"Let's go, it's about time."
As dawn barely broke, Jiraiya stood up.
Hearing this, Shikamaru immediately scrambled up from the ground with a grim face.
The two arrived at the door to Boruto's room.
Creak.
Finding the door unlocked, Jiraiya pushed it open and entered, simultaneously giving Shikamaru a meaningful look.
Last night, Jiraiya had already informed Shikamaru about the Otsutsuki Clan, as well as the intelligence regarding the future Boruto and future Sasuke.
Learning that the Boruto who might be the one that killed the Third and Asuma was actually the future Naruto's son made it even harder for Shikamaru to accept.
But his hatred had indeed diminished somewhat, and he had calmed down enough to think rationally.
They agreed to first restrain Boruto and question him for details.
Naturally, the one to take action was the stronger Jiraiya, with Shikamaru assisting from the sidelines.
After all, the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique was perfect for non-lethal restraint.
Jiraiya formed hand signs with his left hand alone, while his right hand held a specially crafted sealing talisman, slowly approaching the sleeping Boruto on the bed like a pervert sneaking a peek.
Although Boruto had previously shown strength at most at Chunin level, the fact that he assassinated a powerful Jonin like Asuma meant Jiraiya couldn't afford to be careless.
"Stop. I want to ask him about this too."
Suddenly, the talisman in Jiraiya's hand vanished, and a figure appeared before him, grabbing Jiraiya's wrist with an iron grip.
"Uchiha Sasuke. You really did follow us."
Jiraiya looked at the adult Sasuke appearing in the morning sunlight, showing no surprise, as if he had expected the Uchiha to crash the party.
The window wasn't open, and Shikamaru was blocking the door behind him.
This was likely due to a Space-Time Ninjutsu!
Shikamaru also noticed the sudden appearance of Sasuke.
After a brief moment of shock, he quickly formed hand signs and used the Shadow Imitation Technique, his shadow creeping along the wall toward the adult Sasuke like a snake.
At that moment.
While both were focused on Sasuke, Boruto on the bed suddenly moved.
"Boruto" threw off the covers, holding a kunai, and lunged straight toward Sasuke's left eye.
Seeing this, Shikamaru's instincts kicked in.
He quickly redirected the shadow originally intended to restrain Sasuke to wrap around "Boruto" instead.
The kunai stopped just centimeters from Sasuke's Rinnegan, controlled at the very last second.
Sasuke turned and saw Boruto with Momoshiki manifesting, his face twisted into a smirk.
Sasuke was immediately startled.
"Boruto, what's wrong with you?!" Sasuke turned around, his eyes widening.
"Tch, what a pity. I almost got my revenge from back then."
"Boruto" gave Sasuke a disdainful, sinister smile.
"You are... Otsutsuki Momoshiki?"
Sasuke's expression turned grave as he clenched his fists.
The so-called "revenge" undoubtedly referred to the time he and Naruto had stabbed out the Rinnegan in Momoshiki's palm with a kunai during their previous battle.
'If this was Momoshiki's consciousness, then where was Boruto? Had Boruto's body been completely hijacked?'
Sasuke grew anxious.
Naruto's son was practically his own student—no, practically his own son too.
How could something happen to him during their trip together!
In his concern, Sasuke's thoughts became disordered, even forgetting the intelligence he had recently gathered.
"Otsutsuki?"
When Jiraiya heard these words from Sasuke, he felt as if all his previous confusion had been instantly cleared away, like clouds parting to reveal the sun.
He never expected that Naruto's son would also have a monster inside him, just like the Nine-Tails.
No wonder he could unleash power capable of killing the Third and Asuma despite his ordinary strength.
"Was it you who killed Asuma and the Third? What is your purpose?" Jiraiya questioned the possessed boy.
"Tch monkey, are you questioning me? Don't tell me you actually think your inferior tricks can restrain a God?"
"Boruto" arrogantly lifted his chin and slightly raised his hand, absorbing Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique instantly.
"Damn it!"
