Thud.
Jiraiya, with his shoulder pierced, knelt on one knee clutching his wound in pain.
At this critical moment, Sasuke moved!
Sasuke charged forward at ..... Genin-level speed.
What was Sasuke trying to do? Recreate the "Lion's Barrage" from his youth? or a desperate Chidori?
Not at all!
Sasuke... embraced Urashiki!
"Boruto! Take Naruto and run!"
Sasuke shouted heroically to his student while wrapping his arms around Urashiki like a koala.
Everyone who witnessed this scene fell into silence once again.
"This Uchiha Sasuke... what exactly is he trying to do?"
Hashirama was the first to voice the question, looking at his brother Tobirama for answers, as if Tobirama held the secret manual to Uchiha behavior.
"I think... Uchiha Sasuke must have seen how Boruto used that perverted technique to distract Otsutsuki Urashiki earlier, so he decided to embrace Urashiki and tempt him with his own body..."
The more Tobirama spoke, the more uncomfortable he felt.
Truthfully, he'd rather suspect Sasuke was trying to seduce Urashiki than believe that "hugging" was the best tactical move the so called "Shadow Hokage" could come up with.
But what was more terrifying was that in the following scene, Urashiki actually got trapped!
Tobirama felt his worldview crumbling.
'Wait the fuck up.'
Uchiha Sasuke had his Chakra drained, so he was weak.
But you, Otsutsuki Urashiki, didn't have your Chakra drained, right? You're supposed to be a god!
If not for Urashiki being infatuated with Sasuke's warm, soft embrace, how else could this be explained?
Oh right!
Tobirama suddenly thought of another explanation.
"Perhaps this Otsutsuki Urashiki is inherently kind and dislikes killing?" Tobirama proposed an even more absurd speculation.
"Inherently kind? Since when do 'inherently kind' people laugh so pervertedly?" Hashirama's lips twitched as he retorted.
"Yeah, since when do good people casually harm innocent children?" Kushina also held considerable resentment toward Urashiki for trying to take the Nine-Tails from Naruto.
"True, I overlooked that. But what exactly is the reason?"
Tobirama felt a headache coming on.
Indeed, Urashiki couldn't be a good person.
This was like murderers who only kill but don't desecrate corpses, or robbers who steal but leave a thank-you note.
You can't assume someone is good just because they're incompetent.
"Tobirama, you're overthinking it. Don't get hung up on these details. Otsutsuki Urashiki not killing people is ultimately beneficial for us, isn't it?" Hashirama remained quite optimistic.
Tobirama didn't respond.
He couldn't help but overthink it because it was just too bizarre.
However.
An even more bizarre scene unfolded as the "intense battle" continued.
The restrained Otsutsuki Urashiki watched Jiraiya summoning toads to escape with Naruto and the others, feeling utterly furious.
Yes, Urashiki was enraged.
It was time for Uchiha Sasuke to face the wrath of the terrifying Otsutsuki Clan, the celestial gods!
"Dammit, let me go!"
Urashiki, boiling with anger, began elbowing Uchiha Sasuke, who was holding him tightly from behind.
Don't underestimate this seemingly ordinary "Otsutsuki Elbow Strike."
It had likely reached a state of returning to simplicity, with each strike possibly possessing the power of Kaguya's Eighty Gods Vacuum Fists!
And Uchiha Sasuke was even more formidable!
He had apparently integrated Susanoo's defense directly into his skin, relying solely on his physical strength to withstand the Otsutsuki Elbow Strikes without flinching.
He even launched a counterattack!
Sasuke placed his hand on Urashiki's waist, lifted him up directly, and tackled him off the cliff.
"FUUUCCKKK, I can't take it anymore. My earlier speculation is more plausible—this Otsutsuki Urashiki is flirting here!"
Tobirama was completely broken!
He never imagined that one day the Uchiha would bring him such torment.
Even when Hikari had previously called him the "Inherently gay old senju," he hadn't been this mentally shattered!
It still came down to the same question—if Sasuke had his Chakra drained and was weakened to the extreme, what about Urashiki?
