Naruto: From Ninja Academy to an Early Grave

Inside a barrier-protected conference room in the Hokage Tower.

After returning to the village, Shisui had taken the curious Team 7 away under the pretext that young Sasuke's injuries needed to be examined. As a result, only six people remained in the conference room.

Jiraiya said, "So you're saying that in your world—the future of our world—the enemies you face are all these so-called Ōtsutsuki from beyond the stars?"

Adult Sasuke nodded.

"More or less. The histories of our two worlds developed along similar lines. Even if the enemy isn't an Ōtsutsuki, the powerful foes that appear are still connected to that clan."

Tsunade sighed.

"Honestly, no matter which world it is, peace is a luxury. I just don't understand why these people are so obsessed with the ninja world."

Adult Sasuke replied, "It's not that they're targeting the ninja world. They're the source of chakra itself—the true reason the profession of shinobi came into existence. To them, chakra is nothing more than food."

Jiraiya and Tsunade both found that deeply unsettling.

No one liked the idea of being food.

Just as chickens, ducks, pigs, and cattle would probably dislike humans if they suddenly gained intelligence and power.

Minato said, "Fortunately, they're only visitors from beyond the stars, not actual gods. If you kill them, they die. That's how it works, right, Makoto?"

Makoto nodded.

"Of course. If a person is killed, they die. That's common sense."

Minato looked puzzled.

"When you said Boruto was in trouble, I already suspected it might have something to do with Urashiki's death. Makoto, what exactly happened?"

Boruto immediately spoke up.

"Yeah, Makoto-sensei. I've been wondering too. Why was Urashiki's final scheme aimed at me?"

Instead of answering directly, Makoto asked: "Before you encountered Urashiki, did you fight any other members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan?"

Boruto glanced at his teacher.

Seeing Adult Sasuke give a slight nod, he answered: "Yes. At the time, Konoha was hosting a joint Chūnin Exam when two enemies suddenly attacked the arena. They were Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki and Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki."

"And what happened in the end?"

"Kinshiki was turned into a chakra fruit and eaten by Momoshiki. In the end, with my father's and my sensei's help, I killed Momoshiki."

"And when he died, did anything unusual happen?"

"Something unusual?"

Boruto covered his right eye.

"Actually, yes. My right eye changed again, just like before. I saw Momoshiki standing in front of me."

"It felt like some kind of illusionary space. Everything around us was frozen in time. Momoshiki even called me something like 'child of humanity' or some other weird title."

Adult Sasuke added: "At the time, I saw it too through a special dōjutsu. But nothing ended up happening, so all I could do was tell Boruto to stay alert."

"Looking at it now, my concerns weren't unfounded. The Ōtsutsuki Clan has set its sights on Boruto, hasn't it?"

"Yes."

Makoto nodded.

"The Ōtsutsuki have incredibly long lifespans, but they aren't immortal. Before death, they can use a Kāma to resurrect themselves through a suitable vessel."

"And Boruto's physique just so happens to be extremely compatible with them."

As he spoke, Makoto grabbed Boruto's right hand and pointed at the black diamond-shaped mark on his palm.

"This is Momoshiki's Kāma."

Adult Sasuke finally understood.

"So that's it. He intends to use Boruto as a vessel for resurrection."

"That's right."

Honestly, the fact that those two had become master and student really did seem like fate.

Adult Sasuke had experienced something similar himself.

He had even used a comparable method to bring Orochimaru back to life.

So the question he cared about most was: "When Momoshiki resurrects through Boruto, will he merely borrow Boruto's body, or will he kill Boruto outright and take it over?"

"He'll take the body directly. A vessel has virtually no chance of resisting."

Minato nodded.

"Then that explains why Urashiki targeted Boruto."

"More or less," Makoto replied.

Jiraiya frowned.

"What a vile technique. To come back to life through someone else's body even after death. Orochimaru is probably the only person who'd like something like that."

Adult Sasuke thought to himself:

Like it? He already pulled that stunt on me once.

He had no idea what Orochimaru was doing in this world, but based on everything he had learned so far, the Sasuke of this timeline would probably never have to go through the same experience.

Tsunade asked in confusion: "If this brat is already Momoshiki's vessel, then why is Urashiki still interested in him? Don't tell me a single vessel can resurrect multiple Ōtsutsuki?"

"It can't."

Makoto shook his head.

"But Urashiki had no other choice. He could only hide inside Boruto temporarily and wait until Momoshiki resurrected. After that, Momoshiki would help him find another suitable vessel."

Makoto's explanation was a little too thorough.

The three Konoha shinobi of this world were still processing it, their habitual trust preventing them from immediately noticing anything unusual.

