The battlefield between Boruto and Kawaki was growing into a desolate wasteland. Both shinobi were battle-damaged, their clothes torn, and their bodies stained with dirt and blood. The once-proud streets of the Hidden Leaf had become an arena of devastation—craters forming with each clash, buildings collapsing under the pressure of their relentless combat. Boruto's eyes, gleaming with the power of his Karma mark, narrowed as he darted forward, closing the distance between him and Kawaki.
THUD!
Their fists collided mid-air, the force of the impact causing the ground beneath them to shatter like glass. Neither one held back—each blow was met with equal force. They were going blow for blow, their movements a blur as they danced in a brutal exchange of fists, kicks, and jutsu.
"You're… too stubborn," Kawaki growled, his voice strained with exhaustion. His body was pulsing with energy, but the toll of the battle was clearly starting to show. He glared at Boruto, who, though equally battered, still wore that infuriating expression of defiance.
"You're one to talk!" Boruto spat back, his voice rough as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. His chest heaved with every breath, but there was no sign of him backing down. "After everything we've been through… after all this time… you still don't get it, do you?"
Kawaki's brow furrowed, his expression darkening. "You're the one who doesn't get it, Boruto!" He slammed his fist forward, but Boruto dodged, pivoting to counter with a strike of his own. "There's no fixing this world—there's no going back. This is the only way to end all the pain."
Boruto's fist connected with Kawaki's jaw, sending him staggering back. "That's not your decision to make!" Boruto shouted, his eyes blazing. "I won't let you destroy everything—everyone—just because you've lost hope."
Their chakra flared again, the oppressive energy pushing them to the limits. Both were exhausted, but neither would back down. They had fought side by side once. But now, they fought as enemies on the brink of tearing each other apart.
Meanwhile, not far from the battlefield…
Sakuya sprinted through the ruined village, his senses locked on the massive surges of chakra ahead. He could feel the tension in the air, the overwhelming power of Boruto and Kawaki's battle looming like a dark storm on the horizon. His body ached from his previous injuries, but he had no time to stop. His cousin—his closest friend—was fighting for the future, and Sakuya couldn't let him face Kawaki alone.
"Boruto… hold on," Sakuya muttered, his breath quickening as he sped up. His mind raced with thoughts of the battle, the destruction they had already witnessed. "I'm coming… I'll help you end this."
As Sakuya dashed through the streets, a sudden rustling caught his attention. His instincts screamed at him to react, and just as he turned, several shadowy figures leapt from the rubble, remnants of the Dead Corps, their eyes gleaming with malice.
"Tch… These guys again?" Sakuya muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as the remaining enemies circled around him. "You think you can stop me now?"
One of the attackers lunged forward, kunai glinting in hand, but Sakuya was faster. He sidestepped the strike, grabbing the enemy by the arm and slamming them into the ground with a fluid motion. Before the others could react, Sakuya's hands blurred into a series of hand signs.
"Katon: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive ball of flames roared forward, engulfing two more attackers as they tried to leap back. The explosion sent debris flying in every direction, but Sakuya moved through it effortlessly, his eyes focused and sharp. Another enemy appeared behind him, but Sakuya spun around, driving his elbow into their gut and sending them crashing into the wall.
One by one, they fell.
"You're not worth my time," Sakuya muttered as he dealt with the last of them, his hands crackling with chakra. "I've got bigger things to deal with."
With the final opponent dispatched, Sakuya took a deep breath, his mind locking back onto Boruto's chakra signature. The surge of power was overwhelming—it was clear that both Boruto and Kawaki were giving it their all. Sakuya's heartbeat quickened, his body still aching from the previous fight, but there was no time to rest.
His thoughts raced as he began sprinting again, faster this time, determination burning in his veins. "Boruto… I'm almost there. Just hold on!"
Back at the battlefield…
Boruto and Kawaki's fight had escalated to a fever pitch. The ground trembled beneath them as their jutsu clashed in brilliant explosions of chakra, sending shockwaves that rippled through the air. Boruto's eyes flickered, his breaths coming out in heavy gasps. His body felt like it was on fire—every muscle screaming at him to stop—but he couldn't. Not now. Not when everything was on the line.
Kawaki, too, was starting to falter, but his resolve remained unbroken. His face was twisted with a mix of rage and sorrow, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. "Why won't you just… give up?!"
Boruto spat out blood, his voice hoarse as he growled back, "Because that's not what we do! Not me… and not you, Kawaki!"
Just as Kawaki surged forward again, ready to strike, a blur shot past them, and before either could react, Sakuya appeared, his body sliding to a stop between them.
"Sakuya!" Boruto's voice broke through the chaos, his eyes widening in shock.
"Sakuya…?" Kawaki's eyes narrowed, confusion flickering in his gaze.
Sakuya stood there, breathing heavily but still grinning, his hands crackling with chakra as he glanced over his shoulder at Boruto. "You didn't think I was going to let you have all the fun, did you?"
Boruto blinked, surprise turning into a smirk of his own as he regained his stance. "Heh… Took you long enough."
Sakuya's eyes turned back to Kawaki, and for a moment, the three of them stood in silence, the weight of everything that had led them to this moment pressing down on them.
"This ends here," Sakuya declared, his voice firm and resolute. "No more running. No more fighting each other. We're going to stop this madness—together."
Kawaki's expression darkened, his hands twitching with suppressed power. "You think you can stop me? You're just like him," he spat, his voice filled with bitterness. "You don't understand…"
Sakuya took a step forward, his grin fading into a serious expression as he locked eyes with Kawaki. "I understand more than you think," he replied softly. "And that's exactly why I'm here. We're family, Kawaki. And that means something—even now."
The final battle was about to begin.
Kawaki stood still for a moment, eyes narrowing as he analyzed Boruto and Sakuya's movements. The tension between them was thick, like a storm ready to break. With a subtle twist of his fingers, Kawaki summoned his chakra, preparing his next move.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, multiple shadow clones of Kawaki appeared, their presence flooding the battlefield as they surrounded Boruto and Sakuya. Each one glared at the two with cold, calculated determination. The real Kawaki stood at the center of the formation, arms crossed, a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Let's see how you handle this!" Kawaki's voice echoed as his clones began charging in from all sides, their fists raised, their chakra flaring with murderous intent.
Sakuya's eyes widened slightly, but instead of fear, a spark of excitement flickered across his face. He quickly glanced over at Boruto, who was already grinning, clearly on the same wavelength.
"Ready to have some fun?" Boruto asked, the playful tone in his voice a stark contrast to the chaos around them.
Sakuya returned the grin, nodding. "You know it."
Without another word, the two of them sprang into action, dashing toward the incoming clones with precision and teamwork honed through years of training together.
Boruto moved first, spinning into the air as he called upon his signature technique, "Rasengan!" The blue, spiraling sphere of chakra formed in his hand, lighting up the battlefield with its intensity. He launched it directly into one of the approaching clones, sending it crashing into the ground, dispelling it in an explosion of smoke.
"That's one!" Boruto laughed, landing smoothly as he turned to Sakuya. "You're up!"
Sakuya leaped forward, his movements sharp and precise, eyes gleaming with the Ketsuryūgan's power. As a clone lunged at him, he twisted his body mid-air and delivered a devastating palm strike to its chest, sending it flying backward into another group of clones, instantly dispelling them.
"Two!" Sakuya called back, smirking as he cracked his knuckles. "We could do this all day!"
Kawaki's clones kept coming, but Boruto and Sakuya were in perfect sync, their movements fluid and calculated as they took turns dismantling each clone that attacked. With every strike, Boruto would launch a powerful jutsu or a perfectly timed Rasengan, while Sakuya would weave in and out of the fray, using his agility and palm strikes to knock the clones off balance.
But even in the heat of battle, both of them knew they couldn't keep up this game forever.
"Alright, enough playing around," Boruto muttered under his breath. He gave Sakuya a knowing look, and in that moment, no words were needed.
Both of them nodded simultaneously, their chakra flaring as they prepared their next move. They formed the familiar hand seals and, in an instant, summoned their own clones.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Several Boruto and Sakuya clones appeared around them, matching Kawaki's numbers.
"Let's give him a taste of his own medicine," Boruto smirked.
The real Boruto and Sakuya exchanged a glance, a mischievous glint in both their eyes. They knew exactly what to do next.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" they shouted in unison.
The wind chakra surged around them, forming powerful gusts that propelled them forward with incredible speed. The clones and the real Boruto and Sakuya blurred, moving as if carried by the wind itself. Kawaki's clones barely had time to react before they were overwhelmed by the swift strikes of Boruto and Sakuya's combined force. One after another, Kawaki's shadow clones were dispelled in quick succession.
The battlefield was filled with the sound of wind whistling and jutsu clashing as Boruto and Sakuya darted between the clones, their teamwork impeccable. Each time a clone tried to strike, one of the two would be there, using the wind-enhanced speed to dodge and counter.
And then, the real target came into view.
Sakuya's eyes locked onto the real Kawaki standing behind the formation of clones. With a fierce determination, he gathered his chakra into his palm, focusing the full force of his attack into a single, devastating strike.
"Sakuya!" Boruto called out, having cleared the last few clones from his side. "It's time!"
Sakuya nodded, grinning as he dashed forward with blinding speed, weaving through the last of Kawaki's defenses. In a blur of movement, he appeared directly in front of Kawaki, his hand glowing with the raw energy of his chakra-infused palm strike.
"Kawaki!" Sakuya roared as his palm connected with Kawaki's stomach, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through the air. Kawaki's eyes widened in shock as the impact sent him flying backward, crashing through several trees before slamming into the ground, leaving a massive crater in his wake.
The forest around them fell silent for a moment, the sound of rustling leaves the only thing filling the air.
