(Oh no!)
After unleashing the Bijuudama, Killer B realized in his heart that he'd made a grave mistake.
Kawaki was caught in the attack too!
He intended to kill Boruto, but not Kawaki! In Killer B's current memories, Kawaki was Jigen's son, equivalent to Naruto's son, Boruto. Even if he was controlled by the enemy, he wouldn't deliberately kill Naruto's child.
Fortunately, though Boruto couldn't save Kawaki in time, another figure summoned Gojū Rashōmon, blocking the terrifying Bijuudama's impact.
As the white light faded and the attack ended, an area spanning thousands of meters was vaporized by the Bijuudama, and even the sturdy five Rashōmon gates were shattered to pieces.
Though Gyūki's Bijuudama wasn't charged for long, it was stronger than Naruto's Four-Tails Bijuudama back then. However, Gojū Rashōmon's defense was far superior to Sanjū Rashōmon, barely withstanding it.
As the ninja world's leading scientist, Orochimaru wouldn't misjudge Gyūki's Bijuudama strength and put himself in danger.
"Hah! Hah—!"
Kawaki, narrowly escaping death, collapsed, panting heavily. He genuinely thought he was done for.
"You, who are you?"
Kawaki stared at the figure not far ahead, eyes full of doubt. Orochimaru turned, smiling at Kawaki:
"Kawaki, don't you recognize me?"
"O-Orochimaru! You, you saved me?" Kawaki was shocked.
Through Mitsuki, he'd met Orochimaru before. Though not close, he knew how terrifying Konoha's leading scientist was.
Orochimaru's presence and pressure were almost greater than Amado's. Why did he suddenly appear here? And proactively save him?
"What's wrong with saving an old friend's child?"
With Code and Kawaki replacing Boruto's identity, they were now the Seventh Hokage's sons in the public's eyes, giving Orochimaru reason to save him.
"But why are you here?"
"It's a long story. Before that, let me give you a little gift!"
Orochimaru squinted and smiled, swinging his right hand, which elegantly transformed into a long snake. It instantly coiled around Kawaki's body, its mouth biting hard into his neck.
"Ah~" Kawaki winced in pain, mistaking it for an attack.
At the same moment, Boruto charged forward.
"Orochimaru! What are you doing to Kawaki?"
With Kāma's absorption ability, the Bijuudama couldn't kill Boruto. Though the wide-range attack's impact was uncomfortable, Kāma's power left him with plenty of fighting strength.
Seeing Orochimaru suddenly save Kawaki, Boruto was thrilled and relieved. But seeing Orochimaru attack Kawaki, he panicked, as Orochimaru's memories might also have been altered by Omnipotence.
"Calm down, I'm not hurting him."
Orochimaru dodged Boruto's attack, admiring his speed while explaining.
Boruto paused, then looked at Kawaki. He noticed a blue-black Cursed Seal with three Tomoe suddenly appear on Kawaki's bitten neck.
The blue-black Cursed Seal pattern, with Tomoe at its core, rapidly spread, soon covering Kawaki's entire body. Instantly, Kawaki's depleted chakra was fully restored, his physical stats surged dramatically, and his previous injuries healed quickly. Yet Kawaki felt no discomfort or signs of losing sanity.
"This is…?"
Kawaki stood, feeling refreshed and as if he could fight three hundred more rounds.
"Cursed Seal of Heaven: Modified."
"How do you like it?" Orochimaru answered.
Clearly, this was his own creation, derived from his research on Jūgo and the core essence of ninja world Senjutsu.
It allowed Sasuke to experience the immense power of a 'new tattoo version' over a decade ago. After years of refinement, all the original Cursed Seal's flaws were optimized.
Though not comparable to perfect Senjutsu, it was very close. Its enhancement effects on ninjas surpassed even Jūgo's and Orochimaru-Sasuke's past versions!
"Cursed Seal, isn't that a highly dangerous Forbidden Technique?" Boruto wondered.
"There's danger, but it's minimal now. And you, chosen as an Otsutsuki vessel, can certainly handle my Cursed Seal."
