Jigen watched the orange figure charging through blood and carnage.
"…Byakugan. Descendants of Ōtsutsuki Hamura… the Hyūga clan."
His tone was indifferent.
No mercy. No distinction.
Just like the others—
He restored a buried black rod along her path—
Waiting for her to run straight into death.
—
But—
Mid-charge—
Hanabi suddenly tilted her head.
"CLANG!"
The rod grazed past her forehead protector—
Snapping the ribbon that bound her hair—
Releasing a cascade of dark strands.
—
"…Coincidence?"
Jigen's eyes narrowed.
—
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Two more rods followed—
Yet she dodged both—
Barely—
At full speed.
—
"…!"
Jigen realized something.
—
"She can see it…"
"Not clearly—but she's detecting the moment before the rods restore."
—
Yes.
Hyūga Hanabi's Byakugan—
Had once been taken by Toneri Ōtsutsuki—
Evolved into a Tenseigan—
And though that power was gone—
Something remained.
—
A dormant potential.
—
Normally—
She couldn't awaken it.
—
But now—
Driven by the will to die—
That power stirred.
—
"…Interesting."
Jigen raised his hand.
"But dodging one is already your limit."
"What about many?"
—
He prepared to overwhelm her—
—
But suddenly—
Hanabi's movements changed.
—
Her stance tightened—
Her momentum spiraled—
Her sleeves swept outward—
—
"WHOOSH!!"
—
A rotating vortex erupted around her—
—
—Eight Trigrams Advanced Technique: Gale Rotation!
—
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!!"
The spinning chakra field expanded—
Ten meters wide—
Surging forward like a tornado—
Deflecting every incoming rod!
—
"…Oh?"
Jigen's expression shifted slightly.
"Using Rotation… while charging forward?"
"Impressive."
—
The vortex dissipated—
Hanabi closed the gap—
Five meters—
—
Her right hand clenched—
Five fingers curved inward—
—
"Eight Trigrams… Vacuum—"
—
"SHHK!"
A rod pierced straight through her palm!
—
"Ugh—!!"
Pain exploded through her nerves—
Her arm froze—
Her face twisted.
—
Jigen remained calm.
"While attacking… you lose the ability to evade."
—
"…PALM!!!"
—
She bit through her lip—
Using pain—
To overpower pain—
—
And forced her hand forward!
—
Her fury—
Her grief—
Her will—
Exploded through her chakra network—
—
Forcing the rod embedded in her palm—
Out!
—
"WHOOSH!"
The rod—
Driven by her strike—
Shot toward Jigen's face!
—
But—
Jigen casually raised two fingers—
And caught it.
—
The force behind it—
Was nothing more than a breeze.
—
"…That's all?"
—
"BOOM!"
Using that brief opening—
Hanabi stepped in—
Closing to within one meter!
—
Her left hand shot forward—
In a spear-like strike—
Aiming directly at his right eye!
—
"…!"
Jigen's gaze sharpened.
She saw it.
The origin of Sukunahikona… my right eye.
—
He moved to strike her down—
—
But—
"CRACK—!"
The fracture in his abdomen worsened!
—
Pain surged—
Freezing him for a split second!
—
"…The vessel—!"
"Of all times—!"
—
Forced—
He twisted his head—
Using his left eye to take the hit—
—
"PUCHI—!"
—
Her fingers pierced through—
—
"…!?"
Even Hanabi froze—
She hadn't expected—
It to actually work.
—
She pushed deeper—
Trying to destroy his brain—
—
"GRAB!"
Jigen's hand clamped down—
Pulling her arm out.
—
Blood flowed from his ruined eye—
Mixing with the black Kāma markings—
Creating a chilling beauty.
—
"…Don't push your luck."
—
"CRACK!"
His grip tightened—
Her palm bones shattered instantly—
Her fingers twisted grotesquely.
—
"Ugh…!"
Her vision blurred—
Cold sweat soaked her body—
Her knees buckled—
—
But—
She did not scream.
—
Jigen was furious.
—
Not just because he was injured—
—
But because—
This moment—
Awakened an ancient humiliation.
—
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
The one who had once—
Crippled him.
—
His expression darkened.
—
"I won't let you die easily."
—
"SHHK! SHHK! SHHK! SHHK! SHHK! SHHK!"
—
Rods pierced through her body—
From all directions—
—
Her orange kimono—
Turned crimson.
—
Blood pooled beneath her.
—
Jigen lifted her by the throat—
Holding her in the air.
—
"I can grant you a painless death."
—
"Tell me where Kawaki is."
—
Her fading eyes flickered—
Instinctively.
—
"…Oh?"
Jigen smiled.
"You know."
—
Yes.
She did.
—
She had seen Kawaki leave.
She had guessed his destination.
—
But—
She smiled faintly.
—
She could have said it—
Led Jigen to Uchiha Akira—
—
But she couldn't.
—
Because—
That was where Himawari was heading.
—
"Speak."
"Now."
—
Jigen's patience was gone.
—
"If not…"
"I'll use genjutsu."
—
He raised his hand—
—
"…Crk."
A strange sound.
—
"…?"
Jigen frowned—
Forcing her mouth open—
—
"…You bit off your own tongue."
—
"…What a shame."
—
"Then I'll take you back."
"Have it reattached."
"Make you speak."
—
"Though… with this body…"
"You'll have to be turned into one of Amado's experiments first."
—
"WHOOSH!"
Dark energy spread from his palm—
A portal forming—
—
"Wait… Jigen."
—
A deep voice—
Sounded behind him.
—
Jigen slowly turned—
—
And saw—
…someone unexpected.
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