BORUTO : A Shinobi's Legacy

CHAPTER 55 : FRIEND OR FOE

After Naruto's retirement as the 7th Hokage, Kazuya immediately took on the role of the interim 8th Hokage as they were still doing some preparations for the inauguration ceremony, official documentation & carving the stone face of the Hokage. Shikamaru remained the Hokage's assistant until Kazuya officially becomes the 8th Hokage.

Shikamaru was as surprised as everyone else by Naruto's decision so he confronted him face to face if he was sure of his decision. At the same time, he also understood Naruto's current state of health so it would be best for him to retire. Shikamaru also assigned Nishi to investigate this situation from behind the scenes if something suspicious happened behind the scenes between Naruto & Kazuya.

THE SCENE CHANGE TO BORUTO'S SIDE

After some time traveling from the Land of Whirlpools, Boruto finally reached the perimeter of the Land of Fire's border. Before he could go any further, he erased his own chakra and opened his karma's time-space portal to teleport inside Konoha.

A portal opens in mid-air on the lightning train's track and a scene shows Boruto jumping out from it as the lightning train moves below him. As soon as he stepped on the ceiling of the lightning train, his jougan suddenly activated and gave him a headache. Boruto saw a vision of Sarada in front of him with tears in her eyes. The same pose he had imagined years ago when he saw a vision of Sasuke standing in front of him. The next vision shows Mitsuki lying on the ground with his eyes shut.

The vision then showed Sarada hugging him tightly as she moaned in tears loudly not letting him go. Boruto could almost feel it happening in real time because his eardrums were ringing so much that he covered his ears. Suddenly he heard Momoshiki's voice talking to him from the inside.

- Momoshiki : No matter how many times you try to run away from it and attempt to change your fate, it's futile. It was already predestined for you. If it doesn't happen one way, it will happen another time. The result will remain the same. The only thing you can do is accept it.

- Boruto's internal logue to Momoshiki : What do you mean huh? I've already lost everything. What else do I have that I will lose?!

- Momoshiki : You still don't get it by now... do you.

- Boruto : Hey freeloader, spill it will ya!

- Momoshiki : It's you.

- Boruto : Huh? I do not get it. What do you mean???

- Momoshiki : It is your existence in this world. You still have yourself. You will lose everything including yourself.

Boruto felt a bit intimidated by Momoshiki's words.

- Momoshiki : Heed this warning. Oneself cannot change their destiny, they can only embark on their journey to it. Their predestined fate. Yours are written in blood.

After a few minutes, Boruto was able to get the vision out from his mind. Likewise, Momoshiki's voice also fades away. As the train moves from place to place, Boruto reminisces about his feelings for his birthplace as he sees that many things have changed since the last time he sat his foot on the village's soil. As he sat on the lightning train and dangled his legs over the edge, he suddenly noticed that he could not move. He lowered his eyes as he said to himself "This.. is ...". Apparently Shikadai is behind him casting a Shadow paralysis jutsu at him.