Night fell over Konoha Village, wrapping the streets in the soft glow of streetlights.
Inside a quiet tavern on the upper floor, Madara, Hashirama, and Tobirama sat facing one another around a low table.
Hashirama raised his cup with a bright smile.
"Madara, it's truly rare to sit together peacefully again."
Madara chuckled softly, lifting his own cup.
"Hashirama."
Tobirama sat beside them, expression calm but distant. "Brother," he said, "our Edo Tensei bodies can't taste anything."
Hashirama blinked, then burst into booming laughter.
"Hahaha! It doesn't matter, Madara—we'll still toast anyway!"
Tobirama shook his head, pushing himself to his feet. His gaze drifted out the window toward the quiet, lamplit streets of Konoha. After a long pause, he turned for the door.
"Tobirama, where are you going?" Hashirama asked curiously.
"Brother… I just want to walk around the village."
"Didn't you already walk around earlier today?" Hashirama tilted his head, confused.
Tobirama said nothing more and left quietly.
The Streets of Konoha
He walked down the bustling main road. The village was alive even at night—shops still open, people laughing, children chasing one another under the lights.
A faint ripple of unease stirred in Tobirama's heart.
"There are so many people out this late… and almost no shinobi patrols," he murmured.
"Everyone looks so carefree. Naruto—you've truly become a Hokage who surpasses Brother."
He frowned slightly. "But this peace… it's too peaceful."
A group of kids near a convenience store caught his eye. They were sitting on the curb, faces lit by handheld game consoles, completely absorbed in their screens.
Tobirama's expression softened, then darkened again with thought.
"In my time, even children trained every day… always alert to war," he muttered. "Now, they live without a shred of vigilance."
He sighed deeply.
"Excessive peace breeds complacency. One day, a new threat may rise unnoticed."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If that Uchiha boy—Menma—was right… and the Ōtsutsuki Clan truly returns…"
He let the thought trail off, his sandals crunching softly on the gravel path as he made his way toward the village's training grounds.
Konoha's Training Ground
Tobirama stood at the edge of the vast field. The wooden training posts creaked faintly in the wind.
"Empty," he murmured. "Not a single soul?"
He remembered a different Konoha—where even midnight training was common, where the clash of kunai and the flash of ninjutsu lit up the night.
Now, silence.
"Have the ninja of Konoha forgotten their purpose?"
The thought struck a deep chord in him. Peace was fragile—an illusion if vigilance was lost.
Just then, soft footsteps broke the stillness.
Tobirama vanished in a flicker and reappeared atop a nearby tree, watching silently from above.
A young girl with purple hair in a tight combat suit entered the field, a small creature following close behind.
Sumire Kakei.
Ever since her return from the Hidden Mist Village, she had trained here alone, every night.
Tobirama's eyes glinted. "So… there are still those who haven't forgotten what it means to be a shinobi."
"Alright, Nue—throw ten frisbees this time!" Sumire called out.
"Rrrroar!"
Nue gave a short growl, nodding its head.
It plunged its tiny paws into the large bag she carried, pulling out a stack of frisbees and hurling them into the air one after another.
"Water Release: Water Spirit Wave!"
Sumire shaped her fingers like a pistol.
A drop of water gathered at her fingertip, then shot out with sharp precision, shattering each frisbee midair.
Tobirama watched with quiet approval. "Excellent control of Water Release. That summoning beast isn't ordinary either."
"Nue! Faster this time!"
Sumire focused, firing again—but Nue had stopped throwing.
She looked down, confused. "What's wrong?"
Nue was panting heavily, holding out its little paws to show the bag was empty.
Sumire smiled slightly. "No more? Then let's move on to Taijutsu."
In an instant, Nue's tail flared with dark purple chakra, stretching into a whip.
With a whoosh, it lashed at her.
Sumire's body twisted gracefully, dodging each strike by a hair's breadth, her movements light and fluid as the wind.
"Faster, Nue!" she called, pushing herself harder, each near miss followed by a sharp crack of air.
Tobirama's eyes softened. "Water Release, Taijutsu, perfect balance… and most of all, determination. This girl still understands the shinobi way."
The thought settled in him—he would take her as his disciple.
After finishing, Sumire collapsed to the ground, panting. Sweat shimmered across her forehead as she stared up at the glowing moon.
Unconsciously, Boruto's face appeared in her mind, reflected in the moonlight.
She reached out gently, her voice soft. "Boruto…"
At that moment, a faint flicker behind her broke the silence.
Tobirama appeared soundlessly at her back.
Sumire reacted instantly—flipping backward in a blur, kunai drawn.
Nue's fur bristled, its paws scraping the dirt as it growled low and threatening.
"Who are you?" she demanded, eyes sharp.
Tobirama nodded slightly, impressed. "Good awareness. What's your name?"
Still cautious, Sumire answered, "I'm Sumire Kakei, student at the Ninja Academy. Who are you, Senior?"
Tobirama paused a moment, then said evenly, "Still just a student… impressive. My name is Tobihiko. I want to take you as my disciple, Sumire Kakei."
Sumire blinked, stunned. "Take me… as your disciple?"
She studied the man closely—his aura was immense, but he wasn't lying.
"It seems I'll have to prove my strength," Tobirama said quietly.
In an instant, he disappeared.
"So fast!" Sumire gasped, spinning around—but all she saw was an afterimage.
Behind her, a training post split cleanly down the middle.
"If he'd attacked me just now…" She swallowed hard. "I wouldn't have even had time to react."
Nue roared, lunging toward Tobirama in a flash of dark chakra.
Without effort, Tobirama extended one hand and caught the beast mid-air.
Nue struggled wildly, tail raised to absorb his chakra—but froze when Sumire shouted, "Stop, Nue! Don't absorb it!"
Nue hesitated, then slowly lowered its tail.
Tobirama smiled faintly. "So this little creature can absorb chakra? Fascinating."
Sumire hesitated, then asked, "You… really want to take me as your disciple?"
He nodded.
"But… why me?" she said softly. "There are many ninja in Konoha far more talented than I am."
Tobirama's expression turned thoughtful. "I see potential in you—strength, perseverance, and the will to grow stronger."
"In this peaceful era, too many have grown complacent. But not you. You remind me of my brother and myself. Even in peace, we never stopped striving for power."
Sumire lowered her gaze for a moment. Boruto's image flashed again in her mind.
Then she looked up, eyes shining with resolve.
"I'm willing, Senior Tobihiko," she said firmly. "I want to become stronger."
Tobirama's eyes softened, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
"Very well," he said quietly. "From this night onward, you are my disciple."
The moon hung high above them, silver light spilling across the empty training field—marking the beginning of a new bond.
...
Author's Note:
The full completed version of Boruto: Growing Up as Naruto's Son is now on Patreon!
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you for your support! 💙