Chapter 102 – Flames in Ruin
"What? Why Sensei!" Karin was the first one to jump, glaring at him, "You can't expect us to stay here and let you hog all the fights!"
Konohamaru patted her head, trying to calm her down, "Karin, these things are more dangerous. This Ruin seems inactive, but why was the White Zetsu here. There is a chance there are more of them, and if so, I won't be able to protect you all."
"Are you saying we are a burden?!" Boruto made a fist, arguing.
"Yes, we are," Guren watched Boruto and Karin from above the Lotus, "The truth is, if there are five or six or seven, then we would have to fight one each. This means not only Sensei would have to fight his own but protect us. If he goes alone, then he can move freely and fight freely."
"Exactly. I am glad you understand," Konohamaru nodded in relief. But Guren looked down the tunnel, smiling, "Right, I mean, what can we do? Sarada could combine her fire style with Boruto's wind style and Mitsuki's lightning style. Yuzu can just create tens of shurikens, and I can amplify with my Shadow Clone Shuriken turn them into hundreds. Karin can just fly and attack them from above to distract them long enough to use your high-level Jutsu's. I doubt we'd be of much help."
Sarada looked towards him with sharp eyes smiling, "Yes, I even have my Sharingan so I could read and inform you which Jutsu are they going to use. But that won't be much of a help, right?"
"Hm," Mitsuki tilted his head, "I can use wind style too, and I am sure I can further amplify the fire style. It should be enough to hold back one or two of those things, and it won't help either..."
The more they spoke, the more of a slap did Konohamaru felt; before they could say anything else, he stopped them, "Fine, fine, come with me."
Guren jumped down the Lotus, following after Konohamaru, making a peace sign behind his back towards the others.
They all pridefully followed behind, but the deeper they got, they became more careful. Until the group came to a place where bodies were wrapped in bandages hanging on the tree.
"These are all..."
"People, or should I say ingredients for White Zetsu," Guren looked at them, pulling the bandage from one, and sand came out, "All decomposed..."
"How could they," Yuzu covered her mouth, watching the sight with sheer terror.
Karin grit her teeth, "Damn it."
Guren glanced back at Yuzu, his lips parting before they closed as he looked down, "Let's be careful."
Konohamaru put his hand on Guren's shoulder, making Guren look up, "Yes, Sensei?"
"Can you let me lead?" Konohamaru asked with slumped shoulders.
"Oh...ah yes," Guren stepped back, embarrassed, "Sorry, it's just...right. I'll stay behind."
Konohamaru started walking in front of them, glancing over his shoulder, seeing Guren pacify Yuzu and Karin. Guren just started leading so naturally that even he didn't realize he let him direct for a while. If it weren't for the danger that could present itself soon, then he probably would have followed like the others.
By the time they reached the end of the room, the one that they let run away was standing there with a husk behind him, "Hmm. Found you."
"Sensei, do you have a powerful Jutsu that could defeat this monster in one go?"
"Yes, but I'd need an opening."
"Then...I have an idea," Guren smiled, "I have a plan, so listen up. I just need to know one thing...Yuzu..."
Shortly,
Konohamaru nodded, "Good, this will work. On my signal...Go!"
"Yuzu! Karin!" Guren appeared behind Yuzu, forming a hand sign as she created a while, "Multiple Whips!!"
Karin and Guren made a hand sign, using the combined Shadow Clone Jutsu, ""Whip Shadow Clone Jutsu!""
The two of them are dividing the whips into tens, latching onto the Zetsu monster, and keeping it in place.
Sarada used her Sharingan to see the Jutsu's it was going to fire, "Fire! Wind! Thunder!"
"Fire Ball Jutsu!"
"Gale Palm!"
"Snake Lightning!"
"My turn! From the power passed down to me from Big Bro Naruto himself! Rasengan!!!"
The monster howled, its cries echoing in the underground before it broke apart. It turned into pieces destroyed by the sheer power of Konohamaru's Rasengan, eliminating even the husk behind them.
Guren clapped his hands, grinning, "That was...too easy."
"Of course, it was a big deal," Boruto puffed his chest out, confidently walking in front. Still, he didn't get far when Konohamaru stopped him, "Boruto, stop! Don't touch those flames."
"Flames," Karin peeked forward, taking a few steps, seeing the black Fire burn the husks of tens of White Zetsu that they fought.
"What are these..."
"They are..." Konohamaru narrowed his eyes.
"Amaterasu," Guren stepped forward, squatting beside them, "The flames generated by Dad's Mangekyo Sharingan. It is said that they can burn anything. But frankly, it takes too much time to burn even a dead body...Still, they are troublesome since they will never go off. So...I guess the time thing doesn't matter."
"Does that mean Dad has been through here?" Sarada widened her eyes, "Is he still here?!"
"Probably not," Guren stared at the flames, "It seems the Super Secret Mission of Dad's was to find the Ruin's left behind by Kaguya Otsutsuki. And destroy any weapon she left behind."
"Right...Guren...just stay away from the flames," Konohamaru was trembling, trying to pull him away, staying at an arm's length himself.
Guren took out a scroll, sealing the Fire inside it, closing it like nothing happened, "Right."
"Don't just say right! Are you insane?!" Boruto pointed at Guren, "Why would you try and touch that flame!"
"I didn't touch it, just sealed it," Guren directly played the Dad is never at home card, "Dad is never around...so I'll gladly take what he left behind. As a souvenir."
Konohamaru was about to shout at him too, but deflated after hearing that, rubbing his head, "Yeah...just be more careful."
"Does that mean I can seal more?" Guren blinked, starting to seal more Amaterasu left behind in another scroll that held many other sealing scrolls.
He gave two to Sarada, "Here, if there is an enemy you can deal with, then just throw this at them."
"Right," Sarada tightly held the scroll, smiling, "Thank you, Guren."
"Yeah," Guren gently smiled, making Yuzu warmly smile as she watched them and Karin puff her cheeks and look away.
"We should inform Hokage about this place and wait outside. We were lucky that Sasuke-San got here first..."