Hello, internet! Welcome back to The Shinobi Who Overcame Time! And trust me when I say we're gonna have some fun with this chapter, mostly because it features Boruto being a bigger badass than ever before, as he's gonna go toe-to-toe with Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist. Before I forget, I'd like to go over something that has apparently irked a couple of people: my use of canon. Look, I'm not gonna lie, there will still be a lot of canon events and episodes in this story, this chapter included, the reason being that I'm worried that if I alter too much, I'll run the risk of diminishing Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and the other genin of this era's progress as ninja, and then I'll catch even more Hell for that. Thank you, Novikov Principal of Self-Consistancy! Don't know what that is? Well, that's why they invented the internet. However, that being said, wherever I can I will do my best to alter the timeline or show something off screen where I can, and it'll be the Chunin preliminaries where things will really start getting interesting, thanks to what happens to Hinata. Unfortunately, I can't do much outside the canon until Hinata nearly dies by Neji's hand. However, I have great pleasure in formally announcing my develpement of a new Anbu Boruto project entitled The Hokage's Hand.With that being said, let's get this party started!

UPDATE: So, seeing as a pretty much just copy and pasted most of the episodes, as a few people have pointed out, I scrapped the original version of this chapter in favor of tinkering around with it a little bit more, to make it more original. Look, I'm just trying not to diminish Naruto and company's progress as ninja, because, as I said earlier, I'm worried I'll get even more complaints about that. This isn't just Boruto's story, you know, it's Naruto's as well, the story of how he got to where he is now, the Seventh Hokage. So, while I'll still be using lots and lots of canon, I'll be doing what I can to alter it how I can, and I may end up enlisting some outside help as well in order to ensure that.

Chapter Seven: Boruto Uzumaki: Jogan Warrior

Boruto and his group made their way across the ocean, having commissioned a man to take them from the mainland to the Land of Waves. Fortunately, there was a thick fog rolling in, which would help them conceal their movements while they rowed to their destination. As they rowed, Boruto filled Tasuna in on his circumstances.

"So, yeah, I'd invest in some flying lessons," said Boruto.

"So, time traveler, huh?" said Tasuna, chuckling. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life. Good thing I know better, though."

"I'd be inclined to disagree, given you thought it was a good idea to me and my fellow ninja about what was really going on," said Boruto sternly.

Meanwhile, the man who was taking them to Land of Waves spoke up. "The bridge isn't far now. Our destination is just ahead, the Land of Waves."

"Hmm?" said Naruto, peering into the distance as, slowly but surely, a massive, clearly unfinished bridge came into sight. When it was fully visible through the mist, Naruto broke into a huge grin. "WHOA! IT'S HUGE!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

"That's what she said," said Boruto with a snarky grin, earning him unamused glares from nearly everyone in the boat, especially Sakura. "What?"

"Wha- Quiet! I told you, no noise! Why do you think we're traveling like this? Cutting off the engine and rowing? Moving through the dense fog? So they don't see us!" scolding the man rowing the boat.

Several tense moments passed by before Boruto spoke again. "Now, then Mr. Tasuna. Before we reach the coast, there's something I would very much like to know. Why are the people who hired these ninja so desperate to kill you? If you don't tell me why, I'll have no choice but to scrub the mission when we arrive. You aren't getting a refund by the way," said Boruto, the utmost seriousness in his voice.

A few moments passed by as Tasuna thought about what he was going to say, with his head hung low. Finally, he spoke. "I have no choice but to tell you… no, I want you to know the truth. Like you said, this is beyond the scope of the original mission," the old man said before he began his explanation. "The one who seeks my life is a very short man who casts a very long and deadly shadow."

"A deadly shadow... sounds interesting enough. Whose feet is this shadow attached to?" asked Boruto.

"You know him. At least, I'm sure you've heard his name before. He's one of the wealthiest men in the world: the shipping magnet, Gato."

"Gato… he runs Gato Shipping, right? Everyone knows who he is, myself, my friends, and girlfriend included, what with him being such a powerful tycoon in this era and all," said Boruto.

"Huh? Girlfriend? You have a girlfriend? Here? In my time? How come I haven't met her yet?" asked Naruto.

"I haven't gotten around to it, so shut up," said Boruto, motioning for Tasuna to continue.

"Gato is a very powerful tycoon from a famous company, that's true. But, below the surface, with the same ruthless methods he uses to take over businesses and nations, he sells drugs and contraband, using gangs and ninja," explained Tasuna. "It was one year ago when Gato first set his sight on the Land of Waves. He came to our island and used his vast wealth to take total control of our transport and shipping. Anyone who stood in his way simply… vanished. In an island nation, a man who controls the sea controls everything. Finance, government, our very lives. But, there's one thing he fears: the bridge. When it is complete, it will join us to the land and that will break his control. And I am the bridge builder."

