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Chapter 11 - ON THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION

Naruto's eyes scanned the contents of the purple scroll, spread open on the Hokage desk. The room was shrouded in silence, the only sound the soft rustling of the parchment. Sasuke and Shikamaru stood before him, their faces etched with anticipation.

The script within the scroll was unlike any Naruto had seen before – intricate symbols and glyphs danced across the page, defying comprehension. His brow furrowed, Naruto murmured, "I see."

Shikamaru's patience snapped, his voice tinged with urgency. "What does it say?"

Naruto's gaze lingered on the scroll before he looked up, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I don't know."

Shikamaru's sigh filled the room, his disappointment palpable.

But Naruto's expression turned grave, his eyes narrowing. "But... I'm getting a bad feeling about this."

Sasuke's gaze intensified, his Rinnegan gleaming with interest. "I can't even read it with my Rinnegan."

Naruto's eyes locked onto Shikamaru. "Let's hand this over to the Cipher Corps."

Shikamaru's gaze shifted to Sasuke, his eyebrows raised. "Sasuke, you just mentioned Kaguya's Palace...

Sasuke's voice was low and measured. "Yeah... I finally found it."

The air thickened with tension, the weight of Sasuke's words hanging like a challenge.

Sasuke's words hung in the air like a pendulum, swinging between revelation and chaos. "But before it, I found something else also..." He pulled out the turtle from his cloak, its wise eyes scanning the room.

Shikamaru and Naruto exchanged stunned glances, their faces mirroring each other's confusion. "What's this?" Naruto asked, his voice laced with incredulity.

Sasuke's expression remained stoic. "A talking turtle that can absorb chakra... and it's very egoistic."

Naruto's eyes narrowed, but before he could inquire further, Sasuke dropped a bombshell. "Well, what I meant to say is that there are more Otsutsuki besides Kaguya."

Shikamaru's eyes widened, his voice barely above a whisper. "Otsutsuki?!"

Naruto's face scrunched in confusion, his mind racing to comprehend the implications.

Sasuke's tone remained matter-of-fact. "Yeah... that's what it said. He claimed to have served Otsutsuki Urashiki. No doubt, Otsutsuki Urashiki belongs to the same Otsutsuki Clan as Kaguya."

Shikamaru's shock morphed into alarm. "This is a crisis!" He turned to Naruto, his eyes burning with concern. "Is this the start of another war?!"

Naruto raised a calming hand. "We're not sure yet." His voice measured, he added, "But we have to be careful."

A heavy sigh escaped Naruto's lips, the weight of responsibility settling upon him.

Sasuke's gaze locked onto Naruto, his expression serious. "Don't sigh... there's more to hear." Naruto's eyes snapped back to Sasuke, anticipation etched on his face.

Shikamaru's eyes remained fixed on Sasuke, his attention unwavering.Sasuke's voice dropped to a measured tone. "I met another person... He said he was Otsutsuki Kinshiki."

Shikamaru's eyes widened in shock. "What?!" Naruto's face mirrored Shikamaru's alarm. "Another Otsutsuki?!" Sasuke's explanation unfolded like a dark tapestry. "Well, there were two. According to me, the second one was Otsutsuki Urashiki, and the first one might be Otsutsuki Kinshiki."

Shikamaru's voice trembled. "What's happening?!" Naruto's hand rose to his forehead, as if massaging away the complexity. His eyes darted between Sasuke and Shikamaru before he spoke.

"For now, I need this matter to be between us. And this turtle will be under my care. While the scroll will go to Cipher Corps."

Sasuke and Shikamaru exchanged weighted glances before nodding in unison.The trio's silence was a testament to the gravity of the revelation.

The Otsutsuki's existence, once thought to be a singular threat, had expanded into a labyrinthine web of unknowns.As the Hokage, Naruto's burden had grown exponentially.

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed, his mind already racing with strategies.Sasuke's gaze lingered on the turtle, its secrets waiting to be unraveled.