Jiraiya inwardly cursed his oversight—he had completely forgotten the intelligence about the Otsutsuki Clan's ability to absorb ninja techniques.
Mainly because when Tsunade had briefed him and the Third about this, she had only vaguely mentioned "they're said to be able to absorb jutsu" in passing.
She had focused way more on her suspicions about Makoto and the Akatsuki.
Only now, witnessing it firsthand, did Jiraiya retrieve this fragment of memory from the dusty corners of his mind.
Just as Jiraiya was about to move, Momoshiki had already used the absorbed Shadow Imitation Technique and amplified it with his Karma ability, releasing it with doubled power.
Everyone in the room was instantly paralyzed, frozen in place like statues.
"Hehe, next I'll... Ugh!"
Just as Momoshiki was proudly preparing to deliver a villainous monologue, Sasuke suddenly appeared before him using his Body Flicker Technique and punched him hard in the stomach.
"Blargh!"
"Momoshiki" vomited stomach acid.
'So he can still absorb ninja techniques?' Sasuke thought.
'Well then, if he can absorb, so can I.'
'What a perfect timing.'
Since Urashiki had drained his chakra earlier, leaving his body weak, Sasuke was running on fumes.
Now he could replenish his reserve.
Using the chakra absorbed from Momoshiki's connection, Sasuke activated his Amenotejikara again, catching "Momoshiki" completely off guard.
However, this wasn't like their previous fight against Momoshiki—this time Momoshiki was using the body of his best friend's son.
Sasuke couldn't go all out with swords or Chidori.
'A few more hits like this to beat Momoshiki back, and maybe Boruto's consciousness will awaken,' Sasuke calculated.
"Shikamaru, help! We need to suppress the Otsutsuki's consciousness to save the boy's mind! Beat the crap out of him!"
After a moment of surprise at Sasuke's actions, Jiraiya shouted to Shikamaru behind him and charged forward, joining in the "exorcism" by jumping "Momoshiki." (insert that jojo beating up meme here)
"Understood, Jiraiya-sama!"
Shikamaru quickly stepped forward and clamped his hand over "Momoshiki's" mouth.
"I'll help you two restrain him! Beat him up!"
"Mmph!"
"MMPH!!"
Thud! Smack! Pow!
"Sasuke-san! Uncle Jiraiya! And you! Please stop hitting me! It's me, I'm back! I'm back!!!"
After struggling for what felt like an eternity, Boruto finally found a split second to speak, his weak, trembling voice emerging from beneath the trio's 'love-filled iron fists.'
"What?! You've regained consciousness? When did that happen? Ah, why didn't you say so earlier!"
Jiraiya stopped mid-punch, wearing an expression of deep, fake regret.
He pulled a small jar from his back pocket.
"Come, come, kid, let me apply some medicine. We can discuss everything else later."
"Thank you... uncle... ow..."
Boruto felt like crying but had no tears left.
What he had agreed upon with Momoshiki was that after absorbing the Ninja Technique, Momoshiki would immediately return control of the body to him.
This was consistent with how Karma normally worked, so there was no fear of raising suspicion.
But the moment his consciousness returned to his body, he was met with a brutal beating from all three of them.
And Shikamaru—that bastard—had inexplicably covered his mouth the entire time so he couldn't surrender!
Boruto was deeply hurt, physically and emotionally.
He had gone through all this trouble for Shikamaru's future son, and now he was being tortured by the father!
"Ah! THAT HURTS! IT BURNS!"
Just as Boruto was lost in these tragic thoughts, he felt the "medicine" touch his bruised skin.
A piercing, fiery pain shot through his body, making him scream.
"Good medicine tastes bitter... well, effective healing ointments are like this, Boruto. Try to endure it," Sasuke comforted him stoically.
"Oops! Crap, I grabbed the wrong one! This isn't ointment, this is the 'Old Godmother Chili Sauce'—a specialty from Amegakure that Konan gave me before they left the Hidden Leaf!"
Jiraiya slapped his forehead in horror and quickly put the jar away.
Boruto: "...???"
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