At the southeastern edge of the Hidden Shadow forest, Marker Point 76 marked the boundary between paradise and the outside world.
The Gate of Paradise could only be opened here.
—
Boruto stood respectfully before the blue-haired woman in a black cloak patterned with red clouds.
"Lady Konan, I've received a mission from Master. I must depart immediately."
—
Konan's amber eyes flicked briefly toward the forest shadows.
"…Your authorization?"
—
"Please review it."
Boruto retrieved a black decree scroll from his pouch and presented it with both hands.
—
After confirming its authenticity, Konan returned it.
Then—
She formed hand seals.
—
Summoning: Gate of Paradise!
—
"Buzz—!"
An ancient golden gate rose from the ground before them.
—
Boruto bowed deeply.
Then stepped through.
—
"Buzz…"
The gate slowly closed.
—
"…Another peaceful day."
Konan yawned, stretching lazily—
—
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Two small figures darted from the shadows—
Slipping through the narrowing gap—
—
"Clang!"
The gate shut completely.
Vanishing.
—
A faint smile curled on Konan's lips.
"…Good luck."
—
The valley passage connecting Paradise to a nameless country—
Was called Gouzi Path.
A crude nickname—
But fitting.
—
Wind howled through the canyon.
Boruto's black cloak fluttered sharply.
—
He pulled out a photograph.
—
A boy—
Black hair streaked with blond—
A fierce glare—
Like he could explode at any second.
—
An hour earlier—
White Zetsu had handed him both the photo and the mission.
—
"Uzumaki Boruto."
"The brat in the photo is Kawaki."
"Like you, he's a vessel of the Ōtsutsuki."
"His left hand bears Isshiki's Kāma."
—
"For unknown reasons, he's heading toward Paradise."
—
"Your mission—defeat him."
"And bring him back."
—
"…Another vessel, like me?"
Boruto had asked.
"Master isn't handling this himself?"
—
"Don't be ridiculous."
"You think Lord Shadow deals with brats all day?"
—
"But since it involves the Ōtsutsuki…"
"He won't ignore it entirely."
—
"This is a test."
"Don't disappoint him."
—
"…Understood."
—
"How do I find him?"
—
"Release your Kāma once you leave."
"When you get close enough…"
"It will resonate."
—
"And he'll sense you too."
—
"Got it."
—
Now—
Boruto put the photo away.
—
Blue markings spread from his right palm—
Crawling up his arm.
—
He glanced back.
"…How did you two follow me?"
—
Sarada crossed her arms.
"Mitsuki overheard your mission."
"We got worried."
"So we followed."
—
"…Quietly?"
Boruto narrowed his eyes.
"Lady Konan didn't notice?"
—
Sarada smirked.
"Relax."
"We hid our presence perfectly."
"That beautiful lady didn't notice a thing."
—
"Just like when we snuck out of Konoha."
—
"…I see."
—
Boruto looked forward again.
Maybe… she just didn't expect it.
—
But now—
He was no longer the reckless boy from before.
—
His tone hardened.
"You broke protocol."
"If Master finds out—"
"Did you think about the consequences?"
—
Sarada's smile faded.
—
He's changed…
He really has.
—
"I don't care."
She snapped.
"I'm not letting you go alone on some unknown mission!"
—
"If you don't like it—"
"Knock us out and hand us over to your precious master!"
—
"…You two…"
Boruto sighed, rubbing his forehead.
—
Guess I'll just finish the mission fast…
Then take them back myself.
—
"Fine."
"But don't get in my way."
—
"The opponent I'm about to face…"
"…is no ordinary enemy."
—
Sarada frowned.
"…What kind of enemy?"
—
"He's someone just like—"
—
"ZZZZZT—!!"
—
Suddenly—
The Kāma surged violently—
Spreading across Boruto's entire arm—
Crawling up his face.
—
"…This is it."
"The resonance…"
—
At the same time—
Elsewhere—
—
"…!"
Kawaki froze mid-run.
—
The Kāma on his left arm burned—
Like molten iron.
—
Resonance…
—
He had followed a faint connection—
A residual link—
Tracing back toward Hidden Shadow.
—
But now—
That connection vanished—
Replaced by something stronger—
Closer.
—
"…So it's here."
—
He rushed forward—
Wading through knee-deep water—
Entering Gouzi Path.
—
Moments later—
Two figures arrived at the entrance.
—
One fat.
One thin.
—
"…Did you see that?"
The fat one said.
"Kawaki's Kāma."
—
"…Yeah."
The thin one grinned.
"Stage One."
"He couldn't do that before."
—
"…Interesting."
"A second vessel on the other side?"
"Kinshiki? Momoshiki?"
—
"…Should we follow?"
—
"…Let's check with Amado first."
—
He tapped his earpiece.
"…Amado—"
—
Static.
—
"…No signal?"
—
The thin man checked his own.
Same result.
—
"…Figures."
"We're at the edge of the world."
—
He crushed the device in his palm.
Smiling.
—
"…So we can do whatever we want now?"
—
The fat man chuckled.
"…As expected of you, battle-crazed clown."
"Deepa."
—
Deepa turned.
"…You're no different."
"Walking plague."
"Boro."
—
"…It's been a while since we slaughtered freely."
—
"Besides the vessel…"
"Everyone else we meet—"
"…we kill."
—
"…Agreed."
—
The two Inner members of Kara—
Reached a silent consensus.
—
At the same time—
—
"…That's him."
"…So it is."
—
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
—
Two figures leapt simultaneously—
—
One raised a blade—
—
The other—
A mechanical arm blade—
—
"CLANG—!!!"
—
Under the moonlight—
Steel collided.
—
Boruto.
Kawaki.
—
Face to face.
On a narrow path.
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