Hidden Mist Village.
A streak of orange-gold chakra raced across the sea, far faster than any cruise ship.
Wrapped in Kurama Chakra Mode, Naruto ran across the water's surface. After confirming the situation with Sasuke through their agreed signals, he headed straight for Kirigakure, leaving Shikamaru behind to handle the flood of documents piling up in the Hokage Office.
Behind him, Tsunade and Sakura followed at full speed, chakra surging beneath their feet as they ran across the sea. Even so, the distance between them and Naruto steadily widened.
"…Isn't he a little too energetic?" Sakura muttered through gritted teeth.
Tsunade wiped the sweat from her brow, exhaling sharply. "That idiot hasn't slowed down once."
Soon, the mist thinned.
At the edge of the coastline stood Kirigakure—but its lights were extinguished. The city felt quiet, heavy, stripped of its usual vitality.
"We're almost there," Naruto said without turning back. "Hang on!"
He reached the shore first.
Waiting there was a familiar figure, standing calmly despite the chaos behind her.
Mei Terumi greeted him with a composed smile.
"It's been a long time, Uzumaki Naruto. Your presence feels… stronger than before."
Naruto grinned briefly. "You too, Mei-san."
Tsunade and Sakura soon arrived. Mei inclined her head respectfully.
"Kirigakure welcomes you, Lady Tsunade. Sakura Haruno."
"There's no time for ceremony," Naruto said immediately. "Let's move."
Mei paused, then nodded. "…As expected of you."
The affected zone was shrouded in dark mist.
A massive water curtain surrounded it—towering waves stabilized into a flowing barrier by chakra, sealing the contaminated area. Sunlight reflected faintly off its surface, but the water churned constantly, demanding continuous chakra to sustain it.
"Our strength isn't enough to seal such a wide area permanently," Mei said with a wry smile.
Naruto placed his hand against the barrier.
Kurama's chakra surged outward.
The water shuddered—then stabilized completely.
Chōjūrō and Kagura, who had been struggling to maintain the barrier, froze.
"…It stopped," Kagura whispered.
Naruto withdrew his hand. "That'll hold."
Inside the barrier, Tsunade and Sakura moved at once.
The air was thick with invisible pathogens. Patients lay weakened, their bodies barely sustaining basic life functions.
"This isn't ordinary poison," Tsunade said grimly. "It's draining vitality directly."
"Lady Tsunade," Sakura said, "we should summon Katsuyu."
Tsunade nodded. "Do it."
They bit their thumbs.
"Summoning Technique!"
A vast presence filled the space. Katsuyu divided instantly, countless fragments spreading through the zone, attaching themselves to every patient, supplying chakra and stabilizing their condition.
Outside the barrier, Chōjūrō finally turned to Naruto.
"…The one who kidnapped Boruto."
Naruto's expression didn't change—but the air around him sharpened.
"Tell me everything."
Mei lowered her gaze. "We were engaged with another enemy. When we arrived… Boruto was already gone."
Naruto exhaled slowly.
Then he said calmly, "Boruto's alive."
Silence.
Chōjūrō: "—What?"
"He left on his own," Naruto continued. "Flying Thunder God."
Mei stiffened. "…Then the blood at the scene—"
"Not his."
Naruto's fists clenched.
"But that doesn't mean we let this go."
Kurama's voice echoed deep and restrained within him.
This time… we don't hold back.
Naruto closed his eyes.
Sage Mode unfolded.
Kurama's chakra and natural energy expanded together—good and evil, hostile and alien, all laid bare.
And then—
Naruto's eyes snapped open.
He had found it.
Space rippled.
A figure stepped out from another dimension, calm and imposing, gaze coldly surveying Kirigakure below.
Isshiki Ōtsutsuki
The deaths of his subordinates had displeased him.
Naruto locked onto him instantly.
The pressure was unmistakable.
Ōtsutsuki.
Isshiki paused, mildly surprised.
"…So this is the Hokage."
Naruto's chakra flared.
"You picked the wrong village."
Behind the scenes, this encounter was no coincidence.
Isshiki had come because Amado believed the "Moon" would appear here.
And Naruto had arrived because his son had vanished.
Two paths.
One battlefield.
---
A/N: Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded. Please Check It Out. It will really help me out and will keep me motivated to continue.
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San