«21» KARMA

©Masashi Kishimoto

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INOMI ANALYZED the whole area- before bringing in Konohamaru and Katasuke near the Kid. She then started to observe more of his features.

"Inomi-San, can you check him up?" The Sarutobi requested, earning a nod coming from herself.

She didn't dare touching his body, since she wanted to keep him unconscious. At the same time- Inomi wanted to check his body state such as minor injuries and temperature.

She slowly pressed her fingers on one of his vital points, checking his pulse. Surprisingly - they were calm.

But she knew something was wrong. You may ask why? Her body- seemed to be weakened near his.

Inomi suddenly came up with a conclusion. "He just passed out- of course he has scratches all over his body. His pulse seems to be normal but.. the amount of chakra he had." She pressed her lips into a thin line. "... He's really drained out."

"More importantly.." Konohamaru added, staring at the boy's hand. "What's of concern is this.. mark."

"It's the same as Boruto's." Sarada gasped, noticing the same thing as well. "Who is he?"

"Did these puppets chase him all the way here?" Katasuke thought to himself. "Because I find it hard to believe that he took them all down by himself."

"Doc, I'm not sure you could really underestimate him." Inomi sweatdropped, once again staring at the boy. "I'm sure from the way he's drained out, he's definitely- A-AAH!"

"Inomi-San?!" Konohamaru and Katasuke said in sync. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah.. how about you Boruto?!" Inomi winced as she turned to The Uzumaki. He was holding his hand, to where his mark was placed.

"Boruto-Kun, just squeeze my shoulder- if it ever hurts." Inomi offered her shoulder as The Blonde gladly leaned on it, trying to ease the pain away.

He knew she was in pain- as well as he is, at some point- he knew that because she had the same reaction as him. Now, she was frantically pressing her palm on her forehead, enduring the pain.

"Unh..." The Boy grunted in his sleep- shocking Boruto. The Boy twitched in pain as he tried to squeeze his hand.

It's painful for him too? Boruto thought, furrowing his eyebrows. Just like mine and Inomi's..

"Don't..." He muttered in his sleep. All of them turned to look at him, with curious faces.

Konohamaru and Inomi felt something spark on their heads- as they turned to everyone in panic.

"ALL OF YOU! Get away from him, NOW!" They said simultaneously.

Just like that- his body floated in mid air.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!!!"

Without hesitation, Inomi covered herself with her own hand. Trying to handle the big impact coming towards them.

WOOOOOOOO

WOOOOOOOOOO

WOOOOOOOO

A large hole was settled on the ground - due to the big explosion coming from the boy.

Inomi was left without a speck of dirt on her face, as she wasn't injured at it. She smiled to herself. "That's the one who took down the puppets, alright."

The guy landed on the ground safely- He turned to Inomi as his stare soon turned into a glare.

"You. You're the one who touched me didn't you?" He muttered in question, as he noticed the small smirk on her face. "Whatever.. it's still you."

"Who the hell are you all?" He asked the Shinobi surrounding him. "Trackers from KARA?" He added to his question.

"Trackers?!" Boruto looked offended by his statement. "No way! We're-"

"Hold it, Boruto." The Sarutobi and Yamanaka said in sync, as they turned to the Guy with serious looks.

"Sorry.. I'm Inomi. And that over there- is Konohamaru Sarutobi. A Shinobi from the Land of Fire's Konoha."

"What Konoha Shinobi do want from me?" He asked, his suspicions raising further. He stepped two steps behind from the Yamanaka- it was now Konohamaru's turn to speak.

"We don't want to harm you." He reassured. "We found you in the course of investigating the crash Landing of an Airship within our borders. We want to know what's going on.. can you tell us?"

"And what basis I should trust you? Just leave me alone." Kawaki cocked an eyebrow, irritating the Yamanaka right Infront of him.

"I'm sorry Sir... But we have to take you to custody if you're just a trespasser here. Even if we have to do it by force." Inomi reluctantly said- she was already going to tie him up and let him spill every detail and Intel he knows.

"Fine, nevermind... It looks like you want to die."

"H-HOLD ON A MINUTE!" An Uzumaki stuttered out loud, catching the Guy's attention.

The next thing he saw- really caught his eye.

"You know what this is, right?!" Boruto exclaimed- showing the small mark on his palm. "Don't you have one too? On your left palm?"

"Karma?.. How do you have one?!" The Boy frantically asked- shocked at the fact that, there were two Karma Holders.

"Make that three." Boruto implied, staring at Inomi's forehead- as the Boy stared at her forehead too. Now, there were Three.

"It's called Karma? But.. what the heck is it?!"

However, the Kid took it differently from his point of view. "So you are Trackers from KARA!"

"You got that wrong, Kid!" Inomi defended, Sarada nodded at her. "Please come down and hear us out!"

