บท 53: PART 6.
Tension was palpable in the air as darkness enveloped them. A few steps away from leaving the underground hiding place, the group's eyes followed the old woman, who was already completely outside, extinguishing the torch and throwing it back into the shelter. Sarada, with concern etched on her face, went ahead to ask.
"The moon... causes that?" His voice trembled slightly. After a brief glance at Boruto, he swallowed. "E-Then why did Boruto see Nanada...?"
Sarada bit her tongue, avoiding mentioning the name that brought back painful memories.
"To the seventh..."
"It wasn't a dream, and although it wasn't torture, I know I saw it. I saw my dad." Boruto stood firm in his statement, his friends looking at him with a mixture of compassion and confusion. His resolve wavered slightly. "Why did we stand so still when the moon did that crazy thing? And why was I the only one who saw my father... Like this?"
The old woman folded her hands behind her back, her gaze rising to the sky barely visible among the branches. The sounds of the night filled the air.
"The moon has the same effect on everyone under sixteen: first, it will give them numbness and, in the worst case, it will make them faint. But the next stage is even worse... they will see, as if they were living it in their own flesh, their worst nightmares of the future; They will relive their cataclysm in the worst possible ways."
A chorus of gasps echoed among the young people.
Hoki, hidden behind his mask, spoke in a tense but determined voice.
"Will that continue like this until the sun rises?!"
The old lady didn't respond immediately, which only added to the distress.
"Or until a classmate manages to cover them with it." He finally answered. "But now, you don't have to worry about that. Come, we must continue."
The children were reluctant to move forward after the old lady blurted out that information so lightly. Their faces reflected a mixture of disbelief and fear, their footsteps faltering as they stepped into the darkness of the forest.
The old woman, noticing his reluctance, sighed in exasperation.
"Wherever does not cover himself suffers the consequences!" He exclaimed in a firm voice that echoed in the night air.
Then, with a nimble leap and energetic gestures with his arms, the cement beneath his feet rose behind them like a wall and pushed them onto the grass. They fell on top of each other, rolling and rolling on the ground. Luckily, they were all covered under their layers, which cushioned the impact.
"Oh!" Iojin shouted, trying to get off his back. "You're crushing me!"
"You're on my leg!" Metal Lee complained, trying to free herself from Hoki.
"This is crazy!" Boruto exclaimed, getting up and shaking the dust off his clothes. "That old woman is senile!"
The old woman, with a disapproving look, watched them as they got rid of the mess they had fallen into.
"Get up, we don't have all night." He ordered, his voice unbreakable.
Although they were still suspicious, the children began to get up slowly, exchanging uncertain glances. Hoki, though hesitant, stepped forward and addressed the group.
"We have to follow her. We cannot stay here." He said, his voice trying to instill a little courage in his companions. "Come on, let's go on."
With Hoki leading, the group resumed its march, this time with a little more determination.
The old woman, pleased with their progress, guided them through the forest with a confidence that only years of experience could bestow. The road was dark and fraught with danger, but the young ninjas were determined to reach their destination before dawn.
(~~~)
The Hokage Tower was silent, the echo of morning quiet spreading through the corridors. Tsunade, with a thoughtful expression, looked out the window.
The sun was slowly emerging on the horizon, spreading its warm, golden light over Konoha. The softness of the first rays dispelled the cold of the night, providing both physical and emotional comfort. Deep in thought, Tsunade barely heard Shizune approaching.
"Tsunade-sama, you're all set." Shizune reported in his usual voice of efficiency.
Tsunade nodded, turning to her faithful assistant. Without further words, he began to walk down the hallway, his footsteps steady, echoing softly in the calm of the morning.
They arrived at one of the rooms of the Hokage residence, a room reserved for special guests. Upon entering, Tsunade was greeted by a group of children surrounding a bed, their worried gazes turning alarmed at the sight of the Hokage.
In bed, there was Sumire, the violet-haired girl, her presence seemed fragile, but her spirit was unbreakable. His eyes, marked by weariness, stared absorbed through the window, barely filtered by the curtains.
Sensing Tsunade's presence, Sumire slowly turned her head, her expression reflecting pent-up exhaustion, but her eyes shone with unusual determination.
Tsunade stopped, his hesitant step betraying a mixture of surprise and concern.
