Chapter 100:
Although Zabuza and Haku's combined strength initially allowed them to fight Uchiha Itachi on even footing, once Itachi summoned Susanoo, they completely lost the ability to continue the battle.
"Damn it! Bloodline Limits really are such a nuisance." After finding an opening to retreat, Zabuza said bitterly.
"I'm sorry, Lord Kōsuke. If I still had my Ice Shield, I definitely could've helped more," Haku said with visible dejection.
"It's not your fault, Suzuya. We're retreating for now," Zabuza told Haku.
"But Boruto and Sarada…"
"Our priority is getting this intel back to the Leaf. There's no way the Leaf will abandon Boruto and Sarada."
"Yes, Lord Kōsuke."
Watching the two depart, Uchiha Itachi had no intention of pursuing them. In truth, all he wanted was to ensure Boruto and Sarada's safety.
Zabuza and Haku, however, seemed to have misunderstood Boruto and Sarada's expressions, mistaking S.H.I.E.L.D. as their enemy, which led them to attack and triggered the battle.
"Who would've thought the infamous Flaming Cloud Evil God is actually a famed Uchiha."
Itachi ignored Gray Wolf's sarcastic tone and continued walking in the direction Boruto and Sarada had gone.
That was not only the direction Boruto and Sarada had headed toward—it was also where the ghouls were being recovered.
Itachi had a vague hunch in his heart: Boruto and Sarada's goal in leaving the village might be the same as his—ghouls.
…
"Mitsuki!" Gecko called out excitedly to him, while Mitsuki braced himself for more torture at Gecko's hands.
"Did you know, Mitsuki? I've found two little rats sneaking in. Are they the hope you've been clinging to all this time?"
The expected torture didn't come, but Mitsuki's body reacted even more intensely than if it had.
Boruto and Sarada.
Mitsuki was certain the two rats Gecko spoke of were Boruto and Sarada.
"Your reaction is just too delightful, Mitsuki! More, more—entertain me even more!" Gecko shouted in sick excitement, yanking Mitsuki's hair. But his mood quickly dropped again. "Still, the S.H.I.E.L.D. folks should be arriving soon. So, killing those two rats and shattering your last bit of hope… will be your final chance to please me."
"Gecko! Gecko! Stop it!"
Mitsuki understood very clearly—too clearly—that if it were just Boruto and Sarada, they wouldn't be able to defeat Gecko.
"Don't worry, Mitsuki. Very soon, you'll be able to see those two little rats again."
Watching Gecko walk away, all Mitsuki could do was scream until his voice broke—he was powerless to stop anything.
"Oh my, Mitsuki, you really are such a coward." Mom Snake appeared behind the starving Mitsuki, gently combing the mess of hair Gecko had yanked. "Aren't you going to do something, Mitsuki? After all, your friends are about to die because of you."
The once-gentle Mom Snake suddenly turned vicious, mimicking Gecko as she seized Mitsuki's hair and shouted, "It's all your fault, Mitsuki! Your friends' deaths are all because of you! If you weren't so weak—if you hadn't resisted your identity as a ghoul—if you had real power, then your friends wouldn't have to die!"
After venting, Mom Snake gradually calmed and once again gently smoothed Mitsuki's hair. "Without great strength, you can't even protect the people beside you. All the misfortunes in this world come from the incompetence of those involved. But, at this point, there's nothing more to say. Your two friends will be killed by Gecko very soon."
She lifted Mitsuki's head and made him look straight ahead. "Look, Mitsuki—Gecko's already at the door. Next, he'll open it and walk out… then easily kill your two friends. This is your last chance. Tell me your decision, Mitsuki."
"…Orochimaru… please… tell me… how to become stronger…"
"Very good, Mitsuki. As expected of my son. Ghouls have a way to become stronger too—and that is to eat. As long as you keep consuming your own kind, you can absorb their strength. But to break free from your current predicament, the first thing you must do… is accept yourself as a ghoul."
Even Mitsuki himself hadn't realized that, ever since mastering Sage Mode, he'd been unconsciously using natural energy to resist the influence of RC cells on his body.
Gecko, who had reached for the door handle, suddenly stopped. He turned to glance at Mitsuki, who still hung his head as if completely drained. Then, he turned his attention back to the door handle.
Just as he twisted it, a sound of chains snapping echoed behind him—followed by the roar of wind.
Mitsuki suddenly appeared behind Gecko and sank his teeth into Gecko's shoulder, tearing off a chunk of flesh.
Gecko howled in fury and pain. His kagune flared from his back, but before it could strike Mitsuki, Mitsuki had already pulled away.
"Your meat really tastes awful."
Despite saying that, Mitsuki still licked the blood from the corner of his lips.
Disgusting as it was, he could feel the power it gave him.
"Mitsuki!"
Gecko roared in rage.
As Gecko shouted, Mitsuki charged at him again. He reached Gecko and struck him in the head with a side kick—but Gecko didn't budge. He caught Mitsuki's leg with a backhanded grab.
"Got you, Mitsuki!"
"Is that so?" Mitsuki said calmly as he twisted his right ankle a full 360 degrees, rotating his body and landing a powerful left kick that sent Gecko flying.
"At this point, do you really think a bit of pain can affect me?"
That was how ghouls fought—using their bodies' rapid healing abilities, trading blows recklessly. As long as they could endure the pain, that was all that mattered.
Gecko crashed to the ground, panting heavily. His dark red kagune wrapped tightly around his body. On all fours like a beast, saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth as he lunged again, ramming Mitsuki and slamming him into the wall.
"Though you've gained power and speed, you've lost your reason… You're no better than a wild beast now." Mitsuki walked out of the wall completely unscathed, four conical kagune rising from his back. "But this is about over. Your kagune probably can't shield your abdomen—hence your crouched posture."
Once he knew the weakness, that was all he needed. When Gecko lunged again, Mitsuki formed hand signs with natural energy.
"Sage Art: Wind Style: Breakthrough!"
A powerful gust blasted from Mitsuki's palm, launching the charging Gecko into the air and exposing his abdomen. Mitsuki's kagune stretched forth, piercing Gecko's stomach and pinning him to the ceiling.
"And now… it's time to eat." Mitsuki said at last, looking at Gecko struggling on the ceiling, impaled.
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