Chapter 9:
Chocho checked her bag to make sure everything was there. "Things look great so far, you guys. All the chocolates that should be here haven't gone anywhere."
"Now we just have to find Iwabe and make sure he hasn't eaten his yet," said Inojin.
"That would be great. Too bad we have no idea where he is."
"Then instead of going around as a group, shouldn't we split up or something?" asked Boruto. "I can send out some clones to look for him."
"That won't help much," said Shikadai. "If he's inside a building, like a movie theater or something, it'll be hard for even your clones to find him. Besides, four won't make much of a difference. If he's rampaging, he'll be easy to spot."
"I don't know if he would, though," said Inojin. "Does Iwabe have anybody he cares that deeply about? The love poison might not work on him."
"He's got to care about somebody," assured Shikadai.
"And if we split up, we can find him faster," Boruto said again.
"It still won't matter if you send clones out or not," said Shikadai. "First off, because he might not be out in the open. Second of all, if we do end up finding him while split up, then that means it's up to that one person to wrangle him and if he's enraged like Sai was, he's going to be even stronger and less predictable. Plus, I'm the only one with the salt."
"I still don't really get how that works," said Inojin, giving him a look. "Doesn't salt go into a chocolate recipe anyway? If it's already in there, why would that be the cure? Maybe we just got lucky and it wore off at that moment."
"Doubtful," said Shikadai. "I happen to know for a fact that Chocho doesn't put salt in her chocolate gifts. Hers aren't balanced out with salt because she doesn't go overboard with the sugar."
"How do you know that?" Boruto asked.
"Because hers didn't have any in them last year and I know how she thinks."
Chocho stared at Shikadai's back as they walked, amazed that he remembered that detail having only been given it once. This also meant that he actually ate something she made. He didn't throw it away.
She looked to the side, thinking about how Shikadai's coolness just increased ever so slightly.
A glint from the side street caught her attention and she cried out a warning to her friends.
A kunai came flying past Boruto's head.
Everyone got into a defensive position as Mitsuki came swaggering out from his hiding place.
"So you dodged. Big deal." Mitsuki's smile was smug and cunning. Little about the Mitsuki they knew remained. He was like a whole new person.
Boruto stepped in front of his friends to address Mitsuki.
"Listen, Mitsuki, you've got to snap out of this. It isn't you. It's that stupid potion talking. You took a love poison by accident. It's making you say these things when you don't really mean it."
"The hell I don't!" Mitsuki spat, losing his cool composure and smile. "Who are you to tell me what I can and can't feel? How do you know what I'm feeling? Oh, because I'm feeling it, it can't be real. Is that what you're saying?"
"No, that's not-"
"Mitsuki's not a normal person, therefore his feelings can't be genuine," he ranted. "He's peculiar, so he probably doesn't have real feelings."
"I'm not saying that!"
"Yeah, because you haven't said it, that means I can't do it, right? I have to do everything you want, is that it? If you don't approve, I can't do it. If you say so, that's got to make it right. 'I'll just tell Mistuki that's what he's feeling and he will because he lacks a will of his own,' right, Boruto?! He's nobody!"
"What? You're the one who's always doing what I'm doing, you know."
"Boruto, is this really the best time to argue with him?" Sarada hissed.
Mitsuki lowered his head, keeping eye contact with Boruto the entire time, his body hunching dangerously.
"It has to be your way. You call the shots. You know everything." Mitsuki grit his teeth. "You've always looked down on me. You've always considered me a freak. You even called me weird to my face."
Boruto tried to calm him down by apologizing. "I've never looked down on you. I couldn't get through those missions without you. I need you, Mitsuki. You're my friend."
"I'm only your friend when you need something from me. In other words, you used me on all those missions. You couldn't do it without me. Admitting you're weak doesn't make it less of a problem! Outside of missions, you still use me. You only hang out with me in case you need something. To make yourself feel better. To look good. You're showing off your slave to the world, huh?!"
"I didn't say that!"
"Boruto, no matter what you say, he's just going to twist things," said Sarada. "He's going to find a problem with everything you do or don't do. That's what he's like now."
"Then there's no point in trying to reason with him." Boruto took out his kunai, knowing Mitsuki would draw his own. "I'll keep him busy while you guys figure out how to give him the salt."
"Instead of that plan, try to keep him talking long enough for me to use my shadow… What are you doing?!" Shikadai screamed as Boruto jumped away.
"Boruto, that's a bad idea! He's going to fight seriously and you don't know what to expect from him!" Sarada tried to stop him but it was too late.
Their blades clashed together and Mitsuki quickly and effortlessly kicked Boruto in the stomach. Launched into the air, Mitsuki slithered after him and grabbed Boruto from behind as he fell. Mitsuki got him into a headlock and Boruto disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I knew you would do that!" Boruto came at him from behind.
