Chapter 75: Shikadai & Metal

The empty training ground was filled with the sound of clashing weapons as Inojin attempted to slash at Shikadai. However, Shikadai skillfully blocked the attack with his dagger, displaying his exceptional agility and reflexes. Seizing the opportunity, Shikadai closed in on Inojin, his movements calculated and precise.

With a swift upward slash towards Inojin's face, Shikadai suddenly halted his attack, his attention drawn to an incoming threat. A large fist was hurtling towards his face, but Shikadai reacted swiftly, abandoning his upward slash and instead kicking Inojin away with a forceful blow to the chest. As he did so, Shikadai clasped his hands together, causing his shadow tendrils to extend towards Chocho's shadow, emerging from the ground just inches before the fist could connect with Shikadai's face.

"What are you guys thinking?" Shikadai questioned, a smile playing on his lips. "But I suppose it does make sense for me to use only one dagger."

Inojin, undeterred by his failed attack, summoned a large bird using his jutsu and commanded it to attack Shikadai. However, Shikadai effortlessly slashed the bird away, showcasing his formidable combat skills.

"Tch," Inojin grumbled in frustration. "It's not fair at this point."

"You have trained with Boruto," Chocho chimed in, still unable to move due to the shadow bind.

Shikadai deactivated the shadow bind, allowing Chocho to regain her mobility. "Well, I did invite you guys, but the two of you didn't want to join," he reminded them.

"Well, it's true," Inojin admitted, acknowledging their missed opportunity.

"Boruto's training methods are insane. I've heard Sarada talk about it," Chocho added, emphasizing the intensity of Boruto's training regime.

In the midst of their intense training session, a figure emerged from the dense forest. It was Amado, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere. "That was splendid," he remarked, his voice filled with admiration. "A new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho."

Confusion swept across the faces of Shikadai, Inojin, and Chocho as they tried to comprehend Amado's sudden presence. "Huh?" they collectively uttered, unable to make sense of the situation.

Amado, seemingly unfazed by their bewilderment, casually asked, "Do any of you guys have a lighter?" He reached into his pocket and produced a cigarette, placing it between his lips.

Sensing a potential threat, Shikadai went into cautious mode, subtly signaling to Chocho and Inojin to assume their positions. "State your business," Shikadai demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion.

However, Amado continued to walk forward, seemingly undeterred by Shikadai's guarded stance. "I'll discuss that directly with your father," he replied, his tone confident.

"Nah," Shikadai retorted, his instincts kicking in. As Amado took another step, Shikadai swiftly activated his jutsu. His shadow rapidly extended towards Amado's shadow, linking them together and effectively immobilizing Amado in his tracks.

As the shadow bind held Amado in place, the trio's attention was drawn to something emerging from Amado's sleeve. It was a two-pronged metal object, gleaming ominously. Suddenly, a deafening noise erupted from the prongs, causing Shikadai, Inojin, and Chocho to clutch their ears in pain. Despite the discomfort, the shadow bind remained intact, preventing Amado from moving.

Amado, visibly perplexed by the failed attempt, muttered to himself, "The jutsu is different somehow?" He couldn't comprehend why his device didn't work against Shikadai's shadow manipulation.

With blood trickling from his ears, Shikadai gritted his teeth and walked towards Amado. Channeling his frustration, he delivered a powerful punch to Amado's stomach. Despite the blow, Amado managed to stay on his feet, thanks to the unyielding grip of the shadow imitation jutsu.

Shikadai reached out, snatched the two-pronged metal from Amado's hand, and crushed it in his grasp. Annoyed by the ringing in his ears, he discarded the broken device. The ringing finally subsided, but Shikadai's determination remained unwavering. "I'm gonna make you pay for hurting my ears," he declared, his voice laced with determination.

Without hesitation, Shikadai unleashed a barrage of punches upon Amado, each strike fueled by his anger. Between punches, he taunted, "You said you wanted to meet with my father? Well, after I send you to jail, you'll have plenty of time to chat with him."

In the midst of Shikadai's relentless assault, he prepared to deliver a final uppercut punch to Amado's head. However, before his fist could connect, someone caught it mid-air. It was Koji, who had arrived on the scene.

Witnessing this, Inojin and Chocho leaped towards Koji, hoping to lend their support. However, their efforts proved futile as Koji effortlessly sent them flying with a single motion.

"Call your father, and we can end this peacefully," Koji proposed, his voice calm yet commanding as he put a kunai to Shikadai throat.

"Fine," Shikadai begrudgingly agreed, realizing that a peaceful resolution might be the best course of action.

As Shikadai swiftly withdrew his hand and clasped them together, a determined look crossed his face. He knew he had to act quickly to escape Koji's deadly attack.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Shikadai seamlessly transformed into a shadow, melding with the darkness beneath him. In an instant, he disappeared into the depths of the shadow realm.

Taking his friends with him, Shikadai wasted no time and swiftly carried them along, navigating through the intricate network of shadows. Their escape was shrouded in secrecy, hidden from prying eyes.

Regret tinged Koji's voice as he muttered, "I should not have let him slip away." He realized that allowing Shikadai to escape was a mistake that could have dire consequences.

Meanwhile, Amado, feeling the weight of his failure, sank to his knees. He admitted, "It's my fault. I underestimated the power of the Hokage's right-hand man's son. Our intelligence about them needs significant improvement." The realization of their flawed information weighed heavily on him. He couldn't help but acknowledge that everything had changed because of Boruto's involvement.

