Killer B's condition was dire. The discomfort from conflicting memories gave him a splitting headache, completely scattering his focus.
This was why his clone dispersed prematurely. However, Killer B's poor state didn't affect Gyūki. In fact, Gyūki was currently controlling the body, sprinting while carrying the chakra cannon.
This was a decision Killer B had made early on. If his octopus clone could deceive the enemy and save his disciple, that would be ideal. But if it failed, he could only buy some time.
If not for this major war, Killer B would have willingly sacrificed himself to save his disciple. But now, with his Big Bro in a dangerous battle, how could he help if he were captured?
He might even become a bargaining chip, a weakness the enemy could use to threaten Big Bro. His recklessness and naivety last time had already cost Big Bro an arm. How could he make the same mistake again?
Huh? When did Big Bro lose his arm, and who did he fight? Forget it…
In short, his disciple was important, but so was Big Bro! If Big Bro lost, the entire village would fall. Killer B could still prioritize!
So, he had told Gyūki from the start: if something happened to him, he hoped Gyūki could take the chakra cannon and rush to aid Big Bro and the others. As for Omoi, as long as he ran fast enough, the enemy might not kill him immediately—unless they were venting anger mindlessly…
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"What's going on? Boruto, explain clearly!" Kawaki, carrying Omoi, chased after Boruto, pressing for answers.
"That cannon is a secret weapon developed by Kumogakure. I heard Dad say its power is immense, possibly enough to threaten Sensei. That guy probably wants to use it against Sensei!" Boruto explained, quickening his pace.
"What kind of cannon could hurt Uncle Sasuke?" Kawaki doubted this.
In his eyes, Sasuke was the strongest in the ninja world. What kind of small scientific cannon could shake Susano'o's power?
"I'm not sure, but if there's even the slightest chance, we have to stop it—we can't let him succeed!" Boruto shook his head firmly.
Their target was Killer B. Not only had they failed to capture him, but they'd also let him head to the main battlefield to disrupt their teacher. That was utterly humiliating!
Wouldn't that make them both useless?
"You're right. By the way, what about this guy?"
"Not important anymore. Dump him."
"Got it." Kawaki nodded, casually tossing the hostage he was carrying.
Poor Omoi was thrown into Cloud Lake. With hands and feet bound, he thrashed desperately but sank deeper, nearly drowning. Fortunately, pursuing Kumogakure ninjas rescued him.
Omoi, narrowly escaping death, felt regret and sorrow. He hated himself for not being strong enough, for becoming his teacher's weakness. He even felt a sudden pang of envy for his fellow disciple Karui, who had married into Konoha and was living comfortably.
Should he also find a prominent family to marry into? At least then he wouldn't burden his teacher, right?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Gyūki controlled its massive body, carrying the chakra cannon, and charged forward. Soon, it emerged from the towering cloud sea area and reached a vast desert.
This place was at least a few hundred kilometers from the main battlefield on the Raikage's side, but at Bijuu speed, Gyūki could arrive in one or two hours.
"B, you feeling better?" In the mental space, Gyūki asked with concern about Killer B's condition.
"I'm fine, just my head and memories are a bit messed up."
Killer B felt much better after easing the confusion from conflicting memories. Of course, it might also be the lingering effects of Omnipotence forcing him to ignore the false memories.
"Memories a bit messed up? Was that some kind of mental attack from that little Otsutsuki kid?"
"Mental attack? Not genjutsu?"
"Shouldn't be. If it was genjutsu, I could help you dispel it. Besides, messing with your memories like that isn't an ordinary mental attack…"
"That little Otsutsuki kid feels different from the Otsutsuki we've met before! And Jigen's son is with them—could he be mentally controlled by the enemy?"
"B, be careful. This Otsutsuki is an enemy even Gramps feared. Don't underestimate him because of his age!"
"Relax, I won't underestimate them. But their speed isn't as fast as ours—they shouldn't catch up!"
After the recent memory shock, Killer B didn't dare underestimate Boruto. Fortunately, Gyūki's speed was fast enough. When sprinting, ordinary ninjas couldn't keep up. As long as he could deliver the chakra cannon to the main battlefield first and help Big Bro defeat the enemy leader, everything would be fine!
Unfortunately, the grander the dream, the quicker reality's elbow strikes.
Seconds later, two familiar figures suddenly appeared in Gyūki's path.
Their speed surpassed Gyūki's, overtaking and blocking the way. How was this possible? No time to wonder.
"Ōdama Rasengan!"
Boruto struck first, conjuring an Ōdama Rasengan and attacking Killer B. His target wasn't Gyūki itself but the chakra cannon on its back. Compared to Gyūki, that cannon was the greater threat in his eyes…
Killer B saw Boruto's intent. He screeched to a halt, controlling his tails to whip through the air, attacking Boruto.
*BOOM!*
The Ōdama Rasengan collided with Gyūki's tentacle and exploded, deflecting the giant tentacle, but Boruto was also thrown back.
If Naruto were here, one Chōōdama Rasengan might have made Gyūki scream. If that wasn't enough, he'd just add a few hundred more, like when he defeated Kurama.
But Boruto, without Kurama's chakra reserves, couldn't compare to Naruto in chakra volume. Still, the Ōdama Rasengan's power wasn't trivial, enabling him to counter a Bijuu's strength. For other ninjas, they'd likely be reduced to bloody pulp.
One Bijuu attack could destroy a road. How many ninjutsu would an ordinary ninja need to do that? Boruto, not yet 13, could withstand a Bijuu attack—that was already abnormal.
"Tch, this little Otsutsuki kid doesn't seem that strong!" Killer B paused, stunned.
He felt Boruto wasn't as formidable as he'd thought. But where did he learn that Rasengan?
Wasn't that Uzumaki Jigen's signature ninjutsu? Ugh, his head was itching again…
"B, watch the cannon!"
Gyūki suddenly shouted a warning. It quickly controlled its body, curling all its tails into a shield to protect the chakra cannon on its back.
Then, three Vanishing Rasengans appeared out of nowhere, striking Gyūki's tails, exploding into three puffs of white mist.
Boruto's Ōdama Rasengan from his real body was just a decoy to distract Killer B, while the Vanishing Rasengans targeting the chakra cannon were the real attack! As long as he could destroy that 'glass cannon,' there'd be time to slowly defeat Gyūki.
Unfortunately, Gyūki was a Bijuu, highly sensitive to chakra. Though invisible to the eye, it sensed the chakra fluctuations of the Vanishing Rasengans, hurriedly defending and saving the cannon.
"Boruto, your plan failed!" Kawaki grumbled, his expression a mix of 'worried for my brother but also jealous of his fancy car.'
"Shut up! Then we attack together—we have to destroy that cannon!"
Boruto rose from the rubble, wiping blood, his fighting spirit blazing.
If he couldn't even clear this first hurdle, how could he save his father? How could he defeat Isshiki?
"Got it!" Kawaki switched back to serious mode.
The two teamed up seamlessly once more, charging at Gyūki again.