Tsunade frowned, gathering chakra: "Fool, still trying to fight!"
Shikamaru quietly formed hand seals: "Be careful, don't harm Himawari!"
Kabuto pushed up his glasses: "His chakra aura has changed—that strange pattern might be like a Cursed Seal, boosting his power!"
Boruto moved. He vanished from his spot, turning into a yellow light, charging at Mitsuki, who was at the forefront.
(So fast!)
Mitsuki was shocked inwardly, realizing the enemy's explosive speed surpassed his own in Sage Mode, completely different from before.
Coupled with his hatred for Ōtsutsuki Boruto, he didn't dare hold back, immediately unleashing a major technique.
"Senpō: Ōja Raida!"
A long, blue-green chakra snake of Senjutsu shot out, rushing straight at Boruto.
Boruto didn't dodge, extending his right hand, activating his Kama ability to meet the blue snake.
To Mitsuki's astonishment, his Senjutsu snake was easily absorbed by the core of Boruto's Kama Seal in his right palm, causing no damage at all.
Boruto closed in, landing a punch to Mitsuki's stomach.
*BANG!*
The force was so immense it nearly made Mitsuki see flashes of his life, his eyes rolling back slightly as he fainted on the spot.
Though he lost due to a lack of information, Boruto with Kama Phase One defeating Sage Mode Mitsuki in one hit was utterly overwhelming.
Seeing this, Konohamaru in the distance widened his eyes.
(What was that? He was clearly trading blows with me earlier—did he hold back on purpose?)
Boruto kicked the unconscious Mitsuki, charging toward the barrier's edge.
Once he touched the barrier, he could absorb it with his Kama Seal and break through!
Tsūtenkyaku!
Tsunade on the left exploded into action, chakra gathering in her leg, stomping hard on the ground.
*CRACK!*
The ground split violently, creating uneven terrain, slowing Boruto's movement and reducing his speed.
"Kumo Mayu!"
Kabuto on the right activated his secret transplant jutsu, spitting out a massive web that fell from the sky, trapping Boruto.
"Fūton: Daitoppa!"
Boruto looked up and performed a jutsu, unleashing a powerful gust comparable to an air cannon, instantly tearing apart the giant spider web in the air.
But seizing this brief delay, Shikamaru activated his signature technique, Kagemane no Jutsu.
Shadows flowed through the cracks of the ground shattered by Tsunade's stomp, instantly slithering and extending under Boruto's feet, locking him in place!
"Got him!"
Shikamaru was elated. Anyone caught by his Kagemane no Jutsu was essentially guaranteed defeat.
Especially with so many Konoha teammates around.
Unfortunately, all ninjutsu under the abnormal pressure of the Ōtsutsuki Kama Seal was like a low-dimensional attack.
While locked by Shikamaru's shadow, Boruto reactivated his Kama power, forcibly absorbing the shadow beneath his feet!
"What? My ninjutsu…"
Shikamaru was stunned, not expecting even his shadow to be breached. But the next second, Tsunade attacked.
A terrifying punch imbued with monstrous strength struck Boruto. He crossed his arms to block, but pure taijutsu couldn't be absorbed by Kama.
*BOOM!*
Tsunade's monstrous strength punch snapped Boruto's kunai, then broke his left arm's bones, the remaining force pouring into his body.
It sent him flying like a bullet, hurling him dozens of meters away.
Boruto struggled to twist his body mid-air, not daring to land on his back to avoid hurting Himawari.
He could only land on his front, sliding over ten meters on the ground, bloodying his knees and palms.
Boruto staggered to his feet, spitting out blood. Tsunade's punch nearly killed him!
Though he defeated Mitsuki, in just one round, Boruto was gravely injured by Shikamaru and the others' teamwork.
Even with Kama Phase One, giving him Kage-level combat power, facing five opponents alone was still too tough.
"He…"
Seeing Boruto choose to take the injury himself to protect Himawari, Konohamaru was slightly moved. But clearly, he wasn't the one leading here.
"This guy's weird—that mark on his hand seems to absorb ninjutsu!"
Shikamaru keenly noticed Boruto's Kama Seal ability. He'd heard details of the "Seventh Hokage's" battle with Momoshiki, so he naturally connected it to the Ōtsutsuki's unique ability.