Boruto landed next to Sakuya, panting slightly but grinning. "Nice shot."
Sakuya wiped the sweat from his brow, breathing heavily as he watched the dust settle where Kawaki had fallen. "Thanks. You weren't too bad yourself."
As the smoke began to clear, Kawaki slowly pushed himself up, his body battered but still standing. His shadow clones had all vanished, the battle now reduced to just the three of them.
Kawaki's gaze was dark, his frustration palpable as he glared at Boruto and Sakuya. "You… haven't won yet," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Boruto stepped forward, his expression serious. "We're not here to 'win,' Kawaki. We're here to stop you. Whatever it takes."
Sakuya nodded in agreement, his eyes sharp as he prepared for the next round. "This isn't just about us anymore. It's about everyone we've fought for."
The tension was thick, the air heavy with anticipation as the three of them stood ready to face off once again. The battle wasn't over—not yet—but Boruto and Sakuya knew they had the advantage.
As the wind began to pick up, carrying the echoes of their past, the fight for the future of the Hidden Leaf was far from over.
Kawaki's breathing was heavy, but his eyes remained sharp, filled with cold resolve. He slowly raised his hand, and the sound of whirring metal filled the air as the modified scientific ninja tool in his arm began to activate. The black-and-gold mechanisms shifted, expanding along his forearm as it transformed into a deadly, chakra-infused blade, crackling with energy.
Boruto and Sakuya watched cautiously, their expressions grim. They had both seen Kawaki's scientific modifications before, but this... this was different. The sheer intensity of the chakra emanating from the weapon was enough to make even seasoned shinobi hesitate.
Kawaki smirked, noticing their reactions. "You think you've seen everything?" he taunted, his voice cold as steel. "This tool was designed to surpass even the power of the Ōtsutsuki. You're not leaving this fight unscathed."
Without another word, Kawaki dashed forward, his speed blinding as the modified blade sliced through the air with a high-pitched whine. Boruto reacted first, quickly unsheathing his chakra blade—a gift from Sasuke—meeting Kawaki's attack head-on with a shower of sparks.
CLANG!
The impact reverberated through the battlefield, the sheer force of their clash causing the ground beneath them to crack. Boruto grit his teeth, pushing back against Kawaki's overwhelming strength, but it was clear that the modifications had made him even more dangerous.
Sakuya wasn't far behind. With a flash of crimson chakra, he drew his own blade—a sleek katana infused with the power of the Ketsuryūgan. The red gleam of his eyes reflected off the steel as he moved in from Kawaki's side, slashing horizontally.
"Sakuya!" Boruto shouted, sensing his cousin's approach.
Kawaki barely managed to deflect the strike with his own weapon, the clash of metal sending another wave of sparks into the air. "You're both fools," Kawaki growled, spinning on his heel as he slashed at Sakuya with terrifying speed.
But Sakuya was ready.
In a split second, he ducked under the blow, twisting his body to avoid the slash while bringing his katana up in a deadly arc aimed directly at Kawaki's midsection.
CLANG!
Kawaki blocked just in time, but Sakuya's strength was undeniable. The impact forced Kawaki back, his feet skidding across the ground as he glared at his opponent.
Sakuya's breath was ragged, but his eyes were fierce, unwavering. "This isn't just about us, Kawaki," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "It's about everything we've fought for—our village, our friends, our family. We're not letting you destroy that."
Kawaki's face darkened, his lips curling into a snarl. "I've already made my choice." He lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air toward Sakuya's throat.
Sakuya narrowly dodged, the blade missing him by inches as he retaliated with a swift counterstrike aimed at Kawaki's side. But Kawaki was relentless, his modified ninja tool absorbing the blow as he pressed the attack, forcing both Boruto and Sakuya on the defensive.
"Stay focused, Sakuya!" Boruto called out as he parried another strike from Kawaki, his own blade glowing with the wind chakra he'd channeled into it.
Sakuya nodded, his grip tightening on his katana. "Right!"
The two of them moved in perfect synchronization, their blades flashing in the dim light of the battlefield as they took turns attacking and defending. Boruto would deflect a blow, and Sakuya would follow up with a powerful strike, only for Kawaki to counter with the speed and precision of his scientific ninja tool.
"You're both too soft," Kawaki spat, his voice dripping with venom as he swung his blade in a wide arc, forcing them both to leap back. "That's why you'll never win."
Boruto's eyes hardened, his voice low but filled with determination. "You don't get it, Kawaki. This isn't about winning. It's about saving you."
For a moment, there was a flicker of something in Kawaki's expression—something almost like doubt—but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. He tightened his grip on his weapon, the chakra flaring around him like a dark flame.
Sakuya's breath hitched. He had been so focused on the fight that he hadn't noticed it before, but there it was—that look in Kawaki's eyes. The same one from back when they were kids. Back when they were brothers in arms, long before everything fell apart.
"Kawaki..." Sakuya's grip on his katana faltered for a split second, memories flashing in his mind—the times they'd trained together, the missions they'd completed, the moments where they were like family. His chest tightened as he realized just how far they'd come.
But he couldn't afford to be distracted now.
Sakuya refocused, locking eyes with Boruto for a moment. There was no need for words. They both knew what they had to do.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" they shouted in unison, their chakra surging as they launched themselves forward, using the wind to propel them with terrifying speed.
Kawaki's eyes widened in surprise as they both appeared in front of him, their blades glowing with chakra.
"You're not the only one who can use teamwork, Kawaki!" Boruto shouted as he brought his sword down with full force.
Kawaki blocked, but Sakuya was right behind him. In a flash of movement, Sakuya's palm struck out, glowing with the familiar red of his Ketsuryūgan as he aimed directly for Kawaki's stomach.
"Got you!" Sakuya yelled, driving the strike home.
The impact was brutal. Kawaki's eyes went wide as the force of Sakuya's palm strike sent him flying backward, crashing through the trees with a thunderous boom. The clones he'd summoned instantly vanished, their chakra dissipating into the air.
As Kawaki slammed into the ground, dust and debris flying around him, Boruto and Sakuya stood side by side, panting but standing strong.
"It doesn't have to be this way, Kawaki," Boruto said, his voice soft but resolute. "We can end this... without more bloodshed."
But Kawaki, lying in the crater created by his impact, only glared back, his eyes filled with rage and pain. "You think you can save me?" He slowly pushed himself up, blood dripping from his mouth as he forced himself to stand. "It's too late for that, Boruto. It's too late for all of us."
Sakuya's chest tightened again, but this time, he didn't let it slow him down. He steeled himself, gripping his katana tightly as he took a step forward. "Then we'll fight until you understand."
The battle wasn't over—not by a long shot. The storm was still raging, and the final clash between old friends and brothers was just beginning.
The air crackled with tension as the three shinobi stood amidst the devastation, surrounded by trees that had been obliterated by the sheer force of their ongoing battle. The ground beneath them was scorched and torn apart by the immense power they were wielding, and yet, the fight was far from over.
Sakuya's breathing was labored as he clashed against Kawaki, their blades locked in a deadlock of strength and will. Sparks flew from the edges of their weapons, the clash of metal ringing through the forest like a battle cry. His eyes—those crimson eyes of the Ketsuryūgan—were filled with determination, even as his arms screamed from the strain of holding back Kawaki's ferocious attack.
Kawaki's expression was cold, calculating. His modified arm was surging with chakra from the scientific ninja tool, and the dark marks of the Karma seal slithered across his skin, pulsating with an ominous glow. The gap in power was obvious, but Sakuya refused to give an inch.
"Why don't you just stay down, Sakuya?" Kawaki growled through gritted teeth, his voice laced with frustration. "You can't keep up with this."
Sakuya let out a strained chuckle, his lips twitching into a defiant grin. "Giving up... isn't exactly my style, Kawaki." The intensity in his voice never wavered. His hands, though shaking, tightened their grip on the hilt of his katana as if to reinforce his point. "You should know that by now."
Their clash of steel echoed through the ravaged battlefield, but Sakuya's mind was racing. He could feel the weight of the fight pressing down on him, the sheer force of Kawaki's attacks growing stronger with every second. This was no ordinary battle—it was a struggle for survival, and the stakes were impossibly high.
Kawaki's eyes narrowed, and with a surge of chakra, he pushed Sakuya back, forcing their blades apart with a violent shove. "You're delusional if you think this is just a game between us."
But Sakuya didn't back down. Instead, he stood his ground, his gaze unwavering as he leveled his blade in front of him. "It's not a game," he muttered, his voice low and steady. "But it doesn't matter how much power you have, Kawaki. In the end... it's about the people who stand by your side. It's about what you fight for."
His words struck a chord in the air, and for a moment, Kawaki's expression faltered. But before either of them could react, something shifted.
Boruto, standing just a few paces behind Sakuya, gripped his head in pain, his knees buckling as dark lines began to crawl up his skin. The Karma seal etched into his palm glowed fiercely, the black marks spreading like wildfire across his body. "No... not now..." Boruto groaned, his voice filled with anguish as he struggled to maintain control.
"Boruto!" Sakuya's eyes widened as he saw his cousin's body convulse under the weight of the Karma, the ancient power threatening to take over. He could feel it—the dark presence, the malevolent force lying in wait within Boruto, ready to consume him at any moment.
Kawaki, noticing Boruto's condition, smirked. "Looks like we're both cursed, huh?" Without warning, he activated his own Karma seal, the marks on his body glowing even brighter. The power emanating from Kawaki was immense—far beyond anything Sakuya had felt from him before.
And then, it happened.
With a blinding burst of speed, Kawaki lunged at Sakuya, his Karma-infused blade cutting through the air like a flash of lightning. Sakuya barely had time to react. He brought up his katana in defense, but the force behind Kawaki's strike was monstrous.
