"Isshiki?"
With a flash, Kitagawa Minamoto appeared before them. His gaze swept over the three figures, lingering especially on the monk-like man. A hint of caution flickered in his eyes, accompanied by a trace of surprise.
"You're showing up at this moment?"
Kitagawa Minamoto had anticipated that his reckless actions might force some "hidden characters" to reveal themselves. This world wasn't a lifeless place, moving predictably along a predetermined path. Hadn't Sasuke abandoned the thought of joining Orochimaru after seeing him and Itachi Uchiha brutally defeated? Of course, that decision was also influenced by Kitagawa Minamoto beating Orochimaru so thoroughly that he wouldn't dare provoke Konohagakure again.
"Isshiki has always been in the Shinobi World," Minamoto thought to himself. "He didn't dare act recklessly before, but as I continue to unleash my power, he must have realized something. So..."
Kitagawa Minamoto studied the monk before him, then suddenly broke into an enigmatic smile. "Ōtsutsuki Isshiki? Or should I say, what is your current identity?"
Jigen fell silent, the smile on his face fading instantly. Strictly speaking, he couldn't truly be considered Isshiki anymore.
"Forget it. For now, let's assume you're a fellow clansman." Kitagawa Minamoto didn't seem to care, shaking his head as his gaze turned indifferent. "If you barely count as a clansman, then why are you trying to stop me?"
"You're too arrogant, Minamoto," Isshiki frowned, but ultimately took a deep breath to calm himself. He understood his situation and didn't want to say too much. His goal, naturally, was the two individuals he had just saved!
His body was deteriorating, and he desperately needed a new vessel. Those two were perfect candidates. Even if one of them already possessed a bloodline comparable to the Ōtsutsuki, it didn't hinder his plans. At worst, the elder also carried Ōtsutsuki blood. Even if the elder was near death, Isshiki believed his power could restore him. He wouldn't allow his prey to be influenced by this "junior."
"Arrogant?" Kitagawa Minamoto tilted his head slightly, his tone curious. "Actually, I think you're more arrogant than I am. In your current state, you dare stand before me and block my path to kill someone?"
"That boy's bloodline has already reached the level of our clan," Isshiki's frown deepened, clearly unwilling to continue this discussion. "Hunting a clansman is a grave crime. You should know the rules, and your presence here must be..."
"To search for the fruit and your whereabouts?" Kitagawa Minamoto nodded, but his expression grew increasingly puzzled. "But if we're being honest, why hasn't the fruit been handed over, despite this world being invaded by the God Tree?"
"That's because..." Isshiki finally exhaled in relief, but Kitagawa Minamoto's next words made him gasp audibly.
"Could it be that you ate it yourself, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki?"
Isshiki stared at Kitagawa Minamoto in disbelief. What kind of outrageous nonsense was this?
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" he demanded.
"Nonsense?" As Isshiki reeled from shock, two black Truth-Seeking Balls appeared behind Kitagawa Minamoto. The immense chakra began to churn, its oppressive aura warping the ground beneath their feet.
"Are you trying to say your guardian ate it instead?"
Isshiki remained silent.
"Did your guardian betray you?"
Still no response.
"Do you expect me to believe such a story?"
Isshiki's jaw tightened.
"A more plausible explanation is that you didn't give your guardian a chance to implant a 'Karma,' instead using a fake death and 'Karma' to hide yourself. You're quite the schemer!"
Isshiki was completely stunned by Kitagawa Minamoto's words. What the hell was this lunatic talking about? But before he could respond, Kitagawa Minamoto had already drawn his blade!
Hum—
The blade gleamed with sharpness, its suffocating edge seemingly capable of slicing through space itself.
"Damn it..." Isshiki cursed, his body undergoing a sudden transformation. The Karma markings instantly spread across his body, and horn-like protrusions appeared on his forehead. He hadn't expected to be attacked by a fellow Ōtsutsuki clansman. But even in this forced state, he was still a formidable Ōtsutsuki warrior, capable of reacting swiftly to the situation. Unwilling to take any chances, he immediately activated his strongest form. This "junior" was no ordinary opponent!
CLANG!
Violent energy erupted in an instant. In a fraction of a second, a black rod materialized in Isshiki's hand, blocking the incoming blade.
"Are you insane?" He glared at Kitagawa Minamoto, his voice filled with disbelief. "Do you even understand what you're doing?"
"Of course I do." Kitagawa Minamoto was slightly surprised by Isshiki's reaction speed, but he didn't mind. He felt exhilarated! This excitement wasn't just from encountering a "worthy opponent," but also from finding excellent "material."
"I'm cleaning up traitors, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. I've heard your story, but I didn't expect you to be so ruthless!"
"Ruthless?" Isshiki was utterly baffled. Was this his doing? Wasn't this Kaguya's doing? It wasn't him!
