Chapter 391: Future Boruto's Dream
There were four members in the Night Raid unit. They had no names, only codenames: Fire God, Thunder God, Water God, and Sleep God. Two men and two women.
"Thanks to Sleep God, everyone was killed while they were still dreaming."
Thunder God stepped forward and said to Fire God and Water God.
"Mhm. Now we just need to leave behind the 'evidence' of how this family oppressed the people."
Fire God nodded, pulling out a stack of photos from his coat and scattering them on the floor.
In reality, the people they killed tonight weren't evil wrongdoers, but rather government officials who refused to join the Mizunotsuki faction and insisted on remaining neutral.
So whether the contents of the photos were real or fabricated remained to be seen. But for the people of the Land of Iron, that didn't matter—they just needed an outlet for their pent-up rage.
"Don't forget to take our spoils."
Water God spoke.
Unlike the fiery Fire God and the boisterous Thunder God, Water God was a quiet, refined-looking girl who excelled in cooking. The "spoils" she mentioned weren't valuables—but the corpses of those they had killed.
After all, as demons, they still needed to eat.
"Boruto, yes, I'm sure of it—they're demons. I can feel it."
Ever since awakening the demonic blood within him back at the Insect House, Mitsuki had developed a faint but distinct ability to sense other demons.
"Who's there?!"
Fire God, Thunder God, and Water God instantly took formation with their backs to each other, surrounding Sleep God, who had remained silent this whole time with her eyes closed, as if asleep.
Future Boruto and Mitsuki leapt down from the rooftop, with Boruto holding little Himawari's hand.
"Mitsuki."
"Boruto."
"..."
Himawari, unable to speak due to the bamboo gag in her mouth, tugged on Future Boruto's hand.
"She's Himawari," Future Boruto said on her behalf.
"You're the Night Raid, aren't you? We have some questions for you," Mitsuki stepped forward and said.
"Sleep God! Use your ability!"
Fire God suddenly shouted. The timid girl protected at the center by the three abruptly opened her eyes.
Anyone caught in Sleep God's gaze would immediately fall into slumber.
Future Boruto's body suddenly wavered, his vision unfocused. Even Kurama within him yawned.
Unlike targeted illusions, sleep was a natural protective function of the body.
"Boruto! Boruto!"
Despite Mitsuki's desperate calls, Future Boruto collapsed to the ground, lightly snoring.
The tension in his body vanished in an instant, exhaustion surging in like a flood, plunging him into deep sleep.
Himawari knelt beside the sleeping Boruto, thought for a moment, then took off her coat and draped it over him.
In her mind, she was already picturing the scene of Future Boruto waking up, rubbing her head with a smile.
"Damn it! Himawari, protect Boruto!"
Mitsuki rose from beside the fallen Future Boruto and stared down the members of the Night Raid.
"Two of them aren't asleep? Could it be… they're demons too?"
Water God looked at Mitsuki and Himawari in surprise.
Sleep God's ability only affected humans. As for those who were no longer human—demons—they were completely immune.
"So what if we are? Wake Boruto up. Now."
Mitsuki's eyes gleamed dangerously as he gripped his snake blade tightly in his right hand.
He launched the first strike.
As Mitsuki engaged the enemy, Himawari finally realized something was wrong. She shook Future Boruto's body frantically, but he showed no signs of waking.
She climbed onto his chest and slapped his face repeatedly with her small hands.
Her hands turned bright red, tears welling in her eyes, but Boruto still didn't wake.
"Damn it..."
Panting, Mitsuki pulled back to gain distance. Facing three opponents who could wield fire, water, and lightning simultaneously was taking a serious toll. Injuries were already visible on his body.
"You're a demon, yet you choose to stay with humans. Why?" Thunder God asked, staring at Mitsuki.
———
Inside Future Boruto's dream.
Night.
"Where is this?" Future Boruto looked around at the familiar buildings, confusion spreading across his face. "Konoha? Why am I in Konoha?"
"Boruto! You're finally back!"
Hearing his name called, he turned and saw—"Sa... Sarada...?"
Standing before him was none other than Sarada, who had become the Eighth Hokage in the future.
"What's with that face, Boruto? You look like you've seen a ghost. Do you have something against me?"
With her Sharingan and Sakura's monstrous strength, Sarada's expression turned intimidating.
"N-no, not at all..."
Boruto quickly waved his hands, feeling like he'd returned to the days before the bioterror outbreak.
"No more jokes, Boruto. There's a mission for you."
Sarada's expression grew serious.
"A mission?"
"Yeah." She nodded gravely. "The details will come from the Seventh Hokage himself."
"The Seventh... Dad?" Boruto's expression shifted to surprise, then understanding. "Got it."
At the Uzumaki household.
He rang the doorbell.
In Boruto's memory, ever since his father retired, he'd been spending most of his time at Sasuke's place. But today, after asking Sarada, he was surprised to learn that Naruto was actually at home.
The door opened automatically. The house was completely dark.
"What's going on...?"
Though puzzled, Boruto stepped inside and found the light switch.
Just as he flipped it on, party poppers went off in the darkness.
"Happy birthday, Boruto!"
Everyone who had been hiding revealed themselves.
All of them were people Boruto had lost in the ninja world during the bioterror outbreak—Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, Ino, Chōchō, Shikadai, Inojin...
"Everyone... Everyone..."
Looking at the familiar faces smiling at him, Boruto felt like crying, but his eyes remained dry. His tears had long since run dry—back when he watched one familiar face after another devoured... and then rise again.
"Boruto, happy birthday."
Sarada and Mitsuki walked in after the others.
"Sarada, Mitsuki..."
Boruto turned to face them.
"Sorry, Boruto. I didn't mean to keep it a secret—it was Sarada's idea. She wanted to surprise you..."
Mitsuki smiled as he stood before Boruto.
For the first time in a long while, Boruto felt the warmth of family once again.