Chapter 308:
The Capital of the Land of Water.
Every day during daylight hours, corpses were transported from the Daimyō's residence to a cruise ship at the port, which would then carry them from the capital of the Land of Water to its border towns.
The zombie virus was spreading at an astonishing rate. By now, all of the border towns in the Land of Water had fallen.
"You say you have urgent business with the Daimyō?"
Evilmoku stared at the three aged officials before him—men full of righteous conviction and unwavering loyalty to the Land of Water.
"Yes," the official leading the group nodded. "It seems a large-scale epidemic has broken out in the border towns. We must consult the Daimyō on how to respond."
Of course, there was one crucial detail these Land of Water officials hadn't told Evilmoku—that cruise ships had been spotted at the docks of every single border town, all of them having departed from the capital, and all dispatched after Evilmoku rose to power.
Upon discovering this, the three high-ranking and respected officials had immediately convened and rushed over.
"I know it's nearly nightfall, but given the nature of the outbreak, I believe the Daimyō will understand."
The official on the left bowed respectfully.
"Very well. It just so happens that the Daimyō hasn't eaten yet..."
Led by Evilmoku, the three Land of Water officials arrived at the Daimyō's quarters, where he was supposedly recuperating.
A curtain covered the Daimyō's bed. The three officials knelt on the floor before it. Evilmoku, standing at the back, quietly shut the door, then approached the bed, lifted the curtain, and undid a chain.
"A chain?" The official kneeling on the right, sharp-eyed, caught a glimpse through a gap in the curtain and questioned sharply, "Evilmoku! What have you done to the Daimyō?!"
"You'll find out soon enough."
The moment his words fell, a black blur burst through the curtain, pouncing on the rightmost official and sinking its teeth into him.
"Wh-What is that thing?!"
The other two officials recoiled in horror, scrambling backward on the ground.
"Hm? Isn't that your dear Daimyō?"
Evilmoku calmly stepped over to the creature and reached out to pat the Daimyō's head—now a full-fledged zombie gnawing at flesh—who showed no sign of reacting to Evilmoku's presence.
After devouring one body, the zombified Daimyō turned his gaze on the two remaining officials.
"It's over... the Land of Water... is finished…"
The last official still clinging to consciousness lay prone, making no effort to resist as the zombified Daimyō and his two newly turned comrades began to tear into him. His final gaze fixed itself on Evilmoku.
...
As Uchiha Itachi, Sarada, and a few survivors from the border towns of the Land of Water spread word of the plague turning people into beasts, rumors of the epidemic began to circulate through the cities and towns of the region.
"We're almost at the capital."
Uchiha Itachi spoke.
Though the capital sat at the center of the Land of Water, it was connected to all major towns via an intricate canal system carved throughout the country.
Itachi and Sarada were aboard one of the cruise ships traveling toward the capital through these waterways.
"Shuyu, look over there!"
Following Sarada's gesture, Itachi looked toward the capital's dock, where a cruise ship was moored and people were loading crates onto it.
Disguised as ordinary travelers, Itachi and Sarada had gleaned a fair amount of intel during their voyage.
"Those crates... they must be the so-called secret weapons sent from the Daimyō's residence to the borders as a precaution against foreign invasion... cruise ships... the vast network of canals..."
Itachi's thoughts began to connect the dots.
"What is it, Shuyu?"
Hearing his voice trail off, Sarada looked over curiously.
"I figured it out, Sarada. Those crates aren't weapons at all—they're carrying the zombie virus!"
"But why would the Daimyō do such a thing?"
"No. The Daimyō's body is no longer normal. The one in control of the Land of Water now is the mutated beast, Evilmoku."
Thanks to intelligence from S.H.I.E.L.D., Itachi knew more than Sarada did.
Meanwhile, at the Daimyō's residence—
Evilmoku was hosting Clone No. 2 of Gray Wolf.
"I thought Gray Wolf was a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. I never expected one of them to help us mutant beasts."
"Actually, my true self is quite fascinated by your shadow energy. Drawing immense power from negative human emotions like rage, despair, sorrow, and fear—my real body is eager to understand how it all works."
"I don't know the mechanism myself. For me, it's more like an instinct."
Evilmoku glanced at the swirling shadow energy in his right hand. The more humans around the world were consumed by negative emotions, the stronger he became.
"No matter. My original body will figure it out eventually," Clone No. 2 of Gray Wolf chuckled. "By the way, how's the experiment on Mitsuki going?"
"Not well enough. I still need more shadow energy."
"Once the zombie virus fully breaks out across the Land of Water, that should give you what you need."
Night fell.
"Shuyu, are we really going to ignore that cruise ship possibly carrying the zombie virus?"
"We are. The virus must've already started spreading before we even arrived, so we need to act fast—gather intel and find Boruto before the outbreak reaches its tipping point."
As he spoke, Uchiha Itachi deftly vaulted over the wall of the Daimyō's estate alongside Sarada. Using his Sharingan, he quickly subdued a guard and learned the location of the Daimyō's quarters.
"This is it, Shuyu. The Daimyō should be inside."
"Wait, Sarada. Stay behind me."
Sensing something off—and faintly hearing a guttural growl from within—Itachi stepped in front of her, Sharingan flashing with heightened vigilance, and slowly pushed open the door.
Inside, a zombie crouched on the floor, feasting on a corpse. At the sound of the door opening, it slowly raised its bloodied face and let out a menacing growl.
"That's... the Daimyō of the Land of Water?!"
Itachi recognized him at once—he had met the Daimyō once before, when accompanying Shunhi to sell the Hulk serum during a time of financial desperation.
"I never expected my late-night guests to be two brats from Konoha."
The curtain was pulled aside, revealing Evilmoku.
"Evilmoku!"