After a moment's silence, Sakura spoke. "So that's it. Since you're in charge of the bridge, you're standing in this gangster's way," she said, her hand placed on her chin in thought.

"That means, those guys we fought in the forest, they were working for Gato," said Sasuke.

"I don't get it. If you knew this piece of filth was that dangerous, and you knew he'd send ninja after you, why'd you keep a lid on that?" asked Boruto.

"Because the Land of Waves is a small, impoverished nation. Even our nobles have little money. The common people who are building this bridge… they can't pay for an A or B-ranked mission. If you end the mission when you drop me ashore, there will be no bridge. They'll assassinate me before I reach home. But, don't feel bad about that. Of course, my sweet little grandson will be upset, he'll cry, 'Grandad, I want my Grandad, I want my Grandad!'" said Tasuna as he imitated a little boy, causing Boruto, Naruto, and Sakura to start feeling uncomfortable, while Sasuke looked as though he couldn't care less. "Oh, and my daughter will condemn the ninja of the Hidden Leaves, denouncing and blaming you for abandoning her father and living her life in sorrow," he continued, causing everyone present, save for Sasuke, to feel even worse. "Oh well, it's not your fault, forget it!"

"Well then, in that case, we'll simply have to keep guarding you. Truth be told, I kinda wanna punt Gato off the side of the bridge," said Boruto.

Tasuna breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, I'm very grateful," Tasuna said. However, once everyone was turned away, the old man smirked.

"I win," he said under his breath.

…

A short while later, Boruto, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Tasuna were walking through a forest path leading to the main settlement, keeping an eye out for any sign of trouble.

Odds are the next ninja Gato sends after the bridge builder won't just be chunin. They'll probably be jonin, elite ninja with deadly skills, like me, thought Boruto as he kept his eyes open. Too bad Kakashi's busy with his own mission from the Hokage. If there were two of us, this would be a lot easier.

Up ahead, Naruto and Sasuke walked beside one another, Naruto glaring daggers at him the whole way.

Grr! I'm not letting Sasuke get all the glory this time! Believe it! thought Naruto. A second later, he heard something, or at least thought he did, so he darted ahead and started looking around for where the noise came from as he pulled out a kunai knife.

"Over there!" said Naruto before he threw the kunai knife in the direction the noise came from, catching everyone present by surprise and alarm.

When the noise stopped, Naruto shrugged. "It was just a mouse," he said.

"MOUSE?! YEAH, RIGHT, EVERYONE CAN SEE THROUGH YOUR STUPID ACT, YOU'RE SO OBVIOUS, IT'S EMBARRASSING!" scolded Sakura.

"Naruto, you idiot! Those are kunai knives! They're dangerous, you don't just throw them around like that, what if you hit some old lady, or kid, or tramp, or something that means no one any harm?" Boruto said sternly.

Tasuna, meanwhile, had had just about enough of Naruto's inherent stupidity. "STOP TRYING TO SCARE ME, YOU STUPID LITTLE DWARF!" he bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Naruto, meanwhile, heard another noise, the cause of which he began desperately trying to locate. "Hey, is someone hiding over there? No, they're over there!" he said, looking wildly around.

Boruto suddenly sensed a chakra presence a mere second before Naruto threw a second kunai knife.

"Over there!" said Naruto as the knife left his hand and went soaring through the woods.

"THAT'S IT, NARUTO!" yelled Sakura as she decked Naruto over the head.

"Wha-what'd you do that for?! Someone really is following us, I mean it!" said Naruto as his future son followed the trajectory the kunai knife traveled.

"YEAH, RIGHT! QUIT LYING AND ACTING LIKE A DUMB KID!"

"Not entirely sure he's acting, but I found the knife! Naruto really was hearing something moving around!" called Boruto.

Following Boruto's voice, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Tasuna found that the kunai had landed directly above the head of a clearly traumatized white rabbit.

"NARUTO! LOOK WHAT YOU DID!" scolded Sakura.

"Wha! A bunny! Ahh!" exclaimed Naruto as he ran over to the rabbit and hugged it. "I'm so sorry little bunny, I'm sorry!"

Tasuna sighed. "All this fuss over a rodent?" he said, his voice bearing a smidge of irritation.

"I don't think so. Take a closer look at the rabbit," said Boruto.

