ADA'S RESIDENCE – KONOHA, NIGHT
Boruto entered the room silently. Daemon sat nearby, alert but disinterested. Ada glanced at Boruto, her posture relaxed, but her eyes watched him closely.
Boruto didn't waste time. "You were the one who pushed the changes. Tell me the truth. What are those monsters? Why are they changing?"
Ada smiled faintly. "You know I already made a deal with Konoha, Boruto. And besides… I don't even experience love. So before I ever get to feel it for real, why would I betray anyone?"
Boruto's eyes narrowed. "You expect me to believe that?"
"I don't care what you believe," Ada replied smoothly. "You want answers? Go ask Amado. Or go hunt down Ōtsutsuki. Just because I see something doesn't mean I did it."
She leaned her head against the couch arm, lazily twirling a strand of her hair. "You're a rogue ninja now, aren't you? People don't exactly line up to help traitors. But sure blame me if you want."
Boruto didn't react.
Ada giggled slightly. "Of course, it is my fault in a way. But if Kawaki hadn't forced me, would I have done any of this? He's the one who dragged me into that situation."
She blushed faintly. "I mean, come on. He was… persistent."
Boruto watched her quietly. The blush on her cheeks was real but forced. Measured. He didn't say anything more.
"I'm leaving," he said simply.
And in a flash, he vanished.
The blush vanished from Ada's face just as quickly. Her expression flattened.
She sighed, annoyed.
"Don't blame me, Kawaki. Blame yourself for being useless. You're not fun anymore. I don't like boring and violent men…"
Her gaze drifted to the ceiling.
"I don't know when I'll meet him again. But there are still questions I want to ask..."
SAND VILLAGE –
Inside the temporary operations tent, Mitsuki, Sarada, and Kawaki stood before Konohamaru, delivering a concise report.
Mitsuki explained the monsters' regenerative traits and weakness to fire. Sarada noted their shifting behavior from aggressive to afraid. Kawaki added a summary of the battlefield, tracking movements, and their support efforts.
Konohamaru listened closely, arms folded, then nodded.
"Understood. I'll speak with the Kazekage about our departure. For now, you three can rest."
"Alright," Sarada replied.
"Got it," Kawaki said with a nod.
Mitsuki gave a light smile. "We'll stay alert if anything changes."
"Good work," Konohamaru said.
With that, the three turned and exited the tent, calm and steady. Their part of the mission was done for now.
The wind carried a faint chill as Sarada, Mitsuki, and Kawaki stepped out into the quiet streets of the Sand Village. The tension of the mission had faded, but the information they'd gathered still weighed on them.
Sarada stretched her arms slightly. "I'm going to grab some food. Haven't eaten since morning."
"I'll go with you," Mitsuki said casually.
Kawaki didn't respond immediately. He glanced up at the dark sky, eyes narrowed.
"You coming?" Sarada asked.
"No. I'll walk around," Kawaki said. "Clear my head."
Sarada and Mitsuki exchanged a quick glance but didn't press him.
"Don't wander too far. We're still technically on alert," she said.
Kawaki gave a half nod and walked off down another street.
---
SAND VILLAGE – KAZEKAGE'S OFFICE
The Kazekage's office was quiet, bathed in the soft gray hue of early dawn. Outside the large window, the vast desert stretched endlessly, still cloaked in night's final shadows. A faint breeze pushed the sand in slow, silent curls across the village rooftops.
Gaara stood with his hands behind his back, eyes focused on the horizon. Konohamaru stood a few steps behind him, posture straight but relaxed.
"They didn't go down easy," Konohamaru said. "We used multiple suppression techniques.
Gaara turned slightly, his expression unreadable.
Konohamaru continued, "Even then, it wasn't about durability. They reacted like… they weren't entirely aware of being attacked. Their movements were off. Almost like instinct over thought."
A pause.
"They didn't fight like shinobi," he added.
Gaara nodded slowly, thinking. "And your team?"
"No serious injuries. Physically, they're fine. Mentally…" He hesitated. "They've seen something different. They know it."
