In the previous chapter: The battle between Boruto and Urashhiki reached its most critical point. Boruto used Karma and Jougan to face his enemy, while Urashhiki unleashed his full power with his Golden Rinnegan and devastating attacks. Both fought to the limit, leaving the battlefield in ruins. Despite his injuries, Boruto refused to give up. With the help of Momoshhiki, he managed to recover and surpassed his own limits once again. Urashhiki, desperate, launched his final attack, but Boruto, determined to finish the fight, counterattacked with all his might, piercing him and ending his life. After the hard battle, Boruto fell to his knees and then on his back, watching as the rain continued to fall. With his body exhausted and pain running through him, his eyes slowly closed, losing consciousness.
The rain continued to fall on the battlefield, as the night stretched out in all its splendor. Several hours passed before the storm finally ceased, leaving behind a soaked and silent landscape.
Deep in Boruto's mind, a voice echoed.
—Brat, wake up… It's time to get up, don't you think?
The mocking tone turned impatient.
—Brat, come on!
Suddenly, Boruto opened his eyes. His breathing was heavy as his gaze drifted off into the clear sky. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still damp, reflecting the silvery glow of the moon, which reigned alone in the darkness.
From inside, Momoshhiki spoke in a dry tone:
—Brat, you almost died. Your heart stopped for a few seconds.
Boruto, still not moving, replied in a tired voice:
—Apparently, the rebound was stronger than I thought… I felt like I was falling to the bottom of the sea without being able to do anything.
Momoshhiki sighed in resignation.
—We'd better get back now. You won't be able to hold out much longer, do you understand? Your body is in a terrible state.
Boruto sighed and nodded slightly.
—I understand… I'll apply first aid and we'll get through this.
He tried to sit up, but a searing pain shot through his body. He clenched his jaw and, with great effort, managed to sit up. Then, slowly, he stood up and began to walk out of the crater.
After a while, he reached the edge, where the grass was still standing, but the trees around him were uprooted, completely destroyed. Boruto paid them little attention and sat down on a fallen log.
With a hand seal, he summoned several scrolls and placed them beside him. He took one and slowly opened it, his body showing his fatigue, then tapped a seal on the inside of the scroll. Instantly, a box appeared in a puff of smoke and fell to the ground. Boruto stared at it for a moment before opening it. Inside were bandages and other medical supplies.
He took the bandages and placed them around his ribs, one of his arms, and his forehead, carefully covering his head. Then, he stored the box the same way he had summoned it, making sure to seal it back into the scroll.
With first aid applied, he brought a hand to his chest and channeled what little chakra he had left. A green glow illuminated his palm as he tried to heal his internal wounds. However, after barely a minute, the chakra dissipated, leaving him panting.
"My chakra is almost depleted," he murmured in a broken voice. "This healing is only temporary, but it should suffice for a while."
Momoshhiki intervened in a stern tone.
—Your body is almost destroyed internally. When I healed it, I only treated the surface… You're lucky you didn't die trying.
Boruto nodded, resigned.
—I understand. I'll move as quickly as I can.
He took another scroll and took out several things. First, he got some dry clothes, along with a towel. He quickly dried his body before removing his pants and shoes, which were soaked and damaged and the only thing he was wearing. Then, he dressed in new clothes: pants, shinobi sandals, a shirt, his jacket, and his cloak. Finally, he looked at his hands, removed his old, combat-damaged gloves, and put on new ones.
He carefully put away the scrolls and stretched his body a little. Although the bandage still felt tight and the pain lingered, he was ready to move on.
Boruto sighed wearily and looked up at the sky, noticing the moon again. After a few seconds, he looked down and reached for his ninja bag, where the Time Turtle lay.
He carefully took it out and looked at it silently before speaking:
—It's time for you to wake up.
The turtle slowly stretched his limbs, yawned, and murmured in a sleepy voice:
"What a nice dream…" Then, she turned her tiny head towards Boruto and asked, "Are you preparing to leave this era?"
Boruto nodded.
-Yeah.
The turtle floated in the air and replied:
—Then I'll activate the mechanism.
At that instant, its shell began to separate into several floating rings, some larger than others. After a brief moment, a golden aura emanated from the turtle, completely enveloping Boruto, who closed his eyes.
The golden light shone brightly and, in a blink of an eye, they both disappeared without a trace, leaving that time behind.
Boruto opened his eyes and found himself standing on a medium-sized golden platform. Around him, numerous translucent squares and rectangles floated and slowly descended, passing by him in a hypnotic motion.
Beyond all that, there was only absolute emptiness, an infinite, silent space that seemed to stretch on endlessly in all directions.
Boruto turned to the turtle, staring silently at it for a moment before shifting his gaze to the void surrounding them, trying to understand it. After several minutes of reflection, the turtle broke the silence.
"We'll soon reach your time," said the turtle.
Boruto turned his gaze to her and asked:
—Tell me, can we go back to the exact moment I left?
"Of course, that's not a problem," the turtle replied. "However, with the amount of chakra I have left, I'll only be able to make one more trip to another time."
Boruto remained silent, lowering his gaze and contemplating his own hands. He clenched his fist with determination, raised it, and declared with conviction:
—No need. Send me back to the exact moment I left.
"I'll do whatever you say," the turtle agreed.
Boruto watched her for a few more seconds and asked:
—And what will you do after this?
"That depends on what you decide," replied the turtle.
Boruto smiled slightly, with a calm air.
—I see… Tell me, is it okay if I seal you?
"You don't have to worry," the turtle replied. "I'm a device created to take care of time-related needs."
Boruto tilted his head slightly and commented:
—So it's like that... Your existence isn't bad: simple and carefree.
"Thank you for your compliment," said the turtle calmly.
"But tell me, isn't there something you'd like to do?" Boruto asked curiously.
— Hmm … Something I like to do… Well, I guess not for the moment —the turtle replied after thinking about it for a moment.
Boruto nodded with a smile.
—If you decide to find something to do in the future, you only need to use a portion of your chakra to break out of the seal. Then you'll be free to do whatever you want.
