"It seems that's indeed the case... But why did Kawaki's Karma also change simultaneously?" Uchiha Sasuke stared intently at the image on the screen, where, as the flames receded, Otsutsuki Isshiki's form gradually became visible.
"Previously, Isshiki hadn't reincarnated because Jigen's vessel couldn't fully withstand his power. Now that he was about to die, he had no choice but to proceed with the reincarnation," Amado explained. "When an Otsutsuki uses one vessel for reincarnation, the Karma on any other implanted vessels will be erased, regardless of how many vessels there are or how far away they are from him."
"Truly terrifying..." In the flames, a long-suppressed, terrifying chakra suddenly erupted. The intense fluctuation sketched a colorless figure in Naruto's mind. After reincarnating, Otsutsuki Isshiki revealed his true form.
"It's him?!" Uchiha Sasuke's expression flickered upon seeing Isshiki's true form.
"What's wrong?" Nara Shikamaru and the others looked at him.
"I saw his image in that alternate dimension before. He's the Otsutsuki who came to this planet with Otsutsuki Kaguya."
The Seventh Hokage and the others all turned their gazes to the figure on the screen. Pale skin and grayish-white hair, a long, curved horn like a crown growing from his head to the back of his skull. He had thick white eyebrows above his right eye, while the eyebrow above his left eye was covered by a keratinous material. His left eye was a Byakugan, and his right eye was extremely peculiar, different from any dōjutsu currently known in the shinobi world—a golden, wheel-like pattern with eight triangles surrounding the pupil. Beneath his tattered clothes, unusual jagged patterns were visible, and there was a vertical row of tomoe tattoos on both his chest and back.
Otsutsuki Isshiki's right eye twitched slightly, and several stone pillars supporting the hall launched an attack on Koji Kashin.
Vwom!
Just then, the live feed abruptly went black.
"Hmph... It seems the reconnaissance toad has been killed," Amado sighed faintly.
But this had no effect on Naruto; the "live broadcast" in his mind continued.
After Otsutsuki Isshiki's reincarnation, his strength had increased exponentially. Koji Kashin, who had been able to fight him somewhat evenly before, was now completely at a disadvantage, forced to flee desperately. When the power disparity was great enough, even escaping became a luxury.
CRACK!
Koji Kashin took a heavy blow to the face, and the mask he wore instantly shattered.
"A clone of Jiraiya, one of the Sannin. Your genes have long since ordained that you would die here." Otsutsuki Isshiki clearly knew his identity. Or rather, Amado's creation of this clone had likely received his tacit approval.
"Perhaps this is what they call 'fate'." Koji Kashin unleashed several ninjutsu in succession, but none could inflict the slightest damage on Isshiki.
"Give up the struggle," Isshiki said indifferently, looking down on him as a god might look upon foolish mortals.
Smack~
Koji Kashin gritted his teeth, his figure suddenly retreating backward as he clasped his hands together.
"This is—" Naruto, far away in Konoha, felt this and abruptly sat up straight.
"Sage Mode... The ratio distribution is already nearing perfection..."
However, even after Koji Kashin activated Sage Mode, he was still no match for Otsutsuki Isshiki. His movements were completely sealed by Isshiki's ability to enlarge and shrink objects. Even with the enhancement of natural energy, in close-quarters taijutsu combat, Koji Kashin was still being overwhelmed by Isshiki.
"Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!" A massive sphere of chakra energy appeared between the two of them. This was Koji Kashin's final struggle.
BOOM!
Otsutsuki Isshiki's right eye twitched slightly, and a black and red cube suddenly crashed down onto his enemy.
"Ugh~" Half of his body went numb. Koji Kashin spat out a large mouthful of blood.
"It's over..." The jutsu formula was destroyed, the connection severed. Naruto slowly lowered his right hand.
"You all should prepare yourselves. He's coming," Amado suddenly said, his words startling everyone present.
"What do you mean?" Nara Shikamaru demanded.
"I've already said it. Jigen's body cannot bear Otsutsuki Isshiki's power." Amado turned his head away, not looking at him. Perhaps it was the mutual repulsion often found among highly intelligent individuals. Anyway, from the first glance, he hadn't liked Nara Shikamaru, and he assumed the feeling was mutual. "After reincarnating into Jigen, Otsutsuki Isshiki's body entered a countdown. In about three days, Jigen's physical body will collapse."
"You mean?" The Seventh Hokage's expression changed, and he looked down at the unconscious Kawaki.
"That's right. Within three days, Otsutsuki Isshiki will definitely find a way to reimplant Karma on Kawaki," Amado nodded slightly.
"Little Dad, lunch is ready!" The adorable Himawari ran to his side, her hands behind her back, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she looked at him.
"So soon?" Naruto was taken aback. He looked up at the sky; the scorching sun, unbeknownst to him, was already high overhead. He performed a kip-up and patted the grass off his pants. When one was immersed in something, time always passed unnoticed.
"What delicious food did my little cutie make today?" Naruto asked with a laugh, ruffling her hair. Although he didn't have Amado's precise intelligence like the Seventh Hokage and the others, based on his own senses, Otsutsuki Isshiki's reincarnated body in Jigen should have some kind of defect. Just in the battle with Koji Kashin, Isshiki's body had already shown a certain degree of deterioration. Therefore, he predicted that within two days, Otsutsuki Isshiki would definitely descend upon Konoha to seize Kawaki and reincarnate again.
"Chikuzenni, Nikujaga, Chawanmushi, Dobin Mushi..." The little cutie counted on her fingers, rattling off one dish name after another.
"So many?"
"Mom said we have guests, so we need to prepare a bit more food," Himawari giggled.
"Which dish did Himawari make?" Naruto laughed heartily upon hearing this, ruffling her little head again.
"If I tell you, it won't be fun anymore. You guess later, Little Dad." Himawari put her hands behind her back, tilted her head to look at him, and gave a mysterious smile. Perhaps because her father was always busy with work and rarely spent time with her, she was very attached to this suddenly appearing "Little Dad."
"Then I'll have to guess very carefully."
Interrogation Room.
Just as the Seventh Hokage and the others were still discussing how to deal with the impending arrival of Otsutsuki Isshiki, Ino's anxious voice suddenly appeared in his mind.
"There's a powerful chakra source that suddenly appeared above the village! Its nature is extremely similar to the enemy from last time!"
"I know. Just have the ANBU assist with evacuating the villagers. I'll handle the enemy," the Seventh Hokage said, letting out a light breath. Although he had known Isshiki would come, his arrival this soon was still somewhat unexpected.
The Seventh Hokage looked at the others in the room and nodded slightly. "He's already here."
"Shikamaru, watch Boruto and Kawaki! Sasuke, let's go!"
Uchiha Sasuke nodded slightly, and both their figures vanished from the spot.
"Does he have to be this fast...?" Sensing Otsutsuki Isshiki's chakra enter the range of his Mind's Eye of Kagura, Naruto looked at the half-eaten food on the table, feeling somewhat exasperated. He picked up a piece of beef and put it in his mouth.
Naruto resentfully walked out of the small house and looked up at Otsutsuki Isshiki, who was floating in mid-air.
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