In the previous chapter: Sumire said goodbye to her comrades and departed to follow a new path, while Team 7 was assigned to a dangerous covert mission: infiltrate Hozuki Prison to protect a former member of the Mujina Gang who possessed key information about their leader, Shojoji .
For his part, Boruto focused on perfecting a new sealing jutsu: the Fūinjutsu: Keitai Zoshoku , with which he managed to replicate small objects through a complex system of marks and chakra rings, perfecting it after several days of intensive training.
Meanwhile, Tsubaki received a mysterious scroll sent by Boruto. After a series of revelations about his true intentions, she decided to confront him. But instead of conflict, an unexpected collaboration began: Boruto took her to a hidden area, where he proposed a deal. In exchange for learning the samurai chakra style, he would create a new variant exclusive just for her.
The proposal was accepted, and as a first step, Tsubaki began a rigorous acupuncture process to reshape the chakra centers in Boruto's body, adapting it to the way samurai manipulate their internal energy.
At this moment, Tsubaki was in her bed, sleeping soundly. She had stayed up late, so her body was still craving rest. At that moment, a section of the room's walls slowly opened, like windows, letting in the soft light of the morning sun.
Tsubaki frowned at the light caressing her face. She opened her eyes slowly and let out a long sigh. She sat up lazily, sat on the edge of the bed, and rubbed her eyes with one hand. She remained silent for a few seconds, then stood up and walked to the bathroom.
There he washed his body with cold water, which helped clear away the last traces of sleep. He put on his usual clothes with precision, adjusting each garment with the care characteristic of someone trained in samurai discipline.
Upon returning to the main room, the center table lit up; several seals quickly appeared on its surface, and in a puff of smoke, multiple plates of food appeared neatly arranged.
Tsubaki sat silently, looked at the dishes for a few seconds, and then began to eat breakfast leisurely. When she finished, the dishes disappeared in another puff of smoke, leaving the table completely clean.
She stood up, took her katana, and secured it to her waist. Her expression was calm. Without another word, she stopped in front of the door. It opened by itself, and Tsubaki left the house, ready to continue what she had started.
As she did so, she looked around, noticing how the sun reflected off the calm surface of the lake. She began walking along the stone path until she reached the hut. From outside, she looked inside and saw him: Boruto was sitting by the stone table, wearing his usual clothes, though without his cloak. Tsubaki looked directly into his eyes, but as she did so, she felt something strange.
Those eyes... I feel nothing in them... it's like I'm seeing something that doesn't belong in this world...
Tsubaki approached with a firm step and spoke in a serious tone:
—So, what are we doing today?
Boruto looked at her calmly and replied:
—We'll do the procedure all day long… and as many days as necessary, until you fully understand it.
Without saying anything else, he began to take off his clothes.
Tsubaki frowned, closed her eyes, and said firmly:
—You could die if you keep forcing your body like this. You should get some proper rest.
Boruto took off his shirt and replied:
—There's no need for your concern. I know very well what I'm capable of.
"I'm not worried about you," Tsubaki replied without hesitation. "I'm worried about what state you'll be in when you return to Konoha."
Boruto looked at her sideways and simply said:
-Do it.
Boruto then finished removing all his clothes and lay down face up on the stone bed, spreading all his chakra throughout his body. A light gust of wind erupted around him, stirring the air with the pressure of his energy.
Tsubaki sighed calmly, walked over to the side of the table, put her katana aside, took the needles with precision and began to stick them one by one into the key points of Boruto's body, repeating the same procedure as the day before with impeccable accuracy.
As he placed the last needle, he took a step back and observed Boruto's body: the veins in his limbs bulged in the corresponding spots. The chakra seemed to resist, trying to return to its center, to the core in his abdomen.
"The chakra... it still doesn't quite accept him," Tsubaki thought, keeping her gaze alert. "But he's handling it better than he did yesterday."
He was silent for a moment, then looked away. He took his katana, slung it around his waist, and walked with a firm step to the edge of the hut. Without hesitation, he made a graceful leap and landed on his feet on the surface of the lake.
Slowly, he drew his sword. He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaled deeply, and began to train. Every movement of his katana was precise, fluid. Each cut generated a burst of energy that was lost in the silence of the forest that surrounded them.
Tsubaki continued training tirelessly, repeating the same movements with her katana over and over again. Hours passed, and her body began to sweat from the constant exertion. Finally, she stopped her practice, sheathed her sword, and turned her gaze to Boruto.
Wasting no time, he walked over to him. Upon arriving, he set his katana aside, carefully picked up the needles, and began removing them one by one, in the same order as before. Little by little, Boruto's body returned to its original state. His veins relaxed, and his breathing stabilized.
With his eyes narrowed, Boruto spoke in a low voice:
—Give me a few minutes.
A green chakra began to flow slowly throughout his body, healing the pressure points and restoring his physical state. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes fully and said:
—Go to the living quarters. The table will light up and the food will appear… but first, put the needles back into my body.
Tsubaki nodded silently. She repeated the procedure precisely, inserting the needles into key points on Boruto's body. Then she stood up, picked up her katana, and headed toward the living quarters.
Once there, she took a quick bath. As she stepped outside, the central table began to glow, the seals activated, and in a puff of smoke, a wide variety of dishes appeared. Tsubaki sat down calmly and began to eat. A slight, satisfied smile appeared on her face, as if it were the first warm meal she'd enjoyed in a long time.
