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Her lone earring. Left back in the aftermath of her kidnapping.
An addition to evidence for a foiled plan from the start.
He knew. Had an inking it could go bad but he did not anticipate how quickly it would escalate. Nor did he anticipate for Code to sniff out the pins he gave her. Now, he was reeling at the fact he was too late, she was all alone with no fail-safe; no form of direct back-up from his end.
It was not that he thought Sarada was weak to handle herself but rather, how long she could handle herself in their lair without reinforcement. With her Mangekyou Sharingan having detrimental effects on her vision, he fears for whether she'd be pushed too far. He fears how long before she goes unconscious due to chakra exhaustion for an expectant Shinju to devour her.
Seconds turned into minutes that turned into hours. Eventually, those hours would blend into days if he didn't hurry. Time was crucial to find her.
Kashin Koji had instructed that their next course of action was to use Sarada's sole discarded earring as a method.
Never before had he attempted to use his Flying Raijin without shapes infused with his chakra. Only ever with his chakra.
However, with Sarada's earrings having traces of her chakra and being identical in shape, it was their only attempt. A never-done-before last resort.
The possibility lies in the hands of Sumire.
The purple-haired girl took the earring from him, examining it with careful eyes before placing it down.
According to Kashin Koji, with Sumire's advanced ninja technique, she could change the chemistry of the chakra to make it easier for tracing. Mold it with technology to change the form. Intensify the chakra.
He was uncertain despite the explanation, feeling the weight of time against him with heavy pressure.
However, based off what Kashin Koji saw, it would be successful. The rest laid onto him and his capabilities of finding the target. For whether he could recognize Sarada's chakra as his own in order to get to her.
He wasn’t sure what to make of these advancements, the dread pooling in his stomach with every minute. He had checked with Eida just moments ago, asking for her to check in on Sarada. The teen relayed that Sarada is holding up and alive.
It'd been mere only minutes, possibly fifteen minutes since Code took her but to him, it felt like an eternity.
The purple-haired girl gave him a side glance after placing the earring in a specialized container, securing the lid down. Then she proceeds to hook up wires before clicking buttons. The earring is consumed in a pink aura and Sumire continues to slide nozzles, inputting data. Click and taps fill the silence.
Boruto waits patiently, eyes watching with rapt attentiveness. He does not understand the mechanics all that much but he finds himself curious. This technology will grant the ability to aid him.
“I’m changing the data and fortifying the chakra link to the maximum,” Sumire says through the silence finally. “It’ll be ready in a moment.”
Boruto stills, measuring himself before choosing to speak.
“Will it work?”
Purple eyes find him again. There is a furrow in her brow. “In theory, changing the form of chakra within the parameters you set them can help. It makes the chakra more tangible and easier to sense.”
He waits, absorbing her answer. ”And in my case?” he asks carefully.
She frowns. A worry line appears on the edge of her face. “Will it be enough to find Sarada?” she mutters. “It’s hard to say as this sort of technique is tested for sensor-nins. Not for situations across dimensions.” She shakes her head. “I’ve put it to the maximum, higher than the parameters that is registered for sensor-nins.” Her lips set together. "In fact, the parameters are set four times than the normal ... "
Sumire's explanations only seem to increase his uncertainties. Raising the level of his fears.
"It's almost done," Sumire says after a beat, eyes flicking back to the earring.
True to her words, the machine finishes in a matter of seconds right after she said. The pink aura that absorbed the earring dissipates, and appearance-wise, nothing has changed. Gingerly, the teen unhooks the wires and then pops the container, removing the earring out with a tool. She sets the earring in a petri dish
Sumire turns to face him, a solemn expression on her face. "Just one minute," she explains. "Standard procedure. It's to ensure that no other chakra comes into contact to disrupt the new state."
He gives a short nod, eyes glancing back on the petri dish. The red of the uchiwa fan glosses under the flare of light, glittering with newfound energy. It's never been difficult to sense Sarada's chakra when she's nearby but ... the earring's practically calling to him. Whispering to him.
The technique Sumire had used had maximized the structure of chakra and he physically feels it even without the need to hold it.
It must've been a minute already because Sumire reaches over to retrieve the earring and then motions for him. With a cautious stretch, Boruto takes the item from her.
It burns. Not necessarily like a burn from a flame, but he feels the chakra responding, dancing between the surface, tingling with energy. Sarada's chakra is steady in his hands, warm and lively. Comforting. Undoubtedly strong in its presence despite contained in such a small item.
A lump forms in his throat because this is his last resort. Last solution as otherwise, he may have to go a different route; a route he wants to avoid.
"Thank you," Boruto speaks, closing his hand over the earring. Her chakra flickers within his palm.
Sumire nods, offering a sorrowful expression. "You will find her," she reassures.
Trailing behind him, his cape flaps as he turns. He closes his eye as his hand raises for a Ram sign, focusing again on the shape. It's more complex to search for that flicker of chakra, especially chakra that's not his. He's never done this before and evidently, Kashin Koji had never anticipated for him to do so either.
It's never been in any timelines that his mentor's seen.
Ultimately, this is new development and not something he's ever been successful to do.
It's difficult but he's banking on this. That he's capable to evolve his jutsu and get to her.
Every minute counted and so did his concentration.
His mind narrows, seeking for that flare and familiar shape. Through the dimensional planes, he searches as he envisions Sarada's chakra as his, encased in the shape. That the vibrant but steady chakra was part of his person.
In his palm, Sarada's chakra is far easier to dissect and center on. It seems like the tech worked because he could feel the chakra mold with his but not necessarily blend. His chakra did not overshadow hers. It's easier to grasp and trace alongside the dimensional planes.
A flare in the distance has his conscious cutting through, zeroing in on the target as he finds the identical shape as the one in his palm. Unlike the one in his hand, it's weaker but it's there; the link between them exists.
Warmth spreads over his palm, the existence irrefutable as it simmers with heat.
He locks on and not sparing a moment more, he teleports.