CLANG!
The impact was devastating. Sakuya felt the shockwave reverberate through his entire body, his knees nearly buckling under the pressure. Kawaki's power—it was like facing a storm head-on. Every fiber of Sakuya's being screamed in pain, but he held his ground, refusing to be overwhelmed.
"You're not stopping me!" Kawaki roared, pouring more chakra into his assault.
Sakuya's arms trembled as he fought to push back, but it was no use. The strength of the Karma was too much. With one final, crushing blow, Kawaki broke through Sakuya's defense, sending him flying backward. The impact was brutal—Sakuya's body was hurled through the air, crashing into the trees with a sickening thud.
CRASH!
He slammed into the thick trunk of a tree, his body crumpling to the ground as blood spilled from his mouth. The pain was excruciating, his vision blurring as he struggled to catch his breath. For a moment, it felt like everything was slipping away—the world spinning around him in a haze of pain and exhaustion.
But even as he lay there, coughing up blood, Sakuya's mind was racing. Flashes of memories rushed through his mind—moments of training with Boruto, their shared struggles, their promises. He couldn't... he wouldn't let it end like this.
Through the haze of pain, Sakuya managed to push himself up onto his knees, his hands shaking as he reached for his katana, which had fallen just a few feet away.
"Sakuya!" Boruto's voice echoed in the distance, but he couldn't focus on anything other than the fight at hand.
Kawaki, standing over him with his blade raised, smirked down at him. "You never learn, do you?" he said coldly, his voice dripping with contempt. "Just stay down. It's over."
But Sakuya, blood trickling down his chin, raised his head, his crimson eyes locking onto Kawaki's with a fierce, unyielding resolve. Despite the pain, despite the overwhelming odds, he forced himself to his feet, his legs shaking but holding firm.
"No..." Sakuya muttered through clenched teeth, his voice low but filled with determination. "It's not over... Not until I say it's over."
With one final burst of energy, Sakuya gripped his katana tightly, the crimson glow of his Ketsuryūgan flaring to life once more. His body screamed in protest, but he ignored it. This was more than just a fight. This was about protecting everything that mattered to him—his village, his family, his cousin.
As he raised his blade, ready to face Kawaki once more, he uttered a phrase that would echo through the battlefield:
"A shinobi's true strength... isn't in the power they wield. It's in the will they refuse to break."
Kawaki's eyes widened at the sheer conviction in Sakuya's words, but before he could react, Boruto's voice rang out from behind him.
"Kawaki!"
Boruto's Karma was fully activated, the black marks swirling across his body as he charged forward with all the force he could muster.
The final clash was inevitable.
The forest was alive with the raw energy of clashing powers. Boruto and Kawaki's battle raged like a storm, each impact shaking the very ground beneath them. Lightning crackled, winds howled, and the earth trembled with each blow. Their chakra radiated off them in waves, turning the battlefield into a chaotic maelstrom of power.
Boruto's face was slick with sweat, his breaths coming in quick, labored gasps. Despite the fierce determination burning in his eyes, fatigue was starting to take its toll. His Karma seal was pulsating erratically, a dark, foreboding reminder of the power he struggled to control. Across from him, Kawaki seemed unfazed, his stance steady, his own Karma radiating with a menacing calm.
"Boruto," Kawaki sneered, his voice dripping with disdain as he lunged forward with relentless precision. "You're falling behind."
Boruto gritted his teeth, narrowly dodging Kawaki's strike and retaliating with a powerful kick. "I'm not done yet, Kawaki!" he shouted, the resolve in his voice masking the weariness in his movements. He spun around, channeling chakra into his palm as he prepared a Rasengan, the sphere of energy glowing brightly in his hand.
But Kawaki was faster. In a split second, he appeared behind Boruto, his hand crackling with energy as he struck Boruto's shoulder, sending him stumbling forward.
"You can't win if you're always chasing me," Kawaki taunted, a cold smirk spreading across his face.
Meanwhile, Sakuya was on his knees, just a short distance away. Blood stained his clothes, and every breath sent a sharp pain through his chest. He could feel his chakra reserves dwindling, his body protesting with each passing moment. Slowly, he forced himself to rise, his legs shaking as he gripped his katana for support.
"Stay calm… don't rush… you've been here before, Sakuya," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of battle. His mind flashed back to his training, the countless lessons he'd endured, each one reminding him of the importance of patience, of strategy. "Don't just attack. Think. Analyze."
Sakuya's gaze drifted to Boruto and Kawaki as they clashed again, each strike sending shockwaves through the air. He could see it—Kawaki had the upper hand. Boruto's movements were becoming sluggish, his attacks more desperate, while Kawaki maintained a ruthless precision, exploiting every opening with merciless efficiency.
"I need to find a way to even the odds," Sakuya thought, his mind racing. He knew that charging in recklessly would only get him hurt—or worse. But if he could use his remaining chakra wisely, find a way to support Boruto… maybe, just maybe, they could turn this around.
Boruto, breathing heavily, managed to block one of Kawaki's attacks, their fists colliding with a resounding impact. He grunted, feeling the strain in his arms as he pushed back against Kawaki's relentless strength. "You… you really don't care about anything, do you, Kawaki?" he spat, his voice laced with frustration.
Kawaki's expression remained cold and unfeeling. "Caring makes you weak. It blinds you," he replied, his tone devoid of any emotion. "That's why you'll always lose, Boruto. You let emotions guide you."
Boruto's eyes narrowed, anger flashing across his face. "And that's why I'll never become someone like you," he shot back, his voice steady despite the fatigue in his body.
With a furious roar, Boruto summoned the last reserves of his chakra, his Karma flaring as he thrust forward with a powerful Rasengan. Kawaki met his attack head-on, his own Karma surging as he countered with a brutal strike, deflecting the Rasengan and sending Boruto sprawling to the ground.
Sakuya clenched his fists, watching his cousin struggle against Kawaki's overwhelming power. Memories flashed through his mind—moments of laughter, of training, of promises they'd made to each other. He couldn't just stand by and let Boruto fight alone.
"I can't let it end like this," he whispered, forcing himself to take a step forward, then another, his katana dragging slightly on the ground. He could feel the weight of exhaustion pulling at him, but he refused to give in. Not yet.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced in Sakuya's mind—a flashback of his father's voice, calm and wise. "A true shinobi knows when to wait… and when to strike," his father had said. "In battle, there's always a moment, a split second where everything changes. Find that moment, and seize it."
Sakuya's eyes hardened. He could see it now. Kawaki was powerful, but he was overconfident, focused entirely on Boruto. If he could create a distraction, even for just a second, it might be enough to tip the scales.
"Hang on, Boruto…" he whispered, determination filling his gaze as he focused his remaining chakra, preparing himself for one last push.
Boruto, struggling to stand, looked up at Kawaki, his vision blurring. "This… isn't… over," he panted, a flicker of defiance still burning in his eyes.
Kawaki scoffed, approaching him with deliberate, measured steps. "It's over when I say it is," he said coldly, raising his hand as chakra gathered around his fingertips.
Just then, Sakuya sprang into action. With a burst of speed, he appeared behind Kawaki, his katana glinting in the dim light as he swung it with all the strength he could muster. "Kawaki!" he shouted, his voice filled with conviction.
Kawaki's eyes widened in surprise, and he barely managed to twist around, blocking Sakuya's strike with his arm. The force of the attack sent a shockwave through his body, forcing him to stagger back slightly.
"Sakuya…!" Boruto's voice was filled with relief and surprise as he saw his cousin standing beside him, bloodied but unbroken.
Sakuya shot him a quick, reassuring glance. "I'm not letting you fight alone, Boruto," he said, his voice steady. "We're in this together. Always."
Kawaki regained his balance, his expression darkening as he glared at the two cousins. "You think a cheap sneak attack will save you?" he sneered, his voice laced with contempt. "You're only delaying the inevitable."
Sakuya tightened his grip on his katana, his eyes blazing with determination. "Maybe," he replied, his voice calm and resolute. "But a shinobi fights for more than just survival. We fight for each other. And that's something you'll never understand, Kawaki."
With those words, the two cousins stood side by side, their chakra flaring as they prepared for the next round. Despite their injuries, despite the odds stacked against them, they were ready to face Kawaki head-on, together.
The battle wasn't over yet. And as long as they stood together, they knew they had a chance.
The battlefield was a tense storm of energy, with cracks of lightning and gusts of wind colliding as Sakuya, Boruto, and Kawaki exchanged blow after blow. Each move had to be precise, each step calculated. Despite the growing exhaustion, there was no room for hesitation.
Sakuya's eyes narrowed as he watched Kawaki, waiting for the perfect opening. Memories of his rigorous training filled his mind, reminding him of everything he had learned. His father's voice echoed in his head, "A shinobi's mind must be sharper than his blade. Outthink your opponent, and the battle is yours."
With renewed determination, Sakuya began weaving hand signs, focusing his chakra. "Lightning Style: Thunder Decoy!" he shouted, as bolts of lightning crackled to life, dancing around his hands before he slammed them into the ground.
Lightning exploded in a blinding flash, splitting into multiple arcs that shot toward Kawaki. The bright flashes created a diversion, forcing Kawaki to shield his eyes, just as Sakuya had planned. The lightning struck the ground around Kawaki, creating a chaotic barrier of electricity that shrouded Sakuya's movements.
"What—?!" Kawaki growled, instinctively raising his arms to guard against the sudden barrage of lightning.
In that split second, Sakuya moved, dashing forward with a speed he rarely displayed. He channeled wind chakra into his palm, focusing it until he felt the air buzzing with energy. His figure blurred as he closed the distance, appearing right behind Kawaki.
"Now!" Sakuya's voice was like thunder as he brought his hand forward. "Wind Style: Gale Palm!"
