Chapter 390: Night Raid
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" In midair, Future Boruto created a shadow clone of himself. Then, he said to the Nine Tails inside his body, "I'm counting on you, Kurama."
"Mhm. Don't worry, Lord Boruto."
Golden light shimmered on the shadow clone's body. A Tailed Beast Bomb materialized in his right hand.
Meanwhile, a Rasengan formed in the right hand of the real Future Boruto. The two of them pressed the Tailed Beast Bomb and Rasengan against each other.
The collision between the Tailed Beast Bomb and Rasengan caused the surrounding space to warp and distort.
The process of fusing the two was extremely dangerous—one misstep and they could detonate prematurely, leaving Boruto seriously injured.
"Almost there…"
Future Boruto looked down cautiously at the two attacks in the process of merging.
It was clear that half of the Tailed Beast Bomb and Rasengan had already fused.
"This terrifying power… I won't let you complete that jutsu!"
Cell charged straight at the airborne Future Boruto.
"Space-Time Portal!"
A portal opened in front of Future Boruto, linking directly to the ground. Because the distance was short, the preparation time required was minimal.
He swiftly escaped through the portal, evading Cell's charge.
"It's ready!"
The shadow clone vanished in a puff of white mist. In the real Future Boruto's right hand floated a plain, deep black Rasengan.
"Cell! Take this!" Future Boruto hurled the Rasengan at him. "Tailed Beast Rasengan!"
Cell twisted around in midair to face the attack head-on.
A violet barrier opened in front of him.
A thunderous explosion echoed through the skies.
When the blast subsided, only half of Cell's body remained as he plummeted to the ground.
"Aaaargh!" Cell cried out in pain, his face twisted in agony. That attack had nearly killed him. Glaring hatefully at Future Boruto, he shouted, "Boruto!"
"Cell, you've already lost," Future Boruto said.
Having lost half his body, Cell's combat strength had plummeted. Even though Future Boruto was severely drained, Cell was no longer a threat.
"You're right, Boruto. But! I've only lost for now. One day, I'll evolve into an even stronger being… and I'll personally kill you!"
Cell tilted his head back, his neck swelling, mouth opening unnaturally wide, as if something inside was forcing its way out.
"Damn it…"
Whatever Cell was about to do, Future Boruto had to stop him. But just as he took a step, he collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
Cell ultimately managed to spit out his egg sac, which floated into the air. As it left his body, Cell shriveled away until only a lifeless husk remained.
"Damn it!"
Future Boruto pounded the ground in frustration, leaving a small crater.
After such a fierce battle, he knew exactly how dangerous Cell was. If Cell were given more time to recover, he would become even stronger—perhaps to the point where not even Boruto could defeat him.
…
"Yes, Lord Gray Wolf, we've found Cell's egg sac… Understood, we'll bring it back immediately."
A group of adult clone Mitsukis stood in the forest, gathered around the egg sac.
…
Capital of the Land of Iron
"According to intelligence from the village, Orochimaru has been spotted in the newly completed capital of the Land of Iron."
Future Boruto, carrying a wooden box on his back, spoke to Mitsuki as they walked through the streets.
"Mhm." Mitsuki nodded. Though he was technically a ghost, sunlight didn't bother him in the slightest.
Residence of the Daimyō, Land of Iron
"Lord Mizunotsuki, there's been another assassination by the Night Raid group."
"I see. Well, it's not like any of the victims were important."
Mizunotsuki nodded calmly. With assistance from S.H.I.E.L.D., combined with his years of experience as the former daimyō of the Land of Water, he had successfully earned the trust of Tetsubaki, the current leader. While Tetsubaki immersed herself in mastering samurai techniques, Mizunotsuki quietly took charge of the nation's affairs.
Using threats, bribes, and manipulation, he had secured the loyalty of a sizable faction of Land of Iron officials.
What no one suspected was that he was also the true leader of the Night Raid assassin group.
All members of Night Raid were clone beings turned into ghosts—only capable of operating at night.
By letting his corrupt officials take bribes and act lawlessly, Mizunotsuki stirred public resentment. He would then emerge as the heroic leader of Night Raid, "fighting back" against the very government he secretly controlled. In the end, all blame would fall on the daimyō, Tetsubaki.
And then, Mizunotsuki would ascend as the true ruler of the Land of Iron—seizing political power and transforming the country into a second Land of Water.
At night, the capital of the Land of Iron was nothing like its daytime self—eerily quiet, like a city of the dead.
"It's completely different from daytime," Mitsuki remarked, glancing around.
"I've noticed something. There's no curfew or law banning nighttime activity in this city. That means… the people are choosing to stay inside. They're afraid of something that comes out at night," Future Boruto said.
"You mean the Night Raid?"
After a day of intelligence gathering, Mitsuki and Future Boruto had learned of the assassin group known as Night Raid.
They only appeared at night—and specifically targeted corrupt Land of Iron officials.
There were many rumors about Night Raid. What concerned Future Boruto most were the whispers of cannibalism.
Anything involving eating humans made Boruto particularly uneasy—after all, that was a hallmark of zombies.
"One thing is certain: the Night Raid assassin group definitely exists." After all, corrupt officials had indeed been killed, and Night Raid always left their calling card at the scene. "But even now, there's no concrete intel on any of its members. That really bothers me."
He held tightly to Himawari's small hand as he spoke.
After being cooped up in the box all day, this was Himawari's only chance to get some fresh air.
A white snake slithered up to Mitsuki's feet. He gently picked it up and gazed into its eyes.
"…Boruto, I've located Night Raid's movements."
After a while, Mitsuki finally spoke and set the white snake down, looking up at Boruto.
"Alright. Let's go."
Future Boruto tightened his grip on Himawari's hand.