"Thank you," said the turtle, in an unusually sincere tone.
At that moment, the turtle spoke in his serene, mechanical tone:
—Good job on this trip… Boruto.
His body began to glow brightly. Boruto, now accustomed to this kind of situation, showed no surprise as the light enveloped him. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
When the radiance dissipated, he was standing on the roof of a building. He took a few steps to the edge, surveying the night-lit city with an analytical gaze. His eyes fixed on the Hokage's mountain, lingering on the Seventh, but showing no emotion on his face. Then, he shifted his gaze to the turtle, picked it up, and placed it in his ninja bag with a calm, precise movement.
At that moment, a kunoichi landed on the terrace, with an alert expression.
"Boruto? Is that you? What are you doing here?" Konohamaru asked, with the serious tone of someone used to handling emergencies.
Boruto turned around calmly, showing no hurry.
—Konohamaru.
Konohamaru frowned.
—Are you okay? Well… we have a problem. Urashiki has sneaked into the village.
Boruto didn't say anything. He just disappeared in a flash.
Konohamaru stared at the place where Boruto had been.
"I haven't seen him in a long time... but he had bandages on his forehead. Is he hurt?" she thought.
In the Hokage's office.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru were in the middle of a conversation when Boruto appeared in the center of the room.
The three looked at him in surprise.
"I see you're very busy with Urashhiki," Boruto said in his calm tone.
Naruto smiled at her slightly, kindly.
—Hey, Boruto. Since you came, I guess you were able to find something.
Boruto replied coldly:
—You don't have to worry about Urashhiki… he's already dead.
Everyone was surprised.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
-What do you mean?
Boruto took a breath and calmly explained:
—The relic they had stored in Konoha's archaeology building was something Urashhiki was after. Because of that, he had most of the ninja leave the village.
Shikamaru crossed his arms and said:
—So… what happened? Why do you say Urashiki is dead?
Boruto explained indifferently:
—When the ninjas left Konoha in search of him, with my sensory ability I didn't sense Urashhiki's chakra in that direction... but rather within the village. I followed it to the relic.
Naruto looked at him with concern.
—Did you follow him? Why didn't you call us?
Shikamaru, always ahead of the answers, sighed.
—There wasn't time, was there? It was too late to call us, right, Boruto?
Boruto nodded serenely.
—That's right. But that relic had a purpose: time travel.
Naruto opened his eyes in disbelief.
—Wait… time travel? How?
"I don't know exactly how he does it... but I traveled back in time with Urashhiki. We had a fight there, and I emerged victorious," Boruto explained bluntly, reflecting his maturity and confidence in his own abilities.
Sasuke just sighed and spoke:
—If he was defeated… then there's nothing we can do.
Naruto looked down for a moment and then looked at the bandages on Boruto's head.
—Boruto… are you okay?
Boruto replied coldly:
-I'm fine.
Shikamaru adopted a thoughtful expression.
—It might be possible… that's why you say Urashhiki is dead.
Boruto sighed.
—I see you find it hard to believe. Then I'll show you.
He made a seal with his hand and said:
—Kai… release seal.
At that instant, Naruto and Shikamaru's eyes widened in surprise as sealed memories returned to their minds.
Sasuke watched them with interest.
—What's going on?
Boruto explained coldly:
"I just released the seal on their memories. I thought of this as proof for when I returned to this era. I erased the memories of the others of every trace they had of me."
Sasuke nodded slowly.
—So it's that way…
Naruto just sighed and leaned his elbow on his desk, touching his head.
Shikamaru, still coming to terms with the situation, looked at Boruto seriously.
—We only met once… but you were still able to put a seal on my mind to hide those memories.
Boruto nodded, appearing completely confident in his actions.
"If someone had seen me and remembered me, it probably would have changed the future in ways you can't even imagine. This was the best thing I found."
Naruto looked up with seriousness and concern.
—Why do you do things this way?
Boruto sighed and answered frankly:
—It was necessary to protect your younger self from Urashhiki. If you think it's cruel… I can only accept it.
Naruto stared at him for a moment before sighing again.
—The important thing is that you're safe… And now, your return means Urashhiki's death.
Boruto replied tiredly:
—Now that I've explained everything, it's time for me to leave this place. I'm exhausted.
Those present watched him in silence until Shikamaru spoke:
—You… are you okay?
Boruto looked at him indifferently.
—Apparently, a lot of people are asking me the same thing today.
Sasuke watched him for a moment before answering:
—You're sweating, and your breathing is heavy and slow.
Naruto continued:
—Besides, you're pale.
Boruto thought:
Damn... I've reached my limit. It took me too long.
He tried to hide it and said:
—I just need to rest, so I'm leaving.
He concentrated on getting out of the place with the Hiraishin, but at that moment he felt a burning sensation in his throat. His mouth filled with blood, and when he put his hand to cover it, he ended up spitting it out. The blood trickled through his fingers.
Naruto opened his eyes in surprise and stood up from his seat.
—Boruto…!
Boruto staggered, took a few clumsy steps back, and was about to fall. However, Sasuke appeared beside him and caught him with his arm.
Shikamaru quickly approached and spoke seriously:
—We have to take him to the hospital, he looks very bad.
Naruto nodded, walked over to Sasuke, and picked up Boruto before speeding out the window towards the hospital, followed by Sasuke and Shikamaru.
Boruto was still conscious and thought:
Damn… I need to go to the capsule, but my body won't move. I even feel like I can't use my techniques… What's going on, Momoshiki?
From inside, Momoshhiki replied:
—Your chakra channels… certain parts are damaged. That's why you can't use your techniques.
Boruto whispered in his mind:
—But when I got here, I used them…
Momoshhiki explained in his usual tone.
—That was the last thing left in the destroyed canals, the residue within the wreckage.
"I understand," Boruto thought. "Damn it... I won't be able to reach the capsule anymore. I'll have to wait until I reach the place they're taking me to."
In Boruto's mental space, Karasugan appeared with a loud flapping sound, flapping its wings impatiently.