When he finished, he stood up, walked over to the bed, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes, entering a state of silent meditation.
The sun was beginning to set, and a warm orange light filtered through the window. Tsubaki slowly opened her eyes, letting the dim light touch her face. At that moment, the window closed by itself, and the torches in the room softly lit, bathing the room in a warm glow.
Tsubaki stood up, stretched her body slightly from the long meditation, and walked toward the door. It opened without her having to touch it. Without hesitation, she stepped outside.
Upon reaching the hut, he checked Boruto's condition. He noticed that most of the swollen veins had disappeared and that his breathing was much calmer. Wasting no time, he repeated the procedure and began removing the needles, one by one.
Boruto opened his eyes slowly, still recovering from the process, and looked at her calmly.
"Today's trial is complete," he said in a low voice.
Tsubaki nodded silently and left without saying anything else.
Boruto sat down slowly, stretched his shoulders, and then stood up. He began to put on his clothes with calm movements and, once dressed, headed to his apartment. Upon entering, he washed off the last of the dust and sweat with a quick shower.
As soon as he finished, the coffee table lit up, and in a puff of smoke, several plates of food appeared. Boruto sat down and ate silently, focused, until he finished completely. Then he lay back on the bed, closed his eyes, and fell deeply asleep.
The following days followed the same rhythm. Tsubaki inserted and removed the needles with precision, repeating the process over and over again. While Boruto remained in bed enduring the pain and stabilizing his chakra, Tsubaki trained with her katana in the mornings and meditated silently in the afternoons. Words between the two were few, limited to brief conversations about the progress of the process and what was to come.
Boruto, for his part, began to get used to the procedure. With each session, his veins showed less inflammation, his chakra flow stabilized, and his body began to adapt to keeping it distributed throughout his system. Furthermore, at each point where he was punctured, a small chakra core formed, acting as a kind of valve that regulated his circulation.
Five days passed. Although the chakra still tended to return to its center in the abdomen, its channels had strengthened. They were thicker, more resilient, though still the same size. Progress was noticeable, but there was still work to be done.
The sun was turning the sky orange as Tsubaki finished removing the last needle and placed it on the stone table. She studied Boruto's body closely. Throughout the entire process, he hadn't let out a single cry. His resilience to pain was astonishing.
Throughout the entire process... she didn't scream once. The pain must have been immense, she thought.
Boruto sat on the edge of the stone bed, his back to her. Tsubaki looked at him curiously and finally asked:
—You were able to endure all that pain… Have you ever been through anything similar before?
Boruto looked at her out of the corner of his eye and calmly replied:
— Hmm …
He looked back ahead and continued:
"In the past, I trained my body until my bones broke and my skin tore. There were times when my chakra was completely depleted… and yet I kept training, day and night. The pain now is normal, just a little stronger than before."
Tsubaki stared at him.
"Why go to such lengths?" he asked. "You're the Hokage's son. You don't need it."
Boruto stood up without saying anything at first. He picked up his pants from the floor and calmly began putting them on. Then, as he buttoned his shirt, he spoke calmly:
—I've always sought power. But not the power to control the world, nor to dominate others…
He took his jacket, put it on calmly, and continued with the same firmness in his voice:
—I seek a power of my own. Something beyond understanding. That's what I desire… That's why I train. As you said a few days ago, I don't follow the Will of Fire… because I don't like my desires tied to something that, to me, doesn't make much sense.
Afterwards, he bent down slightly to put on his ninja sandals, and finally, he adjusted his gloves and began walking back to his residence.
Tsubaki looked at him from behind and said:
—Your talent is undeniable, Boruto. But you're not someone who relies on that alone. I've noticed it over these five days… even when your body seemed unable to handle it, you endured. You're not simply a genius; you're someone who trains beyond their limits. Your strength comes not only from who you are, but from who you force yourself to be… and that's why many, including me, end up seeing you as something more than prodigious. As someone… irregular, a monster.
Boruto stopped, looked at her out of the corner of his eye, and smiled sideways.
— Hmph … I guess you're right. I don't like being limited. I want to roam freely, without restrictions… beyond this world.
And without saying anything else, he continued walking while keeping that smile on his face.
Tsubaki looked at him from behind and spoke:
—Walking without limits… an adventure without borders. Feeling the wind on your face as you move forward… sounds pleasant.
Boruto raised his hand in farewell without turning around, and entered his home.
Tsubaki just sighed, unable to help but smile slightly, and headed over to hers as well. As she did so, she murmured:
—It seems… there is more to learn before I return home.
Time passed. The next day, the same process was repeated. No one said a word more than necessary, and the day passed peacefully. When night fell, everyone retired to their homes.
The next day was similar, but this time, something was different.
As night fell, Tsubaki removed the last needle from Boruto's body, and in that instant, a wave of power was released from his body. Boruto, still lying on the stone bed, slowly opened his eyes. He sat up calmly and looked at his hands, then silently looked at his body.
Tsubaki put the needle on the table and spoke calmly:
—Your body has already adopted the samurai chakra method.
Boruto slowly stood up and muttered:
—My body… feels different. It's strange.
He began dressing with calm movements. Once finished, he walked to the edge of the hut, where the lake reflected the night sky. He watched his hands and body illuminated by the glow of the water.
