Boruto Light Novel 4

Part 2 (Hachiya)

"What the hell is wrong with you? This is the Blood Village Memorial Park. It's not a place for screwing around." The ill-mannered kid stepped towards them, his strides long.

Another boy raised his voice. "Hey, these wimps aren't from here."

"Now that you mention it, some Konoha brats were supposed to come here for a field trip this week."

Kagura stepped between the gang and the students. "...Hachiya." From the looks of it, Kagura was acquainted with one of the boys.

Hachiya opened his eyes wider and stared. "Hm? Oh, it's just Kagura. You're their little tour guide, huh?" He glared straight ahead. "Still wagging your tail at strangers like a stray dog?" 

Hachiya's tone was arrogant, demeanor prideful. But Kagura skillfully dismissed his attempts at a jab. 

"That has nothing to do with you."

"As if!" Hachiya stalked up to him. "Hmm? What's this? You're a candidate to be one of the seven ninja swordsmen? Of the Bloody Mist!"

Kagura's resolute posture and dismissiveness seemed to further Hachiya's anger. But he held his ground. "So what?"

"If you lower your head any further, you'll be licking our shoes! You think you're some wise guy? Leading these kids around our bloody village?" 

The gangster glared over at Boruto and Iwabe, his gaze filled with malice. But Iwabe didn't back down either. Instead, he laughed in his face. 

"See Boruto? What did I tell you. These creeps aren't over the past at all." He stepped closer to Hachiya. "You think we're just some kids on a field trip, huh?"

"What was that, brat?" Hachiya tried to be intimidating in response to Iwabe's threat. They stared each other down, close enough that a single jab at the vitals would be enough to do the other in. Whoever made the first move would win.

But Boruto broke up the fight before it could start. "Quit it, Iwabe! Do you really want to ruin our field trip?"

"Don't try to stop me, Boruto!"

Boruto blocked his path, but Iwabe was already blazing with anger. Of course, it wasn't like Boruto didn't understand his feelings. But he also had a good reason to butt in.

"I'm the school field trip rep. If you try to do something stupid, I have to stop you!"

It wasn't a position he willingly accepted. But even then, Boruto fulfilled his role properly. Their classmates were hoping to enjoy the trip to the fullest. And on top of that, Boruto didn't want to put an abrupt end to his new friendship. 

Sarada hesitated. There were roughly twice as many people on Hachiya's side. And judging from their manner of speech and movements, they were also ninja. If she yelled, their other classmates would come to their aid... But that would only heighten the potential for a fight to ensue.

"Hmm? I see," said Hachiya, staring down Boruto as he tried to stop Iwabe. "You're the spoiled little Uzumaki prince."

At that, Boruto's facial expression majorly shifted. "Leave my family line outta this!!"

Hachiya's face grew increasingly pleased, finally gaining the reaction he wanted. "I was right, wasn't I... If we beat you here, our reputation will skyrocket!"

Hachiya flung a concealed kunai out of his sleeve and thrust it towards Boruto. The distance between them was so small that none of his surrounding classmates could react in time.

"Haaaaa!"

A flash of white light. In front of Boruto, Kagura stood, hand dripping with blood, stopping the kunai in its tracks.

Boruto stared in shock. But before he could unleash a counter-attack, Iwabe stepped in. "They were the ones that started it!"

Iwabe threw a fist at Hachiya's head. The impact seemed to rocket through him. Hachiya recoiled with a scream. But Iwabe didn't stop there. 

With one swift movement, he used an earth style jutsu to create a weapon. And as he swung it towards Hachiya's throat, Hachiya crumpled to the ground.

"How do you want me to cook you? You bloody bastard."

All Hachiya did in response was let out a mouse-like squeak. And it was a small wonder. Iwabe was glaring down at him. A single movement of his hammer would completely crush Hachiya's throat. And Iwabe could manipulate the weapon with a mere flick of his wrist.

The power and arrogance he held before vanished in an instant, replaced by fear. Perhaps he thought that his opponent wouldn't have a weapon prepared, let alone be able to go in for an insta-kill.

Hachiya was at Iwabe's mercy. And there was nothing he could do about it. 

It seemed as though his companions also lost their will to fight. The only reason they weren't running away with their tails between their legs was because they were scared of what Hachiya would do to them.

"Wait!"

Boruto tried to hold him back, but Iwabe held the tip of his hammer steady, turning his eyes away from Hachiya temporarily to glare into Boruto's. "Don't try to stop me. If we don't take care of this now, it'll only become troublesome later."

"The ones causing trouble will definitely end up being us, ya know! Don't you see? We're in the middle of a Memorial Park!"

Iwabe sighed. As did Sarada. It wasn't like she could completely disagree with Iwabe's point of view... In an emergency situation, would she have the guts to vanquish her foe? The doubt swirled back into her mind.

They both took a glance around the park. It hadn't escalated into a huge commotion, but there were people staring at them. And if it got reported, they really would be the ones in deep trouble. Iwabe hesitated... And that hesitation created an opening.

"Cra-"

Without missing a beat, Hachiya took a smoke bomb out from behind his back and threw it. White clouds filled the area, obscuring Hachiya and his gang from view. And when it was clear enough to see again, they were already a considerable distance away.

"W-We'll leave it at this for the day!" He dashed away at full speed, all of his lackeys following behind him.

"Wait! Don't just flee like cowards!" 

But Iwabe's words didn't do anything to stop the gang. And as they vanished, there was no longer anything for him to direct his anger towards.

"Kagura! Are you ok?" Boruto was facing Kagura, his face coated with worry. Iwabe, Sumire, and Sarada turned their collective gazes towards him as well.

"An injury of this caliber isn't anything I can't handle." Kagura smiled a bit awkwardly.

Sarada figured that this smile wasn't a lie either. But at the same time, she sensed that the awkwardness was caused by some sort of guilt or burden he was carrying. But she had no way of knowing what it was.

"Ah... I..." Sumire approached Kagura, taking hold of his injured hand. Procuring some bandages from her pouch, she began treating and wrapping his wound.

"...Thank you." Injured hand now bound, Kagura stood. "I'm sorry that everyone ended up getting involved in that unpleasant situation..." His voice was full of remorse, an apology from the bottom of his heart.

And then he turned his gaze to Iwabe. "You were right... Everything is exactly as you said. But still..." He lowered his head. "Please let me apologize." 

Seeing someone as strong as Kagura bow to him in apology made Iwabe uncomfortable. His anger hadn't been completely quelled, but there was no mistaking that Iwabe held some amount of gratitude for Kagura's sacrifice in saving Boruto.

With a click of his tongue, Iwabe put away his weapon. He wasn't capable of saying anything in response, whether it be thanks or another harsh comment. And so, he shut his mouth and turned away.  

.  .  .