Young Boruto simply could not believe his ears. He stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning, his mouth wide open, completely unable to utter a single word for a long time.
After quite a while, Young Boruto finally snapped out of it as if waking from a dream, and stammered out a question: "Wh... what? Nine what?"
Faced with Boruto's interrogation, Kakashi remained completely calm and unblushing, repeating once again: "Of course it's nine for me and one for you."
A bitter smile appeared on Young Boruto's face as he helplessly said to Kakashi: "Kakashi-sensei, aren't you being a bit too heartless, old man?"
As he spoke, Young Boruto shook his head, seeming quite dissatisfied with Kakashi's behavior.
Hearing Young Boruto address him as "Kakashi-sensei," Kakashi was visibly stunned.
His deadpan eyes, which always hid a mysterious gleam, revealed a trace of surprise at that moment. He stared straight at the young Boruto in front of him and asked in confusion:
"Why are you calling me that?"
After pondering for a moment, Young Boruto replied: "Well... if I don't call you that, what else would be appropriate?"
Hearing this, Kakashi fell into serious thought as well.
After a while, Kakashi slowly spoke up: "Well... actually, you can just call me 'Kakashi'."
Hearing this, Young Boruto muttered softly to himself: "You're the one who told me to call you that, remember."
Though his voice was quiet, it was still caught by Kakashi's sharp ears.
Kakashi immediately fixed his gaze on Young Boruto and pursued the matter: "What were you muttering just now?"
Young Boruto hastily waved his hand and explained with a smile: "Nothing, nothing."
"Let's hurry up and get some food first. After we eat, you can take me out for a stroll."
Kakashi gave Boruto a suspicious look, but did not press further.
...
After their meal, sunlight spilled over the bustling streets of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Kakashi walked at a leisurely pace, accompanied by the energetic Young Boruto.
Kakashi held his beloved copy of Make-Out Paradise in his hand, his eyes occasionally shifting away from the book to look at the lively sights around them as he muttered:
"I must say, there isn't really anything particularly fun on this street. I honestly don't know why I'm wandering around out here."
Hearing this, Young Boruto couldn't help but smile slightly and replied: "Mainly to buy a few things."
Intrigued, Kakashi asked with a face full of curiosity:
"Oh? Buy what?"
Boruto gently tapped the conspicuous scar on his right eye with his finger and explained:
"Well, I was thinking of buying a mask to cover up this scar."
"I can't just keep covering it with a Headband like you do all the time. That really looks a bit too silly."
Kakashi: "???"
Kakashi was taken aback at first, then broke into a wry expression.
Dressed in a black cloak, Young Boruto moved briskly through the crowd.
His gaze wandered about before finally coming to a stop at a stall covered in various kinds of masks.
Boruto slowly stepped forward and reached out to gently pick up a mask that could cover the upper half of his face.
The mask was crafted with exquisite detail, painted with mysterious and unique patterns that seemed to conceal endless stories and power.
Boruto's eyes were deeply drawn to the mask. He involuntarily turned his head to look at Kakashi, who was watching him not far away.
Seeing Boruto holding the mask and looking at him, Kakashi was baffled for a moment, unable to figure out what Boruto was trying to do.
Right at that moment, the stall owner stepped forward with a smile and said enthusiastically: "My, my, this young man certainly has a great eye."
"The mask you're holding in your hand is our best-selling one here."
"Not only is it exquisite in appearance, but it's also extremely comfortable to wear." As he spoke, the owner deliberately gestured with his hand to indicate the size and shape of the mask.
"And the price is very affordable too—you can take it home for just 300 ryo," the owner added with a smile.
Upon hearing the price, Young Boruto put the mask on his face without a moment's hesitation, flashed a slight smile at Kakashi, and mischievously said:
"Hehe, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to foot the bill this time."
Looking at the masked and smug-looking Boruto before him, Kakashi shook his head helplessly, though a trace of a smile couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips.
With that, Kakashi pulled his wallet from his pocket, took out 300 ryo, and handed it to the owner, completing the transaction.