Sumire's youth contrasted sharply with the heavy responsibility that had been placed on her, causing a conflict in the Hokage's mind. In the midst of this tense moment, a female voice, firm and serene, broke the silence that had settled in the room.
"Everything is in order. Sumire-chan is now in a position to speak." The woman said, her tone was calm, but full of authority.
Tsunade turned to his left, as did Shizune, to meet the source of the voice. There, standing next to the closet, a woman was picking up the children's cloaks.
With a calm smile, he turned to Tsunade. He wore glasses that gave him an intellectual air, and his brown hair was pulled back, leaving his forehead completely exposed. The white coat he wore indicated his medical or scientific role, but his eyes, full of wisdom and insight, were unmistakable to Tsunade.
From the woman's dressing gown emerged a small puppy that barked happily as a sign of welcome. Shizune, visibly nervous, took a step back, while Tsunade pursed her lips and her eyes widened in a surprised expression.
"As someone raised in the Inuzuka clan, I know how to behave in front of a Hokage." The woman said with a mixture of respect and firmness in her voice. "Unfortunately, in this situation, I act as an ally of the protector, Sumire. You don't have to worry about that, Tsunade-sama. I am thankful that they did not receive Soku-san and Ro-san in a bad way. Nothing matters more to me than that these children are well."
Tsunade watched the woman closely, trying to assess the situation quickly. The children, aware of the tension in the atmosphere, exchanged nervous glances.
Himawari, at the back of the room next to Sumire, did not take her eyes off Tsunade, her large blue eyes almost shining in the gloom.
The intensity of his gaze had an unsettling undertone, as if he were looking beyond the Hokage's figure. His eyes were wide open, reflecting not only bewilderment and hope, but also deep analysis.
It was as if Himawari was trying to unravel the secrets that Tsunade was keeping, or perhaps quietly planning something.
The intensity of his gaze, so fixed and penetrating, might have been terrifying if someone else had noticed it. However, Tsunade, absorbed in her conversation with the woman of the Inuzuka clan, did not notice the silent observation of the little girl.
(~~~)
The sun was rising on the horizon, dispelling the icy embrace of the night. The last rays of darkness gave way to the growing light, enveloping those present in a warm glow. With effort, the last of the Ninja Children managed to reach the top of the mountain, while the others watched in silence, marveling at the morning show.
Enko, in a tired voice, broke the silence:
"It's dawn and we haven't reached the hiding place yet..."
Namida and the others gave him curious glances, catching their breath after the arduous climb. However, the Old Woman did not seem uneasy. He calmly assured them that they were in the right place, for the hiding place was right there, high up on the mountain.
Intrigued, the young men followed, commenting on how now, with the sun shining on them, they no longer needed to hide in the dark.
"Wow! It's beautiful!" Hako exclaimed, admiring the landscape illuminated by the light of dawn.
"Yes, we hadn't seen him for a long time." Iwabee added, with a tired but satisfied smile.
The walk continued, until the old woman, with a wave of her hand, revealed a trapdoor hidden under her feet. He instructed them to jump one by one to avoid accidents, recalling the previous time, when they met after being knocked unconscious due to a nosedive.
Everyone was organizing, with Iwabee being the first. The Great Grandmother enjoyed the morning breeze, while she waited for them to enter on their own after opening the trapdoor.
"Are you all ready?" The old woman asked, looking at the young people calmly.
"Yes, we're ready." They responded in chorus, with silent determination on their faces.
As he organized the line in order of birth, starting with Iwabee, the young men turned to look for their companions. It was then that Tsubaki, raising his hand in uncertainty, interrupted:
"Excuse me! But... I don't see Boruto-kun or Sarada-chan around here... and they are older than us."
The remark caught everyone's attention, including the old woman, whose serene expression reflected surprise. Hoki added:
"That's right... Mitsuki-kun isn't there either!"
"And Shikadai-kun..." Rock Lee muttered. His voice, though barely audible, attracted attention, for he was one of the oldest, right after the Ino-Shika-Chou team. His face reflected more sadness than concern.
"Where can they be...?" Namida asked, with a look of confusion.
Bewilderment and uneasiness took over the group. As chaos raged around her, the old woman stood impassively, watching the sun-drenched horizon. Inside, with a hint of annoyance, he thought:
"I warned you that you could not hide the truth from them for long... Mirai."
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