Chapter 76: Barely Escape

In the midst of an oppressive darkness, where visibility was reduced to nothingness, the only audible presence was the sound of hurried footsteps echoing through the void.

Isshiki, his heart pounding with fear, sprinted desperately through the abyss, a sense of impending doom lurking at his heels. Something sinister and relentless pursued him, its presence felt rather than seen. Each step he took was fueled by a primal instinct to survive, his body pushed to its limits as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

As he ran, the air around Isshiki seemed to grow heavy with an unexplainable malevolence. Whispers, barely discernible, crept into his ears, taunting and tormenting him. The darkness seemed to twist and contort, as if alive, amplifying his terror.

Isshiki's mind raced, desperately trying to comprehend the nature of the entity that pursued him. Its intentions remained shrouded in mystery, yet its relentless pursuit left no room for doubt. Fear gnawed at his consciousness, threatening to overwhelm him, but he refused to succumb. With every ounce of his being, he fought against the paralyzing grip of terror, determined to outrun his pursuer and find a glimmer of light in the suffocating darkness.

As Isshiki's desperate escape continued, a chilling voice pierced through the darkness, resonating with a haunting familiarity. "Where are you running?" Boruto's voice echoed, drawing closer with each step he took towards Isshiki.

Undeterred by Boruto's presence, Isshiki pressed on, his determination unwavering. Suddenly, a glimmer of hope emerged as he stumbled upon a faint source of light. As he drew nearer, the illumination revealed a shocking sight: Momoshiki, seated upon a throne, adorned with numerous swords protruding from his lifeless body. It was evident that Momoshiki had become nothing more than a vessel.

Boruto, his voice devoid of remorse, recounted the events that led to this grim scene. "He proved to be quite weak, begging for mercy after enduring a few torture. However, I continued to inflict pain upon him relentlessly, until he ultimately surrendered and vacated his own body," Boruto revealed, his words dripping with a sinister tone.

Isshiki's eyes widened in disbelief and horror as Boruto materialized behind the throne, his presence sending shivers down Isshiki's spine. Gritting his teeth, Isshiki managed to muster the strength to speak, his voice laced with defiance. "How... how are you capable of such a thing?"

A chilling smile played upon Boruto's lips as he responded with an unsettling calmness. "Because I am him," he declared, his words hanging in the air like a dark omen. The revelation sent a wave of shock through Isshiki's core, leaving him to grapple with the unimaginable truth of Boruto's transformation into a vessel for Momoshiki's malevolent spirit.

....

Code stood in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief as he surveyed the aftermath of the cataclysmic battle between Isshiki and Boruto. The once serene realm now lay in ruins, scarred by countless craters of varying sizes, some so massive they seemed to defy comprehension.

Descending into one of the larger craters, Code's gaze swept across the desolate landscape. Amongst the wreckage, he noticed the ominous presence of the black rods scattered both on the ground and embedded deep within the earth. Their significance was not lost on him, hinting at the immense power that had been unleashed during the confrontation.

Confusion clouded Code's mind as he stumbled upon a torn piece of cloth, unmistakably belonging to Jigen, the vessel through which Isshiki had once manifested. Holding the fragment in his hands, Code's thoughts raced, piecing together the puzzle that lay before him.

"Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke... I'm going to kill you," Code growled, his voice laced with a mix of determination and vengeance. However, his words were interrupted by a sudden glow from his white karma seal, a manifestation of Otsutsuki Isshiki's residual soul.

"Code, I am already dead," Isshiki's ethereal voice echoed, sending a chill down Code's spine.

"Died? Who killed you?" Code inquired, his curiosity piqued by the revelation.

"It was Uzumaki Boruto, the wielder of the Momoshiki Karma," Isshiki revealed. "Gather more power, do whatever it takes to grow stronger. But do not engage him yet. Surpass him and become a god. This is my final command to you, Code."

With those words, Isshiki's soul dissipated into the ether, leaving Code to gaze up at the sky, contemplating the weight of his newfound purpose. "I need to gather more allies," he declared, a steely determination etched upon his face. The path to his revenge had become clear, and Code knew that he must amass formidable forces to stand a chance against the formidable Boruto and fulfill Isshiki's final command.

The reason Isshiki met his demise because he is a bitch, as he chose to end his own life during a grueling torture session. He succumbed to the intense suffering inflicted upon him, showcasing his vulnerability in the face of various torment methods.

