Naruto: Check out these scenes!

Merz stared at Nanashi, who had completely lost her will to fight, shaking his head in disappointment. "It's dissapointing to see you like this, Nanashi," he said, his voice laced with mockery. "You're trying to destroy the ninja world for the sake of your past hatred? Is this truly all that anger amounts to?"

"Humph. In the end, you're just a child playing with fire," he scoffed, his confidence faltering as he recalled her earlier bravado.

Meanwhile, Boruto stepped in, supporting Wuming as she staggered. "I'm taking her with me," he declared firmly, glaring at Merz.

Merujin spread his arms dismissively. "Do as you wish. A thing that has outlived its purpose is of no use to me."

Boruto's fists clenched tightly, his frustration boiling over. "What kind of value is that? Are you just going to treat her like a tool, just like everyone else?"

Memories flashed through him as he recalled his father's memories, revealing a happier time in Nanashi's childhood before she was turned into a weapon by her own clan. Now, with the barriers lifted, it felt like history was repeating itself as her captors were ready to exploit her once again.

"Don't misunderstand," Merz replied coldly. "To someone like me, who will ascend to godhood, every ninja from the Daimyo to the Kage - everyone is nothing more than an ant beneath my feet."

From the shadows, Katasuke attempted to interject, "Didn't you hear? In his eyes, you're just another ant. Does that not concern you?"

Yet Teguse laughed maniacally, undeterred. "Oh, Katasuke-sensei, you're mistaken! To me, as long as I can create scientific ninja tools on a whim, their opinions mean nothing. The joy of invention is what matters!"

"Teguse, you…" Katasuke's voice faltered, anger bubbling beneath the surface as regret washed over him. He cursed his decision to bring such a misguided individual into the Scientific Ninja Tools Research Institute.

His initial vision had been to help others with technology, but Teguse's reckless experiments were dangerously high-risk.

It was this perilous nature that prompted Katasuke to fire Teguse, but in a cruel twist of fate, the expelled scientist had stolen crucial information and defected to Zero, leading to this very moment.

"Fine," Merz said with a wave of his hand, "You can take her, but only after I'm done 'using' her."

Boruto's eyes widened. "What do you mean—"

But before he could finish, a surge of chakra erupted from Nanashi, knocking him back. He stumbled, bewildered, only to see her on her knees, clutching her head in obvious pain.

"Nanashi!" he shouted, concern flooding his voice.

Fang Zhu gasped at the sight. "Teguse, what have you done?"

With a manic grin, Teguse adjusted the device on his arm. "Did you really think we could unlock her seal with no preparation? I've been cautious."

Merz explained, "Have you heard of the Forbidden Curse Tag? It's a forbidden technique crafted by the Second Hokage. Once it's applied, the victim becomes a puppet, completely under the control of the user."

[The Second Tsuchikage: Impressive—truly a master of forbidden techniques, that Second Hokage!]

[Uchiha Izuna: If it's a forbidden technique, chances are it was developed by him.]

[Senju Tobirama: What can I say? It just highlights my extensive repertoire of jutsu.]

[Uchiha Izuna: Proud again, are we? Do you ever consider the harm these techniques inflict on future generations?]

[Senju Tobirama: That only reflects on the user's intent. A technique's merit depends on who wields it. If it gets into the wrong hands, that's not my fault!]

[Uchiha Izuna: Tsk!]

Merujin continued, "With this seal, she can never betray me. Controlling a weapon with awareness— doesn't that sound like a perfect living weapon?"

Teguse grinned with pride. "And I even added a modern twist! The seal is now disguised as a hair ornament!"

Boruto's frustration boiled, longing to rush forward and confront Teguse, but he couldn't afford to leave Nanashi's suffering unchecked.

"For my vision to thrive, I need the full power of her fearsome weapon," Merz declared, his voice taking on a chilling authority. "Unleash her! Destroy everything!"

As Nanashi succumbed to complete control, Shikadai, bound nearby and desperate, yelled out, "Boruto! Don't hesitate! Fight back, or it'll be the end for you!"

"But..." Boruto stammered, doubt creeping into his mind.

"You still hesitate? You think you can take on a weapon from the Warring States Period as just a Genin?"

But Teguse only laughed mockingly, "A Genin from Konoha? And a weapon forged in the fires of war? They're worlds apart."

With newfound malice, Nanashi launched herself at Boruto, her intentions decidedly lethal.

She was no longer just venting; now, she was aiming to kill. Letting her emotions take control, Boruto found himself struggling just to defend against her onslaught.

"Whoa!"

Nanashi seized Boruto's wrist, effortlessly pulling him off balance before delivering a bone-crushing kick to his abdomen.

The impact knocked the air from his lungs, sending him crashing into a thick, two-meter stone pillar.

"Coughing…"

To Boruto's shock, he managed to crawl out of the rubble despite the pain shooting through his body. He felt as if his chest was being ripped apart with each movement.

"Nanashi…"

Even in agony, he resolved to reach Nanashi, desperate to awaken her true self.

But her response was swift. She formed hand signs, took a deep breath, and exhaled sharply...

"Fire Style! Great Fireball Technique!"

The air filled with a blistering inferno, and Boruto's instincts screamed that death was imminent.

Just then, a golden figure darted in front of him, extending a giant chakra claw that snatched the fiery wave from the air, negating its lethal force.

"Dad?!" Boruto exclaimed, his heart swelling with relief.

"You did well, Boruto," Naruto said with a warm smile, his head tilted slightly as he crushed the fire wave beneath his powerful chakra.

"What's going on?" he demanded.

"Watch out!"

While Teguse was still reeling from surprise, Merz's voice sliced through the confusion, his eyes widening as he noticed the controller device on his wrist ignite in black flames.

Recognizing the danger of those black flames, Teguse hastily dismantled the controller and flung it aside. But the Amaterasu flames consumed it instantly, reducing it to ash before it could even meet the ground.

"What the…"

Before that chaos could settle, another surprise unfolded—a black-haired figure swiftly rescued all the bound hostages right from under Merujin's nose.

His movements were so fluid that it seemed less like high-speed movement and more like instantaneous teleportation.

As the hostages vanished, Sasuke emerged beside Naruto, ushering them to safety with the quiet confidence he was known for.

In that moment, the two strongest forces in the ninja world stood united: The Seventh Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto, and the Shadow Hokage, Uchiha Sasuke.