章節 25: Jinchuriki.

Hehe....

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Momoshiki's face twisted into a scowl, his Byakugan scanning the battlefield in rapid, desperate sweeps. He knew he couldn't overpower Naruto, Sasuke, and the Kage as a unified front—not without the Chakra Fruit.

But perhaps he didn't have to. With one final surge of chakra, he slapped his hands to the ground, unleashing a sudden flood of lava that spilled across the terrain, spreading toward his enemies in a red-hot wave.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Momoshiki darted across the battlefield, his mind racing as he searched for a new target. His Byakugan activated, piercing through the smoke and molten landscape until it settled on a familiar figure—Boruto Uzumaki. A cruel smile crept onto his face. The boy. Yes, he would do nicely.

As he bolted across the field, Sasuke, hovering above the lava using Almighty Push to levitate, observed Momoshiki's trajectory with narrowed eyes. "He's running..." he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Naruto, hovering a few paces away, activated Sage Mode, his eyes gaining a square-shaped pupil alongside Kurama's slit-like design. In an instant, his perception expanded, covering miles across the alien terrain. He felt Boruto's chakra and sighed, piecing together what must have happened.

"Sasuke," Naruto called out, "did you leave the portal open too long?"

Sasuke shrugged, keeping his attention on Momoshiki. "Just in case. I closed it only after I sensed the Kage's chakra through it."

Naruto's expression shifted, a mixture of pride and frustration. While he respected that Boruto and Arsene had joined them out of duty, their presence complicated things. Arsene's intervention had saved them all from Momoshiki's consumption of the Chakra Fruit, but Boruto was now in danger.

"No time for regrets. Sasuke," Naruto said, his voice resolute, "mind giving me a boost?"

Sasuke sighed, but a small smirk crossed his face as he activated Susano'o once more. Forming the massive ethereal warrior, he cocked its bow, and instead of an arrow, he readied Naruto himself, positioning him as if he were about to be launched from a massive sling.

"Hang on," Sasuke warned, his eyes glinting with both focus and a hint of amusement as he aimed. And then, with one swift motion, he released Naruto, launching him across the battlefield in a blur of golden and purple chakra.

"Creative," Gaara observed, watching Naruto's rapid trajectory with quiet admiration.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, focusing on Momoshiki's path. "Shut up..."

Boruto was running with all the strength he could muster, the landscape a blur as he pushed himself to go faster, his breaths coming in quick gasps. "Why's he after me?" he muttered under his breath, half-frustrated and half-terrified.

The presence chasing him was terrifying, powerful, and relentless. Every time he dared a glance back, the white-robed Otsutsuki was closer.

"Stop running, boy!" Momoshiki's voice rang out, cold and amused. "I just need a moment of your time." In truth, he needed far more than that. His plan was simple but sinister: Karma, the Otsutsuki's final backup.¹

If he could implant his essence within Boruto, he could resurrect himself later, even from the brink of death. Naruto's interference had made his old plan impossible, but this could still work. And with Naruto busy battling the Kage and Sasuke, this would be the perfect opportunity.

Momoshiki surged forward, his hand outstretched as he reached Boruto, the sinister energy of Karma already swirling at his fingertips. "Finally," he hissed, his hand inches from Boruto's shoulder. "Now—"

But his voice was cut short. In an instant, he felt an intense, fiery pain spreading through his chest. His vision blurred, his movements faltering as he realized Naruto was standing right in front of him, his fox-like red eyes blazing with ferocity.

Momoshiki's gaze dropped, and his mouth opened in a silent gasp as he saw Naruto's fist, coated in blazing chakra, embedded directly in his chest, where his heart would have been.

Naruto's expression was colder than Boruto had ever seen it, his voice filled with restrained fury. "Next time…" Naruto growled, his voice low and dangerous, "don't touch my family." He pulled his bloodied fist back with a flick, his bandaged knuckles stained red.

Momoshiki's body wavered, struggling to remain upright as he clutched at the gaping wound in his chest. His eyes flitted from Naruto's grim expression to Boruto, who stood frozen, his face pale as he took in the sight before him. Naruto's anger melted away as he looked back at his son, his face softening.

"Dad?" Boruto managed, his voice small, trying to process what had just happened. He could still feel his heart pounding as he took in the gruesome scene.

Naruto's usual smile returned, a flash of warmth breaking through the intense moment. "Yeah, Boruto?" he asked, his tone light.

Boruto shook his head quickly, attempting to brush off the horror he'd felt. "Oh… nothing. Just checking…" he murmured, trying to ignore the gory sight and his father's bloodstained fist.

Naruto gave him an encouraging nod before turning his attention back to Momoshiki.

Momoshiki, still clutching his chest, staggered backward, his once-arrogant demeanor reduced to a shell of rage and regret. His vision blurred, the energy of his life force slipping away with every second. His gaze landed on Boruto, and he let out a faint, bitter chuckle.

