The Moon Temple floated in pale silver light.
Boruto sat cross-legged on the stone floor, staring at the battlefield projection hovering in the air. In the vision, Yuta stood before Daigo using a stance Boruto recognized instantly.
Naruto’s stance.
Boruto frowned.
Boruto:
“Wait… why is a god like Sylus using that?”
Kimiko leaned against a pillar, arms crossed.
Kimiko:
“Oh kid… you really don’t know, do you?”
Aira stepped forward, her eyes calm but proud.
Aira:
“Sylus is a god-killer. His ability lets him copy the strongest beings he encounters.”
Boruto blinked.
Boruto:
“So he copied Naruto?”
Aira nodded.
Aira:
“When Sylus was alive, he used my father’s technique most of the time. But right now…”
She looked back at the projection.
“…he’s using what we call humanity’s greatest hero skillset.”
Higarashi suddenly burst into laughter.
Higarashi:
“So the old monster finally said it out loud, huh?”
Boruto tilted his head.
Boruto:
“What?”
Higarashi grinned.
Higarashi:
“Sylus acknowledged Naruto Uzumaki as the strongest.”
Kimiko smirked.
Kimiko:
“Hm. A human getting acknowledged by a god. Aren’t you jealous?”
Higarashi cracked his knuckles.
Higarashi:
“Nah.”
He threw a punch into empty air.
The shockwave exploded outward.
One punch.
But the air shattered as if a thousand punches had landed.
Higarashi:
“I’d actually love to spar with the man Sylus acknowledged.”
Behind him, chains slowly slid off Boruto’s back.
Metal links clattered softly onto the stone floor.
Boruto raised his hands.
Boruto:
“Before that… you’ll have to counter this mini version.”
Higarashi’s grin widened like a man about to jump off a cliff.
Higarashi:
“My student wants to die for his dad? LET’S GOOOO!”
He grabbed Boruto’s collar and dragged him toward the training chamber.
Aira immediately shouted after them.
Aira:
“DAD! I NEED HIM IN ONE PIECE! I REPEAT—ONE PIECE!!!”
Daigo vs Yuta
Daigo slid backward across shattered stone.
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He stared at Yuta.
Something felt wrong.
This wasn’t the same chakra as before.
It was sharper.
Refined.
Daigo (thinking):
This feels like Naruto… but perfected.
Sylus’ voice echoed calmly through Yuta.
Sylus:
“You wanted to hurt my dad?”
Daigo smirked.
Daigo:
“Heh. Kid… this isn’t you.”
Sylus chuckled.
Sylus:
“Yeah.”
Then Yuta’s voice overlapped.
Two voices.
Perfectly synchronized.
Sylus & Yuta:
“We are one.”
Yuta stepped forward.
Sylus & Yuta:
“And we’ll show you… what a true son is.”
Behind them, Naruto leaned against a broken tree.
He watched quietly.
Pride filled his chest.
Naruto (thinking):
I thought making him Hyūga clan leader would crush him…
Naruto smiled softly.
But he’s not weak.
He’s strong… just like me.
Then—
Naruto’s vision blurred.
And he was pulled inward.
Naruto opened his eyes.
He stood in a warm golden space.
Kurama lay nearby, eyes half-closed.
And sitting beside him—
Sylus.
Calmly brushing the fox’s fur.
Naruto blinked.
Naruto:
“…What?”
Sylus glanced up.
Sylus:
“You’re my dad in this world.”
Naruto scratched the back of his head.
Naruto:
“Yeah… guess I am.”
Sylus stood.
His expression softened.
Sylus:
“My real parents might visit you someday.”
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Naruto:
“Oh?”
Sylus:
“Take care of them too.”
Naruto grinned.
Naruto:
“I’ll throw them the biggest welcome party ever.”
Sylus chuckled.
Sylus:
“They might challenge you for this kid’s custody.”
Naruto shrugged.
Naruto:
“I’m just a mortal, man.”
Sylus looked at him seriously.
Sylus:
“Don’t humans have something special?”
Naruto blinked.
Naruto:
“What?”
Sylus smiled faintly.
Sylus:
“The indomitable human spirit.”
Naruto flushed slightly.
Sylus began fading away.
Sylus:
“I’m counting on you, Naruto-san.”
His body dissolved into light.
Silence returned.
Kurama slowly turned his head toward Naruto.
His eyes narrowed.
Kurama:
“You brushed my fur.”
Naruto froze.
Naruto:
“…Ah. Sorry?”
Kurama growled.
Kurama:
“Do it again.”
Naruto sighed.
Then began brushing the giant fox’s fur again.
Rock Lee vs Lucent
Lucent fired another Tailed Beast Bomb.
Then another.
And another.
Explosions swallowed the battlefield.
Lucent screamed in frustration.
Lucent:
“WHY ARE YOU NOT DYING?!
DIE!!! DIE NOW!!!”
Smoke cleared.
Rock Lee walked through the flames.
Every blast had been absorbed.
Lucent’s eyes widened.
Lee suddenly appeared beside him.
A single punch landed.
The impact was so powerful—
For one entire second,
the sound barrier shattered into silence.
Lucent’s ribs caved inward.
Lee stepped forward calmly.
Rock Lee:
“I cannot die.”
He clenched his fists.
Rock Lee:
“This gate… my son discovered it.”
His aura exploded.
Rock Lee:
“As his father… I must test it first.”
Above them—
The sky split open.
Sasuke floated high above, gathering lightning.
A massive Kirin formed in the clouds.
Below—
Kakashi’s chakra chains erupted from the ground, binding Lucent in place.
Rock Lee stepped forward.
Punches began landing.
Faster.
Harder.
Each strike broke the sound barrier.
Lucent was trapped.
One side: Lee’s endless fists.
Above: Sasuke’s descending lightning.
Shino vs Mahito
Mahito laughed weakly.
Mahito:
“My sugar body will dissolve those insects!”
Shino stepped forward slowly.
Insects poured from his sleeves.
Shino:
“These aren’t normal insects.”
Mahito smirked.
Mahito:
“Oh? Then what?”
Shino adjusted his glasses.
Shino:
Paraponera clavata.
Mahito blinked.
Mahito:
“…What?”
Shino spoke flatly.
Shino:
“Let me translate into monkey language.”
He raised his hand.
Shino:
“Bullet ants.”
Mahito’s smile vanished.
Shino continued.
Shino:
“They eat chakra.”
The swarm descended.
Shino:
“And they’ve been starving for a week.”
Mahito staggered back.
Shino’s voice turned colder.
Shino:
“Every one of them has a child.”
Mahito tried to run.
The ants reached him.
Screams erupted.
Shino didn’t move.
Shino:
“You asked why Team 8 never showed its full strength.”
He looked down at Mahito calmly.
Shino:
“Kurenai would be traumatized.”
Another scream.
Shino:
“Kiba wouldn’t speak to me again.”
More bites.
Shino:
“And Hinata would cry and try to stop me.”
Mahito collapsed.
Shino turned away.
Shino:
“This… is Team 8.”
Pause.
Shino:
“Solo.”
Inside the Shin Clan fortress—
Every warrior shivered.
Mahito’s screams echoed across dimensions.
In Konoha—
Yoru heard it.
Even from Sunagakure.
He collapsed to his knees and hugged Kiba tightly.
Tears poured from his eyes.
Yoru:
“Thank you… thank you for avenging me… and my son Hawk…”
Kiba stayed silent.
But in his mind—
He muttered quietly.
Shino…
You went too far, man.