Urashiki, if you want to break free from Sasuke's embrace, are you really just giving a few light nudges and saying "let me go" like a tsundere high school girl?
With that kind of embrace from the weakened Sasuke just now, forget holding a god; even if he tried to hug a genin, he'd be sent flying with one punch.
There's only one possibility—the person being held enjoyed it!
"Shouldn't we go save Sasuke now?"
Itachi was the only one without resentment (or was he?), instead feeling deeply concerned about Sasuke's current safety.
...Well, actually, not safety.
After all, Itachi's was a genius, he could analyze what the Second Hokage had deduced.
The Second's reasoning was flawed, but the visual evidence was damning.
So what Itachi was worried about wasn't Sasuke's life, but rather—his dignity.
The weak and helpless Sasuke had fallen into the hands of an Otsutsuki who seemingly coveted his beauty.
This could make for quite a tragic story.
"Eh? I just remembered, Makoto, you told me before that Uchiha Sasuke is the reincarnation of that something-spinning top, just like Uchiha Madara, right?"
Uchiha Hikari suddenly thought of something and looked at Makoto for confirmation.
"Yes, Indra. Both Madara and Sasuke are reincarnations of Indra's Chakra, destined to be entangled with the reincarnations of Asura's Chakra." Makoto nodded.
"What kind of entangled destiny is that? So gross," Hikari wrinkled her nose. "But that explains it. Uchiha Sasuke being the next generation of Madara... the 'Hidden Leaf's Twin Gays' dynamic makes perfect sense now. They are cursed to be dramatic."
Hikari showed an expression of sudden understanding, nodding her little head.
They all attract weird men!
"What kind of weird title is 'Hidden Leaf's Twin Gays'? Haha, who's the other one? Is it Izuna?" Hashirama laughed while scratching his head.
"Brother, are you an idiot? Izuna died before the Hidden Leaf was founded. How could he be considered a Hidden Leaf ninja?" Tobirama was speechless.
"Strategist, about Sasuke..."
Itachi, seeing the topic diverted again, looked helplessly at Makoto.
Ever since Itachi saw the reincarnated Third Hokage appearing alongside Makoto and getting along quite harmoniously, he became completely convinced that following Makoto's path was the right choice!
"Who are you, why are you always interrupting?"
Hikari placed her hands on her hips, frowning as she looked at Itachi.
"He's Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke's older brother, the one who wiped out the entire Uchiha clan." Makoto helped with the introduction.
"Oh, so you're a good guy then. But still, stay away from me. I dislike people from the Uchiha and Senju clans the most."
Faced with the Uchiha clan's renowned mental instability, Uchiha Hikari chose to keep her distance.
Though she had a bit of it herself.
"Strategist..." Itachi pleaded again.
"Alright, alright, let's head out. But it'll just be the two of us. The rest of you stay here and keep watch." Makoto waved his hand dismissively.
"Why?" Hikari pouted.
"Even though Urashiki acted like a clown before, his abilities are still there and haven't diminished. Not to mention there's still Momoshiki. One can hook away Chakra, and the other can absorb Ninja Techniques and return them doubled. Those of you who only use Ninja Techniques and Chakra would most likely end up as walking power banks if you go."
At this point, Makoto looked at Itachi.
"As for him, he's mainly going as Sasuke's brother. What we need is his presence and his Talk-no-Jutsu. Also, someone needs to carry Sasuke back."
"What about me?" Hashirama excitedly raised his hand. "I know Sage Art! That's natural energy!"
"You definitely shouldn't go. I'm afraid the Otsutsuki might find your 'Hashirama Cells' delicious. If they eat you, they might evolve into something even worse."
"..." Hashirama slumped.
"What Makoto says makes sense, but..."
Tobirama agreed with Makoto's reasoning but then turned his sharp gaze toward him.
"I can sense you possess immense natural energy, but are you really planning to take on two Otsutsuki alone? Even though Urashiki is a joke, Momoshiki can come out anytime. I don't think your earlier descriptions of their threat level to us were baseless."