Sakura and Sasuke looked at the rabbit. "That's a snow rabbit, but its fur…" said Sakura.

"It shouldn't have white fur this time of year. They only have white fur in the winter, when the days are short and there's little sunlight," added Sasuke.

"Exactly. That rabbit was raised indoors away from the light. There's only one reason for that: Substitution," said Boruto.

Sakura and Sasuke looked confused. "Substitution?" asked Sakura.

"Oh, in my time we call the Replacement Jutsu the Substitution Jutsu. In any case, that means that we've got company."

…

Meanwhile, up in the treetops, Zabuza was watching the group with interest.

You gotta be kidding me. The Demon Brothers lost to a bunch of little snot-nosed kids? Guess they're losing their edge, thought Zabuza, taking the giant sword from of his back and getting ready to throw it. The only one of them who looks even remotely like a ninja is the twerp in the cloak. This'll be an easy payday.

…

"Get down!" yelled Boruto as a giant sword came flying through the air, forcing everyone to duck before it finally became lodged in a nearby tree.

Landing on top of the sword was a powerfully built man with short brown hair and wearing a Hidden Mist Village forehead protector, a white face mask, a scabbard for his weapon, the straps for which were across his bare chest, black and white camouflage arm warmers with matching Shinobi sandals, and gray pants.

I know that guy… he must be… thought Boruto, recalling his father's story about his journey to the Land of Waves.

Naruto, meanwhile, was grinning with barely contained excitement. Here it is! My chance to shine! Believe it! I'm ready this time, I'm not gonna lose out to Sasuke! Not this time! he thought.

Boruto walked up to the man on the sword. "Zabuza Momochi, I presume? Rogue ninja from the Village Hidden In The Mist," he said, his left hand resting on his sword.

Rogue ninja? Whatever! Nothing's gonna stop me! Ready, go! thought Naruto as he darted forward, only to be held back by Boruto's arm.

"Down, Naruto, down, boy. Wouldn't want you getting caught in the crossfire, so stand back," said Boruto.

"What?! But, why?!" demanded Naruto.

"This guy is nothing like the Demon Brothers. He's in a completely different league," explained Boruto, closing his eyes as a faint blue glow appeared on his right arm, while black markings appeared near his right eye, causing Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to gasp in shock and step back. "If he's our foe, then I'll need these."

Zabuza chuckled. "You're not thinking about fighting me, are you, kid? It's too bad, seeing as you came all the way from Konoha, but you'll have to hand over the old man. Do it, and I'll think about letting you and the rest of the runts walk away," he said.

What's going on with his tatoos, or marks, or whatever? Why are they glowing? And where'd those black marks on his face come from? thought Naruto.

Does Boruto have some kind of special power? thought Sakura.

"All right, you three! Manji Defense Formation, protect the bridge builder, and stay the Hell out of this fight!" yelled Boruto.

"Huh?" said Sakura, confused.

"Kakashi and I taught you teamwork, now it's time to put it into practice!" said Boruto before his eyes flew open, the Jogan in his right eye active as his marks spread to cover the entire right side of his body. "Ready when you are, Zabuza."

His eye… what kind of dojutsu is that? It's definately not the Sharingan. It kinda looks like Hinata's Byakugan, but there's something off about it, thought Sasuke.

"Well, you're an interesting one, I'll give you that kid," said Zabuza as a thick mist came rolling in. "In the Assassination Unit of the Hidden Mist, we had a standing order to destroy Konoha jonin on sight. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to exterminate the old man. Now!"

Tasuna let out a gasp of fear. At this, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura rushed to his side with their kunai knives drawn as Boruto drew his sword.

"So, I'll have to eliminate you first, eh, kid? So be it. Nothing personal. Just business," said Zabuza, before, quick as a flash, he pulled his sword out of the tree trunk, and made his way to a nearby lake, where he stood upon the water as he performed a hand sign while mist swirled around him.

"He's over there!" said Naruto.

"Standing on the water!" said Sakura.

As Zabuza stood among the swirling mists, Boruto was able to pick up the changes in the assassin's chakra with his Jogan.

He's building up a massive amount of chakra… good. The more chakra he builds up, the easier he'll be for me to track with my Jogan, thought Boruto.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" said Zabuza, before he disappeared into thin air in a cloud of mist. A single green leaf that was blown off by the wind landing exactly where the assassin had just been standing.

"He vanished!" said Naruto.

"Sensei…" said Sakura, fear evident in her voice.

"He'll be coming after me first," said Boruto.

"But, who is he?" asked Sakura.

