Illusion and Communication!
In a familiar alternate dimension, countless floating cubes drifted silently, forming a cold and oppressive backdrop. Several figures stood upon a vast suspended plane.
Still dressed in his gray robe, Jigen sat at the head. His expression was gloomy, his eyes cold as they swept across the figures below—tools that were ignorant, arrogant, and ultimately disposable.
"Lord Jigen, why summon us so urgently?" one of the inner members asked. "Did something go wrong with Deepa's mission?"
The inner members gathered casually, discussing among themselves, as if the existence of the Moon faction no longer mattered to them at all.
In their eyes, with Deepa's strength, even the Hokage wouldn't dare underestimate him.
"An accident?" Jigen let out a low, mocking laugh. "What kind of accident could happen?"
"That's true. After all, it's him," someone nodded. "Then… has that lunar faction been discovered?"
The speaker's confidence wasn't just in Deepa—it was faith in Kara's technology itself.
"When do we finally wipe them out?" Boro said impatiently, licking his lips.
Jigen raised his eyes slightly.
"Amado."
Amado, standing second in position, stepped forward. He adjusted his glasses, and a miniature projection activated beside his eye.
Light spread out.
Kirigakure.
A young figure appeared at the center of a catastrophic explosion, forcibly pushing the condensed destruction into the sky and saving the entire Hidden Mist Village.
"As everyone here knows," Amado said calmly, "this footage is real. It cannot be fabricated."
Silence fell.
"Who is that brat?" someone muttered. "How can a kid have power like that?"
"Whether Boruto Uzumaki truly possesses this level of strength is still uncertain," Amado replied. "However, what cannot be denied is that the lunar faction first appeared in Konoha."
In other words—
Boruto Uzumaki was likely connected to them.
Perhaps deeply.
Amado didn't believe for a moment that this had nothing to do with Naruto Uzumaki.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Naruto's relationship with the Tailed Beasts had been extraordinary. Now, two of the Tailed Beasts had vanished—and yet Naruto remained completely inactive.
"Let me test him," Boro volunteered eagerly. "I'll go to Kirigakure and capture him myself."
"That's acceptable," Jigen replied. "But for safety, take someone with you."
"He's just a kid. I can handle him alone."
"The opponent is still the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki," Amado interjected. "Your regeneration is strong, but it won't withstand a Tailed Beast Ball."
"…Tch."
Boro turned toward Delta. "Your ability absorbs ninjutsu. You're the perfect counter."
Delta bristled.
She nearly snapped back—but stopped herself. Admitting limits would only invite contempt.
She scoffed instead. "Trash is trash. You're just wasting my time."
"If it weren't for the organization," Boro sneered, "who'd bother teaming up with you?"
"Enough."
Jigen's voice cut through the argument instantly.
"In that case, the task of testing Boruto Uzumaki is entrusted to the two of you."
His gaze shifted.
"As for the rest—locate the Tailed Beasts. Preferably before the lunar faction does. Prepare ambushes."
"I want to see," Jigen said coldly, "just how powerful this so-called lunar energy truly is."
Victor hesitated. "Does everyone really need to move? Combat isn't exactly my specialty."
"All of you will go," Jigen said. "The weapon is in its final development stage. You are not needed here."
This had already been discussed with Amado.
At most ten days.
Once the artifact was complete, he could plant the wedge and abandon this fragile body.
The appearance of the lunar faction had disrupted his original plans. At first, he only wanted to restore his power—and, if possible, take revenge on Kaguya.
Now, a new idea had formed.
Plunder their achievements.
Feed the Nine-Tailed Beasts to the Ten-Tails.
Plant the God Tree.
Harvest the chakra fruit.
The task assigned to him had been delayed for over a thousand years. Surely, someone from that clan would eventually come to inspect the results.
…
After returning to his laboratory, Amado contacted Code.
The moment the message arrived, Code headed straight into the underground chamber and accepted a new mission.
[Together with the Moon]
That was the theme.
Code hadn't expected that the first to turn away from Kara wouldn't be Victor—but Jigen himself.
Despite his doubts, he prepared immediately and set off for the Land of Water.
According to Amado's judgment, Boruto Uzumaki might already be an unofficial member of the lunar faction.
At the very least, Boruto's ability to reverse the disaster in Kirigakure could only be explained by outside intervention.
Boro and Delta had already departed for the Land of Water.
Code, Victor, and Kashin Koji were assigned to investigate the whereabouts of the Tailed Beasts.
Code accompanied Kashin Koji, relying on Koji's Sage Mode to sense massive chakra signatures.
Victor returned to the Valley Country and used his corporate network to secretly investigate the Tailed Beasts' movements.
More importantly—
He had his own plan.
The meeting made it clear that Jigen had begun pushing the inner members aside, preparing to discard them once their usefulness ended.
The Divine Tree had to be completed as soon as possible.
If Victor captured even a single Tailed Beast, he would use it as a sacrifice without hesitation.
…
Woyin Village.
Boruto had just arrived when he ran directly into one of the targets of Kara's operation.
Code.
At this moment, Code was completely bewildered.
Wasn't Boruto supposed to still be in the Land of Water?
Then, who was the person standing nearby who looked exactly like Boruto?
Boruto noticed Code staring at him and wondered if this guy had some strange fixation on handsome men.
The reason Boruto was here was simple.
A shadow clone had mentioned that the Angkor Fortress in the Land of Birds could serve as a base.
The clone hadn't had time to refuse, so the main body came in person.
"Are you Boruto Uzumaki?" Code hesitated before finally stepping forward.
Oh.
Probably another mess left behind by a shadow clone.
"Yes," Boruto replied calmly. "That's me. What do you want?"
"…Huh."
Code froze. He hadn't expected it to really be Boruto himself.
Why would Boruto come to such a remote village?
Was he here for that man in white?
As the thought formed, Code's eyes narrowed.
So that's how it is.
He stared at Boruto for a long moment, then muttered, "Narukodo…"
Boruto: ???
"I see now," Code said slowly. "Jigen was right. Your relationship with the lunar faction is… delicate."
Boruto: ?!
What nonsense did that shadow clone spread?!
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You're here to look for that man in white robes, aren't you?" Code continued. "So am I. I'm Code—from Kara."
"Kara…" Boruto caught the keyword immediately.
"That's right. Last time, that man expressed interest in cooperation. This time, I'm here on Amado's behalf to negotiate with them."
Boruto's thoughts raced.
I understand nothing—but that won't stop me from acting as I do.
"Cooperation?" Boruto said seriously. "What cooperation? I'm also a core member on their side. I'm qualified to decide."
"You…?"
Code hesitated, clearly unconvinced.
"You don't even know the details?" he said skeptically. "Forget it."
Boruto: …
Those with the highest prestige often knew the least.
"Well," Boruto waved his hand casually, "that man in white is probably still in the Land of Water. I'm on a special mission."
"Oh."
Code nodded with an expression that said I understand everything.
In his mind, Boruto had clearly also been sent out to search for the Tailed Beasts.
He couldn't help but give Boruto a sympathetic look.
---
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San