Tsubaki looked at his back and said:
—The chakra is already distributed throughout your body. You just need to activate it.
Boruto closed his eyes for a moment and observed the state of his internal channels. He clearly noticed the difference: the chakra was stored in his limbs in perfect balance. He thought:
I'm sorry... it's active, but only in each part... It doesn't return to the core like it used to. It's as if it's still, but at the same time, awake.
Tsubaki took her katana, secured it to her waist, and approached Boruto, standing at his side. She then stepped onto the lake water, advanced a few meters, and turned to face him.
"Chakra is like the water in this lake," he said. "You just have to make it vibrate within you. Use it as you always would."
Boruto looked at her and replied:
—The way a shinobi activates their chakra is to circulate it throughout their body and concentrate it only where it's needed. But now… it's already in my entire body. It feels strange, as if it were already activated, but not working.
Tsubaki looked at him carefully and said:
—Then move it at full speed. Change its position inside, but without leaving any gaps… without leaving the areas where it's already located.
Boruto held his gaze for a moment and thought:
It's strange... that someone is guiding me like this. How long has it been since someone taught me something like this...?
He sighed, closed his eyes, and followed the instructions. He tried to circulate his chakra rapidly throughout his body, but nothing happened. However, after a few seconds, a layer of chakra began to slowly emanate from his body.
Boruto opened his eyes and looked at him carefully, but thought:
This… is just showing the chakra, it won't work like that.
He looked at Tsubaki and spoke:
—This isn't working. I feel like something's off.
Tsubaki frowned slightly, thoughtful. Then she shook her head and replied:
—When I learned this method, that's what they told me… and it worked almost immediately. Apparently, there's something inside you that's blocking it.
Boruto closed his eyes again, and at that instant, Momoshhiki spoke lazily:
"You copied it before, and now you're trying to repeat it... but it didn't work. Your body's activation method isn't the same as hers or the samurai's. You need to understand it for yourself before moving forward."
Momoshhiki yawned and settled down, going back to sleep on Galaga's head.
Boruto slowly opened his eyes and asked in a low voice:
—Tell me… is that all the samurai have? Is there nothing else?
Tsubaki looked at him and replied:
—There's a little more. We call them combat levels or power levels. They're used to determine where we are within our swordsmanship style.
Boruto watched her with interest and asked:
—Tell me what they are.
Tsubaki took a few steps and entered the hut before answering:
—There are several levels, but we only know how far the last high-ranking samurai reached. There are seven levels… although there could be more, or maybe not. I'm on the second level, and my master reached the fourth.
Boruto looked at her out of the corner of his eye and spoke in a serious tone:
—He's on the fourth level? Mifune, the leader of the Land of Iron?
Tsubaki nodded firmly and turned to Boruto:
—That's why I said before that the method is good... but it's not perfect. According to my teacher, once you reach the fourth level, you plateau. There are no further known advances.
Boruto looked down at his hands and muttered:
—Seven levels… Hmm , I see. So this method was created for swordsmanship. But if I tweak it a bit… I could adapt it to my own taste.
He took a few steps back and sat on the floor, crossing his feet and closing his eyes.
Tsubaki also withdrew from the edge of the hut, sat down in front of Boruto with her legs crossed and closed her eyes silently, letting the atmosphere fill with calm again.
In Boruto's mental space, he appeared, sitting on Karasugan's head. He turned to Galaga and spoke:
—Momoshhiki… do you know any way to make it work?
Momoshhiki slowly opened his eyes, looked at him out of the corner of his eye with disinterest, and replied in a dry tone:
"And why would I know? We use chakra just like everyone else. You're the one who goes through the motions by finding a different method than normal... so it's not my problem, brat."
Boruto just sighed, then sat on the statue's head and thought:
—The samurai method… no, the swordsmanship method was created to control the sword, not to create jutsus or anything else. When I try to use the chakra in my body, it stops… as if it were already being used on something else. But not just in one part, but in the whole body.
He thought for a moment longer:
—Chakra originally flows from the core and then returns to it…
Boruto smiled and stood up inside his mindspace. He then shouted:
—I got it! Hahahaha ! It was that simple! — he laughed out loud, surprised by the revelation.
Then he sat back down and opened his eyes to reality. He concentrated.
Tsubaki opened her eyes as well and looked at him. Boruto, for his part, internally observed his chakra pathway and thought:
—Acupuncture points were created to function like keys: they seal the chakra and prevent it from returning, but they also serve to store it in the body…
Boruto moved slightly, and his chakra began to flow. He continued to reason:
—If I store the chakra in those points, I'll just have to leave it there. The chakra will move completely to those points and be stored.
Then he smiled:
—I now have more pressure points on my body… but these can't be pressed or sealed… Heh! How interesting…
The chakra was fully stored. Boruto raised his hand, pointing his palm to the side, and in a single instant, a Rasengan appeared, shooting straight into the lake.
—BOOM!
The explosion raised a gigantic column of water, and a gust of wind swept across the area.
Tsubaki, who was watching everything, raised her forearm to protect herself from the gale. She was surprised by the speed and power of the attack.
Boruto opened his eyes, jumped to his feet, and smiled wickedly.
—Hahaha ! I did it! —he laughed , elated—. I've cut the number of stamps I need in half… I'm faster.