"Boruto! I finally managed to reach you," he exclaimed, tilting his three-eyed head. "What happened? Our connection was lost."
Boruto closed his eyes for a moment and spoke in a weak voice:
—Karasugan… tell Momoshiki to tell you everything. I'm a little sick.
Momoshhiki looked away in disinterest.
"I've already spoken. You are outrageous," he murmured dryly.
Karasugan fixed his gaze on him, his feathers ruffling slightly.
"You'd better tell me what's going on," he demanded seriously.
Before Momoshiki could respond, a low hissing sound echoed through the room. From the darkness, Galaga emerged, its body snaking and its eyes pale.
"My connection with Boruto was lost… I thought he was dead," he said coldly.
Momoshhiki floated carefree and landed on Galaga's head.
—Don't worry, snake. Everything's sorted out... Well, sort of.
Galaga looked at Karasugan, who just shook his head. Both the three-eyed crow and the white-eyed snake sighed.
Karasugan flapped its wings and turned its gaze to Momoshhiki.
—So… what happened after we went through the ring of light?
Momoshhiki spoke lazily as he floated with his eyes half-closed.
"You see... what happened was that, upon passing through the ring of light, we traveled back in time. The brat had to protect his parent and, on top of that, he faced Urashhiki. At the end of the fight, this is the state he ended up in."
Karasugan clicked his beak impatiently, spreading his wings slightly.
"So all that happened while we were offline?" he muttered disdainfully, then turned his head to look at Boruto. "You must have faced someone really troublesome... It's a shame I didn't see that fight."
Galaga nodded silently, while Karasugan shifted his gaze towards Momoshhiki with obvious distrust.
"Tell me something, Momoshiki," he said in a sharp, proud tone. "Was it that hard to keep him together? Or were you just too busy floating around like a slob while he did all the work?"
Momoshiki opened one eye in annoyance, but didn't respond.
Boruto, exhausted, replied in his mind:
You don't need to worry. In the future, I'll bring them along to fight, but first I'll have to create a way for them to travel with me.
Karasugan snorted.
—If that's the case, I won't say anything more… but next time, I'll fight myself. I'm getting bored of watching from the shadows.
Boruto sighed and replied tiredly:
—Okay… I'll call you more often.
Boruto smiled internally and thought to himself:
Apparently, even in my own mental space there are fights… and outside, even more. But it's fun. But you know what? It's fun…
He gave a slight laugh in his mind.
Ha ha ha…
While this was happening inside Boruto, Naruto was jumping at full speed between the rooftops of Konoha's houses, carrying Boruto in his arms. The young man was breathing heavily, his body barely moving.
Sasuke and Shikamaru followed close behind, moving with the same urgency.
After a few moments, they arrived at the Konoha hospital. Naruto appeared at the entrance with a Shunshin , crossed the door without stopping, and walked up to the reception desk. The receptionist watched him arrive with an alarmed expression, but before she could say anything, Naruto spoke seriously:
—I need this checked out immediately!
The receptionist reacted immediately and called a doctor. Within seconds, a team arrived and began examining Boruto.
Boruto just watched what was happening around him in silence, without saying a word.
The doctor took his arm and checked his pulse. His eyes widened in surprise, and he wasted no time calling for more nurses. In an instant, Boruto was removed from Naruto's arms and placed on a stretcher.
"Take him to the emergency room!" the doctor ordered, activating the emergency protocol.
The nurses rushed to push the stretcher through the hospital corridors, disappearing behind a door.
Sasuke, who was next to Naruto, spoke calmly:
—I'll call Sakura to check it out. Maybe she can tell us what's wrong with him.
Naruto nodded without taking his eyes off the door through which Boruto had been taken.
Sasuke left immediately, while Shikamaru stayed by Naruto's side, supporting him. Without saying anything, the two began walking through the hospital corridors until they reached the room where Boruto was being examined.
Naruto stopped in front of the room's glass and watched silently.
Inside, medics surrounded Boruto, examining his body with care. They removed his cloak and then his upper garment, revealing the bandages covering his torso and arm.
Naruto frowned at the sight.
"I was already injured before I got here... what's going on... was it from the fight against Urashiki"
The atmosphere in the room became more tense.
Suddenly, the door behind Naruto and Shikamaru opened. Sakura walked in with a firm stride, followed closely by Sasuke.
Sakura approached Naruto with a frown.
—What's going on?
Naruto, still with concern on his face, replied seriously:
—Boruto just arrived… he spat out blood, so I brought him in right away. He seems to be pretty hurt.
Sakura nodded, noticing the unease in his voice.
—I'll do my best, Naruto. He's in good hands… I won't let anything happen to him.
Naruto nodded confidently.
—I know… I trust you.
Sakura said nothing more and walked towards the room where Boruto was being treated.
From the other side of the glass, Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru watched her silently, waiting for answers.
Sakura approached Boruto's body, clasped her hands over his chest, and channeled her chakra. A green glow appeared in her palms as she closed her eyes for a moment, concentrating on checking his condition.
Instantly, her eyes widened in surprise and fear. She looked directly at Boruto, who stared back silently.
For a moment, Sakura felt a chill. Boruto's blank expression unsettled her, but without saying anything, she turned to the doctors and spoke firmly:
—We'll be in surgery all night. Call Shizune, I need her right away!
The doctors nodded and began to move quickly.
Sakura took the bandages covering Boruto's body and began to carefully remove them. However, as she did so, everyone present was stunned to notice a large purple bruise on his chest.
From the other side of the glass, Naruto, Sasuke and Shikamaru were also shocked.
"What the hell is that…?" Naruto muttered, frowning. "A bruise that big…"
Sakura frowned and placed her hands back on Boruto's chest, channeling her medical jutsu once more. She closed her eyes, focusing on his internal state.
"His body is completely destroyed… How is it possible that he's still conscious?"
As his green chakra flowed, his expression tensed even further.
"The chakra channels in his chest are severely damaged… He can't circulate his energy… And besides…"
Sakura opened her eyes and looked back at Boruto.