Kāma's inscription conditions were far stricter than the Cursed Seal's. If Kawaki could handle Kāma, the Cursed Seal of Heaven was no issue. In other words, Kawaki and Boruto were like universal keys—anyone could insert and easily unlock them.
"Kawaki, how do you feel?"
"I'm fine, feels great. It's like activating Kāma, with no mental pressure…"
Kawaki gave a confident answer, even comparing it to Kāma.
The Cursed Seal's upper limit wasn't as high as Kāma, which in its second form could grant god-level Six Paths power. But in compatibility, stability, and side effects, Orochimaru's years of modifications made it near perfection. When fully activated, it gave Kawaki power rivaling Sage Mode…
Hearing this, Boruto relaxed slightly, confirming Orochimaru didn't intend to harm Kawaki.
As for whether the Cursed Seal of Heaven hid Forbidden Technique secrets like Orochimaru's soul revival?
Boruto had no way to know. After all, even Sasuke wouldn't share embarrassing childhood stories like bedwetting with his student.
(But here's the problem. It makes sense for Orochimaru to save Kawaki, but why isn't he attacking me? I'm the infamous Otsutsuki Boruto now; even my mom and sister don't recognize me. As a Konoha ninja, Orochimaru wouldn't go easy on me, right?)
"Boruto-kun, why are you staring at me so curiously?" Orochimaru asked with a smile.
Boruto frowned, asking hesitantly: "Your memories haven't been altered?"
"Oh? When were my memories altered? I don't recall such a thing…" Orochimaru's eyes glinted, but he countered without flinching.
"Then why are you here?"
"I couldn't stand the new temporary Hokage, so I defected from Konoha. Now I'm a Rogue Ninja. Isn't it normal to seek an organization that accepts rogues?"
Boruto: (°Д°)!!
Kawaki: (O_o)??!!
Both were shocked. But defection from Orochimaru's mouth didn't seem incomprehensible.
After all, Konoha was now controlled by an enemy named Code, possibly a puppet of Isshiki. Neither Code nor Isshiki's personalities meshed with Orochimaru's; conflict upon meeting was natural.
Remember, Orochimaru wasn't one to tolerate humiliation. In this world, only three people could make him feel humbled: his teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen, his friend Jiraiya, and Sasuke's father… Even when Hashirama and Tobirama were revived, Orochimaru never fully submitted. Facing Code was even less likely…
"Wait… something's off!"
"Even if you defected, you shouldn't be seeking us or the Kara Organization."
"Shouldn't you go to Otogakure?"
After the Fourth Ninja World War, Orochimaru held a unique status in Konoha. Not an elder, but stronger than one!
Not only was he unrestricted, he maintained an external armed force like Otogakure and continued human experiments…
His treatment and power were no less than Danzō's back then, if not crazier.
It could only be said that, as Konoha's great hero who completed the 'dragon' mission (helping Sasuke), he deserved special treatment.
Thus, even if he truly defected, Orochimaru's own forces weren't weak, rivaling any major nation or village. Establishing an independent nation in Otogakure was feasible. He had no need to join another organization!
"Otsutsuki Boruto, you seem to know me well?" Orochimaru stared at Boruto, smirking.
"Tell me, what's your real motive?" Boruto grew wary.
Since Orochimaru's memories were altered, calling him Otsutsuki meant he was an enemy, not a friend. Boruto had to be cautious.
(This guy's a super scientist even Dad and Sensei feared, and Mitsuki's father or mother? I can't let my guard down!)
Orochimaru didn't respond directly, instead eyeing the Kāma seal on Boruto's body with excitement, clearly intrigued.
"This is the Otsutsuki Clan's Kāma? Quite similar to my Cursed Seal—truly fascinating!"
"But are you sure you want to keep fighting me?"
"Your condition doesn't seem great, does it? Trouble with Kāma?"
As Orochimaru said, Boruto's state was poor. He was frowning, sweating profusely, with bruises across his body, and the Kāma seal growing brighter and denser…
Clearly, as time passed, Kāma increasingly affected Boruto's mind, trying to shift into Phase Two to seize control of his body.
