"ROOOAAAR—!"
Sensing the sudden weakening of the Chibaku Tensei's binding force, Naruto and Sasuke unleashed their power at the same time!
Boom! Boom!
Kurama's golden giant form and Sasuke's Complete Susanoo burst free from the collapsing stars!
Rumble! Rumble!
Countless loosened rocks fell like rain, forcibly filling in much of the ravaged terrain left behind by Akira and Momoshiki's battle.
After landing safely, Naruto and Sasuke both let out deep breaths and released Kurama Mode and Complete Susanoo.
They had personally witnessed the first half of Akira's battle with Momoshiki.
No words could describe the shock in their hearts.
"I never imagined that after awakening the Rinnegan, Uchiha Akira would become this strong," Naruto murmured.
Sasuke said gravely, "Now I finally understand why our attacks last time, even when they hit, didn't hurt him at all. He can rewind time and return himself to the state before being injured."
"With that kind of ability, in theory, only an instant kill that leaves no time to reverse—or destroying his right eye—can eliminate him at the root."
Naruto's eyes reflected thoughts completely different from Sasuke's.
"Sasuke… do you think we might have misunderstood Akira all this time? Just now, he was genuinely fighting the Otsutsuki with his life on the line."
"Maybe the things he wrote in his letters to Konoha weren't just alarmist warnings like we thought…"
Sasuke lowered his gaze.
"The Otsutsuki he mentioned in his letters was called 'Isshiki,' right? This invader is Momoshiki. That alone doesn't prove his letters were true."
"And just because he fights Otsutsuki doesn't mean he's on our side."
The fact that Akira was not Indra's reincarnation yet had awakened the Rinnegan—combined with memories of Obito and Madara's past disasters—continued to trouble Sasuke.
Shaped by his upbringing and cool-toned personality, Sasuke approached unknown threats differently from Naruto.
When faced with uncertainty, he instinctively analyzed the darkest possible motives.
"It's also possible that Akira is driven by利益—利益—seeking profit. He might be fighting Otsutsuki to hunt their power."
"Worst case… he wants to become an Otsutsuki himself."
Turning to Naruto's conflicted face, Sasuke softened his tone.
"Either way, whether to eliminate the Otsutsuki threat or bring Boruto back, we have to go to that space."
Naruto nodded heavily.
"You marked it?"
"Yes. I marked it with my Rinnegan when Akira opened the gate."
Sasuke pondered silently.
The sudden weakening of Chibaku Tensei meant either the caster released it voluntarily, or their condition had worsened drastically.
There was no way Momoshiki would free them willingly.
So… he must have been pushed into a disadvantage by Akira.
Is Akira really that strong?
Maybe what we saw before wasn't even his full power.
"To be safe, let's regroup the Five Kage first," Sasuke said.
"Sakura is treating them. Once they recover, we'll use my Rinnegan to go after them."
...
Izumo Ruins.
Momoshiki stared at the open wound in his chest, his eyes bloodshot.
"This injury is bad… Even the pills refined from fighting that octopus won't fully heal it!"
"Damn it… As unwilling as I am, I have to prepare a backup plan."
He had already confirmed that implanting Kāma on Akira was impossible.
Suddenly, his gaze snapped upward, locking onto Boruto, who was standing dumbfounded on the cliff.
"How ironic… that my future depends on a brat like that!"
Behind him, Akira's leisurely voice sounded.
"Oh? You're still standing after that? Impressive, Otsutsuki. Looks like I need to add another strike."
Akira pretended to move in for the kill.
Driven by survival instinct, Momoshiki flung a bolt of Lightning Release: Gratitude Wave backward from his Rinnegan, blasting Akira away!
Then he turned and shot toward the mountain without hesitation!
Akira sat on the ground and shouted theatrically,
"Oh no, Boruto! He's coming for you! Run!"
"Huh?!"
Boruto, who had been watching in awe, nearly jumped out of his skin. He scrambled backward in panic.
Hidden by Byakuya Yasha, Madara and Obito shifted aside, opening an escape route.
Boom!
In the next instant, Momoshiki crashed down, shattering rock as he chased after Boruto!
Feeling the terrifying pressure behind him, Boruto ran with the speed of a ninja-world Bolt!
Momoshiki's massive body thundered forward, arms spread wide like an eagle snatching prey!
"Damn it!"
In desperation, Boruto threw a Vanishing Rasengan behind him!
Even severely injured, Momoshiki didn't care—he swatted it away casually.
Thinking fast, Boruto created four Shadow Clones and split up under the cover of smoke.
Momoshiki snorted.
His Rinnegan scanned the area. With a flick of his hand, five chakra rods shot out!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Four clones dispersed instantly.
"Ah!"
Boruto was struck in the shoulder and fell miserably to the ground, even losing one shoe.
He tried to get up, but his chakra was disrupted. He couldn't even move his fingers.
All he could do was turn his eyes in terror as Momoshiki arrived, lifted him like a chick, and pulled out the chakra rod from his shoulder.
For the first time, Momoshiki carefully examined Boruto with his transformed golden Byakugan.
Through Boruto's chakra network, he noticed something unusual—and suddenly understood.
"So that's it… You're no ordinary brat. You're the child of the fox and a woman with Byakugan. You possess the potential of the Jōgan."
"Let me go, you bastard! Don't use me to threaten Uncle Akira!"
"Heh."
Momoshiki sneered and squeezed Boruto's right wrist.
Boruto's hand was forced open. The kunai he had prepared to kill himself clattered to the ground.
Momoshiki said coldly,
"With that kind of potential… you're not a bad vessel."
"What… what's happening…?"
An indescribable sensation flooded Boruto's body.
Buzz!
A deep blue glow slowly emerged on his right palm, forming a diamond-shaped mark.
Just like that, Momoshiki successfully implanted Kāma into Boruto.
The moment he let go, he drove a fist into Boruto's abdomen.
"Ugh—!"
Boruto's eyes widened as he collapsed to his knees, curling up. As his face hit the ground, he called out with his last bit of consciousness:
"Uncle… Akira…"
Akira felt relieved.
Good. What needed to be left behind… has been left behind.
"Haa…"
Momoshiki raised his hand and swallowed the three rotating pills around his Rinnegan.
Sizzle!
Steam rose as his external wounds healed under the pills' effects, restoring about seventy percent of his chest injury. The hole was gone, though internal damage remained.
He slowly turned to face Akira, who was waiting calmly.
A look of admiration appeared on his face.
"Brilliant scheme. Brilliant methods. You brought that kid here from the start for this purpose, didn't you, Akira?"
This was an open plot.
Even if Momoshiki saw through it, he had no choice.
Akira didn't deny it anymore. He looked straight at him and said sincerely,
"At first, it was just on a whim. But now, I'm truly glad I made that choice."
"Someone like you… becoming nothing but fertilizer for a Divine Tree would be a waste."
"Heh…"
Momoshiki gave a bleak smile. Then, murderous resolve surged in his golden eyes.
"Then let's finish this!"
He slammed down.
—Ape Rock!
A lava giant nearly twice as large as the one he used against Madara rose from the earth!
Akira abandoned all tricks.
His Complete Susanoo manifested openly, towering over the battlefield!
"Come!"
The final stage of the battle between Akira and Momoshiki begins!
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