Konohagakure,

"Fuck it," Shikadai muttered under his breath, a sense of determination in his eyes. He swiftly retrieved a Chakra pill from his pouch, consumed it, and deftly tossed a smoke bomb into the air. In the midst of the smoke, he skillfully created two clones, sending them off in different directions to confuse his opponents.

Koji, sensing the sudden movement, swiftly closed in on Shikadai, only to abruptly retreat as a multitude of shadow tendrils lashed out towards him. Analyzing the situation, Koji realized Shikadai's strategy and promptly created two additional clones to give chase to Shikadai's own clones.

Anticipating Koji's countermove, Shikadai smirked, knowing that his plan was falling into place. As the shadow tendrils emerged before Koji's clones, they came to an abrupt halt, thwarted by the unexpected obstacle.

"Come on, give it a try," Shikadai taunted, his confidence evident in his voice.

Chuckling, Koji acknowledged Shikadai's clever tactics. "Smart thinking," he remarked, a hint of admiration in his tone. "You certainly inherited your father's strategic prowess."

In a split second, Koji materialized right in front of Shikadai, delivering a powerful punch to his gut. However, to Koji's dismay, Shikadai transformed into a mere puff of smoke, evading the blow.

"Bastard," Koji muttered, with a chuckle.

With his friends safely carried on his shoulders, Shikadai glanced up at the sky, his eyes fixated on a vibrant green comet streaking across the horizon.

"I've got to reach the Hokage Building as quickly as possible," Shikadai muttered to himself, a sense of urgency in his voice.

In another part of Konoha, Rock Lee descended gracefully in front of the hospital, a determined look on his face.

"I need to find Sakura-san immediately," Rock Lee urgently requested as he stepped into the bustling medical facility.

Reacting swiftly, a doctor approached Rock Lee and instructed him to follow. With his son cradled gently in his arms, Rock Lee followed the doctor to a designated area.

Suddenly, their attention was drawn to a sight that caught them off guard. It was Boruto's clone, engrossed in reading patient documents. Upon noticing Rock Lee and Metal, Boruto's clone quickly assessed the severity of Metal's condition.

Without hesitation, Boruto utilized his Dark Chakra to heal Metal completely, restoring him to full health.

'Hmm, I think I'll give him an extra boost,' Boruto contemplated silently. He proceeded to apply a seal infused with Dark Chakra, ensuring that Metal would receive a significant power enhancement.

"This will provide him with an even greater power-up," Boruto whispered to himself, a hint of determination in his voice. 'Get stronger, my only rival. My true self would appreciate this.'

After Metal's condition stabilized, Rock Lee gratefully bowed to his student, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

Boruto, however, quickly dismissed the formal gesture. "Get up, Lee-Sensei. It's fine," he reassured him with a warm smile. "But do you know who he was fighting?"

"Some colossal guy," Rock Lee replied, his voice filled with concern. "When I found him, Metal was falling from the sky after unlocking the seventh gate."

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Boruto's expression grew serious. "No wonder his body was in such deep trouble. The person Metal fought was one of the members of Kara. His body wasn't poisoned, but rather infected with a potent virus. However, because Metal was utilizing the Eight Gates, the virus was unable to spread until he stopped using it. The virus had evolved to the point where it could adapt to intense heat. But don't worry, I've already healed him," Boruto explained, his tone confident and reassuring.

Rock Lee let out a sigh of relief, overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion. He pulled Boruto into a tight embrace, expressing his appreciation and relief.

Boruto simply smiled and patted Rock Lee's back, offering him comfort and support in return.

Meanwhile, Shikadai and his teammates had managed to reach a safe location, where they were now accompanied by Kakashi, who had found them.

Curiosity piqued, Kakashi inquired, "Who was chasing after you all?"

"Some mysterious individual wearing a mask. We suspect they might be affiliated with Kara," Shikadai responded, his voice tinged with concern.

Kakashi's interest was piqued even further. "You're familiar with Kara?" he asked, seeking more information.

Shikadai nodded. "I've heard about them from my dad and Boruto. They've encountered them before."

"Hmm, this is indeed intriguing," Kakashi mused, his tone contemplative. "Let's make our exit swiftly before that person makes an appearance. We shouldn't take any chances."

Inojin was the first to awaken upon hearing Kakashi's voice. Opening his eyes, he glanced at Shikadai and spoke, a hint of urgency in his voice. "Rokudaime? What about the enemy? Are they still after us?"

Shikadai nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, they are still chasing us. It's nothing short of a miracle that we stumbled upon Rokudaime while he was strolling around. We have been cautious, not knowing whether they are still in pursuit."