531 Naruto the Flame-Flame Fruit

Wind and sand whipped across the ground. The surroundings were barren, devoid of any life except for a handful of people. Above their heads, a massive sphere floated in the air.

This was Kaguya's starting space. Kiyosuke had arrived here through the Kāma. Jigen looked up at Kaguya, who was sealed by the Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei, and said:

"What a foolish woman. To think she'd let herself be sealed by a bunch of inferior creatures. If it weren't for you, we would've finished our mission ages ago. How did things end up like this?"

All of this—his miserable state—was because of that woman!

"A disgrace to the Ōtsutsuki clan."

"She's still better than you. At least she had the guts." Kiyosuke smiled. "You're nothing like the Momoshiki and Kaguya I know. Momoshiki always looked down on us. Even facing certain death, he'd still charge forward to show us the strength of the Ōtsutsuki. Kaguya too. But you? You've been cowering and dragging yourself along all this time. I really look down on you."

Momoshiki snorted inside his mind.

"Isshiki used to be a strong one, back in the day. Never thought he'd fall this far. He's really disgraced the Ōtsutsuki name."

"Yeah, Momoshiki just told me you embarrassed the entire Ōtsutsuki clan." Kiyosuke's grin made Jigen explode with rage.

"Shut your mouth! What do you know?! Momoshiki is just a brat with power. If he ended up like me, he wouldn't even have had a chance to survive! A thousand years!!"

"Do you know how I survived these thousand years? Do you even understand?" Jigen's voice stayed cold. "And you—a group of lower creatures—dare bark at me? You don't know your place! You really think you can disrespect me like this?!"

But despite Kiyosuke's mockery, Jigen did not lose his composure. Marks from the Kāma surfaced on his body. His Kāma on his chin spread its markings across him, and his presence surged upward.

"Looks like we might be in a bit of trouble."

Kiyosuke laughed.

"But well, I did come prepared. Summoning: Edo Tensei!"

Two coffins slowly rose from the ground. Madara and Hashirama stepped out, long unseen. Madara looked around and sighed.

"You again? This really never ends. Can't you give us some peace?"

Hashirama also nodded.

"Kiyosuke, we really were hoping to rest in the Pure Land. Never thought you'd really keep us sealed."

These were the same Edo Tensei bodies from the last battle against Kaguya. Kiyosuke hadn't released them after that—he kept them all this time.

"Haha, this here is Ōtsutsuki Isshiki—he came to this planet with Kaguya back in the day." Kiyosuke laughed and shifted their attention toward Jigen.

"Ōtsutsuki?" Madara folded his arms and stared coldly at him. His Rinnegan swept over Jigen.

"His body seems odd. Something's inside his ear."

"Yeah. Isshiki's real body is hiding in that guy's ear. He used this poor bastard as a vessel and lived on for over a thousand years. A monster surviving since Kaguya's era."

Hashirama sighed.

"What even is this… living so long… older than both me and Madara combined."

"Kiyosuke-san summoning them… looks like the pressure is really high." Naruto walked over.

Last time, when facing Momoshiki, they summoned these two. They had also appeared during the fight against Kaguya. For them to show up now meant only one thing—Jigen was giving Kiyosuke serious pressure.

Madara and Hashirama realized it too and readied themselves. Hashirama suddenly noticed Naruto's cloak.

"Naruto, you're already the Seventh Hokage? Time sure flies!"

"It really does!"

Madara and Sasuke exchanged a look but stayed silent.

Asura reincarnations were always chatterboxes. Indra reincarnations always brooded.

"The God of Shinobi, First Hokage Senju Hashirama. The Shura of the Shinobi World, Uchiha Madara. Asakawa Kiyosuke. The Seventh Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto. Uchiha Sasuke. I never imagined I'd ever stand before such a lineup. Truly rare." Jigen clapped and laughed.

"Can't we just talk this out?" Hashirama asked.

"We can." Jigen said. "Give up resisting. Hand over Kawaki and Kiyosuke. Let me plant the God Tree on this planet. I won't harm you."

Not harm them? How magnanimous.

"Hmph! Delusional!"

Madara had already recognized his past mistakes. For someone like this, he didn't waste a second—he charged in immediately.

In an instant, he appeared in front of Jigen and threw a punch. Jigen dodged. Suddenly, a black rod materialized and pierced Madara's body. But Madara reacted quickly, using his Rinnegan to repel the rod.

He swiftly retreated, creating distance.

"So that's your ability? You shrink the rods and then enlarge them?"

Thanks to the Rinnegan, he saw it clearly. The rods were tiny—then instantly grew large. It seemed Jigen produced the rods small, then enlarged them in an instant.

"You saw through it so fast? From just one exchange? As expected of Uchiha Madara. Your reputation is well earned."

Jigen admired Madara's reaction and combat sense. No wonder he nearly managed to plant the God Tree back then.

Kiyosuke added:

"He can absorb ninjutsu. Be careful. It's similar to the Preta Path."

"I see. Then let's try this. Sage Mode!"

Hashirama entered Sage Mode.

"Wood Dragon Technique!"

A wooden dragon burst from the ground and lunged at Jigen.

Jigen raised his hand. A massive black rod tore through the dragon's jaw and pinned it to the ground.

"Wood Human Technique!"

A wood human sprouted from the dragon and struck down toward Jigen. But the next moment, the Wood Human vanished.

"As long as it's matter, I can shrink it. That's my ability," Jigen said.

Wood was physical matter. Ninjutsu was chakra.

Chakra would be absorbed. Matter would be shrunk.

A nightmare combination.

"Guess that leaves only taijutsu. Madara—together!"

"You don't need to say it!"

Madara also created black rods, gripping one in hand. All five of them charged at Jigen with incredible speed.

They launched continuous attacks at him.

Bang!

He blocked Hashirama and Kiyosuke's combined blows. Naruto and Madara forced him to shrink himself.

"Behind you!" Madara and Sasuke warned Naruto.

"Super Massive Rasengan!"

Naruto spun around and slammed an enormous Rasengan forward.

"You forget? I can absorb ninjutsu." Jigen used his Kāma to absorb Naruto's attack.

"But you can't dodge this!"

Madara thrust his black rod. Sasuke swung the Kusanagi. Both struck at once—

A portal opened.

And Jigen stepped out from it.

"As expected… you can't be judged by normal logic."