He tensed his body, feeling the energy flow through every muscle, and murmured with a smile:
—I'm stronger… and more resilient… Ahahaha , this is amazing!
Tsubaki looked at him silently, a hint of wonder in her eyes. Then, unable to help herself, she smiled softly and murmured:
—He looks like a little boy… hehe.
Boruto noticed Tsubaki's subtle laughter, looked down at her with a slight frown and asked:
—What are you laughing at?
Tsubaki stood up naturally and replied:
—Don't pay attention to me. Now that you've done it, you just need to fulfill the other part of the deal.
Boruto looked at her with some laziness, then sighed and spoke:
-Alright...
He began walking toward his home. He took a few steps and, with a wave of his hand, made a scroll and a brush appear. Without pausing, he tilted his head slightly and tossed them to Tsubaki.
"That's for you to write down the sword levels," he said without looking back.
Tsubaki caught the scroll and brush with ease. She watched Boruto's back for a moment, then turned her gaze toward the lake, right where the attack had landed. She narrowed her eyes, focusing on the location of the explosion.
That attack was powerful… I feel like if I had received it directly, I would have died.
He took a deep breath, carefully packed his belongings, and turned around. He began walking silently back to his residence, the echo of the explosion still seeming to float in the air.
The next day, things had changed. Inside the hut, both the table and the stone bed were gone. In the center, Boruto sat meditating, his legs crossed and his eyes closed. Around him, the sound of the lake and the gentle breeze created a sense of serene calm.
Tsubaki quietly left her residence. Seeing Boruto, she walked over calmly and, extending a hand, said:
—These are the levels I mentioned to you.
Boruto slowly opened his eyes and took the scroll she offered him. Tsubaki sat across from him, also in a meditative position. The atmosphere was peaceful, with no need for unnecessary words.
Boruto unrolled the scroll and began to read:
Path One: Basic Cutting. The samurai masters chakra and projects it into his sword. He learns to perform swift and powerful attacks. His chakra barely extends outside his body.
Path Two: Soul Breathing. The samurai's chakra synchronizes with his sword. He learns to channel it through breathing, improving his focus and reflexes. He can cut through invisible things: wind, sound, even pure chakra. This begins to be reflected in his posture and gaze.
Path Three: Silent Blade. His presence begins to fade in battle. He can move undetected. His chakra, so refined, leaves no trace. A single slash can create slashing waves from a distance. The blade becomes an extension of the soul.
Path Four: Body of Steel, Lotus Will. The samurai's body is hardened through mastery of internal chakra. It can withstand ninja techniques and restraint seals. The sword moves by pure intention. It is able to read the enemy's intent before they act.
Path Five: Empty Sword. If the user wants the sword to cut, it will cut. If not, it won't. The chakra becomes an extension of the reality they wish to manifest.
Path Six: Swordmaker. The samurai can generate swords made of pure chakra. These weapons are capable of cutting through anything: from physical matter to emotions, memories, or illusions. Everything is a sword: a branch, a grass… Only those spiritually aligned can resist their techniques.
Path Seven: Sword of Nothingness. The supreme state. The samurai merges with the universe. There is no longer any difference between him, his sword, and the world. His cuts are invisible, but their effect is absolute. Whatever he chooses to cut disappears. At this level, one no longer fights out of necessity, but out of pure conviction: the sword of the mind.
Boruto finished reading and looked at Tsubaki.
—Does this have to do with techniques?
Tsubaki shook her head, letting out a small sigh as her shoulders dropped slightly.
—That's just what you get in the base state… The techniques are another part.
Boruto smiled, a certain intrigue reflected on his face.
—Interesting… You said Mifune only reached the fourth level. Have the remaining levels never been reached?
Tsubaki looked at him seriously, her expression steady for a moment. Then she sighed again, and looked back at the lake.
—That's the history of my homeland… but no one has achieved it because there's no method to achieve it. Each person who achieved it did it in their own way, and no one has been able to replicate it. From what I've heard, only two people have achieved it: the first samurai… and the first leader of the Land of Iron. Our ancestors.
Boruto frowned slightly and muttered:
—The first samurai… and the first leader of the Land of Iron. If they reached that level… how did they die?
Tsubaki lowered her head slightly, her shoulders drooping slightly as well. Her voice came out softer this time.
—No one knows. It was said they were so powerful… that, upon reaching those levels, they ceased to be human. Some claimed they could split mountains with a single slash.
Boruto looked back at the scroll, thoughtfully, and said.
—I understand… but this works for me and it doesn't. I'm not someone who relies on a sword, but… it's possible to create a similar method that suits me. Though first… I'll develop a superior method as I promised.
Tsubaki just closed her eyes and spoke calmly:
—I will accompany you all this time… until you manage to create your own method, as we said before.
Boruto rested his face on the palm of his hand, his elbow resting on his knee, and replied indifferently:
—Okay… do whatever you want.
Then he settled in, closed his eyes, and began to concentrate. He began to move his chakra differently, as if trying to find something within. Every so often, he shifted it irregularly, changing its flow.
Tsubaki kept her eyes open, silently watching him. She noticed how Boruto's chakra was leaving his body and churning erratically, as if it were trying to reorganize itself.
The hours passed until noon arrived. The two went to lunch without saying a word.
