly, his blue eyes scanning the scene with a grim weariness.
Nearby, lying amongst the broken remnants of the park, was the shattered form of a wooden clone. Its features were unmistakably Naruto's, but it was now splintered and broken, a silent testament to the force of the attack it had seemingly absorbed.
The purple barrier that enclosed Naruto and the devastation of Senju Park was slowly shrinking, the intricate lines of its surface fading as it contracted.
Outside, the mass of surviving shinobi was visible, their faces a mixture of relief and lingering fear as they watched the barrier recede.Naruto stood in the same spot amidst the carnage, his back to the approaching crowd.
Then, in a sudden burst of collective emotion, a wave of shouts and cheers erupted from the shinobi. They surged forward, a mass of movement breaking their previously hesitant stance, running towards their Hokage.
"Lord Seventh!" one shinobi yelled, his voice cracking with emotion.
"He's alright! He did it!" another shouted, tears welling in their eyes.
A young kunoichi, her face streaked with dirt, cried out, "Hokage-sama! Thank goodness!"
"We knew you could do it, Lord Seventh!" a more seasoned shinobi exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air.
Their joy was palpable. They had witnessed the terrifying power of their enemy and the devastating losses they had suffered. To see Naruto standing, weary but seemingly unharmed, and to know that they themselves had survived this brutal encounter, was a wave of relief that washed over them.
Their cherished Seventh Hokage was safe, and by extension, so were they. The cheers grew louder, a testament to their unwavering faith and the deep bond they shared with the protector of their village. They ran towards him, their voices a chorus of relief and adoration.
"I'm glad you're alright, Naruto-nii-sama," Hanabi said, her voice trembling slightly with relief as she stood near the other shinobi, her Byakugan having scanned the area to confirm his well-being.
Konohamaru, standing a little further back, his gaze fixed on Naruto, clenched his fist in silent admiration. 'Finally, the strategy worked at last,' he thought to himself, a small smile gracing his lips. 'I never expected it to be the turning point of the battle… but then again, this is Naruto-nii-chan. He always pulls through.'
The surviving shinobi had formed a tight circle around Naruto, their faces illuminated by the faint glow of the receding purple barrier and the scattered emergency lights that had flickered on in the ravaged park. Naruto looked at each of them, his blue eyes filled with gratitude and a deep understanding.
"Everyone," he began, his voice carrying a quiet strength, "what you did out there, holding the line, trusting in the plan… that was incredible. You understood the timing, you knew when to retreat, when to create the opening. That discipline, that trust in each other… that's what saved us."
"We just did what you told us, Hokage-sama," a young medic-nin said, wiping blood from their brow.
"But it wasn't just about following orders," Naruto countered gently. "It was about understanding why. You knew that creating that brief window, even with the risk, was our only chance. You acted without hesitation, and that courage… that's what made all the difference."
Sai stood a distance away, leaning slightly against a relatively undamaged tree, his dark eyes observing the scene with a thoughtful expression. 'Naruto really has a gift for making people believe,' he mused internally, his gaze then the at the ravaged ground, ' At all the lives lost… logically, fear should be the dominant emotion. No one should have listened so readily, the risk was immense. But… you can't underestimate his ability to inspire hope, even in the face of despair.' A faint, warm smile touched Sai's lips, a rare display of genuine emotion.
Sakura and Shikamaru stood a short distance from the gathered shinobi and their praised Hokage, their expressions a mixture of relief and grim concern. Sakura watched Naruto, a soft, and warm smile surrounding her face thought that 'Naruto… you were incredible. You faced something terrifying and you protected everyone. Keep shining like that, our Hokage.'
Her thoughts were gently interrupted by a familiar voice. "Oi, Sakura, Shikamaru. Where have you two been?"
Sakura turned, her eyes widening slightly. "Kakashi-sensei," she said, a wave of relief washing over her at the sight of her former teacher.
Shikamaru gave a slight bow of his head. "Rokudaime-sama," he acknowledged respectfully.
"Apologies for arriving late and not being able to assist on the battlefield," Shikamaru continued, his brow furrowed in a familiar thoughtful manner. "Sakura and I were confirming the situation back in the village."
