_KONOHA ROOFTOPS_
The consequences of Boruto's fear in that dark cave were now terrifyingly real.
His legs burned, pushing him faster, not away from danger, but from the horrifying self-realization. He needed to be alone. He needed to outrun this crushing weight. The cool night air whipped past his spiky, blond hair, tugging at the edges of his mint green shirt and dark gray undershirt, but the chill barely registered against the icy dread coiling in his gut.
Behind him, a flurry of concerned voices and rapid footsteps echoed across the tiled rooftops, a stark contrast to his own internal turmoil. His friends, relentless in their worry, were closing in. It had been long since they'd last seen him in such a raw, panicked state, and their confusion was palpable.
"Boruto, wait up!" a clear, determined voice cut through the night, belonging to a girl with shoulder-length black hair that swayed with her speed, and red-framed glasses glinting faintly in the sparse light. This was Sarada, her form a blur in her light-colored sweatshirt with a dark panel, her usual sharp gaze now filled with urgent concern. She was fast, her Uchiha heritage making her a natural on the rooftops, but Boruto's desperation fueled him to an unnatural pace.
"Boruto, stop running! We need to talk!" another voice, calm and even, followed close behind. It was Mitsuki, his tousled white-blue hair catching the faint moonlight, his golden eyes fixed intently on Boruto's retreating back. His asymmetrical light blue and dark navy robe flapped softly as he moved with effortless grace, his pale complexion almost glowing in the dimness. He wasn't panting; his movements were fluid and efficient, fueled by quiet concern
.
"Hey, don't just bolt off like that, you idiot!" a slightly exasperated, yet worried, shout came from behind Mitsuki. This was Shikadai, his spiky black hair tied in a ponytail, his teal-colored eyes narrowed in familiar exasperation, though concern etched his sharp features. He moved with a calculated, almost lazy efficiency, his hands mostly out of the pockets of his dark brown zip-up jacket for once, but he was still struggling to keep up with Boruto's panicked sprint. "What's wrong? Just tell us! You're acting crazy, Boruto!"
"What's gotten into him now?" a more lighthearted, yet still worried, voice added, belonging to a boy with light blond shoulder-length hair tied in a small ponytail, his pale blue eyes fixed on the group ahead. Inojin, his dark green short-sleeved jacket over a mesh undershirt, followed with surprising agility, his short sword strapped to his back swaying slightly with his movements. "He's running like he's seen a ghost, or worse!"
Boruto ignored them all, his focus solely on the next jump, the next rooftop, anything to put distance between him and their questioning eyes. He couldn't face them. He couldn't tell them. The truth felt too heavy, too terrible to share, a secret burden he was determined to carry alone, even if it crushed him.
As they cleared a particularly wide gap between buildings, Sarada, momentarily gaining a better vantage point, cast her gaze across the cityscape.
Her black eyes, always seeking answers, suddenly caught sight of a lone figure in the far distance, a dark silhouette moving swiftly towards the Hokage statues. The way he moved, his lean yet powerful build, even the distinct spikiness of his dark hair—it was strikingly reminiscent of a figure she knew well, one who had always embodied unwavering strength. Her heart leaped with a sudden, desperate hope. 'Papa...?'
The figure was still far, a dark shape against the slightly brighter outline of the monuments, but his presence seemed to radiate a familiar intensity. Relief, sharp and sudden, pierced through her worry for Boruto. 'Papa is here! If Papa is here, maybe he can help with… everything!' A new surge of energy propelled her forward, a flicker of hope amidst the chaos.
Without a word, Sarada altered her trajectory, veering off from Boruto's desperate path. She pushed herself, her gaze fixed on the distant, familiar-looking silhouette, her new objective clear. 'I have to reach Papa! He'll know what to do about all this... he'll be able to help Boruto too.' Her speed increased, a desperate plea in her silent pursuit, leaving her confused teammates trailing behind.
She didn't realize that the figure she was chasing, the one heading directly towards the monumental faces of the Hokage, was not the person she believed him to be. The night, the distance, and the intense similarity in appearance had led her down to a path of misdirection. The figure she pursued with such desperate hope, a Rinnegan user cloaked in shadows, was Uchiha Hikaru.
Boruto, still thinking about how bad he felt, ran even harder. His legs felt tired. Everything around him looked blurry. He only wanted to get away from his heavy guilt. He jumped over another space between roofs. He landed hard. His body moved forward. Then, his right foot hit something he didn't see.
"Ugh!" He made a surprise noise. He lost his balance and fell forward. He landed hard on his hands and knees on the cold roof tiles. His teeth hurt from the bump. His arm hurt a lot, but he barely felt it. He closed his eyes for a moment.
