"It usually takes several years for Ōtsutsuki bloodline to awaken." Tsukihime stood on the edge of Training Ground, his voice as low as the night wind, "But it only took you a few days."
Boruto leaned against the broken wall, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, his fingertips stained with dark red. He was breathing heavily, and his right arm was shaking slightly - the sparring just now had almost drained him Chakra.
"Maybe he was forced." He whispered, but his eyes were as sharp as a knife, "If you don't get stronger, you will die. So... you can only get stronger."
Tsukihime looked at him and suddenly fell silent. She thought of her brother.
Back then, he was like this - Training Ground was thrown into blood and fire, fighting day after day, just to survive to the next day. He was extremely talented, but his heart was too soft. In the end, that softness became his epitaph.
"I have a day off today." She said suddenly, her tone not allowing for refutation, "Hui gives you a day off."
Boruto was stunned. "Why?"
"Because tomorrow's opponent is very special." Tsukihime turned around, the moonlight fell on her pale side face, "He is called a ghost."
"Ninety-nine wins in a row." She continued, with an imperceptible tremor in her voice, "There is only one win left before I can challenge Hui."
"But he kept waiting."
"What are you waiting for?"
"Waiting for an opponent worthy of his all-out efforts." She paused, her eyes as ice as ice, "Or... waiting for someone who can kill him."
Boruto frowned. "Why does he have to wait?"
"Because he wants to die." Tsukihime's voice was as soft as a sigh, "Ghost is Hui's biological brother and Ōtsutsuki Clan's former heir."
Boruto pupils shrink.
"According to the clan rules, the loser must die." She continued, "But Hui didn't kill him. He threw him into the arena and asked him to atone for his sins by fighting - if he wins a hundred games, he can regain his freedom."
"But the ghost doesn't want to be free." She smiled bitterly, "He just wants to die. So he deliberately let himself go, losing to the weak, and refused to admit defeat, just to delay time and wait for someone who can really end him."
Boruto was silent for a long time, and finally said, "People in this world are crazy."
"You have to be careful." Tsukihime stared at him, eyes full of warning, "Ghost is very strong. Stronger than any opponent you have ever seen. His "Gold Mode" has long evolved to "Platinum Stage" - that is the highest form of Ōtsutsuki bloodline. Lian Hui only uses it at critical moments."
"With your current strength..." She bit her lip, "You can't beat him."
"Escape." She almost begged, "Admit defeat. Saving your life is more important than anything else."
"I won't run away." Boruto stood up straight, his eyes as firm as iron.
"Why?" Tsukihime's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger, "Do you want to die?"
"No." He shook his head, "But I must win. If I win the ghost, I can challenge Hui. If I defeat Hui, I can leave here - and take everyone with me."
"You're crazy!" Tsukihime almost grabbed him by the collar, "Even if you beat the ghost, you can't beat Hui! He's not a human, he's a monster!"
But when she met Boruto's eyes, she was stunned.
There was something in those eyes that she was very familiar with - stubbornness, unyieldingness, and the madness to jump into the abyss even though she knew there was an abyss ahead.
Just like the look in her brother's eyes before he died.
"You really look like my brother." She murmured.
"Then let me meet him." Boruto said softly.
"He's dead."
"I know." Boruto lowered his eyes, "But I want to know his story."
Tsukihime was silent for a long time, long enough that the night wind blew away the dust on Training Ground, and long enough that the footsteps of the guards changing the guard could be heard in the distance.
Finally, she spoke:
"My brother's name is Yue."
"Awakening Gold Mode at the age of ten, and entering the platinum realm at the age of fifteen."
"The elders of the clan say that he is a once-in-a-thousand-year genius and is destined to become the next Clan Head."
"But he is so kind." Her voice choked, "He doesn't want to kill anyone, even if he faces betrayers, he always wants to leave a chance of survival."
"And Hui..." she sneered, "Hui was even more ruthless. In the final trial, Yue hesitated for a moment - at that moment, Hui's knife pierced his heart."
"Kill with one blow."
Boruto was speechless for a long time after listening. After a long time, he asked, "So you hate Hui?"
"Hate." Tsukihime nodded, cold flames igniting in his eyes, "But it's useless. Ōtsutsuki Clan's rule is that the strong is king. Hui won, so he lives and Yue dies. I can only accept it... but I will never forget it."
"One day," she said every word, "I will kill him."
Boruto looked at her and suddenly stretched out his hand. "Let me help you."
Tsukihime was startled. "What did you say?"
"I'll help you kill Hui." His eyes were blazing, "You helped me, and I'll help you too. And--" he clenched his fists, "I hate Hui. He treats people as toys and life as a game. This kind of person doesn't deserve to live."
Tsukihime was stunned.
Then, she smiled.
That was the first time she smiled, like a glacier cracking a glacier.
"Okay." She said, "Then we will cooperate."
But she immediately put away her smile and stared at him seriously, "But you have to promise me one thing."
"Live." Her voice trembled, "No matter what, you must live. Don't be like my brother and throw away your life in vain for the so-called "mercy" or "justice"."
The two shook hands under the moonlight.
This is not a covenant, this is a bet--
Bet they can get out of this hell alive;
Bet that they can cut off Fai's rule;
Bet that in this world soaked in blood and madness, there is still a glimmer of hope.
The next day, the arena was crowded with people.
The noise of cheers, curses, and bets was mixed together. This is the arena of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, where the winner is glorious and the loser is reduced to ashes.
Boruto walked slowly into the center of the sand.
Opposite, a tall and thin figure has been waiting for a long time.
The man wore a silver mask and had a body shape like a dead bamboo, but he exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.
"Are you Boruto?" The ghost's voice was terrifyingly calm, as if he was asking for an insignificant name.
"I heard that you are very strong." He tilted his head slightly, "Then let me see if you are qualified to... kill me."
"You want to die?" Boruto asked.
"But I don't want to die casually." Ghost slowly raised his hand, "I want to die in the hands of a strong man. Do you think... are you qualified?"
Boruto did not answer.
He was just in a fighting stance.
"Let's start." The ghost said, "Let me see your limit."
Before he finished speaking, he had already taken off his mask.
A face as pale as paper was exposed to the sun - without pupils, the eyes were like two platinum scorching suns, burning with inhuman brilliance.
"This is the culmination of Platinum Mode." he said, "Ōtsutsuki bloodline. Are you ready?"
The battle breaks out!
Golden and platinum lights intertwined and exploded on the battlefield.
Boruto sprinted with all his strength, Rasengan compressed to the extreme, and blasted towards the ghost's chest--
However, the opponent caught it with one hand and squeezed it gently, Chakra the ball collapsed like Utakata.
"Not bad." Ghost said calmly, "Your Gold Mode is already seventy percent hot."
But the next second, he raised his leg and swept it.
Boruto flew out like a kite with a broken string, smashing three stone pillars, and the sound of ribs breaking could be heard clearly.
The audience burst into laughter.
"Too weak!"
"Is this the newcomer Hui likes?"
"The ghost didn't even draw the sword!"