"He's Zabuza Momochi. He's the ex-leader of the Hidden Mist Assassination Unit, and a master of the Silent Killing technique," explained Boruto.

"S-silent…?" said Naruto, fear evident in his voice.

"It's exactly what it sounds like, Naruto. It happens in an instant, with no warning of any kind. One moment you're just minding your own business on an assignment, the next you're in the afterlife. It's that fast and that deadly. My Jogan can't fully neutralize it, so whatever you do, don't lower your guard."

"What's a Jogan?" asked Sakura.

"It's the dojutsu in my right eye, and that's all you need to know."

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all shuddered with fear at Boruto's words.

"Well, if we fail, we'll only lose our lives in the struggle," said Boruto nonchalantly.

"How can you even talk like that?!" snapped Sakura.

All the while, the mist around them grew thicker and thicker, something that Naruto pointed out.

"The Land of Waves is surrounded by ocean. The swirling mists are ever-present," explained Tasuna.

Not even a moment later, the mist grew so thick that Boruto disappeared from the genin's vision.

"Sensei!" called Sakura as her teammates gasped and shuddered with fear.

As the mist continued to grow increasingly thicker, the minutes past by in what felt like years as the three genin kept shaking in terror.

"Eight points."

Sakura gasped. "What's that?!" she said.

"Larynx. Spine. Lungs. Liver. Jugular. Subgladian artery. Kidneys. Heart. Now… which will be my kill point?"

These words caused the fear that was coursing through everyone but Boruto's veins to drastically increase. Boruto, meanwhile, took a deep breath to get ahold of his nerves before performing a hand sign that caused his chakra to appear and start swirling around him, his cloak fluttering behind him as the rush of wind cleared away the mist that hid him from his team, and sent shivers up the genins' spines, especially Sasuke, who began shivering as though he were standing in sub-zero temperatures.

What an intense thirst for blood! One shallow breath, any movement of the eye, is enough to bring on instant death, thought Sasuke, the kunai in his hand trembling. If it goes on like this, I'll go insane! A clash of two jonin intent to kill… I've never felt anything so chilling. It's as if my own life has been choked off… no! I can't bear it! I'd rather take my own life!

Before Sasuke could do anything drastic, Boruto's voice called out to him.

"Take a deep breath, and calm down. I will protect you with my life, just as you would protect Sakura's with yours. I know you would, I've seen it. The same goes for the rest of you. I will not allow my comrades to die. Not this time. Trust me, I've got this!" said Boruto, causing everyone to make noises that sounded like gasping.

"I wouldn't be so sure, kid," said Zabuza, before he appeared in an instant behind Tasuna, Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto, causing the bunch of them to freeze like deer caught in headlights. "It's over!"

However, before Zabuza could strike anyone down, Boruto appeared almost like lightning and ran Zabuza through with his own sword.

However, the liquid that was leaking through the mortal wound wasn't blood, but rather it looked like…

Water. This is just a clone! thought Boruto.

"Boruto! Behind you!" cried Naruto.

As the Water Clone vanished, Boruto looked behind him to see a second Zabuza appear, but was too late to stop him.

"DIE!" yelled Zabuza as he swung his sword at Boruto. However, the moment Zabuza's sword pierced Boruto's flesh, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

What the-?! A shadow clone! thought Zabuza. It can't be! Even in the mist, he saw through my illusion and created one of his one! A second later, someone grabbed Zabuza's hair from behind as a sword went up against his neck.

"Twitch, and I will open your throat," said Boruto. "Now it's over! You're done!"

"All right! That's my boy!" said Naruto, feeling an immense amount of pride in his son.

Sakura, meanwhile, chuckled nervously while Sasuke remained stoic. However, Sakura wasn't the only one who was chuckling.

"Finished… you really don't get it, do you? I'll never be beaten with cheap tricks like that. I'll admit, you are full of surprises, though. You'd already performed the Shadow Clone Jutsu when you made your little speech. Very skillfully executed. You had your clone say those words to draw my attention while you hid in the mist, waiting for me to make my move… nice try."

"But, I'm not that easy to fool!" said the real Zabuza as he appeared behind Boruto, while the Water Clone in front of him vanished.

"Hey! That one's a clone too!" yelled Naruto, helpless to watch as Zabuza struck Boruto down, only for him to vanish in a puff of smoke again as the real Boruto appeared and held his sword at Zabuza's throat once again.

"You seem easy enough to fool to me," said Boruto.

"Well, well, you certainly are a crafty one. What's your name? I might just have to enter you into my Bingo Book after this, assuming either of us walk away from this," said Zabuza, clearly impressed.