A burst of compressed wind chakra exploded from his palm, slamming directly into Kawaki's back. The impact sent Kawaki hurtling forward, his body thrown violently into the trees, breaking through branches and cracking against the trunks as he flew. The shockwave of Sakuya's attack rippled outward, blowing leaves and dust in all directions.
Kawaki's body twisted as he struggled to regain control midair, but the force was relentless, sending him crashing deeper into the woods.
Boruto, watching closely, saw his moment. With a fierce look of determination, he unsheathed a handful of shuriken, channeling his lightning chakra into each one. The shuriken sparked and crackled with electricity, glowing with an intense light as he readied them.
"Take this, Kawaki!" Boruto shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Lightning Style: Thunder Shuriken Barrage!"
He launched the shuriken with deadly precision, each one hurtling through the air toward Kawaki as he continued his uncontrollable descent. The shuriken sliced through the branches, lighting up the forest with streaks of electricity as they honed in on Kawaki's form.
The moment felt endless. Memories of Boruto and Sakuya's training sessions together flooded their minds. They had sparred, pushed each other to their limits, and endured hardship side by side. This attack, this coordination—it was the culmination of years of trust and growth. They were more than cousins; they were a team.
In those fleeting seconds, Sakuya couldn't help but think back to the times when they were just kids, dreaming of becoming strong enough to protect those they loved. Those dreams had brought them here, to this moment, fighting together against one of their most dangerous enemies.
Kawaki, catching a glimpse of the incoming shuriken, grit his teeth. "You… little…!" He raised his arm, attempting to summon a defensive barrier with his Karma, but the lightning-infused shuriken were too fast, closing in on him before he could fully react.
The first shuriken struck his shoulder, sending a shock of electricity through his body. He hissed in pain, and the impact threw off his balance, leaving him open for the remaining shuriken. One by one, they struck, each electrified blade slicing into him with searing intensity.
"Gah!" Kawaki cried out, feeling the voltage surge through his muscles, forcing him to drop to his knees as he landed hard against a tree, smoke rising from his body.
Boruto and Sakuya watched from a distance, both breathing heavily as they prepared for whatever might come next. The battlefield was silent for a moment, the air thick with tension and the lingering charge of lightning.
Sakuya shot a quick glance at Boruto, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Didn't think we'd ever get this in sync, huh?"
Boruto chuckled, nodding. "Guess all those hours of sparring weren't for nothing." He clenched his fists, his gaze never leaving Kawaki. "But we can't let up. He's not done yet."
From across the clearing, Kawaki slowly rose to his feet, his body battered but his expression filled with rage. His Karma glowed with an ominous energy, his eyes burning with a fierce determination.
"You think this is enough to stop me?" Kawaki spat, his voice laced with venom. "I'll show you what real power looks like."
Sakuya's eyes narrowed, feeling the weight of Kawaki's killing intent. He glanced at Boruto, who looked just as focused, both of them readying themselves for the next onslaught.
Sakuya tightened his grip on his katana, his voice steady despite the exhaustion gnawing at him. "This ends here, Kawaki. We're not backing down. Not now. Not ever."
The stage was set, and the stakes had never been higher. As the dust settled and Kawaki prepared his counterattack, Boruto and Sakuya stood side by side, ready to face whatever came next. The battle wasn't over yet—but together, they knew they had a fighting chance.
The clash of steel and the roar of chakra blasts tore through the forest, shaking the very earth as Boruto, Sakuya, and Kawaki went at each other with unrelenting intensity. The ground was scorched, trees shattered, and the air thick with tension as the three fighters exchanged blow after blow.
Kawaki's Karma pulsed with dark energy as he lunged forward, his arm transforming into a jagged, chakra-infused blade. "You two think you've got me cornered? Think again!" he shouted, slashing downward with terrifying force.
Sakuya sidestepped, his instincts honed from years of training. He countered with a wind-charged slash from his katana, the blade humming with energy as it collided with Kawaki's attack. The resulting shockwave sent debris flying in all directions.
"We're not the same kids you fought back then, Kawaki!" Sakuya retorted, pushing Kawaki's blade aside and spinning into a powerful kick aimed at Kawaki's ribs.
Boruto darted in from the opposite side, his kunai crackling with lightning chakra. "Sakuya, on my mark!" he called out, their coordination seamless as Boruto aimed for Kawaki's exposed flank.
Kawaki grunted, raising his other arm to block Boruto's strike, but Sakuya was already in motion. With a swift leap, Sakuya brought his katana down in a diagonal arc, forcing Kawaki to twist his body to avoid the strike.
"Gotcha!" Boruto smirked, taking advantage of Kawaki's unbalanced stance. He planted his feet and unleashed a powerful "Lightning Style: Thunder Fist!" A surge of chakra-enhanced electricity coursed through his punch, slamming into Kawaki's side and sending him skidding across the battlefield.
Kawaki crashed through a line of trees, coughing as he tried to regain his footing. His eyes flickered with frustration and anger as he glared at the duo. "You little punks... Don't get cocky!"
But Boruto and Sakuya were already on the move. The cousins shared a determined glance, their bond and trust evident in their every action.
Sakuya smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "You holding up, Boruto?"
"I could ask you the same," Boruto replied, grinning despite the strain on his body. "Let's end this together, Sakuya. He can't keep up with both of us."
Before they could launch their next attack, the atmosphere shifted. A cold, oppressive energy descended upon the battlefield, freezing all movement. The wind stilled, and an eerie silence fell over the area.
Sakuya's eyes widened as he felt a presence unlike anything he'd encountered before. "What... what is this chakra?" he muttered, his grip tightening on his katana.
Boruto felt it too, his body tensing instinctively. "It's... otherworldly. This can't be—"
A loud crack echoed through the air as a massive rift tore open above them. Out of the distortion stepped a figure, descending slowly with an air of divine arrogance. Their form was humanoid, yet otherworldly, adorned in flowing robes etched with ancient Ōtsutsuki patterns. Their hair shimmered like silver fire, and their eyes bore the unmistakable ripple pattern of the Rinnegan, glowing ominously.
The figure landed gracefully, their feet barely disturbing the ground. They surveyed the battlefield with an unreadable expression, their presence alone enough to suffocate the three combatants.
Kawaki's eyes widened in disbelief as he staggered to his feet. "No... That's impossible. Another Ōtsutsuki?"
Boruto's fists clenched as he stepped forward protectively. "Great. Just what we needed—another god-level freak to ruin the day."
Sakuya's mind raced as he tried to analyze the situation. Despite the fear creeping into his heart, he forced a grin. "Looks like we've got company, Boruto. You up for another round?"
The Ōtsutsuki's voice echoed, deep and commanding, as they finally spoke. "Children of this realm… you've played your games for long enough. The balance of power has been disrupted, and your insolence will be punished."
Kawaki growled, his Karma flaring as he pointed his blade toward the newcomer. "I don't care who you are. Stay out of this! This is my fight!"
The Ōtsutsuki's gaze shifted to Kawaki, their lips curling into a faint smirk. "A child playing with borrowed power. How amusing. But your defiance is irrelevant." With a flick of their wrist, a wave of energy erupted from the figure, sending Kawaki flying back without so much as a gesture.
Boruto and Sakuya braced themselves, the shockwave rattling their bones. Sakuya gritted his teeth, gripping his katana tightly. "This guy's on a whole different level... but we've taken on gods before. We can do it again!"
Boruto nodded, his resolve unwavering. "Right. We'll figure it out. Together."
The Ōtsutsuki's eyes narrowed as they raised a hand, forming a massive sphere of condensed energy above their palm. "Let us see if you mortals can entertain me before I erase your existence."
Sakuya glanced at Boruto, his grin returning despite the overwhelming odds. "Looks like we're in for a hell of a fight. Ready to show this guy what the Uzumaki bloodline is made of?"
Boruto smirked, lightning crackling around his hands. "You bet. Let's take him down, Sakuya."
As the sphere of energy descended, the two cousins charged forward together, their combined strength and determination lighting up the battlefield in a desperate clash against the new enemy. The fate of their world hung in the balance, and they were ready to give it everything they had.
The battlefield was silent, save for the oppressive hum of the energy sphere hovering in the hands of the towering Ōtsutsuki figure. Boruto and Sakuya stood their ground, their bodies battered but their wills unbroken. Kawaki lay a short distance away, struggling to rise, his Karma flickering faintly as if intimidated by the overwhelming presence before them.
The glowing, silver-haired entity lowered her hand, letting the energy sphere dissipate with an almost careless flick of her fingers. Her otherworldly gaze shifted between the three shinobi before her, scrutinizing them like insects beneath a magnifying glass.
She took a step forward, her robes flowing as though untouched by the physical world. The celestial patterns etched into the fabric shimmered like starlight, and her long hair trailed behind her, reflecting hues of the void. The overwhelming weight of her presence seemed to intensify, pressing down on the battlefield like an invisible tidal wave.
Sakuya gripped his katana tighter, the blade trembling under his grasp as he tried to remain steady. "Who... who are you?" he finally managed to ask, his voice firm despite the knot in his stomach.
The Ōtsutsuki tilted her head slightly, as though amused by his defiance. "A mere mortal dares to question me? How quaint." Her voice was rich and melodic, carrying an undertone of menace that sent shivers down their spines.
Boruto stepped forward, his gaze steely despite the sweat dripping from his brow. "Enough with the theatrics. If you're here to fight, just tell us your name already."
The entity's lips curled into a faint smile, the kind that felt more like a predator sizing up its prey. She raised her hand, pointing a single delicate finger toward Boruto. "You, the vessel who carries the will of Momoshiki... you amuse me. Very well, I shall indulge your dying curiosity."
