"Chōjūrō!!"
A low shout rang out.
But the voice did not come from the Mei Terumī in front of Delta.
It came from behind her.
Delta's pupils shrank as she turned abruptly.
Another Mei Terumī was already there, Hiramekarei in hand, swinging downward in a decisive arc.
"This—how is this possible?!"
Before she could think, the blade cut cleanly across her neck.
A soft, crisp sound followed.
Her head fell silently.
Chōjūrō immediately leaped up, grabbed Mei Terumī's hand, and the two landed on the opposite rooftop.
The Mei Terumī who had been standing on the wall dissolved into water.
A Water Clone.
As for the two Hiramekarei—
The sword was originally a pair. When separated, the twin blades looked identical, like reflections in a mirror.
The fog around them gradually thinned.
Only then did the two of them finally let out a breath.
She had been too confident. If she had absorbed the fog earlier, she would not have died so suddenly.
Both of them collapsed onto the rooftop, exhausted. Hiramekarei consumed enormous chakra, and they had also used a long sequence of ninjutsu.
"I wonder how the vaccine research is going," Chōjūrō muttered.
"It will succeed," Mei Terumī said calmly. "Have faith in Kirigakure's medical team."
They stood up again and looked into the distance.
Dark mist still blanketed most of the city.
"So… she wasn't the one who released the virus?" Chōjūrō frowned. "Or maybe it's not chakra-based at all. Something like parasitic insects…"
Mei Terumī's expression darkened.
After fighting just one enemy, their chakra was nearly depleted. Chōjūrō was severely injured. If not treated soon, the consequences would go far beyond disfigurement.
Looking at the once gentle young man now covered in burns and wounds, Mei Terumī felt a wave of guilt.
Unbeknownst to them—
A small drone hovered high in the sky, quietly flying away.
Delta had not relied on her own vision at all.
She shared a vision with that drone.
And within it… was her core.
…
Elsewhere.
Boro calmly approached Boruto and Sarada, who were still casually walking through the streets of Kirigakure.
To Boro, the fact that these two were completely unaffected by the spreading mist was highly suspicious.
They were even deliberately avoiding the infected areas.
Members of that lunar faction?
Dressed plainly. Acting relaxed.
He quickly concluded.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and spoke arrogantly.
"You two must be members of that group. Unlucky for you, running into me today. What a pity… your comedy act ends here."
Boruto chewed on a konjac skewer and looked at Boro as if he were an idiot.
Only after Boro finished did Boruto lazily wave his hand.
"If you're looking for members of that group—the invincible, world-shaking, omnipotent, unparalleled supreme beings of the ninja world—then you've mistaken the person."
Boro: ???
This kid bragged even more shamelessly than he did.
"You brat—are you looking to die?!"
The air was filled with tension.
Fine particles of gunpowder had already dispersed from Boro's body.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"
Flames ignited.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A chain of explosions filled the street with thick smoke.
Boro waited.
No one ran out.
As the smoke cleared—
Boruto was still eating squid balls.
Sarada stood beside him, unmoved.
Boro blinked.
Then grinned.
"Good. That's more interesting."
"Lava Release: Star Break!"
Highly corrosive acid shot forward like bullets.
Boruto didn't dodge.
The attack passed straight through him.
Boro froze.
Then punched Boruto directly.
His fist went through Boruto's body as if striking air.
He tried Sarada.
Same result.
Space–Time distortion.
Boro's mind went blank.
"What kind of ridiculous ability is this?!"
He sneered.
"If I can't hit you, then you can't hit me either, right? Let's just wait. My virus is still spreading."
Boruto replied coldly, "What does that have to do with me?"
Boro didn't believe it.
The virus had already spread across the city. If this continued, millions could die.
No one could be that indifferent.
No one.
He watched as Boruto finally moved.
Boro is prepared to fight.
But Boruto simply walked past him.
Sarada followed.
Boruto's voice echoed faintly.
"Idiot. You ruined my vacation."
Boro turned angrily—
And suddenly found Boruto standing right behind him.
Expression indifferent.
Eyes filled with contempt.
Boruto slowly raised two fingers.
Boro sneered.
He was immortal.
Was he supposed to fear a forehead flick?
Then—
Bang.
The sound was crisp.
Like a watermelon bursting.
Blood, brain matter, and fragments exploded outward.
The destruction spread instantly through his entire body.
His core—
Shattered.
Kara's inner member, Boro—
Dead.
Boruto didn't even look back.
He simply turned and walked away.
A real man never looks back at an explosion.
---
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