Mitsuki dodged every one of Boruto's blows. "We're on the same team. I know what you'll do as well."
He anticipated a fake-out from the blond ninja and was correct. Boruto tried to attack Mitsuki from the side as he launched a series of blows from the front. Mitsuki avoided them all, wove himself around Boruto and disarmed him.
"You think you're so clever, don't you? There's no way you can take me on and win." Mitsuki wrapped his arm around Boruto's neck and squeezed while pressing a kunai into his back. If Mitsuki strangling Boruto didn't kill him the kunai would.
He saw the shadow coming and Sarada drawing near from the side. They had the same idea. If one didn't get him, the other would.
To avoid their attacks, Mitsuki threw Boruto into Shikadai and turned the kunai on Sarada.
Another attack in the wake of the first. Inojin and Chocho had entered the fight. Mitsuki had to act quickly.
He abandoned his fight with Sarada to leap over Chocho's expansion justu and strike Inojin's with his lightning style.
"He's too fast," said Shikadai, tending to Boruto. "We have to slow him down."
"If we close in on him, he'll have nowhere to go."
"And neither will we," said Shikadai. "If we cluster together, we'll create an easy target. Remember, we don't have to defeat him. We just have to get him to take the salt."
Sarada managed to grab onto Mitsuki's arm and tried to pin him to the ground, pressing her other hand into the nap of his neck.
"Snake Lighting."
Sarada jumped away before he could strike. He dodged Inojin's attack and went for a direct attack.
It wasn't Sarada's Sharingan that had her reading the situation but her other senses.
That's when she noticed the danger Mitsuki was in.
Sarada hurried over to warn Boruto and Shikadai. "Mitsuki's body is heating up. When I touched his skin, it was like he was on fire. And his neck, his wrist. I felt his pulse. His heart's beating incredibly fast."
"He's in the middle of a fight," reasoned Boruto. "Are you saying it's got nothing to do with it?"
"It's his adrenaline. It's the fight and the hate and rage he feels right now. It's too much. If we don't stop Mitsuki soon, his body could give out. The longer he's like this, the worse it gets. We already know that from seeing the escalation. But it's taking a toll on his body."
Watching the fight, they knew she had a point. Mitsuki was getting more erratic by the minute. At one point, he grabbed Inojin to use as a shield to stop Chocho from hitting him. Now he was actually taking on their attacks and plowing through them. He was entering a berserker mode.
Boruto banged his fist on the ground. How could he stop Mitsuki without causing him further damage? There had to be a way to fight him while he was like this. He didn't want to add to his stress, fearing what might happen to Mitsuki, but talking to him just brought out his anger.
"I have an idea," he told them. "Shikadai, give me the salt and I'll throw it in his mouth when I attack him. I'm sure I can get close enough. He's so pissed at me, I bet he can't resist opening his mouth just to scream at me."
"Are you sure? This is all we have left." Shikadai held up the salt tablets in the palm of his hand. There were only two remaining.
"I'll take one and you hang on to that one just in case." Boruto took one of the tablets.
"If this doesn't work, Boruto, I can use my shadow to restrain him. I can't do it for long, given his state and what it's doing to his body, but I can buy a few seconds of time with it."
"I'm sure I can get him to take it." Boruto grinned confidently. "Ok, I'm going back in."
Mitsuki threw Inojin into Chocho and charged, intending to finish the job while they were on the ground. Spotting Boruto in the corner of his eye, he dashed to the left, turning to meet him.
Boruto and Mitsuki clashed blades again.
"Come on, Mitsuki," Boruto pleaded, trying to get him to open his mouth. A mock, an insult, a rant, anything. He needed Mitsuki to take the salt tablet. "Mitsuki, I know how strong you are, but there's no way you can take on all of us."
"The hell I can't," Mitsuki said through his teeth.
It was no good. Mitsuki couldn't take the tablet through a clenched jaw.
"Mitsuki, come on!"
Mitsuki's head collided with Boruto's in a headbutt. Mitsuki's left hand darted out, reaching for Boruto's neck. Boruto jumped away but was unwilling to travel far in case he missed an opening.
Mitsuki darted after him again and again, Boruto ducking and weaving out of his path.
"I know you don't really hate me," Boruto told him.
Mitsuki's jaw clenched tightly, then burst open to scream, "I can't stand you at all! You worthless-"
Boruto threw the tablet in his mouth.
Mitsuki spat it in his face.
"Mit-"
He punched him. "Words cannot express how much I loathe you!" Mitsuki pushed him back and the salt tablet was lost somewhere underfoot.
"Crap." Shikadai looked at the last remaining tablet in his hand. It was all up to him. If Mitsuki couldn't take this… "Boruto's got him distracted. I'll stop Mitsuki from moving."
