Chapter 261: Once Again, Ninja Card Battle!
Seer Spacecraft.
"Every time a Peace Star grants a wish, it loses its glow. Once all thirteen Peace Stars have lost their glow, they will automatically head to the source of Infinite Energy to recharge. At that point, all you have to do is follow the Peace Stars to find the Infinite Energy."
Captain Blue Dragonfly explained.
"That's exactly why S.H.I.E.L.D. invested so much into creating the Seer spacecraft," Nick Fury said, looking at Captain Blue Dragonfly. "Captain Dragonfly, what's the objective of this round?"
"On the way here, I came across a pretty interesting card game."
As Captain Blue Dragonfly spoke, he pulled out a card and handed it to Nick Fury.
"Naruto Shippuden – Wind Attribute Chakra, Leaf Village Tribe, Ninja Effect – ATK 2100, DEF 1800..."
Nick Fury read off the card in his hand.
"You have one week to prepare. Oh, and these cards are currently only sold in the Leaf Village. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"Alright."
Nick Fury nodded. Once Captain Blue Dragonfly had completely left, he turned to Orochimaru and said, "Orochimaru, when it comes to dealing with Captain Dragonfly in the future, you'd better tread carefully. What they've created by combining S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra's research efforts isn't something to be taken lightly."
"Understood, Director."
Leaf Village.
"A card vending machine?!" Modern Boruto's eyes lit up as he turned to Shikadai beside him. "Shikadai, let's go check it out!"
In the middle of a ruined area of the Leaf Village, a brand-new card vending machine stood there, all alone.
"You really are obsessed with Ninja Card Battle, huh, Boruto?" Shikadai said helplessly. "You already have a huge stack of cards."
"They've made a lot of improvements to the rules now—more streamlined, easier to play—and with all the new cards being released, of course I've got plenty of motivation to keep playing."
Boruto spoke as he walked up to the vending machine.
"Newest card available only via special summoning through Mount Myōboku training ritual—Sage Mode Naruto makes his dazzling debut..."
Shikadai read from a poster stuck on the vending machine.
The poster showed Sage Mode Naruto, standing heroically atop a toad.
"What's so great about my old man? I'm just hoping they've released new cards for the Sharingan deck. My old deck was destroyed along with the rest of the village, so I need to build the ultimate Sharingan deck from scratch..."
"You're the Hokage's son, but you really do love the Sharingan deck," Shikadai commented, glancing over at Boruto.
"Well, the Sharingan deck has tons of effects, and it looks cool... Damn, no new Sharingan cards at all..."
Boruto let out a disappointed sigh.
"Boruto!"
Hearing someone call his name, Boruto instinctively turned around—only to see his future self standing there.
"Boruto? What is it?"
Even though they'd been together for a while now, Boruto still felt slightly uneasy around his future self.
"Can I borrow a deck? I'll give it back in about a week."
"A deck? All my decks were destroyed when the village was wiped out—I'll have to build a new one from booster packs..."
Boruto said as he gestured to the card vending machine beside them.
"There's still a vending machine left?"
Future Boruto had assumed all the vending machines were destroyed along with the village.
"Now that you mention it, it is kind of strange," Shikadai said, eyeing the machine. "Boruto, look, it has a label—'Dragonfly Card Vending Machine'? What's that about?"
"Dragonfly?" Future Boruto suddenly remembered Captain Red Dragonfly, who had just left not long ago. "Anyway, let's buy some packs first."
To obtain the Peace Star and rescue Hanabi, he had to build the strongest deck possible. For that, he was willing to spend every last coin he had.
"Whoa, you've got a ton of money..."
Boruto looked on in amazement as his future self bought pack after pack.
"Saved it up from missions." For someone of Future Boruto's caliber, the payout from each mission wasn't small. "Anyway, I think that's enough..."
He looked at the cards in his hand, forming his new deck.
"Looks like a lot of card effects have changed since before..." Boruto picked one up. "They must have revised the rules again... Hey, can I have the cards you don't want?"
"Sure."
Future Boruto nodded.
"Future me—want to have a Ninja Card Battle?"
Now that he'd assembled a temporary deck, Boruto turned and asked his future self.
"...Alright."
After a moment of thought, Future Boruto agreed. It would be good practice before competing for the Peace Star—and a chance to get familiar with his new deck.
"Let's head to Tentō's place. He bought two duel disks before—perfect for a match."
Boruto suggested.
Open ground outside Tentō's tent.
"...One star, huh..." Boruto looked at the card he'd drawn and began reshuffling his deck. "I'll give up first turn."
"Then I'll go first."
Future Boruto reshuffled his deck as well.
"Duel!"
Boruto shouted with great energy.
"..." Future Boruto remained silent for a moment, then drew his card and said, "Draw."
Future Boruto LP4000 VS Boruto LP4000
Future Boruto looked at the five cards in his left hand, then at the Ninja card he'd just drawn.
"I summon in attack position—Ninja Academy: Naruto Uzumaki!"
Ninja Academy: Naruto Uzumaki
One Star
ATK/DEF: 100
Wind Chakra Attribute
Leaf Village Tribe
Effect Ninja
When this card is successfully normal or special summoned and is in attack position, choose one card in your opponent's hand. That card cannot be summoned until this card changes to defense position or leaves the field.
"I choose the middle card in your hand—it can't be used!"
As Future Boruto declared his move, the card's effect activated, and Ninja Academy Naruto rushed forward carrying a paint bucket.
"Guess I can't use it then..."
Boruto sighed, looking at the paint-splattered card in the middle of his hand.
"I set one card face-down and end my turn."
"My turn—draw!"
With an exaggerated motion, Boruto drew his card. Future Boruto watched and finally realized how cringeworthy his past self used to be.
"You really are clueless," Boruto said. "That card—Ninja Academy Naruto—has actually been nerfed once before, but it's still really good for going second. Especially when your opponent doesn't have many cards in hand or doesn't have any Ninjas on the field. It's a god-tier card for reducing comeback potential. And you went and burned it on your very first, non-attacking turn."