"My name's Boruto Uzumaki," said Boruto, right before Zabuza elbowed him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of Boruto and forcing him to let go. What followed didn't look so much like a sword fight to those watching, but rather, a deadly dance. Even more so when Boruto and Zabuza both lost their swords and began fighting with taijutsu, both of them managing to score some pretty solid shots before they picked up their weapons again.

Unfortunately, Boruto gave Zabuza an opening, allowing the assassin to land a hit that sent the teenager flying through the air.

"Now!" said Zabuza as he dragged his sword along the ground, moving at high speeds as he tried to catch up to Boruto, only to stop dead in his tracks at the sight of some small spikes on the ground. "Makibishi spikes! Trying to slow me down...hmph. Foolish," said Zabuza as he leapt over the spikes.

"Boruto!" yelled Naruto.

I can't believe Boruto-Sensei got kicked through the air like that! thought Sakura.

He has great physical skill too… thought Sasuke.

Boruto landed in the nearby lake. Pulling his head up above the surface, he realized there was something wrong with the water.

This water isn't water. It's dense and heavy… thought Boruto.

"Hah, fool," said Zabuza as he appeared right behind him and performed a apid series of hand signs. "Water Prison Jutsu!"

Oh, crap! thought Boruto as he became imprisoned within a dome of water. Escaping into the water was a bad mistake… and if Dad gets himself killed because of it, it's game over for me too…

Zabuza chuckled. "This prison is made of water, but it's stronger than steel. It's hard to fight when you can't move… you put up an enjoyable fight, I'll give you that much, Boruto," he said. "I'll finish you off later. But, first, your little friends will have to be eliminated. Water Clone Jutsu!"

Boruto growled. He's even more skilled than Dad made him out to be in his stories… thought Boruto.

As a second Zabuza made of water rose up out of the lake, Naruto couldn't help but whimper in fear as his eyes grew wide and his lips trembled.

The Water Clone chuckled. "You think wearing a headband makes you a ninja. When you've hovered between life and death so many times it doesn't faze you, then you may be called a ninja. When you've become so deadly your profile is entered in my Bingo Book, then you may have earned the title ninja. But, to call upstarts like you ninja… is a joke!" the clone said before it performed a hand sign and vanished in a cloud of mist once again.

He disappeared again! thought Naruto before the Water Clone suddenly reappeared and hit him in the face with knee, sending him flying and knocking his headband off.

"You're just brats!" snarled the Water Clone.

"Naruto!" cried Sakura as Naruto struggled to pull himself up again.

Boruto growled in anger. "Listen up! Get the bridge builder and run like the Devil himself is after you! This is a fight you can't win! He's using all his power to keep me in this Water Prison, so he can only attack you with the clone, but the clone can't go far from his real body, so he can't attack you if you get away from him, Now, run! And don't look back!" yelled Boruto.

Run away? Not an option, thought Sasuke. That became unthinkable the moment you got caught. No matter how fast we run or how far we go, he'll track us down… and wipe us out. If we try a Manji Defense Formation, he can get around it in an instant! In the end, if we're on our own, we're finished. Our only chance of survival is to rescue you.

"We've got to do it!" yelled Sasuke before he ran at the Water Clone, throwing shuriken at it as he went. The Water Clone, meanwhile, simply took out his sword and deflected them all with a single sweep of his weapon, while Sasuke leapt into the air, looking to bring his elbow crashing down on the clone's head.

The clone chuckled. Too easy, it thought before grabbing Sasuke right out of the air by his throat and tossing him away like he was nothing more than used scrap paper.

"Sasuke-Kun! No!" cried Sakura.

"He got Sasuke!" exclaimed Naruto, before forcing himself to turn and look at Zabuza, shaking like a leaf in the wind as he did so. So, this is what a jonin is! A true elite ninja! I-I gotta get away! If I don't, seriously! He'll annihilate me! thought Naruto. As he turned to run away, Naruto pressed the hand where he stabbed himself onto the forest floor, causing a surge of pain to run through it. Naruto gasped as he looked down at his bandaged hand and began recalling his Oath of Pain.

Upon this wound, I make this pledge, believe it! I will never back down again, and let someone else rescue me. I will never run away. Sasuke may have beaten me to Sakura, but that's all he's gonna beat me at from here on out!

Naruto turned to look at Zabuza's Water Clone, more specifically, the headband that it had underneath its foot, recalling everything that he'd been through to get to where he was today, everything he had been through to finally become a ninja.

That's right. I'm a ninja now, believe it! thought Naruto as he pulled himself up off the ground. I swore an Oath of Pain… I won't run away!

