"How did you find me?"
Kawaki fixed Koji Kashin with a glare and asked coolly.
Koji Kashin answered honestly, "There's a tracking device on you."
Upon hearing this, Kawaki's expression turned grim. He stared at Koji Kashin and demanded, "Do you all already know that I was chosen as a vessel by Isshiki Otsutsuki?"
"That's right," Koji Kashin admitted without hesitation, nodding his head. "That's why Isshiki will come after you soon. We need to hide in Konoha first."
Kawaki snorted angrily, his face filled with rage.
The entire Kara organization had kept this secret from him, and him alone.
They truly were despicable.
However, after seeing how easily Koji Kashin had tracked him down, Kawaki gave up on hiding by himself.
If Koji Kashin could place a tracker on him without his notice, then undoubtedly Isshiki Otsutsuki could find him somehow too.
No matter where he fled, they would always find him.
Realizing this, Kawaki pushed his speed to the maximum—he must return to Konoha before Isshiki found him.
Only that powerful, self-assured man could offer him any hope of survival.
Racing through the night, the two quickly reached the dense forest outside Konoha.
"Halt! Who are you?!" shouted two shinobi guarding the village entrance, blocking Kawaki and Koji Kashin's path.
Both of them had very distinctive appearances.
One wore his hair covering one eye, while the other had a long strip of bandage crossing his face.
They were none other than Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo.
Kawaki stepped forward and explained, "I'm Kawaki. I just left Konoha not long ago."
Kotetsu said coolly, "Why are you coming back? Do you have a pass?"
Kawaki was taken aback.
Did you really need a pass just to enter Konoha?
Seeing Kawaki's expression, Kotetsu added coldly, "No pass, no entry into Konoha."
"Leave immediately, or we won't be polite."
As Kawaki stood there uncertain what to do, Koji Kashin took a couple steps forward and removed his mask.
When they saw his face, both Kotetsu and Izumo froze—"Lord Jiraiya?"
Without much emotion, Koji Kashin simply said, "I have urgent matters to report to Lord Emperor. Step aside."
At his words, Kotetsu and Izumo exchanged glances, each seeing suspicion in the other's eyes.
As village guards, they'd met Jiraiya more than once.
Jiraiya always carried an easygoing, slightly perverted air—nothing like the serious figure standing before them now.
The two silently activated their sensing abilities to observe Koji Kashin and Kawaki, finding nothing unusual.
Finally, they chose to open the village gates.
"Jiraiya-sama," one said, "please report to Hokage-sama after entering the village."
Koji Kashin replied indifferently, "I understand."
With that, he grabbed Kawaki and began walking toward the village.
Just then, suddenly, something changed.
A pitch-black spatial portal appeared directly in front of Koji Kashin and Kawaki.
From it stepped Jigen, who looked at Koji Kashin with a cold snort: "So you're the traitor within the organization."
Putting together Kawaki's spaceship crash-landing and Koji Kashin now trying to hide Kawaki within Konoha, Jigen easily deduced the identity of Kara's traitor.
"Koji Kashin, Sanzu Amado..."
Upon hearing Jigen's words, Hagane Kotetsu and Izumo Kamizuki, already somewhat suspicious, immediately blocked the village entrance.
"Who exactly are you people, daring to sneak into Konoha!"
Jigen glanced at them calmly and politely replied, "Don't misunderstand. I have no intention of infiltrating Konoha—I just want to take back what's mine."
Koji Kashin pushed Kawaki slightly toward Hagane and Izumo, then positioned himself between them and Jigen.
Seeing this, Hagane and Izumo restrained Kawaki while launching a signal flare into the sky.
Jigen didn't seem to care, watching Koji Kashin instead with interest. "Do you really think you can stop me?"
Koji Kashin remained expressionless. "You'll find out only by trying."
"Hmph!"
Jigen gave a slight grunt as black tattoo-like markings instantly covered his body.
In an instant, he rushed straight toward Koji Kashin.
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!]
A massive fireball engulfed Jigen, but without dodging, he casually absorbed the flames.
Witnessing this, Koji Kashin quickly formed another hand seal.
[Fire Release: Big Flame Bullet!]
Jigen narrowed his eyes, his body suddenly shrinking. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared right in front of Koji Kashin.
"Die!"
A black iron staff pierced through Koji Kashin's body, which then exploded into white smoke.
[Earth Release: Bottomless Swamp!]
Solid earth transformed instantly into thick, muddy swamp, trapping Jigen inside, nearly swallowed whole in seconds.
"It's useless."
Jigen activated his ability again, shrinking his body rapidly. The mud clinging tightly to him separated widely.
Effortlessly, he broke free from the swamp.
But just then, several small toads crawled out from between Jigen's clothing.
[Kai!]
The Toads Kai'd, instantly dousing Jigen's body in toad oil.
Jigen could not help but frown. "So greasy… how disgusting."
Before his voice faded, Koji Kashin had already completed the Hand Seals. "[Summoning Jutsu: True Flame of Mount Hibana!]"
Blazing flames immediately engulfed Jigen's body, reducing everything within dozens of meters to ash.
Feeling the fire's power, Jigen tried absorbing it, but the flames remained unaffected.
Koji Kashin's voice came from outside. "This is the True Flame of Mount Hibana; it isn't powered by my chakra. Your ability won't work against it."
Jigen's body began cracking under the intense heat.
"Fine then. This body has nearly reached its limit anyway."
With a mere thought, Jigen unleashed an extremely powerful aura.
Immediately afterward, his appearance and physique started transforming.
Within an instant, he became a pale-skinned figure wearing feathered robes with horns on his head.
Through Jigen's body, Isshiki otsutsuki successfully completed reincarnation.
Although this body could not withstand all of his strength—it would last at most three days—
it would be sufficient.
Kawaki stood right before him. As long as he eliminated Koji Kashin and the two Konoha guards, he could obtain Kawaki's body.
"Disperse."
With just a whisper from Isshiki otsutsuki, the overwhelming True Flame of Mount Hibana scattered in an instant.
Then, a glint of golden light flashed through Isshiki otsutsuki's right eye.
Pierce!
Instantly, several Black Receivers impaled Koji Kashin's body, pinning him in place.
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