Naruto: I Have a Gravity Training Room-Chapter 473 - 471

Jigen, the one known as Isshiki, was Kaguya's partner.

In ancient times, Isshiki and Kaguya came to Earth together to plant the Divine Tree. The plan had been to sacrifice Kaguya to the Ten-Tails, but at the critical moment, Kaguya suddenly launched an attack. Isshiki was gravely wounded, and the Ten-Tails devoured half his body.

Isshiki's upper half managed to escape. At death's door, he happened to encounter a passing monk named Jigen.

So Isshiki used the secret art Sukunahikona (Shrinking), miniaturized himself, slipped into Jigen's ear, and seized control of him. That was how he survived.

After surviving, Isshiki kept an extremely low profile, terrified Kaguya would discover him. Later, he heard Kaguya had borne two sons, only to be sealed away by them working together. He mocked her, but became even more cautious. He did not dare show himself at all, afraid Kaguya's son, the Sage of Six Paths, would notice him and seal him just like Kaguya.

And so he stayed cautious for four thousand nine hundred and thirty years. Even after the Sage of Six Paths passed away, Isshiki still remained in hiding, because he had gotten used to living that way.

During that long concealment, Isshiki even learned all sorts of human etiquette and political scheming. He understood the value of survival better than anyone, and hid himself even deeper.

Originally, the Ōtsutsuki had a secret technique called Kāma (Karma). It could copy the user by converting their data and imprinting it into another person's body, leaving behind a diamond-shaped mark. Once the Kāma thawed, the user could resurrect.

Isshiki did leave a Kāma on Jigen. But he quickly realized Jigen's body could not withstand his overwhelming power. It was not suitable as a "vessel" for reincarnation. To reincarnate perfectly, he had to find a proper "vessel." If he searched alone, it would be like looking for a needle in the ocean.

Fortunately, he had a trump card: a second Ten-Tails.

So, in secret, he founded Kara. Using chakra fruits as bait, he gathered a mysterious force.

Kara's inner members all knew his Ōtsutsuki secret, and they supported him in nurturing the Ten-Tails. They also actively helped him search for a suitable "vessel," all so that one day they could eat a chakra fruit and obtain tremendous power and a long life.

But after all these years, they had tested many people, and none were a qualified "vessel." The Divine Tree plan kept getting delayed.

(In Boruto, the suitable vessel is Kawaki, but that's more than ten years in the future. He hasn't been found yet.)

Isshiki had been hiding for ages, and his patience was absurdly good. He wasn't in a hurry, and planned to keep lying low while continuing the search.

However, because of Victor's reckless stunt, Kara now faced the risk of exposure. Isshiki would have to be furious. If the Shinobi Alliance discovered them, and those people who sealed Kaguya came after him, life would become a living hell.

Of course, Isshiki wasn't saying he couldn't beat them. The problem was his current condition.

He was controlling Jigen's puppet body and couldn't bring out much of his true power. If those people pushed him too far and he was forced to reincarnate using Jigen's body, he would only have a few days of lifespan left. How could he not panic?

Luckily, Konoha's shinobi didn't seem to have discovered anything further, so he could relax for the time being.

But Victor still had to be punished. Otherwise that fool would dare pull something again, and the other members might start getting "creative," too.

A warning example had to be made.

Victor instantly panicked and shouted, "Leader, all these years I've been out there earning money for the organization! Even if I don't deserve credit, I've at least put in the work! You can't forget my contributions just because of one mistake!"

Jigen narrowed his eyes at him, unmoved.

He was cold by nature, and deep down he still carried the Ōtsutsuki's lofty arrogance, the contempt that treats all life as beneath them. He didn't see the people of the shinobi world as people, and that included Kara's members.

If Victor's fault went unpunished, wouldn't the whole organization turn upside down?

Jigen raised a hand.

With a sharp whoosh, one of Victor's legs was snapped by a black rod that appeared out of nowhere.

Victor collapsed to the ground and let out a gut-wrenching scream, rolling and thrashing in agony, pathetic beyond words. It didn't earn even a trace of sympathy from Jigen.

Jigen said coldly, "Today, I break one of your legs as punishment. You should be grateful you're still alive."

Victor was burning with hatred and rage, but the situation was against him. All he could do was grit his teeth and say, "Thank you, Leader, for sparing my life. I'll remember this."

He would remember it, all right.

What he was remembering was the hatred.

One day, he would find a chance and betray them.

Meanwhile, in Konoha.

After Sasuke got home, he took out the eyes he'd kept hidden away: Shisui's pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, Madara's pair of Rinnegan, and a single Rinne Sharingan.

Just as Natsuki had said, Sasuke had already thought it through.

He had learned to think ahead. He also knew, with painful clarity, that he still wasn't strong enough.

He had to reach beyond the Six Paths if he wanted the power to stand against the Ōtsutsuki on his own. Forget the partner of Kaguya he would have to hunt down later. The future invasion of the Ōtsutsuki clan would be an even greater catastrophe for the shinobi world. They couldn't rely entirely on Natsuki. He, Naruto, and Neji had to become stronger.

Neji had his own plans, so Sasuke wasn't worried. Naruto might settle into complacency, so talking would be pointless.

Sasuke didn't care what others chose to do. He focused on what he needed to do.

Only by becoming strong first could he face the future with more confidence. And if he became stronger, it would push Naruto and Neji to chase after him. It would push everyone else, too. If they all improved together, then the shinobi world would have hope.

The shinobi world belonged to everyone. They couldn't relax just because a savior existed. They couldn't assume Natsuki would solve everything just because Natsuki was there.

So he had to become stronger.

Chase Natsuki's footsteps.

And surpass him.

Sasuke was deep in thought when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.

He immediately put the eyes away, opened the door, and found Sakura standing there.

Seeing Sasuke, Sakura grew awkward, hesitating like she wanted to speak but couldn't. Sasuke frowned.

He didn't want to waste time. "Sakura, why are you here? If you have something to say, just say it. I'm pretty busy right now."

Sakura panicked, then forced herself to ask, "Sasuke-kun… I want to know if you like someone like Hanabi."

Huh? Hanabi?

Sasuke blinked, stunned. "Why would you ask that?"

Sakura rushed on, "Because you clearly don't like being surrounded by girls, but it's fine when Hanabi comes close! And you're really gentle with her! I know Hanabi's pretty and has a great figure, and guys all like that, but I still need you to confirm it. Otherwise I can't sleep!"

"You guys…" Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. "If you have time to obsess over love, can't you train instead? The shinobi world is facing a massive threat, and you're agonizing over this?"

(End of Chapter)

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