Published at 16th of September 2024 12:16 am

Chapter 3: The Silent Shadows – Part 2

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The chamber erupted in chaos. Dark shadows, born from the forbidden jutsu, swirled around the man like a living storm. Each tendril of darkness reached out, snapping at the members of Team 7 with malevolent intent.

Boruto, his usual confidence replaced by grim determination, activated his Karma mark. The black patterns spread across his arm, and the strange power surged within him, making him faster, stronger. With a sharp burst of chakra, he dodged an incoming shadow, spinning in the air and landing beside Sarada.

“This guy’s no joke!” Boruto growled, his fists clenched. "That jutsu… it feels different, like it’s alive."

Sarada’s Sharingan spun rapidly as she analyzed the movements of the shadows, tracking their every twist and turn. “He’s manipulating them, but… it’s like they’re feeding off his chakra. If we can cut off his connection to them, we might have a chance.”

Mitsuki, his snake-like reflexes in full display, danced between the shadowy tendrils with eerie grace. His expression remained calm, though the tension was clear in his eyes. “It’s not just his chakra. The jutsu itself seems to be consuming his life force. We have to end this quickly, or he might become too strong to handle.”

Konohamaru, standing at the forefront, nodded at his team. “Right. We hit him fast and hard. Boruto, you and Sarada provide cover. Mitsuki, you’ll help me close the distance.”

The man’s laughter echoed through the chamber, his voice distorted by the dark power swirling around him. “You think you can stop me? This power… it’s beyond anything you’ve faced. The shadows obey only me!”

He raised his hand, and the shadows responded, coiling tighter around him like a protective armor. Then, with a roar, he sent a wave of darkness crashing toward them, the force of it causing the ground beneath their feet to shake.

“Move!” Konohamaru shouted, leaping into action.

Boruto and Sarada split off, each moving in opposite directions to flank the enemy. Boruto channeled his chakra into his hand, forming a Rasengan, while Sarada performed a series of hand seals, flames igniting around her fingertips.

“Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!” Sarada called out, launching a barrage of fireballs at the enemy.

The flames collided with the shadows, momentarily pushing them back, but they reformed almost instantly, growing even more aggressive. Boruto, undeterred, charged in from the side, his Rasengan glowing with intense energy.

“Take this!” he shouted, driving the Rasengan toward the man’s chest.

But the shadows moved faster than expected, intercepting Boruto’s attack and swallowing his Rasengan before it could connect. The jutsu dissipated harmlessly, and Boruto was sent flying back by the sheer force of the impact.

“Damn it!” Boruto cursed, skidding across the floor.

Sarada rushed to his side, helping him to his feet. “We need to be smarter about this. He’s using the shadows like a shield. We need to find a way to break through.”

Meanwhile, Konohamaru and Mitsuki closed in on the man from the front. Konohamaru’s hand crackled with lightning as he prepared his own attack.

“Lightning Style: Thunderclap Arrow!”

He thrust his hand forward, sending a bolt of lightning straight at the enemy. The shadows recoiled as the lightning surged through them, temporarily disrupting their form. Taking advantage of the opening, Mitsuki darted forward, his snake-like arms extending to restrain the man.

“Got you!” Mitsuki said, his serpentine limbs wrapping around the enemy, holding him in place.

For a brief moment, it seemed like they had gained the upper hand. The shadows flickered, and the man’s face twisted in pain as the forbidden jutsu strained against Mitsuki’s grip. But just as quickly as the advantage appeared, it vanished.

With a guttural scream, the man summoned more chakra, and the shadows exploded outward in a violent wave, forcing Mitsuki to release his hold. Konohamaru barely managed to block the attack with his kunai, the force of it pushing him back several feet.

“This power…” Konohamaru muttered, gritting his teeth. “He’s losing control, but that makes him even more dangerous.”

Boruto, still frustrated by his earlier failed attack, clenched his fists and looked at Sarada. “If we keep hitting him with regular jutsu, it’s not gonna work. We need something bigger. Something he can’t block.”

Sarada’s Sharingan gleamed as an idea formed in her mind. “We might not need to destroy the shadows directly. If we can overwhelm him with enough force, we can break his concentration. Without control, the jutsu could collapse on its own.”

Boruto’s eyes widened. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Sarada nodded. “We hit him with a combined attack. You use your strongest Rasengan, and I’ll hit him with Chidori.”

A smirk spread across Boruto’s face. “Let’s do it.”

The two of them stood side by side, focusing their chakra. Boruto’s Rasengan began to form, growing larger and more powerful by the second. Meanwhile, lightning crackled around Sarada’s hand as she prepared her Chidori. The room buzzed with energy as their combined power built up.

Konohamaru, recognizing what they were planning, signaled Mitsuki to stand back. “Give them cover! We’ll take him down in one shot.”

The man, sensing the overwhelming chakra being gathered, snarled in defiance. “You think your flashy attacks will stop me? I control the shadows! You can’t escape them!”

With a roar, he sent another wave of shadows toward them, but this time, Boruto and Sarada were ready.

“Now!” Sarada shouted.

Boruto charged forward with his massive Rasengan, while Sarada followed right behind him, her Chidori glowing with electric intensity. The two attacks collided with the shadows, but instead of being swallowed, they pushed through, cutting a path straight toward the enemy.

The man’s eyes widened in shock. “No… this can’t be—!”

In a blinding flash of light, the Rasengan and Chidori struck him simultaneously. The sheer force of the impact shattered the shadowy armor, and a deafening explosion rocked the chamber. The shadows writhed and screamed as they dissolved into nothingness, and the man collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

As the dust settled, Boruto and Sarada stood over their fallen foe, breathing heavily. Mitsuki and Konohamaru approached, their eyes scanning the chamber for any lingering threats.

“We did it,” Boruto said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and exhaustion.

Sarada nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. “Yeah… but that was close.”

Konohamaru knelt beside the unconscious man, checking for any signs of life. “He’s alive. We’ll take him back to Konoha for interrogation. The scroll is secure too.”

Boruto grinned, his energy returning. “Told you we could handle it.”

Sarada rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Boruto. We still have to make it back to the village.”

As Team 7 regrouped, the threat of the forbidden jutsu was neutralized, but the weight of their mission still hung over them. They had faced a power that few could comprehend, and though they had won, they knew that the world of shinobi was full of even greater dangers.

But for now, they had each other—and the strength to face whatever came next.

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End of Part 2

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