Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

"What… is this?"

The moment Urashiki touched the seal, he felt a sharp pain in his palm. Flames erupted from the seal, blazing through his hand and spreading across his body.

However, that was only the beginning.

Naruto, observing the scene from within his mind, was about to laugh when a sudden system prompt echoed in his head:

[It was detected that Urashiki forcibly released the Kyubi without permission, challenging the system's authority. Initiating judgment!]

[Verdict: Urashiki is deemed an entity not of this world. Sentence: Nullification!]

'Ha!'

Naruto laughed in his heart. Urashiki messing with the Kyubi was a clear challenge to the system's authority. After all, Kyubi had been granted to Naruto as a reward from the system. So anyone trying to take it without permission was bound to face the system's wrath.

'But... what exactly did 'nullification' mean? Would it do nothing?'

As Naruto was pondering about this, he was surprised to find that the flames on Urashiki's body had disappeared.

It was not extinguished by Urashiki, but disappeared as if they'd never existed.

'Could it be the power of his Rinnegan?'

Soon, Naruto found that Urashiki's hand was also disappearing.

Seeing Urashiki's face twisted in terror, Naruto knew this wasn't Urashiki's doing.

"My hand, my hand!"

Urashiki shouted, watching in horror as his arm also began to fade away.

After seeing this scene, Naruto finally understood what nullification meant.

The so-called nullification meant erasing Urashiki entirely.

'As expected of system, it's really awesome!'

Only three seconds later, Urashiki was gone, his consciousness within Naruto completely wiped out.

Though Urashiki's body might still be out there, he had no consciousness and was no different from a dead person.

"Whoa…"

Naruto never expected this result. The terrifying enemy he had cautiously prepared for had met his end through sheer arrogance. It was unbelievable.

With Urashiki's control gone, Naruto easily freed himself from the fishing rod. He decided to store the rod and the fish basket in the system inventory. He wasn't sure what purpose they served, but any tool of Urashiki's likely had unique capabilities.

As for Urashiki's body, Naruto thought for a moment and stored it inside the system inventory as well.

He wasn't interested in corpses or had any morbid tendencies. But since it's a corpse of a Rinnegan user, he believed that Orochimaru could surely make use of it in his experiments.

The system inventory couldn't store living beings, but dead ones were fine. Moreover, time was frozen for anything stored inside. What went in came out in the same condition, so it's perfect for preservation.

After doing all this, Naruto rushed out of the cave.

…

"Naruto, are you okay?"

As soon as he exited, he saw a massive toad approaching with Boruto shouting excitedly.

Once close enough, Jiraiya dismissed the toad, and the three landed safely on the ground.

"You little brat, how many times have I told you not to jinx me? You actually want something to happen to me that badly?"

Naruto rushed forward and hit Boruto on the head.

Boruto covered his head in pain and muttered, "I was just worried because Urashiki was so strong… and here you are scolding me."

"Urashiki? Who's that? Was that white-haired guy not alone?" Naruto frowned, wondering if there were more Otsutsuki around.

Boruto explained, "The white-haired guy you mentioned is Urashiki. He came here alone. By the way, how did you manage to escape from him?"

"Escape? I've already dealt with that guy." Naruto said casually.

Though technically, it was the system had passed judgment, the system was his, so saying he was the one who dealt with Urashiki wasn't wrong.

"What? You… defeated him?"

Not only Boruto, but even the adult Sasuke was stunned.

'How long has it been? It hadn't even been an hour.'

'Urashiki was actually dealt with?'

'Who would believe that?'

"If you don't believe me, then take a look at this." Naruto pulled out Urashiki's red fishing rod and basket from the system inventory.

"It's… Urashiki's fishing rod and basket!"

Boruto was completely dumbfounded.

Urashiki had guarded these items closely, and they were almost never out of his hands. Now, they were with Naruto, and Urashiki hadn't come chasing after him. That could only mean Naruto really had indeed defeated Urashiki.

"This... how is that even possible? Then… what was the point of us coming here..." Boruto muttered, lost for words.

Since Naruto could handle Urashiki on his own, then why did they come from the future? It was just a waste of time.

Pat, pat!

Naruto patted Boruto on the shoulder with a grin, "You came here to protect me, to show that you care. I got the message loud and clear. And it wasn't for nothing… you've been a huge help to me."

Since he hadn't watched the Boruto Anime, Naruto originally didn't know the specific events of Boruto. However, the arrival of the two, whether it was Scientific Ninja Tools or knowing that he would have a son and a daughter in the future, was very important to Naruto.

"Don't try to comfort me. I know I didn't really do much." Boruto said dejectedly.

Naruto sighed and said, "What are you talking about? Your existence proves that I am a man."

"You figured it out?" Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Naruto's words had a deeper meaning, and Sasuke sensed it immediately.

"Now that this enemy is taken care of, your mission to protect me has ended. I don't see any reason to keep it hidden. I overheard your conversation before and put the pieces together. I know you're the older Sasuke, and Boruto is my son."

Naruto said openly.

"You know?"

Boruto was taken aback. Recalling everything that had happened, he finally understood, "No wonder you were so concerned about me and acted so responsibly. I thought you were just clueless enough to believe me. You really are an annoying dad!"

Naruto chuckled, unbothered by the insult, "Come on, call me 'dad' a few more times. I like the sound of it."

"Annoying dad!"

"Yes!"

"Annoying dad!"

"Yes!"

"Annoying…"

"Huh? Why'd you stop?" Naruto teased with a raised eyebrow.

Without the previous impulse, Boruto's expression suddenly became lonely, "Even though it was a short time, I've seen what you're like, and your sense of responsibility is amazing. I'm proud to have a dad like you!"

"Then why are you so sad if you're proud?" Naruto asked.

Boruto sighed, "Once we go back, I'll never see you like this again. In the future, you're still very responsible, but you spend so little time with your family, and then there was..."

Before Boruto could finish, Naruto cut him off, "I know, like dropping your sister's cake. I promise, I'll change. I'll make sure to balance my work and family, to be a father who's there for both!"

"Then… it's a promise, Dad!" Boruto stretched out his hand.

"Yeah, it's a promise." Naruto hooked his pinky with Boruto's.

"Naruto, I'm sorry for keeping this from you for so long. But any changes you make from knowing us now could alter the future drastically. I have to erase your memory!"

The older Sasuke, who had been silent until now, spoke up. His dark pupils suddenly turned into the scarlet Sharingan...