The timeline moves to the eve of Boruto's participation in the Tailed Beasts Conference.
The moonlight painted the sky with ink, and the sea surface stretched out like a dark carpet on a smooth, flat surface, with fish occasionally surfacing and splashing against the waves.
After a night of noise and commotion, the students in the class gradually became tired. A few students who couldn't stay up all night had already gone to bed. Iwabe and a few others continued to play games, while Mitsuki leaned against the windowsill to admire the moonlight.
On the observation deck, Boruto and Sumire quietly stared at the moon, its pale yellow light illuminating them. They remained silent, simply leaning close together.
The sea breeze swept through their gentle dreams, and the moon's hazy glow clouded their thoughts. They seemed to have become one with each other, as if intoxicated by the moonlight.
After a long while, Sumire Kakei emerged from her reverie and asked with a hint of worry, "Will Mitsuki be alright?"
"Trust in his abilities. I've already shown him what it's like to go underwater, so I believe he has a basic understanding of underwater combat," Boruto replied softly.
"So fishing was just an excuse after all?"
"Ahem." Boruto coughed lightly twice, his purpose guessed, and then changed the subject, saying, "The atmosphere is good now, at least I don't have to bother you to keep an eye on the classmates anymore."
"Uh~!" Sumire was stunned for a few seconds.
Her shyness made the tranquil atmosphere even quieter. Amidst the sound of the surging tide, Boruto used his Jōgan to observe the underwater situation through the heavy surface of the sea.
Noticing that Boruto was getting into the zone, Sumire didn't want to disturb him any longer, so she silently observed him. His skin was much paler than usual, and his yellow hair was fluttering gently in the sea breeze.
Her eyes were filled only with his image; not even the moonlight could penetrate them.
In the sea, Mitsuki was completely immersed in the water, the cool touch stimulating his nerves and making him more focused.
He silently descended, holding the scroll Boruto had given him, which he said was specifically for imprisoning the Three-Tails, Isobu.
When he descended to a certain height, the pressure of the seawater increased rapidly and significantly, exceeding the limits that the human body can withstand. Therefore, Mitsuki did not hesitate to activate Sage Mode!
The emerald green chakra spread throughout his body, enveloping and protecting every inch of his skin, resisting the pressure brought by the seawater.
A small snake was perched on his shoulder, protected by Sage Mode. The snake flicked its tongue from time to time, precisely guiding Mitsuki down to Isobu's location.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Mitsuki, who was leaning against the window on the cruise ship, opened his Sage Mode eyes. There was also a small snake on the windowsill in front of him, conveying the information that he was speaking to Mitsuki in the sea.
They cooperated so well that it was as if they were two separate individuals split from one person. Mitsuki trusted Mitsuki, so the Mitsuki in the sea carried out Mitsuki's instructions.
He quickly descended to a considerable position, where the pressure of the seawater was so great that even Sage Mode could not withstand it, and the small snake on Mitsuki's shoulder began to groan in pain.
After all, in terms of physical strength, it was weaker than Mitsuki.
As a result, electric light began to surge within Mitsuki's body. These fine electric currents, interspersed between blood vessels and cells, stimulated the activity of the skin and cells, enhancing the body's resistance.
"That's enough, Boruto. I've sensed the approximate location of Isobu, though it's blurry. I guess I'm still quite far from it, but I don't need you to guide me anymore."
The Mitsuki on the cruise ship was silent for a moment, then instructed, "Be careful, and keep in touch at all times."
"Mm," Mitsuki responded, then let the little snake on his shoulder go back to rest.
At a depth of 500 meters, Mitsuki continued to descend using cellular activity. At 600 meters, he reached his limit, but he continued diving without stopping.
At a depth of 650 meters underwater, Mitsuki's body was severely compressed and began to be unable to withstand the immense pressure. Realizing that he had reached his limit, Mitsuki struggled to raise his hands and slowly formed hand seals.
—Dragon's Roar: Sage Mode!
The emerald green chakra shone even brighter, like a small sun on the seabed, illuminating a large area of the ocean.
Several small, snake-like chakra entities appeared around his body, showing a slow tendency to transform into dragons, which gave Mitsuki even stronger defensive capabilities.
The density of Sage Chakra was on a completely different level than before, and it even had the potential to rival the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode!
This caused Mitsuki's diving depth to surge to 900 meters in one go. He had already made a preliminary sense of Isobu's location and began to move in a targeted manner.
Meanwhile, Isobu, who was sleeping in the deep sea, was suddenly awakened. It sensed a terrifying chakra approaching, which was clearly aimed at it.
