512 Naruto the Flame-Flame Fruit

After a full day of rest, the final match of the exam officially began.

Boruto versus Shinichi.

It was a match packed with anticipation—the Seventh Hokage's son facing the son of his foster father.

In other words, Boruto fighting his uncle. And with Kiyosuke's reputation and the strength Shinichi had already shown, most people believed the winner would be him.

Even their classmates thought the same.

"No matter what, Shinichi's going to win, right? That level of ability is just…"

"Boruto doesn't stand a chance against him."

"Maybe we'll see a miracle."

"In your dreams."

Voices like these didn't stop. Almost no one was optimistic about Boruto.

The two stood in the arena. Referee Rock Lee announced:

"Then—Chūnin Exam finals: Uzumaki Boruto versus Asakawa Shinichi—begin!"

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Both of them opened with Shadow Clones. The difference was the number—Boruto produced four, while Shinichi produced ten. Their chakra levels weren't even close. Boruto clearly hadn't inherited Naruto's monstrous reserves, while Shinichi—even if he didn't have as much as his father did as a kid—still had far more than the average genin; solidly jōnin-level.

The difference in numbers couldn't be bridged, but Boruto still charged forward.

He was overwhelmed in taijutsu as well. Shinichi's true body grabbed Boruto's true body, causing all clones to vanish.

"Give up, Boruto. You're not my opponent."

"I'm not giving up that easily."

Boruto grinned, punching Shinichi in the stomach and forcing him to loosen his grip. He spun and threw another punch—only for Shinichi to catch it.

"If that's how it is, then don't blame me."

He had given Boruto a warning. Since Boruto refused to surrender, he wouldn't hold back.

Shinichi took a deep breath and exhaled heat. The air around him spiked in temperature. His skin flushed red as he circulated heat energy through his body. It was something even Kiyosuke couldn't do before mastering Sage Mode—but Shinichi could. His talent surpassed Kiyosuke's.

"That state is…" Naruto wiped cold sweat for his son. If he remembered right, Kiyosuke-san's technique drastically increased strength and speed, but since it couldn't elementally transform, it sacrificed an advantage—so he rarely used it in real combat.

But in the finals, that didn't matter.

Boom!

A fierce punch slammed into Boruto's stomach, sending him flying.

"Ugh!" Boruto staggered to his feet. Shinichi didn't stop; he spewed a massive column of flames, swallowing nearly half the arena.

"This fire… as expected of Kiyosuke's son. He's even more impressive in combat." Kakashi sighed.

"Yeah… but doesn't Boruto look strange?" Obito scratched his head. He felt Boruto was preparing a certain technique, but kept hesitating.

"Really? Then let's wait and see."

Just then, a massive wave burst forth in the arena, extinguishing Shinichi's flames.

The towering water surged toward Shinichi. He dodged quickly, landing on the wall.

"Boruto, when did you learn that?"

"Hehe, guess. Watch this—Water Style: Wave Surge!"

His hands flew through seals as a high-pressure water jet shot upward.

Shinichi opened his mouth and blasted a stream of fire. The two attacks collided, turning the air into steam and clouding the arena. Shinichi used the concealment to unleash a barrage of fireballs.

Boruto retreated, widening the distance.

He had to keep Shinichi far away. Otherwise, he couldn't win—couldn't prove anything to Dad…

He glanced toward Naruto, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind. The Scientific Ninja Tool on his wrist erupted, releasing huge waves.

"What jutsu is that?"

"Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" Mei Terumī frowned. "Where did Boruto learn that? He shouldn't have enough chakra to perform it."

Shinichi had nowhere to run in the growing sea of water. Waves swallowed him. He struggled, his head barely emerging.

Boruto descended from above.

"Thunder Crash!"

"…"

Shinichi's whole body convulsed from the shock. He fainted on the spot, losing all ability to fight.

The water receded. Shinichi lay on the ground. Boruto cheered.

Naruto entered the arena with a deeply pained expression. Boruto didn't notice. He reached out, trying to fist-bump his dad.

Naruto grabbed his wrist—revealing the Scientific Ninja Tool.

"What is this?"

Steadying himself, Naruto raised his voice so everyone could hear:

"This is a Scientific Ninja Tool. Its use is forbidden during the Chūnin Exams. It violates the purpose of assessing a ninja's actual ability. Therefore, Uzumaki Boruto is disqualified. His results will be reviewed."

"Uzumaki Boruto, disqualified for using banned equipment!"

Lee announced.

Naruto removed Boruto's forehead protector.

"You don't have the right to call yourself a ninja."

"I…"

Before Boruto could speak, a crushing pressure swept the arena. Kiyosuke stood up among the crowd and shouted:

"Naruto!!"

They all looked up.

Two pale men floated in the sky—one tall and powerfully built, the other veiled, seated on his arm. The veiled one smirked.

"Found you at last."

They descended slowly. Naruto pushed Boruto behind him.

"Get behind me—hurry!"

Kiyosuke called out to Mei Terumī and Yuka:

"Mei, take Shinichi. Yuka, evacuate the civilians."

"Right."

"Got it, Dad."

Kiyosuke leaped down beside Naruto, grabbed Boruto and Shinichi, and tossed them toward Mei Terumī.

She caught them and retreated.

Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki opened his Byakugan, sensing their chakra. Naruto asked:

"Are you kin of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?"

"Hmph. These meddling lower beings are everywhere," Momoshiki sneered to Kinshiki.

"Shall we clean up first?" Kinshiki asked.

"We should."

Kiyosuke tilted his head.

"So the Ōtsutsuki have come. What a pain."

Red light gathered at Kinshiki's fingertips. He clenched his hand into the ground. The land twisted and surged like it had come alive, erupting into a violent storm that ripped through the arena.

The force shattered the walls. With so many civilians, the ninja mobilized instantly to protect them.

"Seriously, why does something always happen during the Chūnin Exams?" Kiyosuke sighed, then told Momoshiki, "You sure picked the perfect time to come."

"Oh? A lower being with chakra of this scale? How unexpected," Momoshiki said, eyeing Kiyosuke with interest.

But first—collecting the Tailed Beasts.