Chapter 347: Coming Up with a Chapter Title Is Really Hard
Konoha Hospital.
"Mitsuki!" Having entered Sage Mode to locate Mitsuki, Boruto happened to run into Shikamaru and Sakura just as they were escorting Mitsuki out of the hospital. "I'm the Eighth Hokage of the village, and I order you to release Mitsuki!"
"That's exactly why, as the Eighth Hokage, you should prioritize protecting the village."
As Shikamaru spoke, he pulled out a shuriken. In terms of raw power, he might not be a match for Boruto right now—or even Sakura, a medical ninja. That's why Shikamaru's combat style leaned more heavily on ninja tools and his own intellect.
"If protecting the village means sacrificing a comrade, then I don't want to be Hokage at all!"
Boruto entered Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
"…Sakura, take Mitsuki and go find Ino."
Shikamaru stepped forward while giving instructions.
"But…"
Sakura hesitated as she looked at Boruto in front of them.
"It's okay, Sakura," Shikamaru reassured her.
"Leave Mitsuki!"
Boruto suddenly appeared in front of Sakura, who was carrying Mitsuki.
"Ninja Art: Shadow Tendrils!"
The shadows turned solid and moved with agility. Boruto was instantly restrained by the shadow bindings. Shikamaru shouted at Sakura, "Go, Sakura! I can't hold him for long…"
"Ah—okay…"
As Sakura vanished with Body Flicker, Boruto's chakra suddenly exploded, breaking free from the shadow restraint. But before he could move, a shuriken struck the shadow beneath his feet.
"Just as I thought…"
Shikamaru understood Boruto well. Once Boruto saw Sakura escaping with Mitsuki, he'd definitely force his way out—and that moment of haste was his opening.
"My body… it won't move…"
Boruto struggled to look down—there was a shuriken stabbed into his shadow.
Shadow Imitation Shuriken.
By channeling chakra into a specially crafted chakra blade, if it pierced the enemy's shadow, it could completely immobilize them.
The only drawback of this jutsu was its low hit rate. Most people instinctively dodge such obvious projectile attacks like thrown shuriken.
But Shikamaru wasn't done. As Boruto used a claw of Nine-Tails chakra to remove the shuriken from his shadow, Shikamaru formed another seal. His shadow crept forward and slapped an explosive tag onto Boruto's body.
"Boruto, you'd better not move. The Tandem Explosive Tag is a forbidden technique created by the Second Hokage. One explosion summons countless more tags in an infinite chain. Even you, as a Jinchūriki, would be seriously injured."
As the Hokage's assistant, Shikamaru had the authority to study forbidden techniques from the sealed scrolls. However, due to his aversion to hassle, he'd only learned the Tandem Explosive Tag—what he considered the most efficient option.
Because of his battle style, Shikamaru was always in the habit of collecting explosive tags.
"Mitsuki is my comrade—I will never give up on him!"
Noticing something off about Boruto's movements, Shikamaru didn't hesitate and immediately detonated the tag.
"Hey, Big Fox. Lend me your power. I want to enter Tailed Beast Mode."
Inside his consciousness, Boruto looked toward the Nine-Tails and said.
"Hmph. Why should I help you?"
The Nine-Tails inside Boruto had never truly acknowledged him. The only reason it allowed Boruto to enter Nine-Tails Chakra Mode was to save face in front of the Nine-Tails of this world.
"I know this much—if the Jinchūriki dies, the tailed beast inside them dies too."
"So what? I'll revive after a few years anyway," the Nine-Tails muttered lazily, lying down. "Now scram, brat. Stop bothering me while I'm trying to sleep."
"You might revive in your world. But are you sure you'll revive in this one?"
"You little punk!"
The Nine-Tails lifted its head and pressed its face against Boruto's, its breath washing over him.
"You need a breath mint."
Boruto pinched his nose and stared fearlessly at the growling Nine-Tails in front of him.
Back in reality.
Golden chakra erupted from Boruto's body—he had entered Tailed Beast Mode.
"What?!"
Shikamaru looked up in shock. "When did Boruto become a perfect Jinchūriki…?"
Even Naruto and Sasuke, locked in their own skirmish, were momentarily distracted.
Once the Tandem Explosive Tag's chain reaction ended, Boruto's Tailed Beast transformation also faded.
"Huh? That's it?"
Back inside his consciousness, Boruto grumbled at the Nine-Tails.
"Hmph."
The Nine-Tails just snorted and turned its head away in annoyance.
"Well, thanks anyway, Nine-Tails."
Boruto smiled.
Back in reality.
"Uncle Shikamaru, looks like you've used up all your tricks. Now it's my turn."
Faced with Boruto's quick and decisive attack style, Shikamaru soon fell.
"Boruto, as Hokage, you have a duty to protect the village. You can't—"
"Sorry, Uncle Shikamaru."
Boruto struck Shikamaru unconscious with a hand chop, then entered Sage Mode again to sense Sakura and Mitsuki's location.
"There they are!"
Ino's Flower Shop.
"…Ino, how's it going?"
Sakura asked as Ino opened her eyes.
"No good. If we want to break the seal in a short time, we'll need to use more extreme methods…" Ino gritted her teeth and looked at Sakura. "I'm going to dive completely into Mitsuki's mind. During that time, don't let anyone interrupt me—or my consciousness might suffer serious damage."
"Got it. Don't worry, Ino."
Sakura nodded solemnly.
Ino placed her hands on Mitsuki's temples and closed her eyes once more.
Mitsuki, still unconscious, began to frown and let out painful groans.
"Mitsuki!"
Boruto suddenly burst into the room and saw Mitsuki bound to a chair. "Aunt Sakura, let him go!"
"Wait, Boruto!" Sakura stepped in front of him. "Ino's in a critical phase right now. If you disrupt her, it could severely damage her mind!"
"…!" Mitsuki's expression twisted in agony as his groans grew louder, forcing Boruto to make a choice.
"Step aside, Aunt Sakura!"
"I will not step aside!"
Though Sakura ultimately pulled her punch, her monstrous strength still sent Boruto flying. "Ino is my best friend. I won't let her get hurt!"
"Mitsuki… he's my best friend too…"
Picking himself up, Boruto stared at Sakura.
"Rasengan!"
As if Sakura were lost in a memory, triggered by Boruto's words, she stood still and made no move to defend herself.
"Mitsuki…"
Looking at the unconscious Ino and the pained Mitsuki, Boruto finally made his decision.
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