"So what should we do now? Mobilise the entire shinobi world and search for information on 'Moon' everywhere?" the Mizukage asked.
"That's basically where we stand," Boruto replied. "They're in the shadows, we're in the open. We're completely on the back foot—and weaker than they are on top of that."
"A new war has already started," Naruto said. "I want all of you to step up training in your villages. I have a feeling… a Fifth Great Ninja War might not just be some wild fear anymore."
"Protect the world all over again, huh…" the Mizukage murmured. "But the peace of this new era has made shinobi forget what real pain feels like. It won't be easy to rekindle their will to fight."
Naruto shook his head. "The situation's too urgent. We don't actually have the time we had back then to raise a whole new generation of elites. Instead… we should focus on increasing everyone's mastery of sealing techniques."
"Because in the end, sealing is still the most effective way to deal with something you can't beat head-on. Kaguya is the best example."
In some distant realm, Kaguya probably would've been screaming: How dare you, so arrogant, treating sealing me like some standard procedure…
"It's half a solution at best," one of the Kage sighed. "But when you're desperate, half a solution is still hope."
Naruto continued, "Also… according to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, Boruto is this generation's chosen one. Fukasaku himself brought the message."
"…I see."
If not for Boruto's match with the Raikage, they would've laughed him out of the room. But now, they had seen Boruto's power with their own eyes. His talent, his composure, his techniques.
They also finally understood what Naruto and Boruto had been doing since the meeting began—first proving Boruto's qualifications, then asking them to trust the prophecy.
"So the entire future of the shinobi world rests on his shoulders now," the Mizukage murmured. "No wonder he got such a… dramatic introduction in front of everyone."
"Enough side talk," Naruto said. "To protect Boruto and help him grow, I've decided to split the Nine-Tails again. Half will be transferred to Boruto, so he has a trump card when things get truly dangerous."
Boruto: "…"
The other Kage, inwardly: The Nine-Tails is yours, do what you want with it…
In truth, Boruto's whole "performance" here had two goals. First, to push every village to strengthen its defences under the pretext of "investigating Moon." Second, to use that same mobilisation to quietly search for Kara as well.
Whichever threat revealed itself first—Moon or Kara—would be the one to strike at.
Boruto had already begun thinking about where to build a proper base for his own operations. They couldn't hole up in Orochimaru's lab forever.
...
By the time the Five Kage Summit ended, the Kage who had arrived full of confidence were leaving with heavy hearts.
In Konoha, the transfer ceremony for half of Kurama's chakra was completed. As a precaution, though, they carved a sealing formula on Boruto as well.
The Nine-Tails was still the Nine-Tails. Even with Kurama himself cooperating, its chakra was still wild, violent, and close to darkness by nature.
This seal wasn't meant to be freely opened. Until Boruto could truly open his heart to Kurama and reach a shared belief with him, it would stay locked.
That afternoon, after the ceremony, Boruto still sent his shadow clone to the Academy like always. The plan hadn't changed: tomorrow was the class trip, and the destination was still the Land of Water.
The four Kage had assumed Boruto would refuse, choosing instead to focus on training and adapting to Kurama's chakra. But Naruto had been firm—war or not, the burden shouldn't all be dumped on one kid. Children shouldn't be chained by "duty" when they're at an age where they should still be allowed to play.
Everyone knew too well how miserable Naruto's own childhood had been. He refused to let Boruto repeat it.
The others understood. Together, they decided to classify all of this as top secret at the Five Kage level.
...
Inside the sealed space, Boruto's inner world looked nothing like Naruto's used to.
Instead of darkness and water and cold pipes, soft sunlight bathed a wide, green meadow. A warm breeze brushed the grass, and the sky stretched open and clear above.
At the far end of the field, a red cage stood. Inside, a massive fox sprawled lazily between the bars. Only when Boruto stepped in did one enormous eye slit open.
Kurama no longer carried that old, poisonous hatred. It watched Boruto approach with the air of a large, annoyed house pet.
"Kurama… right?" Boruto said.
"Kid," Kurama rumbled, proud as ever, "I don't care how strong you are or that you're Naruto's brat. You don't just take my chakra. Go back."
