"Mmm, no problems here."
Amado held Kawaki's right arm, examining it up and down, and nodded with satisfaction. This scientific ninja tool arm was something he had prepared before coming to Konoha. With Konoha's current level of technology, they were not yet capable of manufacturing a prosthetic limb of this caliber.
Kawaki flexed his right arm, a long-forgotten sense of dexterity returning. The prosthetic limb he had been using previously was a replacement created for him by Konoha's top scientist, Katasuke Tono. While it was good, there had always been an indescribable feeling of awkwardness.
"Have you experienced any discomfort with it this past week?" Amado asked. "Including other parts of your body." The complexity of the human body far surpassed any currently manufacturable machine. Even with his skills, he couldn't guarantee that the prosthetic limb wouldn't experience rejection.
"Nothing special, about the same as before," Kawaki shook his head. "It feels just like my own arm."
"This is incredible! To think it recovered so quickly..." Katasuke Tono pushed up his glasses, carefully examining Kawaki's prosthetic limb. "There's absolutely no sign of rejection." Katasuke Tono, Konohagakure's genius scientist, head of Konoha's Special Division: Scientific Ninja Tool Team. His technological proficiency, in a sense, represented Konoha's most advanced scientific level.
"How does it feel, training under his guidance?" Amado asked, taking a drag from his cigarette.
"Not bad." Kawaki recalled his experiences over the past few days and nodded slightly.
"I heard from Sarada that Lord Namikaze's training is very strict?" Sumire Kakei, who was organizing instruments nearby, asked curiously.
"He's just a bit demanding with his requirements." Kawaki shook his head slightly. Compared to Jigen's training, it was nothing.
"Afternoon training is about to begin." He glanced at the time and got off the bed.
"Kawaki!" Amado suddenly called out to him.
"Hmm?"
"No, it's nothing..." Amado hesitated for a moment. "Let's talk about it next time."
The others looked at him, puzzled.
Leaving the medical room, Kawaki found Boruto resting on the Hokage Rock.
"How did the check-up go?" Boruto asked, turning his head to look at him.
"It's alright." Kawaki sat down beside him. "Still worrying?"
"What would I have to worry about?" Boruto laughed heartily.
"You can't fool me."
"..."
"Is it because of Karma?"
Boruto turned to look at the bustling streets below. "I stopped caring about that thing a long time ago. It's just..."
"I don't know what I should do."
"Believe in the Seventh Hokage and your teacher. They'll find a way," Kawaki reassured him. "We still have some time. Let's sort through the intelligence we already have."
"According to Otsutsuki Momoshiki, our bodies seem to be already eighty percent [Otsutsuki-fied]."
"Especially you. The Otsutsuki [information] is still continuously 'thawing' from your Karma. Once the thawing is complete, it means you will be replaced by Otsutsuki Momoshiki."
"...Prepare a [Vessel] for yourself. Find a way to plant your [Karma] on someone else," Kawaki stated his solution. "Although this is just an idea of mine."
"No way! That idea of yours is too outrageous!" Boruto rejected it outright. The education he had received wouldn't allow him to do such a thing. "The person I brand with Karma will die for me... I can't accept that."
"I haven't finished," Kawaki interrupted him. "Doesn't Konoha imprison many death row inmates who have committed heinous crimes? Their deaths are already predetermined. Why not..."
"Have you ever thought about what your death would mean to the Seventh Hokage, to Aunt Hinata, to me...?"
Boruto fell silent.
"Besides, I have a very suitable candidate in mind." Kawaki patted his shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"Apart from me, there was one other person who underwent Jigen's [Baptism] and survived."
"Who?"
"One of Kara's Inner Circle members. His name is Code," Kawaki said. "Not everyone can bear Karma. At that time, many people underwent the [Baptism] with me, but only two of us survived. The [Unsuitable Ones] died one after another due to adverse reactions. I, who didn't die, was implanted with Karma by Jigen and became the sole [Suitable One]."
"What about Code?"
"After I was implanted with Karma, I fell into a coma. I'm not very clear about his situation," Kawaki shook his head. "I only know that both of us were marked with Karma, but only I became Jigen's vessel, while Code did not."
"That guy named Code, since he was already implanted with Karma by Jigen, can he still be branded with Karma by someone else?" A flicker of hope was evident in Boruto's heart. No one wanted to die...
"I'm not clear on that, but one thing is certain: he can adapt to Karma," Kawaki said in a solemn voice.
"Is that so..."
"Let me state this beforehand: he is very strong, stronger than both Delta and Boro. The two of us are no match for him."
"Then let's strive to become stronger!" Boruto extended his right hand and clenched it forcefully in mid-air.
"Very good spirit. You two will have extra training this afternoon," Naruto's voice sounded.
"When did you arrive?" Kawaki and Boruto, seeing him, quickly stood up.
"I've been here for a while," Naruto said with a smile.
"Huh?" The two exchanged a look. This was somewhat unsettling. They were currently on the Hokage Rock, which offered a wide field of vision. Logically, if someone was behind them, they should have noticed immediately.
"Become close to nature, merge with nature. When you can achieve that, you too will be able to appear behind others without a sound," Naruto chuckled.
Hokage Tower.
Shadow Clone Ichimei closed the door and looked at the few people in the room. "Is something the matter?"
The Seventh Hokage nodded. "It's about the Kara organization."
"Amado, please continue what you were saying earlier."
"Mmm. In the Kara organization, the [Outer Circle], which handles all external affairs, is distributed throughout the shinobi world. As for the Inner Circle..." Amado pondered for a moment. "You can assume that without the Inner Circle, the Outer Circle cannot function as it should."
"As for Code, he is an executive of Kara, and also the last [Inner Circle] member. Within Kara, he is primarily responsible for liaising with the Outer Circle and monitoring the Ten-Tails in the alternate dimension."
"That alternate dimension, someone once infiltrated it," Amado said, turning his head to look at Uchiha Sasuke.
"The Ten-Tails... What a pain," Nara Shikamaru muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Indeed, troublesome. For every day that thing remains alive, the risk of this planet's life force being devoured increases," Amado also found it problematic.
"That alternate dimension..." The Seventh Hokage frowned slightly. "Apart from Sasuke, Boruto, and the me from another world, Konoha currently has no means of entering or exiting alternate dimensions. Moreover, Boruto's control over Karma is still not proficient. Even if he did reach the alternate dimension where the Ten-Tails is, he might not be able to return."
"That Code, is he able to freely enter and exit that alternate dimension?" the Seventh Hokage asked.
"Of course. Although he cannot use space-time ninjutsu, he can utilize other abilities to freely enter and exit alternate dimensions," Amado nodded.