"Uchiha Akira, what exactly did you do?! Where is Momoshiki?!"
Uchiha Sasuke demanded sharply.
Akira didn't mind answering.
But he didn't like Sasuke's tone.
"Stupid question. Obviously, he's where he belongs."
Sasuke clenched his fist tightly.
So… that monster was really killed by him alone?
That kind of existence…
He actually…
Kurotsuchi scanned the surroundings, then suddenly fixed her gaze on a distant stone ridge.
"Look! Someone's lying over there—it's the Hokage's son!"
"Boruto!"
Naruto wrapped himself in Kurama's golden cloak and flashed past Akira.
He landed beside Boruto and quickly turned him over.
Thank goodness.
He's still alive.
Naruto pulled Boruto tightly into his arms and began surveying the terrain.
The entire cliff face was riddled with shattered wood fragments and razor-sharp remnants of Susanoo.
Only a fan-shaped area centered on where Boruto lay had been left untouched.
During Akira and Momoshiki's battle…
Had someone been protecting Boruto?
But if he'd been protected, why was he unconscious here?
"Naruto! That mark on Boruto's right hand isn't normal!"
Kurama's grave voice echoed in his mind.
Naruto finally noticed the blue diamond-shaped seal branded on Boruto's palm.
His heart, which had just settled, rose again.
What… is this?
Who left this on him?
Akira?
Or Momoshiki?
Only Boruto himself could answer that after waking up.
Naruto flashed back to the other Kage and said in a low voice,
"Sasuke."
Sasuke reopened a space-time portal.
Naruto carried Boruto through.
A moment later, he returned alone.
The portal closed again.
The Five Kage clearly had no intention of leaving.
Not only that—
With Naruto and Sasuke in front and the other four behind, they formed a battle formation against Akira.
Akira turned around expressionlessly.
"What's this supposed to mean?"
...
Earlier, while Sakura was treating the Four Kage,
Naruto and Sasuke had consulted Shikamaru about their conflicting judgments of Akira.
Shikamaru sat on a rock, smoking in silence.
After finishing three cigarettes in a row, he finally spoke.
"First he nearly kills you two, then he fights an Otsutsuki invader to the death. Akira's motives are impossible to read. Even I can't tell whether he's an enemy."
"But at times like this, we need to 'set aside the facts.'"
"Set aside the facts? Then what do we talk about?"
"Risk and consequences. Since we can't confirm the truth, for the sake of the ninja world, we must assume the worst—Akira is our enemy."
"And act accordingly."
"When the Five Kage reach that other space…"
"If Momoshiki is there, we join forces and eliminate him."
"If Akira and Momoshiki are still fighting, we prioritize killing the confirmed enemy first, then talk later."
"And if… if Akira has already killed Momoshiki…"
"…then while he's weakened, we use all Five Kage's power to subdue him and bring him back for investigation."
At the third "if," Naruto looked troubled.
"What if… I mean, what if… he's not our enemy? Wouldn't this break his heart?"
Shikamaru lit his fourth cigarette and exhaled heavily.
"Then that's his own fault."
"We gave him chances to prove himself. If he'd cooperated back then, sealed his chakra, and submitted to Yamanaka interrogation, none of this would've happened."
"If we misunderstood him in the end, I'll personally apologize."
"It's the only way."
Naruto closed his eyes painfully.
Scenes of fighting Akira replayed in his mind—the suffocating fear returned.
After a long silence, he asked,
"What if… even with the Five Kage, we still can't beat him?"
Shikamaru looked up.
Was Naruto traumatized that badly?
He stubbed out his cigarette.
"Relax. That won't happen."
"Why?"
"After our hospital meeting, I ran multiple battle simulations."
"And?"
"Akira can't counter your Majestic Attire: Susanoo."
"Huh?"
"Remember? His Susanoo weapons pinned you to a tree, and he could rewind you anytime."
"Then why did he desperately rewind time only after you and Sasuke activated Majestic Attire?"
"Because he couldn't confront it head-on."
"That's obvious."
"You lost mainly due to lack of intel. Now, his eye techniques are mostly exposed—like Pain back then."
"Once inside, don't split up. Avoid giving him rewind points."
"And since he now has a Rinnegan, he's stronger than before."
"When you use Majestic Attire, combine the Kage's specialties and finish it in one strike."
"Specifically?"
"Remember what I'm about to say…"
...
"Boom!"
Before Akira—
Dark purple and golden light split the sky, forming a tengu-and-fox visage.
Kurama stood tall like a golden mountain, cloaked in dark-purple Susanoo armor.
The Four Kage stood within Kurama's chakra.
Before them rose Susanoo's absolute defense.
Naruto shouted,
"Kage! Feel it! Kurama's chakra is boosting you!"
Darui laughed.
"Feels like the Fourth Ninja War again."
Naruto continued,
"Merge your power into Majestic Attire!"
Chōjūrō hesitated.
"Is this really necessary? Akira should be weakened after fighting Momoshiki."
"Don't underestimate him."
Sasuke clenched his fist.
"He's stronger than you think."
"Enough talk!" Darui flexed.
Yellow lightning burst from his dark skin, spreading over Susanoo's armor like vines.
"This Lightning Release Mode boosts speed, power, and defense!"
Chōjūrō activated Hiramekarei.
Empowered by Kurama, it grew massive, linked to Kurama's chakra arms.
"Now Kurama can wield Susanoo's blade!"
Gaara said,
"Our turn, Tsuchikage."
Kurotsuchi placed her hand on Gaara's gourd.
"With enhanced Light-Weight Rock, I've lightened all the sand and terrain. You can control it freely!"
"Good."
Gaara clenched his fist.
Massive earth shattered into sand.
A sandstorm rose, interwoven with lightning.
"This sand auto-defends and restrains enemies—our second armor and second blade!"
Kurotsuchi formed seals.
"I'll adjust weight mid-battle to maximize impact!"
"Yes…"
"This is the crystallization of Shikamaru's genius—
The ultimate power of the Five Kage:
Shadow Style: Majestic Attire: Susanoo!"
Akira laughed inwardly.
"When they fight each other, they're creative geniuses.
When facing real enemies, they collapse.
Now suddenly they're brilliant again."
He clenched his fist.
Not from fear.
From disgust.
"I won't judge your technique."
"But is this how you treat your savior?"
"I dealt with Momoshiki and didn't even get a breather before you came at me full power?"
"This is the Five Kage?"
"This is your dignity?"
The Kage lowered their heads in silence.
They knew they were wrong.
"Don't be swayed!"
Sasuke stabilized them.
"We can't confirm the truth. For the ninja world, we must treat him as an enemy!"
"If we don't strike now, we'll never get another chance!"
"We can't gamble the world on his morals!"
His power is too dangerous.
Naruto finally shouted,
"Akira! Stop resisting and come back with us!"
"If you cooperate, we won't hurt you!"
"If you're innocent, we'll apologize!"
"If you had hostile thoughts, it's not too late to turn back!"
"Don't resist anymore, dattebayo!"
Heh.
So I've given you enough hope to think you can beat me.
Looks like I haven't shown you enough despair yet.
I didn't want to use that move on you…
But I guess I can't hold back anymore.
Akira slowly unclenched his fist.
Fine.
"I'll show you… what true despair looks like."
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