The ground split as the Otsutsuki descendant stepped forward, chakra radiating in waves that cracked the glowing forest floor. Its white eyes glowed, scanning them as if they were insects.
"Your world clings to its fragile peace, unaware of its insignificance," it hissed, voice cold like the void.
Boruto's Jougan pulsed in his eye, glowing bright blue. "Insignificant? You have no idea what we've fought for!"
Sarada's Sharingan spun, veins pulsing around her eyes. "Boruto, don't rush in!"
But it was too late. Boruto charged, rasengan forming in his hand as lightning crackled around him.
"Take this!"
The Otsutsuki raised a single hand, catching the rasengan effortlessly. The chakra sphere shattered, and a wave of energy sent Boruto flying back, crashing into a glowing tree that cracked under the impact.
"Boruto!" Sarada shouted, lunging forward. She weaved hand seals rapidly, her Sharingan analyzing the Otsutsuki's chakra flow.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Flames roared, engulfing the Otsutsuki, but the figure stepped through them, untouched, extending its hand toward Sarada.
Dark rods of chakra shot forward.
Ryo moved without thinking. The mark on his wrist blazed, and a dome of green chakra formed around Sarada, deflecting the rods as they sparked against the barrier.
Sarada looked at him, eyes wide. "Ryo…"
Ryo's legs trembled, the warmth in his chest turning into a wildfire. Memories not his own flashed before his eyes—Hashirama standing on the battlefield, arms outstretched to protect his comrades, the Will of Fire burning in his smile.
"I… won't let you hurt them!" Ryo roared.
The mark expanded, green and gold chakra spiraling around him. His eyes glowed softly, not Sharingan, not Byakugan, but something ancient—like the forest itself was looking through him.
The Otsutsuki's eyes narrowed. "Senju chakra… Impossible."
It lunged, faster than lightning, aiming a spear of condensed chakra at Ryo's heart.
Boruto reappeared, slamming a lightning-infused kick into the Otsutsuki's side, diverting the strike.
"Don't touch my friend!"
Sarada leapt in, kunai crackling with chakra, slashing at the Otsutsuki's arm, forcing it back.
The three stood together, panting, bruised but unyielding.
"Team 7," Sarada said, a small, determined smile on her lips.
Boruto grinned, wiping blood from his cheek. "Nah, Team Us."
Ryo lifted his glowing hand, the chakra forming a swirling green sphere, leaves of light orbiting around it.
"I'll protect the Will of Fire… and the future of this world!"
The Otsutsuki roared, gathering dark chakra, forming a massive black sphere above its head.
Boruto's Jougan flared. Sarada's Sharingan evolved to its third tomoe, spinning rapidly.
They launched forward together, Ryo's green sphere meeting the black chakra sphere, Boruto's rasengan colliding alongside it, and Sarada's chakra-infused kunai slashing at the core.
The world erupted in light.
Wind and chakra howled around them, tearing at the forest, shaking the rift itself. For a moment, Ryo saw shadows of the past—Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, Minato, Hashirama—all standing behind them, their hands on their shoulders, their smiles calm.
"Protect each other. That is the way of the Hokage."
With a final cry, the dark sphere shattered, the Otsutsuki's form cracking, light pouring from within before it dissolved into fragments, which the rift absorbed.
Silence returned, the rift now pulsing softly like a heartbeat, stable, warm.
Ryo fell to his knees, exhausted, tears falling silently. Boruto and Sarada dropped beside him, both placing a hand on his shoulders.
"You did it, Ryo," Sarada said softly.
Boruto grinned, teeth flashing. "We did it."
Above them, the rift closed slowly, sealing itself, leaving only the warm glow of dawn as the Hokage Monument appeared around them once more.
---
Epilogue Hook:
As they stood under the Hokage Monument, the sun rising, Ryo looked at the faces carved into the rock. For the first time, he felt like he belonged.
Boruto smirked. "So, what now?"
Sarada adjusted her glasses. "We get stronger. Because next time, we won't just protect Konoha… we'll protect everyone."
Ryo clenched his fist, the mark on his wrist now a gentle glow. "For the Will of Fire."
And as the dawn broke over Konoha, Team Boruto, Sarada, and Ryo walked down the slope, ready for whatever the future held.