Gaara turned fully toward him now, his gaze direct. "That matters more."
Konohamaru gave a faint nod of agreement.
"I'll make sure travel is arranged," Gaara said. "You've done what you were sent for. There's no need to remain here longer."
"Thank you, Lord Kazekage."
Konohamaru bowed, turned, and left the room in silence.
The corridors of the guest house were mostly still. The stone floors echoed faintly under Konohamaru's steps. Outside, the sky had shifted to a pale blue that quiet space between night and day.
He stopped at the door to his team's shared room, knocked once, and stepped inside.
Sarada, Mitsuki, and Kawaki were already up, gathering their gear in silence. The room was organized but carried the weight of fatigue.
"We're clear to leave," Konohamaru said, his voice even. "One hour. Be outside."
Kawaki simply nodded without comment.
Mitsuki offered a soft "Understood," slinging his pack over his shoulder with practiced ease.
Sarada stood near her bag, tying her hair back tightly. Her motions were precise, but slower than usual. Her eyes, normally sharp and focused, looked… distracted. Distant.
Konohamaru glanced at her but said nothing. He gave a small nod and left the room without another word.
The door clicked shut behind him.
A few seconds passed.
Mitsuki looked over at Sarada. "You look pale," he said. His tone was casual, but not dismissive. "Did you not sleep well?"
Sarada didn't answer right away. She rubbed the side of her head, fingers pressing into her temple like she was trying to push away a thought.
"I slept," she said finally. "Just… weird dreams."
Mitsuki didn't ask what kind.
Sarada reached for her pouch, buckled it, then paused. Her hand lingered on the strap longer than it needed to.
She didn't say anything else.
FLASHBACK –
There was no sound. No wind. No footsteps.
Just silence.
Sarada found herself standing in a strange, old corridor made of gray stone. There was no roof overhead only darkness above, and a soft, flickering blue flame in a brazier up ahead casting a faint light. The air wasn't cold or hot. It was… still.
She wasn't sweating or panicking. She felt alert, like something was off, but not immediately dangerous.
"Where… is this?" she said aloud.
Her voice echoed slightly.
The stone floor beneath her feet was cracked but dry. Moss grew in the corners of the room. Ahead, a staircase spiraled upward, carved from the same stone.
She started walking. Each step echoed, but the sound was muffled like something was suppressing the noise.
As she reached halfway up, she stopped. Turned slightly. Her eyes scanned the space behind her.
She thought she heard breathing soft, ragged, close.
"…Hello?" she called out.
No answer.
Nothing moved.
Sarada squinted into the darkness. Nothing there.
After a few seconds, she turned back toward the staircase and continued climbing.
At the top was a large arched door made of ancient stone. Across the door, etched deep in red, were letters written in a language she recognized but the ink looked almost too vivid. Like it had just been painted.
Echidna
Below that, in smaller writing:
Queen Echidna
Sarada frowned. She didn't recognize the name. She reached out, not to open the door, but to touch the letters.
Then—
A dry, scratchy whisper slid into her ears.
"Moth…"
Sarada froze.
The sound was… wrong.
It was like something was speaking through a cracked shell.
"…Mother…"
"Mo…ther…"
"Ahhh!" Sarada turned, instinctively drawing her hand back.
"Mot…her…" "Mo…ther…"
The sound came from below her feet. She looked down—
Things crawled up the stairs deformed hands reaching, mouths gaping.
"MOTHE—"
"AHHH!" Sarada screamed—
"…Mo..the…r…"
"Stop—!"
BACK IN THE ROOM
Sarada jolted upright in bed.
Her breathing was harsh. Her shirt stuck to her back. She looked down her hands were shaking.
She touched her forehead. It was soaked. Her pillow, damp.
She sat there, trying to slow her breathing.
She looked around the room, eyes adjusting to the dark. Her heart thumped loud in her ears.
She rubbed her temples.
"…Tch. Stupid."
She swung her legs off the bed and stood up.