435 The Shimura Has Ice Release

Facing Jigen's question, Envy and Pride both gave no answer.

But their attitude already told Jigen everything.

"Amado, you bastard."

Jigen cursed Amado. Although he had sensed that Amado was not truly loyal to him, he was overly confident in his own power, and since he needed Amado's mind to serve him, he hadn't placed strict limits on him.

He never expected that the man would choose to rebel at a moment like this.

For someone like him, who still hadn't found a suitable vessel, this was indeed terrible.

Once he was forced to resurrect inside Jigen's body, he would have to find a suitable container within three days, or he would truly vanish from this world.

So that's how it is—those three Edo Tensei people came here for this reason?

Their goal was to cooperate with these two idiots.

Jigen immediately understood Amado's intent. Without caring about chakra consumption, he was about to activate his space–time ninjutsu to escape.

"Don't even think about running, Jigen."

Pride rushed to his side, punching him away from the forming vortex.

"This pain… Amado, that bastard. His natural energy research is pretty good."

Jigen touched the right side of his face where he'd been hit, his voice growing colder and darker.

Then he punched Pride in return.

After a brief exchange of blows, Pride quickly fell into a disadvantage.

Envy joined in at this critical moment, and with both of them cooperating, all they managed to do was make the beating a little less miserable.

After all, Jigen was still in Kāma Stage Two.

And as Amado predicted, he was close to the limit of what his vessel could handle.

Feeling the change in his body, Jigen realized he had to speed up the battle—otherwise...

"Sage Art: Rolling Wheel Hell."

The ground beneath them suddenly split open into a large pit, and several wheel-shaped objects materialized around it.

Then flames erupted from the earth, swallowing Jigen whole.

Envy… actually knew Sage Jutsu.

"The plan is proceeding smoothly."

Inside a secret room in Konoha's Research Bureau, Amado—who had been successfully retrieved by Minato—took a deep drag on his cigarette and exhaled smoke as he spoke.

Watching the projection displayed before him, his expression radiated absolute confidence.

"Of course, striking now wasn't part of the original timeline, but this is all thanks to you."

He looked toward A, who remained silent.

He had long sensed that A was planning to defect. Once A betrayed them, Jigen would definitely become more cautious of his surroundings, and perhaps relocate again.

So Amado had no choice but to use En Oyashiro to trigger the rebellion early.

According to his plan, this uprising should have happened years—maybe more than ten years—later.

Envy and Pride had enormous flaws. They could never corner Jigen alone.

Fortunately, Konoha had already used Edo Tensei. Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara—oh, and Senju Tobirama—had been sent first to exhaust Jigen's stamina.

"Hmph." Hearing Amado call him out, A didn't refute—he only snorted and turned away.

He hadn't expected that there were other traitors in the organization. Truly, Uchiha Yōwan had been exceptional back then—sharp-eyed enough to discover talents like them.

"But what do we do now? Once Jigen fully becomes Isshiki, his power will be even more terrifying. If we can't kill him and he manages to carve that Kāma mark…"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was responsible for their safety in the chamber, looked extremely worried.

Danzo, standing nearby, was also nervous. This was a complete Ōtsutsuki—someone capable of destroying a planet—far beyond someone with diluted blood like Toneri.

"If we're lucky, Isshiki will die. If not, a Kāma carved in such haste won't decompress in time. That alone buys us plenty of time."

Compared to the two anxious elders, Amado was far more composed.

No matter the outcome, Isshiki wouldn't be able to strike at the shinobi world for some time. His own research could continue. With Konoha's support, reaching the root was simply a matter of time.

Once each of them possessed Ōtsutsuki power—or power surpassing the Ōtsutsuki—why would they fear that clan?

As they spoke, the projection began to change.

The raging flames dispersed. In the center of the pit stood someone who looked like Jigen—yet not exactly Jigen.

"That's… Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."

Everyone's gaze fixed on Isshiki's figure. Danzo's breathing grew rapid.

Pride and Envy both noticed his transformation. They exchanged a glance—knowing the plan had succeeded. Now they just had to keep wearing this monster down.

"Sage Art: Flame-Cleave!"

Envy unleashed Sage Jutsu to draw Isshiki's attention, while Pride circled around from another direction.

The flames ignited—and then instantly died.

With a deafening crash, Pride saw a massive block smash down where Envy stood. A shadow fell over his own head as well.

Unable to dodge, Pride was struck in the legs. The intense pain made him cry out.

A second block fell, crushing his left arm.

"Damn insects."

Isshiki approached Pride and stepped on his head.

He no longer carried even a shred of his usual elegance—his entire demeanor was furious and unhinged.

"Heh… Jigen—no, Isshiki—your time is up. Don't even dream of going to the dungeon to carve the Kāma. Those kids were moved long before we struck."

Pride's face was pressed into the dirt. He had accepted death. Now all he could do was attack Isshiki with his words.

"Oh? Is that so."

Hearing this, Isshiki unexpectedly calmed down.

He looked upward at the ceiling, staring sharply at a small, specific spot.

Several black rods appeared out of thin air, shooting toward that point.

At the same time, another black rod pierced Pride's skull.

"So fast… you won't even give me a chance to save him?"

A dark figure leapt through the gap in the ceiling, knocking away the rods with a wave before landing lightly.

"So you're the final piece of this plan? Shimura Takeshi."

Jigen withdrew all the blocks and examined his new opponent with interest.

"That's right. And I'm not alone."

Takeshi smiled faintly, trying not to let his nerves show.

As he spoke, Uchiha Hikari and Uchiha Obito stepped out of the shadows. The three stood together, facing Isshiki warily—especially Obito, who had witnessed Hashirama and Madara fall. He knew very well how terrifying the man before them was.