"You know what?" He started, as he hardened his glare. "I don't care who you are. Fight me if you dare... I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"

BOOM

Inomi suddenly went beside Konohamaru- as a Large Chakra ball was shot between them.

She then stared at the direction- from where it came from. She then gasped at another familiar face.

"Sorry to interrupt but.." He said in a raspy voice. "I need to retrieve.. our Vessel."

"Who's he?!"

"One after another... What the heck is going on?!"

"Garo." The Yamanaka sternly said, as the Boy shot his head towards her direction.

"Who are you and how do you know him?!" He yelled at her- as she glared at his direction.

"You don't need to know who I am, don't you?" She mentioned, as her attention focused on the man above them. "It doesn't matter, we have another freak to deal with."

"You're another outer Master sent out? I thought Ao was enough!" Inomi yelled at Garo, who seemed to know her as well.

"Hikari, long time no see- how have you been Traitor?"

"Enough with the chats- leave before I make you Outer. You don't want to experience what happened a long time ago.."

"Aren't you an outer too? You betrayed the KARA!"

"I wasn't a member In the first place." She retorted. "I don't give a damn about the Outers anyway- aren't you tired chasing your Vessel?"

"Don't you treat me like an object, you lowly pig!" Kawaki spat out- it was his turn to go against the Outer of Kara. "You'll lose more than just your chin this time!"

Garo huffed deeply inside his mask. "Now who's the one acting tough?" He scoffed. "Be good and I'll take you back real gentle, Hollow Imp!"

Inomi eyed Sarada for a moment. The Uchiha knew she had read her mind- thinking about the vessel.

"That Kara's Target... The vessel, is this YOUNG MAN!" Garo announced - as silence filled the atmosphere. All eyes were on him.

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten that you took my chin.." He chuckled to himself, as he held his hand up. "But I ain't gonna kill you- However.."

He then started to launch an attack from his Prosthetic hand. "I'll make you hurt enough that you'll wish you were dead!"

"Look. We may not be in good terms here." Inomi quickly said- catching The Boy's attention. "But I'm giving you an opening- this guy's been insane ever since."

"Didn't knew a Shinobi would know most of his presence." He sarcastically muttered- followed by a smirk on his face. "Whatever... You better be useful."

"I will, I will. Kawaki." She smiled, raising her hand as a green mint shield covered both of them.

"Huh?!"

BOOM

BOOM

In just a blink of an eye- Kawaki was right Infront of Garo as he raised his unusual arm, ready to attack him.

Unfortunately, he managed to block his attack with his own prosthetic hand- he began to struggle from holding it.

"Just as I thought, you're pretty debilitated..." He panted under his breathe. "This is gonna be a piece of cake."

"Yeah right." The Vessel muttered in reply. "More like you need all the help you can get!"

~

Their fight was getting intense- each attack they threw at each other were rather... Extraordinary.

"What's up with their bodies?!" Boruto asked, as he heard the Yamanaka sigh beside him. "Hey- why did you helped him?! And what's with the Outer thing?!"

"Well- in short.. their bodies are warped with something inhumane. Which is, they are fond of regeneration.. I'd say they're experimented harshly." She explained to them- as they got a little knowledge from her words.

"As for the Outers... I'm a Shinobi full of secrets.. so It's for me to know and for you to find out." She teased them. The Uzumaki looked in another direction as his face turned pink.

All of a sudden. Inomi noticed how Kawaki was immediately- taken down, and now- he was hanging on Garo's arms.

She clenched her fists in confusion. Not yet... I have to trust him- but I can't just stand here..

"He's taking him away!" Boruto immediately exclaimed, running towards their area- Luckily, Konohamaru halted him. "Boruto wait!"

He stopped on his tracks- turning to the Brunette with a panicked expression. "The situation has gone complicated- we can't do any careless moves!"

"But we can't just do nothing!" Boruto protested.

"This mission is increasing into an S-Rank! My top priority now is to protect all of you!" He shot back- leaving the Uzumaki silent.

"Konohamaru, don't be harsh on the kids." Inomi furrowed her eyebrows. "At the same time, Sarutobi is right. Be cautious- we could really trust this guy to survive."

Her sharp eye noticed a single movement from Kawaki's finger. She began touching her forehead, feeling dizzy. "Y-yeah, just trust him.."

"Inomi-san, Boruto!" Sarada yelled as concern laced her voice. Marks started to go up Boruto's arm.. as for Inomi- her forehead released a strange mark as well.

Again.. just like earlier!!

"Hey.. you forgot about me." Kawaki mumbled- confusing Garo as he turned to him.

As thin air passed through- Kawaki swiftly took of his hands, as smoke and ashes were released from Garo's arm.

He began to screech as if his life depended on it.

"You scrawny brat, where'd you get that much power?!" He yelled at him. Just as Kawaki activated his Karma.

"It ain't mine!" He retorted. "That's why I hate it!"