He just watched everything with the same blank stare as always, without reacting or showing any pain.
At that moment, the door opened and Shizune rushed in.
—Get everything ready, we're starting the operation!
Without wasting any more time, the medical team mobilized and the surgery began.
As the treatment progressed and Sakura, along with the other doctors, worked to heal Boruto's body, she thought worriedly:
"His body is strange… When I channel my chakra into it, it begins to regenerate on its own. It has incredible healing abilities…"
He paused, taking in the state he was in.
"But his exhaustion was so extreme that his regeneration couldn't kick in… His body was at its limit."
She gritted her teeth and redoubled her efforts, determined to stabilize him as soon as possible.
The medics bustled around, focused on treating Boruto's internal injuries. After stabilizing him, they removed the bandages from his arm and head.
Sakura was sweating from exhaustion, as was Shizune, who was also showing signs of fatigue. Despite her experience, even she was surprised by the severity of Boruto's injuries and the fact that he was still alive. Still, she continued to support Sakura in any way she could.
After fully anesthetizing him, they opened one side of his body and began reconstructing the damaged organs and tissues. Sakura channeled her medical chakra tirelessly, focusing on stabilizing each affected area.
Meanwhile, Naruto had informed his family and Hinata about the situation a few hours earlier. Shortly after, she arrived at the hospital and stood beside him, watching everything through the glass with concern.
The only one who wasn't present was Himawari.
Hinata clung to Naruto's arm, unable to tear her gaze away from the operation. Her eyes reflected anguish and despair.
"Naruto..." she whispered, her voice shaking. "Will Boruto be okay?"
Naruto held her gently, trying to reassure her.
—Sakura and the others are doing their best. Boruto is strong… He'll hold on.
Still, deep inside, Naruto also felt a growing anxiety at seeing his son in such a state.
In Boruto's mental space, he sat on top of Karasugan's head, observing everything happening outside of him. The four present analyzed the situation in silence.
Leaning on Galaga's head, Momoshhiki spoke lazily:
—You shouldn't have received those last attacks from Urashhiki.
Boruto responded with the same reluctance:
"I had no choice. If I didn't accept them and let go of his hand, he would surely have killed me later. I no longer had enough power to continue fighting… On the other hand, Urashhiki could still continue."
Momoshhiki pondered for a moment and then spoke:
—You're right… It was difficult to fight that guy. Besides, you still haven't gotten used to Karma or Jougan. That's the problem with you humans… you need to adapt to something before you can use it properly.
Boruto sighed in annoyance.
—Yes, it's annoying, but now I know how to fight in the future. I tested my limits in this battle… It was a good experience.
Karasugan intervened with an intrigued tone:
—It would have been interesting to see how strong you've become.
Galaga nodded and added:
—Yes, I would have also liked to see the true power of my employer.
Boruto smiled slightly.
—In the future, there will surely be guys to fight. There's no rush.
Momoshhiki looked at him curiously.
—Are you talking about what your subordinate mentioned?
Karasugan chuckled .
—It'll surely be interesting to see how you defeat them… or kill them. You can't lose, you're my partner.
Boruto smiled sideways and calmly replied:
—That'll be interesting… And if they don't show up, I'll find them. If they messed with someone on my team, I'll return the favor a hundredfold. Don't you think so?
Galaga let out a laugh.
—A fight… That'll be interesting. You'll definitely crush them.
Karasugan laughed even harder.
—It's obvious he'll kill them. After all, Boruto is my partner. They're the prey and we're the predators. Hahahaha !
Boruto said nothing and just laughed along with them.
-Ha ha ha…
Galaga did the same, while Momoshhiki just sighed in resignation.
"These creatures are quite emotional," he murmured, though a slight half-smile appeared on his face.
Outside of Boruto's mental space, after several hours, Sakura finally finished treating him. He let out an exhausted sigh as a nurse approached to wipe away his sweat.
"Thank you…" Sakura murmured, gratefully accepting the cloth.
Then, he removed his hands from Boruto's body and addressed the doctors in a calm but firm tone:
—Take him to a room. His treatment is over.
Everyone nodded, and after ensuring Boruto was stable, they began to transport him. Amid murmurs of thanks, the doctors exchanged words of relief at the successful procedure.
Sakura walked out of the room with a firm step and headed to the room where Boruto's parents, Sasuke and Shikamaru were waiting.
Seeing her enter, Naruto was the first to speak:
—Sakura… how did it all end?
Sakura smiled calmly.
—Everything went well. Boruto is out of danger, and we were able to fully heal him. He just needs to rest for a few days, and he'll be as good as new.
Hinata, hearing those words, smiled with relief and wiped away her tears of happiness.
Naruto let out a sigh, relaxing his shoulders.
Shikamaru approached Sakura with a frown.
—Do you know what kind of injuries Boruto had?
Sakura, hearing the question, changed her expression to a more serious one. She thought for a moment before answering:
—I'll tell you everything… but it'd be better if we talked in my office. I'm a little tired and I want to sit down.
Naruto smiled and nodded.
—Whatever you say, Sakura. We'll go with you.
Without further ado, the group began to move, ready to hear what Sakura had to say.
After a moment of walking through the halls, they arrived at Sakura's office. She sat down at her desk, while the others settled into the available chairs in the room.
Naruto was the first to speak, with obvious concern in his voice:
—What did Boruto have? How serious were his injuries?
Sakura sighed before calmly answering:
—The first thing is that Boruto is fine right now, so there's no reason to worry.
Hinata and Naruto nodded, though unease was still evident on their faces.
Sakura took a breath and began to explain:
—Boruto had three serious injuries… or rather, four. All of his injuries were internal.
He paused before continuing.
—The first was in his arm. The forearm bone was fractured into multiple pieces, almost pulverized. In addition, part of his tendons were torn.
Those present frowned upon hearing the severity of the injury.
Sakura continued:
—However, for some reason, the fragments of his bone didn't completely separate. Instead, they remained connected in a strange way, which facilitated their recovery.
He paused for a moment and then continued in a more serious tone.