Naruto then charged head-on at Zabuza's Water Clone, yelling the whole way.

"Wha-? Dad, no!" yelled Boruto, causing Zabuza to cast a confused look at him.

"Ahhhhhh! Naruto! What in the world are you doing?!" screamed Sakura.

Hmph. Fool, thought the Water Clone as Naruto charged head-on at it, only to get kicked in the stomach so hard he went flying backwards, a trail of blood flying from his mouth as he tumbled in a cloud of dust.

"What are you thinking, charging at him by yourself?! Eve Sasuke couldn't get to him! We're only genin, we can't defeat a jonin! What did you think you'd accomplish by that?!" cried Sakura.

As Naruto struggled to his feet, crying and whimpering in pain as he did so, Sakura caught sight of something in his hand.

The headband? That's what he wanted? thought Sakura, confused while Sasuke, Boruto, and Zabuza simply looked at Naruto, perplexed.

Naruto finally managed to make it to his feet, a trail of blood leaking frok his mouth. "Hey, you… the freak with no eyebrows… put this in your Bingo Book. The ninja that will become the Seventh Hokage of the Village Hidden In The Leaves…" he said as he put his headband back on. "He never backs down… his name's Naruto Uzumaki!"

Now, there's the Naruto I know! thought Boruto, smiling.

I thought he was all talk before, but this kid's got guts! thought Tasuna, looking at Naruto appraisingly.

"All right, Sasuke, Sakura, listen up, can you hear me?" asked Naruto.

"Yeah, I hear you," replied Sasuke.

"Loud and clear," said Sakura.

"I've got a plan."

Hmph. NOW he's got a plan? This guy… thought Sasuke before he spoke aloud. "So, you're finally thinking about teamwork, huh?"

Why do I have this feeling? Naruto's so… determined, thought Sakura before she spoke aloud. "We're with you, Naruto!" she said, a look of determination to match Naruto's crossing her face.

"All right, then, guys… let's go wild!" said Naruto as he wiped the blood off his face. "Let's bring this guy down!"

Zabuza's Water Clone chuckled. "Such big words from such a little man. You think your little plan is going to keep you in the game?"

Something about what the Water Clone said didn't sit right with Boruto. "What in the name of all things sacred are you doing?! I told you guys to run! This battle was over the moment I got snagged, so stop stopping and run! This mission isn't about trying to prove how brave you are, it's about protecting the bridge builder! Stay on mission!" yelled Boruto.

Naruto looked over his shoulder. "Bridge builder?" he said.

Tasuna sighed. "Well, I guess… this all happened because of me. Because of my desire to live. But, I won't let that stand in your way now. Forget about me, and do what you have to do to save your sensei!"

Sasuke chuckled. "All right, you hear that?" he said.

"Yeah, believe it, you ready?" said Naruto.

"Ready as I'll ever be," said Sakura, pulling out her kunai.

Zabuza's Water Clone couldn't help but laugh at the genin who looked so determined. "You really haven't learned anything, have you? Still playing your little game, pretending to be ninja. When I was your age, this hand had already crushed many opponents," it said, causing Naruto, Sakura, and Tasuna to gasp aloud in terror.

"Zabuza the Demon…" said Boruto, recalling what he'd learned years ago during a school trip.

"Oh, so I'm in your Bingo Book," said the real Zabuza.

"Long ago, in the Village Hidden In The Mist, aka Blood Mist Village, before a student could become a ninja, there was one final test," said Boruto.

"Mmm… you know about the graduation exam," said Zabuza.

"What graduation exam?" asked Naruto.

Boruto gave Zabuza a loathing look as his Water Clone laughed.

"What's the big deal, anyway? We had graduation tests too," said Naruto.

The Water Clone's laughter grew louder before he spoke.

"Did you have to kill the other students to pass?"

This information caused Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to gasp in horror as the Water Clone continued.

"Imagine, young ninja like you, eating together, training together. And then comes the final exam. Only they've changed the rules: kill or be killed. You can't stop while your opponant still breathes. He or she was your friend, your brother, your sister, they shared your dreams. Now, it's him or you."

"That's so cruel," said Sakura.

So's life, thought Boruto, recalling kneeling in his parents' blood as his father imparted his final words to him. "It was about ten years ago in Hidden Mist Village. The graduation exam… underwent a transformation. A fatal transformation. A year prior, a dark and sinister evil had filled the school with terror. Some punk kid who wasn't even a ninja waltzed right up to the class, and took down nearly a thousand other students. They called him Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist," explained Boruto, causing the genin to gasp in horror while both Zabuza and his Water Clone looked as though they were recalling the sweetest memory of their lives.

