Chapter 283:
A sidestep, followed by a kick.
Tenten was sent flying.
Neji blocked the chakra point strike with his left hand, then landed a punch to Boruto's abdomen with his right.
Neji was knocked back.
"Neji! Tenten!"
Taking advantage of Rock Lee's distraction, Future Boruto struck and sent him flying as well.
The Might Guy Squad—completely wiped out.
"Lee, Neji, Tenten! Damn it! I'm your teacher, and I actually needed my students to save me!"
Tears streamed down Might Guy's face. Wisps of blue steam flickered around his body, and now faint traces of red steam began to emerge as well.
The scene turned black and white once again—time frozen before Future Boruto's eyes.
"What is it this time...?"
Future Boruto frowned, suddenly locking his gaze onto the frozen Might Guy.
If there was one thing that had changed, it was the steam rising from Guy.
Two Nine Tails chakra arms grabbed hold of Guy and flung him away.
The black-and-white world abruptly returned to color.
"Guy-sensei!"
Guy flipped in midair and landed steadily beside Rock Lee.
"Is everyone okay?"
"Yeah," Neji nodded in response.
"I didn't expect this opponent to be this strong."
Guy looked toward Future Boruto.
"And Miss Hanabi too… she's gotten so much stronger," Neji added from behind.
"If you don't want to die, then leave now," Future Boruto said coldly.
"Looks like we'll have to leave the mission to rescue the Kazekage to Kakashi. With this guy standing in our way, we won't get through unless we're ready to risk our lives… and I have a feeling he's not even using his full power," Guy said, his face grim.
"Let's go, Hanabi."
"Mm."
"Wait, Miss Hanabi!"
Despite Neji's attempt to stop her, Hanabi didn't hesitate—she followed closely behind Future Boruto and left.
"You're back sooner than expected," said Deva Path Pain as he looked at Future Boruto.
"Mm," Future Boruto replied curtly, clearly not in the mood for conversation.
...
Two days later—
"The One Tail's sealing is complete," Deva Path Pain announced.
"There's another group approaching. They're already very close to Deidara and Sasori," Zetsu reported.
"Who is it this time?" asked Deva Path Pain.
"Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, the Nine Tails' Jinchūriki, and a Sand Village elder named Chiyo," Zetsu replied.
"Deidara, Sasori—those people outside are yours to deal with. Capture the Jinchūriki alive. Eliminate the rest," Pain ordered.
"Yes, Leader," Deidara replied.
"Itachi, what kind of guy is the Nine Tails' Jinchūriki?" Sasori asked, turning to him.
"...Kind of an idiot. Loud and obnoxious, really," Uchiha Itachi answered.
"Seriously? That's all you've got?" Deidara scoffed, but Itachi gave no reply and swiftly disconnected.
"Boruto, since you're near the Land of Rivers' border, go assist Deidara and Sasori."
"Okay."
Future Boruto nodded.
...
The massive sealing boulder at the cave entrance shattered as four figures rushed in to rescue Gaara.
Deidara sat atop Gaara's lifeless chest. Sasori stood beside him.
"So then, which one's the Nine Tails' Jinchūriki?" Deidara asked, scanning the group.
"We're too late..." Kakashi muttered, eyes fixed on Gaara's body beneath Deidara.
"You bastards! I'm going to kill you!!" Naruto roared at Deidara and Sasori.
"Looks like it's him. No doubt about it," Deidara said, watching Naruto.
"Lightning Blade!"
The moment Deidara and Sasori's attention was drawn to Naruto, Kakashi charged forward with lightning crackling in his right hand. But Deidara, prepared, jumped back in time.
"Hey, don't underestimate me just because I'm younger than you, Sharingan Kakashi," Deidara smirked. "Though I hate to admit it, Sasori's actually stronger than me... by a little."
"Kakashi-sensei, go help Sakura with Sasori. I'll take care of this one," Naruto said.
...
"We're probably too late..." Hanabi said as she looked at the ruined cave caused by the battle. "Boruto, there's residual chakra over there."
"Let's check it out."
Future Boruto led the way, Hanabi following behind as she guided him toward the chakra trace.
Gaara, once dead, had now been revived—while Chiyo, who had been alive, was now dead.
"Looks like we really did arrive too late," Future Boruto said.
"That guy... I think he's the one my sister likes..." Hanabi murmured, staring at Naruto standing beside Gaara.
"Deidara hasn't realized yet, but Sasori's confirmed dead," Zetsu said, suddenly emerging from a tree trunk.
"What the—Zetsu? You can move through trees too, not just underground?" Hanabi exclaimed.
"Impressive, right, Hanabi-chan?" said White Zetsu gleefully.
"What are you here for?" Future Boruto asked.
"To retrieve Akatsuki's ring," Black Zetsu answered.
"So this is what an official Akatsuki ring looks like?" Hanabi asked. She had a ring too, but hers was only for communication—not an official member's ring. "Zetsu, can I have Sasori's ring? There's a vacancy now, anyway."
"Becoming a full member of Akatsuki isn't that simple. Besides, Tobi's been eyeing that ring for a while..." Black Zetsu replied.
"Just let her join. I'm sure Tobi won't complain once he finds out Hanabi-chan got the ring," White Zetsu chimed in.
"Who's there?!"
Kakashi suddenly turned toward the forest.
"What is it, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.
Though they'd just finished an intense fight, the moment Kakashi raised the alarm, everyone dropped back into a combat stance.
"I just sensed someone over there," Kakashi said, eyes fixed on the trees.
"..." After a moment, Naruto turned to him and said, "Kakashi-sensei, could you have sensed wrong?"
"Idiot! Do you think Kakashi-sensei is like you?" Sakura snapped at Naruto.
"Looks like we've been spotted. I'll make myself scarce," Zetsu muttered before vanishing into the tree.
"Hanabi, let's go."
"Mm."
Once Future Boruto and Hanabi left, Might Guy and his three students emerged from the other side of the forest.
"Kakashi!" Guy called out in greeting.