Three Years

Shikamaru sits with Koharu and Homura, who grill him about why Boruto has come back. He has no read on the boy's intentions, though he stresses that Boruto was crucial in pushing Code away. Homura still wants Boruto killed to restore the village's honor after the attempt on Kawaki and to appease the daimyō who control the budget. Koharu urges Shikamaru to take the Hokage title for good, reminding him that the three-year window was his own idea and that refusing weakens his standing across the Land of Fire and with the other villages. He only agrees to report back. In his office he asks Ino to hand-deliver old mission records, tapping his temple, and once she leaves she opens a telepathic link. Shikamaru wants nothing logged by the sensor team and no chance for Ada, Amado, or Kawaki to listen in, keeping it between the two of them, which unsettles Ino as a breach of protocol.

Ada tells Kawaki about the sentient God Trees, including one that is hunting Naruto. Kawaki is sure he can wipe them out, but Daemon warns that a God Tree chasing Naruto gives others a loose thread to unravel his lie that Boruto killed Naruto. Ada scolds Daemon, and Kawaki storms off, inviting her to spy on him if she likes, irritated by Mitsuki keeping watch. Meanwhile Sarada, flustered by her earlier outburst, struggles to know what to ask Boruto first, so Sumire breaks the silence. Boruto, relieved they are both safe, explains he is suppressing his chakra so only Kawaki will eventually detect him, and he reveals that Sasuke was absorbed by the Ten-Tails.

Kawaki senses Boruto's presence and Mitsuki readies a snake. Boruto blames himself, since Sasuke sacrificed himself so he could escape. When Sumire asks why the Claw Grime attack non-Ōtsutsuki, Boruto lays out the normal Ten-Tails life cycle, which only becomes a God Tree after devouring an Ōtsutsuki, noting that something has broken that pattern. Realizing Boruto can erase his chakra just like Kawaki, Mitsuki reports to Shikamaru, having knocked Kawaki out with a snake bite because Kawaki could otherwise track Boruto. Boruto suspects the Claw Grime are why the God Trees evolved early, given that Code's Kāma carries a fragment of Isshiki's chakra.

Shikamaru reaches Boruto through Ino and tells him not to react. Startled and wary of trusting him, Boruto is warned that company is coming. Mitsuki binds him with a snake and strikes; Sasuke's blade frees itself from its sheath and Boruto teleports to it. Sarada tries to calm Mitsuki without success, so Boruto runs Lightning Release: Purple Electricity through the sword to slice apart Mitsuki's Sage Mode snakes, then lifts out of reach. He vows to Sarada that he will save everyone turned into trees and pulls back, promising to return. Shikamaru asks whether he is truly Boruto Uzumaki, and the pieces fall into place once he considers Amado's fabricated memories. Boruto lands beyond Kawaki's range but still within Ino's, admitting he has a loose end to settle with the pursuing Mitsuki.

The elders press Shikamaru to execute Boruto and to accept the Hokage seat permanently. Shikamaru opens a secret telepathic channel through Ino to work with Boruto. Ada reveals a God Tree is hunting Naruto, and Daemon warns it endangers Kawaki's cover story. Boruto explains the altered Ten-Tails life cycle and the Claw Grime, fights off Mitsuki using Purple Electricity through Sasuke's sword, and retreats after promising Sarada he will save those turned into trees.

This chapter belongs to the Boruto's Return Arc and was collected in the second Blue Vortex volume. It ran in V Jump during March 2024.