Chapter 28:
In a remote forest, Uchiha Itachi stabbed a Flying Thunder God kunai into the ground.
"Well done, Comrade Flaming Cloud Evil God."
"I'm taking the heir of the Kaminarimon Corporation back now. You should head back soon too—if you're gone too long, your identity as 'Shuyu' might raise suspicion from Boruto and the others."
With a flash, Shunhi appeared before Uchiha Itachi.
A husky head, sunglasses, and a black suit.
"Alright, what's my next mission?"
After taking the shrinking potion from Shunhi again and reverting to his 'Shuyu' identity, Uchiha Itachi nodded.
"I'll let you know when a new mission comes."
Carrying Denki, Shunhi once again activated the Flying Thunder God technique and disappeared.
Perhaps due to the increasing distance from Uchiha Itachi, the Sharingan genjutsu cast on Denki gradually weakened and eventually dissipated.
"Where… is this place…?"
Inside a cave, Denki was tied up at both the hands and feet.
"You're awake."
Shunhi squatted in front of the fallen Denki.
"A… talking dog?"
As Denki opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a husky's head wearing sunglasses.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm the Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. You can call me Husky."
"Let me briefly explain your current situation."
"You've been kidnapped. I hope your father is willing to exchange your life for a hundred million ryō. Otherwise…"
Shunhi didn't finish the sentence—because that's how it's always done in TV dramas.
In truth, Shunhi was also leaving himself a way out. In case the plan failed and Sasuke or Naruto came after him, he'd still have a line of defense ready.
…
"Shikadai, Inojin, where did you go…" Sarada called out when she saw Shikadai and Inojin return to the hotel. Then her eyes landed on Kagura, who was right behind them, and the groaning, pained Boruto in Kagura's arms. "What happened to Boruto?!"
"No time to explain. Call the teacher back immediately. We need to leave and return to the Leaf Village," Shikadai urged her.
"No need. I can dispel the genjutsu myself."
Sasuke suddenly appeared beside Shikadai.
"Dad?! You're here too? Do you know what happened to Boruto?"
Seeing Sasuke's sudden arrival, Sarada was both surprised and worried. She looked anxiously at Boruto.
"He was hit by a Sharingan genjutsu," Sasuke explained briefly while approaching Kagura, who was holding Boruto. His Rinnegan eye appeared. "Genjutsu: Release."
As the genjutsu was dispelled, Boruto gradually calmed down. After a long while, he finally opened his eyes with difficulty. "Uncle Sasuke… I think I saw the Leaf Village destroyed. Dad, Mom, and Himawari were all killed by that mysterious masked man…"
"It was just a Sharingan genjutsu. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to Naruto or the village."
Hearing Sasuke's voice, Boruto finally passed out with a sense of relief.
Even though he always acted like he hated his old man, he didn't actually want to see him die.
"All students of the Leaf Village Ninja Academy, assemble for roll call. Once your teacher returns, we'll head straight back to the village."
…
"Our daimyo sees the unrest in Central Sea as a chance to expand his influence. As a result, the daimyo of the Land of Water still refuses to sign a peace treaty."
"Troublesome indeed. Well, Chōjūrō and I will do our best to persuade him. Ao, who's stationed by the daimyo's side, will also assist."
Mei Terumi walked alongside Shino Aburame and Anko Mitarashi as she spoke.
"Then we'll leave it to you, Lady Mei," said Shino at the hotel entrance.
Sasuke wasn't the only one with a mission in the Land of Water—Shino and Anko had tasks of their own as well.
The daimyo's refusal to sign the peace treaty had become a source of instability in the otherwise peaceful shinobi world.
"Sensei."
As Shino, Anko, and Mei parted ways, Uchiha Itachi stepped out from the shadows.
"Oh my, just in time for roll call before bed. You're back right on schedule."
"Otherwise, there would've been punishment~"
Anko smiled at Uchiha Itachi, holding a skewer of dango in her hand.
As she aged and her weight increased, so did her appetite for dango.
"You're back just in time."
Seeing that Shino and Anko had returned—and casting a glance at Shuyu—Sasuke's earlier unease settled somewhat.
"Sasuke, what are you doing here?"
Compared to Anko, Shino, who had once been part of the original Konoha 12, was more familiar with Sasuke.
"We'll talk more once we're back in the Leaf. For now, we have to cut the school trip short."
"I've already taken roll call for you. Including Shuyu, only Denki and Mitsuki are missing."
Just as Sasuke finished speaking, the hotel's automatic doors slid open, and Mitsuki entered, following behind Chōjūrō.
"I've brought Mitsuki back," Chōjūrō announced as he walked up to Sasuke.
"Now, I'd like to ask what information you have about the mysterious Sharingan wielder."
Mitsuki also rejoined his classmates.
"You okay, Mitsuki? I heard you confronted that bastard all by yourself."
Even though the genjutsu had been dispelled, Boruto still looked pale. He was worried about Mitsuki—and above all, moved.
Clearly, anyone who dared face that masked man alone must have been ready to die.
For the first time, Boruto felt the terror of potentially losing a comrade.
"I'm fine. Thanks to the Mizukage's timely arrival."
Mitsuki responded calmly, as if he hadn't just faced a life-or-death situation.
"So… was that guy defeated?"
Hearing that the Mizukage had arrived, Boruto's eyes lit up with hope.
"No. He escaped with Denki."
As Mitsuki and Boruto exchanged accounts of what had happened—and the rest of the students listened intently—Sasuke and Chōjūrō approached the front desk and used the phone to contact Naruto.
"…Hello? Who's this… Oh, Sasuke." Naruto, lounging at home, scratched his head with a dejected expression. "What is it?"
"In Kirigakure, we encountered the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Flaming Cloud Evil God. His objective was to kidnap Denki. He also hit Boruto with a powerful Sharingan genjutsu. Mitsuki stalled him alone to buy Boruto time to escape, and Chōjūrō later rescued Mitsuki."
"Now, Chōjūrō wants information on S.H.I.E.L.D."
As soon as he heard it was related to S.H.I.E.L.D., Naruto's lethargy vanished instantly.
"Got it. Sasuke, please hand the phone to Chōjūrō."
"…Long time no see, Chōjūrō. I heard everything from Sasuke. Thanks for protecting Mitsuki. Ah, right—your opponent, the mysterious Mangekyō Sharingan user, goes by the codename 'Flaming Cloud Evil God.' He belongs to a mysterious organization called S.H.I.E.L.D."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. only appeared recently in the shinobi world. Even in the Leaf, we don't have much intel on them yet."
"As for the rest, let's discuss it at the Five Kage Summit."
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