In the afternoon, they resumed their meditation. They continued in this rhythm until nightfall, when they retired to sleep. The next day was the same. And the one after that, too.
Accompanied only by the sound of the lake and the wind, they shared this process in absolute silence... as the days began to accumulate, marking 15 days since they had gathered in this place.
At that moment, Boruto was meditating in the center of the hut, surrounded by silence and the gentle breeze that made the waters of the nearby lagoon ripple. Sitting serenely in front of him, Tsubaki watched him in complete silence.
Boruto slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.
—Hey, tell me something… how exactly did you explain the method for obtaining the samurai chakra style? I want you to tell me just like you did that time.
Tsubaki tilted her head slightly, thoughtful. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and, after a sigh, replied:
—Are you referring to the explanation about acupuncture and how it works?
Boruto nodded silently.
Tsubaki spoke calmly again:
—The human body has several chakra connection points in the joints. Since all humans have them, by puncturing these places, you can prevent chakra from flowing out. In addition, there are three main points. The one in the abdomen is where chakra is generated and stored. The one in the chest is linked to life. And the one on the forehead… represents the mind, the spirit…
She was about to continue, but Boruto interrupted her with a smile.
—I got it… so it's like that, huh? Hahaha…
He closed his eyes again and clasped his hands in a seal. At that instant, chakra began to emanate powerfully from his entire body, enveloping him completely. The pressure was so intense that everything around him began to tremble. The lake water rose in floating droplets, suspended in the air as if time had stopped.
Tsubaki stared at him in astonishment. Her face remained calm, but inside, a thought stabbed through her:
Are you planning to do that? You're crazy. If you fail... you'll die.
Boruto smiled determinedly and began to concentrate all his chakra in his chest, as if trying to gather it at that point.
Tsubaki stood up quickly, alarmed, and shouted:
—Hey, stop it! The three cores I mentioned have different functions! Only one serves the flow of chakra, and the one you're trying to activate is the life core! Besides, that point doesn't even physically exist in the human body! How do you plan to unite them?
Boruto smiled even wider, his expression filled with amusement, and replied:
—Then I'll create it myself… I'll use the chakra I have, force that place… and form it.
Tsubaki looked at him in anguish, taking a step towards him.
—Even if you stick a needle in that spot, there's nothing there! It's empty, so it's only used as a guide to move chakra… If you concentrate it there, you'll just create a bomb inside your own chest.
But Boruto didn't stop. He held the seal in his hands, then began rapidly performing a sequence of seals. He separated his palms and firmly struck his own chest, as if activating invisible pressure points. He continued with more seals until, on his chest, a blue sphere began to form, made entirely of pure chakra.
The sphere vibrated, compressed, formed into a ring, and then into a small ball of chakra embedded in the center of her chest. The pressure in the air became overwhelming. Tsubaki could barely stand.
The ground beneath Boruto cracked into pieces, splintering like broken glass. Everything around him was chaos.
Tsubaki clenched her jaw. What he's doing is creating a new core... one for life chakra. If he fails, that chakra will overflow and burn a hole in his chest. Plus... he's building a new channel system and connecting it to the old one... He's completely insane.
But despite her fear, Tsubaki smiled, not knowing why. She could only think one thing:
—It always surprises me… it's just too interesting…
Within his inner space, Boruto began to form new chakra pathways in his chest, carefully connecting them to the original channels. Gradually, in the center of his chest, a completely new core formed, made of pure chakra.
The instant the chakra structure stabilized within Boruto's body, a powerful shockwave erupted from him in all directions, causing a loud bang.
—BOOM!
The hut was instantly destroyed, swept away by the pressure.
Tsubaki, caught in the blast, was thrown backward. She covered herself with her forearms as a giant column of water rose from the lake, soaking everything around her.
She landed on her feet on the surface of the water, her hair wet and plastered to her face. She slid several meters from the force of the impact until she managed to stop. There, silently, she watched in amazement the chaotic scene before her.
Amidst the chaos, Boruto remained in the same position, smiling with amusement. Without changing his expression, he moved his hands, performed a few seals, and tried to replicate the process… this time on his forehead.
But just at that moment, her smile faded. She felt an invisible wall. As if she'd collided with a huge, impossible-to-pass steel door.
"What's this…?" he thought. "I feel like something's blocking me. Like I can't move forward…"
In Boruto's mental space, Momoshiki sat with a serious expression on Galaga's head. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke firmly:
—You won't be able to do it right now, Boruto.
Boruto frowned.
-What do you mean?
Momoshhiki looked at him sideways and replied:
—Karma won't let you do it until it's completely decompressed. The reason is simple: Karma is protecting itself. If your mind gets too strong, I'll lose all chance of taking over your body. And that's the problem… From the beginning, I've never been able to take it over. So Karma prevents you from strengthening your mind to prevent you from destroying the mark. Only when it's completely decompressed will it allow you to continue… before that, no.
Boruto clicked his tongue, annoyed.
—And why does Karma have these mechanisms? What is it afraid of?
Momoshhiki smiled and replied with some arrogance:
—Brat… Karma fears nothing. He just takes precautions. Or do you think you're the only living being in the universe? Beyond these stars, there are other beings with strange and dangerous abilities. Karma only seeks to prevent a possible future threat.
