Chapter 101:
"This is it." Boruto stood at the entrance, panting as he quietly adjusted his state of mind, preparing for the upcoming battle to rescue Mitsuki. "Are you ready, Sarada?"
"Yeah."
Sarada nodded and discreetly readied a shuriken in her hand, remaining on alert.
As the door creaked open, what greeted Boruto and Sarada was a floor soaked in blood—and a hunched figure crouched with its back to them, seemingly feeding on something.
Hearing the door creak open behind him, Mitsuki paused mid-bite and slowly turned his head.
"...Mitsuki!" Just as Boruto was about to rush to Mitsuki, Sarada grabbed him. "What are you doing, Sarada?"
"Wait, Boruto. We should... be cautious."
Taking into account the disappearance of the ghoul that had taken Mitsuki and the unrecognizable chunks of flesh on the floor, Sarada had already started forming a vague idea.
"Mitsuki, do you still remember me?"
Boruto looked at Mitsuki with hopeful eyes.
"..."
Mitsuki lowered his head without saying a word. He didn't want Boruto to see him like this—looking like a monster.
"...Oh my, someone beat us to it." Gray Wolf appeared behind Boruto and Sarada, following close behind.
Boruto and Sarada instinctively turned their backs to Mitsuki.
Despite everything, they still subconsciously chose to trust Mitsuki over Gray Wolf.
"Looks like Gecko's dead."
The Flaming Cloud Evil God appeared beside Gray Wolf, glanced at the chunks of flesh on the ground, then shifted his gaze to Mitsuki behind Boruto and Sarada.
Mitsuki—Uchiha Itachi was familiar with him. He was Orochimaru's son.
"Dad."
At that moment, Mitsuki finally looked up, his gaze passing Boruto and Sarada to settle on Gray Wolf and the Flaming Cloud Evil God.
"Dad?!"
Boruto and Sarada both exclaimed in shock. Even Uchiha Itachi instinctively turned to look at Gray Wolf standing beside him.
So Gray Wolf really was Orochimaru.
"My beloved son. It seems you've finally accepted yourself," Gray Wolf said calmly.
Mitsuki's enhancement had been within Orochimaru's expectations.
Most people might become arrogant after gaining such power—but not Mitsuki. He was very clear that his current strength was entirely thanks to Orochimaru.
"Mitsuki's dad is a wolf…? But regardless of whether you're Mitsuki's father or not, I'm bringing him back to the Leaf Village!" Boruto declared, then turned to Mitsuki. "Right, Mitsuki? Let's show them what our three-man team is capable of."
"How interesting. Well then, Flaming Cloud, are you going to make a move?" Gray Wolf turned leisurely to the Flaming Cloud Evil God.
"I'll take Uchiha Sarada. The other two are yours," Uchiha Itachi said, Mangekyō Sharingan trained on Sarada.
Gray Wolf nodded. "Alright, then I'll handle Mitsuki. One-on-one for each of us."
"You're fighting Mitsuki, and you're taking on Sarada... Damn it, don't ignore me!" Boruto grumbled while quietly reaching for the ninja tool pouch on his lower back.
"...I want to join S.H.I.E.L.D."
Just as Boruto was about to pull out a shuriken to launch a sneak attack, Mitsuki suddenly spoke.
To protect Boruto—and to protect the Leaf Village where Boruto lived—that was why Mitsuki had made the resolute decision to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and become a proud double agent.
"What are you talking about, Mitsuki?!" Boruto turned around, staring at Mitsuki in disbelief, momentarily forgetting the basic ninja rule of never turning your back on the enemy.
Mitsuki didn't respond. He simply looked at the two members of S.H.I.E.L.D. before him.
"Let him join... What do you think, Flaming Cloud?" Gray Wolf turned to ask.
"I don't mind. Our original mission was to recover the ghouls. Since Gecko's been dealt with by him, we'll just take him back as our report," Uchiha Itachi said.
"Alright then. Mitsuki, come with us for now," Gray Wolf said.
"Hey, Mitsuki!" As Mitsuki walked past, heading toward Gray Wolf and the Flaming Cloud Evil God, Boruto instinctively grabbed his hand.
"Boruto, this childish game of playing ninja is over. The next time we meet, we'll be enemies. I won't hold back then." Mitsuki shook off Boruto's hand and continued walking toward the two.
"Hey, Mitsuki!"
"What a nuisance." Just as Boruto was about to step forward and grab Mitsuki again, Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan locked onto him.
In Boruto and Sarada's eyes, Boruto's body was slowly turning to stone.
"Sarada!" Boruto cried out, panicking.
"This is a mass illusion technique!" Sarada quickly formed hand seals. "Genjutsu Release!"
It didn't work. Boruto's petrification continued.
"Let's go."
Though Sarada was still able to move, she didn't rush after the departing group.
...
"Faster, Sasuke!"
In Sage Mode, Naruto was sensing Boruto and Sarada's chakra while urging Sasuke to speed up with Susanoo.
Upon receiving the report from Kōsuke Hōji, Naruto had temporarily handed his duties as Hokage to Shikamaru and left the village with Sasuke.
"That's the place, Sasuke!"
Naruto pointed to a small earthen building below.
"Dad! Up here!"
Sensing her father's chakra, Sarada waved from a second-floor window.
"What happened, Boruto?!" When they arrived upstairs and saw Boruto frozen in place, Naruto's eyes filled with concern.
"Don't worry, Naruto. He's just caught in a genjutsu," Sasuke said, activating his Rinnegan to dispel the illusion.
"Thanks, Sasuke." Naruto nodded gratefully.
Having been frozen in place for so long, Boruto stumbled a few steps before collapsing into Naruto's arms.
He looked up at his father, but his gaze was distracted by Naruto's whiskers. "...Dad, Mitsuki actually joined S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"I see, Boruto."
While Naruto consoled Boruto, Sasuke was already exchanging information with Sarada.
"Gray Wolf is Mitsuki's father...? Alright, got it."
Aside from the intel they already had, there was little new to gain.
"Let's head back to the village, Sasuke."
Naruto approached, and the now-recovered Boruto followed closely behind.
"You okay, Boruto?" Sarada asked with concern.
"I'm fine, Sarada. One day, even if I have to break his legs, I'll definitely bring Mitsuki back."
Boruto declared.
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