"No clansmen with yellow hair?"
Hikari's hand froze midair, the kunai trembling slightly. A flicker of confusion and unwillingness crossed her eyes.
Slowly, she released the young boy, letting him collapse to the ground, gasping for breath.
The forest fell silent. Only the faint rustle of wind brushing through leaves broke the stillness of the night.
"Boruto... where are you?"
Her voice was a whisper carried by the wind. Hikari stood motionless, her strength seemingly drained, her small frame swaying like a fragile leaf.
"Um… can I go now?" the boy asked timidly, his voice trembling.
Hikari didn't answer. She simply turned and walked into the darkness. Her figure faded into the shadows, leaving the terrified boy behind, still gasping and shaking.
In the days that followed, Hikari lingered around the borders of the Uzumaki Clan's territory.
She questioned travelers, described Boruto's features, and searched every village and path she could find.
Each inquiry brought nothing but disappointment—her questions fell like stones into deep water, swallowed by silence.
At times, desperation drove her to capture lone Uzumaki clansmen, forcing answers from them.
She knew the risk. She had once been the Uchiha Clan's weapon—if anyone learned she was alive, she could be hunted down by the Uchiha, or even by their enemies: the Senju and Sarutobi clans.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Boruto's name burned in her heart like a brand. She had to find him—no matter the cost.
What she didn't realize was that the Uzumaki Clan had long since discovered her presence.
They had been watching her every move.
Days turned to weeks.
And every passing day brought more silence, more rejection.
There was no boy named Boruto Uzumaki in the Uzumaki Clan—no one who matched her description at all.
Late one night, by a quiet stream, Hikari built a small bonfire.
She sat beneath a tree, the orange glow flickering across her pale face. Her eyes, tired and distant, stared blankly into the flames.
The firelight revealed the worn black robe she still wore—the same one she'd kept from her time with the Uchiha Clan.
The robe was old and frayed, but it was the only piece of her past she refused to let go of.
Since her parents' deaths, she hadn't cared for her long black hair. It now hung tangled and messy, brushing her shoulders as she curled up near the fire.
"Boruto…"
Her voice broke softly in the dark. Every night when she closed her eyes, his face appeared before her—the gentle smile, the warm eyes.
But when she opened them, there was only emptiness.
"I heard you've been looking for a blond-haired boy named Boruto Uzumaki."
The sudden voice startled her.
Hikari snapped her head up and leapt backward, performing several swift flips before landing lightly, kunai in hand. Her Mangekyo Sharingan glowed faintly in the firelight.
Perched on a high branch above her was a beautiful woman.
She sat casually, her long red hair cascading down like a waterfall, and a small diamond mark gleamed on her forehead.
Her white dress shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
She smiled gently. "Don't be nervous, little sister. I mean no harm."
Hikari remained silent, her posture tense and ready to strike.
She'd learned the hard way—trust was a luxury in this world. One mistake could mean death.
"Don't worry," the woman said softly.
She leapt gracefully from the branch, landing a short distance away. "I'm Uzumaki Moon. You've been searching for Boruto Uzumaki near our clan for some time. I can help you find him. I hold some authority within the Uzumaki Clan."
Hikari's expression hardened. "This is my problem. It has nothing to do with you."
Moon chuckled quietly. "Cautious—good. That's how you survive in times like these."
A brief shadow crossed her face as she added, almost to herself, "I learned that lesson too."
Though Hikari sensed no hostility from her, she stayed on guard. Without another word, she turned and vanished into the treetops.
Her movements were quick and silent. Like a shadow, she leapt from branch to branch, her black robe fluttering behind her.
"Why are you following me?" she demanded sharply, stopping on a high bough.
Moon landed gracefully on a nearby tree, her tone still calm.
"I told you, I just want to help you, little sister."
"I don't need your help," Hikari snapped. "If you keep following me, I won't hold back!"
"Then what? You'll fight me?"
Moon smiled, unshaken.
Hikari's eyes blazed crimson.
"Eight Thousand Spears!"
An inscription flared on the back of Shadow Moon's hand—but her chakra remained untouched.
"A sealing jutsu?" Hikari muttered. It was just like before—the inscription appeared, but she couldn't drain the woman's chakra.
"I told you," Moon said gently, "I'm not your enemy. I truly want to help you."
Hikari stared, suspicious. "Why? What's your purpose?"
Moon tilted her head, her smile soft and melancholy.
"Purpose? None. I just… want to help. That's all."
The night wind blew between them, rustling the branches. For the first time in a long while, Hikari didn't feel completely alone.
...
Author's Note:
The full completed version of Boruto: Growing Up as Naruto's Son is now on Patreon!
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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