"BORUTO!" The sound of his name screamed over the treetops stopped him in his tracks.

"Mitsuki...?" Boruto looked in the direction of the cry. It hadn't come from that far away, the echoes were only just fading. He stood perfectly still, hardly breathing as he listened. A second cry, this time a howl of pain and anguish, assaulted his ears.

"Mitsuki!" Boruto was off, crashing through the trees without sparing a thought to stealth. Mitsuki was in trouble. He had to get to him, now. Boruto cursed himself as he ran. He should have stayed with Mitsuki. They never should have split up. When was he going to learn? Another cry of misery broke him out of his self pity.

"Mitsuki!" He'd hate himself later. Right now he had to get back to Mitsuki's side. He had never heard Mitsuki sound like that before. Anything that made him sound like that was real trouble. He crested a hill, coming to rest on a fallen tree. Mitsuki was in front of him, hunched on the ground in a clearing before him. He faced away from Boruto but he appeared to be unharmed.

Boruto was so relieved to see him, he called out and approached him before it sank in that something wasn't right. Something wasn't right at all. Boruto stopped and his smile started to fade as Mitsuki turned towards him. He was breathing very hard, his shoulders heaving from the effort of each breath. His hands were holding his chest as he gaped open-mouthed, his eyes wide and staring but not seeing. Despite the loud warning bells in Boruto's mind, he tried to confront him.

"Mitsuki? What's wrong?" It happened too fast. Boruto wasn't sure exactly what had happened. Mitsuki's eyes had focused on him but then they darkened with a hatred Boruto had never seen before. Mitsuki glowed green and attacked suddenly and without mercy. Sarada, having clearly been also drawn by Mitsuki's wails, chose that second to reappear and knocked Boruto aside, just dodging the attack which blew apart the hillside behind them. This was nothing like the last time Mitsuki had attacked him. Last time he had hit him point-blank and it had hurt plenty (not as much as his heart had) but it hadn't caused him any permanent injury. This time, Boruto could appreciate just how much he had held back. Mistuki had no kidding just tried to kill him. Dazed, he struggled to his feet just barley in time to to dodge Mitsuki's next attempt on his life.

"Mitsuki?!" Boruto cried as he dodged. There was no time to think. It took all he had to remain just outside Mitsuki's relentless attacks. The pain in his heart weighed down his feet even as he urged them to go faster. This was all his fault. Somehow, he just knew it was.

"Why Mitsuki?! Just tell me why!" Boruto begged as he dodged yet another fatal blow.

"Boruto you IDIOT!" Sarada raged from somewhere to his left, "It's OBVIOUS he doesn't know what's going on!" She grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and yanked him off his feet and behind the only cover available. The air sizzled as yet another lightning attack just missed and crashed into the trees beyond. Boruto slapped her hand away before rounding on her.

"How do you know he doesn't know what's going on? What's wrong with him?!" He demanded, pissed at life in general and finding her an easy target for his pain and confusion.

"Because he's attacking you, stupid!"

"He's attacked me before..."

"That was different, idiot!" She said with a hard roll of her eyes, still managing to be disgusted with his ineptitude even in the middle of battle. He had to admit she had a point. "This has all the signs of genjutsu. A powerful one too if Mitsuki hasn't realized he's in one." He had a second to feel relieved before Mitsuki's next attack almost completely removed their cover.

"I'll distract him until you can get close enough to remove the genjutsu." Boruto said, steeling himself with determination. Sarada said nothing. It wouldn't have mattered if she did and she knew it. He had made up his mind.

"Grrr, fine! Just don't die." She finally said through clenched teeth. She left the opposite way as Boruto stepped out, ready to confront his Moon.

Shadow clone jutsu was his obvious but most useful opening move. A move that made Mitsuki's eyes grow darker, if that were even possible.

"Shadow clone jutsu? Are you mocking me?" The words were low, almost like a hiss but Boruto heard them anyway. This was the first time he'd gotten a chance to really look at Mitsuki since he had arrived and he looked strange to say the least. Boruto thought he had seen the green aura before but the horn was new, as were other things. He didn't get to think about it. No sooner had he summoned his clones than Mitsuki was on him. Wow. Boruto had once again underestimated his Moon... badly. Mitsuki destroyed all his clones simultaneously and had him in a strangle hold. Damn, he sure didn't waste time. He hadn't even had a chance to move except for weaving his sign. The snakes Mitsuki conjured slithered and wound their way around his body until he could hardly breath.

"Mitsuki..." Boruto gasped, "Mistuki, please... wake... up" Mitsuki's bright green aura, horn and other... things disappeared as the snakes started to tighten. Mitsuki was staring hard at him, hate and savage triumph in his golden eyes as he squeezed harder. Boruto fought to breath and tried again and again to plead with Mitsuki while silently praying his miserable performance had bought Sarada enough time. Where the HELL was she! Hot blood filled his mouth and tricked out the corner of his mouth from an accidental self inflicted bite to his cheek. Damn it, at this rate he was going to be dead long before finally she decided to help him.

"Mitsuki, no!" He choked out as more blood trickled down his chin. This time, Mitsuki heard him. But Mitsuki's attention quickly left his face and went instead behind him to the grassy clearing.

"Boruto?!" Boruto had no idea what he was looking at but he was grateful that the crushing had temporarily stopped. It proved only to be a short reprieve. Mitsuki turned his attention back to him, hissing along with his many snakes as his murderous intent renewed. The look in his eyes terrified Boruto. He twitched and flailed as much as he could within his cocoon of snakes, desperately searching for a way out. The snakes only tightened again, knocking the wind out of him.

"Boruto can't save you." Mitsuki almost whispered in a voice full of venom. Moruto's vision was starting to go dark. Damn it, Sarada! Hurry the FUCK UP His oxygen starved brain pleaded silently.

A bright white light and a burst of pain (collateral damage from her lightning attack) heralded Sarada's arrival.

"About damn time!" Boruto tried to say but he had forgotten he had no breath. He was only just conscious as the snakes suddenly retreated faster than they had come. Sweet oxygen filled his burning lungs but his legs couldn't support his weight. He collapsed like a rag doll but was pulled to Mitsuki, his Mitsuki before he could fall completely. Mitauski cradled Boruto's bruised and exhausted body to his chest and held him a little too tightly but Boruto didn't fight it. He was just happy that he wasn't trying to kill him slowly anymore.

"Boruto." Mitsuki whispered his name to Boruto's forehead, sinking as he spoke.

"Mistuki, are you awake?" He choked out a little stupidly from his new position on Mitsuki's lap, "Are you ok now?"

"yes, Boruto. I am because of you." Boruto smiled and decided he would like to rest in Mitsuki's arms for just a while longer.