"Everyone, let me introduce our new student. This is Mitsuki."
"From today onward, I'll be studying with you all. I hope we can get along," the boy said calmly.
In the classroom of the Konoha Ninja Academy, Aburame Shino stood beside a pale-skinned boy with blue-white hair and amber eyes.
Though quiet, Mitsuki exuded an unusual, almost ethereal presence.
"My name is Mitsuki. I'm from Otogakure," he added, bowing politely.
The moment he mentioned Otogakure, whispers rippled through the classroom.
"Otogakure? Isn't that Orochimaru's village?" Boruto thought to himself, frowning slightly.
"Don't be too surprised," Shino said, sensing the tension. "It's true that Otogakure once tried to destroy Konoha. But that's in the past. The village has changed. Mitsuki's arrival marks a step toward friendship between our villages."
Sarada leaned closer to Boruto and whispered, "Hey, Boruto, don't you think that Mitsuki guy seems a little weird?"
"Huh? What's weird about him?" Boruto asked.
"He's been staring at you since he walked in. Didn't you notice?" Sarada said quietly, glancing at Mitsuki with suspicion.
"Really?" Boruto turned his head—only to meet Mitsuki's calm, unblinking gaze.
"Alright, everyone, settle down," Shino said, trying to regain control of the noisy classroom. But his words were drowned out by a wave of chatter.
"He's pretty handsome," a girl in green said under her breath.
"He's okay, but not really my type," Chōchō replied confidently, tossing her hair.
"Everyone, please quiet down!" the class representative, Sumire, called out anxiously.
Shino sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Forget it. Mitsuki, find an empty seat and sit down."
Later that day, at the Ninja Academy Training Grounds, Shino stood before the class.
"Today's lesson is a taijutsu sparring match. Boruto, Iwabe—you two will demonstrate first."
The students groaned.
"Again? Those two always fight," Sumire said in disappointment.
"Yeah," Shikadai muttered. "If it were Boruto versus Sarada, that'd actually be fun to watch."
Standing in the ring, Boruto smirked. "Iwabe, it's just the two of us again, huh? This feels kind of boring."
Iwabe gulped, remembering how badly Boruto had beaten him before. Cold sweat trickled down his temple. "Y-Yeah… Boruto…"
Suddenly, Boruto turned to Shino. "Sensei, fighting one-on-one is too boring! I want to fight ten at once!"
The entire training field went silent.
"Boruto, are you serious?" Shino asked, frowning. "This is a sparring match, not a battlefield."
"I'm serious!" Boruto said firmly. "Let me fight ten people!"
Shino hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. Since you insist, I'll allow it."
The crowd burst into chatter as Shino began calling names. "Inojin, Shikadai, Metal Lee, Mineki, Denki."
The chosen students exchanged uneasy glances—some nervous, others excited.
"Man, what a drag," Shikadai muttered. "Why do I have to go up too?"
"This isn't fair!" Sarada protested from the sidelines. "Why only the boys?"
Chōchō munched on her chips and smirked. "Just hurry up. I'm waiting to see Boruto wipe the floor with you."
"Watch your mouth, fatty!" Mineki shot back.
Chōchō shrugged. "Humph."
Meanwhile, Mitsuki raised his hand. "Sensei, shouldn't I participate too?"
Shino shook his head. "You just transferred in. Watch for now—I'll arrange something later."
On the field, the ten students surrounded Boruto.
"Boruto, please go easy on me," Denki said nervously.
"Don't be scared, Denki! We've got numbers on our side!" Iwabe said, trying to rally everyone.
"Boruto, we're not holding back," Shikadai warned.
"Come at me with everything you've got!" Boruto shouted.
With a puff of white smoke, Boruto transformed—his appearance now that of the feared Tendo Pain.
"Sensei! Boruto used ninjutsu!" a student shouted.
Shino raised a hand. "Transformation Technique is allowed—but that's it."
Boruto, as Pain, crossed his arms and said dramatically, "Witness the power of a god!"
A whistle blew—the match began.
"Leaf Whirlwind!" Metal Lee launched the first strike, spinning through the air with a fierce kick.
Boruto didn't dodge. He raised one hand and caught Metal's kick effortlessly.
"What?!" Metal's eyes widened. "He caught my Leaf Whirlwind with one hand!"
[Metal Lee's emotional value +19 points]
Boruto smirked and tossed Metal aside, then flashed across the field, appearing before another student. A single palm strike sent him sprawling.
"His speed and strength are insane!" Shikadai thought. "We can't fight him one by one—everyone, attack together!"
At his shout, Iwabe charged like a bull while the others closed in. The arena roared with motion.
Boruto's smirk deepened. "How foolish to challenge a god! Feel pain!"
"Does he think talking like Pain makes him stronger?" Shikadai muttered.
Boruto moved like lightning, weaving through attacks, countering with precise strikes. A punch to Taketori Mineki's chest sent him flying several meters, drawing gasps from the watching girls.
The field became one-sided—Boruto cutting through every opponent with ease.
"This is hopeless," Shikadai sighed. "Maybe I'll just surrender…"
Iwabe was sent flying again, crashing into Shikadai. They both hit the ground.
"This is so one-sided," Chōchō said lazily, crunching another chip.
Soon, only Denki was left standing, trembling as he faced Boruto.
"Come on, Denki!" someone shouted.
"I—I won't let you look down on me!" Denki yelled, charging forward. He threw a punch, but Boruto easily blocked it and gave him a light shove. Denki fell backward, sprawling on the ground.
He tried to rise—but heard Shikadai's tired voice. "Denki… just give up. It's over."
Boruto stood alone in the ring, surrounded by defeated classmates.
Shikadai sighed. "Can we end this already? What a drag."
But then, a weak voice called out, "I… haven't lost yet!"
Everyone turned. Mineki, the masked boy with gray-brown hair, was struggling to his feet—eyes filled with determination.
Boruto grinned. "Oh? Kakashi's little fanboy still wants to go?"
Shikadai groaned. "Why can't this just be over already…?"