Blooming at the Center

"Whoosh"

Sasuke appeared beside Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki in an instant.

Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki was startled. After only a moment of thought, he understood Sasuke's ability.

If it were merely speed, there was no way Sasuke could have gotten close before he could even react.

Then there was only one possibility...

This guy had come here instantly.

Thinking of what had happened when that woman was rescued earlier...

Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki twisted his face as he looked at Sasuke. "Was it you, you damned lowlife?!"

As he spoke, Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki raised his arm.

"Too slow!" Sasuke drew the longsword at his waist and slashed at Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki's neck.

A cold smile appeared on Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki's lips.

His Deep Crimson Spiral was not a technique meant solely for clashing beams with an enemy.

"Deep Crimson Spiral!"

With Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki's shout, the Deep Crimson Spiral that had been clashing with Naruto's attack abruptly expanded, enveloping Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki's entire body as its power intensified. Before Naruto's shocked eyes, it blasted straight into him.

With a boom, Naruto was sent flying by the Deep Crimson Spiral.

At the same time, it blocked Sasuke's attack.

"Pheasant Beak Thrust!" The instant Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki knocked Naruto's attack away, he lashed a long red chakra whip toward Sasuke.

"Whoosh"

Sasuke's figure vanished at once as he flew backward, then reappeared on the ground some distance away.

"Thud"

A dull impact rang out as Naruto hit the ground. Yet he did not bounce back; instead, the golden chakra covering his entire body suddenly began to tremble violently.

"Aaaaaargh!" Naruto wailed in agony. The chakra throughout his body seemed to have gone berserk, as though it would burst out of him the next moment.

The rampaging chakra nearly tore Naruto's body apart.

Just then, an immense mass of red chakra covered Naruto's entire body,