Boruto had to grit his teeth and endure, diverting most of his focus and strength to suppress Kāma's erosion. But this only delayed, not cured, the issue.
Even the older Boruto from the future couldn't overcome Kāma's weakness, only suppress it—let alone the current Boruto.
"My condition's not great, but it's enough to kill you!" Boruto answered honestly, threatening coldly.
He didn't want to fight Orochimaru; he only hoped Orochimaru would understand and back off, not obstructing him and Kawaki. Otherwise, he'd have to be rude to Orochimaru.
Though Orochimaru was his teacher's teacher, Boruto couldn't let anything hinder their plan to save his father!
(Hmm? Kill me?)
(Youngsters these days sure love to boast!)
Hearing this, Orochimaru couldn't help but smile, as if recalling something amusing.
As the ninja world's number-one 'death-resistant king,' Orochimaru feared no threat of death.
Of course, the current Orochimaru no longer licked his lips often. Compared to his lone past self, having Mitsuki made him more mindful of his appearance.
"Boruto-kun, no need to be so wary."
"I'm here to help, not to be your enemy."
"Believe it or not, that's the truth."
"Besides, your target is the Hachibi Jinchūriki, right? Let me help you complete the capture mission."
"That's enough to show my sincerity, isn't it?"
Boruto and Kawaki exchanged glances, both shocked by Orochimaru's offer.
Orochimaru wanted to help them capture Hachibi?
"What's your plan?" Kawaki distrusted other Konoha ninjas, especially Orochimaru.
"Plan? Even without my interference, in your current state, can you really defeat Hachibi?"
Both fell silent.
Though Kawaki gained a boost from the Cursed Seal, defeating Hachibi alone wasn't guaranteed.
And Boruto, though capable of beating Orochimaru with Kāma's power, would likely have no strength left to capture Hachibi. If the fight continued, Kāma might spiral out of control, letting Momoshiki take over again.
Compared to that, letting Orochimaru try might not be a bad idea.
"Fine! If you can capture the Hachibi Jinchūriki, I'm willing to take you to meet Sensei and consider letting you join the Kara Organization!" Boruto gritted his teeth and agreed.
"Meet Otsutsuki Sasuke? Good, good, good!" Orochimaru grew more excited.
Infiltrating the Kara Organization was indeed his mission. As for what would actually happen? He'd wait until he uncovered the full truth.
"Hachibi's escaped—can you track its location?" Kawaki pressed.
Gyūki wasn't foolish. After firing the Bijuudama and seeing Orochimaru block it, Killer B and Gyūki didn't hesitate, immediately retreating.
Joking aside, others might not know Orochimaru's terror, but how could he, a Fourth Ninja World War veteran, not know?
Even without mentioning Orochimaru himself, the horde of freaks he revived with Edo Tensei was enough to trample him. Add the formidable Otsutsuki Boruto?
No chance, absolutely no chance… With the cannon destroyed, retreating was the best choice. When it came to escaping, he could always trust Killer B's decisiveness and skill.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
While Orochimaru and Boruto negotiated, Gyūki had fled far, now impossible to catch.
Orochimaru clearly didn't care: "A lowly Bijuu can't escape my grasp!"
He confidently produced an item.
It was an electronic compass with a chakra metal needle, its other end connected to a small test tube containing a tiny piece of Gyūki's horn.
This was a Gyūki cell Orochimaru acquired years ago, biotechnologically grown into a large horn. This fragment was taken from it. By extracting chakra from the horn piece through a special device, guided by the compass, he could easily track Gyūki's escape direction.
"This can track Hachibi?"
"Of course…"
Boruto and Kawaki were stunned. They'd struggled so hard just to find Gyūki, expending immense effort. Yet Orochimaru could effortlessly track a Bijuu anytime.
How could they compare? This made Boruto feel like a backward native.
Was scientific ninjutsu truly the core?
"Alright! What are we waiting for? Hurry and catch Hachibi!" Kawaki urged impatiently.
But Orochimaru wasn't rushed, calmly clasping his hands and replying:
"No need to act personally."
"Leave capturing a Bijuu to the expert."
"Edo Tensei!"