"Ugh—!"
Sasuke coughed up blood as he crashed to the ground.
"Shhk—!"
Black rods erupted from the earth, instantly sealing off his position.
—Amenotejikara!
"Whoosh!"
In the next instant—
Jigen appeared right inside the enclosure.
"…Tch."
He glanced at Sasuke, now occupying his previous position.
"That damned Rinnegan… hard to guard against."
—
"BOOM!!"
Jigen launched himself upward from a crouch—
Tearing through Kurama's avatar from below—
Splitting it open—
And kicking Naruto into the sky.
Because of the angle—
He didn't use full force.
Naruto was sent flying—
But not severely injured like Sasuke.
—
High above—
Naruto's transplanted Sharingan—
Forced him to see—
Everything.
The ground—
Drenched in blood.
Bodies everywhere.
His heart—
Shattered.
It's my fault…
I should've known…
He would come for Kawaki…
I should've hidden him… separated him…
Then no one would've died…
—
But—
Even in regret—
His resolve did not change.
Isshiki…
You're a monster.
All the more reason… I can't hand Kawaki to you.
—
Naruto clenched his fist—
And punched toward Jigen.
—
"SHHK! SHHK—!"
Two rods pierced straight through his arm.
"…What!?"
Naruto's eyes widened.
So this is Sukunahikona…
Even with Sage Mode and Sharingan—
He couldn't see it.
—
Jigen twisted midair—
And kicked Naruto in the shoulder.
"CRACK!"
Bone shattered.
Naruto was slammed back into the ground.
—
"…Damn it!"
Sasuke's Rinnegan bled—
Locking onto Jigen.
—Amaterasu!
—
Black flames ignited—
Engulfing Jigen.
—
"Amaterasu… the inextinguishable black flame."
"But…"
"…useless."
Jigen closed his hands—
And absorbed the flames completely.
—
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"Other than that spatial swap just now…"
"Is Amaterasu all your Rinnegan can do?"
—
Sasuke said nothing.
Because—
It was true.
—
Amaterasu—
Once feared—
Now outdated.
—
Too many stronger abilities existed.
Better mechanics.
Better power.
—
He realized—
Too late.
—
We were rushed.
Given power too early…
By the Sage of Six Paths.
We skipped growth.
Missed evolution.
—
And now—
Against monsters like Akira—
Like Isshiki—
They were falling behind.
—
"…I'm getting tired of those long faces."
Jigen raised his hands—
Then slammed them down.
—
"CRACK!!!"
Massive spikes burst from the ground—
Piercing Naruto and Sasuke—
Through limbs and body—
Suspending them in the air.
—
"AAAAAHHH!!"
Blood poured from their mouths.
—
Sasuke's mind screamed silently:
Sage of Six Paths…
If you're still watching…
Tell me—
How do we fight this?
—
Only rain answered.
—
Jigen spoke calmly:
"Do you know why I've kept you alive?"
"Because I'm curious."
—
He stepped closer.
"Since you know about me…"
"And Kāma…"
"I'll ask directly."
—
"Kawaki is my vessel."
"Through Kāma, I should be able to open a portal directly to him."
"But something is blocking it."
"I can't reach him."
"I can't even sense him."
—
His eyes narrowed.
"You two… who did it?"
—
He looked at Naruto.
"…Not you."
Then at Sasuke.
"…Rinnegan?"
—
Sasuke remained silent.
Jigen stepped forward—
Hand reaching for his chin—
—
"CRACKLE!!"
Purple lightning struck from behind.
—
Jigen glanced sideways.
—Sukunahikona.
—
The lightning shrank instantly.
—
"GRAB."
He seized Kakashi by the throat.
"…Then I'll ask you."
—
"Strategist."
"You recognized Sukunahikona."
"You should have the answer."
—
Kakashi met his gaze.
"…Uchiha Akira."
"He's the one who did it."
—
"Oh?"
Jigen raised an eyebrow.
"…You're guessing?"
—
Kakashi thought:
Sorry, Obito.
Whether it's true or not…
I have to push this onto Akira.
We can't survive otherwise.
—
"Akira had contact with Kawaki."
"That's when it likely happened."
"That's all I can deduce."
—
Jigen smiled faintly.
"…Trying to redirect me."
"Interesting."
—
Kakashi continued:
"Believe it or not."
"But Kawaki hasn't shown up at all."
"That's strange."
"He respects Naruto."
"He wouldn't stay hidden."
"…He might not even be here anymore."
—
"You're wasting time."
"You should go find him."
—
Jigen's eyes narrowed.
"…You know too much."
—
Someone else is feeding them information…
Not Kawaki.
—
He began to seal Kakashi into a space-time prison—
—
"WHOOSH!!"
A white figure burst in—
Horned—
Hands forming seals.
—
"RUMBLE—!!"
The ground surged—
Dozens of living stone spikes rising beneath Jigen.
—
"…Hm?"
"Sukunahikona can't shrink these?"
"…They're alive?"
—
—Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation!
—
Jigen abandoned the transfer—
Grabbing Kakashi—
Then instantly appeared before Yakushi Kabuto—
Seizing his throat.
—
"…Impressive."
"But insufficient."
"You're Kabuto."
"One of the masterminds of the Fourth War."
"Orochimaru's disciple."
—
Kabuto smiled faintly.
"To be remembered by you… is an honor."
—
This won't work…
Only this technique bypasses Sukunahikona…
—
His cheeks puffed.
Like a toad.
—
Jigen smirked.
"…Are you making faces?"
—
Then I'll detonate it… inside.
Let the vibration hit you directly.
—
Even if I die—
I won't let you destroy this place.
—
"BOOM!!"
A white dragon exploded—
Inside Kabuto's mouth.
—
—Sage Art: White Rage Technique!
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