Isshiki's Dead End

"Gasp!"

"Mr. Sasuke, d-did he just kill his wife?"

"Master, he...!"

"Tsk, tsk, killing the hostage along with the enemy? As cold-blooded as ever!"

"Hm? That's my little brother's wife? He..."

Seeing Sasuke pierce Sakura and Isshiki without the slightest hesitation, Kawaki, Boruto, and the others outside the barrier were all startled.

That was his own wife, his student's mother!

He just killed her?

Without a single moment of hesitation? That was practically killing his wife to attain enlightenment!

What kind of resolve did that take? How ruthless could he be?

How much pain must his master be feeling?

Boruto thought that if he were in Sasuke's place, and Sarada were the one held hostage, he absolutely wouldn't be able to hurt her so decisively. He might even give in to Isshiki's threats.

It seemed Boruto still had a long way to go before he could surpass his master!

Compared to Boruto and the others, the four reanimated Hokage still maintaining the Four Red Yang Formation weren't nearly as shocked.

They couldn't help it. Their memories had all been altered. Although they vaguely recognized Sakura, they didn't know this "Sasuke Otsutsuki," who had "replaced" Isshiki.

They thought he was just an outstanding young Konoha shinobi fighting a powerful Otsutsuki enemy.

And in the midst of a battle like this, they could understand having to kill a hostage to prevent even greater casualties...

To put it bluntly, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Hiruzen had all harmed a small number of their own people to protect the village.

As Hokage, they all understood the need to sacrifice a few to save the many.

Meanwhile,

the one most shocked inside the double barrier was none other than Ōtsutsuki Isshiki himself.

Just a moment ago, he'd been congratulating himself, certain he had Sasuke under his thumb.