FLASHBACK ENDS

A figure emerged, his striking features illuminated by the moonlight. His raven-black hair danced in the wind, and sweat dripped from his brow, betraying his usually composed demeanor. His piercing eyes gleamed with intensity, a testament to his unyielding resolve.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, his voice laced with frustration. "Great! A clone came and fooled me, and I didn't even realize!"

With fluid motion, Sasuke sheathed his sword and leapt onto the rooftop, his hair whipping behind him as he soared through the night air.

As he landed, Sasuke focused his thoughts, reaching out to Ino through her telepathic jutsu. "Ino, tell me that chakra's location."

A blonde-haired woman, Ino, responded, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Huh... weren't you with Naruto?"

Sasuke's reply was curt, urgency edging his tone. "No, we separated a while back."

His voice intensified, demanding. "Now, tell me his location." Ino's concentration deepened, her eyes narrowing as she tracked the elusive chakra. Suddenly, her expression shifted to shock.

She placed a hand on the table, her fingers splayed. "There are three chakras of that person." Ino's words tumbled out in rapid succession, laced with warning. "Listen, Sasuke, there are total three clones of that person. One is at Naruto's house, the other is at Senju Park... and the last one is..."

Her voice rose to a urgent warning. "Behind you!!"

Simultaneously, a figure lunged from the shadows, a rod slicing through the air toward Sasuke.Sasuke drew his sword in a flash, their tools clashing in a shower of sparks.

As he turned to face his attacker, Sasuke's eyes blazed with determination. "Listen up kid, I fell for your tricks once, but I won't fall for it twice."

With a battle cry, Sasuke charged forward. "Let's finish it up already!!"

The night air reverberated with the promise of an intense battle.

At the Uzumaki Residence,Naruto lay on the lush grass of his garden, his body battered and bruised. The serene surroundings, once a haven of peace, now contrasted starkly with his battered form under the darkness of night.

The soft blades of grass cradled his worn body, as if attempting to cushion his pain. The night air was heavy with silence, broken only by the distant chirping of crickets.

Naruto's face, etched with exhaustion, gazed upward at the star-filled sky. His eyes, once shining with vitality, now dimly reflected the moon's soft glow.

His arms and legs, sprawled awkwardly, were pierced by rods that seemed to have been implanted with precision. The foreign objects gleamed in the moonlight, a harsh reminder of his vulnerability.

A faint trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining the grass beneath. His chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, the only sign of life in his battered body.

"Ggh..." he groaned, struggling to comprehend the strange restraints. "What's with these rods?! They're disrupting my chakra movement!"

The voice within him sneered, its disdainful tone unmistakable,"Pitiful... get up already, will you? You're shaming the title of Hokage."

Naruto's eyes flashed, his inner turmoil igniting.But before he could respond, a surge of yellow, brilliant chakra enveloped Naruto. His body began to transform, the rods shattering as his limbs swelled with power.

His eyes turned golden, his facial features sharpening as Kurama's presence merged with his own.

With a sly smirk, Naruto spoke, his voice laced with a hint of Kurama's tone. "Heh! Shut up, Kurama."

The air around Naruto pulsed with intense energy, his Kurama Link Chakra Mode radiating an aura of unbridled power.

Kurama's voice within him fell silent, momentarily subdued.Naruto's gaze locked onto the unknown assailant, his eyes burning with determination.

Inside the house, darkness reigned, punctuated only by the faint moonlight filtering through the windows. The air was heavy with tension as a mysterious figure grasped Boruto's already bruised arm, his grip tightening like a vice.

The man's voice dripped with malice. "I don't want the turtle to harm you or your village. I want it to kill those old people."

Boruto's gaze drifted away, his mind elsewhere. His senses picked up on a familiar energy – his father's chakra, growing stronger by the second.

A spark of hope ignited within him. Dad was coming.Boruto's lips curled into a defiant smirk. "Heh... I don't care."

