Chapter 269:
"Of course I will." Without any hesitation, Naruto responded with firm conviction. "Back when your Uncle Sasuke left the village, it was your old man here who brought him back!"
Future Boruto silently extended his right hand, revealing the Peace Star clenched in his palm.
"Hmm? What's that, Boruto?"
Naruto narrowed his eyes as he examined the item in Boruto's hand.
"The Peace Star."
"What?!" Naruto's expression showed a flicker of surprise. Although he had learned about the Peace Star through intel from Jiraiya, this was his first time seeing it in person. "If we have the Peace Star, does that mean there's a way to remove the collars the villagers have to wear?"
Although Inuzuka Akita, who had once worked under Dr. Katasuke, had been researching chakra-suppressing collars, his work had apparently hit a wall with no progress in sight.
"...Dad, there's someone I need to bring back too. But to do that, I'll need to rely on the power of the Peace Star."
"I see..." After a moment of silence, Naruto looked up at the future Boruto—who was now clearly taller than him—and said, "Go. Bring her back."
"But what about the village..."
"You don't have to worry about the village. After all, I'm still the Hokage here."
Naruto gave Boruto a firm pat on the shoulder as he spoke.
"Mhm, thank you... Dad."
"Huh?" Naruto was momentarily flustered—it was the first time his son had suddenly thanked him like this. "It's nothing, really. You're my son, after all..."
Future Boruto looked down at the Peace Star in his hand and murmured, "Peace Star, please help me bring back Sister Hanabi."
As the words left his mouth, the Peace Star radiated a brilliant light that shot straight into the sky.
This dazzling spectacle naturally alarmed many within the Hidden Leaf Village.
When the light from the Peace Star faded, the object in Boruto's hand looked like a cheap, rough toy.
"...It's gone?"
Naruto looked at the now-lusterless Peace Star in Boruto's hand, then turned to look at him again.
"..."
Boruto remained silent. While the Peace Star was only meant to provide a path toward making a wish come true, Boruto had expected it to send him back in time. But now, it seemed nothing had changed at all.
"Naruto!"
Shikamaru's voice rang out from the distance. After a few Body Flicker Techniques, he appeared right in front of Naruto.
"Shikamaru."
"Naruto, what just happened?"
Barely pausing to catch his breath, Shikamaru asked immediately. The village was already in shambles—there was no way it could handle another crisis.
"Don't worry, Shikamaru, it's nothing serious. We were just making a wish on the Peace Star."
As Naruto spoke, he glanced at future Boruto. Catching the cue, Boruto showed the now-dimmed Peace Star in his hand to Shikamaru.
"I see..." Shikamaru stroked his chin as he studied the Peace Star. "Let's head to the strategy tent. We need to properly discuss this."
...
Outer Space – S.E.R.A.
Though he hadn't managed to obtain the Peace Star, Orochimaru hadn't been punished in any significant way. He was simply ordered to conduct future research aboard the S.E.R.A.
Cautious as ever, Orochimaru was well aware that S.H.I.E.L.D. was monitoring him. Though he didn't know exactly why, he had no complaints about the order. In fact, being able to continue his research aboard the S.E.R.A.—a massive scientific ninja tool station capable of remaining in space—was exactly what he had hoped for.
"That light just now... Looks like the Hidden Leaf has already made a wish on the Peace Star. The question is: what did they wish for..."
As Orochimaru spoke, he glanced at Jiraiya, who stood next to him, also gazing out the window toward the ninja world.
"Like I'd know. It's been so long... The times have changed," Jiraiya quickly replied, shaking his head. "If it were the old Hidden Leaf, I'd say their wish was probably for peace in the ninja world... But now? I'm guessing it's for the village's rapid reconstruction..."
The dazzling light that had pierced the sky from the ninja world slowly faded away like fireworks.
...
Hidden Leaf Village – Strategy Tent
"Ninja Battle?"
Looking at the deck of cards future Boruto had laid out on the table, Shikamaru wore a strange, complicated expression.
When it came to S.H.I.E.L.D., they had expected battle—but a war of wits, not fists? That had never occurred to Shikamaru.
"Yeah. And apparently, S.H.I.E.L.D. is quite wary of those two Dragonfly Captains."
Boruto explained.
"I see... It kind of reminds me of the last Holy Grail War. Still a conflict between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, with Hydra once again choosing the Hidden Leaf as their proxy." Stroking his small goatee, Shikamaru analyzed the situation. "So, what wish did you make on the Peace Star?"
Future Boruto and Naruto exchanged a glance. In the end, it was Naruto who answered.
"...To bring back Hanabi? If I recall correctly, she died a long time ago... In the village, killed by Danzō's Root division..."
Though it was an unsavory part of the Hidden Leaf's history, all three men present—one the current Seventh Hokage, another his chief aide, and the third the future Eighth Hokage—had the clearance to know about it.
"So this wish... Was it the Hyūga Clan's request?"
After all, the current Hyūga clan head was Boruto's grandfather, and the future head would be his sister. No matter how you looked at it, Boruto had no reason to say no.
"...No. Bringing Sister Hanabi back was my own idea."
Boruto replied, though Shikamaru clearly didn't believe him. His expression made it obvious he thought Boruto was just covering for the Hyūga Clan.
"Whatever. The wish has already been made. But so far, aside from a few strange phenomena, it seems like the Peace Star didn't actually grant your wish."
The Next Day – Hidden Leaf Village
"Shuyu!" Sarada called out joyfully when she spotted a familiar face. "Where have you been these past few days?"
"I went out with Shunhi. Just got back yesterday."
According to Shuyu's backstory, Shunhi was his father. But due to the death of his mother, Shuyu and Shunhi didn't have a great relationship.
This character setup had naturally received Uchiha Itachi's approval. Though it was all part of his undercover mission, Itachi had no desire to call anyone "Dad" if he didn't have to. He definitely wasn't the type to embrace that kind of sentimentality.