Solo

Chapter 7

Boruto 

We walked through the forest silently. No one really talked to each other throughout the way. To be honest, I had no idea where we were going. It was almost like we were just walking in the same direction for hours- damn it! "We are going in circles," I said overly annoyed. I'm good at picking up little details; details like the same mound of rock centered in front of the old, branchless tree.  

"What do you mean?" Shikadai said loudly. "I would've been able to sense it, or anyone else here. We are not going around in circles." He said confidently but he was wrong. He was probably the smartest one here yet didn't pick up on this yet. Odd... 

"We are," I said sternly. I looked toward the others but only Kakashi, Rain, and Sasuke looked normal. By that, I meant that their chakra was the same and their eyes weren't pale looking like Shikadai's, Sarada's, and Mitsuki's. "You aren't Shikadai..." I whispered and I saw Sasuke pull out his sword. 

I wasn't sure exactly when or how it happened but someone had brainwashed them. We have been working for about three hours in silence so it wasn't like I was paying attention to them in the first place. "Sasuke, can you snap them out of it?" Kakashi asked and Sasuke sighed. He looked a bit concerned. 

"I noticed it a while back but didn't say anything because I was trying to secretly snap them out of it. But I can't. Something is blocking their senses and I can't get to them. They are being completely brainwashed." Sasuke said and I clenched my jaw in anger. I hated being messed with. I could wake them up, I know I can but I can't in front of them. 

"Why weren't we brainwashed?" Rain asked and I was thinking the same thing. Personally, I don't think I was because of my own mind abilities. My mind is strong and can withstand attacks like those. I guess that I was, in a way, preparing for an attack from Sasuke. It was a part of my training to no longer be weak and now it came in handy. 

"I'm not sure exactly but it's probably because our own mind abilities repelled it," Sasuke said and it was exactly what I was thinking. But then I looked over at Rain, what abilities did he have that made him withstand it? I wondered as I thought about how to approach this situation. If I used my ability, Sasuke would know that I broke his seal. Hn...

"Well... What now? We were tricked and now, not only did we lose a lot of time, but they know that we are onto them. Even if we found a way out of this what would we do?" I asked but no one answered. A part of me was hoping that Sasuke would ask me to use my power to free them but I don't think he even knows that I can. 

"You can't free us!" Sarada yelled in a deeper voice than usual. "In only five more minutes, their minds will be permanently wiped and they will be forced to be our master's slaves. You've lost. Did you really think you could find us and beat us? Impossible." In only five minutes... 

I knew that I had to act fast but a part of me hesitated. If their minds were wiped, they would finally be out of the picture and it would leave everyone broken. I would then be able to leave without anything stopping me. But something kept on telling me to stop these thoughts. This was my chance but I wasn't sure if I would be able to forgive myself.

"Stop acting up and tell me where your hideout is. After that, you will release them and run far away because if I catch you, you will die. But don't tell anyone that we know, understand?" I said as my eye activated. I didn't look over to see the reaction of the others but I could already tell that Sasuke was confused and honestly, I was too. Why was I doing this?! None of this made sense but it was too late to stop now. 

I focused my attention back on the brainwashed and saw that they tried to fight against my control but they eventually gave in. "I-It's i-in the foggy town to the n-north. The commander's h-hideout, ahhhhhhh." Right before they could finish, I saw a clump of chakra fly out of them and go far away. The three in front of me suddenly collapsed and Sasuke and Kakashi ran over.

I knew that this was the end for me. This just proved Sasuke's inner theory that I am more powerful than I may seem. He now knows that I can't be controlled so I am now a threat to everyone. "Sol..." I turned and I saw Rain look at me with wide eyes. "How did you do that?! That was... Amazing! I didn't know you could control people like that." His comment made me smile.

It felt too good to hear someone praising my powers instead of fearing them. I haven't felt this way for a very long time. It was time for me to go and I could tell that I would miss Rain. I haven't known him for a long time but he was honest with me which was all I could ask for. 

I was about to slip away but Sasuke stopped me. "You broke through the barrier?" He asked and I froze up. I didn't really know how to approach this situation. "I knew that you were more powerful than you made it seem when I caught you. I intentionally made the barrier with a flaw that only a skilled shinobi could break through." What? So this was a test... 

"What does that mean?" I asked him, still confused about the barrier in the first place. Honestly, the barrier was hard to break at all. The second he put it on me, I felt it and my body rejected it. I suddenly started to wonder how powerful I truly was. Over the past couple of years, I've suffered and trained, fighting every obstacle that came my way. What had I become? 

Before he could answer, the three bodies suddenly got up. I could tell they were confused based on their reaction. "What happened to us?" Sarada asked as Kakashi helped her to her feet. "I remember that we were walking and then everything went blank." She finished saying as she dusted herself off.

"You guys were brainwashed by the "Commander," Sasuke told her. "Fortunately, you guys managed to snap out of it after a while. And while you were regaining conscience, Mitsuki mumbled something about a hideout at a village nearby. We are about to head out there now." Sasuke lied. I wasn't sure why he didn't just tell them the truth. Was I still in the group? I am very confused. 

He looked straight at me and gave me this odd look. It was the look of "we'll talk later." Only, I really didnt want to explain myself. Hopefully we get distracted by this mission and he somehow forgets about this. But I doubt that it will happen...

Author's Note: Hey guys!! Hope you enjoy it!!