Could it be someone from [Moon]? It had even gone to the deep sea specifically to dive down, and they still managed to catch up with it?
After the last gathering of tailed beasts, in order to ensure its own safety, it began to move towards the deep sea. Although a thousand meters was not its limit, the deep sea was too terrifying, wasn't it?
To humans outside, it was a gigantic monster, but in the deep sea, it found itself just as small as humans, with countless creatures several times its size, some of which were extremely aggressive.
Last time, a whale had almost swallowed it whole, but luckily Isobu knew ninjutsu, and the whale couldn't withstand it!
Sensing the approaching danger, Isobu swam into the deeper sea without hesitation, refusing to believe that mere humans could ignore the pressure of the seabed!
Mitsuki also noticed this situation, and his brows furrowed slightly. It was undoubtedly a pipe dream to think that he could resist Isobu in the sea.
After thinking for a moment, Mitsuki took out the scroll Boruto had given him. Boruto, who was in the observation deck on the sea, sensed that the ninja tool he had left for Mitsuki had been activated.
"What's wrong?" Sumire asked, noticing the unusual activity.
"It's nothing, Mitsuki just ran into a little trouble," Boruto replied.
He instantly condensed his Sage Chakra and entered Sage Mode. He formed hand seals, and the ninja tool in the deep sea established a connection with him.
Under Mitsuki's gaze, four black rods were thrown out of the scroll and shot straight toward Isobu, their speed far exceeding Isobu's.
Unsurprisingly, Isobu was caught up by the black rods, which instantly scattered and positioned themselves in four directions around him. As Boruto snapped his fingers on the sea, astonishing lightning surged from the four black rods, creating a barrier that trapped Isobu.
—Sage Art: Lightning Release: Illusory Light Thunder Realm!
The crackling lightning drew a curtain in the sea, shrouding Isobu in its light. It seemed like protection, but in reality, the moment the barrier was erected, Isobu lost all sense of the outside world.
It waited warily, its mouth already brimming with the power to unleash a Tailed Beast Ball of astonishing density. Moments later, Mitsuki arrived at the location of the Illusory Light Thunder Realm.
Mitsuki saw Isobu condensing the Tailed Beast Ball, and Isobu naturally saw Mitsuki as well. It couldn't help but show a provocative look, as if to say, "Come in if you dare!"
Mitsuki simply placed his hand on the lightning barrier and simultaneously injected a large amount of lightning-attribute chakra to activate the barrier. Lightning from all directions connected to form lines like chains, binding Isobu within the barrier.
But this still didn't stop Isobu from releasing the Tailed Beast Ball.
Amidst the booming thunder, the Three-Tails glared at Mitsuki outside the barrier. It even gave up trying to break free of the chains binding its entire body. The power of the lightning strike traveled across its body surface and seeped into its body through its skin.
It was waiting, waiting for Mitsuki to give up and enter the barrier.
Because the pressure in the deep sea was ever-present, as soon as Sage Mode was deactivated, Mitsuki would be instantly squeezed into a lump of flesh and blood.
This Lightning Realm cleverly isolated the pressure of the deep sea, and entering it was like entering an ordinary reservoir, so there was no need to worry about being crushed by the pressure.
It was precisely because Isobu sensed this that it calmly condensed the Tailed Beast Ball.
Mitsuki, who was deep in the sea, remained quite calm. He did not rush into the "redemption" that was so close, but he was not too worried either, because Boruto would help him solve all the troubles!
"I said, Isobu, we can talk." Mitsuki withdrew the chains binding Isobu to show his sincerity.
"Humans, stop with these little tricks. If you really want to talk, why not go further? Look, there's even a special curtain here."
Isobu pointed at the barrier and said in a cold voice.
"If I come in, will you have a proper talk with me?" Mitsuki asked.
Isobu agreed almost without hesitation, "Once you come in, we can talk slowly."
"Alright then!"
Mitsuki gently pressed his hand on the lightning barrier, slowly inserting his entire arm into the barrier, then half of his body, and finally his whole body into the barrier.
The pressure of the deep sea vanished in an instant. One second his body was in a state of high tension, and the next second he felt completely relaxed and indescribably at ease.
At this moment, Isobu finally revealed its true intentions. It waited patiently for Mitsuki to be completely submerged in the barrier before launching the Tailed Beast Ball without hesitation.
"Die, you wretched humans!!" Isobu exclaimed excitedly.
"..." Mitsuki had an expression that said he had expected this.
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