But Sasuke, who had spent years tracking the Ōtsutsuki Clan, instantly spotted the inconsistency.

"How do you know all of this in such detail?"

Makoto opened his left hand.

"Because I have a Kāma too. Urashiki's."

"After I stopped him, he entered my body. My physique is also suitable for serving as a vessel for their resurrection."

Boruto blinked.

"You really do. But why is your Kāma white, sensei?"

Minato's expression darkened.

"How could this happen? Makoto, doesn't that mean you'll also—"

Jiraiya fell into thought, while Tsunade was far more direct.

"Fourth Hokage, you're letting your concern cloud your judgment. Just look at that bastard's face. Does he look like someone who's in trouble?"

Makoto laughed.

"Don't worry, Minato-senpai. I'm fine. Urashiki's soul has already been erased. All that's left is pure power, and I've sealed that away."

"A Kāma that contains only power and no soul is called a White Kāma. It doesn't possess resurrection abilities. Only a Black Kāma can do that."

"The information I've told you all came from the fragments of knowledge I obtained while annihilating Urashiki's soul."

Adult Sasuke immediately grasped the implication.

"So Boruto's problem can be solved?"

After a moment of thought, Makoto replied: "Once a Kāma is implanted, it immediately begins altering the vessel's body, transforming it toward the characteristics of an Ōtsutsuki. That process is irreversible."

"The advantage is that Boruto's strength will grow at an incredible rate as a vessel."

"The downside is that once his power reaches a certain level, the resurrection program will unfreeze."

"I can sense that Momoshiki's Kāma inside Boruto hasn't awakened yet, but it's not far from doing so. He probably has about five years left."

"If he keeps fighting regularly and passively draws on Momoshiki's power, that timeline will accelerate. It could happen in as little as two or three years."

"As for solutions, there are two. But neither comes with a guaranteed success rate."

Adult Sasuke said without hesitation: "No matter what, we have to try."

Boruto nodded.

"Yeah. I don't want that guy using my body to kill my friends in the village. Makoto-sensei, tell us both methods. I'll do whatever it takes."

Makoto smiled.

"The first method is for you to suffer a fatal injury."

"If Momoshiki doesn't want to die along with you, he'll be forced to consume the power stored within the Kāma to repair your body."

"That would interrupt his resurrection process."

"The price is that he wouldn't disappear. Instead, the two of you would coexist."

"You'd effectively become a jinchūriki, except instead of a tailed beast sealed inside you, it would be a pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki."

"According to the soul fragments left behind by Urashiki, similar cases have occurred before in the history of the Ōtsutsuki Clan."

"This method doesn't require effort on your part—it requires luck."

"Which makes it extremely dangerous."

"If you die too quickly, or if Momoshiki simply decides not to save you, then you'll just end up dead for real."

Boruto's expression stiffened.

Makoto continued: "The second method is the one that actually requires effort."

"The natural energy I use happens to be the nemesis of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. It can effectively remove foreign wills from one's chakra and prevent Momoshiki from further corrupting you."

"But for that to work, you'll need to remain in this world for a period of time and train until you've at least reached the beginner stage of Natural Energy Training."

"So, make your choice."

"Which method do you want to use?"

Boruto: "..."

What the hell is there to choose?

Even an idiot would pick the second option.

He had absolutely no desire to take a lethal wound and gamble his life on it.

And he certainly didn't believe Momoshiki would risk himself to save him.

Minato nodded.

"Then let's go with the second method."

"If things aren't too urgent on your side, you can stay in our world for a while longer."

Jiraiya agreed.

"Not a bad idea. Compared to the Senjutsu of the Three Great Sage Regions, Makoto's training system is much easier to get started with."

Tsunade folded her arms.

"The first method should only be considered a last resort. It relies too heavily on luck. I don't recommend it."

For Boruto, Makoto's proposal offered two options.

For Tsunade, however, there would only be one.

Whenever gambling was involved, the legendary medic's luck was remarkably consistent.

Adult Sasuke nodded.

"Looks like we have no choice."

"Urashiki's threat has already been dealt with, and Naruto is still in my world. Nothing major should happen for the time being."

"We can afford to stay here for a while."

"Still, it feels as though all of this was part of your plan from the very beginning, Higashino Makoto-senpai."

Makoto waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't say it like that. Staying here will benefit you too."

"My Senjutsu is exceptionally effective at improving physical constitution."

"Tell me, Mr. Sasuke... you wouldn't want your wife looking down on you because your body's running on empty, would you?"

Adult Sasuke: "..."

Even if I were a eunuch, Sakura would never abandon me.

Naruto could be as strong as an ox, and he'd still go home every day only to get glared at by his wife.