Inside Kara's base, silence dominated the room after the transmission cut off.
Amado smoked one cigarette after another until the ashtray beside him overflowed with stubs.
Only after extinguishing the last one did he finally break the silence.
"Jigen, shouldn't you give the Inner members an explanation? Momoshiki said only Otsutsuki can consume chakra fruits, yet you promised every one of us immortality. So who's telling the truth? And who are they supposed to believe?"
Besides Amado, five Inner members were present: Kashin Koji, Delta, Code, Boro, and Ao.
All eyes turned toward Jigen.
Under their gaze, Jigen calmly picked up his wine glass, swirling it before draining it in one smooth motion.
He set it down, wiped his lips with a handkerchief, then rested his chin on one hand.
"I did say I'd give each Inner member a fruit and grant you immortality."
"Does that contradict what Momoshiki said?"
"???"
"I spoke of the goal. He spoke of the process. I simply chose not to tell you yet—to keep you from getting ahead of yourselves."
"I plan to turn all of you… into Otsutsuki."
"You're joking, right?" Boro scoffed. "Becoming Otsutsuki isn't that simple. You said it yourself—the only way is through Karma."
"And if we're taken over by Karma, we die. That's not becoming Otsutsuki—that's becoming their vessel."
Jigen glanced at him. "I've said many things. Why did you latch onto that one?"
"I was speaking broadly. Karma is far more complex than you think."
"Even if Karma disappears during extraction, the Otsutsuki data that's already decompressed remains within the vessel's body—though incomplete."
"That is the method. A defective Otsutsuki. Enough to consume chakra fruit."
"The power gained may be incomplete, but… achieving immortality? That's entirely possible."
He turned to Amado.
"You've followed me for years. You're practically an expert. Tell them—am I wrong?"
Amado replied carefully, "It's true."
Jigen nodded.
"My original plan was this: once I completed reincarnation through Kawaki, I would find a new vessel."
"Before sacrificing myself to the Ten-Tails, I would implant Karma into all of you."
"I'd give you a year or two to extract as much as you could. The extent would depend on your talent."
"As Inner members, you'd at least reach Karma Stage One—retaining about twenty percent of my Otsutsuki data."
"You'd become incomplete Otsutsuki Isshiki."
"And thus gain the ability to consume lower-grade chakra fruits."
"Then I would sacrifice myself to the Ten-Tails, turning it into a Divine Tree, using the Land of See-Moon as the nursery."
"After harvesting the fruit, I would reincarnate in a new vessel, consume it, and ascend—like Kaguya—into an immortal god."
"And only then would my true plan begin."
"I would wage war against the Otsutsuki beyond this world, seize their Ten-Tails, and use them as sacrifices to cultivate new Divine Trees."
"I would create chakra fruits suited for each of you… granting you immortality."
Silence fell.
No one spoke.
Jigen glanced at them. "What? Don't believe me?"
He turned to Code.
"You're already a beneficiary. Care to share your thoughts?"
Code looked at the white Karma on his palm, eyes filled with devotion.
He had once been chosen as a backup vessel to Kawaki.
Though unfit to host Isshiki's soul, he could bear his power.
Thus, Isshiki granted him a White Karma—purely power, no soul.
Code stepped forward.
"It's all true! I am proof of the Inner members' path to immortality! Lord Isshiki has planned this from the beginning!"
"I stake my life and honor on it!"
"But not everyone is worthy! Only those loyal to the organization—those strong enough to survive—deserve this gift!"
Jigen scanned the room. "Any objections?"
No one spoke.
Amado quietly observed Ao's expression, his eyes narrowing behind orange lenses.
A faint smile curved Jigen's lips.
"Good."
"Then it's time… to deal with the traitor."
"Traitor!?" Delta snapped.
Jigen's thoughts churned.
Amado and Kashin Koji are both suspicious. If I don't act now, they'll strike first…
But I still need Amado. This body depends on his technology.
And Uchiha Akira… his strength is beyond expectation. I can't shake the feeling he's plotting something.
Sending Kawaki back to Konoha… looks like neutrality, but it's too deliberate.
I can't afford internal collapse now.
So I won't touch Amado… yet.
But Kashin Koji—
Must die.
He slowly raised his head.
His gaze locked onto Kashin Koji.
"Kashin Koji… you were the one who shot down Kawaki's transport, weren't you?"
"You tried to provoke a conflict between me and Konoha… to weaken and eliminate me."
"Unfortunately for you…"
"Uchiha Akira ruined your plan."
"!?"
Koji's eyes widened.
Jigen stood.
Calm.
Cold.
"So tell me…"
"How do you want to die?"
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