Chapter 27:
Sasuke, hidden in the shadows, looked grim.
He had completely misjudged the situation—S.H.I.E.L.D.'s target was Denki, not Boruto. That meant Sasuke's earlier assumption that S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't harm Boruto was wrong.
It wasn't that they were showing mercy—it was simply that Boruto hadn't been their target.
The Flaming Cloud Evil God might very well kill Boruto.
Still hidden, Sasuke prepared himself. If Flaming Cloud Evil God truly intended to kill Boruto, Sasuke would immediately use his Rinnegan ability to swap places with him.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Boruto took the initiative, sending two shadow clones charging toward Uchiha Itachi. In response, Itachi flicked out two kunai, then immediately followed up with two more.
The second pair of kunai struck the first, altering their trajectory. The deflected first pair, which Boruto's clones had dodged, now came in from behind at an odd angle and struck both clones, dispelling them instantly.
"You've got to be kidding... Someone can really throw like that?"
Shikadai, watching from behind, was stunned.
They were still young, inexperienced—none of these kids had ever seen kunai throwing techniques honed through the crucible of war.
"So this is the extent of your strength?"
Uchiha Itachi suddenly appeared in front of Boruto, gazing down at him as he cast a Mangekyō genjutsu.
The burning Konoha Village. Naruto and Hinata collapsed at Boruto's feet. Himawari, crying out to her brother, had her neck casually snapped by Flaming Cloud Evil God—her cries abruptly silenced.
Trapped in Itachi's genjutsu, Boruto let out a hoarse, agonized scream, unable to break free.
The others watched with worry etched across their faces, but none dared to intervene. Their legs were trembling with fear.
"Everyone, be careful—that's the Mangekyō Sharingan. Avoid eye contact at all costs."
Only Mitsuki stepped forward.
Having seen much during his time in the Sound Village, Mitsuki understood the conditions for genjutsu cast through the Sharingan. However, he didn't realize that Itachi could also induce genjutsu using gestures—like a mere flick of his finger.
As Mitsuki used the Body Flicker Technique to close in on Itachi, he began forming hand seals: "Wind Style: Gale Blade!"
Invisible vacuum blades sliced through the air toward Itachi.
The moment the vacuum blades struck, Itachi dispersed into a flock of crows, which fluttered away and regrouped atop a nearby utility pole, reforming his figure.
Whether it was Amaterasu or the Crow Clone Technique, every encounter with the Flaming Cloud Evil God only deepened Sasuke's curiosity about his true identity. Yet Sasuke was no longer the impulsive, edgy youth he once was.
Though increasingly suspicious about the Flaming Cloud Evil God's identity, Sasuke wouldn't recklessly confront him.
Mitsuki wasn't surprised that his attack had been easily dodged. He never expected a simple Wind Style to defeat the Flaming Cloud Evil God. His real objective was to free Boruto from the genjutsu.
"Take Boruto and leave—this type of genjutsu can only be broken back in the village. I'll hold this guy off. Don't hesitate—run!"
Mitsuki grabbed the tormented Boruto and tossed him backward, where Kagura caught him successfully.
As a chunin, Kagura knew this enemy was far beyond their ability to handle. The moment he caught Boruto, he activated the Body Flicker Technique and fled at full speed.
"Hey! What are you kids doing here?!"
Just then, an obviously overweight security officer came panting and jogging over.
"Mister, go find your Mizukage—Kirigakure is under attack from an unknown powerful enemy."
Shikadai shouted this as he rushed past the officer, disappearing from sight, leaving the man stunned and rooted to the spot.
Meanwhile, Sasuke decided to remain close to Boruto for protection. Among this group, as the Hokage's son, Boruto was the most important. Sasuke also couldn't be sure whether S.H.I.E.L.D. had only sent the Flaming Cloud Evil God.
Besides, he was Sasuke, not Naruto.
To him, Orochimaru's synthetic humans could never truly be considered people.
"Your companions abandoned you pretty decisively."
Watching the others flee, Itachi didn't pursue them. Instead, he turned his attention to Mitsuki, Orochimaru's artificial creation.
Not because he respected Mitsuki's strength—but because he couldn't trust that Orochimaru would genuinely help Konoha.
During their time at the Ninja Academy, Itachi had clearly observed Boruto and Mitsuki's close relationship. Killing Mitsuki here could serve two purposes: awaken Boruto's potential through hatred, and eliminate the hidden threat Orochimaru had planted.
Itachi appeared behind Mitsuki in a flash, driving a kunai toward him—only for Mitsuki to slip away using the Snake Substitution Technique.
Transformed into a snake, Mitsuki slithered along the ground, then reverted to human form once he had put some distance between them.
He hadn't dodged because he sensed Itachi's move ahead of time—it was simply because he was constantly prepared to substitute.
When Mitsuki chose to face Itachi alone, he had already accepted that survival was unlikely. His goal had always been to buy time—delay death as long as possible.
"Choosing not to fight back—just to buy time for your allies?"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique."
Flames spewed from Itachi's mouth in a scattered barrage. Though individually weak due to dispersion, the flames were difficult to evade.
Itachi hadn't put much chakra into this jutsu. It was simply meant to restrict Mitsuki's movements—the real kill move came next.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Mitsuki summoned snakes from his arms to block the Phoenix Fire.
Charred snakes dropped from his hands, releasing a strangely savory aroma.
"Quick reflexes—but that's all."
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Following the Phoenix Fire, Itachi unleashed the Great Dragon Fire—a massive, chakra-compressed flame shaped like a dragon barreling toward Mitsuki.
The previous jutsu had not only limited Mitsuki's movement, but also obscured his vision—leaving him completely unaware of the incoming Great Dragon Fire.
It was far too late to dodge.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A powerful stream of water shot from a mouth, forming into a dragon to meet the flaming assault.
"The current Mizukage, Chōjūrō. Talk about good timing."
Itachi turned to the sudden arrival.
If this continued, more people would show up, making the situation harder to control. Completing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mission took priority now.
"Just happened to be passing by."
Chōjūrō stood before Mitsuki, expression stern.
He had arranged for Anbu to stay close to Boruto during this school trip, hoping to strengthen relations between Kirigakure and Konoha.
After all, Boruto was the son of the Seventh Hokage—the savior of the ninja world.
A Mangekyō Sharingan user, mysterious and powerful.
Strangely, looking at the masked man before him, Chōjūrō couldn't help but think of the Akatsuki… and the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, who had been controlled by the Sharingan.
It looked like it was time to convene a Five Kage Summit.
As this thought crossed his mind, Chōjūrō braced for battle. Facing a Mangekyō user while protecting a Konoha Academy student—even he had to proceed with the utmost caution.
Not since the Fourth Great Ninja War had he fought so carefully.
But Uchiha Itachi simply hoisted the genjutsu-entranced Denki and vanished.
Naturally, Chōjūrō chose not to pursue.
If he chased Itachi and failed to rescue Denki—and ended up letting Mitsuki be captured by the Flaming Cloud Evil God's allies—that would make things far worse between Kirigakure and Konoha.
At the very least, he could still claim he had protected Mitsuki.
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