Chapter 249:
"Evilmoku, Imperial Armor, and the Ancient Ability Beasts have appeared in the Hidden Leaf Village..." Shikamaru said while reading the intel in his hand. He then handed it to Naruto and added, "And that's not all. As long as Skynet exists, S.H.I.E.L.D. can keep producing liquid-state robots without end."
"That's why, our top priority right now should be to destroy Skynet," Naruto said gravely after reading the intel sent by Jiraiya.
"According to Lord Jiraiya's report, Skynet is currently located in the Hokage's Office. What's more, it's heavily guarded by liquid-state robots..." Shikamaru furrowed his brow in thought, then continued, "Naruto, I suggest we split our forces and carry out a series of coordinated attacks..."
"In other words, the goal of this operation is solely to destroy Skynet. One team will draw attention up front, while the other will slip in to take Skynet out. Once Skynet is destroyed, we immediately retreat and regroup."
Naruto spoke while deep in thought.
"I think that plan works," Kakashi said, looking at Naruto. "Taking the Hidden Leaf Village back from S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't something we can accomplish in a single battle."
"Right..." Naruto mulled it over, then turned to Modern Boruto beside him and said, "Boruto, Sarada, Shuyu—you three will form the second squad and be responsible for destroying Skynet. Then, Shikadai, Chōchō, and Inojin—you'll form the third squad. Use the chaos to evacuate the civilians still in the village."
...
Nighttime in the Hidden Leaf Village—its lights still shone brightly.
"Kurama, come out and stretch your legs."
Naruto spoke to the Nine Tails within him.
"Hmph..."
With a sudden rumble, the massive Nine Tails emerged, causing a quake to ripple through the village.
In the Hyūga compound courtyard, Hinata held Himawari in her arms as they watched the massive form of the Nine Tails appear.
"Hinata, Naruto really did come to save us," Sakura said suddenly.
A sharp red alarm blared across the village.
Silhouettes began leaping onto rooftops one after another, rushing toward the frontline where the Nine Tails had appeared.
"Prioritize locating the Flame Dragon Armor and Wind Eagle Armor," Evilmoku ordered the people behind him.
The four Ancient Ability Beasts let out strange, unintelligible roars. The Imperial Armor gave a silent nod in response.
"Chidori Sharp Spear!"
A beam of lightning pierced straight through a Leaf ninja, revealing the liquid-state robot underneath.
At the Hokage's Office, Skynet was actively analyzing the situation.
"Activate the Four Red Yang Formation!"
Ever since discovering that Red Wolf had been secretly leaking information to the outside, Skynet had been making covert preparations.
From four directions in the village, pillars of fire shot into the sky. These pillars connected to form a rectangular barrier, isolating the Hidden Leaf Village from the outside world—no one could get in or out.
"This is... the Four Red Yang Formation!" Shikamaru shouted as he looked around, then called out to Naruto within the Nine Tails, "Naruto!"
Naruto didn't need Shikamaru's warning—he had already noticed the formation. He began channeling chakra into the Nine Tails' mouth and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at the barrier.
The Tailed Beast Bomb struck the barrier but was quickly absorbed and vanished.
"What?!"
Naruto stared in shock as the Tailed Beast Bomb was swallowed.
"This is... an alternate dimension!" said Future Boruto, his Pure Eye activated.
This wasn't an ordinary Four Red Yang Formation. It was one that could transfer any attacks into another dimension.
"We need to take out whoever is maintaining the Four Red Yang Formation!" Shikamaru quickly concluded. "As long as even one of them is eliminated, the formation will collapse."
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Jutsu!" After melting a liquid-state robot, Mei Terumi volunteered, "Let me handle it."
"Lady Mei, I'll go with you!"
Chojuro, who had just taken out another liquid-state robot with Water Dragon Bullet Technique, stepped forward without hesitation.
"Alright, I'm counting on you two," Shikamaru nodded to them.
Meanwhile, Tentō and Shinki, who had been targeted by the Ability Beasts, were being driven back. At the same time, Future Boruto was once again engaged in battle with the Imperial Armor.
"Damn it, even using the finisher moves from our armor, we still can't hurt these four Ability Beasts!"
Tentō panted, holding his bow-shaped Flame Blade.
Back at the Hokage Tower—
"Lightning Release: Lightning Ball!"
Sarada completed her hand signs, launching a crackling orb of lightning that slammed into a liquid-state robot, blasting it away.
"Rasengan!"
"We're almost there!"
Sarada shouted as she led the way forward.
"I didn't expect you to make it this far."
Seeing the figure ahead, Sarada abruptly stopped in her tracks.
"Sarada, what is it?" Modern Boruto asked in confusion, following behind her.
"This guy... is the liquid-state robot I told you about—the one who uses Wood Release. We call him Gray," Sarada explained.
Modern Boruto looked ahead. "Doesn't matter who or what it is—I'll just blast it away!"
"You talk big for someone who's about to get flattened."
Gray suddenly lunged at Boruto, his right leg morphing into wood as he kicked Boruto hard.
"Boruto!"
As Sarada watched in alarm while Boruto was sent flying, Shuyu immediately threw shuriken at Gray.
"Useless!"
Gray blocked the attack with his wooden-transformed right arm.
"Boruto, are you okay?"
Boruto got up, watching his wounds slowly heal. "I'm fine... damn it..."
"This won't work. Boruto, you go to the Hokage's Office and destroy Skynet. Shuyu and I will hold Gray off here."
Sarada turned to Boruto.
"But..."
Boruto glanced at Gray, still fighting Shuyu.
"Boruto, Gray's Wood Release naturally counters your Nine Tails. You're at a serious disadvantage against him. Besides, don't forget—we're here to save the Hidden Leaf!"
"...Got it."
Boruto nodded. When it counted, he wouldn't back down.
"Almighty Push!"
Gray, mid-battle with Shuyu, was suddenly blasted away as Sarada activated her Rinnegan.
"Boruto, go!"
The moment Sarada spoke, Boruto pushed his Body Flicker Technique to the limit and instantly appeared at the entrance of the Hokage's Office.
As Sarada blasted Gray away, Shuyu seized the moment and closed in, not giving Gray a chance to recover.
"Wood Release: Wooden Sword!"
Gray's right arm morphed into a sword of wood, clashing with Shuyu's shuriken.
"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"
Vines began sprouting from Gray's arm, aiming to capture and crush Shuyu.
"Susanoo!"
A red Susanoo enveloped Shuyu, bursting through the Hokage Tower's roof.