—The second wound was on his skull. On one side of his head, there was a strange deformity.
Naruto, confused, immediately asked:
—A strange deformity? What do you mean?
Sakura thought for a few seconds before answering.
—It's hard to explain… His skull was fractured, but not in the usual way. It didn't look like an injury caused by a direct blow.
Naruto frowned.
—So, how did it go?
"It seemed as if his body had tried to regenerate itself… but the regeneration wasn't fully completed," Sakura explained. "That's why the bone remained in that state."
Those present exchanged worried glances as they processed the information.
Shikamaru was the first to speak, crossing his arms with a frown.
—So, his skull managed to regenerate after being destroyed… But if that had happened uncontrolled, Boruto would have died.
Sakura nodded seriously.
—That's what I thought. His skull was mostly shattered, but… one thing I noticed during the operation is that Boruto's body is strange. He has accelerated regeneration, which helped with the surgery and, most importantly, prevented him from dying before he got here. However… something was blocking his regeneration.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
—Was there anything that was stopping your healing? What could have restricted it?
"I don't know... I couldn't find the exact reason," Sakura admitted, crossing her arms. "But something was definitely limiting him."
Sasuke thought for a moment before speaking:
—It's possible he was too exhausted. His body was too damaged to regenerate.
Sakura nodded with a slight smile.
—Exactly. He was at his limit… too exhausted to heal on his own.
Naruto sighed heavily and spoke in a deep voice:
—It was probably because of his fight…
Hinata looked up suddenly and asked uneasily:
—Combat? Who did Boruto fight to end up in that state?
Naruto was silent for a moment before answering seriously:
—With the Otsutsuki we were looking for… Urashhiki.
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise, as did Sakura's.
Shikamaru clicked his tongue.
—That explains everything… That's why he ended up in this state.
Hinata looked down and clenched her fists tightly. Her breath trembled slightly, but she didn't say anything. Naruto watched her out of the corner of his eye and felt a knot in his stomach.
Sakura resumed the conversation, trying to remain calm.
—I'll keep telling you… The next wound was one of the most serious.
Everyone turned their attention to her.
—The chakra channels in his chest were destroyed… completely. Furthermore, all the ribs in that area, along with the central bone, were shattered.
The impact of his words was reflected on the faces of everyone present.
Shikamaru exhaled in disbelief.
—How is that possible? With a wound like that… he should have died instantly.
Sakura took a breath and continued:
—That's not all. His lungs and heart were compressed… and the fourth wound was even worse. His internal organs were so damaged that, while I was treating him, I thought I couldn't save him. The wounds were too deep…
Naruto felt his body tense.
Hinata clenched her fists even tighter in her lap.
"But then…" Naruto murmured, his voice breaking. "How is he still alive?"
Sakura looked at their faces and continued:
—His own body acted on its own… it began to regenerate during the surgery. It was as if, somehow, it knew it had to survive. It helped throughout the procedure… But if Boruto hadn't had that regeneration, he would have died long before he got here.
The silence in the room became heavy.
Hinata lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly. Naruto noticed her distress and, without thinking, took her hand firmly.
"He's fine..." he murmured, more to convince himself than her.
Hinata didn't respond immediately. A couple of tears rolled down her cheeks as she squeezed Naruto's hand tightly.
"He must have suffered so much..." she whispered, her voice breaking.
Naruto felt a pressure in his chest. He looked down, avoiding the anger and helplessness in his gaze.
"You shouldn't have gone through this..." he muttered through gritted teeth.
Sasuke and Shikamaru watched the couple in silence. Neither of them said anything.
Sakura looked down for a moment and then spoke in a softer tone.
—I know this is hard to hear… but Boruto is strong. He endured all of this and survived.
Naruto closed his eyes for a moment and nodded slowly.
—Yes… he survived.
Hinata wiped her tears and nodded as well.
The atmosphere was still charged with emotion, but now with a small relief: Boruto was alive… and he would wake up again.
Sasuke spoke calmly:
—You shouldn't worry so much.
Everyone looked at him intently as he continued:
—When I fought Boruto, I could feel it… He always has a plan. I'm sure he has a way to heal from these wounds, that's why he didn't ask for help or say anything when he arrived. Boruto is the type of person who cares more about fixing things for himself than depending on others. He always thinks more about himself than others.
There was a brief silence as everyone processed his words. Then, Naruto smiled slightly.
—You're right, Sasuke... That's Boruto.
Hinata, although still worried, felt some relief upon hearing that.
Shikamaru crossed his arms and spoke thoughtfully:
—Boruto must have gotten some kind of machine or method to help him heal. Besides, when he fought the Sixth, he was injured… So he had to recover with someone's help.
Naruto nodded seriously.
—If so, we'll know when he wakes up.
They all exchanged glances, still worried, but with a small sense of relief. Boruto had managed to survive… and they would soon have answers.
After the conversation, everyone left the room.
Outside, the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, marking the beginning of a new day.
Sakura, exhausted from the surgery, retired to her home to rest, with Sasuke silently accompanying her. Shikamaru also left the hospital, wandering through the halls as he pondered what had happened.
Naruto and Hinata, on the other hand, decided to stay.
In the room, Boruto lay unconscious in the hospital bed. His breathing was calm, though shallow.
Naruto sat beside him, watching him silently, without taking his eyes off his son.
The morning breeze blew through the half-open window, causing the curtains to gently move.
Hinata approached and sat next to Naruto. Her eyes reflected tenderness and concern as she looked at her son.
Without needing words, they both stood there, waiting…
After several minutes, Boruto opened his eyes, feeling the cool breeze blow through the window. His gaze wandered skyward for a moment before turning his head to the side, noticing his parents' presence.
Hinata had her hand intertwined with his as she slept, her head resting on the bed. Naruto, meanwhile, was leaning back, asleep with his mouth open.
Boruto watched them silently for a moment and tried to move, but a pain ran through his body.
"It seems like I'm completely healed… but I'm still sore. I guess I'll have to stay a little longer."