The man's purple Rinnegan eyes narrowed, disappointment etched on his face. "So you really want me to kill you."

His words hung in the air, but before he could act, a whirlwind of movement burst into the room.

Naruto, fueled by rage and protective instincts, unleashed a devastating kick. His leg connected with the man's face, delivering a crushing blow.

The man's head snapped back, his body flying across the room. He crashed into the table, the wood shattering beneath his impact.

The air reverberated with the force of Naruto's strike, the sound echoing through the house. Boruto's eyes snapped to his father, relief and gratitude flooding his face.

Naruto rushed to Boruto's side, his movements swift and urgent. Boruto fell into his father's embrace, clutching his bruised arm.

"Boruto... are you okay?!" Naruto's voice was laced with concern.

As he gazed at the mysterious attacker, his expression darkened. "What you're doing doesn't look like appropriate discipline to me!" Naruto's hand remained firmly on Boruto's shoulder, a protective gesture.

The man sat on the floor, his back against the wall, displaying no emotion. His hand rested on his leg, his purple Rinnegan eyes fixed on Naruto.

"Hokage... I think you should be sitting in your office, rather than taking care of your son."

With an air of nonchalance, the man stood up, his smile growing wider. "Very well." The atmosphere shifted as both Naruto and the man began to infuse their chakra. The air thickened, heavy with anticipation.

The house became a crucible, containing two large and abnormal chakras. The man's relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with Naruto's intense anger.

Suddenly, the man hurled rods at Naruto, aimed directly at his face. Fortunately, Naruto dodged swiftly, avoiding the deadly projectiles.

"These rods again?!" Naruto's thoughts raced, his mind processing the attacker's tactics.

The man closed in, his leg cocked back, ready to strike. But before he could land the blow, a dark figure burst into the fray. Sasuke emerged from nowhere, his movements lightning-fast. With precision, he kicked the man's leg, sending him flying across the room.

The man crashed into the wall, the impact resounding through the house.Naruto's gaze snapped to Sasuke.Sasuke's focus locked onto the attacker.

Boruto's eyes widened in shock as Sasuke appeared out of nowhere, his presence unexpected and welcome. "Sasuke-san..." Boruto's voice trailed off, his mind reeling from the sudden turn of events.

As Sasuke drew his sword, its sleek blade glinted in the dim light. With calculated strides, he closed in on the mysterious attacker.

Naruto's gaze shifted to Sasuke, "Sasuke, did you deal with that one?!" "It was a clone," Sasuke replied, his focus fixed on the man.

The attacker's eyes sparkled with interest. "So you are the honored man who took down my clone."

Boruto watched, awe-struck. "Amazing... he took down a clone of this person all by himself. As expected of Sasuke-san."

But beneath his admiration, frustration simmered. Boruto felt useless, unable to contribute to the battle. His thoughts darkened, anger and self-doubt creeping in.

Just then, his gaze fell upon Shikamaru, Naruto's dear friend and comrade, lying limp on the floor. Rods pierced his limbs and hands, blood seeping from the wounds. Boruto's heart sank.

Naruto, fully engaged in the battle, exchanged blows with the attacker. His movements swift and precise, but his eyes flickered with concern for Shikamaru.

Boruto's eyes locked onto Shikamaru's pale face, his usually calm demeanor now twisted in pain. A surge of determination coursed through Boruto's veins.

He couldn't bear the thought of standing idle while his father's friend suffered.With newfound resolve, Boruto scanned the room, his eyes burning with a fierce desire to act.

The air pulsed with tension as Sasuke and the attacker clashed. Their movements danced across the room, each strike and parry echoing through the silence.Boruto's moment to act was nearing.

As the battle raged on, the shadows cast by the moonlight seemed to deepen, darkness gathering around the combatants.

The room held its breath, awaiting Boruto's next move.Then, Boruto's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with a plan.A glimmer of hope flickered within him.Perhaps, just perhaps, he could make a difference.

