Chapter 272:
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"
Kakashi, who had been looking down at a small, lewd book, suddenly appeared in front of the future Boruto, who was carrying Hanabi in his arms.
"Kakashi!"
"While I don't exactly disapprove of you attacking Danzō, unfortunately, this is the Hokage's order. And honestly, I've never really liked masked guys."
Kakashi closed his book and spoke to the future Boruto. The casual, laid-back look in his eyes vanished, replaced by a solemn, serious expression.
"Chidori!"
Blue lightning crackled around his right hand as Kakashi leapt high into the air and lunged at future Boruto.
But two Nine-Tails claws emerged from future Boruto's back and slammed a fist into Kakashi, sending him flying.
"Kakashi, are you okay?"
Might Guy caught Kakashi mid-fall and flashed his gleaming teeth as he asked with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Kakashi nodded and stepped out of Guy's grasp.
"It's pretty rare to see you in such a sorry state."
"Guy, that one's not to be underestimated."
"Don't worry, Kakashi. With the Blue Beast of the Leaf on the scene, no matter what kind of enemy it is, they'll never escape!"
Might Guy gave Kakashi a thumbs-up as he declared confidently.
"But… that guy already ran off."
Kakashi pointed helplessly at future Boruto, who was turning tail and dashing away with Hanabi in his arms.
"What?!" Guy turned his head toward the fleeing Boruto and shouted, "Hey you! Don't run! If you've got guts, come have a hot-blooded man-to-man showdown!"
Meanwhile, future Boruto kept running, carrying Hanabi, following the escape route from his memory.
After all, it had been more than a decade—the layout of the present Konoha was very different from the Konoha of his time.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A giant fireball blocked future Boruto's path of escape.
"Sarutobi Asuma…" Future Boruto looked toward the man who had just launched the fireball, then shifted his gaze to the woman standing beside him. "And Kurenai Yuhi…"
"Asuma, Kurenai."
In the next instant, Kakashi and Might Guy arrived on the scene as well.
"Hah! Even though we arrived at the same time, my foot was one step ahead of yours, so that means I win this round, Kakashi!"
Guy pointed proudly at his own foot.
"…Guy, let's talk about the race later. We need to prepare for battle first."
"No problem, Kakashi."
The four Jōnin took up positions in four directions, surrounding future Boruto in the center.
"Being surrounded by four of Konoha's Jōnin—you're the first one ever to have that honor."
Asuma drew his chakra blades and addressed future Boruto.
"…"
Future Boruto remained silent. He carefully shifted the unconscious Hanabi onto his back, using the Nine-Tails' claws to secure her in place.
"Kakashi, do you have any idea what that thing is?"
Asuma asked, pointing at the claw-like appendages.
"No idea." Kakashi shook his head, squinting at the Nine-Tails claws behind Boruto. "But it looks like some kind of beast-like chakra construct."
"Look at the girl on his back—that's Hanabi Hyūga from the Hyūga clan!" Kurenai suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the unconscious Hanabi. "Wasn't Hanabi supposed to be receiving instruction from Lord Danzō at the Foundation? How did she end up like this? I almost didn't recognize her…"
"Is he a ninja from the Hyūga clan?"
Guy asked, pointing at future Boruto.
"No matter who he is, Hyūga or not, our mission is to keep him in the village and hand him over to the Hokage."
With those words, Kakashi charged toward future Boruto.
"Surrounded by four Jōnin from the Leaf… I guess I'll have to show a bit of what I've got." Facing Kakashi's charge, future Boruto muttered, "Super Sage Fox Mode!"
His Kusanagi sword clashed against Kakashi's kunai, sending sparks flying. At that moment, Guy followed up closely behind, appearing from the flank and throwing a straight right punch. But future Boruto spun with the motion, swinging his right leg and kicking Guy in the stomach.
"Wind Style Chakra Mode!" Blue chakra spread across Asuma's body. The instant Guy was sent flying, Asuma pressed the attack, giving future Boruto no time to catch his breath. "Chakra Blade: True Ichimonji!"
He infused Wind Style into his chakra blades, creating two sharp beams of energy.
Kakashi took the chance to pull back, giving the field to Asuma and allowing himself a moment to recover.
"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
Tree branches sprouted from behind future Boruto, attempting to restrain him.
"Genjutsu…"
The moment the branches bound future Boruto, they vanished—only for Kurenai to suddenly let out a scream and drop to one knee in pain.
"Kurenai!"
Asuma glanced toward her direction.
"You're letting your guard down during a battle?"
"Crap…"
Hearing future Boruto's warning, Asuma snapped his focus back—but it was already too late.
"Rasengan!"
The swirling blue sphere slammed into Asuma's body, sending him flying. Future Boruto had deliberately held back the power of the Rasengan so it wouldn't be fatal.
"Asuma!" Kakashi caught the airborne Asuma. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Asuma shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Asuma… If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been distracted…"
Kurenai, recovering slightly from the backlash of the genjutsu, spoke apologetically.
"It's fine, Kurenai."
"Whether it's ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu—he's mastered them all to a top-tier level. Everyone, forget trying to take him alive. If we let him slip away from four Jōnin, we'll never live it down."
Kakashi activated his Sharingan as he spoke.
"If even Kakashi's using his Sharingan, then I can't hold back either! Eight Gates Released Formation—Sixth Gate, Gate of View: Open!"
Green chakra burst out from Guy's body.
"Guy… when did you…"
His sudden transformation drew everyone's attention.
"Hah! Kakashi, let's go!"
"Yeah."
Kakashi nodded.
"These two… I can't believe they've become this powerful already… Looks like we won't need to step in after all, Kurenai."
Asuma turned to Kurenai.
"Yeah…"
Kurenai nodded, though she couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.
Future Boruto took a step back, then suddenly raised his right hand. "Sage Art: Super Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"
"What?!"
The massive Rasengan appeared in the skies above Konoha. Not only did it catch the attention of the four Jōnin present—everyone in the village who was still awake, or not in a deep sleep, noticed the gigantic Rasengan looming overhead.