When he stood up, he saw what he tripped on. It was lying on the dark roof. It shone a little from the distant streetlights. It was a plain, dark kettle. It looked very normal, like something from his kitchen. But for Boruto, it was not normal at all.
His blue eyes opened wide. At first, he didn't see clearly, but then he knew what it was. He felt a cold, bad feeling. It was worse than the pain from his fall. He gasped for air.
'No… no way…dattebasa' he thought. He couldn't believe it. This was the 'turtle' his father looked for. The one his mother talked about. The thing that everyone was trying to find. It was the same kettle that fell from Sai's (who was really young Hikaru) hand when he hit the older Hikaru and Sasuke. It must have fallen and landed here, right where Boruto was running.
His hands started to shake. Then his whole body shook. His bad feeling from before, which felt heavy, now became very hot anger.
His face twisted. His jaw was so tight it hurt. His forehead got deep lines, making his eyes look angry. All of his past guilt and fear turned into a hot, burning anger at the simple kettle.
"You…!" he shouted. His voice shook with anger he could barely hold in. He quickly grabbed the kettle. His fingers turned white as he held the cold metal very tightly. He didn't feel how heavy it was. He only felt the huge, awful weight of what it meant.
"It's all your fault ttebasa!" he yelled. His voice was rough and loud. It echoed over the quiet roofs. He didn't care if his friends heard him now. All the fear he had kept inside, all the guilt he hadn't told anyone, all the bad feeling that he caused this problem, burst out as angry words. "Everything! All this destruction! All of it because of you!"
Boruto made a deep, angry sound. He pulled his arm back. He felt so much self-hate and anger. His face showed only pure, strong anger. Tears of anger and sadness came to his eyes. With all his strength, he threw the dark kettle far away. It flew through the night, a dark, small thing against the big, broken city. He watched it go. His chest went up and down fast. His body shook very much. It was like he was throwing out something bad from inside him.
He stood there, bent over. His hands were tight fists. He breathed fast and hard. The quick anger left him feeling empty. But the guilt, now clearer and stronger, stayed. He had faced what made him feel bad. And all he could do was throw it away. He hated it. And in that moment, he hated himself even more.
_SOMEWHERE IN THE VILLAGE_
Naruto and Kakashi were moving quickly through the village, their path taking them away from the Cryptology Headquarters.
They were heading towards the area where Sasuke's fierce chakra signature had been.
Naruto, with his spiky blond hair and bright blue eyes, looked serious. He wore a striking white cloak adorned with red flame-like patterns along the bottom edge and prominent red kanji on the back, indicating a prestigious status. Underneath the cloak was a black, high-collared, zip-up shirt cinched at the waist with a thick, rope-style belt. Bright orange pants with black markings ran down to the calves, where black open-toed sandals and leg coverings completed the look. His right arm was wrapped in bandages, suggesting past injury or protective sealing, standing out even in the dim light.
Kakashi walked beside him, his usual calm expression hidden behind his mask, his eyes sharp and alert. He sported a dark grey tactical flak jacket featuring reinforced shoulder plates and a high collar, layered over a navy long-sleeved shirt. A red armband wrapped around his left sleeve, while dark navy pants were secured with white wrappings around the right thigh, holding a utility pouch. His outfit was completed with black open-toed sandals, high shin guards, and a standard forehead protector worn across his forehead. The back of his flak jacket prominently displayed bold kanji characters, emphasizing an official rank or title.
"Alright, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, his voice low but firm, ready to move faster. "Let's find Sasuke dattebayo. He sounded like he was in big trouble back there."
Kakashi nodded, his gaze already scanning the dark rooftops ahead. "Right. This situation is getting more confusing by the minute. We need to be—"
Suddenly, a weak, strained voice cut through the air, barely a whisper. "Naruto..."
Naruto stopped. His blue eyes widened a little. He knew that voice. He turned his head slowly, looking around. Who would be calling him now? His eyes landed on a figure stumbling towards them from a darker alleyway.
It was Sai. He was leaning heavily against a nearby wall, trying to walk, but he couldn't do it well. He was dressed in his sleek, black, high-collared jacket that was unzipped at the front, revealing a light-colored inner shirt. The sleeves were rolled slightly at the cuffs, and the outfit included black fitted pants held up by a belt. Gloves covered his hands, adding a utilitarian touch, giving him a composed, professional demeanor. One hand was pressed against his pale face, holding his head as if it hurt very much. With the other hand, he held onto the wall, taking slow, unsteady steps. His usual calm face was gone, replaced by pain and confusion. He looked weak, very weak.