"It… it felt… so… GOOD!"

Whatever fear the genin were feeling at that moment dramatically amplified before Zabuza's Water Clone sent Sasuke sprawling to the ground, before driving its elbow into Sasuke's chest, causing him to cough up a lot of blood.

"Sasuke-Kun!" cried Sakura in terror as Boruto let out a horrified gasp.

Zabuza's Water Clone pinned Sasuke to the ground while reaching for its sword as Sakura ran up to the assassin and tried punching him with all her might. She scored a direct hit on Zabuza's chest, causing the Water Clone to stumble a little, allowing Sasuke to start pulling himself up as Sakura managed to land a few more blows on Zabuza's Water Clone, before the clone swatted the kunoichi aside like she was nothing more than an insect, sending Sakura flying a good couple of feet away, where she was knocked out after her head struck an inconveniently placed rock. Or so it seemed, before "Sakura" turned into a tree trunk.

Huh? The Replacement Jutsu! thought the clone before it felt sharp object pierce through it from behind. Turning around, the Water Clone saw that several kunai knives had been thrown into its back, and a few more were heading its way, but it was too late to move out of the way.

The kunai pierced the Water Clone, causing it to dissolve into a puddle of water.

That takes care of the clone, thought Sakura. Now to deal with the-

However, before Sakura could finish her thought, a new Water Clone appeared and delivered a vicious backhand to Sakura, sending her flying a couple of feet before she hit her head on a rock, knocking her out for real this time.

"Hmph. You're nothing," said the Water Clone.

"Stop right there!" yelled Naruto as he made a hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A swarm of Naruto copies appeared out of thin air, surrounding th Water Clone from all sides.

"Oh… Shadow Clones. And there's quite a few of them," said the Water Clone as it looked around the area.

As one, the Naruto Platoon raised their kunai, ready for a fight. "Here we go!" they all said before leaping into the air and dog-piling onto the Water Clone. With a decent amount of effort, the Water Clone rose up from the pile, tossing all of them off, much to Tasuna 's horror.

"His skills are too advanced. He's too powerful… there's no way to defeat him!" said Tasuna as the Shadow Clones vanished in puffs of smoke.

"I'm not giving up, I still have this!" said Naruto as he pulled something out of his bag and tossed it to Sasuke. When he caught the object, something clicked as he spun around.

So, that was your plan! Not bad, Naruto! thought Sasuke as he unfolded the object Naruto had tossed him, which turned out to be a large shuriken. "Demon Wind Shuriken: Windmill of Shadows!"

"A shuriken?" said the Water Clone, amused. "You'll never touch me with that."

However, that didn't seem to deter Sasuke as he threw the shuriken, which sailed past the Water Clone and headed for the real Zabuza.

"So, you passed the clone and aimed for my real body… smart," said Zabuza before he caught the shuriken in his free hand. "But, not smart enough!"

A second later, a second shuriken emerged from the shadow of the one Zabuza caught, looped back around, and headed right for the assassin.

"A second shuriken in the shadow of the first? The Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!" said Zabuza.

The second shuriken's on target! And he can't catch this one, thought Sakura.

However, nobody said anything about Zabuza not being able to dodge it, which is exactly what the assassin did by jumping over the shuriken.

"I told you! A shuriken can't touch me!" said Zabuza.

However, Sasuke didn't seem concerned one bit about having missed, and it quickly became apparent as to why. In a puff of smoke, the shuriken transformed into the real Naruto, catching everyone present off guard.

"Eat this!" yelled Naruto as he tossed a kunai at Zabuza and fell into the lake. At the same moment, Boruto got his sword ready and cracked his neck, itching for Round Two.

As the kunai drew closer to him, a look of terror crossed Zabuza's face as he pulled his hand out of the Water Prison Jutsu and his Water Clone turned into a puddle. As fast as he could, Zabuza pulled out his sword and was barely able to parry Boruto's opening strike.

"Awesome plan, Naruto!" Boruto said with a smirk and a laugh as the crossed blades with Zabuza, who was trying desperately to keep his balance against the teenager. "I'll be wanting to know the specifics after we get out of this mess in one piece!"

"You got it, Boruto!" said Naruto.

Boruto and Zabuza swept clashing their blades against one another for the better part of fifteen minutes before they ended up in a sword lock, each trying to overpower the other. Unfortunately for Zabuza, keeping the Water Clone and the Water Prison around for as long as he did had taken a toll on him both physically and on his chakra.