With a sweep of her arm, her energy coalesced around her, swirling in a brilliant display of silver and violet light. As the radiance faded, her form became clearer—no longer an ambiguous silhouette but a strikingly beautiful woman with sharp, regal features. Her silver eyes gleamed like moonlit mirrors, and a singular horn extended from her forehead, curved like a crescent moon.
"I am Tsuyohana," she declared, her voice ringing with authority. "The Blossom of the Void, the one who nurtures and consumes. You mortals have long meddled with powers you cannot comprehend, and now your reckoning is at hand."
Sakuya took a shaky breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "Tsuyohana..." he repeated, the name lingering in his mind. A faint flash of memories surfaced—his training with Boruto, their relentless battles, and the sacrifices they'd made along the way. He tightened his grip on his katana, pushing the memories aside. "If you think we're just going to roll over and die, you're dead wrong!"
Tsuyohana's smile widened, a glimmer of condescension in her expression. "Bravery born of ignorance. How charming." She extended her arm, and from the ether materialized a blade of shimmering energy, its edge pulsating with an otherworldly hum. "Come then, little mortals. Show me the strength that defied even the gods before you."
Without hesitation, Boruto and Sakuya launched themselves forward, their chakra flaring to life. Boruto's Karma ignited, crackling with black lightning as he dashed to Tsuyohana's left, while Sakuya infused his katana with wind chakra, aiming for her right.
"Let's go, Sakuya!" Boruto shouted, his voice filled with determination.
Sakuya smirked, his nervousness replaced by the sharp focus of battle. "Right behind you, cousin!"
Tsuyohana moved with fluid grace, her blade meeting Boruto's kunai with a blinding clash of energy. The impact sent sparks flying, the sheer force of it cracking the earth beneath them. At the same moment, Sakuya closed in, his wind-enhanced strike aimed for her exposed flank.
But Tsuyohana anticipated it. With a flick of her wrist, she redirected Boruto's strike and spun, her energy blade colliding with Sakuya's katana. The resulting shockwave sent a gust of wind rippling through the forest, uprooting nearby trees.
Sakuya skidded backward but kept his footing, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed her movements. "She's fast... too fast. We need to find an opening."
Boruto growled, his eyes glowing faintly as he activated his Jōgan. "Don't worry, we'll make one. Just stay sharp!"
They pressed forward again, their attacks coming in a relentless barrage. Boruto's lightning-enhanced strikes forced Tsuyohana to defend against his speed, while Sakuya used his wind chakra to create unpredictable feints and slashes. For a moment, it seemed like they were gaining ground.
But Tsuyohana merely smiled, her movements precise and effortless. "Impressive... for mortals. But let me show you the true difference between us."
With a sudden burst of energy, she unleashed a shockwave that sent both Boruto and Sakuya flying. Sakuya tumbled through the dirt, coughing as he struggled to rise. Boruto managed to land on his feet, his teeth clenched as he glared at her.
As Sakuya stood, his mind raced. Memories of his father's teachings and the lessons learned alongside Boruto flooded back. "Think, Sakuya... She's stronger, faster, and has way more chakra. But even gods have weaknesses..."
Meanwhile, Boruto's voice cut through his thoughts. "Sakuya, you okay?"
"Yeah... just give me a second." Sakuya wiped the blood from his lip, forcing a grin. "I'm not done yet."
Tsuyohana tilted her head, her expression curious. "How delightful. Even on the verge of defeat, you persist. Very well. Show me what your mortal will is capable of."
As she raised her blade again, Boruto and Sakuya exchanged a glance. No words were needed—they knew what they had to do. Together, they charged forward once more, ready to give everything they had against the overwhelming might of Tsuyohana.
The battle wasn't just about survival—it was about proving that even in the face of a god, humanity's resolve could shine brighter than the stars.
The battlefield trembled as Kawaki dashed forward, his Karma surging with power. His blood boiled as he charged Tsuyohana, the celestial being who dared to stand above them all. His movements were swift and precise, his blade cutting through the air like a storm.
Tsuyohana stood still, her silver eyes gleaming with amusement. She didn't flinch, didn't waver, even as Kawaki's blade descended with lethal intent. At the last possible second, her energy blade materialized, meeting Kawaki's strike with an effortless parry.
The collision sent sparks flying, the force of the impact splitting the ground beneath them. Kawaki growled in frustration, his attacks growing more relentless as he tried to break through her defenses. "You're not invincible!" he snarled, his strikes becoming more erratic. "I'll destroy you and anyone else who stands in my way!"
Tsuyohana's expression didn't change. If anything, her amusement grew. She moved with the grace of a dancer, sidestepping his strikes and deflecting his attacks with an ease that bordered on mockery.
"So much anger," she mused, her voice soft and melodic. "So much pain. You wear it like a crown, boy."
Kawaki's eyes burned with fury. "Shut up!" he roared, his Karma glowing brighter as he unleashed a wave of energy. The blast tore through the air, aiming to engulf Tsuyohana entirely.
But when the smoke cleared, she was untouched, standing amidst the devastation as though it was nothing more than a gentle breeze. She sighed, shaking her head. "Is that the extent of your power? Such a pity."
Before Kawaki could react, she moved. In an instant, she closed the gap between them, her energy blade striking his arm with enough force to send him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, coughing as the impact left him momentarily dazed.
Boruto and Sakuya watched from a distance, their own injuries keeping them from interfering. Boruto clenched his fists, his Jōgan flickering as he tried to summon the strength to move. "Kawaki, don't be reckless!" he shouted, his voice strained.
Sakuya, still catching his breath, narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is he thinking? He's going to get himself killed."
Kawaki rose to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth. His resolve hadn't wavered, but it was clear he was outmatched. Tsuyohana approached him slowly, her expression almost... pitying.
"You fight so desperately, yet you lack the strength to achieve your goals," she said, her voice soft but cutting. "Tell me, boy, what is it you desire? Power? Revenge? Or perhaps... a place where you belong?"
Kawaki glared at her, his chest heaving. "I don't need your pity. I'll take what I want by force."
Tsuyohana chuckled, the sound sending chills down his spine. "Oh, Kawaki... You misunderstand. I'm not offering pity. I'm offering opportunity."
She leaned closer, her silver eyes locking onto his. Her voice became a low, seductive whisper, filled with an unsettling allure. "You've been abandoned, betrayed by those who claimed to care for you. But I see your potential. I see the fire within you, the ambition. Join me, and I will give you everything you desire—power beyond your imagination, the means to shape this world as you see fit. No more chains, no more lies. Only freedom."
Kawaki froze, her words hitting him like a hammer. Memories of his past flashed before his eyes—the betrayal, the pain, the endless cycle of being used as a tool. His fists clenched, his mind a whirlwind of doubt and anger.
"Don't listen to her, Kawaki!" Boruto's voice cut through the fog, filled with desperation. "She's manipulating you! We've been through this before. Don't let her control you!"
Sakuya stepped forward, his katana still in hand. "Kawaki, think about what you're doing. Whatever she's offering, it's not worth losing yourself over."
But Tsuyohana ignored them, her focus entirely on Kawaki. She extended her hand, her smile softening into something almost maternal. "They can't understand you, Kawaki. They never will. But I can. Together, we can break free from this cycle of suffering. All you have to do... is take my hand."
Kawaki stared at her outstretched hand, his heart pounding in his chest. The offer was tempting, her words resonating with the deepest parts of his soul. He glanced back at Boruto and Sakuya, their expressions filled with concern and disbelief.
"Don't do it, Kawaki," Boruto pleaded, his voice shaking. "You're better than this."
For a moment, Kawaki hesitated. But then his gaze hardened, the weight of his past decisions pressing down on him. With a deep breath, he stepped forward and took her hand.
"I'm done playing their game," he said, his voice cold and resolute. "If this is what it takes to finally be free... so be it."
Boruto's eyes widened in shock. "Kawaki, no!"
Tsuyohana's smile widened, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. "Wise choice, my dear. Together, we will reshape this world."
As her energy enveloped Kawaki, his Karma surged with newfound intensity, the power radiating from him unlike anything before. Boruto and Sakuya could only watch in disbelief as their friend, their brother, stood beside the enemy.
The battlefield fell silent, the weight of Kawaki's betrayal hanging heavy in the air. But deep in their hearts, Boruto and Sakuya knew this was far from over.
The real battle was just beginning.
The tension on the battlefield was suffocating, the air thick with the pressure of clashing energies. Boruto stood firm, his Jōgan glowing faintly, his grip tightening on his blade. Across from him, Kawaki stood with Tsuyohana at his side, her celestial aura radiating with an otherworldly menace. The once unshakable bond between Boruto and Kawaki now felt irreparably broken, and the weight of it pressed on Boruto's chest.
"You've really fallen this far, Kawaki?" Boruto asked, his voice carrying a mix of anger and sorrow. "This isn't you. You're not a pawn, you're better than this!"
Kawaki's eyes burned with a cold, determined fire. "Shut up, Boruto. I'm done with your lectures. I'm done with this cycle of lies. Tsuyohana's the only one who understands what it means to be free."
Tsuyohana smirked, her voice silky and condescending. "Boruto, your naive ideals are admirable, but ultimately useless. Kawaki has chosen his path—one that leads to true liberation. And you? You're just another obstacle in his way."
In a flash, Kawaki dashed forward, his modified Karma flaring with dark energy. The sheer force of his approach caused the ground beneath him to crack, a sonic boom ringing out as he closed the distance to Boruto in an instant.
Boruto braced himself, his Kusanagi blade meeting Kawaki's energy-infused strike with a deafening clash. The two forces collided, shockwaves rippling through the battlefield as they exchanged furious blows. Boruto gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as Kawaki's attacks grew more relentless.
"Snap out of it, Kawaki!" Boruto yelled between strikes. "This isn't the way!"
