BORUTO ALTER: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS

BORUTO'S AMBITION

BORUTO ALTER

POWER.

The word reverberated through Boruto's consciousness. He frowned, looking downward at the rubber ball that sat patiently in a bandaged palm.

It was afternoon.

The air was cool and soft upon Boruto's skin, while a regiment of trees stood vigil over him. Green grass spread about around and between the trees, peppered with weeds that mingled amongst flowers in comfortable proximity.

Boruto's mind was racing.

I burst the balloon. But this..

"Like I said before, the second stage will be the hardest one for you." Konohamaru had stated two days prior, handing Boruto a bright green rubber ball.

"I believe in you, Boruto. And I know you probably haven't wanted to bring this up with Lord Seventh.. but I know he has faith in you too."

Konohamaru had smiled then, before leaving Boruto to his own devices.

Boruto curled his free hand into a fist, slamming it into the side of the tree he reclined on.

Konohamaru was right.

Boruto had tried exuding his chakra to workable limits, attempting to cut through thick rubber. But it was to no avail.

He had even attempted to implement lighting within his rotation like before, but he either failed, or had to stop before actually maiming his hand for good.

This feels hopeless. It's not a matter of skill. I just..I'm not strong enough.

Boruto leaned his head back, resting himself on the trunk of a tree above. Black bangs fell down over blue-silver eyes as he retreated into his thoughts.

Right now, there's no way for me to generate enough chakra on my own to burst the ball. And even if I could, the density of the chakra wouldn't be enough to maintain its force.

Boruto smiled bitterly.

His thoughts drifted to the two family members he was compared to the most-

Neji and Minato. From what he knew, they were both geniuses in their own right- highly specialized shinobi who honed their craft to its absolute edge.

And, they were both ninja who died before they were able to realize their true potential.

Would they have been able to save Hima?

Boruto saw his sister within his memories. He replayed the moment she was almost killed- when she was kicked deeply into the earth, her bones cracking violently while blood sprayed from ripped skin.

"What does it even mean to be a Shinobi?" Boruto said aloud as he gripped the rubber ball with both of his hands.

"To kill." A voice said above him.

Boruto leapt to his feet, turning around and looking upward to see Mitsuki's plain and friendly expression staring down at him.

"How long have you been there?" Boruto asked as question painted his face.

Mitsuki jumped down before Boruto, Boruto himself stepping slightly backward. Mitsuki's expression didn't change- however, his yellow eyes did seem to glimmer with silent amusement.

"Does it matter?" He asked.

Boruto frowned.

"It might." Boruto said, though he offered Mitsuki a slight chuckle.