In Senshou Park, the night was as dark as ink and dotted with stars.
"Boruto, please… please don't look at me like that."
Sumire's voice was as thin as a thread. A blush spread across her cheeks as shyness and uneasiness tangled in her heart. There was an unspeakable sense of shame in her tone.
Boruto glanced at the blushing Sumire, sighed softly, and slowly walked toward Nue.
"Right now, this technique can only absorb chakra through contact. It's still far from the long-range absorption that Ōtsutsuki Toneri achieved in the movie."
He reached out and gently touched Nue's body. His Jōgan flickered in the night—like the brightest star in the sky.
With the touch of his fingers, the chakra within Nue surged out like a tide, rapidly gathering in Boruto's palm and forming a dazzling purple sphere.
Nue's body shrank quickly from the chakra loss. It trembled in pain, its roars echoing through the night sky—helpless and desperate.
Even though Sumire couldn't turn around, the resonance deep within her heart let her feel Nue's agony as if it were her own.
"Boruto, what are you doing?" she cried out, unease and worry filling her voice.
"I'm solving this crisis."
The purple sphere in Boruto's hand gradually stabilized. It pulsed with the massive chakra drawn from Nue's body—a power of pure destruction.
"Nue's power is too dangerous—like a time bomb that could go off at any moment. I can't allow it to exist any longer."
Hearing this, tears welled up in Sumire's eyes. "Boruto… please, don't kill Nue… I'm begging you!"
Boruto paused and turned to look at the imprisoned girl.
"Class rep, I understand how you feel about Nue. To you, it's more than just a summoning beast—it's your only support in this world."
"But Nue is ultimately a creature of destruction. For the sake of Konoha's peace, I can't let it continue to live."
As Boruto continued absorbing chakra, the purple sphere in his hand deepened into a dark violet, edged with black—a terrifying aura radiating from it.
Nue had shrunk to the size of a small puppy, so weak it could barely move. The diamond chains binding it loosened, but it still lifted its head with effort to look at Sumire, its eyes full of longing.
Using the last of its strength, Nue stumbled toward her feet, rubbed its tiny head against her leg, then collapsed weakly to the ground.
"Nue…"
Sumire's voice trembled. Tears streamed down her face and splashed onto the ground like scattered pearls.
She looked at Nue's tiny form, sorrow swelling in her chest. Once, it had been a tool of vengeance—but now it was the softest part of her heart.
Suddenly, the pattern of the Bull-Headed Heavenly King behind her shattered into fragments of light, vanishing into the night sky.
At the same time, Nue's body dissolved under Sumire's gentle touch, turning to smoke and fading into the darkness.
Sumire froze, feeling as though she had lost the most important thing in her life. She fell to her knees, tears flowing endlessly.
"Ah… why does it feel like I'm the one who wanted to destroy Konoha?"
Boruto stood silently, watching her. His heart was a swirl of conflicting emotions.
He glanced at the purple-black chakra sphere in his hand. "This is the real power of Konoha's will…"
The orb floated upward as Boruto walked over to Sumire. He knelt down, took off his coat, and gently draped it over her trembling shoulders, zipping it up carefully.
"Boruto?" a voice called quietly. It was Mitsuki.
He stepped forward, eyes cold as he looked at Sumire curled up on the ground. His palm transformed into a sharp blade, ready to strike.
But before he could act—
"That's enough!"
Boruto's voice thundered as an overwhelming repulsive force burst out of him. Mitsuki was blasted backward, crashing to the ground.
He got up slowly; eyes filled with confusion. "Why? Why protect someone who tried to destroy Konoha?"
Boruto smiled faintly. "Mitsuki… I'm actually quite curious about your true identity."
Before Mitsuki could react, diamond-shaped seals burst from the ground, wrapping around him and binding him tightly.
"What—?!"
He struggled, but it was too late.
Boruto appeared before him in a flash. A silent orb of pure chakra pressed into Mitsuki's body—and he fell unconscious.
"Humanoid form, Sage Mode… the sun… It's Orochimaru's work after all," Boruto murmured, scanning Mitsuki's memories. "But why does he see me as his sun?"
As Boruto pondered, a strange purple chakra began to swirl in the air. The energy gathered into Sumire's palm, forming a dark red eye pattern that blinked as if alive.
"Nue… You're still alive."
Sumire wiped her tears and smiled softly, relief spreading across her face.
She looked up to find Boruto watching her and quickly hid her hand behind her back.
"Boruto…" she said nervously.
"I didn't expect Nue to be reborn—and to form a new contract with you," Boruto admitted, surprised.
Sumire nodded. "Boruto, I won't let Nue absorb chakra again. So please…"
Boruto simply nodded. Seeing his softened expression, Sumire exhaled in relief.
Just then, Sai arrived with a group of Anbu. They looked around—Boruto, Sumire kneeling on the ground, and Mitsuki standing silently nearby.
Sai frowned. "What exactly happened here? And where's Nue?"
He started toward Sumire, but Boruto stepped in front of her.
"Boruto, relax," Sai said gently. "I won't hurt her. She's been through what I once did. Let me help."
His tone was calm and understanding. "All this was caused by the ghosts of the past. None of it is truly her fault."
Boruto hesitated, then stepped aside.
Sai crouched in front of Sumire. "Sumire, we know you've endured a lot of pain. But believe me—Konoha will always be your strongest support. We just need to understand what happened tonight so we can keep the village safe—and protect you."
Sumire looked up nervously, met Sai's kind eyes, and nodded.
"Dads here too? And Uncle Kakashi? Guess it's time to have some fun," Boruto said with a mischievous grin, transforming into the form of Tendo Pain.
"Boruto, you—" Sai blinked in confusion as Boruto completed the transformation.
Moments later, Naruto and Kakashi arrived at Senshou Park.
"Has everything been resolved?" Naruto asked.
"Pain?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the transformed Boruto, clearly thrown off.
[From Hatake Kakashi's emotions, progress +1635 points.]
Naruto waved a hand. "Kakashi-sensei, that's just Boruto using the Transformation Jutsu."
Kakashi relaxed slightly. "Boruto… it's been a while."
But Boruto—still in Pain's form—ignored his greeting, raising one hand and pointing directly at Kakashi, as if ready to attack.
"Hey, hey, hey… Boruto, you're not serious, are you?" Kakashi stepped back cautiously.
"You may have copied thousands of jutsu—but you can't win against me!" Boruto declared in Pain's deep, solemn tone.
Kakashi sighed, recognizing his own words thrown back at him. "Yeah, yeah… I remember saying that once. Guess I deserve that."
"That's enough, Boruto. Cancel the Transformation Jutsu!" Naruto snapped.
"Ridiculous!"
Boruto smirked. "One bag of rice has to be carried up several floors… One bag of rice has to be carried up two floors!"
He floated into the air dramatically.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Kakashi muttered, feeling an ominous chill. The Anbu around him grew tense.
[From Kakashi's emotions, +896 points.]
[From Sai's emotions, +263 points.]
"Here we go again…" Naruto groaned, rubbing his temples. "Boruto!"
"From this moment on—let the world feel pain!"
Boruto's face was dead serious. For a second, even Naruto almost believed him.
[From Uzumaki Naruto's emotions, +3578 points.]
"…Alright. Add water."
Silence. Only the chirping of insects filled the night air.
"Boruto, this brat…" Kakashi muttered, shaking his head with Naruto.
"Alright, Boruto, enough fun—come down already!" Naruto called.
Boruto snorted. "Hmph. I may not have a grand campaign… but I do have art!"