"The way?" Kawaki spat, driving Boruto back with a powerful kick. "The way you're talking about leads nowhere but more suffering! I'll carve my own path, even if it means cutting you down!"
Tsuyohana watched with amusement, her silver eyes glimmering with malice. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a surge of energy toward Boruto, aiming to tip the balance in Kawaki's favor. The blast roared toward him, too fast for Boruto to fully react.
But before it could land, Sakuya intervened.
"Not on my watch!" he yelled, throwing himself between Boruto and the blast. His hands moved in a blur of seals, conjuring a barrier of Wind Style Chakra that absorbed the impact. The explosion sent him skidding backward, but he remained standing, his breath heavy.
Kawaki turned his attention to Sakuya, his expression darkening. "You don't know when to stay down, do you?"
Sakuya smirked despite the fatigue etched into his features. "You'd think after all this time, you'd learn I'm too stubborn for that."
Sakuya's body flickered as he moved with speed, closing in on Kawaki. Their blades clashed, lightning-fast strikes exchanged as Sakuya tried to break through Kawaki's defenses. He moved with calculated precision, a sign of his growth and the lessons he'd learned through countless battles.
But Kawaki was relentless. Fueled by Tsuyohana's influence, his strikes carried an unnatural force. He parried Sakuya's blade, spinning behind him in one fluid motion. Before Sakuya could fully react, Kawaki's hand, infused with Karma energy, pierced through his side, missing vital organs but causing excruciating pain.
Blood sprayed into the air, and Sakuya gasped, his body trembling as the shock of the blow coursed through him.
"Sakuya!" Boruto screamed, his voice cracking as he watched his cousin stagger, Kawaki's hand still embedded in his side.
Kawaki's face was emotionless as he twisted his hand slightly, eliciting a pained groan from Sakuya. "You should've stayed out of this, Sakuya. You're nothing but a distraction."
Sakuya coughed, blood staining his lips, but his gaze never wavered. "Distraction? You've got it wrong, Kawaki." He grinned weakly, his voice steady despite the pain. "I'm just buying Boruto enough time to kick your ass."
Kawaki growled, yanking his hand free and sending Sakuya flying into the trees with a brutal kick. The impact shattered the trunk, and Sakuya crumpled to the ground, coughing violently as blood seeped from his wound.
For a brief moment, everything was silent, the weight of the moment pressing down on Boruto. His fists clenched, his eyes narrowing as his Jōgan glowed brighter.
"That's enough, Kawaki," Boruto said, his voice low and dangerous. "You've crossed the line."
Tsuyohana chuckled, stepping forward. "Oh, how dramatic. Are you finally ready to stop holding back, Boruto? Or will you crumble under the weight of your own convictions?"
Boruto didn't respond. He glanced at Sakuya, who gave him a weak thumbs-up, his grin still defiant despite the pain.
"Take him down," Sakuya rasped. "Don't hold back... for me."
Boruto nodded, his resolve hardening. He turned back to Kawaki, his blade crackling with lightning. The air around him shifted, his Chakra flaring with an intensity that rivaled the stars.
"You're not the only one who can evolve, Kawaki," Boruto said, his voice filled with determination. "I'll save you, no matter what it takes."
The battlefield erupted once more as Boruto charged forward, the clash between him and Kawaki shaking the very earth. But in the shadows, Tsuyohana watched, her smirk never fading as she whispered to herself.
"Let's see how far the bonds of mortals can truly stretch before they shatter."
The forest was silent but for the crackle of energy and the distant echoes of Boruto and Kawaki's fierce clash. Sakuya's body lay motionless against the shattered remains of a tree, blood dripping from his side as the sharp pain coursed through him. His vision blurred, and his ears rang from the impact. For a moment, it felt like the weight of defeat was pressing him into the ground, suffocating him.
But then he heard it.
Boruto's voice. His cousin, his closest friend, calling out to him in desperation, screaming his name through the chaos.
"Sakuya! Get up! We're not done yet!"
Memories began to flood his mind—of training alongside Boruto as kids, of sparring matches that ended in laughter, of their shared dream to become the kind of shinobi who would never back down.
The ringing in his ears subsided, replaced by the rhythmic thud of his heartbeat. His blood, infused with the power of the Ketsuryūgan, pulsed with a heat that reignited his spirit. Slowly, Sakuya clenched his fists, his fingers trembling as they dug into the dirt.
"Get up..." he muttered to himself, his voice low and hoarse. "Not yet... I'm not done yet."
Sakuya forced himself to his knees, his breaths labored. The pain was excruciating, but he didn't care. He placed a hand over his wound, channeling chakra to slow the bleeding, and then staggered to his feet. His body swayed slightly, but his gaze was sharp, unwavering.
As his crimson Ketsuryūgan eyes activated, a surge of clarity washed over him. The world seemed to slow, every detail etched into his vision. He could see Kawaki and Boruto exchanging devastating blows in the distance, their chakra clashing like thunderclouds. And then, he saw Tsuyohana standing at the edge of the battlefield, her expression one of amusement, as if she were watching a game.
Sakuya's jaw tightened. "You think this is a game?" he growled under his breath.
Lightning began to crackle around his body, faint at first, but growing more intense with each passing second. His chakra flared wildly, causing the air around him to ripple with energy.
"If I'm going to make a difference... I can't hold back anymore."
He clasped his hands together, forming a series of rapid hand signs. The lightning chakra surged through him, enveloping his body in a brilliant blue glow.
"Lightning Style: Thunderbolt Surge!"
The technique exploded to life, coursing through his muscles and veins, sharpening his reflexes and dramatically boosting his speed. The pain in his side became a distant memory as he took a step forward, the ground beneath him cracking under the sheer force of his chakra-infused movement.
Sakuya reached for his blade, gripping it tightly. Memories of his training with Boruto and their late father figures flashed before him. Their lessons, their struggles, their bonds—they all came flooding back, grounding him in the moment.
"This is what it means to be a shinobi," he whispered to himself, his resolve solidifying.
In the blink of an eye, Sakuya shot forward, his body a streak of lightning tearing through the battlefield. The sound of his movement was deafening, a thunderous crack splitting the air as he closed in on Kawaki and Boruto.
Kawaki turned, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the sudden surge of power. "You again?!" he snarled, raising his arm to block.
But Sakuya was faster.
Appearing behind Kawaki in an instant, Sakuya's blade came down in a precise arc, the Kenjutsu strike enhanced by the speed and power of his lightning chakra. Kawaki barely managed to block the blow with his modified arm, but the sheer force sent him skidding back, his feet digging trenches into the dirt.
Boruto's eyes widened as he caught sight of Sakuya. "Sakuya! You're—"
"I'm fine," Sakuya cut him off, his voice steady but fierce. "Just focus, Boruto. We're not letting him win."
Kawaki regained his footing, his expression a mixture of frustration and disbelief. "How are you still standing? I put a hole in you!"
Sakuya smirked, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're not the first person to think they've taken me out. Spoiler alert: they were wrong too."
Kawaki growled, his Karma seal flaring as he lunged at Sakuya. But this time, Sakuya was ready. His enhanced speed allowed him to dodge Kawaki's strikes with ease, his movements fluid and precise.
"What's wrong, Kawaki?" Sakuya taunted, parrying a blow and countering with a swift strike of his own. "You were so confident a second ago."
The clash of their blades was deafening, sparks flying as their techniques collided. Sakuya's mind raced, analyzing Kawaki's movements with the heightened perception granted by the Ketsuryūgan. Every feint, every shift in stance—he saw it all.
And then, he saw an opening.
Sakuya's blade flashed, delivering a shallow cut across Kawaki's side. The blow wasn't deep, but it was enough to stagger him.
Boruto seized the opportunity, charging forward with a Lightning Style: Thunder Shuriken technique. The shurikens crackled with energy as they homed in on Kawaki, who barely managed to deflect them.
"Nice one!" Boruto shouted, landing beside Sakuya.
Sakuya nodded, his breathing heavy but his grin unwavering. "Told you I wasn't done yet."
Kawaki glared at the two of them, his chest heaving as his frustration boiled over. "You think this changes anything?!" he roared, his Karma glowing brighter as he prepared his next attack.
Sakuya tightened his grip on his blade, his crimson eyes burning with determination. "No," he said calmly. "But it's a start."
As the battle raged on, the bonds between the three former allies were tested to their very limits. But Sakuya knew one thing for sure: no matter how far Kawaki had fallen, he and Boruto wouldn't stop fighting to bring him back—even if it cost them everything.
The battlefield was drenched in tension and malice. Dust hung in the air, illuminated by faint rays of sunlight piercing through the forest canopy. Boruto and Sakuya stood side by side, their breaths heavy, their bodies aching but steadfast. Kawaki glared at them from the opposite end of the clearing, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths, his Karma seal pulsating erratically, almost as though it was alive.
But the real shadow looming over the scene was Tsuyohana. Perched casually on a high branch, her silver hair swayed with the breeze, and her pale, glowing eyes watched the battle with a mix of amusement and hunger. Her aura exuded a strange combination of elegance and danger, a predator reveling in the chaos she had sown.
She smirked, leaning forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm. "Kawaki, dear... I must say, you're not looking so well." Her voice was velvety, teasing, and carried an edge that made even Boruto and Sakuya freeze for a split second.
Kawaki growled but didn't break his stance. "I don't need your help. Stay out of this."
Tsuyohana chuckled, a sound like soft bells chiming with mockery. "Oh, but you do. Look at you. Fighting with such... limitations. It's almost tragic." She tilted her head, her grin widening into something almost sinister. "You're holding back because you're still clinging to your humanity, aren't you?"
Kawaki stiffened, his expression unreadable.
