Chapter 24:
"So, you just tucked your tails between your legs and ran back?"
The setting sun cast long rays through the windows of an abandoned warehouse, painting the floor in golden hues. Hassaku Onomichi and his group of underlings were kneeling before Shizuma Hoshigaki.
"N-no, it's not like that, I… uh, Kagura, he… and the Sharingan…"
Hassaku Onomichi trembled as he spoke, his voice shaky.
"Don't make excuses. I hate people who make excuses."
"And don't worry—I'm not going to do anything to you. But, Hassaku Onomichi, let these little brats from Konoha experience what it's like to deal with the Bloody Mist."
Shizuma Hoshigaki placed a hand on Hassaku Onomichi's trembling shoulder.
"Yes, sir," Hassaku Onomichi finally said.
After dusk comes the dark of night.
After dinner, before bedtime, was the designated period for free activity.
Following the meal, Uchiha Itachi disappeared from sight.
"Who would've thought I'd be able to find discontinued toy parts even here?"
Denki Kaminarimon carried two heavy shopping bags in both hands, slowly making his way back to the hotel. After downing a second dose of the shrinking serum, he reverted to his original form—Uchiha Itachi, also known as the Flaming Cloud Evil God of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers—secretly trailing behind Denki.
As Denki passed an alley shrouded in mist, he suddenly stopped, staring blankly ahead.
"A genjutsu… Using chakra dispersed in mist to create illusions."
From a rooftop above, Uchiha Itachi watched as Denki slowly stepped into the fog-filled alley, only to be seized by figures emerging from the mist.
In Denki's perception, the alley appeared to be the path leading to the hotel.
Itachi didn't react—he simply continued to tail the group who had captured Denki.
In this world, aside from Sasuke and Naruto, even against the leaders of the other four villages, Uchiha Itachi was confident he could stand his ground.
Kidnapping Denki was nothing difficult. What Itachi really wanted was to understand the purpose of those who had taken him.
What Itachi didn't realize, however, was that someone else was following behind him—Sasuke, who had come to Kirigakure incognito to investigate the current status of the Mizukage.
Sasuke had originally planned to secretly meet with the Mizukage that night. But along the way, he happened to run into the Flaming Cloud Evil God.
The moment he saw him, Sasuke suspected that the Mizukage, Chōjūrō, might already be under the control of a Mangekyō Sharingan.
And when Sasuke saw his daughter's classmate being kidnapped, he didn't rush out and reveal himself. Instead, he continued to trail the Flaming Cloud Evil God in secret.
"Denki's taking forever… What's keeping him?"
Boruto lay sprawled on the bed, bored. Quite a while had passed since Denki had gone out to shop. In the room with him were Shikadai, son of Shikamaru, and Inojin, son of Sai.
"Yeah, it's been a long time," Inojin said, glancing at the TV.
He had inherited his father Sai's pale skin, and his mother Ino's blond hair and blue eyes.
At that moment, a strange sound came from outside the window.
Boruto got up from the bed, walked over, and pulled back the curtain.
A red liquid—resembling blood—was smeared across the window.
As Boruto drew back the curtain, the liquid began to morph, forming letters.
"This is… a Water Style jutsu?" Shikadai quickly deduced. "Only a Water Release technique could shape liquid into words." He continued reading the message formed by the blood-like red fluid: "We've got your friend. If you want to get him back, come to Pier No. 4."
"This is… a kidnapping!"
Boruto cried out.
"In any case, we need to find Kagura first. As for who's behind this, I think it's probably that group we ran into this afternoon," Shikadai said quickly. Inojin then pulled Kagura over to Boruto's room, and behind them was Mitsuki.
"This chakra signature…" Kagura approached the window with a solemn expression. "It's definitely Hassaku Onomichi's chakra."
"Who are they?" Boruto asked Kagura.
"Hassaku Onomichi. He was a fellow genin with me back in the academy. He could never accept how our village had turned into a tourist destination," Kagura explained with a grim look. If this incident wasn't handled carefully, it could strain relations between Kirigakure and Konoha.
Right now, Kirigakure was no match for Konoha. In fact, ever since the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War, not even all the villages combined could rival Konoha.
"We have to go rescue Denki right now," Boruto said, worried for his friend's safety.
"No—we need to report this to Lord Chōjūrō first," Kagura insisted. Acting without permission could turn this into a diplomatic incident. It was best to inform the Mizukage and let him decide.
"No way! If this blows up, the school trip will be cancelled!" Boruto exclaimed. As the school trip committee representative, he had to make sure the trip went smoothly from start to finish.
"Hey, you're really strong, aren't you? I think we'll be fine even without involving the adults," Mitsuki chimed in. As long as Boruto wanted something, Mitsuki would agree. Whatever Boruto wanted to do, he'd help make it happen. Boruto was his sun.
"Please help us, Kagura," Boruto said, putting his hands together in a pleading gesture.
"...Alright," Kagura hesitated, then agreed to help.
Boruto was the Hokage's son—Kagura was willing to earn his friendship.
"It's been a while already—we need to move quickly. We can't let too many people find out. Just the few of us will do."
Boruto looked at Kagura, Mitsuki, Shikadai, and Inojin.
…
"It should be around here."
Led by Kagura, the group arrived at Pier No. 4. At that moment, Hassaku Onomichi and his underlings came out, dragging Denki along.
"Denki! Are you okay?"
"Hey! Let him go—now!"
Seeing Denki appear, Boruto immediately stepped forward.
"That depends on how you perform."
"If all of you get down on your knees and beg, maybe I'll consider it."
A smug grin spread across Hassaku Onomichi's face.
What he didn't know was that not far away, on two separate rooftops, were two hidden powerhouses: Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke.
"Like hell we'd kneel to the likes of you. Don't push your luck," Boruto said, clenching his fists and glaring angrily.
"Hassaku Onomichi, enough already! What good will come of this?" Kagura also fixed Hassaku Onomichi with a stern gaze. He truly didn't want to see ties between Konoha and Kirigakure severed over something like this.
"Shut up, you Konoha-bootlicking mutt. Get lost." Hassaku Onomichi struck a mocking pose, drawing laughter from his cronies, before snapping into a serious expression. "This is war—between us and Konoha!"