"So… you say that hovering between life and death so many times it no longer fazes you makes you a ninja. When you become so deadly your profile is entered into the Bingo Book, you become a ninja. But, what about feeling your baby sister's blood wet against your skin, and knowing that it was only an act of God that she survived, let alone made a full recovery, while your comrades and closest friends were struck down all around you, helpless before an unstoppable foe?" said Boruto as he pressed his sword against Zabuza's.

Huh? Boruto has a baby sister which means… I have a daughter where he comes from, thought Naruto, his mind reeling with shock, which caused him to start sinking for a moment.

"Or what about when your entire village is burning around you, crumbling down upon your head? The Academy where you learned to become a ninja, the hospital where you were born, the house you called your home, all while people who aren't even ninja are slaughtered like swine while you are helpless to save them, trapped by the horde of people running to safety? A ninja is not only as good as his abilities or how many times he's cheated death, because he will ultimately come up against someone who's just that much stronger than he is, and will ultimately be killed. A ninja who dies peacefully in their sleep or surrounded by those they love are about as rare as a giant squid," said Boruto, before he delivered a Gentle Fist strike to Zabuza's leg, causing the rogue ninja to buckle and break the sword lock while Boruto used his chakra to propel himself backwards.

"A ninja is as good as his experiences make him, and who he makes those experiences with," said Boruto as he removed his cloak and tossed it aside before performing a hand sign as Zabuza tried to pull himself up off the ground. "And now, it's time for you to get a good look at the Uzumaki Ninja Handbook! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Six duplicates of Boruto sprang into existence in a puff of smoke before they ran up to Zabuza, using their chakra to kick him into the air with enough force to send him flying several feet straight up, where Boruto followed him, performed a flip in the air, and brought the back of his heel down directly upon Zabuza's head.

"Uzumaki Barrage!" yelled Boruto before performing a backflip off Zabuza's head and landing smoothly on his feet.

This kid… thought Zabuza as he struggled to pull himself back up again, having great difficulty doing so. What is he? The way he moves… the way he fights with that dojutsu… I wonder…

"That eye of yours… can you… can you see the future?" asked Zabuza, starting to feel afraid, along with several other emotions that he wasn't used to feeling.

Boruto chuckled as he performed a series of hand signs, causing what Naruto recognized as a Rasengan, before it suddenly began to look different. "I don't see the future. I am the future. I am legacy of the Uzumaki Clan and the Hidden Leaf Village, hailing from decades from this point in time. And being from the future, I can tell you that this is your last contract," he said, confusing Zabuza as the Rasengan in his hand began to spark with electricity.

"You know what the biggest problem with water jutsu is? It's an excellent lightning rod. Perfect for amplifying the damage dealt by this little technique I've cooked up, something that Kakashi Hatake tried and failed to invent. Lightning Style: Electrorasengan!" yelled Boruto before he launched the attack, which detonated in a mighty explosion of electrical energy, forcing everyone present to take cover. When the smoke cleared, Zabuza was lying in the center of a four-foot deep crater, badly burned, but still alive, if only just barely.

"Sasuke, take care of Sakura, make sure she's okay. She took quite a nasty bump on the head during that fight," said Boruto as he walked up to the downed assassin, staggering as he did so from his massive chakra drain. "Now then, Zabuza, as long as you're just lying there, badly injured, pay attention-"

Before Boruto could finish talking, he instinctively caught a pair of throwing needles that were thrown at him. "Ah, yes… I forgot about your sidekick. Haku, get down here before I throw you down here. You'll both want to hear this. And don't bother with the tracker ninja bullshit. I happen to know better."

"Impressive… that eye of yours is something special," said a young male voice. Down from a nearby treetop came a ninja with short black hair wearing a green and gray coat with a blue shirt underneath, black pants, brown shinobi sandals, and a small gray mask, which the ninja removed to reveal the face of a young man around Boruto's age.

Huh. Haku's a bit more manly than in my Dad's stories, thought Boruto before he spoke aloud. "Do you really think Gato will allow you to just walk away after this failure? Because, I can tell you for certain, that if you continue to persue the bridge builder, you will both die by Gato's hand. He will betray you and destroy you, no matter how good you both are. Unless…"

"Unless what?" said Zabuza through gritted teeth as he hissed in pain.

"Unless you both listen to my alternative."

And thus concludes Chapter Seven! Stay tuned next time as we check back in on Sumire, who's going to be digging up some roots, if you catch my drift, something that Boruto will eventually get roped into, of course, while Sarada may end up meeting her Uncle Itachi. In the meantime, be sure to fave, follow, and review!