Kakashi fixed his gaze on the masked Boruto standing before him with a faint smile at the corner of his lips. After a brief silence, he slowly began to muse:
"Thinking back to when I first met you, back then you exuded an oppressive aura that was impossible to ignore, as if a heavy cloud of gloom was shrouded over your heart."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly, seeming to drift into distant memories, and then continued softly:
"That state of yours couldn't help but remind me of one of my students. The two of you actually shared quite a few similarities."
Kakashi shook his head gently, pulling his thoughts back to the present, and continued watching the Boruto before him:
"Yet right now, standing before me, you look as though you've cast off a burden of a thousand pounds. Your whole person has become relaxed and at ease, and this feeling... is as if you've finally revealed your true, original self."
Hearing this, Boruto's body gave a slight shudder. His right hand gripping the Kusanagi Sword tightened involuntarily, and a low murmur escaped his throat:
"That's right, this state of mine now... should have been my true form all along."
Thinking of all the experiences of his past, a complex wave of emotions surged in Boruto's heart.
Ever since he was thirteen years old, he had been hunted by the entire Shinobi World.
For three full years, he had lived under endless pressure, constantly dodging pursuit from all factions in sheer anxiety.
For his youthful self, those days had simply been too heavy, pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.
And now, having come here, he had finally shed those shackles and could return to being his true self once again.
"Huh?"
An exclamation of doubt escaped Boruto's lips. His previously lowered head snapped up instantly, his gaze shooting like a flash of lightning toward a specific direction.
At that very moment, Kakashi standing nearby keenly perceived Boruto's unusual reaction.
Kakashi swiftly closed the copy of Make-Out Paradise he was reading and carefully tucked it away inside his robes.
Then, Kakashi asked: "What is it?"
"Did you spot something unusual?"
Boruto's gaze remained tightly locked on that direction as he replied:
"I sense someone fighting up ahead."
Hearing this, Kakashi furrowed his brow slightly and asked: "Where?"
Boruto pointed toward a building not far away and replied: "Over there."
Making a decisive judgment, Kakashi sprang into action without a moment's hesitation, landing steadily on a nearby rooftop.
Following closely, he dashed toward the target like an arrow released from a string, moving at an astonishing speed.
Seeing this, Boruto exerted force with his feet and closely followed Kakashi's figure as they sprinted forward together.
Chapter 8: Sasuke and Naruto Duel
On the hospital roof, sunlight poured down, illuminating the entire platform brilliantly.
However, the atmosphere at that moment was exceptionally heavy, as if even the air were about to freeze.
Naruto and Sasuke stood facing each other, the distance between them a mere few meters, yet this short span felt like an uncrossable chasm.
Naruto stared intently at Sasuke, his body trembling slightly, before the corners of his mouth suddenly turned upward in a smile.
Seeing Naruto act this way, Sasuke's expression darkened instantly. He let out a cold snort and said:
"What's so funny? Do you think this situation is funny?"
Naruto took a deep breath, keeping his eyes fixed on Sasuke's face as he replied with a slightly agitated voice:
"No, this isn't laughter..."
"It's excitement!"
Pausing for a moment, Naruto raised his volume and shouted: "Because today, I'm finally going to completely defeat you right here!"
At those words, Sasuke's face instantly turned ferocious, and his once-deep eyes flashed with a blood-red light—the distinctive sign of the activated Sharingan.
Staring fixedly at Naruto, Sasuke growled through gritted teeth:
"A mere loser like you dares to talk big!"
Naruto didn't back down in the least and immediately retorted: "I won't be a loser my whole life! Someday, I'm going to surpass you!"
Just as the two of them were locked in a stalemate, Sakura ran up to the rooftop, completely out of breath.
The moment she caught sight of Naruto and Sasuke confronting each other, her heart tightened instantly, having no idea what she should do to ease the tense atmosphere before her.
Yet at that very moment, Naruto and Sasuke seemed completely oblivious to Sakura's arrival.
Their attention was entirely concentrated on each other, with room for nothing else besides their sworn rival.
