"I want to be soone like the Sixth Hokage."
"I can't fall this easily!" Taketori Mineki said through gritted teeth as he forced himself to stand.
He dashed toward Boruto, but Boruto sidestepped effortlessly. Mineki's strike missed completely.
Spinning around, Mineki threw another punch, only for Boruto to catch it with ease. Boruto shifted his weight slightly, using Mineki's own montum to send him stumbling forward.
"Very good—keep dancing!" Boruto, still transford into Pain, laughed wildly.
"Don't underestimate !" Mineki snarled, charging again with renewed determination. His movents were faster this ti, sharper—almost desperate.
From the stands, students gasped and cheered.
"Wow! Taketori Mineki's amazing! He's keeping up with Boruto!" a girl shouted.
"That's just Boruto holding back," another girl replied skeptically.
Boruto smirked. "Taketori Mineki… I, Pain, acknowledge your strength."
Despite his courage, Mineki soon collapsed, defeated.
"Alright, that's enough. Boruto wins this match," Shino announced.
Shikadai sighed in relief. "Finally. What a drag… my clothes are all dusty now."
Boruto returned to the stands and dropped down beside Sarada.
"That was incredible, Boruto! You fought ten people and didn't even break a sweat!" Sarada said, smiling as she extended her hand.
"Of course." Boruto grinned, taking her hand. Her soft touch made the corner of his mouth curl upward in satisfaction.
After the match, Shino announced the start of the next round of sparring matches. Though the taijutsu rounds were a bit dull compared to ninjutsu battles, Mitsuki's graceful movents soon drew everyone's attention—especially Boruto's.
"Boruto, look at Mitsuki's movents. He's so flexible… like a snake," Sarada whispered, watching him closely. "He's been sneaking glances at you again too. Don't you think that's weird?"
Boruto blinked. "You think Mitsuki… likes guys?" he asked half-jokingly.
Sarada frowned, holding his hand tightly. "I'm serious."
Boruto chuckled and patted the back of her hand. "You're overthinking it, Sarada. He's new here—probably just trying to figure everyone out. Don't worry."
Still, Sarada didn't look convinced. Her dark eyes narrowed slightly as she watched Mitsuki.
When Sarada's turn ca to spar, Mitsuki quietly walked up to Boruto and asked politely, "Boruto-kun, may I sit here?"
"Sorry, Mitsuki. This seat belongs to Sarada," Boruto said with an apologetic smile.
Mitsuki nodded, expression calm, and took a seat nearby. But even from there, his golden eyes occasionally flicked toward Boruto.
Boruto sighed inwardly. What's with this guy? Don't tell he really—
He shook the thought off.
That evening, lights glowed brightly inside the Hokage's Office.
Sai was bent over a map of Konoha, marking several locations.
"That makes six incidents this week," Naruto said, his expression tense.
"Yes," Sai replied. "Each victim was attacked by an unknown chakra. It drives them into a frenzy and drains their chakra completely."
He pointed to the map where several red marks clustered around the outskirts of the village.
"Chakra being stolen…?" Shikamaru muttered, frowning. "Sounds like soone's gathering it on purpose."
Sai nodded. "It appears connected to a forr Root technology."
"Root?" Shikamaru asked in surprise. "I thought they disbanded after Danzō died."
"They did," Sai said quietly. "But so forr mbers vanished. Their whereabouts remain unknown."
Naruto crossed his arms. "Then they might still be continuing Danzō's forbidden research."
"Exactly," Shikamaru said, rubbing his temple. "If they've made progress, we could be in serious trouble."
Sai's gaze hardened. "Don't worry. I've already found a few leads. We should have results within two days."
Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sai, I'll leave this to you."
Sai nodded. "If these really are forr Root operatives, I hope we can bring them back—free them from their old beliefs."
The next day, deep in the forest outside Konoha Village—
"Class rep, where's Shino-sensei?" Sarada asked, glancing around.
Sumire shrugged. "He told us to et here for an outdoor lesson, but I haven't seen him yet."
"That's fine by ," Shikadai said, leaning against a tree. "If the teacher's not here, that ans we can relax."
"Look, Denki and Iwabe are already playing gas," Chōchō said between bites of potato chips.
The class quickly drifted into leisure—laughing, chatting, and enjoying the calm afternoon.
But then, from the shadows, a dark figure stepped forward.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting… my naughty students."
Everyone froze. Shino erged from the shade—his tone cold, his presence chilling. A faint red glow flickered beneath his shaded goggles, and the warm air around them seed to turn heavy.
"Shino-sensei…?" Denki asked, voice trembling.
Shino didn't answer. He walked slowly toward them, every step deliberate.
"Today… will be your last lesson."
The red light under his goggles flared brighter, and an ominous energy filled the clearing.
"Sensei, are you angry?" Sumire asked cautiously.
Before anyone could react, Boruto dropped from a nearby tree, landing between Shino and the students.
He frowned. This chakra… it's the sa as that weird guy's from before.
Boruto's eyes shifted—his Tenseigan awakening. His bright blue pupils shimred with streaks of silver light.
"What's that?" Sarada whispered.
Through his Tenseigan, Boruto saw Shino's body wrapped in a strange blue-purple chakra, swirling like a storm.
Shino tilted his head, smiling oddly. "Boruto Uzumaki…"
"You like Pain, don't you?" he said, voice distorted. "Then allow to show you real pain!"
In an instant, countless black kikaichū insects erupted from Shino's body, surging forward like a living tide.
"Sensei!" the students scread, backing away in terror.
"What's going on?!" Denki cried.
"Shino-sensei's completely different… he's out of control!" Shikadai muttered, sweat forming on his forehead.
"Is that the Abura clan's secret technique… the Parasitic Insects?" Sarada whispered.
Mitsuki appeared beside Boruto without a sound, his golden eyes narrowed. "Boruto-kun… sothing's wrong with him."
Boruto clenched his fists. "I know. Shino-sensei's in pain right now."
He smirked, performing a transformation jutsu—white smoke flaring around him.
"Then I'll make sure he feels even more pain!"
When the smoke cleared, Tendo Pain stood once again on the battlefield.
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