Sakuya's eyes narrowed, his crimson Ketsuryūgan glowing faintly as he studied her from a distance. "What's she playing at...?" he muttered, his hand tightening around the hilt of his blade.
Boruto gritted his teeth, stepping forward. "Tsuyohana! Stay out of this! This fight is between us and Kawaki!"
Tsuyohana didn't even glance at Boruto. Instead, she slowly rose from her perch, her movements graceful yet predatory. "Oh, Boruto," she said with a hint of condescension, "this isn't just about you three. This is about something far greater. You're all just pieces on the board."
She leaped down, landing effortlessly in the clearing, her presence radiating a chilling pressure. As she approached Kawaki, her grin softened into something almost affectionate—though it was laced with danger.
"Kawaki," she cooed, her voice low and intoxicating. "You want to win, don't you? You want to crush them, to prove that you're the one who's right in all of this."
Kawaki didn't answer, but the subtle clench of his fists betrayed his frustration.
Tsuyohana stepped closer, her eyes glowing faintly with a violet hue. "But you can't do that if you're holding back. If you're tethered to this fragile thing called humanity." She placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch light yet charged with power. "Let me help you."
Kawaki turned his head slightly, glaring at her. "And what's the catch? You don't do anything without a price."
Her grin returned, sharp and predatory. "Oh, you're smarter than you look. Yes, there's a price. But it's one worth paying." She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Let me make you whole, Kawaki. Let me unlock your full potential, turn you into what you were meant to be—a true Ōtsutsuki."
Boruto's eyes widened in horror. "Kawaki, don't listen to her! She's manipulating you!"
Sakuya took a step forward, his blade raised defensively. "Kawaki, whatever she's offering, it's not worth it! Don't throw away what's left of who you are!"
Kawaki's gaze flickered toward them, then back to Tsuyohana. His jaw clenched.
"You're hesitating," Tsuyohana said softly, almost mockingly. "Why? Is it because of them? Because of your so-called 'bonds'?" Her tone turned sharper. "They'll never understand you, Kawaki. They'll never accept what you've become. But I will."
Kawaki's fists trembled at his sides. The air around him grew heavy with tension, his chakra fluctuating wildly.
Tsuyohana's grin widened. "All I ask is that you let go. Surrender your humanity, and I'll give you the power to end this once and for all."
There was a long, agonizing pause.
And then, Kawaki spoke.
"Fine. Do it."
Boruto's face twisted in disbelief. "Kawaki, no!"
Sakuya's grip tightened on his blade. "Dammit, Kawaki, think this through!"
But it was too late.
Tsuyohana's expression turned triumphant as she placed both hands on Kawaki's shoulders. Her chakra flared, dark and oppressive, as violet and black tendrils of energy began to seep into Kawaki's body. He let out a strained gasp as the transformation began, his Karma seal spreading across his body like wildfire, merging with the foreign energy Tsuyohana was pouring into him.
His features began to change—his skin taking on a faint, otherworldly glow, his eyes turning into the piercing, crystalline orbs of the Ōtsutsuki. Horn-like protrusions began to form on his head, and his chakra spiked to terrifying levels, shaking the ground beneath them.
Tsuyohana stepped back, admiring her work with a satisfied smirk. "There. Now you're perfect."
Kawaki opened his eyes, his gaze cold and alien. The humanity that once lingered in his expression was gone, replaced by an overwhelming sense of power and detachment.
Boruto took a step back, his heart pounding. "Kawaki... what have you done?"
Sakuya gritted his teeth, his crimson eyes blazing with determination. "We're not letting this end here. Boruto, get ready."
Kawaki smirked, his voice now laced with an otherworldly resonance. "You wanted to fight me? Fine. Let's see if you can handle the real me."
The battlefield erupted in chaos as Kawaki's newfound power surged, and the fight that followed would test Boruto and Sakuya like never before.
The air crackled with the clash of power, every strike sending tremors through the battlefield. Kawaki, now transformed into an unrecognizable force of nature, stood at the center of the storm, his aura pulsating like a violent tempest. His gaze, cold and distant, locked onto Boruto and Sakuya with the intensity of a predator sizing up its prey.
"So this is what you've become, Kawaki," Boruto muttered under his breath, eyes narrowed, his hand gripping the hilt of his blade tightly. The weight of the situation was overwhelming, but he had no time for hesitation.
"No turning back now, huh?" Sakuya murmured, his hand hovering near the handle of his own katana, his crimson Ketsuryūgan glowing fiercely. Every instinct within him screamed to attack, but he was careful now—Kawaki had power like nothing they had faced before.
Kawaki took a step forward, his newly empowered form moving with unnatural speed. "Get ready." His voice was cold, devoid of emotion. Without warning, he dashed toward Boruto with the force of a meteor, leaving nothing but a blur in his wake.
"Shit!" Boruto's eyes widened just in time as Kawaki appeared right in front of him, fist raised high. There was no time to react.
With a sickening thud, Kawaki's fist collided with Boruto's chest, sending him flying backward. His body crashed into Sakuya, the impact knocking the wind out of both of them.
"Gah!" Sakuya grunted, barely managing to keep his footing as he caught Boruto in mid-air, cradling him for a brief moment before both of them fell hard to the ground.
Kawaki stood over them, his breath steady, like he was barely exerting himself. His expression was unreadable—an emotionless shell. But it was clear that his power was far beyond anything Boruto and Sakuya had anticipated.
Tsuyohana, standing high in the trees with a cruel smile on her face, couldn't hold back her sadistic laughter. The sound echoed through the clearing, a twisted melody that sent shivers down their spines.
"Oh, how delightful," she purred, her voice dripping with malicious glee. "Look at them—so weak, so desperate. Is this really all you've got?"
Boruto pushed himself up from the ground, coughing as he tried to regain his breath. "Damn it, Kawaki. What did she do to you?" His words were barely audible, but they were laced with pain—both physical and emotional.
Sakuya groaned, shaking off the dizziness as he stood up, offering Boruto a hand. "We can't hold back anymore. This isn't the Kawaki we knew."
Kawaki raised his hand, preparing for another devastating strike, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You really think you can stop me now?" He spoke as if the concept of defeat was laughable. "You're nothing but bugs to be crushed underfoot."
But then, something in Sakuya snapped. "We're not done yet!" His voice was a fierce growl as he surged forward, his speed amplified by the lightning coursing through his veins. His blade shimmered as he swung it with precision, aiming directly for Kawaki's neck.
Kawaki dodged, his movements too fast, and countered with a brutal elbow to Sakuya's ribs, sending him stumbling back. The force of the blow made Sakuya's body ache, but he gritted his teeth, pushing through the pain. "Not good enough," he muttered, eyes burning with determination.
Boruto, still recovering from his crash, shot a look at Sakuya. "Let's do this together!"
Sakuya nodded, his eyes narrowing as he set his stance. "Right."
Together, they attacked. Boruto used his Wind Style: Gale Palm, sending a powerful gust of wind at Kawaki to throw him off balance. At the same time, Sakuya channeled his Ketsuryūgan energy into his blade, slashing through the air with incredible speed.
Kawaki's expression flickered for a split second, as he barely managed to evade the barrage of attacks. His eyes glinted with a dangerous light, and he disappeared in an instant, reappearing behind them.
Before they could react, he thrust his hand forward, his fingers crackling with dark energy. "You think you can keep up?" He let out a burst of power, sending both Boruto and Sakuya flying back with the sheer force of his blow.
Sakuya hit the ground hard, gasping for breath, his vision blurring momentarily from the impact.
"We're not done yet, Kawaki!" Boruto shouted, pushing himself to his feet, his eyes glowing with a fierce resolve. "We'll stop you, no matter what!"
But Tsuyohana's laughter rang out once again, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Oh, Boruto, Boruto, Boruto," she drawled, her tone dripping with mockery. "You still don't get it, do you?" She glanced at Kawaki, a playful glint in her eyes. "He's not the same person anymore. He's mine now. Completely."
Kawaki looked back at her, his expression cold and unfeeling. But for a brief moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that resembled uncertainty.
Boruto stepped forward, ignoring the pain in his chest. "Kawaki!" His voice was louder now, cutting through the air like a scream. "You can fight this! You're not just an Ōtsutsuki—don't let her control you!"
For a moment, it looked as though Kawaki might respond—something inside him shifting, struggling against the overwhelming power Tsuyohana had granted him.
But then, his gaze hardened. "I don't need your help, Boruto."
Tsuyohana's smile widened as she leaned forward, watching the tension between them with a sadistic gleam in her eyes. "This is it. You've lost."
Suddenly, Kawaki lunged forward again, his movements far faster than before, his aura of power nearly suffocating. "I'm done holding back."
Boruto and Sakuya exchanged a look, their resolve solidifying. They knew they couldn't hold back anymore, either.
And the fight—no, the battle—was about to reach its most intense and devastating climax
Kawaki's chest heaved with the intensity of his anger. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked, his body vibrating with raw power. The echoes of the battle rang in his ears—the wind, the crashes, the sounds of his attacks striking his former friends. The familiar faces of Boruto and Sakuya blurred in his mind, but the anger burned bright.
"This ends now!" Kawaki roared, his voice a weapon, cutting through the chaos. His eyes were cold and unfeeling as he glared down at his two targets. With a burst of Ōtsutsuki-infused power, he raised his hand, his fingers crackling with dark energy.
"Die!" With a single motion, Kawaki unleashed an overwhelming burst of force, the dark energy charging forward like a blast from a cannon, intent on wiping them out in a single strike.
But just as the energy was about to reach its target, a sudden blur of movement flashed before his eyes. His attack cut through empty air.
"Huh?" His eyes widened in confusion. The figures of Boruto and Sakuya faded into smoke—Shadow Clones.
