"Waaah—!"
The long, drawn-out cry mingled with the steady rhythm of waves slapping against the hull, echoing across the open sea as the students shouted and laughed, enjoying every bit of their freedom.
A massive cruise ship cut through the ocean like a blade of steel, splitting the shimmering surface into twin paths of white foam. The air was fresh with salt; the sky above was a boundless blue that mirrored the water below.
Gulls swooped low, calling sharply as they dove for fish. A few adventurous students, unbothered by decorum—or the rules—had sprinted out onto the sea itself, chakra rippling under their feet.
Boruto stood near the rail, kunai in hand, his eyes scanning the water below. Lightning danced faintly along the edge of the blade.
"Got you," he muttered, throwing it.
Thud!
The kunai pierced the surface with precision—lightning crackling through the water. A stunned fish shot upward, twitching.
With a soft splash, Mitsuki appeared beside it, calmly extending his chakra-imbued arms to scoop the catch from the water. The fish flailed helplessly, completely bound by Mitsuki's stretching grip.
"Not bad, Mitsuki," Boruto grinned, landing back on the deck with his own catch. "Your fishing's about as good as mine now."
Mitsuki blinked, expression unreadable. "I learned from the best."
"Ha!" Boruto laughed, slapping him on the back.
A few meters away, on the sun-warmed deck near the pool, another Boruto—his shadow clone—was chatting with Sumire Kakei. Around them, classmates splashed noisily in the shallow water, the air filled with laughter and glimmering light.
"That's amazing," Sumire said, her voice soft but genuine, leaning slightly closer.
The setting sun reflected across the pool's surface like scattered fire. The students were having breath-holding contests, dunking each other under, the world carefree for once.
"Maybe," Boruto murmured, watching the water ripple. "But this time… we're not just here to play."
Sumire turned toward him, brows furrowing slightly.
Boruto's gaze lingered on the way each wave crested and fell, light catching in the droplets. To Sumire, they looked peaceful—sparkling and alive. But in Boruto's eyes, they carried weight. Duty.
"Something's going to happen during this trip to the Land of Water," he said quietly. "If things go the way I think… we might witness the gathering of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—and their downfall."
Sumire blinked. "What…?"
Their reflections shimmered together on the water's surface—close, almost touching. The moment hung still.
Sumire's cheeks flushed pink. She wanted to look away, but something—curiosity, or courage—made her lift her eyes again.
The sea breeze brushed against them, carrying a faint salty tang. The warmth of the sun and the cool mist mixed into something oddly calming.
"Will it be dangerous?" she asked quietly.
"No," Boruto said, shaking his head. "I've got other plans. That part's up to you."
"Me?" Sumire blinked in surprise. She hesitated. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are the symbol of the Land of Water's strength. I… I might just get in the way."
Boruto didn't answer. Instead, he crouched and scooped a handful of pool water, holding it in his palms.
The water glimmered between his fingers. He tilted his hands and let it slip free, droplets scattering through the air.
Sumire watched, wordless. The sunlight caught the droplets, turning them into small bubbles that floated lazily upward, drifting in the golden air.
The laughter around them quieted as students noticed the scene—Boruto and Sumire standing side by side, framed by drifting bubbles that shimmered like small stars.
Boruto smiled faintly and took Sumire's hand. "You still have its power," he whispered.
The bubbles suddenly burst with soft pops—one after another—turning into a fine rain that fell over the deck.
The startled students shrieked as cold water drenched them.
"Yosh! We got our revenge! Hahaha!" Boruto shouted, grinning triumphantly as his classmates spluttered and chased each other through the downpour.
"Wha—?" Sumire gasped, realizing that while everyone else was soaked, the space around her and Boruto was perfectly dry, as if shielded by an invisible umbrella.
"Pfft…" She couldn't help laughing through her surprise. "I didn't think you'd hold a grudge that long."
Boruto pointed at her dramatically. "It was all the class rep's idea! Everyone, she's the one who started it—get her!"
"Boruto?!"
Sumire froze as a dozen eyes turned her way. The next moment, a wall of water from the pool came crashing down on her.
She coughed and laughed, dripping wet—but when she glanced at her arm, she froze.
A faint white mark had appeared there—a small flower shape. The Higanbana.
The other shore.
…
Elsewhere—far across the ocean.
The man in the white robe held a thin note between his fingers, humming a quiet tune as he walked. The sea breeze ruffled the edges of his cloak.
A cautious figure followed a few steps behind him like a shadow—Sarada, silent and tense.
"Why are we heading toward the Land of Water again?" she asked finally. "Isn't the Five-Tails, Kokuō, closer?"
The man's tone was casual. "Who knows. The mission is to capture Son Gokū—the Four-Tails. He's hiding on an island not far from the Land of Water. Calls it the Water Curtain Cave."
He chuckled to himself. "Can't say I'm impressed by the name."
Sarada didn't answer. The heat bore down on them, and she was breathing hard, her steps growing slower. The white-robed man didn't seem to notice—or maybe he did, and simply didn't care.
His silhouette shrank in the distance until it disappeared between the trees.
When she was sure he was gone, Sarada stopped and exhaled, relief washing over her.
She'd been planning this for days. When they'd passed through other villages, she'd secretly bought a map. She knew there was a town nearby—larger than most, with tens of thousands of people.
If she could just get there, she could disappear. Even with those eyes, he couldn't find a single girl in a crowd that size.
"Finally… I've shaken him off!" Sarada whispered, her pulse racing.
She turned and ran in the opposite direction, feet light, heart pounding. Her speed surprised even her—it was faster than before, her chakra stronger too.
The map said this was the Bird Country—nestled between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind. A small but thriving trade village.
When she arrived, the streets were crowded with vendors and travelers. She kept her hood low and moved quickly, finding a modest inn. (The pocket money she used had, ironically, been given to her by the white-robed man himself.)
Exhaustion hit her all at once. She hadn't slept properly in days. She barely managed to close the door before collapsing face-first on the bed.
Her thoughts blurred. He always just uses Water and Wind Release to clean everything off me at once… Simple, quick… maybe too quick.
She smiled faintly at the absurd memory. Then sleep claimed her.
As she drifted into slumber, a faint mist rose within the room. A soft light pulsed from beneath her red dress, glowing from her lower abdomen—chakra threads coiling gently.
And within that light—
Chōmei, the Seven-Tails, quietly pressed into her dream.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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