Consumed by fury, Sasuke lashed out at Naruto once more: "Stop spouting nonsense and running your mouth!"
Unfazed, Naruto continued to provoke Sasuke with a cold sneer:
"I never would've thought that someone who always prides himself on being calm could be driven into such blind rage by me."
"This isn't like you at all, Sasuke."
Taking a deep breath to force his churning emotions to calm down slightly, Sasuke kept his eyes locked on Naruto and said coldly:
"Enough of the chatter. If you've got the guts, make your move."
With a gaze equally firm and sharp, Naruto met Sasuke's stare without retreating an inch and slowly spoke: "You should put your Headband on first before we do anything."
To Naruto's demand, Sasuke showed utter indifference, replying dismissively: "Hmph, I don't need that junk at all."
Yet Naruto appeared exceptionally persistent, acting as if this matter were of utmost importance. He suddenly raised his volume and let out a low, angry roar:
"Cut the damn crap and put it on right now!"
Seeing this, the corners of Sasuke's mouth curved upward into a disdainful smirk as he said contemptuously:
"You? With your skills, you couldn't possibly scratch even a hair on my forehead!"
Instead of getting angry at Sasuke's taunts, Naruto quickly cut him off and explained earnestly:
"It's not like that."
Following that, Naruto raised a hand to gently point at the prominent Hidden Leaf Headband on his own forehead, continuing with utmost solemnity:
"This Headband represents the fact that we are both ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village. Only when we both wear it can this fight be considered a fair and equal duel."
Hearing Naruto's words, the anger that had just subsided in Sasuke's heart was instantly reignited. His emotions turned intensely agitated as he roared:
"That's exactly why you are so utterly repulsive!"
"Do you seriously think you're on equal footing with me?"
Faced with Sasuke's intense reaction, far from feeling any fear, Naruto pointed a finger right at Sasuke, burst out laughing, and answered with absolute conviction:
"That's right! I've never felt I was inferior to you in any way!"
Hearing Naruto's words, a flash of icy light crossed Sasuke's freezing eyes, and his voice sounded as cold and bone-chilling as if it came from the depths of the underworld:
"You suicidal bastard, you're such an eyesore!"
Meanwhile, the corners of Naruto's mouth lifted into a scornful smile as he mercilessly mocked:
"Hmph, calling me an eyesore? That's just because you've always been this weak!"
With that, Naruto intentionally jutted his chin out at Sasuke in provocation.
"Little Sasuke,"
Naruto continued to address Sasuke by name in that contemptuous tone, acting as though he didn't take his opponent seriously at all.
Unable to endure such insult and provocation any longer, Sasuke's fury ignited completely. Roaring like an enraged beast, he charged straight at Naruto without a moment's hesitation.
At the same time, Sasuke shouted in anger:
"Naruto!"
Seeing this, Naruto did not show the slightest weakness. He let out a loud shout of his own and rushed forward to meet Sasuke.
"Sasuke!"
In an instant, the two collided like bolts of lightning, plunging into a fierce bout of taijutsu combat.
Trading blows with fists and feet, neither willing to yield, every single move and stance was packed with power and technique.
For a time, the only sounds on the rooftop were the dull impacts of colliding fists and feet accompanied by their heavy breathing.
This physical exchange, which appeared friendly on the surface, actually harbored deadly intent as both pulled out all stops in an attempt to defeat the other.
Not far away from them, Young Boruto stared at Kakashi—who remained utterly engrossed in reading Make-Out Paradise—with a face full of puzzlement, and finally couldn't help asking:
"Hey, aren't you planning to go over there and break it up?"
As he spoke, Young Boruto nervously rubbed his hands together, his eyes never leaving the two figures engaged in fierce combat.
"If this keeps up, won't something major happen?" Boruto's tone carried a clear trace of worry, his brows tightly knitted together.
Yet Kakashi acted as if it were none of his concern, not even bothering to raise his head as he answered with utter nonchalance:
"It's just kids roughhousing. Letting them take some knocks and learn a lesson or two is for the best."