Boruto just sighed in frustration. He opened his eyes again and found himself sitting on the lake water, the chakra waves continuing to dissipate around him. He looked at the chaos he had caused.
" Tch ... damn... I destroyed everything," he muttered. "And also... the barrier disappeared. How troublesome..."
Slowly, Boruto turned his gaze towards Tsubaki, who was standing in the distance on the water, silently watching him.
He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he lifted one foot, trying to sit up. But at that instant, his eyes snapped open and he looked around, completely alert, and he thought.
—That presence… Where is it?
Then his face turned furious, and he quickly made several hand seals and struck the surface of the water. At that moment, multiple seals appeared on the lake, scattered all the way to the edge of the lake, reaching the shore. The seals glowed brightly, and the barrier, which had previously disappeared, began to reconstitute. The broken seals fused together again, and when it was finished, the barrier reappeared.
Tsubaki noticed the change in Boruto and muttered:
—Is he upset? …No. It's not that… he's looking around… Did he feel someone?
She looked around in all directions, but saw nothing strange. Still, her attention returned to him just as Boruto finally stood up.
With a steady gaze, Boruto walked slowly toward Tsubaki. He calmly raised a hand, and in a puff of smoke, his usual cloak appeared, manifested without the need for a seal.
Without pausing, he picked it up and slipped it on. The garment was black on the outside, with a deep, dark crimson on the inside. He slipped his head inside the cloak, letting it fall until it covered him completely.
Tsubaki looked at him for a moment and asked:
—What happened?
Boruto took a few steps closer to her and replied indifferently:
—It was nothing… so there's no need to worry.
Tsubaki stared at him for a few seconds. Then she came completely over, standing beside him, and looked at him out of the corner of her eye:
—So… you got it? You improved the method completely?
Boruto looked back at him out of the corner of his eye, giving a slight smile.
—It's done. I'll transfer it to you, and that's half the deal.
Tsubaki nodded silently and started walking toward the middle of the lake. Boruto turned and followed her. When they reached the center, she asked:
—How are you going to transfer it to me without me dying?
Boruto, looking at Tsubaki's sword, smiled.
—Don't worry, you won't die. I'll do the same process as the first time we met. But if you want to take it further, you'll have to do it on your own.
Tsubaki turned her body and looked at him with a sincere smile.
—So it can still be improved further? Couldn't you?
Boruto looked at her with a raised eyebrow and spoke lazily .
"What's with the attitude?" She sighed, tilting her head slightly. "So far, I've only been able to create a core, nothing more. The method is about fifty percent complete. You'll have to develop the rest yourself... but I'll tell you what I know."
Tsubaki just nodded attentively. Boruto continued:
—The first thing to do is create the chest core… then the head core… and then try to link them together. Hmm …
He placed his hand on his chin and added:
—It's more like putting something together, something that makes them spin. Because merging them… it's impossible. Do you understand, Tsubaki?
Tsubaki nodded with a slight smile, turned around with her back to him and spoke calmly:
—It's time to begin.
Boruto watched her for a moment and thought, She seems happy... what's wrong with her? Then he smiled in amusement, made a thoughtful expression and said,
—You're confusing yourself... you need to take off some of your clothes, from the waist up. Also, you have to be sitting down.
Tsubaki looked at him sideways, serious. Boruto returned the look with a crooked, almost mocking smile and shrugged.
—But if you don't want to, that's fine. After all, it's a complicated procedure…
Tsubaki turned her head slightly to look at him and thought:
He's getting revenge…
Then she sighed in resignation, removed the katana from her waist, and with her other hand, removed part of her clothing. She wore a kimono-style robe with pink lines, which when slid off revealed a thin shirt that barely covered her shoulders, only partially concealing her neck and back.
Without saying a word, he sat calmly on the water, and slowly took off his shirt, leaving his back exposed. His skin was white, smooth, with a small waist. And coin suc Amsa Tsubaki covered her chest
Boruto looked at her coldly, observing her, and thought:
How boring…
without changing his expression, he sat behind her. He placed one of his palms on Tsubaki's back.
She let out a soft moan.
"It's cold..." he murmured, noticing the sudden contact.
Boruto listened to her and watched her. He noticed her ears were flushed. He said nothing. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate. His chakra silently activated, and the procedure began.
At that moment, the Jougan activated at full power. Boruto thought firmly:
Domain…
Tsubaki, who had her eyes closed, opened them in surprise. She felt a sudden pressure in the air, as if something were wrong. Her chakra began to move on its own… as if it no longer belonged to her.
Boruto, from his concentration, clearly observed Tsubaki's entire chakra channel and carefully manipulated the flow of chakra, creating a sphere of energy in her chest. Tsubaki's chakra exited her body and expanded in all directions, raising the wind around her.
With precision, Boruto molded that chakra, weaving new webs of energy and connecting them with the old, forming a stable core in his chest.
Finally, he deactivated the Jougan, opened his eyes, and spoke quickly:
—You have to control the chakra. You're already at the last step. Make the core yours. Then move on to the next one, in the head. Don't forget the feeling. When I take my hand from your back, the core will try to unite with you. Just embrace it with your own, with the chakra that's still in your body, do you understand?
Tsubaki nodded and closed her eyes. She dropped her katana and shirt, placed her hands on her knees, and began to concentrate.
