Qing did not let success go to his head.
"…I see." He lowered his gaze, a self-mocking smile tugging at his lips. "Even if I become an Inner member, I probably won't be of much use. The left half of my body is almost completely destroyed."
"When Uchiha Akira fired that beam from his mechanical cannon… if it weren't for the scientific ninja tool—my Byakugan amplifier—that the Koji-sama gave me, absorbing most of the blast, I'd have been reduced to nothing."
Amado held a cigarette between his fingers, speaking as if it were nothing. "As long as you didn't die, it's fine. I'm currently implanting you with an Inner-exclusive 'regeneration core,' along with new scientific tools tailored to your Byakugan. Once the process is complete, you'll possess combat power worthy of the Inner circle."
Qing let out a quiet breath. "So that's how it is… What cutting-edge technology. To be chosen by you—what an honor."
Amado flicked the ash from his cigarette. "Opportunities are earned. There are plenty of people who could replace you."
"You faced Uchiha Akira under the threat of death. Rather than leaking any information about the organization, you provoked him with words—forcing him to kill you. That loyalty and decisiveness… that's what I truly value."
Akira… I won the gamble, Qing thought. But at the very end… you held back, didn't you? Otherwise, even if I absorbed part of that blast, I would've been obliterated.
He asked aloud, "Was it Koji who brought me back here?"
Amado shook his head. "No. He and Delta are still out retrieving the 'Vessel.' The one who brought you back… was Ao."
"Hi there~!"
A crisp, lively voice rang out from the control console to the right. A pale girl with long black hair and the Roman numeral VIII etched on her forehead turned around and waved at Qing.
"Ao is an Inner member, and also an assistant in my research. However, for the next stage, she won't be involved."
"Once your modifications are complete, the two of you will form a team and carry out Kara's assignments. I have a feeling… things are about to get turbulent."
Qing closed his eyes, his expression calm. An assistant in research… so she must know quite a bit about Amado's work. That could be a breakthrough point for locating the vessel used to seal Ada.
"I understand," he said quietly. "I'll follow your arrangements."
At that moment, a low hum echoed as the base's main gate opened. Koji Kashin and Delta walked in side by side.
"The Vessel wasn't brought back?" Amado stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
In the corridor, a broad, muscular man in a black cloak, marked with the Roman numeral III on his face, leaned lazily against the wall.
As Delta passed him with a sour expression, he smirked. "Yo~ Delta, back already? What's with that constipated look?"
"Shut up!"
With a violent motion, Delta slammed her regenerated leg straight into the wall beside him, cracking the surface.
The man—Boro—burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Full of energy as ever. That's reassuring!"
Not far away, a red-haired youth with messy curls and the Roman numeral VI beneath his right eye rested his chin on his hand, watching lazily.
"If you ran into something you couldn't handle," Code said with a faint, almost mocking tone, "Boro and I wouldn't mind stepping in to help, you know~."
Delta clenched her fists. The image of that black-robed figure flashed through her mind—the overwhelming presence, the suffocating fear that made her body tremble uncontrollably.
Uchiha Akira… that monster… you and Boro are no match for him. Only Jigen can handle that.
Right on cue, footsteps echoed.
Jigen himself appeared at the end of the corridor, clad in a white monk's robe, walking toward them with calm authority.
"Delta. What happened? The Vessel wasn't retrieved?"
Delta hesitated, unable to find the words.
Koji stepped forward. "Allow me to explain."
Jigen nodded slightly. "Good. Go on."
Koji's thoughts raced. Back then, as part of his deal with Akira, he had agreed not to reveal any details about Akira's abilities.
It was only a gentleman's agreement—he could technically break it.
But Koji had already made his decision.
"We located the Vessel in Konoha," he said. "It is currently under the protection of the Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha."
Jigen's expression remained unchanged. "And?"
"Delta engaged the Hokage and initially had the upper hand. But then… Uchiha Akira appeared and disrupted everything."
"…Uchiha Akira."
Jigen's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The one rumored to have defeated Momoshiki and Kinshiki… the leader of the Hidden Shadow Village."
"You fought him?"
Koji answered carefully. "We did."
"And?"
"He's strong. We were forced to retreat strategically. What happened afterward between him and Konoha… we don't know."
Jigen leaned forward slightly. "Be specific. How strong?"
Koji paused, choosing his words.
At that moment, Amado stepped in.
"I've actually gathered combat data on Uchiha Akira," he said. "Recorded directly by Qing's high-speed ocular camera. It's quite detailed. Would you like to see it?"
Jigen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Then by all means."
He glanced at the others. "Boro. Code. Join me."
"Sure," Boro chuckled.
Code yawned lazily. "If he's enough to make Delta look like that, I suppose I'll take a look."
Delta clicked her tongue, saying nothing.
They gathered in the control room and took their seats.
Amado pressed a button.
The projection activated.
A full holographic display unfolded before them—immersive, vivid, almost as if they were standing inside the scene themselves.
From Qing's perspective, recorded through his right eye…
A man in a casual blue-and-white shirt appeared, walking forward calmly, carrying two bags of groceries.
Uchiha Akira.
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