Chapter 381: The Demon Group
Inside a mountain cave.
"Boruto, I brought the stuff."
A pile of wooden planks and gray fabric lay in front of Future Boruto.
"...Mitsuki, why are you tagging along with us?"
Himawari crouched quietly in a corner of the cave. As he hammered away at the planks to make a box, Future Boruto asked his question.
"Why, you ask...? Obviously, it's to stop your sister from eating people. Boruto, if your sister starts eating humans, then even if it costs me my life, I'll still cut off her head."
Mitsuki's eyes suddenly sharpened as he spoke.
"I'll figure something out..." Future Boruto didn't want to hurt civilians either, if he could avoid it. "All done!"
He looked at the newly constructed wooden box, then turned to Himawari. She had dug a pit in the ground and buried herself inside, with only the top of her head sticking out, brow furrowed as she stared warily out of the cave.
"Probably because she's afraid of the sunlight outside," Mitsuki said, glancing toward the cave's entrance. The bright sunlight spilled over the land—a pleasant day for humans, but terrifying for demons.
"Himawari's turned into a little mole…" Future Boruto said as he crouched beside her with the box, tapping on it to get her attention. "Himawari, over here, come on… get in the box…"
Although they had plugged a bamboo muzzle into Himawari's mouth, it only suppressed her urge to attack—it didn't strip her of her instincts. As a result, she usually appeared somewhat dazed and dim-witted.
"..."
Himawari sluggishly crawled out of the pit and into the box, though only halfway. Her legs still stuck out.
"...Mitsuki."
Future Boruto looked at him.
"Ah—sorry, sorry, I forgot! Hahaha…" Mitsuki laughed sheepishly. "Oh, right. I remember your sister got really big once. That means… maybe she can shrink, too?"
"Shrink, huh…" Future Boruto looked at Himawari, who had tucked her head into the box, and gently patted it. "Himawari, shrink… just a bit more…"
Himawari squirmed deeper into the box, her body gradually shrinking until she fit completely inside.
"Perfect. That solves the problem," Mitsuki said.
Future Boruto stroked her head in praise. Himawari squinted, a look of contentment on her face.
...
"Konoha Village?"
As they resumed their journey, Mitsuki looked at Future Boruto and asked.
"Yeah," Boruto nodded. "We still have other missions, but right now, getting Himawari back to the village comes first."
The sun was setting. Himawari, who had been covered by the gray fabric, was finally able to poke her head out and breathe in some fresh air.
"There's an abandoned temple up ahead. Why don't we rest there for the night?"
Mitsuki pointed to the old, ruined building in the distance.
"Okay."
Boruto nodded. Though he still had energy to continue, Himawari had been jostled around on his back all day—she must be exhausted.
He set her down, and she followed beside him.
The corners of the run-down temple were thick with cobwebs.
"Wait!" Boruto suddenly stopped and grabbed Mitsuki's arm. Himawari obediently stood by his side.
"What is it, Boruto?"
Mitsuki looked at him, puzzled.
"There's a smell… blood."
Boruto's eyes locked onto the building ahead. That's where the scent was coming from.
"Blood?"
Mitsuki's face grew tense as he cautiously approached the structure. As he got closer, the smell hit him too.
He held his breath and gently pushed open the door.
Bloodstains covered the floor. Inside was a single iron cage, a few basins, and a frame clearly used for restraining people during execution.
The basins were filled with fresh, bloody entrails. As Mitsuki neared the iron cage, he saw several naked humans huddled inside.
The prisoners' eyes were vacant and lifeless.
"They're human…" Mitsuki turned to Boruto. "Boruto, watch out!"
At the warning, Boruto instantly drew his Kusanagi sword and spun around.
"Well, what a surprise—food delivered right to my door."
A man stood before him.
"Oh, you two have some terrifying eyes. Looks like you're not going to be easy prey. In that case…"
The man suddenly threw his head back and let out a piercing shriek.
"Don't tell me… this is a demon group?!"
Mitsuki's face filled with shock.
Demon groups were special formations composed of multiple demons working together. Because demons were rare—and also weakened during daylight—it was extremely difficult for them to gather in large numbers.
However, with several consecutive days of overcast and snowy weather, the conditions for a demon group had appeared.
One shadow after another emerged in front of Boruto.
Some demons even had chunks of flesh hanging from their mouths.
"Humans…"
"We're almost out of food anyway…"
"I haven't had human meat in days…"
The demons murmured among themselves.
Drool leaked uncontrollably from Himawari's mouth, dripping down the bamboo muzzle as she stared at the meat in one demon's mouth.
Mitsuki drew his blade and stood beside Boruto, both of them ready.
"Everyone, attack! Devour the humans!"
With the leader's order, the horde of demons surged forward.
Dealing with demon groups was difficult not only because of their numbers, but also due to their tactics—usually revolving around relentless rotation battles.
They exploited their ability to rapidly regenerate wounds, gradually wearing down their enemies' stamina.
Even when decapitated due to carelessness, they could still keep moving.
As wave after wave of demons attacked, Boruto and Mitsuki began to falter. A few slipped past their defense and lunged toward Himawari, who stood behind them.
"Himawari!"
Boruto slashed a demon in half and turned to look.
Faced with the oncoming demons, Himawari didn't panic. She charged forward instead.
Pushing off the ground, she leapt up and kicked one demon square in the head.
Its skull burst open like a smashed watermelon.
Momentum carried the decapitated body forward a few more steps before it finally collapsed, completely motionless.
"Boruto!"
"Oh!"
From that, Mitsuki and Boruto realized the key to truly killing demons.
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