"Sai!" Naruto's voice shot out, full of shock and worry. Kakashi's eyes narrowed immediately. Without another thought, both of them ran towards Sai. Naruto reached him first, dropping to one knee beside Sai, whose legs gave out completely. Sai slid down the wall until he was sitting on the cold ground, his body shaking slightly.
Naruto placed a comforting hand on Sai's shoulder. His blue eyes were filled with deep concern. "Sai! Are you okay? What happened ttebayo? You look terrible!"
Sai shook his head slowly, groaning.
"Genjutsu... I was caught in... a very strong one." His voice was rough, like he hadn't used it in a long time. His eyes blinked slowly, trying to clear the fog from his mind.
While Naruto was still making sure Sai was alright, Kakashi's gaze swept over Sai's body. His eyes sharpened even more. Something was wrong. Very wrong. His eyes quickly moved to the dark pack Sai usually carried, the one where they had told him to keep the 'turtle' safe. His mind raced. 'The turtle... It's not there! Sai doesn't have it!' A cold feeling started to spread through Kakashi.
As Kakashi was about to open his mouth and ask about the 'turtle', Sai suddenly spoke again. His voice was still weak, but a hint of urgent worry was in it. "The... the 'turtle'... Is it safe? Is it safe and sound?"
Naruto, who was still kneeling with one leg bent, leaned closer to Sai. His blue eyes showed only confusion. "Huh? What do you mean, Sai? Repeat that dattebayo." He thought Sai might still be fuzzy from the genjutsu.
Kakashi just stood behind Naruto, frozen. His mind went blank for a second. He was trying hard to understand what Sai had just said. 'He's asking if it's safe? But... we gave it to him!' The pieces didn't fit.
When Sai questioned again, his eyes struggling to focus, Naruto looked back at Kakashi, who was standing right behind him. Naruto's own confusion deepened. He looked from Kakashi's blank face back to Sai, then smiled a little. It was a small, knowing smile, as if he expected Sai to just realize his mistake.
"What do you mean, 'Is the turtle safe or not'?" Naruto said, his voice gentle, still thinking Sai was just confused. "You only took the 'turtle' just a little while ago, Sai! You're asking us...?"
Before Naruto could finish his words, Sai cut him off, his voice suddenly stronger, full of shocked protest. "No!" he cried, shaking his head harder. "I never took the 'turtle'! I was there, inside the headquarters, unconscious because of the genjutsu which was cast on me!"
A wave of pure horror washed over both Naruto's and Kakashi's faces. Their easy smiles, their calm looks, vanished in an instant. Their eyes widened, filled with a terrible understanding. The 'turtle' they had given to who they thought was Sai... was not Sai at all. It was someone else entirely. The realization hit them like a physical blow. The deception was far deeper than they could have imagined.
Naruto's face, usually so open and warm, twisted into a mask of pure frustration, quickly boiling into anger. His hand shot out, grabbing a handful of Sai's sleek, high-collared jacket.
Sai, still weak and disoriented, slumped against the wall as Naruto hauled him forward, his grip firm on the black fabric.
"What do you mean you were caught in a Genjutsu, dattebayo?!" Naruto roared, his voice rough with disbelief and fury. His blue eyes, usually full of light, now blazed with a fierce, almost raw intensity. "We sent you to scout the headquarters, to check for any sign of the enemy! You're the Black Ops Director, one of our best, trained in stealth and resistance! And you're telling me you were caught so easily?! A mild Genjutsu knocked you out?!" The words spilled out, fueled by the terrifying realization of how badly they had been tricked. 'He had one job! Just one job! And now... the 'turtle' is gone, and this Rinnegan guy is still out there!'
Sai, despite his pain, clenched his jaw. His pale face tightened, a spark of defiance in his eyes. "It was not a mild Genjutsu, Naruto!" he protested, his voice strained but sharp, pushing back against the accusation. "It was profound. A powerful illusion. I felt nothing before it struck. It was too fast, too perfect."
As their argument escalated, Kakashi, who had been silently observing, moved swiftly. His hand shot out, firm and cool, grabbing Naruto's wrist, pulling it back from Sai's collar. "Naruto, release him," Kakashi commanded, his voice calm but authoritative, cutting through the rising tension. "He's clearly not well."
Naruto, still hot with rage, spun his head to glare at Kakashi, his hand still clenched, though no longer on Sai. "Who cares about his condition, Kakashi-sensei?!" he shouted, his voice cracking with exasperation. "He had one job! One simple, crucial task! To ensure the headquarters was clear and to keep the 'turtle' safe! And he couldn't even do that! Why should I worry about his condition when the entire village is in danger because of this?!" His frustration was palpable, a heavy burden of responsibility crushing him. 'The village... it's all on me. And now, we've been outsmarted right under our noses.'
