Chapter 41:
"Minato, today is the day our grandson graduates from the Ninja Academy. Shouldn't we go and watch?"
Although Kushina's tone made it sound like a suggestion, she was actually dragging Minato by the hand toward the graduation exam venue.
"...I know, Kushina. But we can't interfere with the Academy's graduation exam."
With a wry smile on his SpongeBob-like face, Minato realized that once Kushina made up her mind, there was no changing it. Now he could only hope she wouldn't cause any trouble.
Back when Kushina was still in the village, she could get away with stirring up problems by relying on her status as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. But now, as a member of S.H.I.E.L.D., and with Konoha holding a wary attitude toward the organization, any misstep could lead to serious consequences. There would be no immunity this time.
"I get it, I get it. You're such a nag. Hurry up and use Flying Thunder God to get us there."
Whenever he was with Kushina, that helpless, bitter smile never left Minato's face. Without further complaint, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique multiple times in succession, quickly bringing them to the site of the Academy's practical exam.
Just in time—the battle had reached its most intense moment.
Boruto versus Kakashi. A father-son showdown? Yeah, right. If it were, did anyone consider how Naruto would feel?
But it was a one-on-one match. As for Mitsuki, he had encountered Shino Aburame on the way and chose to stay behind to intercept him.
Boruto, rather inflated with confidence, didn't stick around to help Mitsuki. Instead, he chose to confront Kakashi alone.
"Boruto! That's Boruto over there! Minato, do you see him? He looks just like Naruto!"
Although she had never met Boruto before, Kushina instantly recognized him. There was no mistaking that blond hair and those whisker marks.
"Yeah, I see him. Kushina, don't get too worked up. There are Anbu nearby. Be careful not to expose our position. You don't want to ruin the exam and make Boruto repeat a year, right?"
As a former Fourth Hokage, Minato was more than familiar with the village's Anbu patrol patterns.
That's right—one of Konoha's past Hokage had become a rogue ninja.
While Minato and Kushina watched, Boruto and Kakashi's match quickly ended in a single exchange.
It was nothing short of Kakashi toying with Boruto. Whether in terms of combat experience or jutsu knowledge, Boruto was utterly outmatched.
The battle played out simply:
Boruto used the Shadow Clone Technique.
Kakashi, relying on his experience, immediately identified the real one.
He teleported behind the real Boruto.
Kakashi pinned Boruto to the ground.
Boruto was face-down, arms locked behind his back.
"Honestly, the students graduating this year are pretty disappointing," Kakashi said.
"Sure, a few of you came prepared, but most haven't given a second thought to what being a ninja really means."
"You've never stopped to consider how brutal and absurd the life of a shinobi can be. To keep people like you from dying recklessly, leaking intel, or dragging the village into trouble, I'm sending all of you back to the Academy."
As he spoke, Kakashi reached out to remove Boruto's white headband.
"Stay calm, Kushina. If we're exposed, the exam will be forcibly terminated. Don't worry—Kakashi won't actually hurt Boruto."
Minato offered a strained smile as he tried to soothe his now visibly furious wife. Seeing Boruto getting manhandled by Kakashi had caused her already fiery chakra to flare even hotter.
"Minato! Wasn't Kakashi your student? Look at what he's doing to our grandson!"
Kushina knew she couldn't appear and help Boruto, so she vented her anger on the nearest innocent party: her husband.
In the past, when she got mad, she'd pummel the Nine-Tails. Now, without Kurama, Minato's indestructible body served as the perfect substitute.
"Well... uh... I'm sure Kakashi has his reasons. And even if Boruto doesn't pass, it's not the end of the—wait, hold on, Kushina. Looks like Boruto hasn't been eliminated yet."
As Minato hesitated to explain, the situation on the field changed.
Just as Kakashi was about to disqualify Boruto, a kunai came flying from the left. Kakashi easily caught it between two fingers—but a follow-up attack came from the right.
"Lightning Style: Snake Lightning!"
Mitsuki suddenly appeared from Kakashi's right, forming hand seals swiftly as electricity surged through his hands.
With his right hand pinning Boruto, Kakashi couldn't form seals. Instead, his left hand unleashed a burst of purple lightning, neutralizing Mitsuki's attack.
Purple Lightning was a new Lightning Style jutsu Kakashi developed after the Fourth Great Ninja War, before he became the Sixth Hokage. It didn't rely on the Sharingan's dynamic vision.
Its wide range and power rivaled that of the Chidori, but it had better shape transformation and control, making it perfect for sparring with children.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A fireball surged in from the front, forcing Kakashi—still locked in a lightning clash with Mitsuki—to choose: stay on Boruto and take the hit, or retreat.
Getting hit wasn't the problem. The reputation hit was.
Kakashi teleported to a tree branch above, looking down at the three students who had come to Boruto's aid.
Sarada and Shuyu, who had taken down Konohamaru. Mitsuki, who had bested Shino.
Konohamaru was one thing, but Shino had clearly gone way too easy on them. Still, all Kakashi said aloud was:
"Looks like you all passed your teachers' tests."
"If our teachers hadn't gone easy on us, there's no way we would've passed so easily."
Mitsuki helped Boruto to his feet, patting the dirt off him with a sunny smile.
"Your teachers might go easy on you, but I definitely won't," Kakashi said sharply. "I told you—I'm sending all of you back to the Academy, and I meant it."
"Damn it! This time I'm definitely going to beat you and grab that bell! Even if I don't graduate, it'll be because I gave my bell to someone else, not because I failed your exam!"
Boruto glared up at Kakashi, ready to attack again—but Mitsuki stopped him.
"What do we do? Should we team up with Boruto and take on the Sixth?" Sarada asked Shuyu in a low voice.
Shuyu just shook his head.
If they were really going to challenge Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi would have to bust out power far beyond what a 13-year-old should have. Not exactly worth the trouble.
Mitsuki said, "Boruto, the four of us alone won't be able to beat the Sixth. Let's regroup with the others first."
There's no shame in calling reinforcements. Since when did the protagonist playing dirty become a problem? Ever seen Ultraman fight alone when he's losing?
And hey, back in the Fourth Great Ninja War, when they couldn't beat Madara, they pulled out the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Hokage using Edo Tensei.
So yeah. Reinforcements? Totally fair game.
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