With a deep breath, Boruto steeled himself. Boruto crept closer to Shikamaru, his heart pounding in his chest. The battle raged on, Sasuke's sword flashing in the dim light. Naruto's chakra swirled, building momentum for a powerful strike.

Boruto gently touched Shikamaru's shoulder. "Shikamaru-san... hang in there!" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Shikamaru's eyes flickered open, a faint smile on his lips. "Boruto... be careful..." His voice trailed off, his eyes closing again.

Boruto's resolve strengthened. He examined the rods piercing Shikamaru's limbs, searching for a way to remove them safely.

The silence hung, heavy with anticipation.With trembling hands, Boruto grasped the first rod, preparing to pull it out. Sweat dripped down his forehead, his heart racing with fear and determination.

A serious of thoughts started to come inside boruto's mind.Could he save Shikamaru Would his actions put everyone in greater danger?

The outcome hung in the balance.Boruto took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.

And then, in a movement swift and decisive, he pulled out the rod.Shikamaru's body jerked, a faint groan escaping his lips.

Boruto's eyes locked onto Shikamaru's face, his heart pounding in his chest.

Had he just made things worse? Or had he taken the first step towards saving his father's friend?

The battle raged on, the outcome far from certain.But one thing was clear: Boruto had finally found his courage.

The moon cast its silvery glow upon the deserted streets, illuminating the quiet village. Shops stood closed, their wooden shutters secured, and the market stalls were empty, their canvas covers flapping gently in the night breeze.

A lone figure walked purposefully through the darkness, her footsteps echoing off the silent buildings. Her short, sleek hair framed her heart-shaped face, accentuating her delicate features. Her piercing purple eyes, the renowned Byakugan, shone like amethysts in the moonlight, their intensity unnerving.

Those eyes, capable of seeing through deception and illusion, now held a hint of concern. Her gaze swept the empty streets, as if searching for any sign of danger.

She wore a light purple coat, its vibrant hue standing out against the muted tones of the night, and a soft sweater peeked from beneath. Her dark pants complemented her slender figure, exuding an air of understated elegance.

As she walked, her thoughts drifted to her children. A nagging sense of unease had settled in her chest, like a persistent whisper warning of impending danger. She couldn't shake the feeling, no matter how irrational it seemed.

But what troubled her most was the unnatural silence. Why were the shops closed so early? Where were the villagers?

The village was never this quiet, especially not on a night when the moon was full. A sense of foreboding crept over her. The streets seemed to stretch on forever, the darkness between the buildings growing thicker.

Hinata's pace quickened, driven by an overwhelming urge to reach her children's side.

What was happening in the village? Was she the only one who sensed the ominous energy lurking in the shadows?

The uncertainty propelled her forward, her footsteps echoing through the deserted streets.Her heart pounded in her chest.

The darkness seemed to part as a figure emerged from the shadows. Moegi, a skilled kunoichi, stood before Hinata, her expression grave.

"Is something the matter?" Hinata asked, her Byakugan scanning Moegi's face. Moegi's voice was low and urgent. "It's not safe to be here."

Hinata's confusion deepened. "I don't understand... Did something happen in the village? I saw Sasuke-kun battling someone while I was returning home."

Moegi's eyes locked onto Hinata's, her gaze serious. "We received news to evacuate the villagers as soon as possible. The village will soon be attacked."

Hinata's world stopped. Her mind reeled in shock, her thoughts consumed by her children's safety. Her heart pounded in her chest, every beat echoing her growing anxiety.

"What?!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. Moegi's grip on Hinata's arm was firm. "Please, move towards the shelter for your safety."

But Hinata's focus was elsewhere. "My kids... I have to get them. They're alone at home." She began to rush towards her home, but Moegi halted her, grasping her hand.

"Hinata Neesan, it's alright. I'll bring your kids to you. It's our job. Please trust me and head towards the shelter. These are direct orders from Rokudaime Sama."

Hinata's eyes welled up with tears, her heart heavy with worry. The thought of being separated from her children, even for a moment, was unbearable.

