Chapter 328: The Train Incident Ends
"Wind Release: Chakra Mode!"
A deep blue aura of chakra enveloped Sarutobi Mirai's entire body. It not only enhanced her physical capabilities but also imbued each part of her body with the slicing properties of Wind Release chakra, turning her into a living weapon. The only downside was that maintaining this mode consumed a vast amount of chakra.
Upon seeing Sarutobi Mirai activate Wind Release: Chakra Mode, the Dark Shunhi deliberately slowed the pace of his attacks, cautiously dodging her strikes.
After a few exchanges, nearly half of Sarutobi Mirai's chakra had already been depleted.
She threw another punch at the Dark Shunhi. As he twisted his body to dodge, the blue light on the chakra blade tightly gripped in her hand flared to life.
"Wind Release: Whirlwind Fist!"
An attack enhanced by chakra to expand its range.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!"
The Dark Shunhi transformed his left hand into solid rock, grabbing Mirai's chakra blade as it came in from the right.
"Earth Release: Arm of Stone!"
At the same time, a massive rocky arm burst from the ground on the right side of the train, clenched into a fist aimed straight at Mirai.
"Chakra Blade: True Ichimonji!"
Infusing her chakra blade with Wind Release chakra, she generated a sharp blue beam. Her left-hand blade easily sliced the stone arm in half. The right-hand blade also emitted a sharp blue beam, forcing the Dark Shunhi to retreat and create distance.
"Wind Release: Dust Gale Technique!"
Just as the Dark Shunhi leapt back, Mirai followed up with another move, spitting out a whirlwind in a straight line before her.
The Dark Shunhi instantly entered Super Saiyan Mode. Even though he should have been unable to dodge, he evaded the attack with shocking ease.
"So fast!"
Mirai's eyes widened in disbelief, and in the blink of an eye, Shunhi had appeared right in front of her. With a spinning side kick, he sent her flying off the roof of the train.
As she was flung from the rooftop, Mirai hurled her chakra blade at Shunhi with her right hand—but he easily sidestepped it.
To him, it was nothing more than Mirai's final act of defiance, unworthy of concern. Confident in his last attack, he turned away. He knew it wouldn't kill her—but it was more than enough to knock her unconscious.
But as she was falling, Mirai adjusted her body midair, tightly grabbing the edge of the train car with both hands, then using the momentum to leap back into the air.
Glaring at the Dark Shunhi before her, she quickly formed hand seals. "Wind Release: Emerald Tempest!"
Using chakra to link herself with the chakra blade lying on the rooftop, she remotely controlled it to attack Shunhi.
Due to their proximity and his lack of preparation, Shunhi couldn't fully dodge the attack. The blade sliced through his mask, which slowly fell away.
Landing back on the rooftop, Mirai caught the returning chakra blade in her hand.
"Now, let me see your true face!" She raised her head toward him—but her expression immediately froze. "Shun… Uncle Shunhi?!"
"Long time no see, Mirai."
"Why… why are you—"
"Since you've seen my face, I can't let you leave."
The figure that had been standing before her a moment ago appeared right in front of her again. Before she could react, Shunhi struck her with a knife-hand blow, knocking her unconscious.
---
In the train car carrying the Konoha ninja intel scrolls...
"A taijutsu fighter, huh…"
Kakashi murmured as he looked at the masked Boruto before him. After their earlier exchange, he had a full grasp of the boy's fighting style.
In recent years, aside from that monster Might Guy, Kakashi hadn't encountered any particularly powerful taijutsu users.
"I don't know how Mirai's doing... I'll have to finish this quickly…" Kakashi whispered as he faced off against Boruto. "Lightning Release: Shadow Clone Technique!"
Two Lightning Release shadow clones appeared at his sides, each pulling out shuriken and charging at Boruto.
Super Saiyan Mode!
Facing a foe of Kakashi's caliber, Boruto activated Super Saiyan Mode right off the bat.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
As the shadow clones rushed toward him, both unleashed Chidori.
In such a confined space, even if Boruto had the reflexes to dodge, there was no room to move.
For a taijutsu user, tighter spaces aren't always advantageous. Against unpredictable ninjutsu, open ground to dodge is crucial.
Taking a direct hit from Uncle Kakashi's Chidori? Even if it was only a clone, Boruto instinctively hesitated.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Chain!"
The two Lightning Release clones extended their Chidori into chains that wrapped tightly around Boruto.
"Now then, time to tell me who you are."
Lightning crackled around Kakashi's hand as he stared down the captured Boruto.
"I…"
Just as Boruto was about to confess, the Dark Shunhi reappeared—now masked again and carrying the unconscious Sarutobi Mirai—stepping into the train car.
"Mirai?!" Kakashi's eyes snapped to the unconscious Mirai. After confirming she was unharmed, his gaze shifted to Shunhi. "Who are you people?!"
"No need to get so worked up, Kakashi." Shunhi walked over to the restrained Boruto, still carrying Mirai. "Besides, I'm guessing you're nearly out of chakra."
Even without using the Sharingan, creating two A-rank Lightning Release clones, and having them each use S-rank techniques like Chidori and Thunder Chain, Kakashi had to be nearly drained.
With his right hand still reinforced by Earth Release: Rock Fist, Shunhi easily tore apart the Thunder Chain binding Boruto.
"Looks like all the scrolls have already been destroyed. Let's get out of here."
"Wait! Put Mirai down!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that. She's seen my face, so…"
"In that case, I won't let you go!"
As Kakashi finished speaking, the former Konoha ninja-turned-traitors encircled Shunhi and Boruto.
"Sixth Hokage-sama, let us help you."
The group of defected Leaf ninja spoke in unison.
"Brace yourself."
Shunhi whispered to Boruto.
"Huh?"
Boruto was still puzzling over his words when the ground beneath them trembled. A massive tree suddenly erupted from the railway beneath the train, lifting the car into the air. In the chaos, as everyone struggled to regain balance, Shunhi leapt out of the car with Mirai on his shoulder, and Boruto quickly followed.
"Damn it!"
Feeling the little chakra he had left, Kakashi could only watch them escape and reluctantly gave up the chase.
"Sixth Hokage-sama, we're leaving too. Don't worry—we'll protect Sarutobi Mirai."
One of the Konoha defectors, still under Shunhi's control, spoke up.
Kakashi glanced at the group of traitors around him, then gave a conflicted nod. "I'll leave her to you, then…"