Chapter 349: The Wanted List for Mitsuki
"Lightning Transmission!"
Through Sasuke's modifications, ninja tool summoning had become instant—no hand seals needed. Simply stimulating the seal on his arm with chakra would summon the tools directly.
A massive batch of ninja tools, crafted from special chakra-absorbing materials, rained down from the air, surrounding the Dark Shunhi.
"Lightning Style: Myriad Prison Heavens Pull!"
Sasuke's original jutsu.
The chakra-absorbing tools surrounding Dark Shunhi began to draw in Sasuke's Lightning Release chakra, forming a prison around him. Then, all the absorbed chakra was released in a single burst.
Normally, the stronger a jutsu is, the more chakra it requires; and the more chakra it needs, the harder it becomes to control. To solve this, Sasuke devised a method: let the tools absorb and store the Lightning Release chakra first, then release it later.
The jutsu itself wasn't difficult to perform. Its only drawback was the steep cost of acquiring the special ninja tools required.
Once the jutsu was complete, every single tool Sasuke had summoned was destroyed.
"Sasuke, are those tools still usable?"
Instead of checking on the enemy, Sakura was more concerned about the tools—after all, each of them cost a fortune. And on top of that, her mortgage in the Hidden Leaf Village still wasn't paid off.
"They're all destroyed."
Sasuke thought she was asking whether he could use this powerful jutsu again.
"I see... destroyed... all destroyed after just one use..."
Sakura sat on the ground in a daze, her entire body stiff with shock.
"Sakura! The battle's not over yet."
Sasuke's voice snapped her back to her senses.
Blue electric sparks crackled from Dark Shunhi's body. His movements were sluggish—clearly, he was paralyzed.
"He's still not dead...?"
Sakura stared at Dark Shunhi in disbelief.
"Sakura, now's your chance!"
Sasuke, completely drained of chakra, urged her on.
"Right." Sakura nodded. She released the seal on her forehead, and curse marks spread across her face. "If even an attack like that couldn't kill you, then I've got no choice but to go all out!"
Clenching her fists, Sakura took a deep breath, bracing herself. With a powerful stomp, she left a deep crater in the ground and charged toward Dark Shunhi.
"Hmph... Ha!"
The golden aura surrounding blackened Boruto suddenly surged, dispelling the paralysis from his body. He entered Super Saiyan 2 mode.
Dark Shunhi's muscles bulged rapidly. Both his strength and speed had increased far beyond Super Saiyan 1. However, the cost of maintaining this form was immense, making it unsuited for prolonged battles.
"Kamehameha!"
Without charging up, Dark Shunhi extended his right hand toward the approaching Sakura and fired a blue energy beam. Trusting Sasuke's jutsu to have worked, Sakura hadn't planned on dodging. Caught off-guard by Shunhi's sudden counterattack, she had no choice but to take it head-on.
The blue beam pierced through Sakura's chest. She collapsed at Dark Shunhi's feet.
"Sakura!"
Shouting her name, Sasuke watched helplessly as Dark Shunhi kicked Sakura's motionless body toward him.
Catching her in his arms, Sasuke immediately opened a space-time portal.
Hidden Leaf Village
Konoha Hospital
"Sasuke! What the hell happened?"
Naruto rushed into the emergency corridor of the hospital, his face tense as he demanded answers from the grim-looking Sasuke.
"...Sakura and I were chasing after Mitsuki when we ran into Uchiha Shunhi. Sakura was injured by him."
Sasuke spoke slowly.
The emergency room doors swung open, and Tsunade stepped out with a heavy expression.
"Granny Tsunade, how's Sakura?!"
Naruto hurriedly asked.
"The damage was to her heart. We were able to save her, but from now on, she must keep her emotions in check. If her heart beats too wildly, it could cause secondary damage—and if that happens, even I won't be able to save her again."
Tsunade spoke solemnly.
Relieved to hear she had survived, both Naruto and Sasuke let out a long breath.
"Then Sasuke, stay here and look after Sakura. Once I finish up my Hokage duties, I'll come visit her."
Naruto said.
"Mm."
Sasuke nodded.
Hokage's Office
"How's Sakura doing, Naruto?"
Shikamaru, who had been handling Naruto's paperwork in his absence, looked up anxiously when Naruto entered.
"Granny Tsunade managed to save her. But from now on, Sakura has to maintain emotional stability. Her heart can't handle intense fluctuations anymore."
Naruto replied, clearly relieved.
"So that means Sakura won't be able to fight anymore."
Shikamaru rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "A ninja's heart inevitably races in battle. If that's the case, then Mitsuki's prophecy about her killing all of us was false."
"Shikamaru, you're saying..."
"Think about it, Naruto. I still believe Mitsuki was part of a plot by S.H.I.E.L.D. to divide the Hidden Leaf. His prophecies either point to a distant future or are self-fulfilling because of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s interference. This time, because Uchiha Shunhi unexpectedly showed up, they couldn't manipulate events to match the prophecy."
Shikamaru speculated.
"..."
Naruto hesitated, then finally said, "You might be right, Shikamaru... Put out a wanted order for Mitsuki, but make sure he's brought back alive."
"Understood."
Shikamaru nodded and turned to leave.
Konoha Hospital
Due to Sakura's frail condition after surgery, only one visitor was allowed into her room at a time, and only with Tsunade present.
As Hinata entered the room with a get-well gift alongside Tsunade, Naruto turned to Sasuke and shared Shikamaru's theory.
"Hmm... Sounds like Shikamaru's on point. This all reeks of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s involvement. As for Mitsuki, I didn't sense any genjutsu on him. So my guess is brainwashing," Sasuke said as he looked at Naruto. "Still, Mitsuki's being protected by Boruto. Are you sure it's okay for me not to intervene?"
"No need," Naruto said with a smile. "I've already dispatched Kakashi-sensei, Mirai Sarutobi, and Konohamaru as a team to go find Boruto. They're more than capable. Besides, Sakura needs you by her side during recovery."
All three—Kakashi, Mirai, and Konohamaru—had personal ties to Boruto.
"Mm."
Sasuke nodded, then turned back toward Sakura's hospital room.
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