"Moegi... please," she implored, her voice cracking. "I'm counting on you. Bring my kids to me, at all costs."

Her thoughts swirled with memories of her children's laughter, their tiny hands holding hers, and their bright smiles.

The fear of losing them, of not being able to protect them, threatened to overwhelm her. Moegi's smile was reassuring, but Hinata's anxiety lingered.

"Rest assured, I'll bring them to you," Moegi promised.

Hinata wiped away her tears, steeling herself for the unknown. With a deep breath, she began her journey to the shelter, her feet carrying her away from Moegi.

As she walked, the darkness seemed to close in around her. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the distant clashes and the soft rustling of leaves.

Her thoughts remained with her children. Were they scared? Were they safe?

She quickened her pace,the village's familiar streets now seemed treacherous.

The moon cast eerie shadows on the ground, making it seem as though darkness itself was moving.Hinata's heart pounded in her chest, every step weighed down by worry. She still had a ways to go before reaching the shelter.

Her feet carried her past rows of silent homes, their windows like empty eyes staring back. Each step felt like an eternity, her anxiety growing with every passing moment.

Suddenly, Moegi's voice echoed through the night, "Please... open the door. It's an emergency."

A nearby door creaked open, revealing a frightened face. "Moegi? What's happening?" the villager asked.

Moegi's expression remained grim. "Evacuation orders. The village is under attack. We need to move, now."

Hinata's heart remained with her children, her every step weighed down by worry.Where were they now? Were they safe?

Only time would tell. As Hinata continued toward the shelter, the uncertainty haunted her, a relentless specter.

The darkness seemed to swallow her whole, leaving only her determination to protect her children.

Her footsteps echoed through the deserted streets, a solitary sound in the face of impending danger.

As Moegi knocked on door after door, urging villagers to evacuate, a figure emerged from the shadows. Mirai's striking features commanded attention: piercing red eyes and very short, jet-black hair. Her petite yet athletic build was accentuated by a standard Chunin vest. A forehead protector with the Konohagakure village symbol sat atop her brow.

"Moegi San," she said, her voice firm and authoritative.

Moegi turned, her gaze locking onto Mirai. "What's the matter,Mirai?"

Mirai's features were grave, her red eyes holding a weight beyond her years. "We've just received urgent, top-priority orders.

Moegi's brow furrowed with immediate concern. "What is it?"

"Our primary mission," Mirai continued, her voice firm, "is to intercept the Three Kage and strictly prevent them from entering Konohagakure."

Moegi's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. "But... why? They woukd be great help in solving the chaos—"

"The village... it's in a terrible state. The level of destruction, the current chaos... it's simply unacceptable for the esteemed Kages to witness our home in such a condition." Mirai interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument

Understanding dawned on Moegi's face. "So, we need to ensure they don't see the extent of the damage..."

Mirai nodded, her expression resolute. "Precisely. Furthermore, our secondary objective is to discreetly guide them to the Fire Country Feudal Lord's main building and inform them that the Chunin Exams have been cancelled due to unforeseen... matters."

A thoughtful frown creased Moegi's forehead. "So, we need to reroute them without causing suspicion..." "Exactly," Mirai confirmed.

"It's paramount that we don't create any unnecessary alarm or risk drawing other nations into Konohagakure's current situation."

Her gaze was intense, emphasizing the importance of their secrecy. "The delicate balance between the nations must be maintained."

"We must hurry. This mission is critical." Moegi nodded, already moving.

Together, they sprinted into the night, leaving Moegi's promise to Hinata unfulfilled. The task of retrieving Boruto and Himawari now hung precariously in the balance, forgotten amidst the urgency of their new mission.

---

Quiz Question:

What is the name of the dojutsu (eye technique) possessed by Hinata and other members of the Hyuga clan?

A) Byakugan

B) Sharingan

C) Rinnegan

D) Kanjigan

Share your answer in the comments below!

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