"Killer B-sama!"
"Killer B-sama!"
The nearby Kumogakure ninjas were shocked by the sight.
An enemy, somehow emerging from the ground, instantly incapacitating their Jinchūriki?
Some kind of Earth Release ninjutsu? Why was there no chakra fluctuation at all?
The sensory ninjas didn't detect anything?
It shouldn't be like this!!!
The stunned Kumogakure ninjas rushed at Kawaki in unison, trying to save Killer B.
Kawaki pulled out his blood-stained kunai with his left hand, swiftly circling behind Killer B and pressing the kunai to his neck, shouting loudly:
"Don't move! If you don't want this guy to die here, obey!"
He and Boruto aimed to capture the Jinchūriki alive, so they weren't in a hurry to kill Killer B. After all, Jinchūriki had immense vitality; an ordinary fatal wound shouldn't kill him.
Seeing the gravely injured Killer B held hostage, the Kumogakure ninjas halted, hesitating out of concern.
"Wait, don't hurt Killer B-sama!"
"Who are you really?"
"You, you're the Hokage's son? Uzumaki Kawaki? Why you…?"
Seeing this, Kawaki displayed a smug, disdainful expression, then looked at the severely wounded Killer B and mocked:
"So this is the famous Hachibi Jinchūriki? Doesn't seem like much."
"Supposedly stronger than a Kage, yet taken down this easily."
Kawaki had expected a formidable opponent, but this was it? Compared to the Seventh Hokage Naruto, another Jinchūriki, the difference was vast!
However, Kawaki didn't have long to revel in his smugness. Killer B, held hostage, suddenly erupted.
An ordinary ninja threatened at a vital point by a sharp weapon might be helpless, but a Jinchūriki with Bijuu power was an exception. In an instant, abundant Bijuu chakra surged from Killer B's body, quickly enveloping him in a red chakra cloak.
"Courting death!"
Kawaki exerted force, stabbing at Killer B's neck, but unfortunately, while the Bijuu cloak wasn't particularly strong against super-Kage-level opponents, it was ferocious below that level, even surpassing ordinary Susano'o.
Kawaki's kunai struck the chakra cloak but couldn't penetrate it at all. This was the perfect defense that could even withstand Sasuke's Kusanagi: Chokuto (flying sword).
If he still had Kāma, Kawaki could have easily absorbed the Bijuu chakra, perfectly suppressing the Jinchūriki's cloak. But he was no longer Isshiki's vessel and no longer possessed Kāma's power.
*BANG!*
Killer B, in partial Bijuu form, swung his chakra tail, sending Kawaki flying.
*BAM!*
Kawaki crashed into the stone wall behind, creating a large hole. Fortunately, his body's nano-scientific ninja tool energy shield protected him. Otherwise, that single blow would have cost him half his life.
After one attack, Killer B didn't rush to pursue. Instead, he accelerated the mobilization of Bijuu power, using the chakra to heal the wound in his abdomen, restoring himself.
"Damn—!"
Kawaki struggled to stand, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, and charged at Killer B again. He'd boasted he could handle the target alone—how could he lose to a lowly Jinchūriki?
Three seconds later.
*BOOM!*
Kawaki was sent flying again, crashing hard into the stone wall behind. This time, he spat out a large amount of blood, his bones nearly shattered!
Remember, Killer B in normal condition was a standard Kage-level ninja. In partial Bijuu form, he was at least a strong Kage-level, far surpassing the likes of Borō.
"How is this possible? Why is he so strong…?"
Kawaki was shocked, his expression changing drastically. He realized he had grossly underestimated the Hachibi Jinchūriki's strength. This guy was nothing like the chumps they'd faced before…
"Roarr—!"
Killer B, in partial Bijuu form, roared, seven tails sprouting behind him, unleashing even more Bijuu power, his strength surging.
*SWOOSH!*
Killer B vanished from his spot. This time, Kawaki couldn't even track his movement—a speed second only to Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and the Fourth Raikage…
Kawaki was stunned, trying to dodge, but he couldn't see Killer B at all, not even knowing which way to evade.
In the blink of an eye, Killer B, cloaked in Bijuu chakra, appeared before him, slashing directly!
*BOOM!*
The expected direct hit didn't land. Another attack intercepted Killer B.
An invisible Rasengan suddenly appeared, striking Killer B's waist precisely. Though it couldn't pierce the Bijuu cloak's defense, the explosive force deflected Killer B's attack, saving Kawaki.
"Boruto!"
Kawaki's heart leapt with joy, recognizing the Vanishing Rasengan, though his face remained sour and arrogant.
Several people turned back, and sure enough, a young figure dragging another captive appeared not far away.
"Uncle Killer B, stop!"
Boruto shouted to halt Killer B. Though not very familiar, he had met Uncle Killer B once. Unfortunately, Killer B surely wouldn't recognize him now.
Killer B, in partial Bijuu form, did halt his attack. Not because he recognized Boruto, but because he saw the captive Boruto was dragging—none other than his disciple, Omoi!
Omoi, Killer B's direct student, was once a backbone of Kumogakure. But after being thoroughly defeated by Deepa, he'd lost confidence, suffering from some post-traumatic delusion and amnesia.
Though not severe, Omoi was left to guard the village and didn't join the Raikage's war effort. After infiltrating Kumogakure, Boruto and Kawaki naturally captured this "old acquaintance" first. He could serve as a hostage and provide information on Killer B's location.
At this moment, Omoi, with hands and feet bound and mouth gagged, could only writhe angrily, muttering "ugh, ugh, ugh."
"Baka yarō, who are you?"
Killer B was furious, cursing and questioning Boruto.
"He's an Otsutsuki! He's Otsutsuki Boruto! An enemy of the Kara Organization! Konoha's wanted list has info on this guy!" A Kumogakure ninja nearby recognized Boruto's identity.
Of course, this was their perception after Omnipotence altered their memories. At this moment, Boruto, in the eyes of all ninjas worldwide, was no longer the Hokage's son but a notorious foreign criminal of the Kara Organization, despised like Otsutsuki Sasuke.
"Damn, a real enemy? What the hell do you want?"
With Omoi held hostage, Killer B didn't dare take risks and could only keep questioning. Compared to the Fourth Ninja World War, Killer B, though still a bit reckless, was clearly more mature and calm.
"Boruto, why are you butting in? I said I'd handle this guy alone!" Kawaki returned to Boruto's side, grumbling obliviously.
"Shut up! No time for your nonsense—let me talk." Boruto had no time to deal with his friend, keeping his eyes on Killer B and negotiating:
"Killer B."
"Our target is only you. We don't intend to cause more casualties."
"As long as you stop resisting and come with us, this guy and the others will live!"
Boruto lifted the struggling Omoi, unhesitatingly using him as a threatening bargaining chip.
His youthful face no longer bore traces of childishness, only resolve and determination. Boruto had endured hellish suffering. Though not exactly darkened, his methods had clearly grown colder, closer to his teacher Sasuke's.
The old Boruto would never have resorted to vile acts like taking hostages or threatening targets. But now, to save his father, the village, the entire world, and those he loved… Boruto could think of nothing else. If Killer B surrendered, it might be the best way to avoid a larger war and reduce casualties.