Chapter 258:
Konoha Village.
The five-year-old Hinata Hanabi had taken over the body of the future Boruto. Thanks to the explanation involving the Nine-Tails residing within, Hanabi quickly came to understand her current situation and all the surrounding interpersonal relationships.
"A man-eating monster? Zombies..."
Future Boruto suddenly stopped in the street, murmuring to herself, "This body is shouldering such a heavy responsibility..."
"That's why Lord Boruto is so remarkable," the Nine-Tails said proudly.
"Hey, you're the Nine-Tails, yet you still call this body 'Lord'?"
Hanabi looked utterly contemptuous.
"Hmph. Lord Boruto is the only person I respect besides that old man from the Sage of Six Paths," the Nine-Tails snorted. "By the way, aren't you going to tell Naruto about your current situation?"
"The most important thing right now is the reconstruction of Konoha. Besides, even if I told Naru—father—my brother-in-law, he probably wouldn't have any idea how to fix this either."
Hanabi's tone was mixed, her relationship with Naruto clearly complicated.
"True..."
The Nine-Tails within future Boruto nodded. "But if it's Hydra, he might have a way."
"Hydra?"
Hanabi asked. It was a name she'd never heard before.
"Yeah."
As the Nine-Tails led the way, he began explaining to Hanabi.
Ichiraku Ramen – Konoha Village Second Branch.
"This... is where I can contact Hydra?"
Hanabi looked at the ruins in front of her.
"Boruto, are you hungry?"
Turning toward the voice, the Nine-Tails inside future Boruto reminded her, "That's Shikamaru, Naruto's aide."
"Mhm."
Hanabi nodded.
"This place has been reduced to rubble, but Ichiraku Ramen was lucky enough to survive. You can grab a bite there."
Shikamaru waved Boruto over as he spoke.
"Okay."
"Hey, hurry up and ask him about Shunhi's whereabouts!"
The Nine-Tails reminded her.
"Um... Uncle Shikamaru..."
"Hm? What is it, Boruto?"
Shikamaru kept his hands in his pockets.
"Do you know where Uncle Shunhi went?"
"Shunhi, huh? I think he evacuated the village. He should be back soon."
Shikamaru frowned slightly as he recalled, then added, "Oh right, Boruto, I'll need your help with something later."
"Huh?"
A clearing in Konoha Village.
Hanabi looked at the little girl before her and murmured, "So this is my sister's daughter..."
"Big Brother Boruto, I want you to give me special training!"
The young Himawari spoke up with an innocent voice.
"It seems the recent battle in Konoha gave Himawari the motivation to grow stronger. That's why she wants special training… Please take care of her, Boruto."
Hinata stood to the side, watching the scene and speaking to future Boruto.
"Alright."
Future Boruto nodded and assumed a Gentle Fist stance.
"Oh? He's using the Gentle Fist? Does Boruto even know how to use that?"
Naruto, standing nearby, commented.
Since it involved future Boruto and Himawari, Naruto, as their father, was naturally present. And now that Konoha had been destroyed, all that remained of his work was the village's reconstruction, which meant he had more free time.
Five-year-old Hanabi didn't know many jutsu—only the Gentle Fist.
"As the son of my sister, he doesn't even have the Byakugan...?"
Future Boruto muttered.
Himawari also assumed a Gentle Fist stance, her fearsome Byakugan activated. She was the first to strike, her fingers precisely targeting the chakra points on Boruto's body.
Future Boruto could only take a defensive stance.
"Hey, don't make Lord Boruto lose face!"
The Nine-Tails muttered from within.
"Is it because he's afraid of hurting his little sister that he's forced to defend...?"
Shikamaru walked over to Naruto and said, "But like this, it's not really training—just playing around."
"Come on, fight back! Fight back already!"
"You stupid fox, shut up!"
Seizing a gap to gain distance, Hanabi shouted at the Nine-Tails in her body, then muttered as she stared at Himawari,
"Damn it, without the Byakugan, I can't aim at the chakra points properly..."
"Big Brother Boruto, here I come again!"
As her voice rang out, Himawari lunged toward future Boruto again.
Lack of combat experience made Hanabi panic, and in that moment, she was struck by Himawari right in the abdominal chakra point.
Since she was sparring with future Boruto, Himawari didn't hold back. And at her age, she wouldn't even know how to.
"Ow, that hurts!"
The Nine-Tails clutched his stomach from inside Boruto's body.
"Hey! She hit me—why are you in pain?!"
"You idiot! Don't you know what a Perfect Jinchūriki is? Even though I can fully lend my power to you, the pain is also shared! Damn it..."
"...Sorry."
"Huh? Why are you suddenly apologizing?"
"Because you're hurting because of me..."
"Tch. That little pain is nothing to Lord Nine-Tails!"
The Nine-Tails puffed out his chest inside future Boruto. "Still, we can't let ourselves be underestimated. Hanabi, I'll lend you my power."
"Alright."
Hanabi nodded.
Outside.
"Naruto, don't you think something's off?"
Shikamaru said to Naruto.
"Yeah." Naruto nodded, staring at future Boruto. "It feels like he doesn't even know how to fight anymore..."
Golden chakra erupted from future Boruto's body.
"Nine-Tails Chakra Mode?! Hey, hey, this is just a training session with Himawari—no need to go that far!"
Shikamaru looked at Boruto on the field in disbelief.
"So this is the power of the Nine-Tails... My body feels so much lighter..."