To make sure Mitsuki didn't see the shadow, Sarada rushed in to help Boruto, though it was only a diversion.
Mitsuki took the bait and as he readied an attack, his body stopped moving.
Shikadai started walking forward, Mitsuki mimicking his every move. He could feel the strain of the jutsu as Mitsuki fought to break free. He could only manage a few more seconds.
"Sarada," he called, opening his palm so she could take the tablet and feed it to Mitsuki.
At no point did they mention what it was or what it would do to him. Mitsuki didn't know if the tablet in his hand was meant for him or one of them. He didn't know what they were planning. However, he concluded that whatever was in Shikadai's hand must have been important to them, so he had to destroy it.
Sarada's fingers were about to grasp the tablet when Mitsuki's arm snaked forward and slapped Shikadai's hand, knocking the tablet to the ground.
"No!" Sarada reached down to pick it up, but Mitsuki stomped on it.
"Snake Lightning!"
Shikadai attempted to push her out of the way, but the jutsu having been broken in suck a violent way left him unsteady and he ended up falling into her instead. The lightning struck them both.
Boruto tackled Mitsuki from behind but he slipped free and came up behind Boruto instead. Knowing he would do this, Boruto quickly turned around to block his strike.
"Crap, this isn't good," Inojin whimpered. "Even if we do overpower him, we don't have any more salt to give him."
Chocho tried to restrain Mitsuki but it was no good. His movements were becoming even more unpredictable. Several times Boruto was able to guess correctly where and what Mitsuki would do next but now even he was being taken by surprise when Mitsuki did something else.
He willingly took on several of Chocho's attacks in order to get close to her. Thinking she could hold him down with her jutsu, she expanded her arm and went after him. Mitsuki allowed her to do this so he could electrocute her.
When she went down, Boruto took her place. Mitsuki kept zipping around and then faced Boruto directly, wanting to inflict pain on him. He let Boruto hit him so he could get closer. He tried to strangled Boruto in a variety of ways but Boruto managed to get away every time which only infuriated Mitsuki more.
Inojin watched, wondering if there was anything he could do. He didn't want to risk using the Mind Transfer Jutsu because the love poison was affecting Mitsuki's body as well as his mental state. Entering Mitsuki would put Inojin at risk, too. He worried the love poison would also affect him. Besides, he still hadn't mastered the jutsu. On top of which, Mitsuki had a firm resolve which would make it very difficult to overshadow him.
None of it mattered anyway if they couldn't reverse the effects. Both salt tablets were gone.
Getting an idea, Inojin sprinted down a different street in search of something that just might do the trick.
Mitsuki got on top of Boruto and pressed him into the ground from behind. He pulled out a kunai and moved in the slice Boruto's neck. Sarada, mostly recovered from the previous attack, tackled him and wrestled the kunai from his hand. Boruto tried once more to attack Mitsuki with his own jutsu. He and his clone were ready to unleash the wind style move he had just about perfected when Mitsuki held up Sarada, placing her between himself and the attack.
"That dirty..!" Boruto pulled away and the attack fizzled out.
"Unwilling to attack through your friend," Mitsuki mocked. "That's what makes you weak."
"Shut up! She's your friend, too!"
"That's true. But unlike you, I don't care." Mitsuki tried to stab her in the back with his last remaining kunai.
Shikadai grabbed Mitsuki's wrist and pulled his arm back as far as he could. Even after all this, Mitsuki had such tremendous strength left. Under normal circumstances, Mitsuki should have collapsed by now after using so much exertion and using his jutsu as many times as he had.
This worried him about Mitsuki's body and mind. If they would have given out by now, that meant something was preventing his body from registering his fatigue which meant Mitsuki was in great danger. Sarada was right. They had to end the fight quickly before Mitsuki's body broke down completely.
Boruto tried to pry Sarada and Mitsuki apart but his grip on her was too strong. Shikadai was pulling as hard as he could to keep the blade from entering her back. Chocho was crawling towards them, wanting to help while still unrecovered from the electric current surging through her body.
Boruto pushed against Mitsuki's jaw, turning his head upward, hoping Mitsuki would loosen his grip to distance himself. He didn't, withstanding the discomfort and annoyance he felt.
"Mitsuki, stop!" Boruto begged. "Knock it off!"
Shikadai kept pulling, Sarada kept struggling, Chocho kept crawling and Boruto kept pushing. Mitsuki didn't let go. He wouldn't stop.
An overcast of the sun distracted him. Someone had leapt into the air.
Inojin jumped and shoved something in his hand into Mitsuki's mouth, taking full advantage of Mitsuki's head being turned upward, thus making it easier for him to swallow.
Mitsuki coughed and spat. He withdrew from the group, distancing himself so he could recover.
"What did you do?" Shikadai asked.