He moved his hand slightly, and the slight gesture made Hinata react. Her eyes began to open slowly until, when she fully woke up, she saw Boruto calmly watching her.
At that moment, Hinata threw herself at her son and hugged him tightly, her voice trembling as she said his name.
—Boruto…
Boruto felt the warmth of her hug and calmly replied:
—I'm fine, Mom.
Hinata held him a little longer before gently pulling away. She placed her hands on Boruto's shoulders and smiled at him with relief.
—I'm glad you're okay, Boruto… Welcome home.
Boruto smiled sideways and replied calmly:
—I'm back.
At that moment, Naruto woke up with a start, looking around in confusion. When his gaze fell on Boruto, his eyes widened in surprise and a wide smile appeared on his face.
He stood up immediately and exclaimed with joy:
—Boruto, you're awake!
Boruto nodded calmly.
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and spoke with a smile:
—It's good that you're okay now.
Hinata, still sitting on the bed, caressed Boruto's hand and said sweetly:
—We're so glad you're awake… both your father and I.
Naruto nodded enthusiastically.
—Yes! Glad to see you're okay, Boruto.
Boruto watched them for a moment before speaking calmly:
—I guess thanks to Sakura I'm better now.
Naruto nodded and, with a slight frown, asked:
—Tell me… if you were so hurt, why didn't you say anything when you arrived?
Hinata remained silent, waiting for her son's response.
Boruto sighed before answering naturally:
—When I arrived, I was already stable. I just took too long to deliver the information… I would have healed on my own, but it took longer than I expected.
Naruto crossed his arms and nodded.
—I see… so you have a way to heal your wounds.
Boruto kept his expression serene.
—I've always healed my wounds myself. For a long time… Nothing will change now.
Hinata looked down, saying nothing. Naruto glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before speaking in a softer voice.
—So it's that way…
Boruto simply nodded.
The silence in the room grew heavy. Hinata, head bowed, murmured in a trembling voice:
—Boruto… Why were you so hurt? Why didn't you go to the hospital first? Why do you keep doing this? Why are you risking yourself like this…?
Boruto looked at her out of the corner of his eye without saying anything.
Hinata clenched her fists in her lap as her voice grew weaker, but filled with suppressed emotions:
—Why don't you let the adults handle this...? After all, you're still a child... It's been a while since you've spent time with us... We miss you, Boruto. Himawari misses you. What you did to your grandfather and your aunt devastated them. They need you too... We all need you.
Naruto felt a knot in his stomach, but he didn't say anything.
Hinata continued, her voice shaky but firm:
—I know you've been through a lot of pain in the past… And I understand. I know your parents left you behind… You were always smart, you probably thought of that. I'm sure you came up with a plan to make sure it wouldn't happen again… Like the clone you created for us. You thought of our feelings…
She wiped her tears with her sleeve and looked at him sadly.
—So… please… Can you stop hurting yourself? The wounds you had on your body could have killed you more than once.
Boruto, lying on the bed, looked at her out of the corner of his eye. His eyes reflected something different… understanding.
In a friendly tone, he replied:
—Mom… I know I haven't spent much time with you guys since what happened last time. But from now on… I'll stay home more. I'll sleep at home… What do you say?
Hinata looked up in surprise. Her eyes filled with excitement and joy.
"That… that I would like very much…" she said with a radiant smile. "I will prepare food for you, Boruto!"
Boruto nodded with a slight smile.
After that, Naruto spoke calmly:
—We'll let you rest, Boruto. We need some rest too. See you later.
Boruto just nodded silently.
Hinata and Naruto left the room, leaving him to rest.
Later that day, news spread throughout Konoha that Boruto was in the hospital. His so-called comrades, upon hearing the news, began to talk about his condition, but none of them dared to go to the hospital. They didn't know how to deal with him.
Hours later, Himawari arrived at the hospital to visit her brother. Upon entering his room, she smiled sweetly and spent the afternoon talking to him in a friendly tone.
As the sun began to set, Boruto lay there, staring at the sky through the window. At that moment, the bedroom door opened, and Sakura walked in with a firm stride.
He approached the bed and spoke kindly:
—Hey, Boruto. How are you feeling? I came to check on you.
Boruto slowly turned around and looked into her eyes.
Sakura was a little surprised to see his look, but then she smiled and asked:
—Can I check you?
Boruto nodded silently.
Sakura began to examine him carefully, feeling the areas where he had been injured and making sure everything was in order. As she did so, she warned him:
—If you feel pain anywhere, tell me.
Boruto nodded again.
As she continued with the review, Sakura couldn't help but think:
"His eyes… Before, when I met him on other occasions, I didn't have a chance to interact with him much… But now that I look at him closely, his gaze is cold. It feels like he's always analyzing everything around him."
After a few minutes, he finished reviewing it and spoke calmly:
—You just need to rest for a couple more days and you'll be able to go.
Boruto nodded.
-I understand.
Sakura gave him one last smile and said goodbye before leaving the room.
Boruto watched her leave without saying anything and then looked back out the window, letting silence fill the room once more.
Night fell over Konoha and, after a few minutes of reflection, Boruto closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The next day. In the morning, his parents and his sister visited him. They spent a few hours with him until, later, two new people arrived at his room.
Boruto watched them silently as they sat down, one on each side of his bed.
After a moment, he spoke in a calm tone:
—It's been a while… I didn't think you'd come.
The white-eyed man, Hiashi, looked at him with his usual expression and replied calmly:
—You're always moving around. At least I'll be able to see you for a moment in the hospital, Boruto.
Hanabi looked at him with some sadness reflected in her eyes before speaking:
—I heard you were hurt and wanted to see you… After all, you don't talk to us anymore… Or maybe we never really knew each other.
Boruto, still lying down, calmly observed them before answering:
—I see… I guess you don't give up, huh? But that's okay. Do what you want… like I always do.
Hiashi smiled slightly and looked at him, silently pondering.
"He seems to have calmed down… No… it's not that anymore. Before, he did it to complete his plan, but this time… he just doesn't care anymore."
