Chapter 499: Handling

"Boruto!?"

Seventh Hokage’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell slightly open in extreme shock and ecstasy.

Wet tear tracks and snot still hung on his face, making him look a bit comical, yet heartbreaking.

Seeing this, Hinata quickly pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and swiftly wiped the snot and tears from her husband’s face.

Her eyes were also red, having clearly just gone through a roller coaster of extreme grief and joy, but at this moment, her gaze was locked firmly onto her son, who was being helped down from the roof, covered in blood but still smiling.

"Boruto..."

Hinata’s voice choked up, yet it was filled with the immense joy of having him back. "You’re okay... Thank goodness... Thank goodness..."

She covered her mouth, trying hard to hold back her sobs, but her tears continued to flow uncontrollably.

"Ah, Mom, don’t cry."

Supported by Young Naruto’s Wood Clone, Boruto stumbled slightly as he hopped down in front of his parents.

Although his face was pale and his breath weak, his spirits seemed high, and he even had the heart to joke around.

He pulled open his blood-stained, torn shirt to reveal his completely unharmed belly underneath, explaining:

"That Momoshiki guy is still inside my body. If I die, he won’t ever be able to resurrect. So, at the critical moment, he used the power of the Karma to help heal my wounds."

"So, don’t worry! I’m fine!"

Boruto forced himself to straighten his back, gave his parents that familiar smile once more, and flashed them a thumbs-up.

Young Naruto took two steps forward, walked up to Boruto, and patted his shoulder.

Boruto could be considered to have found a blessing in disguise; now that the Karma was incomplete, Momoshiki could no longer resurrect through him.

This also saved Young Naruto the trouble of finding a way to deal with the changes brought about by the altered plot.

"Stop fooling around."

Young Naruto’s voice returned to its usual calm.

"Although your injuries have been temporarily stabilized by the ’Karma’, you’ve lost too much blood and need to rest properly. Furthermore..."

He paused, turning his gaze aside. There, Seventh Hokage’s Shadow Clone was still pinning Kawaki down, while Kawaki lay face down on the ground, expressionless, as if completely indifferent to everything around him.

"The decision on how to handle Kawaki will be left to you."

Young Naruto looked at Boruto, his tone flat.

"Eh? Me?"

Boruto froze, pointing at his own nose in confusion. "Shouldn’t that be left to Dad? He’s the Hokage."

By attacking his comrade, Kawaki had undoubtedly committed an act of a "Rogue Ninja".

Rogue Ninjas were generally handled by direct order of the Hokage, or through missions issued by the Hokage Office, with the Anbu or designated Jonin executing the pursuit or execution.

"I’m afraid Seventh Hokage will be too soft-hearted."

Young Naruto spoke bluntly, his gaze sweeping over Seventh Hokage, whose expression was still one of painful struggle. "So, what about you?"

He threw the question back to Boruto.

"Does Mr. Souma think I can bring myself to be ruthless?"

Boruto did not answer directly, but asked in return. His smile faded slightly, and his eyes grew complex as he looked at the pinned-down Kawaki not far away.

That was his brother, a comrade he had once fought alongside and would have willingly given his life for.

Even knowing now that Kawaki had attacked him and even tried to harm his parents, it was still difficult for Boruto to make a cold-hearted judgment right away.

Young Naruto was not surprised to see the struggle and hesitation in Boruto’s eyes.

"Seventh Hokage will blame himself, blaming himself for not raising Kawaki well."

Young Naruto said slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone’s ears.

"He will take the blame upon himself. He will suffer, hesitate, and think of giving Kawaki a chance—a chance to reform."

He paused, his gaze turning sharp as he stared intently at Boruto.

"But, Boruto."

"Kawaki, who immediately came to target your parents right after attacking you..."

"Will you still consider him your brother?"

This question was like a heavy hammer, slamming hard against Boruto’s heart.

Brother?

The Kawaki who had plunged a blade into his abdomen without hesitation, who had planned to Seal his parents, and who was so twisted for the sake of "protection" that he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt everyone... could he still be called a brother?

Boruto fell silent.

He lowered his head, looking at the tear and bloodstains on his shirt over his abdomen, then raised his head to look at Kawaki, who was still pinned down but retained a cold gaze.

The night wind blew through his blonde hair, bringing a touch of chill.

Seventh Hokage and Hinata also held their breath, watching their son tensely.

They knew that this decision was too cruel for Boruto.

But they also understood that Young Naruto was right.

Some decisions had to be made by Boruto himself.

The thing called growth was just that cruel.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

After a long while, Boruto slowly raised his head.

His eyes no longer held hesitation and struggle, replaced instead by a deep, painful, yet resolute calmness.

"I..."

"Will not."

He looked at Young Naruto and said seriously:

"From the moment he plunged his blade into me, from the moment he targeted Mom and Dad, he was no longer my brother."

"He is an enemy."

"A Rogue Ninja who hurt his family and betrayed the Village."

"So..."

Boruto took a deep breath and turned to his father, Seventh Hokage, his eyes resolute:

"Mr. Souma, deal with him according to the Village’s rules. I have no objections."

Having finished speaking, Boruto seemed to have exhausted all his strength. His body swayed, and Hinata quickly supported him.

Looking at his son’s resolute yet painful gaze, Seventh Hokage felt a twist of agony in his heart.

But he also knew that this was a growing pain Boruto had to experience, and a difficult decision he had to make.

He nodded slowly, his voice heavy and raspy:

"I understand. Anbu!"

Following Seventh Hokage’s command, several dark figures appeared around them—the Anbu Ninjas.

Young Naruto swept his gaze over them. Once he got back, the Anbu would definitely need a reform!

These guys had completely become a background hype squad in the Village, utterly useless.

Despite such a massive commotion earlier, not a single one of them had shown their face, nor had any of the other Ninjas in the Village, or the Police Force.

They were all good-for-nothings!

With such a huge disturbance just now, not even a single Sensor Ninja had used a Sensing Technique.

This was completely unacceptable!

"Lock Kawaki in the Konoha Heavy Security Prison under strict supervision, and await further interrogation and sentencing!"

Seventh Hokage closed his eyes and painfully handed down the order.

"Yes, sir!"

Receiving the order, the Anbu stepped forward, took the completely subdued Kawaki from Seventh Hokage’s Shadow Clone, and quickly took him away, disappearing into the night.

Kawaki did not resist or speak from beginning to end. He only cast one last look at Boruto before being taken away, his gaze too complex to decipher.

The crisis seemed to be temporarily resolved.

But everyone understood in their hearts that the scars and impact left by this incident were far from over.

Young Naruto watched Kawaki being taken away by the Anbu, then looked at the pale Boruto snuggling in his mother’s arms, and Seventh Hokage, who looked exhausted and pained. He sighed silently in his heart.

The troubles of this world seemed to be even greater than imagined.

And he had to quickly take Otohime, Little Hinata, and Little Hanabi away from this troublesome place.

But before leaving, he wanted Eida’s "Senrigan" and "Shinjutsu: Omnipotence".

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