Arima was rushing toward the location of the Dragon Vein when, shortly after setting out, a flash of memory surged into his mind, his wood clone left behind at the Dragon Vein had been completely obliterated.
Ever cautious, Arima had sealed the clone along with the Dragon Vein itself as a contingency. If anyone attempted to unseal the Dragon Vein by force, the clone would activate as a safeguard.
Through the clone's final memories, Arima saw the intruder, a mysterious figure who floated effortlessly in the air.
The man wore a black cloak, with strange runes etched beneath his left eye and a diamond-shaped mark on his chin.
Around his neck and wrists were red bands, and red earrings hung from his ears.
To Arima, this kind of appearance was completely unfamiliar.
He had never heard of such a powerful figure in the entire shinobi world. The man wielded a black staff, and with nothing but taijutsu alone, he had completely overpowered the clone.
In just a few exchanges, the clone had been pinned to a cliff wall by that black staff.
The last memory before it was destroyed was the man speaking through the clone, a message clearly intended for Arima himself.
In a calm tone, the man had said: "Third Hokage, Senju Arima. I am Isshiki. I've heard much about you, it's an honor to meet."
From the battle between his clone and this self-proclaimed Isshiki, Arima quickly realized he was at a disadvantage in terms of physical combat.
Moreover, the black staff in the man's hand could disrupt the flow of chakra.
If it pierced into the body, the person's chakra would be completely sealed, leaving them paralyzed and powerless, like being forcibly sealed.
This was the first time Arima had encountered such a troublesome enemy.
He knew neither the man's origins nor his abilities, but the fact that this person clearly knew a great deal about him made the situation all the more dangerous.
Without wasting time, Arima used the Flying Thunder God Technique and appeared at the underground Dragon Vein altar in an instant.
Aside from Isshiki, who had clearly been waiting for him, there was no one else in sight.
It seemed the man had the pride of a true warrior, unwilling to coerce Queen Seramu into unsealing the Dragon Vein for him.
What surprised Arima was the sheer volume of chakra radiating from Isshiki, it even surpassed his own.
This was the first time he'd seen someone with such massive chakra reserves who wasn't a Jinchūriki. Even his grandfather, outside of Sage Mode, couldn't compare.
As Arima appeared in front of him, Isshiki gave a nod of approval.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique, the brilliant invention of the Second Hokage, it truly revolutionized space-time jutsu, allowing even non-kekkei genkai users to traverse dimensions.
And the teleportation barrier you developed? Simply extraordinary."
Arima took note of Isshiki's complete composure upon meeting him, his expression hadn't changed in the slightest. From this, Arima deduced several things.
First, the man was clearly familiar with him. Second, he was incredibly confident in his own power, so much so that he didn't see Arima as a threat at all.
Arima narrowed his eyes and asked, "You're not from any of the Five Great Nations, are you?"
Isshiki smiled faintly.
"Arima, the shinobi world has truly limited your perspective. As a mortal, you can't even begin to fathom the vastness and wonders of this universe. I sincerely invite you to join me.
With us, you'll see a world beyond anything you've ever imagined."
Arima felt no temptation from the offer. He simply asked, "Why are you inviting me?"
A moment of silence passed as Isshiki stared at him, the air between them growing tense.
Eventually, Isshiki replied, "Your body is suitable. And rather than waiting for one of your descendants to grow into a vessel, I'd prefer a mature one, ready now."
Arima's heart surged with shock and fury. So Isshiki wasn't just targeting him, he had been planning to go after Yuna and Arata as well!
He knew then and there that a battle today was inevitable. But before that, he had to suppress his anger and try to gather more intel.
"So you're the one behind the Sky Shinobi?" Arima asked.
Isshiki gave a slow shake of his head, then nodded. Before Arima could press further, Isshiki explained, "Shinno and Miyadera were just peripheral agents. Mere pawns. They don't matter."
A bold thought suddenly crossed Arima's mind. "Then you must be the master of the Exchange Vault?"
Isshiki's eyes narrowed slightly, then he gave a soft laugh and applauded Arima.
"Sharp intuition. Quick-witted and strong… yes, you are indeed the ideal vessel."
Arima pressed on. "What is your organization called?"
After a brief pause, Isshiki answered slowly, "Let's just call it… Kara."
He seemed unconcerned by Arima's probing questions. As long as they didn't touch on core secrets, he was happy to indulge the man's curiosity.
"'Kara', as in 'Shell.' So your organization is newly established?" Arima asked.
Isshiki gave a vague smile. "Maybe. Who knows?"
"I've never heard of you before. Are you from the Warring States Period?" Arima ventured further.
That question clearly caught Isshiki off guard. No one had asked his age in centuries.
He looked increasingly pleased with Arima. It had been worth coming in person, those rogue ninja he sent to ambush Arima before had been completely ineffective.
Isshiki's expression turned nostalgic. In a somber tone, he said, "Age? It has no meaning anymore. Join Kara, and you will have a chance at immortality.
Tell me, Arima… have you ever considered that the distance between two close stars in the sky might take a lifetime to cross? Humanity is so… small. Come, step into the arms of god."
He extended a hand once more, sincerely inviting Arima to join him.
Arima slowly shook his head. "Our paths are too different. I won't walk yours."
Isshiki showed no surprise at the rejection. In the end, strength ruled the shinobi world.
Even the Konoha-Kumogakure alliance Arima built had only come about through victories on the battlefield.
"You want to test my power, don't you?" Isshiki said flatly. "But have you considered… once you lose, your loved ones will be mine to deal with however I please?"
He knew well that Arima's greatest weakness was his attachment to family and friends, that was his taboo.
Isshiki's words were deliberate, meant to apply pressure.
Once Arima realized his power was not enough, Isshiki believed he would eventually submit. This was his strategy, not just to defeat the body, but to break the spirit.
Sure enough, chakra surged wildly from Arima's body.
He looked ready to attack at any moment. But in the end, he suppressed the burning fury in his heart. A battle here might endanger the innocent.
Isshiki nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Just like the evaluation you once gave your student, excellent self-control."
Arima's heart sank. This man had researched him in such depth… and he hadn't even noticed. He had walked right into a massive disadvantage.
"If you want me to join you willingly," Arima said coldly, "then defeat me in a fair fight. This place is too confined. Let's take it outside."
Isshiki gave a small nod. There was no need for further words.
With a flicker of motion, the two vanished from the Dragon Vein altar. A moment later, they reappeared in the vast expanse of desert, where no one could interrupt them.
The battle was about to begin!
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