Chapter 216:
Inside the Hidden Leaf Village.
Kakashi kept his eyes locked on Sasuke in front of him, continuously adjusting his stance and searching for a way to break through. However, Sasuke and Sai were clearly not giving him any opportunity to escape.
Sasuke's relentless attacks left Kakashi scrambling just to dodge, while Sai, although not actively joining the assault, kept blocking all potential escape routes from the side.
Watching Sasuke steadily close in on him, Kakashi gave a bitter smile.
While revealing his identity outright could potentially defuse the crisis, it might also thrust him into an even greater danger. Who knew how many liquid-metal robots were still hiding in the village?
Even if the Leaf's top-tier fighters wouldn't be easily replaced, once 80% of the village's mid- and low-level combatants were taken over by those robots—could it still truly be called the Hidden Leaf Village?
The thought sent chills down Kakashi's spine. In that moment, he realized S.H.I.E.L.D.'s insidious plot—to destroy the village from within.
"Sasuke, make sure to leave one alive."
Seeing that Kakashi was struggling more and more, Sai offered a well-meaning reminder from the side.
"Mm."
Sasuke nodded, just about to dash in when he suddenly detected an attack sweeping in from his rear flank, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind.
He blocked with the Kusanagi Blade, and the sound of metal striking something hard rang out.
"Who are you?"
Sai's expression turned wary as he watched a tight-suited man land in front of Kakashi, catching a shield that had just been knocked away by Sasuke and returned to his hand mid-air.
"You came..."
Kakashi looked toward the man and said, "Captain Hydra."
"Yeah. I've got what we came for. Let's get out of here," the Captain nodded.
"Sasuke, Sai, don't let them escape!" Shikamaru arrived just then, shouting, "Their target wasn't the Sealing Scroll—it was the scroll Naruto left behind that leads to Mount Myōboku! I went to the Hokage Residence, and the Mount Myōboku scroll stored there is gone!"
"Mount Myōboku... Boruto?!"
Linking this to Boruto's training at Mount Myōboku, Sai immediately understood. The purpose of stealing the scroll was becoming clear.
"Hand over the Mount Myōboku scroll!"
Sasuke stared sharply at the two in front of him.
"You go. I'll handle them."
Captain Hydra ignored Sasuke and instead spoke to Kakashi behind him.
"Mm. Be careful. Sasuke isn't easy to deal with," Kakashi warned.
No moving speech about living and dying together—Kakashi decisively chose to retreat.
"Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!"
Lightning arced from Sasuke's Kusanagi Blade, forming into a long spear that thrust toward Kakashi as he was retreating—but Captain Hydra raised his shield and blocked it.
"Sai, something's strange about that shield. My jutsu didn't even leave a mark."
Though this Chidori variant sacrificed some destructive power for extended range, the fact that it didn't even scratch the shield was still surprising.
"Mm," Sai replied while unrolling a scroll on the ground. "Sealing Art: Tiger Ambush!"
Two ink tigers leapt from the scroll, pouncing toward Captain Hydra.
If the tigers managed to bite down on their target, they'd drag them back into the scroll for sealing—an effective technique, albeit with clear limitations: the user couldn't be too far from the target, and it consumed a large amount of chakra.
But Captain Hydra simply hurled his shield and easily dispersed one of the ink tigers. As the rebounding shield returned to his hand, the other tiger had already reached him.
Too late to throw the shield again, Captain Hydra used brute strength. Leaping onto the tiger's back, he locked his arms tightly around its neck.
The muscles in his arms bulged, and in the next moment, the ink tiger vanished—presumably from a broken neck.
"This guy's strength is insane…"
Sai's expression darkened. His failed jutsu had drained a considerable amount of chakra for nothing.
Holding his shield, Captain Hydra carefully watched the group while retreating. Once he had gained enough distance, he turned and withdrew.
"Shikamaru, should we go after them?" Sai asked.
"...No, we'll wait for Naruto to return." Shikamaru shook his head after a moment's thought. "Also, don't mention this to Naruto just yet. We don't want him distracted while he's dealing with Kara."
Outside the Hidden Leaf Village.
"You're back."
Shikamaru, who had been recovering under Mirai Sarutobi's care, visibly relaxed upon seeing the returning figures.
"Shikamaru?!" Kakashi lifted his Transformation Technique, revealing his true appearance. The moment he saw Shikamaru's injuries, he immediately grasped the situation. "Looks like you were ambushed by liquid-metal robots."
"Yeah," Shikamaru nodded with a bitter smile. "Unbelievable that something this big would happen right after Naruto left."
"Dwelling on it won't help. We need to get to Mount Myōboku, fast."
As he spoke, Kakashi looked to Mirai, who was carrying the scroll.
Mirai unrolled the Mount Myōboku scroll on the ground and began forming the Reverse Summoning hand signs.
A puff of white smoke rose from the scroll, enveloping everyone.
"So this is Mount Myōboku…"
Mirai looked around in wonder.
"Yeah. Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, and the current Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki—they all trained in Sage Mode here."
Shikamaru explained as they walked. Knowledge about the Three Great Sage Lands and Sage Arts was typically restricted to higher-ranking ninja, with more detailed information reserved for the village's leadership.
"Hard to believe so many legends trained here."
Mirai's admiration for the place grew with every word.
"We're almost there—the place where Sage Arts are taught."
Led by Shikamaru, the group arrived at a waterfall flowing with toad oil.
"Hmm? Shikamaru, what happened to you?"
Gamakichi looked over the group and asked.
"Gamakichi, and Gamaryū—we were ambushed, so we're in rough shape."
Though treated in time, Shikamaru's bandaged wounds still throbbed faintly.
"Gamaryū, take Shikamaru to the Two Great Sage Toads for treatment. I'll stay and supervise their Sage Mode training."