Finally, he spoke in a firm tone:
—Boruto, it seems you've grown stronger than before. Congratulations, your path has taken another step forward.
Boruto nodded slightly.
—That's right… I'm moving forward.
Hiashi watched him for a moment before adding seriously:
—You know, Boruto… It's good to become strong, but there are times when strength can't solve all your problems. This is coming from someone with experience.
Boruto spoke calmly:
—Do you really believe that? That's not strength... it's just power. Maybe what you're saying makes sense, but it doesn't make sense to me. I don't follow the same path as others, nor do I have the need to depend on others to improve. I follow my own path... a path I will create myself.
Hanabi looked at him seriously before answering:
—A path created by yourself… Not everyone follows their own path, Boruto.
Boruto looked at her and replied in a neutral tone:
—Someone else has already walked that path. Like the Hokage path and many other paths.
Hanabi sighed and spoke softly:
—That path leads to loneliness… We just want to be closer to you. Not like before, but at least we can talk.
Boruto looked at her indifferently.
—Do you want to talk? Hmm … I see. I guess everyone wants to talk to me, but unlike them, I don't want to. Or rather… I don't care.
Hanabi smiled slightly, although her gaze reflected a certain sadness.
—Your words are hurtful… But I suppose if you're going to be home, I'll visit you often to talk, since you say you don't mind.
Boruto sighed and replied disinterestedly:
—I guess Mom told you… But if that's what you want, do it. You're free.
Hanabi smiled tenderly and, in that instant, hugged him tightly.
Boruto was surprised and looked away, uncomfortable.
Hanabi, without letting go, spoke in a playful tone:
—I'll visit you very, very often… Even with Grandpa.
Boruto just sighed, resigned. Hanabi finally pulled away and sat back down.
Hiashi took the floor, observing him seriously.
—I heard you suffered very serious injuries… Who did you fight?
Boruto answered without hesitation:
—It was against an Otsutsuki.
The two present were surprised.
Boruto noticed their reactions and calmly added:
—From your expressions, I guess no one else knows… Except the higher-ups.
Hiashi crossed his arms and asked curiously:
—How strong was that Otsutsuki compared to a Konoha ninja?
Boruto adopted a thoughtful expression before answering:
— Hmm … It's hard to say, since he doesn't have an exact comparison. But I'll put it another way… Naruto and Sasuke are on another level of power compared to average ninjas. If we take Rock Lee and Sakura as a reference, who are among the strongest within Konoha's standards, Urashhiki would be on a similar level or a little higher. It's hard to say exactly, since I don't know what the true limit of those two is.
Hanabi and Hiashi were surprised by his words.
Hiashi looked at him carefully before speaking:
—So… you beat him, right?
Boruto nodded calmly.
Hanabi lowered her head and muttered in a guilty tone:
—But… a child like you took it upon yourself to take down such a powerful being… We adults should have stopped him. I'm your aunt, your older sister… I was supposed to protect you. You should just be enjoying your age… talking to your peers, not dealing with things like this.
Boruto looked at her coldly before answering:
—It's hard to say... But I'd rather fight him than sit around waiting for someone to save me... like I owe him a favor.
Hanabi raised her head and looked at him regretfully.
—But Boruto… You're only 12. I know you're strong and that's why you beat him, but if you ever need my help, just let me know. I'll do anything to support you.
Boruto watched her for a moment before nodding his head slightly.
Hanabi smiled and curiously asked:
—Now that we're getting along better, can you tell me more about yourself, Boruto? What do you like to do in your free time? Or have you ever thought about getting a girlfriend?
Hiashi sighed in resignation at his daughter's questions, while Boruto simply looked at her for a moment before calmly answering:
—There's not much to tell. I spend my time training, and in my free time, I prepare supplies and other things. Like I said, I don't lead an exciting life.
He was silent for a few seconds before adding:
—But… if there's one thing I like, I could say it's the cold wind I feel when I'm on top of a very high mountain. It relaxes me.
Hanabi watched him with interest.
—That's all? Well… The wind sounds interesting. I'm sure there's a great view from up there.
Hiashi looked at him calmly before speaking:
—So that's why you want to leave Konoha... To travel the world, seeking power beyond the pale. No relationships, just watching as you walk your own path.
Boruto nodded calmly.
Hanabi, trying to change the subject, asked curiously:
—And what food do you like?
Boruto thought for a moment before answering:
—I haven't tried many things, so I don't know… But I guess meat is always good. It's what I ate when I lived in the forest when I was younger.
Hanabi blinked in surprise before smiling slightly.
—Wow… I guess we have a lot to learn about you.
Hiashi simply watched Boruto, silently pondering.
Meanwhile, Boruto and Hanabi continued talking for a while. As time passed, the conversation became less intense until, finally, they both decided to end the visit.
"See you later, Boruto," Hanabi said with a slight smile as she stood up.
"Get well soon," Hiashi added, nodding serenely.
Boruto just nodded silently, watching them as they left the room.
When the door closed, he lay back again and looked out the window, lost in his thoughts.
The next day
The day went by much the same as the previous one, with his father visiting him while he recovered. Boruto knew he would be discharged from the hospital the next day.
However, that afternoon, someone else came to visit him.
The person sat down in a chair next to his bed and, with a slight smile, commented:
—I see that this time it went badly for you, huh, Boruto?
Boruto looked at her indifferently before speaking.
—I'm surprised you came to visit me after all... Sarada.
Sarada smiled a little before answering:
—If you think about it this way… I'm the only person you talk to. You could say I'm your only friend.
Boruto sighed and looked away.
-What do you want?
Sarada rested an elbow on the armrest of the chair and spoke calmly:
—My mom told me you faced someone really strong and apparently won… Even though you ended up in bad shape. I can't imagine how strong he was… I just wanted to check on you.
Boruto looked at her and replied in a neutral tone:
—I'm recovering now. I'll be discharged tomorrow.
"That's good," Sarada said calmly.
Boruto narrowed his eyes and commented with some irony:
—You said you were my only friend… That's weird. Who decided that?
