Companions (2)

Meanwhile, a swarm of insects blotted out the sky as it swept toward Mitsuki. He darted and weaved through the trees, agile and swift.

After luring half the insects far enough away, Mitsuki immediately flung out several Shuriken and rapidly formed hand seals. "Lightning Release: Swift Lightning!"

The Shuriken shot into the swarm at incredible speed. The lightning strike that followed hit the Shuriken, triggering a chain reaction as countless electric arcs crackled and exploded among the insects.

After clearing out some of the insects, the small number remaining no longer posed a threat.

"Wind Release: Sickle Weasel!"

Mitsuki swung both arms powerfully, flinging out several blade-like gusts. The sharp wind blades pierced the swarm, and without Shino's effective command, the insects themselves were no threat. Mitsuki quickly wiped them out.

Mitsuki took a brief breather and headed toward the lake they had agreed on beforehand.

When Mitsuki reached the lakeside, he saw Boruto sitting cross-legged in the middle of the lake, carefully reading a detailed scroll in his hands.

"Are you reviewing the ninjutsu you mastered last night?"

Mitsuki could not help recalling Boruto's grand display last night, when he had used over a hundred Shadow Clones to train in ninjutsu.

Boruto had been ready to make a move, but when he saw that it was Mitsuki, he continued reading the scroll in his hand and explained.

"No, I'm just learning ordinary Water Release. This place happens to have a terrain advantage."

Mitsuki: Damn impressive!

By this time, Shino had been frantically searching the forest for the two of them for half the day. At last, through the insect corpses and the information gathered by the insects along the way, he learned that they were hiding by the lake.

After learning their location, Shino immediately rushed toward the lake while gathering enough Chakra to accelerate the reproduction of the Kikaichu within his body.

When Shino arrived, he saw Boruto and Mitsuki diligently studying together, occasionally discussing questions related to ninjutsu.

Shino said, "Trying to study properly now? Too late!"

Boruto said, "What are you barking about?"

Mitsuki said, "Boruto, it's starting."

The two exchanged a glance, then grinned wickedly at the bewildered Shino standing there.

"Damn it, you're underestimating a jonin's strength!" Shino roared.

An even more visually overwhelming swarm of insects flew out from behind Shino. Like clouds drifting through the sky, they suddenly pressed down from above. The area covered by their shadow revealed the terrifying number of insects!

Seeing this, Boruto snorted coldly. The mocking look on his face sent Shino's anger soaring.

"Water Release: Tidal Wave!"

"Lightning Release: Snake Lightning!"

A massive volume of lake water surged up beneath Boruto's feet, rolling toward the shore like ocean tides, layer after layer, wave after wave.

Mitsuki's Snake Lightning also poured into Boruto's tide, coating the clear lake water in golden electric arcs that twisted through it like an electrified pool.

Because the Water Release drew directly from the lake, it consumed little Chakra while producing an astonishing amount of water!

The surging current collided with the dense swarm of insects. The crackling of electric arcs and the sounds of electrocution merged into a symphony as countless insects were swept into the water.

Just as Boruto thought his plan had succeeded, the "corpses" that had fallen into the water suddenly came back to life and continued rushing toward him.

Shino smiled and pushed at his glasses as he explained profoundly, "After receiving intense stimulation, my insects develop antibodies. In other words, they become enhanced Kikaichu."

"After all, the battlefield is nothing like this peaceful environment. A ninja's battlefield is always accompanied by smoke and blood, and my insects will keep adapting and growing stronger!"

"What?!" Boruto said. "Isn't your insects' adaptability a little too ridiculous?"

Facing the swarm rushing at him, Boruto remained exceptionally calm and casually formed hand seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon Whirlwind."

The lake, which had only just calmed down, began churning again. Like scorching magma bubbling with heat, the lake water rolled into waves and spiraled like a tornado.

"Your insects may adapt well, but they can't withstand the Water Dragon Whirlwind's force and destructive power. In the end, insects are still insects. They're fragile by nature."

Shino: ...

He had not expected this.

Seeing the insects he had sent out get swallowed by the Water Dragon Whirlwind and shredded into scraps by its high-speed rotation, Shino's heart ached—but he could no longer suppress his rage!

