Listening to Future Sasuke's account, Naruto now had a general outline of the future.
"So, that Otsutsuki Urashiki will descend upon this era in a few days to reclaim the Chakra Fruit, which is Kurama's chakra?" Naruto summarized.
"Roughly how strong is he?"
"In the current shinobi world, it would likely take the combined efforts of all Five Kage to have a chance at killing him," Sasuke estimated.
"He not only possesses the power of the Byakugan but also Rinnegan abilities, as well as some techniques unique to the Otsutsuki."
According to Future Sasuke, Otsutsuki Urashiki's Rinnegan abilities were different from Nagato's. This meant that combat experience gained from fighting Nagato couldn't be applied to Otsutsuki Urashiki.
"Are the Rinnegan and Byakugan standard for the Otsutsuki clan?" Naruto asked curiously.
"From the Otsutsuki we've encountered so far, yes," Sasuke nodded.
"Truly a powerful clan," Naruto remarked with a sigh.
"Strictly speaking, the Uzumaki clan can also be considered part of the Otsutsuki clan, just with slightly diluted blood," Future Sasuke continued.
"The Uchiha clan, Hyuga clan, Kaguya clan, and Senju clan are in similar situations."
After all, during the Fourth Great Shinobi War, after Madara Uchiha became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, his bloodline was purified, and his physical characteristics became more aligned with those of Otsutsuki like Urashiki.
An alien war, huh…
Naruto mused internally. It was a familiar experience, only in his previous life it was the power of the Sakura Dragon, and in this life, it was the power of the Otsutsuki.
"Could I trouble you to look after Boruto?" Future Sasuke said. "I want to go see someone."
"Alright." Naruto nodded slightly. Even if Sasuke hadn't said it outright, he had guessed who the other wanted to see.
Returning to the past, even if this past wasn't the one he had experienced, there was always an urge to make amends for those regrets.
"I can take care of myself… Ouch!" Boruto had barely gotten half his words out when he clutched his head in pain.
Naruto slowly sheathed his sword, looking at Future Sasuke. "If you have the chance, I hope you'll go see this era's version of yourself."
"Living in this world solely for revenge is no different from being a walking corpse."
Sasuke paused, then nodded slightly. He had almost forgotten; the 'him' of this world didn't have 'Naruto's' salvation.
"I will." His figure disappeared from the room.
"Let's check out of the inn."
"Where are we going?"
Boruto followed behind him, puzzled.
"Just follow quietly," Naruto glanced back at him with a stern look.
Plop~ Plop~~
Boruto idly tossed stones into the stream.
"What are you doing here?" A puzzled voice sounded from behind him.
Boruto turned around to see Shikamaru standing not far away with a girl who had Byakugan.
"Mom?!"
Recognizing the girl's face, Boruto's heart stirred, and just as he was struggling with how to answer—
"I brought him here." Naruto's figure emerged from the nearby woods.
"Naruto?!" Hinata looked at him with pleasant surprise.
"Yo!" Naruto walked up to them and greeted them.
Honestly, he hadn't expected that the little girl he had coincidentally saved in his youth would become his future wife.
"Let me introduce you. This guy is Boruto. For certain reasons, it's not convenient to reveal his surname for now," Naruto introduced Boruto to the two.
"I'm Shikamaru." "Hinata, Hinata Hyuga."
As Hinata and Shikamaru introduced themselves, they couldn't help but curiously size up Boruto, who stood beside Naruto like a younger brother.
"H-hello," Boruto said nervously.
Uncle Shikamaru was alright, but it was mainly Mom. Although she wasn't the mom from his memories, standing before her after doing something wrong always made him a bit nervous.
Hmm?
Hinata looked at him with some confusion. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she felt this child was somewhat afraid of her.
This should be their first meeting, right?
And this inexplicable feeling of closeness…
"For the next few days, you'll be training partners," Naruto said, patting Boruto's shoulder.
"Training?" Hearing this, the three of them looked at him, puzzled.
Especially Boruto; he was clearly here to save someone, how did it turn into training?
"Yes, training." Naruto nodded. "If you have anything on these next two days, postpone it if you can."
Now that he knew what would happen in the future, how could he not prepare?
He happened to be staying in Konoha for these two days waiting for Future Sasuke to return. Being idle was being idle; might as well find something to do.
"By the way, how old are you?" Naruto turned his head to look at his future 'son.'
"Almost thirteen," Boruto scratched his head.
"Thirteen…" Naruto nodded slightly. "Follow me."
The three followed behind him. After passing through the outer layer of the forest, a flat piece of ground came into view.
Looking at this 'training ground,' Boruto couldn't help but recall the sounds he had heard earlier.
"So this is what you were busy with just now," he said with sudden realization.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Naruto created three shadow clones and said to the trio, "Let me see your strength."
"Just using shadow clones? You're looking down on me too much!" Boruto put his hands on his hips, looking incredibly smug.
He was quite confident in his own abilities.
He couldn't beat the adult version of his old man, but the young version? Easy pickings.
Naruto paused, then said irritably, "If you can beat my shadow clone, I'll grant you any one request."
"You said it!" Boruto grinned mischievously, not expecting such an unexpected reward.
Countless things he had wanted to do in his original world but hadn't dared to instantly flooded his mind.
"Come on then." Shadow Clone Naruto #1 sighed helplessly. Where did this kid learn such a cocky attitude?
Boruto also created a shadow clone, wiping his nose. "I know this jutsu too."
"Here I come!"
Two Boruto shadow clones flanked Naruto's shadow clone in the center of the field.
Watching this, Naruto frowned slightly. How could one use such a nearly reckless method of attack without knowing the enemy's strength?
"A straight punch is a good offensive move." Shadow Clone Naruto #1 suddenly ducked. Boruto and his shadow clone instantly lost their target. Just as they were about to readjust, a roundhouse kick landed on both of them.
"But that's only if your taijutsu training is up to par."
Poof!
Boruto's shadow clone vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Ouch, that hurts." Boruto rubbed his backside in pain.
"Again!"
As his voice fell, he once again created two shadow clones.
"…A terrible fighting style." Shadow Clone Naruto #1 sighed helplessly upon seeing this.
"That amount of chakra, and his looks… he's looking more and more like Naruto. But this brainless fighting style doesn't quite fit…" On the sidelines, Shikamaru couldn't help but mutter as he watched.
"Shikamaru also thinks he looks like Naruto?" Hinata asked curiously.
"What do you feel?" Shikamaru nodded slightly and asked.
"I have an indescribable feeling about this child," Hinata said, looking at Boruto fighting in the field, a trace of doubt flickering in her eyes.
"Kurama, what do you think?" Naruto himself was starting to have doubts.
Who on earth taught him this fighting style?
Future Sasuke?
Would that Uchiha use such a fighting style?
The himself from another world?
Naruto gently massaged his forehead. It seemed like protagonists in hot-blooded anime were always a bit reckless.
"Don't be too demanding. How old is the little guy? Do you think everyone is a prodigy like you?" Kurama, however, had a different opinion.