Sarada crossed her arms and smiled.
—You don't talk to anyone else, so I guess I'm the only one who can be considered your friend.
Boruto looked at her seriously.
—I thought I made it clear to everyone of my generation not to come near me.
Sarada sighed and looked at him curiously.
—Are you really still doing that, Boruto? It's been a while... Do you still want to keep them away?
Boruto closed his eyes for a moment and then spoke in an indifferent tone:
—I'm talking to you because I have some respect for you… but nothing more. The others are just a nuisance.
Sarada sighed in resignation.
—I get the point, I won't say anything else. Besides, the others are upset about what you did… They're probably expecting an apology, which will never happen.
Boruto nodded slightly.
Sarada continued:
—I just wanted to talk for a bit. It's hard to talk to you, but anyway…
Boruto looked at her calmly and replied:
—But the last time we saw each other was a few days ago.
Sarada smiled.
—That's true, but… this is the first time I've seen you seriously injured. After all, you're the youngest and most powerful ninja in the village.
Boruto sighed.
—Sarada… What do you really want by coming here? I've asked before, and I'll ask again.
Sarada looked at him with a slight smile.
—I just wanted to visit, that's all. I hope that doesn't bother you. Besides, spending time with someone who's amazing in so many areas will help me improve.
Boruto sighed and replied indifferently:
—Do what you want.
Sarada smiled and, in that instant, they both began to talk about anything, leaving aside the tension from before.
After a while of talking, although Boruto responded indifferently, Sarada sighed, looked at him and said:
—You're so different from the clone you created and showed to everyone... Why did you do it that way?
Boruto looked at her calmly before answering:
—That clone is the version of me who spent time with his family, who left everything behind, who only helped others, and who felt admired because people treated him like Boruto, not like "the Hokage's son." That clone needed others to be happy… but, at the same time, he felt a certain anger toward his father, who always left him at home. He felt lonely because his father focused on other things, instead of him, his own son.
Sarada lowered her gaze slightly and spoke in a calm voice:
—So that was the Boruto we all knew… For the people you helped when the clone was with them, hearing those words would hurt a lot. Don't you think?
Boruto sighed lazily.
"You think so? I'm sure they'll move forward without interfering with me, thanks to this plan. If they hold a grudge against me for what I did, that's the best thing for me… It makes me feel better."
Sarada watched him silently and was about to answer when Boruto spoke before her:
—How long will you stay at the door?
Sarada blinked, confused, and turned toward the entrance.
At that moment, the door slowly opened. Sarada was a little surprised to see who it was.
"Delegate?" he asked.
Sumire looked at her and replied in a low voice:
—Hi, Sarada… I just came to… well, visit Boruto.
Sarada looked at her for a moment before speaking:
—If you want to sit down, that would be best.
Sumire nodded without saying anything, entered the room, and closed the door behind her. She sat in the chair with her gaze lowered, avoiding eye contact.
Boruto watched her for a moment before looking up at the ceiling, sighing lazily and in annoyance.
The atmosphere in the room became tense and uncomfortable.
Sarada could sense the tension and, after a brief silence, spoke calmly:
—Sumire, if you have something to say, you can say it.
Sumire slowly raised her head and looked at Boruto somewhat shyly before speaking:
—You know… the last time we saw each other was before the Chunin Exams. After that, I tried looking for you, but I could never find you.
Boruto watched her without much interest before responding indifferently:
— Hmm … I don't know what you want.
Sumire took a breath and continued:
—The last time I spoke to you… actually, it was with your clone. He was the one who responded to the things I said in the classroom. But when I first saw you, I knew you were different from that Boruto. And now, hearing your conversation with Sarada… I understand even more.
Boruto stared at her and spoke coldly:
—Your dependency makes me sick, Sumire.
Sumire's eyes reflected pain at those words, but she continued nonetheless:
—So tell me... why did you save me, Boruto? Why did you show me a path I could walk alongside my comrades, alongside the others... and alongside you? How can I repay you for saving me?
Boruto didn't hesitate to answer, his voice devoid of emotion:
—Do you want to know what I thought when I heard about you and your story? I thought you could be useful… as a tool.
Sumire's face darkened upon hearing his words, but Boruto remained unfazed:
—But then I realized you were just someone who needed to cling to something to survive… and that pissed me off. So I opted for something else… And that's what the clone did… what formed you, Sumire.
He paused and looked directly at her.
—You're exactly what I wanted you to be... A saved person, searching for answers. But that person who saved you... never existed. They were just an illusion, an anchor to tie you down so you could never leave. Can you see that now?
The impact of his words left Sumire and Sarada completely silent. Sumire felt a lump form in her throat as tears began to gather in her eyes. She looked down, her voice barely a whisper.
—What you're saying... hurts a lot, Boruto.
She clenched her fists tightly before looking up again, determined.
—But I don't think so. My life changed thanks to you… I wanted to bring you back, I wanted you to come back with us… so that everyone at the academy could be happy like before. I wanted you to smile again… like you used to.
The tears continued to fall, but her voice became firm.
—I won't give up on you, Boruto. I'm sure... that deep down, you're still the same Boruto we all knew, the one everyone admired. And I'll prove it to you...
Boruto smirked and, with amusement in his voice, replied:
—You're so funny… You're so weak I could kill you with one hand… and yet you think I need saving.
He gave a dry, mocking laugh.
—Hahaha… You're so stupid it's disgusting. Not even Sarada, who has already tested my strength, dares to say stupid things like you. The Boruto you knew… was just a piece in my chess game to achieve my goal.
Sumire's tears intensified, but her determination did not waver.
—I will follow my own path, Boruto. One day I will face you… and when I do, I will defeat you. I will show you the world I see… the same one you showed me before.
Boruto smiled even wider and spoke in a threatening tone:
—Do what you want… but if you get in my way again… I'll kill you in the most painful way possible.
Sumire stood up from her seat without saying anything else and left the room, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
Sarada looked at her sadly before standing up and following her, without looking back.
Boruto just sighed and turned his gaze to the window while showing indifference.