"Sarada!"
"Let Sumire go!"
Kawaki and Eida shouted in terror, though they already knew how cruel and terrifying Isshiki was.
But witnessing firsthand the enemy breaking through their entire group in less than ten seconds, with no one able to withstand a single attack, the bone-chilling fear and suffocation still drove them to near despair.
"Oh? Are you ordering me?"
Isshiki glared at Eida and the others with a savage, mad grin, sneering like a demon.
"Eida, didn't I tell you? The price of betrayal is steep—I'll make you feel it slowly!"
"Nonsense, Big Sister doesn't belong to you! I won't let you hurt her!"
Daemon, on Eida's back, roared.
He didn't care much about others' deaths, but he'd never let Isshiki harm Eida, so he didn't dare let go of his sister, maintaining his divine reflection ability.
"Is that so?"
"No matter. We have plenty of time—savor the despair slowly!"
Isshiki exerted force with one hand, snapping Sumire's neck and tossing her aside like a rag.
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
At the same time, several black rods fell, restraining Edo Tensei Itachi and Shisui as they reformed, locking their chakra and resistance.
Then, he turned his gaze to Kabuto and Himawari, the last ones still alive.
These humans who dared fool him—he wouldn't spare a single one.
After all, Isshiki's targets were only Kawaki and Eida.
As for Himawari? Though he promised Momoshiki to bring her back, Isshiki planned to eliminate Momoshiki anyway, so why honor the agreement?
Better to kill them all.
It was simpler and would intimidate Kawaki and Eida.
Seeing Isshiki prepare to finish Kabuto and Himawari, Kawaki panicked.
He didn't care about Kabuto, but he cared about Himawari! Or rather, he cared most about the Rinnegan she carried!
It was the only hope to revive the victims!
If Isshiki crushed it to dust with one blow, everything would be over!
That couldn't happen!
Even if he had to sacrifice himself!
"Take Himawari and run!"
Kawaki gritted his teeth fiercely, whispering to Eida.
Then, with a surge of power, amidst Eida's confused gaze, he spread his arms.
Shukuchi!
Kawaki activated a jutsu from Tenshou Sennin, turning into a puff of green smoke, sinking into the ground, and escaping far away.
*WHOOSH!*
Kawaki reappeared a thousand meters away, accelerating his escape.
'What?!!!'
Isshiki, seeing this, was stunned, halting his intent to slaughter Kabuto and Himawari, unable to comprehend how Kawaki could suddenly move so fast, so far…
It was almost like teleportation!
But how could Isshiki let Kawaki, the duck already in his mouth, fly away?
He was his perfect resurrection vessel!
Isshiki glanced at Eida and made a decision.
He'd chase Kawaki first!
Kawaki was definitely the real body, and without Daemon's protection, he could be easily caught once overtaken.
As for here, Daemon was burdened by Eida and couldn't escape far; plus, Himawari had his white Kama tracker, so she couldn't escape.
Chasing Kawaki was the priority—Kawaki must not escape!
*BOOM!*
Isshiki vanished, creating a massive sonic boom, chasing Kawaki in the distance.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Idiot! How could he escape Isshiki's pursuit?"
Eida was frantic. She had some feelings for Kawaki—after all, someone cursed with charm craved rare, pure love.
Thus, she didn't want to see Kawaki caught by Isshiki and turned into a resurrection vessel.
But now, without her and Daemon's protection, how could Kawaki alone escape Isshiki's grasp?
It was suicide!
"Hmph! That kid's got some guts."
Daemon snorted softly, inwardly respecting Kawaki more. Sacrificing his life to distract the enemy, giving them a chance to escape, was commendable.
He was worthy of his sister's affection.
"Sis, let's go!"
Daemon urged. Not out of callousness, but they had no choice.
If alone, he'd fight Isshiki head-on, but protecting his sister weakened his combat power.
They lacked space-time abilities. If they didn't use Kawaki's diversion to escape, once Isshiki caught Kawaki and returned, they'd all be doomed.