Boruto slowly withdrew his hand and leaped back. In that instant, a powerful shockwave erupted from Tsubaki's body in all directions. From within her, she caught the chakra sphere with her own and held it firmly to her chest. The chakra grew denser, flowing out in sharp bursts in all directions.
Boruto watched intently. At that moment, chakra returned to Tsubaki's body, enveloping her like a bright flame. A new accumulation of chakra began to gather on her forehead.
Bringing his hand to his right eye, Boruto activated the Jougan. He analyzed Tsubaki's chakra channels and thought:
"A second core in the chest… the chakra is purified. And the mind chakra… I wonder what it will do. I'm curious. Hahaha…"
He smiled calmly.
Meanwhile, Tsubaki sent her chakra toward her forehead. New channels began to form, slowly connecting until, finally, a small chakra sphere materialized. It was tiny compared to the previous ones… but stable.
Boruto, seeing this, thought with a smile:
"As I suspected… the chest core and the life core are almost balanced, and the mind core is still weak. But he's close to achieving it. He was able to memorize the method… he even replicates it more easily than I could."
He laughed to himself.
"Hahaha… apparently, I'm not the only one who deserves the title of monster."
Tsubaki concentrated, and the sphere on her forehead finished forming. It glowed brighter than the other nuclei, and in that instant, she took a breath. Her breathing became slow and controlled. But something unusual happened: every time she inhaled or exhaled, the flow of chakra within her body became visible, moving with greater precision.
Boruto, with half-open eyes, watched silently and thought:
"What's that…? The chakra in your body moves better with each breath. Is that… the method? Does breathing replace the use of jutsu to mobilize chakra? Hahaha… how interesting. But now comes the difficult part: how will you connect the three points without moving them?"
Meanwhile, Tsubaki smiled slightly and thought calmly:
"It's time… Boruto's idea is perfect. I just have to let it flow."
Then, a thin chakra channel emerged from one side of the mind core, extending to the abdominal core. Instantly, another chakra emerged from the opposite side, forming a complete circuit.
The chakra method took shape, as if a symbol had been drawn inside his body… the infinity symbol.
Boruto saw it all, and for a moment he held his breath. In his vision, only two connected cores could be seen: the mind core and the chakra core. The life core remained in the center, not directly part of the bond.
Then, the crash was heard.
—BOOM!
A powerful shockwave was released in all directions. Tsubaki rose slightly above the surface of the water, suspended by the pressure of her own chakra. Boruto just watched her silently, surprised, while his cape flapped violently in the wind.
Tsubaki's chakra burst from her body in wispy, twisting, living limbs. Then, as if on command, they returned to her body. In a final burst, chakra erupted like an ethereal flame from every pore of her skin… and suddenly, everything stopped.
The place fell completely silent.
And without warning, chakra began to be absorbed. Not just hers, but the chakra of the surrounding environment. As if something invisible were claiming it all for itself.
Boruto noticed how the chakra was distributed evenly between Tsubaki's three cores. However, something caught his attention: the chakra in her body was becoming smaller... but at the same time, purer. It had acquired a deep, seamless blue, like a living flame tinged with white and intense blue. Its size was diminishing... and yet, its presence was growing.
Chakra was absorbed from the surroundings, as if the entire world were responding to this transformation. The barrier Boruto had erected around the lake began to fade, shattering like broken glass.
"Damn it!" Boruto muttered, his eyes fixed on the sky. "That person could come in… and see this."
He quickly formed a series of hand seals, without deactivating the Jougan, and struck the surface of the water with force. A surge of chakra rippled out. The seals hidden beneath the lake ignited, one after another, illuminating the area with a vibrant glow. The barrier was reestablished, powerful and firm.
Meanwhile, Boruto was thinking calmly, without taking his eyes off Tsubaki:
"I still can't connect my life core to the chakra core... but that core has already strengthened my body. It's stronger, more stable. Add to that the chakra distributed throughout my limbs... I have no idea how much stronger I'll become with this method. But it definitely wasn't a bad idea. Hahaha."
Time went on.
Tsubaki's chakra was increasing, but it was also compressing, as if distilled into its purest form. It no longer looked like traditional chakra. It wasn't blue, or violet... it was something else: condensed, vibrant energy, without a defined form. The three cores vibrated in sync. The flow between them was so rapid it was barely visible.
Several hours passed.
Finally, Tsubaki began to slowly descend until she rested back on the water. As she touched the surface, a final wave of power exploded in all directions, like a held breath suddenly released. And then… everything stilled. The lake, the wind, the pressure. Everything returned to normal.
Boruto, with a slight smile, deactivated the Jougan. He then removed his hand from the water, thereby stopping the barrier from being powered.
Tsubaki opened her eyes and slowly sat up. She observed her body, her hands, her breathing… and smiled with a mixture of joy and wonder.
"This is amazing… I feel like a new person," she said softly. Then she turned her gaze to Boruto and, in the blink of an eye, stood right in front of him. Her expression was pure excitement. "This is amazing! Thank you, Boruto."
Boruto looked at her with some surprise.
"You're welcome... I guess," he replied, a little uncomfortable.
Tsubaki smiled at him tenderly. Boruto, however, frowned and looked her up and down, raising an eyebrow.
—Hey… aren't you missing something?
Tsubaki blinked, then looked down… her face instantly flushed red. She quickly crouched down, covering her chest with her arms, and looked away silently, not daring to say a word.
