In the chaotic scene, the Shadow Ops ninja team locked down all potential exit paths and requested backup.
KOSUKE'S BETRAYAL
Upon receiving intelligence from a Shadow Ops ninja, Itami became aware of Kosuke's disloyalty towards Kurayami.
Itami pressed the shinobi for details on Kosuke's location.
The ninja shared that Kosuke was trying to escape, but his exact whereabouts were still unknown, owing to his unique skill.
Itami tells the Shadow Ops Shinobi that he will take care of the situation involving Kosuke and to signal if they catch sight of him.
The Shadow Ops Shinobi acknowledges the instruction and proceeds to depart.
Itami possesses the capability to create portals through space-time, in addition to being able to conjure weapons, launch them, and maintain his own dimension.
This ability is widely recognized and referred to as the "transportation technique."
Suddenly, Itami finds himself the target of shurikens, which he skillfully blocks with his sword.
As he looks above, he spots Kosuke on the rooftop and confronts him about his motives.
Itami then mentions how there is harmony between the Land of Light and Kurayami, to which Kosuke angrily instructs Itami to silence himself and to stop pretending that he cares for the village and its politics.
Kosuke poses an intriguing query to Itami, stating that since Itami is committed to the well-being of the village, its political affairs, and is prepared to go to any lengths to safeguard Kurayami, would he be capable of eliminating Kurai should she ever decide to embark on a path of evil..
Itami, wearing an expression of surprise, begins to ponder Kosuke's question.
Kosuke starts to pressure Itami by stating he had always known Itami lacked the toughness required for such decisions and that this disqualifies him from the role Kosuke envisions, which is leading through darkness.
Itami responds to Kosuke, asserting that such an event will not come to pass because Kurai possesses everything one could want in life – a loving family and a place she can call her own.
Kosuke advises Itami to confront the harsh truth and recognize that his daughter, bearing the Dark Dragon, is fated to endure agony, hardship, and pointlessness.
The strength she holds will guide her down a path of darkness, and she will have to bear its consequences because of what Haru said.
Kosuke, driven by anger, expresses himself by stating, "Allow me to share something that will enlighten you to my point."
KOSUKE SPEECH
"Haru speaks of fate as though the universe has always paid attention to who he was supposed to become. The stark reality is that Fate doesn't lead you; it challenges you. It grants you all that you've wished for, only to snatch it away at your moment of greatest need. And in that quiet... You begin to comprehend your true self, absent of the aspiration, the facade, and devoid of any saviors. That's the moment you realize destiny was not the journey; it was a teaching – that's the reality."
Kosuke declared Haru merely perished for a vision that holds no significance in the current actuality.
Itami contends that Kurai embodies a prophecy meant to bring equilibrium and rescue the shinobi world, all the while maintaining its integrity in full.
Kosuke snaps back, pointing out Itami's ignorance of the core problem despite his possession of the Kokkorogan.
ITAMI VS KOSUKE
Kosuke then weaves a sign and announces "fire class royal flame," unleashing a massive fireball.
In retaliation, Itami performs a gesture for a fire class technique to counter Kosuke's assault, causing smoke to spread everywhere and obscure Itami's view.
Suddenly, Kosuke appears behind him utilizing his body flicking technique, and propels Itami towards a structure.
To avoid collision, Itami opens a space-time void portal, teleporting himself back into position.
Itami responds to Kosuke, emphatically stating he will demonstrate why the Hierarchy selected him to be the Grandmaster of Kurayami.
Itami focuses his gaze, launching four spears at Kosuke, who swiftly runs up a wall and launches himself into the air, evading the spears.
Mid-air, Kosuke crafts a symbol and unleashes a fire-class technique, "royal flame" towards Itami.
Itami counters by using the void to teleport the fire away.
Kosuke warns Itami that his constant defense and concern for the village will lead to his downfall.
Kosuke then dives toward Itami, making two swift attempts to strike him.
Itami ducks, grabs Kosuke's arm, delivers a kick to his leg, then a knee to his stomach, and finally knocks him to the ground.
Itami creates a spear using his space-time portal and targets Kosuke, launching it at him while he is prone.
Kosuke swiftly dodges, leaving Itami astounded by his rapid movement.
They exchange a series of attacks with their respective weapons.
Itami wields his sword, enhancing it with a fiery aura, while Kosuke deflects his onslaught.
Kosuke manages to deflect Itami's sword with a flick of his body and propels him into the wall with a kick.
Kosuke then advances to deliver a final strike, but Itami's left-eye ability allows him to manipulate his sword and other armaments from a distance.
Unexpectedly, he impales Kosuke in the abdomen with his sword.
Kosuke stumbles to one knee, takes hold of the sword, and removes it.
Itami reveals that the sword contains a unique substance that poisons upon penetration.
He informs Kosuke that he intends to imprison him for his betrayal of their village and will persuade Lora to spare his life.
The Shadow Ops ninjas arrive and surround Kosuke.
Realizing he is trapped, Kosuke employs a last-ditch effort, summoning a mini dragon that he uses to escape flying into the forest.
Itami attempts to recapture him using a void portal but is hindered by the excessive aura expended in defending the village from fireball attacks.
Itami commands the ninjas to pursue Kosuke.
While escaping through the forest of shadows, Kosuke's aura weakens from the wound, causing his summoned creature to vanish, and he plummets to the ground.
Struggling, Kosuke crawls to a tree, clutching his abdomen, and gasps for air.
As the sound of Shadow Ops shinobi approaches, he remains silent.
The poison spreads through his system, causing his temperature to rise.
THE SHADOW
Suddenly, a shadowy humanoid figure appears, startling Kosuke, who draws his kunai and inquires about the figure's identity.
The shadow figure, revealing eyes that shock Kosuke with their possession of the Kokkorogan, informs him that he means no harm and offers assistance.
Kosuke questions how he can trust the figure, to which the shadow responds that Kosuke's options are limited, and without help, he faces certain death.
Stricken with coughing and sensing the toxin advancing through his body, Kosuke concedes to the assistance offered by the shadowy figure.
The figure directs Kosuke to make eye contact, and as Kosuke gradually raises his gaze to meet that of the shadow creature, its essence flows into him.
Instantly, Kosuke's injury starts to mend, and he loses consciousness, only to awaken within his own psyche.
The shadowy entity reappears, announcing that Kosuke's health has been restored.
Kosuke queries the figure regarding their current location and whether he has perished, to which the figure clarifies that they reside within Kosuke's mind.
Kosuke emits a grunt, clenches his hand tightly, and informs the shadowy figure of his obligation to execute his master's directive to conquer Kurayami, stating his need for increased strength.
The shadowy entity inquires if Kosuke desires additional power, to which Kosuke questions if he is willing to provide it.
The shadow responds that he would share some of his strength with Kosuke, but only if a deal is struck between them.
Trusting the shadowy figure due to a past act where his life was saved by it, and because the figure claims Kosuke owes him, he agrees to the proposition.
The shadowy figure declares that by accepting his assistance, Kosuke has now gained access to a portion of his aura and newfound abilities.
Observing his hand, Kosuke notices a curse mark.
Querying about the mark, the shadowy figure explains it as a curse mark that facilitates access to some of his aura.
Expressing his gratitude to the shadowy individual, he is told to save his thanks for later and will pay his debt.
Kosuke then requests the shadowy figure to disclose his identity, to which he replies, "I'm your master "Daku Hinotori."