Boruto Light Novel 4

Part 4 (Boruto's Intelligence)

**Sorry for missing last week's update, there's been a lot of "initiation" meetings and such for college. We're basically doing preparations for a school festival right now. As you can imagine, it's rather hectic xD But hopefully it'll be fun. Thank you for your continued support!**

"While we're on our way... There's something I'd like to confirm." Chojuro ran alongside Boruto and Sarada. "Have either of you ever killed someone?"

Sarada felt her expression stiffen.

"As if." Boruto answered almost immediately. But Sarada continued running in silence.

"And as for you, Sarada-san?"

"...I have not." It seemed like her answer took forever to leave her lips. She never thought it was something she'd be asked. Not even in a situation like this.

Yet again, her dream rose to the surface of her mind. Even when attempting to take revenge on her mother's killer, she couldn't land the finishing blow. Maybe, if she let her anger get the best of her and went into a blind rage, she could've done it.

....No. It doesn't work like that.

Killing someone out of anger wasn't murder. It was just an accident caused by negligence. An attack that resulted in a kill, and not something with premeditated intent.

"This is just a fight, right? It shouldn't have anything to do with whether or not we're able to kill people," Boruto remarked.

"It is exactly as you say... This isn't a war, it's just a fight. But the opposing side will be more than prepared to take our lives. They well surpass chunin in strength and skill, and what's more, they possess the ninja blades."

On the battlefield, killing intent greatly enhances one's fighting ability. The same blow can have a much more damaging impact when fired with murder in mind. Even taking into account the recoil damage on the hands of the one who punched, the pain is said to be lessened.

"Of course, I have no intentions to kill anyone. But I can't afford to go easy on them either. Kagura and Shizuma might prove to be particularly difficult opponents, even for me."

Chojuro looked down at his own blade. It was nothing more than an ordinary katana. But the way he gripped it showed just how much he trusted in it. How he relied on it. Even though it didn't compare to the Hiramekarei.

No matter the blade, it would have to make do. The Hiramekarei was with Kagura.

"I'll leave you with this," Chojuro continued. "There are times that you must make the choice to kill. In those times, you mustn't hesitate. For that hesitation may cost you your life."

After hearing his words, Sarada clenched her fists so hard that her knuckles turned white.

But Boruto seemed to have a clear answer. "Heh. That won't happen, ya know. I'll send Shizuma flying and make it so Kagura doesn't have to worry about him anymore."

"You seem to be set on your ideas." Chojuro gave him a kindhearted smile that almost seemed to resemble admiration. And then he looked towards Sarada. "But you are different, correct?"

"....!"

Chojuro read her inner conflict like a book. Sarada felt her chest tighten as she looked at his softened gaze. As to whether or not she could land the finishing blow... She didn't know.

Thinking about it logically, ninja often put an end to each other's lives. It wasn't a pretty reality, but Sarada knew that it was a part of the world she lived in.

With that in mind... Could she kill someone?

Of course, she'd never attempted. But her dream only seemed to further her assumption that she couldn't.

It wasn't like she had Boruto and The Seventh's unwavering belief that everything could be settled without killing. On the other hand, she also didn't believe in ruthlessly murdering those that got in the way.

She couldn't chose a side.

Tens of thousands of times, she'd asked herself. "Am I really qualified to be a ninja?" But the answer was never clear.

"I..." Her mouth opened, but no more words came out of it.

"Not being able to answer is an answer on its own," said Chojuro. "You can also play a devoted supporting role. While I'm dealing with Shizuma and Kagura, you two will be fighting the other five..."

"Wait!" Boruto interrupted. "Leave Kagura to me."

"Boruto-kun... Kagura is wielding my former blade, the Hiramekarei. I know it's ferocity the best. It's too dangerous for you. And Shizuma is bound to be fighting alongside him..."

The blade chosen by Shizuma was likely Samehada. It was forged by Hoshigaki Kisame, a ninja of incredible skill, nicknamed Kaijin (see note). Shizuma and Kisame were of the same race, so it made sense for him to pick up the same blade.

Shizuma held a certain respect for Kisame. They were both rogue ninja of the same lineage, but more than that, Kisame was seen as a hero of sorts. One theory claimed that he was a professional assassin that served Tachibana Yagura.

The sword Kisame wielded, Samehada, consumed the chakra of its enemies and transferred it to the owner. As long as there were opponents to fight, the wielder's chakra supply would never run dry. Depending on the skill of the owner, it was possible to keep fighting indefinitely.

That being said, the sword itself had a mind of its own. It barred its fangs to anyone it didn't deem worthy of wielding it, sometimes taking over their body.

"Samehada is a blade that even the Seventh Hokage struggled to face off against. If it wasn't for Kisame's self-destruction and Naruto's good luck, he might have been killed as well. It's truly a terrifying sword."

"My dad..."

As Chojuro spoke, Boruto and Sarada finally understood the weight of the opponents they were trying to challenge. Even with the Mizukage fighting alongside them, they wouldn't be able to let their guard down.

But that still didn't satisfy Boruto. "That's exactly why I want you to leave Kagura to me. If they face you right from the start, they'll never drop their guard, even for a second."

Chojuro's expression changed ever so slightly. "Boruto-kun?"

"This is just a fight. A fight we can't afford to lose. If they're serious from the get-go, we don't have a chance. Especially in the situation Kagura's in now... if he goes head-to-head with you, Kagura will have no choice but to go all out."

Boruto was either talking about winning the battle without letting Kagura and Shizuma get to their full strength, or some sort of psychological manipulation technique.

In other words, the five emotions and five desires jutsu: a technique that involves reading the subtleties in people's emotions and guiding their way of thinking in a direction that is advantageous to the caster.

Boruto wanted Kagura to "come back." In his mind, Kagura loved his mentor Chojuro and the Village of the Mist. He was just a guy who got caught up in unfortunate circumstances. So instead of pressuring him into a corner, Boruto wanted to bring out his inner desire to return to the village.

If Chojuro was the first one to confront Kagura, he'd undoubtably feel guilty. There was also a possibility that he'd self-destruct.

"You have a point... I suppose it can't be helped then. Kagura is that type of person, after all."

With that, Chojuro left Kagura up to Boruto. But that also meant Shizuma, who wouldn't leave Kagura's side, would also be Boruto's to take care of.

"That's not a problem," Boruto retorted. "Shizuma won't make the first move. He'll send Kagura to do it for him."

"It's settled then. You will handle Kagura and Shizuma. Sarada and I will take on the other five... Are we clear?"

Boruto and Sarada both nodded their heads.

With that, the moonlit silhouette of the memorial park came into view.