Chapter 384: Bug Man
Pulling a shuriken from his ninja tool pouch, Future Boruto forcefully grabbed Mitsuki's left hand and slashed it open, letting blood flow freely from the wound.
"Kurama."
Future Boruto interlocked fingers with Mitsuki, channeling Kurama's chakra into his wounded left hand. The blood that trickled from the gash carried with it a few tiny insects.
"Phew... Thanks, Boruto."
Though weakened from the blood loss, Mitsuki let out a sigh of relief.
"Yeah." Future Boruto gave a small nod. "Let's stay on guard. This house is way too suspicious."
One incident after another, the constant stream of sudden events was steadily draining both Future Boruto and Mitsuki.
Suddenly, the ceiling above them began to rumble, as though some mischievous adult was jumping up and down on it.
"Boruto, it's above us..."
Mitsuki suddenly looked up toward the ceiling.
"Mitsuki, move!"
At Boruto's shout, Mitsuki instinctively jumped back. Just then, the ceiling burst open with a loud crash, and a figure dropped down, accompanied by planks of wood clattering to the floor.
Dust filled the room, choking the air and making them cough.
"Grrraaah—!"
A nearly two-meter-tall, bare-chested man with a bug-like head let out a guttural roar.
"Mitsuki!"
Future Boruto threw up his hands in front of him protectively, eyes darting toward Mitsuki.
"Ah—!"
The impact sent Mitsuki slamming into a wall, where he collapsed, groaning in pain as though his bones had all come apart.
"Grrraaah—!"
The Bug Man let out another roar, clenching his right fist and striking at the slumped Mitsuki.
"Mitsuki!"
Future Boruto intercepted with the Kusanagi Sword, slashing at the Bug Man's arm.
The blade cut through the muscle and struck bone, locking the two in a stalemate.
The Bug Man drew back his right arm in defense and launched a left punch at Boruto.
"You're not alone!"
Still leaning against the wall, Mitsuki flung his Serpent Blade, wrapping it around the Bug Man's left fist.
The Bug Man growled in fury, then, after gathering strength, flung Boruto away with a powerful motion of his right arm. At the same time, he grabbed the Serpent Blade with his left hand and whipped Mitsuki into the air, hurling him across the room as well.
Then, without pause, the Bug Man lunged at the two of them with another punch.
"Move!"
Future Boruto pulled Mitsuki aside just in time to dodge. The Bug Man's fist slammed into the floor, leaving a small crater in its wake.
"He's ridiculously strong…"
Mitsuki stared grimly at the damage from a single casual punch.
"And this space is way too cramped. It's really not in our favor."
Boruto nodded.
The tighter the space, the harder it was to evade. And anyone who took a direct hit from the Bug Man would likely be done for.
"Looks like slashing alone won't cut it. We're not taking this guy down with brute force."
Mitsuki adjusted his breathing slightly as he spoke.
"Mitsuki, watch out! He's coming again!"
At Boruto's warning, the Bug Man charged at them once more.
The two used their agility to dodge, but all it did was drain their stamina. For Mitsuki, already injured, he wouldn't be able to last much longer.
His breathing grew heavier.
"Grrraaah—!"
The Bug Man roared again.
Mitsuki's reaching his limit… No good—I've got to pull his attention away!
Future Boruto took a position diagonal from Mitsuki and rushed in.
"Hey! Over here! Rasengan!"
He leapt up and slammed a Rasengan into the Bug Man's insect-like head.
The Bug Man howled in pain and swung a massive fist, swatting Boruto away.
Now fully focused on Boruto, the Bug Man charged at him.
"Serpent's Breath—Second Form: Serpent Bind!"
Mitsuki hurled his Serpent Blade once again, wrapping it tightly around the Bug Man's neck and halting his charge.
"Boruto! You okay?!"
"I'm fine!" Boruto glanced at him and shouted back, "Just hold on, Mitsuki!"
"You got a plan to deal with this guy...?" Mitsuki gritted his teeth. "Hurry—I can't hold on much longer!"
"Phew..." Boruto took a deep breath, extended his right hand, and aimed at the Bug Man. "Planetary Devastation!"
Centered around the Bug Man, a powerful gravitational force erupted.
Realizing the danger he was in, the Bug Man roared, broke free from the Serpent Blade, and charged at Boruto before he could react, grabbing him and flinging him high into the air.
"Boruto!"
Mitsuki looked up and shouted after him.
Damn… Himawari's still with me…
As he soared through the air, Boruto unfastened the wooden box on his back and clutched it tightly in his arms.
"Mitsuki! I'll be back soon! Just don't die before I get there!"
Boruto burst through the ceiling as he was thrown, and the setting sun streamed in through the hole he left behind.
Mitsuki stared up at Boruto's fading figure in the sky. By the time he snapped back to reality, the Bug Man's fist was already right in front of him.
"Crap!"
The fist suddenly opened and gripped Mitsuki's throat tightly.
"Damn it... I can't go down here...!"
His Serpent Blade slipped from his hand, and his limbs went limp. It was unclear whether he had lost consciousness—or worse.
"Mitsuki, wake up... wake up…"
He thought he heard someone gently calling his name.
"…Who is it…?"
Struggling to open his eyes, Mitsuki was temporarily blinded by the intense light.
As his vision adjusted, he found himself lying on someone's lap—a woman's lap—in the middle of a green field dotted with white flowers.
"Who are you? What is this place?"
All the pain and exhaustion from the fight with the Bug Man seemed to have vanished completely.
"Me? Hmm... You can call me Mom Snake. Or... you can call me Mom."
Orochimaru smiled softly, and her gentle expression drew Mitsuki's gaze.
"Mom…"
A word both unfamiliar and oddly familiar. Mitsuki shook his head. "No. I'm a clone. I don't have a mother. Who are you really?"
"You're right, you are a clone—but a clone created from my son."
Mom Snake stroked Mitsuki's hair.
"The fact that I've met you here... it means you're on the brink of death, doesn't it?"
Back in the real world, a cursed mark appeared on Mitsuki's throat where the Bug Man was strangling him.
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