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed with concern. "And what's the condition?" he asked, his voice serious.
Shikamaru sighed, running a hand through his spiky hair. "It's worse than expected. Here," he gestured to the blood-soaked ground and the fallen bodies with a sweep of his hand, "as you can see, we've suffered heavy losses. But in the village, while the evacuation was mostly successful, there are still reports of missing villagers. We're still trying to account for everyone."
"Also," Sakura added, her expression still tight with worry, "the sensory unit is reporting no lingering presence of any clones of that Rinnegan user anywhere around here."
A visible wave of relief washed over Kakashi's face, his single eye softening slightly.
"That's… some good news, at least."
However, Sakura's brow remained furrowed, and her gaze was now fixed on the northern horizon. "But there's other bad news," she said, her voice grave. "The sensory team is picking up massive chakra signatures… something huge happening near the walls."
She pointed a finger towards the north, her arm outstretched. "Look."
As they followed her gaze, a disturbing sight began to unfold in the distance. Against the backdrop of the night sky, dark, tendril-like shapes, almost like a rising black forest, were becoming visible atop the silhouette of Konoha's imposing walls. And amidst this ominous growth, two colossal figures could be discerned, locked in a fierce struggle. One pulsed with a deep violet energy, wielding a massive, lightning-infused sword. The other radiated a menacing crimson aura, its own gigantic blade clashing against the violet one with sparks that momentarily lit up the night.
"That… that's a Susanoo," Shikamaru murmured, his eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"Two of them…" Sakura breathed, her voice filled with dread. "One of them… the violet… that's Sasuke kun's."
Across the darkened expanse of the night sky, slicing through the otherwise silent cityscape, came the distinct sound of someone running at incredible speed. Footfalls, light yet rapid, echoed briefly before fading as the figure leaped from one rooftop to another.
The moon, a pale disc hanging high above, cast long, sharp shadows from the angular shapes of the houses below, painting the familiar village in an ethereal, almost ghostly light. The sky itself was a deep, star-dusted black, providing a stark contrast to the occasional flickering lights emanating from the windows below.
The figure moving across the rooftops was a young boy with a shock of unruly, sun-kissed blonde hair that seemed to catch the faint moonlight, giving it a slight golden sheen. His eyes were tightly closed, his brow furrowed in concentration or perhaps distress, and his small fists were clenched tightly at his sides, as if bracing himself against an unseen force.
As he momentarily paused on the edge of a tiled roof, bathed in the moon's soft glow, two distinct whisker-like markings were visible on each cheek, betraying his identity. The boy, driven by an unknown urgency, was none other than Uzumaki Boruto.
He continued his frantic dash across the rooftops, a lone figure propelled by an unseen turmoil through the silent, sleeping village.
Not far behind Boruto, their figures also leaping across the rooftops in pursuit, were Sarada, Mitsuki, Shikadai, and Inojin.
"Boruto, wait up!" Sarada called out, her voice carrying a hint of frustration.
Mitsuki, ever agile, bounded effortlessly after him. "Boruto, where are you going?"
Shikadai, though less enthusiastic about the rooftop chase, followed with a sigh.
"Troublesome person… what's his deal?"
Inojin, keeping pace with the others, added, "Boruto! We just want to talk!"
Meanwhile, Boruto continued his headlong flight, his internal turmoil a tempest mirroring his frantic movements. 'Damn it… how could I have been so blind? That scroll… its importance was right in front of me, and I just… ignored it. How could I have been so stupidly scared? And why… why does it feel like this is all my fault?' His breath hitched in his throat, the weight of his realization pressing down on him.
Suddenly, a voice, deep and resonant, filled the night air, seemingly coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. It was a mature, gravelly tone that cut through Boruto's frantic thoughts and the shouts of his pursuing friends.
"YOU'RE RIGHT. IT ALL BEGAN WITH ME."
---
QUIZ QUESTION!:
Who spoke the line, "YOU'RE RIGHT. IT ALL BEGAN WITH ME," at the very end of Chapter 32?
Options:
A) Uzumaki Boruto
B) A mysterious, mature voice
C) An older version of Uzumaki Boruto
D) Hatake Kakashi
Share your answers in the comments down below!