With a fierce swing of his black rod, he clashed with Kitagawa Minamoto's ninja blade again. A gale of unimaginable force tore through the surroundings, shattering countless rocks in an instant.
"Stop spouting nonsense. It benefits neither of us." He pressed his black rod against Kitagawa Minamoto's blade, his voice cold and indifferent. "I advise you to stop immediately. You're violating the rules!"
"I know exactly what I'm doing. I told you—I'm cleaning up traitors." Kitagawa Minamoto shook his head lightly, then delivered a swift kick toward Isshiki.
However, to his surprise, Isshiki seemed to anticipate his move. Almost simultaneously, Isshiki raised his arm to block the kick, while throwing a powerful punch infused with violent chakra toward Kitagawa Minamoto's face.
SMACK!
But Kitagawa Minamoto seemed to have predicted this as well, raising his hand to block the punch. Meanwhile, his leg was caught by Isshiki. The two fell into a stalemate, but Kitagawa Minamoto spoke leisurely.
"Besides, can you even be considered a clansman now? You're merely a reincarnated vessel unable to withstand Ōtsutsuki power."
"You..." Isshiki's expression grew darker. This man wasn't just "arrogant"—he was a lunatic!
"I didn't do the things you're accusing me of. That was..."
"Kaguya's doing? A guardian betraying their charge?" Kitagawa Minamoto sighed, his gaze indifferent as he looked at Isshiki. A faint smile even graced his lips. "Do you think anyone would believe that story, especially coming from Ōtsutsuki Isshiki?"
BOOM!
As he spoke, Kitagawa Minamoto's power erupted, blasting Isshiki away. Without hesitation, he charged forward once more.
"Damn it..." Isshiki cursed under his breath. He didn't know whether to be proud of his reputation or lament that it had made him a target of suspicion. But he couldn't refute the accusations, because he knew no one would believe the truth!
"Wait!" Dodging Kitagawa Minamoto's strike, Isshiki suddenly had an idea. "You've been in the Shinobi World for some time now. Haven't you heard the legends?"
"The legends? The story of the Rabbit Goddess?" Kitagawa Minamoto continued his assault, but paused briefly upon hearing this. "Who knows if you made it up."
Isshiki felt utterly speechless, but mustered his strength to retort. "You're violating the rules! You don't understand the full story!"
"Rules, huh?" Kitagawa Minamoto chuckled upon hearing this. To Isshiki, that smile was cold and indifferent.
"Senior, you don't follow the rules yourself, so why lecture me about them?" His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "Besides, I should thank you sincerely, because..."
Hum—
With a flash, Kitagawa Minamoto appeared before Isshiki. The Truth-Seeking Ball-formed ninja blade in his hand slashed forward, its roaring power distorting everything around them!
"Your actions inspired me, helping me realize something."
"So-called rules..."
"Are for those who cannot survive without them. As an Ōtsutsuki, my goal is naturally..."
"To journey to the end of rules!"
Meanwhile, back in Konohagakure, the battles continued to rage on. Especially the "Uchiha family" conflict, which had reached its peak intensity!
Three colossal Susanoo figures dominated the battlefield, leaving the surrounding Konohagakure ninja stunned.
"What is that?"
"These chakra giants—what's going on?"
"Is this the true power of the Uchiha Clan?"
The Konohagakure ninja didn't recognize Susanoo, but they could feel its immense power. Yet Sasuke's expression was peculiar, his gaze involuntarily shifting toward Fugaku Uchiha.
"Father has the Mangekyō Sharingan? Then why, back then..." Sasuke couldn't make sense of it, ultimately deciding to suppress his questions until the battle was over. Of course, he had his suspicions—perhaps it was related to Obito Uchiha?
"I can't let Sasuke overthink this!" Although Fugaku Uchiha appeared somewhat "inhuman," he noticed Sasuke's gaze immediately. He felt an urgency in his heart. Sasuke was doing far better than he had ever imagined!
As such, the dead should no longer influence him. In fact, their role was to create better conditions for Sasuke. He suspected their resurrection through Edo Tensei, especially by the future Fifth Hokage, was meant to test something!
BOOM!
Without hesitation, he charged forward even more fiercely than Sasuke, fighting harder than Sasuke himself!
"Father..." Itachi Uchiha struggled to keep up against the two Susanoo figures. If he weren't resurrected through Edo Tensei, he might not have lasted this long. Perhaps seeing his parents again had unsettled him emotionally, or perhaps being controlled by the technique had dulled his thoughts. Watching his father relentlessly attack him, Itachi found himself unable to comprehend. Why wouldn't his father say anything? Was it due to the technique's control?
As his thoughts swirled, Fugaku Uchiha suddenly spoke up.
"Itachi, there's nothing left to say."
Itachi remained silent.
"Have you never regretted what you did back then?"
Itachi's eyes widened. This wasn't what he had hoped for!
And at that moment, a massive surge of chakra swept in from afar.
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