While Naruto's furious words echoed, Kakashi maintained his calm, his expression hidden behind his mask, but eyes were sharp, assessing. He tried to calm Naruto outwardly, but deep inside, his mind was racing, cold and analytical. 'A Genjutsu strong enough to incapacitate Sai, a strong shinobi known for his mental fortitude and training against genjutsu s... this is clearly the work of that Uchiha with the Rinnegan we faced.' His thoughts turned, considering the possibilities, the sheer power required. 'But to cast such a genjutsu without being detected... there's more to this.'
Meanwhile, Sai, still recovering but fueled by Naruto's harsh words, refused to back down.
"It's your fault, Naruto!" he shot back, his voice regaining some strength, though still ragged. "You jump to conclusions! You blame me without understanding! It is your fault for not truly comprehending the enemy we face!
You didn't understand the depth of this deception, the true strength of this opponent!
You failed to discern who was truly an enemy and who was an ally!"
His frustration with Naruto's impulsiveness, a trait he had often struggled to understand, bubbled to the surface. 'He always acts before he thinks! And now, he blames me for his own oversight!'
As the two of them continued to bicker, their voices rising, Kakashi's patience snapped. "Enough!" he shouted, his voice suddenly sharp, cutting through their argument like a blade. It was a rare display of true force from the usually laid-back Hokage, and it immediately silenced both of them.
Kakashi's gaze swept from Sai to Naruto, his eyes serious. "Sai's description of the Genjutsu," he stated, his voice now lower, but laced with grave certainty. "The speed, the completeness of it... it's exactly what you'd expect from the Uchiha with the Rinnegan we encountered. But there's something else we didn't know about him." He paused, letting the implication sink in. "It could only be the doing of... Hikaru."
Naruto's brow furrowed, his anger momentarily forgotten, replaced by sheer confusion. "Hikaru?" he repeated, his voice softer, baffled. "Who's Hikaru, dattebayo? You never mentioned that name before!" The idea that this powerful, mysterious foe actually had a name, and that Kakashi knew it, was a jarring revelation.
Kakashi's eyes met Naruto's, a grim shadow passing over his face. "Hikaru," he stated, his voice heavy with the revelation, "is the name of that Rinnegan-wielding Uchiha figure. The one we faced before."
A chilling wave of pure horror, cold and absolute, washed over both Naruto's and Sai's faces. The color drained from their complexions. Hikaru. The Uchiha with the Rinnegan, a known formidable enemy, now had a name, making him feel all the more real and terrifying. The full, dreadful scope of their predicament crashed down upon them.
---
QUIZ QUESTION:
Which character's internal monologue best reveals the immediate consequences of learning Hikaru's name in Chapter 46?
A) Boruto's, as he grapples with the weight of his guilt after finding the kettle.
B) Sarada's, as she focuses on finding her father, mistaking Hikaru for him.
C) Sai's, as he defends himself against Naruto's accusations of incompetence.
D) Naruto's, as he registers the name and its implications for the first time.
Share your answers in the comments down below!
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey everyone! We've just finished Chapter 46: Outsmarted, and what a whirlwind of revelations it was! 🌪️
This chapter really put our heroes on the back foot. Seeing Naruto and Kakashi realize they'd been so thoroughly tricked, believing they sent Sai with the "turtle" when it was actually Younger Hikaru impersonating Sai, was a gut punch! 🤯 It truly highlighted Hikaru's cunning, showing how easily he can manipulate situations right under their noses.
And then there's Boruto's intense internal struggle. His guilt and frustration boiling over, culminating in him finding the "turtle" – or rather, the kettle – and reacting so intensely to it, really showed the heavy burden he's carrying. It was a raw, emotional moment that sets the stage for what's next. 💔
The introduction of Hikaru's name also adds a terrifying new layer to our antagonist. Knowing his name makes the Uchiha with the Rinnegan feel even more real and dangerous, doesn't it? And Sarada's unfortunate misdirection, mistaking Hikaru for Sasuke, certainly adds a troubling new element to the unfolding chaos.
Get ready, because the stakes are about to get even higher! In the next chapter, the paths of Boruto's group, Naruto, Kakashi, and the
Hikaru are all set to collide. The deceptions are unraveled, the players are named, and the true battle is about to begin. Expect explosive action and a confrontation that will push everyone to their limits! 🚀
Thanks for sticking with me through these intense twists and turns! Your support means the world. Let me know what you thought of this chapter in the comments! ❤️