Determined not to let Shikadai and his friends get away, Koji made up his mind to pursue them relentlessly. He knew that their escape would be hindered by the immense chakra consumption of the shadow jutsu they employed. Their head start would only buy them a limited amount of time.

Exhausted and with his chakra reserves nearly depleted, Shikadai made the difficult decision to halt his jutsu. He carefully lifted both of his friends onto his shoulders, their weight pressing down on him, and continued running, determined to keep them safe.

After a few minutes of relentless pursuit, Shikadai's ears picked up the sound of someone approaching from behind. Panic surged through him as he realized his chakra had dwindled to a mere 10%. His mind raced, desperately searching for a way out of this perilous situation. In a bold move, he abruptly came to a stop, causing Koji to halt as well, wary of Shikadai's sudden change in behavior.

Meanwhile, Metal, engrossed in his usual training routine, was preparing to return home the next day. As he ran, his path unexpectedly intersected with a towering figure. Frustration laced Metal's voice as he confronted the imposing figure, saying, "What's your deal, big guy?"

As Boro turned around, his imposing figure revealed his identity. Despite his attempts to conceal his anger, the humiliation inflicted by Delta earlier had ignited a seething rage within him. Along his journey, Boro left a trail of destruction, having mercilessly eliminated anyone who dared to impede his path. This deep-rooted anger propelled him forward, as he lunged at Metal, his intention to crush Metal's head with his formidable grip. However, Metal's remarkable agility saved him from this deadly assault, allowing him to swiftly evade Boro's attack and counter with a forceful kick to Boro's face.

Boro winced in pain, yet his annoyance only intensified. "You insignificant ant," he muttered, his frustration growing. Determined to eliminate Metal, Boro unleashed a devastating hammer punch, aiming to smash Metal into the ground. However, Metal's lightning-fast reflexes enabled him to evade the attack, executing a graceful backflip that kept him out of harm's way. The powerful impact of Boro's strike shattered the earth beneath them, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Metal, now more cautious, skillfully avoided Boro's incoming attacks. However, he suddenly felt his body slowing down inexplicably, realizing that he had been poisoned by Boro's earlier strike. The blow sent Metal flying, but he quickly regained his footing and found Boro standing before him.

"He poisoned me, huh?" Metal remarked, his determination unwavering. Activating the Eight Gates: 5th Gate, Metal prepared to unleash his full power. With incredible speed, he closed the distance between him and Boro, shouting "Peacock!" as he delivered a powerful kick to Boro's stomach, sending him flying several meters away.

Boro stood up as if unaffected, his body rapidly healing itself. Metal sighed, realizing that this battle would be far from easy. Gathering his thoughts, Metal contemplated his next move. "This guy is truly intent on killing me. I can't engage in a prolonged fight with someone who possesses such strong regenerative abilities. But I can make him surrender by inflicting immense pain."

A mischievous smirk played across Metal's face as he prepared to unleash his plan, fully aware that Boro's anger would only intensify when faced with an opponent who fought back.

With a determined resolve, Metal unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks upon Boro, delivering the most devastating beatdown ever witnessed by mankind. He charged towards Boro with incredible speed, launching a flurry of strikes that left Boro defenseless. Despite his immense strength, Boro found himself unable to counter Metal's lightning-fast assaults. However, an unseen mist began to emanate from Boro's body, adding an element of mystery to the unfolding battle.

As time wore on, both combatants struggled to maintain their footing. Bori's body was overwhelmed by the excruciating pain inflicted by Metal, while Metal's movements became sluggish due to the effects of the virus coursing through his veins.

Breathing heavily, Metal confronted Boro, his voice filled with anger and frustration. "You did something to me, you fatass," Metal accused, his voice dripping with venom.

Boro, fueled by his unyielding determination, rose to his feet, his eyes filled with a burning desire for revenge. "I'm going to kill you, you green insect," Boro threatened, his voice laced with malice.

Metal, realizing that he needed to find a way to counter the poison coursing through his body, muttered to himself. "I have to unlock even more gates. It's the only way to neutralize the effects of the poison."

With unwavering determination, Metal opened the sixth gate, and then the seventh, causing his entire aura to explode with power. Surprisingly, Metal found that opening the gates came easier to him, thanks to the assistance of the virus that had infected him.

"I'm going to put an end to you, because it's the only option I have left," Metal declared with fierce determination. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards Boro, launching a powerful kick that sent his opponent soaring through the air.

With a resounding shout, Metal unleashed his signature move, "Morning Peacock," delivering a relentless barrage of punches that generated intense heat, causing Boro's body to melt under the scorching assault.

As Metal surveyed Boro's defeated form, he noticed the presence of multiple cores embedded within Boro's body. Recognizing the need to eliminate this threat once and for all, Metal exclaimed, "Konoha Senpu!" With a swift and precise motion, he unleashed a devastating attack that obliterated each and every core, ensuring that Boro's power was completely neutralized.

As Metal descended towards the ground, his fall was unexpectedly intercepted by none other than Rock Lee. The proud father caught Metal mid-air, his eyes filled with a mix of admiration and concern. It was evident that Metal's condition was critical, and immediate action was necessary.

Without wasting a moment, Rock Lee activated his Eight Gates, tapping into an extraordinary well of power. With unparalleled speed and agility, he swiftly carried Metal back to their home, desperate to provide the care and attention that his son urgently needed. The urgency in Rock Lee's movements reflected the deep love and concern he held for his injured child.