Chiga floated high in the air, arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on Jigen below. A faint, confident smile curved across his lips as if he were already certain of the outcome.
Jigen narrowed his eyes. He could sense an aura similar to his own clan from this mysterious man, yet Chiga's appearance didn't resemble an Ōtsutsuki in the slightest. Suspicion clouded his face as he called out,
"Who are you?"
"Me?" Chiga tilted his head, his tone laced with amusement. "Didn't you just ask about me? I am Uchiha Chiga."
Jigen's pupils contracted. "Nani!?"
Startled, he instinctively activated his Karma mark. But Chiga had already swooped down like a hawk, fist driving toward him.
Boom!
The ground beneath Jigen cracked violently, fissures spreading outward with each passing second. He braced himself, arms raised in defense, straining to block Chiga's crushing blow. Cold sweat streamed down his temple.
"So strong!" he muttered under his breath.
Chiga smirked. With a surge of power, his punch broke through Jigen's guard and sent him crashing into the ground.
Jigen slowly pulled himself up, his expression dark and tense. From that brief exchange, he already understood—he was no match for Chiga in his current state. But transforming further would place his vessel at risk of collapse.
Chiga gave him no time to consider. Sparks of pure lightning danced across his hand, crackling with terrifying intensity, before he thrust it forward.
Jigen panicked and rolled awkwardly to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. Dust flew everywhere as the ground split open behind him.
Chiga raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. A faint, pale halo formed beneath his foot. He stomped once, and the earth quaked violently, a massive crack racing toward Jigen like a serpent.
"Tch…" Jigen cursed under his breath and leapt into the air. But before he could stabilize himself, torrents of lightning wrapped around his body.
Desperate, he spread his Karma to absorb the attack. Yet the moment the current hit him, his body convulsed in agony. Black smoke rose from his charred form as he gasped,
"This… This isn't Chakra…"
His eyes widened with disbelief. "This is… natural lightning?!"
For the first time, unease flickered in his heart.
"Did the elders send you to capture me?" Jigen growled, glaring at Chiga.
Chiga blinked in surprise. Before he could respond, Jigen seemed to convince himself and muttered, "Of course. It must be because I failed to deliver the fruit on time. They sent you here to drag me back."
His face twisted into a bitter smile as he demanded, "So then… what's your real name?"
Chiga shrugged casually. "Uh… how about Ōtsutsuki Chiga?"
"Ōtsutsuki Chiga? I've never heard of you before," Jigen said suspiciously. He searched his memory but found nothing. Still, the aura Chiga carried was undeniable. To him, that was proof enough.
He clenched his fists, his thoughts racing. Kaguya… it must be her. She must have whispered something to this one, turning him against me.
His lips curled into a twisted grin. "Kaguya, you didn't expect this, did you? You thought I was dead. But now I'll expose you, and this Chiga will be the one to strike you down!"
From Chiga's perspective, Jigen suddenly looked deranged. With manic energy, Jigen began to rant about how Kaguya had ambushed him and forced him into hiding inside a human vessel for centuries.
The longer he went on, the more irritated Chiga became. With a sigh, he cut him off,
"Enough. What's the point of telling me all this? Am I your father?"
Jigen froze, momentarily speechless. He forced a strained smile and said, "If you doubt me, call Kaguya here. I'll face her directly!"
Chiga frowned. What's wrong with this guy? Has he lost his mind?
"So what you want," Chiga said slowly, "is for me to kill Kaguya?"
"Yes!" Jigen shouted. "She betrayed her master and stole the divine tree fruit. That's a capital crime!"
Chiga's eyes narrowed. His voice turned cold. "And what does that have to do with me? Besides… her master is me now. Do you really think I need you to tell me how to deal with her?"
"You…" Jigen stammered, his face paling.
Bang!
Chiga's fist smashed into his face, sending him hurtling downward like a falling meteor. The impact carved a crater into the earth.
"So talkative," Chiga muttered with disdain.
For a long moment, Jigen didn't move. Just as Chiga was about to drag him out, a violent surge of energy burst from underground.
The ground collapsed, and Jigen shot out, his appearance drastically altered. A long horn now extended from the left side of his forehead, arching over to his right ear.
Chiga's eyes narrowed. "Oh? Finally ready to take this seriously?"
Jigen's face twisted with fury. "You bastard! You've forced me to this point…"
Before he could finish, Chiga's foot slammed into his abdomen. But this time, Jigen's transformed body held strong. He caught Chiga's ankle, snarling as he swung him like a weapon.
Chiga twisted in midair and countered with his other leg, striking Jigen's neck. Both fighters crashed to the ground before launching themselves at each other again.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Their afterimages clashed through the forest, the sheer force of their strikes leveling towering trees. The once-thick woods turned into wasteland as the battle raged.
Finally, the two halted, breathing heavily. Chiga glanced down at his tattered clothes and chuckled. "Not bad. I really underestimated you. Your strength isn't too shabby."
Jigen didn't reply. His second state was powerful, but it wouldn't last. And deep down, he could feel it—Chiga still wasn't using his full strength.
What is this monster? Since when are the juniors of the clan this terrifying?
Jigen was no ordinary Ōtsutsuki. He was an elite, someone who once stood above countless others. Yet Chiga had forced him to his limits without even revealing his eye. The humiliation burned inside him.
Clenching his fists, Jigen glared murderously.
Chiga tilted his head. "Well? Are you still fighting?"
Jigen's voice deepened, trembling with rage. "You've forced me to go this far…"