"Alright."
Eida reluctantly agreed but didn't give up on Himawari.
"Take them all!"
Daemon carried Eida, rushing to Kabuto's side, preparing to take him along.
Kabuto spat out Himawari, his battered body mostly healed by his super-strong recovery.
"I can walk myself."
Kabuto refused Daemon, then carried Himawari, preparing to retreat.
*BUZZ!*
The space trembled slightly.
Amenominaka!
Lux appeared with two figures.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Finally out! Where is this? Sasuke and the others…"
Naruto returned to the world, feeling familiar sunlight and warmth, instantly overjoyed.
He immediately focused on the location and situation.
But the next second, he spotted figures nearby.
"Who are you? Kabuto… no, Headmaster Kabuto!"
"Himawari!!!"
Naruto didn't recognize Eida and Daemon but instantly recognized Kabuto and his daughter.
*WHOOSH!*
A golden flash—Naruto rushed to Eida and the others.
Daemon's eyes twitched, almost mistaking it for another attack!
Fortunately, Eida had seen Naruto through her Senrigan, recognizing the Seventh Hokage, and stopped Daemon's reflex.
"O-Ōtsutsuki Na-Naruto!"
Himawari, carried by Kabuto, screamed.
Already terrified by Isshiki's bloody massacre, seeing 'Ōtsutsuki Naruto' suddenly appear overwhelmed her, and she fainted.
"Himawari?!!!"
Naruto, alarmed, rushed to his daughter.
"She's fine, just fainted because you scared her." Kabuto explained.
"Thank goodness…"
Naruto sighed in relief, though it stung to be seen as a villain, scaring his daughter unconscious. As long as Himawari was safe, it was enough.
"You're the Seventh Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto?"
Eida stared at Naruto in glowing Kurama Sage Mode, unclear how the Seventh Hokage appeared now.
"Yes, that's me. Who are you two?"
"Eida, and this is Daemon."
"Oh, you guys!"
Naruto was delighted, having heard their names from Toneri and knowing they were allies, not enemies.
"You're really Naruto? The Seventh Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto?"
Kabuto asked with slight doubt and excitement. Despite Omnipotence's distorted memories, it was good he didn't see Naruto as an enemy.
"Yes, it's me! Kabuto, your memories were altered too? This ability is terrifying…"
Naruto muttered, then asked about the situation.
"By the way, what happened here? Why's there so much blood? Is that Sumire? And Itachi? You all…"
Naruto looked around, seeing horrific battle scars.
Cratered ground, splattered blood, Edo Tensei Itachi and Shisui trapped by black rods, and Sumire on the ground…
Seeing this, Naruto's pupils narrowed, an unsettling suspicion rising…
"Naruto! We were attacked by Isshiki…"
Though Edo Tensei Itachi was restrained by black rods, his mouth wasn't sealed, and he explained.
"He killed Sumire?!!!"
Naruto flashed to Sumire's side, confirming her death.
Boruto's class president, a Root orphan—he knew her well; she might've been his daughter-in-law!
"Not just Sumire…"
"Who else?"
Naruto's body trembled, fear growing, but he had to listen.
"Kakashi, and…"
Itachi, filled with regret and pain, hated himself for failing to protect his only niece, unable to say it.
"Kakashi-sensei! He really killed Kakashi-sensei? And who else?!!!"
Naruto's eyes reddened, pure killing intent surging, chilling Eida and Daemon.
"And Sarada…"
Kabuto gave the final answer for Itachi.
Hearing this…
*BOOM!*
A terrifying chakra pressure erupted from Naruto, nine Truth-Seeking Balls appearing behind him, a radiant golden Six Paths chakra cloak forming, a golden chakra vortex soaring, invisibly repelling surrounding dust, creating a pure chakra vacuum.
At this moment, Naruto wanted to slap himself to death!
True, he'd gained this power from Lux.