"Can absorb ninjutsu? As expected, taijutsu is more effective!"
Tsunade clenched her fists, shattering the air, preparing to attack again.
"Let me handle it!"
"The Fifth Hokage's power is too strong—if it harms Himawari, it'll be bad."
Kabuto stopped Tsunade, preparing to get serious.
Besides Naruto and Sasuke, he was Konoha's true hidden ace. In terms of dueling strength, even Orochimaru was inferior.
Don't be fooled by his low profile as the orphanage head—his power hadn't waned. After all, he was one of the two eccentrics in the ninja world who grew younger with age.
Kabuto instantly activated Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode, dragon horns sprouting on his head, and reactivated his secret transplant jutsu.
"Magen: Gamaranrappa!"
Boruto's Kama could absorb all ninjutsu, but this long-range sound-based genjutsu couldn't be absorbed, perfect for countering Ōtsutsuki!
(Danger—this is an auditory genjutsu!)
Boruto was alarmed. All genjutsu were troublesome, especially rare auditory ones.
(I remember Sensei said how to counter auditory genjutsu—you need to block your hearing!)
(But how do I block my hearing?)
(Got it!)
Boruto pulled out two kunai and, without hesitation, stabbed toward his ears.
Instantly, he pierced both eardrums, physically blocking his hearing!
Boruto stood, blood streaming from his ears, the extreme pain making his face more resolute and determined.
With Kama, most injuries meant nothing to him. His previously severed right palm, broken left arm bones from Tsunade, and fractured ribs were quickly healed by Kama's regeneration.
A minor genjutsu couldn't stop him.
"Sss—!"
"Interesting, I didn't expect this Ōtsutsuki kid to be so ruthless to himself."
Kabuto stopped the demonic sound genjutsu, muttering in slight admiration. But this didn't change the outcome.
Now transformed into a dragon, he wouldn't let Ōtsutsuki Boruto escape alive.
"Shikotsumyaku: Sawarabi no Mai!"
Kabuto activated another jutsu, using Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkai Shikotsumyaku. This physical bone attack shouldn't be absorbable.
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
Instantly, countless sharp bones emerged from the ground, stabbing at Boruto.
Boruto hurriedly dodged, evading the bones with speed.
"Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Konohamaru launched a combined attack, firing countless shuriken that blanketed the sky toward Boruto, further restricting his movement.
Boruto dodged and blocked, but the attacks grew denser.
He knew he couldn't hold out long.
With his current strength, he might not even defeat Kabuto, let alone break through the five-person encirclement normally.
Unless he used a little special trick…
"Chō Ōdama Rasengan!"
Boruto created a massive Rasengan but didn't attack others, instead slamming it into the ground.
*BOOM!*
The Chō Ōdama Rasengan exploded violently, clearing most of the nearby Shikotsumyaku bones, deflecting many shuriken, and kicking up thick smoke to obscure vision.
Kabuto used Fūton to quickly blow away the smoke and dust.
When everyone locked onto Boruto again, they found him beside the unconscious Mitsuki, holding a kunai to his throat, taking his best friend hostage.
(Sorry, Mitsuki, I have to borrow you for a bit!)
(After this is over, whatever you want me to do, I'll make it up to you!)
Boruto silently apologized in his heart.
Though he pitied Mitsuki, he had no other choice. He couldn't actually fight Kabuto and Tsunade head-on, could he?
If so, forget saving Himawari—he might die here himself.
(For the final victory, my dear sister, you'll have to suffer a bit!)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Seeing Boruto take Mitsuki hostage, the others' expressions changed.
Kabuto was forced to stop, holding back the others.
Mitsuki was Orochimaru's beloved child—he couldn't fall here.
Why didn't this Ōtsutsuki Boruto use Himawari as a threat and instead took Mitsuki hostage?
Thinking about this now was pointless.
Perhaps the Kara organization needed to capture Himawari alive?
In any case, they wouldn't risk Mitsuki's life…
"Everyone, stop!"
"I just want to leave. If you don't move, I won't hurt him!"
"I can't hear anything now, so don't try to trick me!"
Boruto held Mitsuki hostage, warning them while moving toward the barrier's edge.
Once he touched the barrier and used his Kama Seal to breach it, he'd release Mitsuki and escape Konoha with Himawari.
Konohamaru: "What do we do?"
