A playful smile curved at Akira's lips.
"Thanks for the praise. How about fulfilling your promise first~?"
Momoshiki's thin brows, nearly blending into his dark forehead, furrowed.
"What promise?"
Akira casually rubbed the glass surface of his wristwatch with his left fingers and laughed.
"The one where you said if you didn't cut off half my head, you'd take my surname. So… should I start calling you 'Uchiha Momoshiki' now?"
"Heh. You really don't let things go."
Momoshiki scratched his glossy forehead with a fingernail and thought for a moment.
"How about this—change your name first, then I'll take yours."
It sounded like a joke.
Yet Akira caught a hint of seriousness in his eyes.
His smile faded.
"You're serious?"
Momoshiki's own grin vanished.
"There's no doubt you carry blood from my clan. Not pure, but strong enough. Balance the two, and you're qualified."
Then something even more unexpected happened.
Momoshiki extended his hand toward Akira.
Not with Shinra Tensei.
Not with Banshō Ten'in.
But with words from the heart.
"Akira, these inferior creatures aren't worthy of you! Come with me! Replace Kinshiki and become my partner! We'll form a new duo! Chase godlike power and immortality together! When the time comes, I'll introduce you to Lord Ryūshiki and help you enter the Ten Gods of Takamagahara!"
Akira almost laughed.
Sixteen years of scheming for the ninja world.
Enduring Naruto's and Sasuke's suspicion.
And now, a man he'd met only twice was offering him an olive branch.
What an unexpected path.
It was funny.
And strangely… touching.
Being recognized was always pleasant.
Let alone by someone as proud as Momoshiki.
Ryūshiki. Ten Gods of Takamagahara.
Akira silently marked those names.
Then he answered seriously.
"Thank you for the offer. But I refuse."
Momoshiki slowly lowered his hand, a trace of disappointment on his face.
"What a shame. This is the first time in my life I've wanted to pull a human up with me."
He clenched his long fingers.
The brilliance in his golden Byakugan froze into ice.
Lowering his head, he muttered,
"If you won't become Akira-shiki… then one of us will turn to dust…"
He raised his head and looked straight at Akira.
"This place is too cramped. For the second half… mind changing locations?"
Akira replied calmly, "I don't mind. Where to?"
Momoshiki leapt down into the valley.
His golden Rinnegan widened.
"Whoosh!"
Behind him, a flowing black vortex opened, edged with dark crimson.
"On the other side is the ruins of Izumo Country. Five hundred years ago, it rivaled your 'Mitsuki Nation.' After our invasion, it became wasteland."
Mitsuki Nation.
Another keyword.
"There are no annoying buildings. No annoying people. We can fight without restraint."
Here, I still have to worry about accidentally killing that fox…
I don't want to owe Urashiki even one more second.
"I'll settle things with you there. Then I'll come back and take the fox."
"Fine."
Seeing Akira nod, Momoshiki stepped into the portal.
"I'll wait on the other side. With that Rinnegan, you can follow."
The portal closed.
Akira placed a hand on Boruto's trembling shoulder.
—Severing Samsara: Release!
"Whoosh!"
Gravity returned.
The tall and short figures fell to the valley floor.
Akira's right eye widened.
The six tomoe on his Rinnegan contracted.
"Whoosh!"
Ahead, a silver-edged portal opened—leading to the Izumo ruins Momoshiki had marked.
"All right. You're safe. Go where you're supposed to go."
Without looking back, Akira walked toward it.
"Wait!"
He stopped.
Behind him, Boruto clenched his fists, head lowered.
Akira asked calmly, "Something else?"
Boruto raised his head, gathering courage.
"Can you… take me with you?"
Akira replied flatly, "You know what you're saying, right?"
Boruto blurted out,
"I-I know! I'm useless! Just dead weight! But… but… I…"
"And?"
"I don't want to be dead weight anymore!"
He lifted his head.
Blue eyes surged like tides.
"You're incredible! Facing a monster even the Five Kage couldn't beat—and you crushed him!"
"And—and he even tried to recruit you! You rejected him without hesitation! That was… so cool!"
"I don't know why you fought my dad before! I thought you were pure evil! But after seeing this, I know—you must've had reasons!"
"And… the way you fought… that's what a real ninja looks like!"
Tears streamed down his young face.
"Akira… please take me! I don't want to stay a frog in a well! I want to see the wider world!"
"And someday… I want to become as strong as you!"
At last, a faint smile appeared on Akira's indifferent face.
"Then you'd better be prepared. When I fight him to the death, I won't always be able to shield you."
"I understand!" Boruto wiped his tears. "Even if I die, I won't regret it!"
"Then come with me, Uzumaki Boruto."
Akira smiled inwardly.
Heh. Playing hard to get really works on kids.
If I'd dragged you in, it'd look suspicious.
…Though I do have ulterior motives.
After they entered, the portal remained open.
Atop the Chibaku Tensei, Madara and Obito exchanged a glance.
They leapt down and slipped inside before it closed.
Silence returned to the shattered land.
Only much later did Konoha's ninja cautiously peek out from behind the ruins.
"D-Did… did they defeat the enemy?"
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