Boruto ignored that and asked, "You want to do tug-of-war… or should I just let you out?"
Kurama's pupils widened.
In those amber slits, Boruto's reflection seemed taller, heavier—carrying a pressure, a presence, almost like the one Kurama had sensed long ago from the Sage of Six Paths.
"Then let's do tug-of-war," Boruto said. "I know you care about a jinchūriki's resolve and character. This is your test, right? Let's just go through the motions properly."
He spoke with total seriousness.
"…Brat. You're different. Different from any host I've ever seen. In all the centuries I've lived, I've never met someone I can't see through." Kurama's voice had lost some of its earlier bite.
"Oh?" Boruto tilted his head.
"Take this place, for instance," Kurama said. "I can tell this peaceful meadow isn't your real heartscape. You created it on purpose. Because my consciousness is still linked to the other half with Naruto, right?"
"Pretty much." Boruto nodded. "There are things Tou-san really can't know. And honestly… I don't actually need your power right now."
"…?"
Kurama hadn't expected him to be that blunt. For centuries, people had been desperate to use its chakra. Now this kid was basically telling it, You're a problematic bonus.
"Ahem." Kuramarealised it had been looking at this from the wrong perspective. The point wasn't its own value—it was Boruto's line earlier:
"There are things Dad shouldn't know."
Noticing Kurama's confusion, Boruto didn't bother to go into details. "Hey, Kurama. We're partners from now on, right?"
"Is that how you ask people things? You sound like you've already decided," Kurama grumbled.
"More or less. I already think of you as a partner," Boruto said. "When friends ask each other for something, they usually just say what they're doing and then ask what the other thinks."
"Plus, just like you… The only reason I'm willing to trust you is that you were Dad's partner first."
Boruto thought that warmly—but in his head, he added: And everyone knows Kurama is a total tsundere.
Kurama: Damn it…He's steering the whole conversation. When did I let him start leading me around like this? This is worse than Naruto's talk-no-jutsu…
"So, Boruto," Kurama said slowly, "you say you don't want to rely on my power, but you still rushed in here to talk. You want me to help you keep secrets, don't you?"
Boruto nodded. "Yeah. You're inside me now. Like a permanent surveillance camera. If you report everything to Dad, I can't do half the things I planned. It would completely wreck my original plans."
Kurama's ears pricked up, twitching like two antennas.
…If it wasn't mistaken, were tailed beasts also susceptible to gossip and intrigue?
Before Kurama could answer, a flame flickered into existence in the air between them. When it faded, a paper slip covered in dense writing remained.
"The plan to capture Chōmei, the Seven-Tails… is complete."
At the same time, Kurama felt something tear across a distant link—a sudden break, like a string being cut.
Its eyes flashed with violent anger.
Chōmei's chakra—another tailed beast like itself—had just vanished.
Boruto watched everything, eyes narrowing slightly. He didn't explain. He simply took out a blank note, wrote a few quick lines, and sent it out the same way as before.
Flying Thunder God: Information Transmission.
...
Far beyond the sea, in a valley carved open by force, the terrain lay in ruins. Trees lay snapped from their roots, others charred or toppled. Stone was split, earth upturned.
Everywhere, the scars of battle.
Smoke still lingered. The air thrummed with leftover rage and chaotic chakra, and deep craters marked where Tailed Beast Balls had detonated.
Yet, looking at the two figures standing there, no doubt had won.
The white-robed man finished forming his seals, the Four Red Yang Formation rising around the battered form of Chōmei, the Seven-Tails, locking the dying beast inside a glowing barrier.
Sarada stood nearby, one hand clamped over her left eye, panting hard. Blood streaked her cheek, her face pale and drawn.
"First time using your Mangekyō," the white-robed man observed while reinforcing the barrier. "Ten seconds seems to be your current limit."
"Come on," Sarada shot back between breaths. "We're talking about a Tailed Beast here. A living weapon of war. Holding off its full-powered attack for ten seconds… feels pretty Hokage-level to me already."
Her lungs burned, and her body felt ready to collapse—but she refused to fall. Even at her limit, staying conscious was her last bit of stubborn defiance.
---
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