Shikamaru: "Don't move recklessly—don't endanger Mitsuki!"
Tsunade: "Damn Ōtsutsuki kid, I won't forgive you!"
Kabuto: "Don't worry, he won't escape…"
They all halted their attacks, watching Boruto approach the barrier. They didn't have Sasuke's madness and ruthlessness to eliminate hostages along with the enemy.
Soon, Boruto reached the barrier's edge.
As he touched the barrier with his right hand, preparing to absorb and breach it, Mitsuki, whom he was holding hostage, slowly woke up.
Mitsuki came to, instantly realizing he was being held hostage by Ōtsutsuki Boruto!
How could this happen?
Fainting from one of Boruto's attacks was bad enough, and now he was a hostage for his escape. If this succeeded, how could he live with dignity in the village?
"Ōtsutsuki Boruto! I'll never let you succeed."
"My sun—I must protect it myself!!!"
Mitsuki roared, deciding in his heart not to give Boruto a chance to escape.
So he suddenly exerted force, struggling, deliberately pressing his neck against the kunai in Boruto's hand.
He was prepared to die by the enemy's hand.
He'd rather die than tarnish his "sun"!
Of course, he didn't know that the sun he swore to protect was the Boruto holding him hostage…
"!!!"
Boruto, in the middle of breaching the barrier, was shocked. He never expected Mitsuki, upon waking, to go crazy, willing to die just to stop his escape.
But how could Boruto bear to kill his best friend Mitsuki?
He could only quickly pull back his left hand, twisting the kunai to avoid Mitsuki's neck.
Mitsuki was stunned: (O_o)??
(This Ōtsutsuki Boruto doesn't intend to kill me? But when he killed Lady Hinata, he was so decisive and ruthless…)
Before Mitsuki could react, Kabuto and the others seized this golden opportunity.
As Boruto released Mitsuki, Kabuto controlled a bone to shoot instantly from the ground, aiming straight for Boruto's heart!
Boruto's vision and position were locked, completely unaware of the bone attack.
Even if he noticed, he had no time to dodge.
He couldn't crash into the barrier behind him with Himawari—she'd be burned by the Shishienjin…
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
Mitsuki saw the approaching bone first, about to graze his left chest and stab Boruto behind him.
He should be happy, thrilled, excited!
Killing this evil Ōtsutsuki Boruto would be great news for all of Konoha!
But Mitsuki's heart began to ache.
His memories grew chaotic.
As if a voice reminded him not to let Ōtsutsuki Boruto die here!
*SWOOSH!*
Before Mitsuki's heart reached a conclusion, his body moved first. He forcibly shifted left, blocking the bone in front of Boruto.
He didn't know why he had to take the attack for an Ōtsutsuki, but his subconscious told him that if he didn't, he'd regret it and fall into darkness!
Just as Boruto couldn't bear to harm him, he couldn't bear to see Boruto hurt!
*PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!*
The bone pierced Mitsuki's body, penetrating his heart, stopping just in front of Boruto.
Boruto only then realized Mitsuki had taken a nearly unavoidable bone attack for him!
"Mitsuki?!!!"
Boruto stopped breaching the barrier, his right hand instantly cutting the bone, catching Mitsuki in front of him.
"Who are you? Why…?"
Mitsuki's memories were completely scrambled, even blurring Boruto's and Kawaki's faces. The enemy before him seemed to become his warmest sun…
"Mitsuki!!!"
Boruto roared, his surging emotions instantly flooding his mind, his strong will reactivating the pale blue Jōgan!
At the same time, the Kama Seal, freed from mental suppression, broke through its limits, entering the strongest Kama Phase Two!
"He killed Mitsuki!"
"Damn Ōtsutsuki Boruto!"
"Damn it, no more holding back!"
Tsunade and the others in the distance grew even more furious.
Being far away, they couldn't see the details.
They only thought Boruto deliberately used Mitsuki to block the bone attack, causing his death.
Facing this despicable Ōtsutsuki beast, Tsunade and the others no longer cared to hold back, only wanting to kill Boruto immediately!
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Kabuto unleashed ninjutsu fully, firing dozens of bones from the ground toward Boruto.
Tsunade charged at Boruto, swinging a blade at his head, her pure killing intent surpassing even the Will of Fire!