But the problem was his hesitation!
He'd wasted so much time hesitating…
If he'd agreed earlier, returned sooner, he might've stopped Isshiki, saved Kakashi and Sarada!
'Damn it, why was I so stupid?'
Most people are like that, Naruto included—regret only deepens after loss!
Regretting why he couldn't decide faster.
"Seventh Hokage, please save Kawaki!"
Eida mustered her courage, pleading with Naruto in Six Paths Mode.
Naruto in Six Paths Mode locked eyes with Eida and Daemon.
Daemon reacted, sensing Naruto's terrifying pressure, like Six Paths Sasuke's, making him sweat coldly, even wanting to retreat with his sister.
Fortunately, Naruto's eyes held no malice or killing intent, or he'd have been repelled by the Divine Technique.
"Kawaki?"
Eida's plea snapped Naruto out of it—now wasn't the time for regret.
Eliminating the enemy, saving surviving family—that was most important.
"Kawaki distracted Isshiki alone to save us; he's being chased by Isshiki now!"
"Where are they?"
"That direction, about fifty kilometers away, still moving fast…"
Eida activated her Senrigan, tracking Kawaki and Isshiki, pointing the way.
"Alright, thank you."
"Leave Kawaki to me—I won't let him get hurt again."
Naruto was calm, yet furious and cold.
He didn't attack immediately, wary of another enemy ambush. Sending the wounded and survivors to safety was more urgent.
He'd lost too much—he couldn't let Himawari and the others get hurt again.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
Naruto clapped his hands, summoning Gamabunta, preparing to send Himawari and the others to Mount Myōboku first.
"Wait, Naruto, take this!"
Kabuto retrieved the Rinnegan from Himawari, handing it to Naruto.
"This is Sasuke's Rinnegan?!!!"
"Sasuke?!!!"
Naruto's emotions surged, nearly thinking Sasuke had sacrificed himself, his hardened chakra exploding, cratering the ground, almost choking Kabuto with blood.
"Sasuke's still alive! He's fighting in Konoha, but he won't last long!"
"Good! I'll support him soon!"
Naruto, relieved, took the Rinnegan.
Without hesitation, he ordered Gamabunta to swallow Himawari, Eida, Daemon, Edo Tensei Itachi, and Shisui.
It exploded into white mist, sending them all to Mount Myōboku.
As for Kabuto, after a brief rest, his wounds had mostly healed, and he could still muster some combat power, so he volunteered to stay.
With Edo Tensei Itachi watching, Himawari should be fine.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After sending Himawari and the others, Naruto in Six Paths Mode flashed back to Lux and Toneri.
"Lord, I'm going to save Kawaki!"
Naruto's face was cold and resolute. Lux knew this was nearly Naruto's breaking point.
This lifelong kindhearted ninja demon might now be crueler than Sasuke!
Like a serious Hashirama.
The kinder someone is, the more terrifying they become when pushed past their limit!
"Decided to save Kawaki first?"
Naruto wanted to support Sasuke, but Kawaki couldn't be abandoned. If Isshiki got Kawaki and revived perfectly, he'd be even harder to face.
So Kawaki was equally critical.
Fortunately, he wasn't alone now.
"Toneri, please help Sasuke! I'll return after saving Kawaki. Once it's over, I'll fulfill all your requests!"
Naruto asked Toneri to support Sasuke and the village first.
"Alright!"
Toneri agreed readily, not for Naruto's body but purely to save Boruto.
*BUZZ!*
Toneri opened his right eye, the Tenseigan granted by Lux glowing again.
Instantly, he activated Tenseigan Chakra Mode, returning to his peak power!
"Then I'll send you both."
With the contract set, Lux wouldn't skimp on support.
He opened two space-time gates, one to Konoha, one to Kawaki's location.
Naruto in Six Paths Mode and Toneri in Tenseigan Mode exchanged glances, then surged forward, turning into golden and blue light streams, passing through the space-time gates!