How You Use It

The group works out how to beat Ao. Konohamaru wants to bait his absorbing arm with ninjutsu to open a gap, using the brief window while the absorption sphere forms, and has Boruto pull in Ao's own jutsu bullets before the finishing strike. Boruto tries Katasuke's chakra blade but buckles under its drain, so he must trigger it only at the last instant. With Katasuke adjusting Boruto's absorbing arm, their plan is set. On the road, Ao meets Koji Kashin, who questions his resolve after letting the others slip away.

Ao likens himself to the scientific tools sustaining him, calling himself Kara's instrument. Koji warns him the Konoha shinobi have a strategy ready and stresses that keeping them from the vessel is the true mission. Nearing the ruins, Ao attacks a concealed Mitsuki, who answers with Lightning Release while Konohamaru and Sarada add Fire Release. Sensing they ignore chakra cost, Ao absorbs it all and reads them as a decoy for Boruto.

Boruto drops from above with the chakra blade, but Ao parries with his own, seizes the weapon, and stabs him, only for that Boruto to vanish as a shadow clone while the blade saps Ao's strength. Mitsuki coils around Ao's hand until Ao breaks free with his other arm's tools. The real Boruto moves in, cancels Ao's absorbing arm with his own, and lands a Rasengan, throwing Ao's own words about how tools are used back in his face.