"Bōshijin!"
With Momoshiki's hoarse growl, crimson chakra gathered furiously behind his back.
At the critical moment, a thick red shield materialized out of thin air, its surface flowing with flame-patterned radiance, and completely covered the vital spot at the back of his heart.
The shield's surface was uneven, yet had the flowing texture of nearly solid lava. It was a defensive construct into which Momoshiki had poured a vast amount of chakra in that instant between life and death.
The next second, Kurikara's pitch-black edge struck the shield.
The sound of that instantaneous collision rang through the skies.
Clang!!!
The deafening sound echoed between the clouds, making Naruto's ears ring even on the ground.
A shock wave erupted from the point of impact, tearing every cloud within several hundred meters to shreds and revealing a clear, pale sky.
Momoshiki felt an unimaginably terrifying force travel through the shield and spread throughout his body.
Before that force reached him, it crushed his shield.
Weblike cracks appeared across the red shield created by Bōshijin. Then, starting from where the blade had cut into it, the entire shield shattered into countless crimson fragments.
But the shield had indeed bought him that most crucial instant.
After cutting through the shield, Kurikara's blade had lost some of its momentum.
Carried by the tremendous impact, he flew backward toward the ground like a shell fired from a massive cannon.
Yet Momoshiki also used this to escape Naraku's finishing blow.
But Naraku's attack was not over yet.
His figure flickered again.
The Flying Thunder God Technique activated once more!
His second point of appearance was exactly like the first!
Naraku appeared directly behind Momoshiki's falling trajectory, perfectly aligned with him.
Immediately afterward, Naraku twisted in midair, sweeping his right leg out like a black steel whip. Carrying