A strange, mechanical toad exhaled steam into the blood-soaked air.
Standing atop it—
Was Koji Kashin.
—
Jigen glanced sideways.
"…Koji. You've arrived at quite the moment."
—
"I rushed here without delay."
Koji stepped down, removing his hood—
Revealing a half silver-fox mask.
—
"The matter is urgent."
"I couldn't afford to be late."
—
Jigen already knew.
Only one thing—
Could make Koji appear now.
—
Kawaki.
—
Still, he asked calmly:
"…What is it?"
—
"The vessel has been located."
Koji said.
"He's heading toward the southwest edge of the ninja world."
"Almost past the Land of Birds."
—
Jigen frowned.
"…Why would he go there?"
—
Koji continued:
"This is only speculation…"
"But—"
—
"I believe Kawaki is heading to the place we've long failed to find…"
—
"Uchiha Akira's territory."
"The Hidden Shadow Village."
—
"…!"
Jigen's eye shrank sharply.
—
Koji's "guesses"—
Were never wrong.
—
And—
Kakashi had already confirmed—
Kawaki had contact with Akira.
—
So it really was him…
He tampered with the Kāma.
—
A flicker of killing intent—
Passed through Jigen.
Even Koji—
Sweated beneath his mask.
—
But he maintained composure.
"Don't worry."
"Deepa and Boro are already tracking him."
"They'll act accordingly under Amado's guidance."
—
"What matters now—"
"Is not wasting time."
"Or this vessel's remaining lifespan."
—
Jigen listened—
Then smiled faintly.
—
"…You misunderstand."
"Do I look impatient?"
—
"I'm not."
—
"The vessel… cannot escape me."
—
He turned—
Looking at the dying Hanabi.
—
"…You're lucky."
"If you fell into Amado's hands…"
"You'd suffer worse than death."
—
"That man…"
"Who turned his dead wife into a specimen…"
"Wouldn't hesitate to turn you into a tool."
—
"But now…"
"You're barely alive anyway."
—
"I'll grant you release."
—
He tossed her forward—
—
"BOOM!!!"
The cliffside shattered—
Massive rocks collapsing—
Burying her beneath them—
—
Her body tumbled—
Down into the abyss.
—
Death—
Certain.
—
And yet—
In that moment—
—
A faint blue light flickered—
Deep within her Byakugan.
—
The color—
Of the Tenseigan.
—
The bracelet on her wrist—
Gifted by Shizuka—
Glowed brightly.
—
"Buzz—!"
A chakra barrier formed—
Around her body.
—
"RUMBLE—!!"
The rocks crashed—
Echoing through the valley.
—
But no one noticed.
—
No one cared.
—
At this point—
Death had lost its meaning.
—
Twelve thousand dead.
—
The remaining eight thousand—
Sat beside the mass grave—
Empty-eyed.
—
Some were alive—
But already dead inside.
—
Jigen ignored them.
—
His gaze shifted—
To the far end of the camp.
—
There—
Sakura sat between Naruto and Sasuke—
Blue light glowing in her palms—
Performing a forbidden technique.
—
Hinata stood guard.
—
Kakashi—
Barely alive—
Was being treated.
—
In front—
A final line stood.
—
Konohamaru.
Mirai.
Kurenai.
Kiba… and Akamaru.
—
"…He noticed us."
—
They prepared—
To die.
—
But Jigen—
Ignored them.
—
His attention—
Was on Sakura.
—
"…A life-for-life technique."
—
Then—
He looked at someone else.
—
And began walking.
—
"…Jigen."
Koji called out—
—
"CRACK!"
Jigen turned sharply—
His killing intent overwhelming.
—
Koji fell silent.
—
Jigen continued forward.
—
"Stop!!"
"Woof!!"
—
The final defenders stood their ground.
—
"…Step aside."
—
Hinata's voice—
Calm—
But absolute.
—
"…Hinata!?"
—
"If he wanted to kill us…"
"He wouldn't need to walk here."
—
"He's here to talk."
—
"…Stand down."
"I'll handle this."
—
They hesitated—
But stepped aside.
—
Jigen stopped.
—
"…Hyūga Hinata."
"The Hokage's wife."
"And sister of the woman I just killed."
—
Hinata's Byakugan—
Was bloodshot.
—
Her nails dug into her own flesh.
—
She had watched everything.
Done nothing.
—
"…Yes."
—
Jigen said:
"Your bloodline is pure."
"But you're weak."
"You cannot bring out its power."
—
"…That's true."
—
Jigen raised a finger—
Pointing to her eye.
—
"Your sister destroyed mine."
—
"Give me yours."
—
Without hesitation—
Hinata reached up—
And gouged out her own eye.
—
"STOP—!!"
—
"—!!"
—
Blood streamed down her face—
Yet she smiled.
—
"…Do you want the other one too?"
—
"…Hinata…"
—
"…No need."
—
Jigen glanced—
And the eye vanished from her hand.
—
He grew serious.
—
"Answer me one question."
—
"If I'm satisfied…"
"I'll spare everyone here."
—
"…Speak."
Hinata said.
—
"…How strong is Uchiha Akira?"
—
Silence.
—
Everything—
Hung on her answer.
—
Hinata lowered her head.
—
I don't understand strategy…
But he chose me…
Because of who I am.
—
Her path—
Was simple.
—
Honesty.
—
No matter the enemy.
—
She raised her head—
Meeting his gaze.
—
"…He's strong."
"Terrifyingly strong."
—
"…Stronger than you."
—
"…!?"
—
Kiba nearly lost it.
—
Jigen—
Smiled.
—
A genuine smile.
—
"…Good."
"That's the answer I wanted."
—
"I'll honor the deal."
—
"I'll spare you all."
—
"…Except the noisy dog."
—
"SHHK!"
A rod pierced through Akamaru's skull—
Lifting him into the air.
—
"…You bastard—!!"
—
Kiba lunged—
But Mirai restrained him.
—
"…Hold me back!!"
"Or I'll—"
"…die."
—
Jigen turned—
Walking away.
—
Koji approached.
"…Shall we pursue the vessel immediately?"
—
Jigen paused.
—
"…No."
—
"…We return to base."
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