"I knew it." Inomi chuckled, feeling her consciousness leaving her body. She glanced at Boruto with a smug look on her face. "Need a hand? I mean shoulder to squeeze on?"

Boruto hesitantly nodded- as he leaned on her arm once again. He was struggling to keep up with his own Karma.

"You seem to struggle with your own power huh?" She chuckled at his state. "That kid there might pass out later from exhaustion- but he has great control over his consciousness whenever he uses his Karma."

Kawaki stabbed through Garo's body with one move of his hand- as it extended like a tree branch. He raised his hand right at Garo's face, right before sending a blast.

The Yamanaka panicked when she saw a big explosion coming towards them. "Boruto quick, think you can absorb it? I'll lend you a hand!"

"Sure, count on me Sensei!" He raised his hand- getting ready for the big impact coming towards them. Inomi held his shoulders- as he was impressed that her Karma spread throughout his body.

"Alright Let's do this!"

.

.

.

~

Boruto did it... He saved us once again.

Inomi panted heavily, as she released Boruto from her grip. Her karma retrieved on her own body as well.

"You!" Kawaki yelled out from a distance. "From Someone who claims to not know anything about Karma. You pretty sure have great command with it!" He added- thinking it was a small compliment.

"Oh yeah?" Boruto scoffed. "I really have no clue what the heck I'm doing!" Of course, I just followed what my Sensei asked me to.

"Don't play dumb! Go home and tell Jigen that if he keeps chasing me.. the dead bodies are just gonna pile up."

"Oh give my students a break!" Inomi retorted- she seemed to remember how much stubborn he was. "Listen to me once, Kawaki. Jigen-Sama doesn't associate with us besides me- I don't really give a crap if you don't remember me!"

That's were her head started to burn- as she held on her forehead, very tightly.

Her eyes wandered towards Kawaki's fallen state. Without a sweat, she immediately scooped him up- avoiding his head to fall on the ground.

"This is.. what they call overheating!" Katasuke hummed, after seeing the Boy pass out.

Inomi furrowed her eyebrows, as she stared at Kawaki's face in awe. "I've finally met you once again.. Fishy idiot."

~

"Just as I suspected." Katasuke spoke up, after observing Kawaki's body. "His body is far from ordinary."

"Well duh, it's pretty obvious, watching that last battle." Boruto added with a small frown. "I mean old man Ao, and that big guy were both full of tools."

"No." The doctor and the Yamanaka said in sync.

"Kawaki's body is different.. his abilities became one of himself." Inomi explained. "You could say that.. he's very existence is a tool."

She clenched her fists under Kawaki's body. Jigen will pay for this.

"WHAT?!"

~

"This.. is amazing!"

"What's amazing?" The Yamanaka awkwardly asked as Katasuke's eyes sparkled up at a new discovery coming from Kawaki's body.

"The Boy's Blood Nervous system.. You name it- it's been modified using technology similar to if even not more advanced than Hokage-Sama's artificial hand!" He exclaimed.

"I can't believe a Scientist with this much know how exists!" He added to his conclusions.

"Amado-San.." Inomi mumbled to herself- sighing at how much work he offered just to create the Perfect Vessel.

Katasuke began to praise this 'Unknown Scientist' and expressed how much he wanted to work with them- side by side.

"Um this no time to be celebrating right now.. what are we gonna do with him, fix him?" Boruto suddenly spoke up- earning a small chuckle from the Doctor.

"No can do!"

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST AS SMART?!" Boruto and Sarada deadpanned- shocked from the Doctor's words.

"I'll admit Katasuke-San is very smart... But fixing this boy's situation could lead to serious consequences. Such as death." Inomi calmly said- striking another thunder zap right on Boruto and Sarada.

"This fellow genius.." Mitsuki thought to himself. "Did he create this boy from scratch? Using cloning technology like what was done with me?"

Silence filled them once again.

ZAP.

There goes another thunder zap on the Two.

"WHAT?!"

"Huh, you didn't know?" Mitsuki said, oblivious. "I'm a clone of the Shinobi Orochimaru. An artificially created human."

"Artificially created?! Yeesh!"

"My head is starting to hurt.."

"Explains the thunder striking you right on the head..."

"Nanadaime-sama secretly told me about you Mitsuki. That's why I know that the technology used on this boy's different." Katasuke budged in their conversation.

"Those members of the Kara called the Boy a vessel." Konohamaru remembered- the Outers calling Kawaki that. "And the vessel was also that crashed airship's cargo that Ao was searching for. So he was that cargo."

"That's why we're bringing him with us. Secretly of course." Inomi said, now all eyes are on her. "It might be risky to involve the village with this but at the same time- he's the key to all our intel."

Boruto nodded in agreement. "Well eitherway, we can't just leave him here."

"Let's take him back to the village!" Sarada cheered, Inomi smiled in enthusiasm.

"This is going to be a long trip."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~