Boruto watched her for a second longer, let out a long, resigned sigh, and disappeared in a flash. He reappeared next to Tsubaki's clothes and katana. Unhurriedly, he silently took them and disappeared again.
In the blink of an eye he was standing in front of her, and without saying anything, he calmly handed her the clothes.
Tsubaki looked at him, still blushing, her eyes shining slightly with embarrassment. She pressed her lips together and took the clothes without daring to lift her head completely.
Boruto didn't say anything else. He just turned around and disappeared in a flash, reappearing on the other side of the lake, his back to her, leaving the air in a still, dense silence.
Tsubaki quickly dressed, adjusted her katana at her waist, and cleared her throat, her face still flushed. She looked up at Boruto, pressed her lips together, and shouted in a firm, though shaky, voice:
—What you saw never happened, do you understand?!
Boruto looked at her out of the corner of his eye, indifferent, with a half smile.
—Whatever you say, Tsubaki.
She only turned even redder and looked away with a snort. Meanwhile, Boruto relaxed his shoulders and thought calmly:
"Well... that view wasn't bad. But hey, we're still young, so it doesn't matter."
He then disappeared in a flash and reappeared right next to Tsubaki, with a much more serious expression.
Tsubaki was still blushing as she stared at him. Boruto sighed and spoke, his voice slightly lower:
—Let's leave that... do you think we can talk about something else?
Tsubaki looked away, still embarrassed. Then she sighed, took a deep breath, and replied:
—Okay… but… did you see it?
Boruto, hearing the question, quickly looked away and answered reluctantly:
—See? I didn't see anything… front or back, it's all the same.
Tsubaki glared at him in annoyance, one eyebrow twitching in irritation, though the blush remained firmly on her cheeks. She snorted sharply, turned her back on him, and said in a dry tone:
—You're missing out. I'm sure you've never seen anything like that.
Boruto looked at her lazily, let out another sigh, and shook his head.
—Leave it alone… what a pain.
Tsubaki looked at him in annoyance, crossing her arms, but in the end she nodded with a slight grunt.
Boruto watched her for a moment longer and then, with a slight smile, said sincerely:
—You know… you surprised me. Congratulations on completing the method, Tsubaki. Congratulations.
Tsubaki turned her head toward him, somewhat surprised. Then she smiled proudly and said:
—I did it, didn't I? It was amazing.
He closed his eyes for a moment, brimming with satisfaction, and let out a soft laugh. Then he placed his hands on his hips, raised his chin slightly, and added, in a haughty and confident tone:
—It was to be expected. I am my master's successor… how could I not achieve it?
Boruto kept his smile, tilting his head slightly, as he thought silently:
How easy…
Tsubaki glanced at him, briefly remembering what she'd said earlier. Her cheeks flushed red, but she took a deep breath and replied firmly:
—Although at first I thought it would be impossible… an idea came to me to unite the cores. And in the end I succeeded. It was difficult… but I did it. Now I know I can return to my homeland with pride.
Boruto nodded slowly, narrowing his eyes. He thought silently:
"When I observed her with the Jougan, I noticed that the abdominal core stores… the chest core purifies… and the mind core compresses… Not bad at all. Quite balanced. I wonder if the first samurai and the first leader of the Land of Iron discovered this same method… though I don't think so. If they had, they would have passed it on to their descendants."
He snapped out of his thoughts and stared coldly at Tsubaki.
—Now that we're done here... it's best to head back. I'll take you back to Konoha, Tsubaki.
He took a step toward her and reached out to touch her. But just before he could, Tsubaki stopped him by raising her gaze decisively.
"Wait... there's something I want to tell you." His voice was firm, unwavering. "You... don't want to fight me?"
Boruto raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. He watched her silently for a moment. His eyes met hers, which shone with a strange mix of excitement, pride, and something else that was harder to read.
"Are you sure about that?" he finally asked, in a dry, almost indifferent tone. "You're still no match for me. You'll suffer."
Tsubaki didn't back down. Instead, she smiled calmly. Her confidence was palpable.
"Don't worry. I didn't come here to run away from the pain." She looked away for a second, as if holding something back, then looked back at him firmly. "I'll give you a good fight. Not out of pride... but because I want to."
Boruto gave a light, dry laugh, looking at her coldly out of the corner of his eye.
—And what do I gain from this?
Tsubaki tilted her head and smiled, this time with unexpected sweetness.
"I know you have your reasons for not completing your method," she said, without looking away. "But tell me, aren't you curious to face someone who's already completed it? I did it, Boruto. I have the method. I'm different now."
He was silent for a moment, then added, more softly:
— You're curious, Boruto. I know.
Boruto watched her for a few seconds in silence. His expression remained impassive… but his eyes betrayed his growing interest. Eventually, a smile spread across his face.
—Hahaha… interesting. Okay. Let's do it.
Tsubaki jumped back, her foot barely splashing the water. Her body assumed a firm stance, her breathing steady. She delicately brought her hand to the hilt of her katana. Her gaze was serene but focused.
Boruto turned completely toward her, his cape billowing in the wind. He narrowed his eyes as he silently watched her, like a predator sizing up the threat in front of him.
They both stood still for a few seconds. The air between them seemed to tense. There were no shouts, no warnings. Only respect and determination.
The fight was about to begin.