"I found something I thought would help," answered Inojin.
A small bottle hit the ground, a green band around the neck of the dark glass.
"Soy sauce."
"That does have salt in it, doesn't it? It might work."
Mitsuki kept spitting but he drank most of what was poured down his throat. He raised his head, snarling. Now he was even angrier than he was before.
Fury mounting, Mitsuki became so irrational, he started attacking anyone and anything within reach. He lunged at Chocho who was still on the ground. Inojin stepped in to protect her and was forced to the ground by Mitsuki's hand around his throat. Boruto grabbed the back of Mitsuki's head and tried to pull him off.
"I don't think it's working. He's still-"
Mitsuki leaned back forcefully, knocking Boruto off balance and they both tumbled backwards. Mitsuki rolled onto his knees and tried to bring his heel down on Boruto's neck but he turned away, taking the blow to his shoulder instead.
Mitsuki chased after him, picking up a fallen kunai as he went. He landed a flying kick into Boruto's back, knocking him over. Boruto swiftly recovered but Mitsuki's blade was waiting for him.
Crying out in surprise, Boruto raised his blade to meet Mitsuki's, saving his face from being torn open.
Mitsuki pressed the kunai closer with both hands. Boruto pushed harder against it. Mitsuki put his weight behind the blade, pushing it closer to Boruto, bloodlust leaking through his teeth.
He wanted to kill him. He wanted to make it as painful as possible. He wanted to hurt him. He hated him. He hated him so much.
The amount of hate and rage in Mitsuki's gold eyes left Boruto feeling desperate and hurt. He had never seen this look in Mitsuki's eyes before. It was enough to make him cringed.
Mitsuki really wanted to kill him.
Knowledge of this made Boruto waver for just a moment. It scared him. It hurt.
His pitiful eyes begged Mitsuki to stop but it only made him try harder to hurt him.
He didn't know how much longer he could keep Mitsuki's blade at bay.
Mitsuki's eyes softened.
"Boruto?"
Hopeful, Boruto eased up on his kunai. He could feel Mitsuki's strength falter behind his blade, losing the will to fight.
He could see the malice disappear from Mitsuki's eyes until they took on the likeness of the Mitsuki he knew.
"What are you doing?" he asked, puzzled by the situation.
It seemed Mitsuki had little recollection of the battle. Though he still had a kunai in his hand, he couldn't make sense of why it was there.
Boruto got to his feet, putting his kunai away. He was certain this wasn't a trick. Mitsuki's eyes had returned to normal.
"Are you ok, Mitsuki?"
"Yeah, I…" Mitsuki's legs buckled. "My… body. Why..?"
Mitsuki fell to his knees, utterly exhausted. It felt like he had been tensing his muscles for some time. He could barely stand without toppling over. Now sitting on the ground, his limbs throbbed with overexertion.
He couldn't understand what happened. How had he tired himself out like this?
Boruto was at his side in an instant. His friend's concern touched Mitsuki but he couldn't bring a smile to his face, utterly dumbfounded by this feeling.
"I'm not surprised," Sarada said as she came over to investigate. "It's like when you overwork a muscle. It's temporarily weakened. You just need rest, is all."
"Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't passed out," said Shikadai.
Mitsuki frowned, licking his lips. "Why do I taste soy sauce?"
Inojin didn't respond. He had grabbed the bottle off a restaurant table from a nearby patio, having little time to be picky and no time to shop for salt in a store. There was a bottle on every table, so he felt they wouldn't miss the one.
"Do you remember what happened?" Shikadai asked Mitsuki.
"When?"
"Uh, well…"
Chocho forced her way to the front. "I gave you some chocolate this morning. Do you remember that?"
MItsuki nodded. "Yes, I ate it in front of you. Then we went down a different street. Sarada wanted to give a gift to Konohamaru-sensei. Then we went to a store." Mitsuki frowned. "I'm not sure how long we were in there, actually. I remember going to a couple different places, but I must have lost track of time."
He remembered traveling but the details were fuzzy. Before he knew it, they were going to the next place. He felt like he had gotten distracted several times because the transition between certain events was muddled.
"We were going to get lunch, weren't we?" Mitsuki asked, knowing they had planned to do that. He remembered Chocho coming with them but couldn't remember when Inojin and Shikadai arrived. "I think I remember going inside… but… We go there so often, I might be thinking of another time. I don't really recall eating anything. But the taste of soy sauce in my mouth indicates that I did."
He didn't remember saying those awful things to his friends or tormenting Boruto all morning. He didn't even remember leaving the restaurant. He certainly didn't remember the fight. Those events never formed into memories. Nothing prompted from that rage and hate did. Once the feeling subsided, so did the recollection.
Since he had no idea what had happened, the group decided not to bring it up and make him feel worse.
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