He used the Body Flicker Technique to lunge forward, appearing on the lake's surface in a flash. A jonin did not merely possess advantages in Chakra and ninjutsu; he also had decades of combat experience and taijutsu!

Boruto quickly drew a kunai to meet him. The three weapons clanged against one another as Mitsuki and Boruto worked together to fend off Shino's attacks. By now, Shino was completely consumed by fury, disregarding his image like a wolf that had long been starving.

With fat, delicious prey right before him, the dignity of the king of the jungle had long been thrown aside. Nothing was more exhilarating than immediately tearing into a feast.

After a brief exchange, both Boruto and Mitsuki were wounded. Though their injuries were shallow, their stamina could not keep up with the battle, and both were breathing heavily.

Shino, on the other hand, looked relaxed as he continued swinging his kunai, giving Boruto and Mitsuki no chance to catch their breath.

Seeing this, Boruto stopped trying to compete in taijutsu. He formed a Rasengan in his hand and prepared to strike Shino directly, but Shino had clearly anticipated it. Kikaichu flew out of his body and gathered into a wall to block the attack.

"Damn it." Boruto gritted his teeth.

Shino was clearly smiling. He attacked with his kunai while using insects as shields against ninjutsu. This brilliant coordination immediately made it impossible for Boruto to launch an effective attack.

But this was where it would end!

"Make your move, Mitsuki!" Boruto shouted.

At his call, Mitsuki pressed both hands against the lake's surface. Lightning Release crackled across the water like a spiderweb, rapidly spreading toward Shino's feet.

Is that all?

Shino immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind the two of them. Mitsuki's lightning net had spread forward in a fan shape, after all, since Boruto was beside him.

Shino had jumped directly behind them, avoiding the lightning net's range. You're still too green!

Little did he know, this was exactly what they wanted!

Shino, having jumped behind them, quickly lunged forward and thrust his kunai at Mitsuki's back. If this strike landed, Mitsuki would be severely wounded even if he did not die. To prevent Boruto from interfering at the critical moment, Shino released a large number of Kikaichu to harass him.

At close range, Shino's kunai sliced through Mitsuki's clothes and skin as he had hoped. Just as Shino smugly watched Boruto roar in fury, he saw Boruto's lips curl into a strange arc—a confident, teasing smile.

What was going on? Mitsuki was about to be finished, so how could Boruto still smile?

The familiar sound made Shino's face turn pale. Could it be another Shadow Clone? But Boruto can't use Lightning Release, and Snake Lightning is obviously Mitsuki's ninjutsu!

At first, Shino had considered the possibility that Mitsuki was Boruto in disguise, but Mitsuki's use of his signature ninjutsu had dismissed that suspicion.

In the instant Shino's thoughts drifted, Boruto rapidly formed hand seals. The Shadow Clone hiding in the distance vanished with a poof, while a pair of large hands suddenly shot out from beneath Shino's feet and tightly bound him!

"Now, Boruto!" Mitsuki shouted from the lakeside.

"Got it!"

Boruto answered and immediately charged forward. A Big Ball Rasengan condensed in his hand as he ran, its reflection appearing in Shino's eyes and leaving him utterly stunned. This... how was this possible?!

Splash—

Shino was sent spinning into the lake by the Rasengan. Mitsuki had already withdrawn his arms when the Big Ball Rasengan approached, leaving only Shino to bear the full force of the attack. Boruto had held back.

A massive crater exploded across the water's surface, taking a long time to fill back in. Shino woke amid intense pain and looked around with dazed eyes.

Endless lake water pressed against his body. At that moment, the bottom of the lake was so icy cold that Shino could not muster the strength to swim upward.

Perhaps he knew he had made a grave mistake and was too ashamed to face Naruto and the students.

Just as Shino completely gave up on surviving, Boruto jumped into the water and used a Young Rasengan to blast Shino out from the lake bottom!

"Boruto... you!"

Shino jolted awake and prepared to save his student. But Mitsuki pulled him onto the lake's surface from the shore and said, "The one who jumped into the water just now was only a Shadow Clone. Boruto returned to the classroom ahead of us."

Shino: ...