526 Naruto the Flame-Flame Fruit

Kiyosuke brought that mysterious boy back to Konoha and had the hospital examine his physical condition. That strange substance caught his attention, as well as the Kāma on the boy's left palm. Was he a vessel chosen by some member of the Ōtsutsuki?

Momoshiki, Kinshiki, Urashiki, Kaguya… are there more?

Who could it be?

This kid had already undergone reincarnation through Kāma, which meant the original was dead.

No—maybe not necessarily. According to the information stored in Momoshiki's Kāma, the Ōtsutsuki can plant Kāma onto multiple vessels. When one vessel completes full assimilation, the Ōtsutsuki will revive, and all remaining Kāma will automatically disappear. It's a self-protection mechanism to prevent multiple copies of themselves from appearing.

This boy might be one of the vessels, though it was impossible to be certain. The Ōtsutsuki are extremely picky with their hosts—someone must be able to withstand their chakra reserves. Anyone who doesn't meet the requirement becomes a defective vessel. There weren't many in the ninja world who could meet such a standard.

They would have to wait for his examination report.

Not long after, Karin arrived and said:

"Kiyosuke-sama, based on our tests, his body tissues are very strange. When they react with certain substances, they turn into this."

She took out a black sphere covered in spines. Kiyosuke held it—heavy, stone-like—and asked:

"What is this?"

"His blood."

"Huh?"

Kiyosuke froze. This was blood? What kind of joke was that?

But Karin said:

"It really is blood. I think Dr. Katasuke should take a look. This kid, rather than being human, is closer to a scientific ninja tool. Almost every part of his body can transform into this material."

"I see. Fine. Transfer the kid to the Konoha Scientific Ninja Tool Research Lab." Kiyosuke issued the order. Suddenly he sensed something, and his brows tightened.

He instinctively looked toward the window, but found nothing.

It felt like a pair of eyes was watching from the shadows—but then the sensation vanished, becoming no different from usual.

In the darkness, a strange toad hid on a tree. Somewhere in Konoha, a white-haired man wearing a mask murmured:

"As expected of Asakawa Kiyosuke… his sensory perception is terrifying. Almost noticed me. I'll have to be more careful. Still, the vessel is in his hands, so it's safe. The plan can continue. Jigen is going to have a headache."

He continued his surveillance, even more cautious this time, making sure Kiyosuke wouldn't discover him.

After the boy was transferred to the Scientific Ninja Tool Research Lab, Katasuke began studying him and discovered that the kid himself was a scientific ninja tool. He had been modified from childhood—his body's materials could form weapons, harden or soften, shift shape, suited for both offense and defense.

Even Katasuke, the creator of scientific ninja tools, couldn't help but marvel. If he could talk directly with whoever developed this child, he would undoubtedly advance the field even further.

Kiyosuke had no interest in the mindset of scientists. Orochimaru was the same—obsessed with new creations. Someone like Katasuke probably wanted nothing more than to dissect the boy and study him thoroughly.

Just as Katasuke finished organizing his data, the boy woke up—and immediately began smashing at the door, trying to escape.

"Release the anesthetic, quick! If he keeps this up, he'll hurt himself!"

Katasuke explained that the walls of the lab were extremely sturdy, specially designed for testing scientific ninja tools. They couldn't be easily broken. If the boy kept hitting them, he would only injure himself.

"No need. I'll go take a look." Kiyosuke smiled and headed toward the room.

The moment the door opened, the boy charged without a word, lifting his shackled hands and swinging them at him.

Unfortunately for him, the attack had no effect on Kiyosuke. He was caught instantly. The boy then tried kicking between the legs—anything lethal he could think of—but Kiyosuke dodged with ease and said with a grin:

"Relax. I told you, I'm a shinobi of Konoha. If you don't believe me, I can't help it."

"Hmph! You dragged me back—why should I trust you?!"

"Come on, I'm only interested in what's on you. Look."

He raised his right hand and showed him the Kāma on his palm.

"Kāma? Why do you have that?!"

"Left behind by a certain dead fool," Kiyosuke said with a smile. "I'm Asakawa Kiyosuke. It's safe here. You… you're one of Kara's people, right? What's your name?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"You don't have to. Believe whatever you want. I just want to know who gave you that Kāma. Is he still alive?"

The boy sneered:

"Oh? And if I tell you, you'll go kill him?"

"Oh? So he is alive." Kiyosuke raised a brow and smiled. "Where is he?"

"Heh. You're no match for Jigen!"

"Oh, so that guy's name is Jigen. And your body… he's the one who modified you?" This Jigen was probably one of the Ōtsutsuki vessels. But if he was a vessel, how did he plant Kāma onto someone else?

Too many questions. Kiyosuke thought for a moment and said:

"Hungry? I'll take you to get something to eat."

"I don't need your food! Who knows what you put in it?!"

"You've got plenty of problems, but I don't plan on doing anything to you. As Jigen's vessel, you're definitely important to him. All I need to do is wait for him to show up. Once I wipe out every Ōtsutsuki on this planet, I can finally retire in peace."

Urashiki had already been taken out by Sasuke and Boruto, so that one wasn't a concern.

Only this last member of the Ōtsutsuki remained.

Once the final Ōtsutsuki in the ninja world was gone, there would be nothing left worth worrying about. After that, he could finally enjoy life.

"Heh!"

The boy still sneered with disdain. He didn't believe Kiyosuke could defeat Jigen—that monster was terrifying.

He had become what he was now because of that man.

"By the way, was anyone tailing you? I keep feeling strange people have been slipping into Konoha recently." That gaze he'd sensed back at the hospital lingered in his mind. It hadn't felt like an illusion, but he couldn't pinpoint who it belonged to.

In any case, it was odd.

"Could it be Koji Kashin?"

Another name popped out. Kiyosuke kept it in mind and said:

"Koji Kashin, huh? Got it. Just stay here quietly. No one's going to hurt you."

"The one hurting me is you!"

"Mm, something like that. But we won't kill you, and we won't do anything else. As long as you don't run around, that's all. Goodbye."

Kiyosuke waved his hand, tossed the boy back inside, and closed the door.