"Heh… to lose to you… is an honor, I suppose…" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. His Byakugan caught Naruto's watchful stare, but for a moment, his focus remained on Boruto.

Naruto frowned, a chill running through him. Who was he speaking to? He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something hidden in that final glance, something far more sinister than a simple surrender.

The light in Momoshiki's eyes faded, and his form crumpled to the ground, motionless. Boruto stared at the fallen figure, unsettled by the strange final words, an inexplicable sense of unease gnawing at him.

Naruto rested a hand on his son's shoulder, his expression softening once more. "It's over, Boruto. You did well."

...

The Kage began to converge on Naruto and Boruto's position, moving carefully across the alien landscape littered with the remains of Momoshiki's golems. Sasuke arrived just as they gathered, his Rinnegan still active, scanning for any lingering threats.

Chojuro glanced around the desolate area, his grip firm on Hiramekarei. "So… it's done?" he asked, eyeing Momoshiki's body.

Darui sighed, rolling his eyes. "Not so fast. We're on an entire planet we know nothing about. If there's one God Tree here, who knows what else we might run into." His gaze shifted warily to the immense God Tree towering in the distance, a silent reminder of the Otsutsuki's power. "Huh...it's missing..." It seems when Momoshiki died, it died too...cool.

Kurotsuchi crossed her arms, casting a skeptical glance at Momoshiki's lifeless body. "So, this is the fearsome Otsutsuki? Not gonna lie, he seemed kinda… easy."

Gaara responded in his usual calm tone. "It was seven against two. If we'd struggled, that would've been a bad sign," he said, his steady gaze fixed on the fallen Otsutsuki.

Sasuke observed the scene, his Rinnegan glowing faintly as he scanned each person present. His gaze rested on Boruto, his expression unreadable. Before, his Rinnegan had detected a dormant power in Boruto's left eye—a potential he hadn't yet unlocked. But now…

Something had changed. A faint, almost imperceptible shift had appeared in Boruto's chakra signature, centered around his left palm. Sasuke felt a chill as he focused, noticing a creeping blackness emanating from Boruto's hand.

Though the mark was spreading so slowly it was almost motionless, it unmistakably radiated foreign chakra, its dark nature sending warning signals through Sasuke's senses.

Boruto, who had been watching his hand, whispered to himself, "What… is this?" He stared in confusion at the black rhombus now emblazoned on his palm, a stark and unnatural mark that hadn't been there moments before.

Naruto noticed the strange look on his son's face and rested a reassuring hand on Boruto's shoulder. "You okay, Boruto?" he asked, his voice steady, though he too couldn't ignore the faint ominousness surrounding the mark.

"Yeah… I just…" Boruto looked up, masking the uncertainty in his expression. "It's nothing, Dad. Just… tired, I guess."

Naruto smiled, nodding in understanding. "You did great today," he said, pride clear in his tone. But as he glanced at the Kage, a glimmer of concern lingered in his eyes. What had Momoshiki done to his son in those final moments?

Meanwhile, near the base of the missing God Tree, Arsene lay on the ground, his breaths coming in shallow, painful gasps. Unlike the others, he had chosen to stay behind, knowing that his speed wouldn't allow him to rejoin the others in time if he followed. Yet, something strange was happening. His body felt like it was on fire, the heat intense and consuming, as though his very blood had turned to molten lava.

Each second felt like an eternity, his mind overwhelmed by a scorching pain that he couldn't escape. His heart pounded erratically, and his muscles tensed involuntarily. A pained groan escaped his lips, and he clenched his fists, fighting against the waves of agony.

After what felt like hours, the pain finally began to subside. Arsene let out a slow, shaky breath, blinking as his vision cleared. He muttered to himself, "I need to figure out how to disable pain receptors…"

With unsteady movements, he managed to create a small puddle using a basic Water Style technique, staring into its reflective surface to check for any visible changes. But as he peered closer, he found no trace of the agony he'd just endured. His appearance was the same, his eyes as unsettling as ever, with no markings or signs of transformation.

He frowned, the implication dawning on him. "No changes? Guess it's only meant for… Otsutsuki." The words left a bitter taste. He didn't need anyone else's power, least of all a hand-me-down from a conquered alien. He would achieve his strength on his terms, without relying on the abilities of others. Shaking off the residual pain, he steeled himself, feeling his resolve harden.

"Hey, kid!" A voice called out, and he looked up to see Kurotsuchi waving at him. "We're heading out!" she called, gesturing to the portal that still shimmered in the distance.

Arsene stretched his limbs, feeling a welcome relief in the motion as he straightened up. With a final look at the planet, he set his jaw, brushing off any lingering weakness. This wasn't the end for him—it was only the beginning. Giving one last shrug, he began jogging toward the others, his gaze fixed ahead as he joined them for the journey back home.

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[Auther: And with that...I've done it. Arsene is now from weak-strong to OP, broken.

JKJKJKJKJKJKJKJK.]