"Damn it!" Kawaki grunted in frustration. He turned around, scanning the battlefield, but his anger clouded his focus, and he couldn't find them. He was consumed by the desire to end it, to destroy everything in his path. His body tensed, ready to strike again.
From the shadows, Tsuyohana's voice pierced the air, full of frantic urgency. "Kawaki! Move out of the way!" Her voice was sharp, demanding, but there was something different in her tone—something more desperate.
But Kawaki didn't hear her. His fury drowned her out. With a growl, he threw himself forward, his form a blur of speed. "I'm not done! I'm finishing this!" His words were a vow, his entire being driven by the desire to destroy.
In his blind rage, he failed to notice the subtle shift in the wind. The vibrations of the battlefield—Boruto's and Sakuya's movements—had changed. They weren't retreating. They weren't running away. They were readying themselves.
"Boruto!" Sakuya shouted, his voice breaking through the din of combat. He locked eyes with Boruto, a shared understanding passing between them.
Boruto's breathing slowed, and for the briefest of moments, the storm around them seemed to still. The intense fight, the pain, the suffering—they all faded as the two shinobi made their decision. They would end this.
"Now, Sakuya!" Boruto called. His voice was fierce, unwavering.
In perfect synchronization, Boruto and Sakuya summoned their ultimate jutsus—the culmination of everything they had fought for, the techniques they had honed and sharpened through their years of training. Their chakra surged, creating an aura of power that crackled and roared with the force of a storm.
**Boruto's eyes burned bright with the power of his Karma Seal as he activated his most devastating technique—Two Blue Vortex. The space around him seemed to warp, twisting in on itself. The air grew thick with the weight of his chakra, and the world around him slowed to a crawl as his jutsu took form. With a shout, he thrust his palm forward, unleashing a vortex of pure energy that tore through the air, its winds howling like the wrath of the heavens.
At the same time, Sakuya channeled his full Ketsuryūgan power, his veins pulsing with dark energy. His katana glowed with an eerie crimson light as he slashed the air with a Kenjutsu attack, cutting through the space around him like a blade through silk. The resulting shockwave sent a wave of energy racing toward Kawaki, the raw power like a tidal wave crashing toward him.
Kawaki, still blinded by his fury, had no time to react. The dual attacks of Boruto and Sakuya collided with him with unrelenting force.
"No—!" Tsuyohana screamed, but it was too late.
Kawaki's body was thrown backward, a scream escaping his lips as the sheer force of the blows overwhelmed him. The Two Blue Vortex tore through his defenses, shattering them like fragile glass, while the full force of Sakuya's attack sent him crashing into the earth, the ground itself cracking under the impact.
BOOM!
The shockwave reverberated across the battlefield, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air, obscuring the fallen warrior's form. Silence followed, a tense and suffocating stillness hanging in the air.
Boruto and Sakuya stood, their bodies battered and bloodied, their breathing heavy. The power they had unleashed was immense, and it had taken everything they had. But it was done.
They waited.
But as the dust settled, they saw it—Kawaki's form, lying motionless, yet still breathing. He was battered, his body cracked and broken, but there was no sign of death. The Ōtsutsuki transformation had left him resilient, more than they could have predicted.
"He's still alive," Boruto muttered, his voice low. He could barely bring himself to look at the figure, the weight of their actions pressing down on him. "But… he's not done."
Sakuya clenched his fists, his own wounds aching, but his eyes locked on Kawaki's form. "He's dangerous, Boruto. We need to finish this now before he recovers."
As the two shinobi caught their breath, Tsuyohana's voice rose from behind them, filled with twisted amusement.
"You think you've won? He's only just begun, and so am I." Her eyes glittered darkly, the sinister aura around her growing stronger. "You may have shattered his body, but you won't break his spirit."
Boruto and Sakuya exchanged a glance. They both knew this was far from over. They had struck a blow, but the battle was not yet won. The real test had just begun.
And Kawaki… Kawaki was about to rise again.
The battlefield was thick with tension. The wind howled, a mournful cry that echoed across the desolate landscape, the aftermath of a devastating clash between old friends and enemies. Dust and debris lingered in the air like the fading remnants of a violent storm.
Kawaki, battered and broken, struggled to rise. His body was covered in cuts, bruises, and burns. His chest heaved with shallow breaths, each one coming more ragged than the last. The attack from Boruto and Sakuya had left him battered—broken—but not defeated. The Ōtsutsuki blood coursing through his veins kept him alive, even now. His crimson eyes burned with an almost primal fury, yet there was a flicker of something more—a flicker of desperation.
"Not yet… Not like this…" Kawaki muttered, his voice hoarse, barely a whisper. He clenched his fists tightly, the pain coursing through him like an unrelenting torrent. He could feel his body failing, his energy rapidly depleting. But there was something more—something more that he needed to do.
"Naruto… Hinata…" His thoughts went to them, the ones he had once called family. He couldn't leave them like this. Not after everything they had done for him. Not after everything he had done to protect them.
The air suddenly grew colder, a sinister presence descending from above. Tsuyohana stood on a distant outcropping, her eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Her form was graceful, yet there was an undeniable aura of dread surrounding her, like the calm before a storm. She watched him carefully, as if savoring the moment of his pain.
"You're not done yet, are you?" she purred, her voice dripping with venom. Her eyes gleamed darkly as she took a step forward, her movement predatory. "You thought you could escape, but you're just as weak as the rest of them. All of you are the same. You fight, and you struggle, but in the end, I will be the one to end it."
Kawaki's eyes flickered to her, his entire body trembling. He could feel his strength draining with each breath he took. The pain was unbearable, and yet, there was still something deep inside him that refused to let go. A final flicker of hope. A final desire to protect.
"I won't... die... like this." He gritted his teeth, his voice rough and strained.
But Tsuyohana was already moving. Her smile twisted into something cruel, and before Kawaki could react, she leaped down from her perch with the speed of a striking viper. Her hand shot forward like a spear, a blur of darkness as it plunged toward Kawaki's chest.
He tried to raise his arm to block, but he was too slow. Her hand passed through his defense with ease. "No…" His voice cracked in agony.
With a sickening crack, Tsuyohana's fingers pierced through his flesh, ripping into him like a blade cutting through paper.
"AHHHH!" Kawaki screamed, the pain unbearable as her hand tore through his stomach. His vision blurred, the world around him fading. His mind felt like it was slipping away, his body no longer obeying him. The agonizing pressure of her grip, the cold sensation of her fingers inside his body—it felt like his soul was being ripped from him.
"You'll never be free, Kawaki," Tsuyohana whispered, her voice an icy caress in his ear. She twisted her fingers deeper, ripping apart his insides. "You'll never escape me, or what I've made you."
Kawaki's scream filled the air again, louder this time, the sound of his agony tearing at the very fabric of the world around them. His breath came in shallow gasps, each one a struggle. He could feel his body shutting down, his chakra fading. His vision swam, and for a brief moment, everything went black.
But then—Naruto's voice, a distant whisper in his mind. "Kawaki… remember who you are."
A flicker of warmth. A flash of memories. The smile of Hinata, her gentle hands reaching out to him. The face of Boruto, the boy who had been his brother, his equal. The face of Naruto, his adoptive father—the man who had given him hope when he had none.
A surge of emotion overwhelmed him. It wasn't over yet. Not like this.
"I won't… let you win…" Kawaki's voice was barely a breath, but it carried with it the weight of a vow. He closed his eyes tightly, focusing every ounce of his remaining strength. He could feel his connection to the Karma Seal—a lifeline, a bridge to the one thing that could save him.
With trembling hands, Kawaki reached inward, feeling the pulse of his Karma Seal. His chakra flared weakly, and the mark on his palm began to glow—a faint, golden light. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
"I'll bring you back, Naruto… Hinata…" Kawaki whispered. "For everything you've done for me… for everything I've become… I won't let this be the end."
And then—he activated the seal. The room around him seemed to bend and distort as a familiar surge of power rippled through him. His Karma Seal flared brightly, and the world around him seemed to pulse with energy.
A swirling vortex of light exploded from his body, expanding outward with force, the chakra radiating with the intensity of a thousand suns. In that moment, the world around him seemed to fracture, bending and breaking under the strain of his power. The connection between worlds began to tear at the seams, and Kawaki's chakra reached out, pulling the very fabric of reality itself.
"Come back… to me…" he whispered, his voice a mere breath of hope. "Naruto… Hinata…"
The light grew, brighter and brighter, until it consumed everything.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. Tsuyohana staggered back, a flicker of surprise crossing her face as the Ōtsutsuki power in Kawaki surged uncontrollably. She clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing with frustration. "No… not now." She hissed.
From the depths of the vortex, a figure began to materialize—first, a flicker of orange, and then a flash of blond hair. The unmistakable face of Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage, appeared in the air before them, his eyes fierce and burning with the will of fire. Beside him, the gentle face of Hinata Hyuga appeared, her gaze filled with warmth and concern.
Kawaki's body went limp as he collapsed onto the ground, his last remaining strength fading. But as he looked up, he saw them. They had returned. The people who had once given him hope, the family he had never had, were here.
"Naruto… Hinata…" His voice was weak, but the smile on his face—so faint and fleeting—was the only thing that mattered.
The chaotic aftermath of the battle had left the ground scorched and splintered, the air thick with the remnants of the destructive clash. The once-vibrant landscape now stood in stark contrast, silent and broken—except for the faint hum of lingering chakra and the echoes of strained breaths.
Kawaki lay motionless, his body barely clinging to life. The reunion with Naruto and Hinata had been brief, but it was enough to fuel the final surge of energy needed for the impossible. As their figures flickered in the vortex before fading into the ether, hope had been rekindled. But it wasn't over.
Not yet.
...
(To Be Continued...)