Momoshiki watched Isshiki before him with a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
Isshiki, in turn, regarded him with a faint smile.
"I trust you've sensed it already. As an Ōtsutsuki possessing a superior bloodline, detecting shifts in time should be effortless for you, wouldn't you agree?"
Indeed, as an Ōtsutsuki of high lineage, Momoshiki could even channel the power of his bloodline to freeze time itself. Sensing subtle temporal irregularities was certainly within his capabilities. However, his attention had previously been consumed by Isshiki's sudden appearance, preventing him from noticing sooner. Now, prompted by Isshiki's words, the discrepancy became starkly clear.
"This... doesn't feel like my own time!" Momoshiki declared, looking up sharply at Isshiki.
Isshiki chuckled lightly. "Correct. You've been brought here from another timeline."
"Why?" Momoshiki demanded. His question wasn't about why Isshiki had brought him here, but rather, why bring a version of himself from a different time?
"I don't know the specific reason," Isshiki admitted. "I can only perceive the outcome. But... do you wish to return?"
Hearing this, Momoshiki hesitated. Tampering with time was best avoided; a single misstep could plunge one into temporal chaos.
Wait! he thought abruptly. Could it be that I am already caught in... time's turbulence?
"It seems," Momoshiki stated grimly, "someone is recklessly manipulating the currents of time."
"Precisely!" Isshiki affirmed. "Will you join forces? Since we're already swept up in this chaos, there's no point in dwelling on it. What must be faced, must be faced!"
Momoshiki pondered for several seconds.
Finally, he raised his head, meeting Isshiki's gaze. "What are you planning?"
Isshiki looked towards the distant, star-studded cosmos.
"Chaos," he murmured, "also signifies infinite possibilities!"
Meanwhile, Sasuke was en route to Sunagakure.
Suddenly, a profound sense of unease washed over him, a premonition whose source he couldn't pinpoint. It felt as though an immense boulder had materialized, pressing down on his chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Just then, ripples of immense power pulsed from the direction ahead, wave after wave of astonishing chakra fluctuations reaching him.
Sasuke was taken aback. In this world, even Kage-level shinobi were typically incapable of generating disturbances of this magnitude. Who, then, could be responsible for such a commotion?
Within the surging chakra waves, he distinctly sensed the aura of Indra.
Sasuke froze for a moment. Have they started already? But even if the conflict had begun, the Kazekage of Sunagakure shouldn't logically be capable of engaging Indra in combat of this intensity. Indra's dōjutsu was extraordinarily potent; as the first inheritor of the Sharingan, his ocular power was terrifying. Furthermore, Indra was the man who developed hand seals, essentially making him the progenitor of ninjutsu. How could someone like that struggle against mere Kazekage?
Yet, the chakra emanating from Indra's opponent felt... even stronger.
This person... doesn't seem to be a Kazekage!
Frowning, Sasuke accelerated, streaking towards the disturbance with incredible speed.
At the same time, back in Konoha.
A deafening explosion erupted, detonating right in the village center. Dark lightning crackled violently. Amidst the fiery blast, Sarada's Rinnegan flared to life, her body wreathed in crackling black electricity. She unleashed a burst of Black Lightning Release.
However, the enemy standing before her caused an involuntary tremor to run through Sarada's body.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice tight. "Why did you take Boruto?!"
Her eyes fixed on the figure's hand, which held an unconscious Boruto.
The adversary stared back calmly at Sarada.
"Your eyes are impressive," the figure remarked. "Very pure ocular power. And your application of that power seems quite unique."
"Who are you?!" Sarada demanded again.
The figure paused slightly. "Toneri Ōtsutsuki."
Ōtsutsuki!
Hearing the name, Sarada's heart hammered against her ribs. The Ōtsutsuki clan, destroyers of worlds, had appeared once more. And they had captured Boruto! Damn it, she thought desperately, the Hokage isn't here, and Dad isn't here either! Who can possibly stop this guy?
Nearby, amidst the rubble, Mitsuki lay still. He had already taken a blow meant for her and been blasted aside, seemingly knocked unconscious.
"I'll offer you a chance," Toneri continued coolly. "On account of you possessing some measure of Ōtsutsuki blood... become my subordinate. I will permit you to live. Otherwise, when I proceed to destroy this world, you will perish along with it!"
Destroy the world?
Sarada gritted her teeth. "I won't let you!"
Taking a steadying breath, she recalled the Thunder Breathing technique Sasuke had taught her. It was her only hope now – she had to find a way to rescue Boruto from this Ōtsutsuki's grasp.
'I know what to do!'
'Thunder Breathing... It'll work. I can definitely do this!'
Sarada focused intently, regulating her breathing, her grip tightening on the short sword Sasuke had given her. Tiny sparks of black lightning danced along the dark blade. Though the amount was small, it seemed Sarada was truly beginning grasp the essence of Thunder Breathing.
She drew in a sharp, quiet breath.
The next instant, lightning erupted from her body as she accelerated with blinding speed, transforming into a streak of pure black electricity.
Just as Shikamaru, Chōza, and Ino arrived on the scene, preparing to intervene, they witnessed a spectacle that left them utterly stunned.
Thunder Breathing!
First Form!
Thunderclap and Flash!!
Sarada shot forward in an instant, a black lightning bolt aimed directly at Toneri Ōtsutsuki.
Shikamaru stared in disbelief at the trail of black lightning cutting through the air. "That's... Sasuke's Nin-Taijutsu technique – Thunder Breathing! He actually taught it to Sarada?"
More importantly, Sarada had actually mastered it. This is how legacies are passed down, Shikamaru mused. So, Sasuke's reached the stage where he's become a teacher too.
CLANG!
A harsh metallic ring echoed, followed by a shower of sparks. Toneri Ōtsutsuki had casually blocked Sarada's blade with ease.
"A remarkable technique!" Toneri noted, sounding genuinely impressed. "Quite astounding. It strikes almost like a natural phenomenon! How did you conceive of such a move?"
Sarada, however, looked on with despair. It still wasn't enough. Despite pouring all her strength into rescuing Boruto, she couldn't even budge Toneri's defense.
Just as hopelessness threatened to consume her, she noticed a shadow on the ground shifting rapidly, snaking towards Toneri's feet.
Toneri, still focused on Sarada, suddenly sensed something amiss. He whipped around.
"Shadow Paralysis Jutsu!" Shikamaru's voice cut through the air.
"Now!"
Ino simultaneously launched her technique. "Mind Body Transmission Jutsu...!"
While her jutsu wasn't potent enough to fully control an Ōtsutsuki, it served its purpose: momentarily locking Toneri in place.
The objective, of course, was Boruto's rescue.
Shadow tendrils swiftly wrapped around Boruto, pulling him free from Toneri's grasp.
As Boruto was secured, Konoha shinobi began appearing one after another, emerging like mushrooms after rain. They converged, their determined gazes fixed on Toneri Ōtsutsuki amidst the ruins.
"This is Konoha!" one of them declared firmly. "No matter who you are, you will not run rampant here!"
"Sarada, fall back! Leave the rest to us!"
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