Ōtsutsuki Isshiki Arrives Uninvited

On an unknown island, the Ghost Radish docked.

Carrot hopped off the ship, not forgetting to press Fang Yu. "Captain, you still haven’t finished that story you told last time!"

Vivi followed up with a prompt of her own. "Yeah! You got to… something about beyond the planet…"

Fang Yu continued helplessly, "At the dawn of the ninja world, two aliens arrived with a Divine Tree sapling—the Ten-Tails."

"The Otsutsuki Clan wanted to collect the Divine Tree Fruit, and to turn the Ten-Tails into the Divine Tree, one Otsutsuki Clan Member had to be sacrificed."

"Kaguya Otsutsuki was the one chosen as the sacrifice."

"Kaguya changed her mind at the last moment, ambushed her other companion, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, and fed him to the Ten-Tails."

"The Divine Tree bloomed, Kaguya Otsutsuki became the Rabbit Goddess, and gave birth to two wonderfully filial sons, Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Hamura Otsutsuki."

"That was how the ninja world came to be."

As Carrot looked at the strange flowers and plants around her, she pressed on, "And then? That’s it?"

Pirate World Fang Yu looked into the distance. "No. This was only the beginning."

At the top of Amegakure’s tower, lead-gray clouds hung low, and rain hammered against the steel dome, producing a dense metallic tremor.

Jigen stepped out of a Spatial Vortex. His black high-collared trench coat was spotless. He frowned slightly, his face full of disdain. "The Land of Rain’s weather is even more unpleasant than the intelligence suggested." The instant the sole of his boot touched the ground, the pooled water automatically evaporated into rings of mist, displaying his power.

Deva Path Pain sat upright upon a stone throne, his gaze cold. The ripples of his Rinnegan flowed through the shadows as he stared directly at Jigen. "You actually managed to find this place."

Konan leaned against a dripping load-bearing pillar, silently folding a paper Shikigami at her fingertips. A paper crane rested lightly on her shoulder, and she spoke with a trace of caution. "Didn’t I tell you Akatsuki doesn’t welcome you?"

A cube-shaped Black Receiver appeared at Jigen’s fingertips. He casually surveyed his surroundings, his tone icy. "The Ten-Tails’ shell needs nourishment, and the efficiency with which you stockpile Tailed Beast Chakra…" The Black Receiver suddenly plunged into the floor. Within a radius of five meters, the curtain of rain froze in place. Dissatisfaction showed in his eyes. "…is disappointing."

Deva Path Pain’s Rinnegan suddenly contracted as his aura surged. "Though I don’t know why you possess Chakra rods like these as well, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path belongs to Akatsuki."

Konan flashed forward, and a spear formed from sheets of paper instantly pressed against the back of Jigen’s neck. Her gaze was sharp. "Akatsuki’s rules are—"

Before she could finish, the paper spear suddenly carbonized into ash, and surprise flashed through her eyes.

Golden wedge-shaped markings split open within Jigen’s pupils. A contemptuous smile crossed his face. "A threat of this level isn’t even worthy of making me blink."

With a lift of his hand, all of Konan’s techniques collapsed into two-dimensional planes, becoming ordinary sheets of paper.

Deva Path Pain rose with a thunderous motion. The gravitational field warped the rainwater as he looked down at Jigen and said coldly, "State your terms, or become a sacrifice for the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."

Jigen curled his lips. "Launch the Fourth Great Ninja War, and I can help you collect the Tailed Beasts." He paused, then continued, "Our goals are the same. I simply find you too slow—far too slow. I hope Madara didn’t choose the wrong person."

Konan’s heart jolted. She unconsciously retreated three steps, then, after reforming her body, asked warily, "You know Madara?"

Jigen’s face was filled with disdain. "I know Madara, but Madara doesn’t know me. Heh heh." He looked at Deva Path Pain and continued, "I need Akatsuki to capture the Tailed Beasts as quickly as possible. I can provide assistance."

A cold gleam flashed in Deva Path Pain’s eyes as Banshō Ten’in activated instantly. "The Tailed Beasts are the foundation of our plan. It isn’t your place to meddle."

A Spatial Rift opened behind Jigen. As he spoke, he reached into it and dragged out the unconscious Fū. Seven-Tails Chakra boiled across her skin. "Without Ten-Tails Chakra to support it, your ridiculous Infinite Tsukuyomi wouldn’t last even a second."

Seeing this, Konan’s Paper Wings swiftly wrapped around the unconscious Jinchuriki. She demanded, "How did the Seven-Tails from Takigakure end up in your hands?"

Jigen lowered his head and brushed the folds of his collar, his tone flat. "I grew tired of waiting. When I watched you lose manpower time and again, I knew that if I didn’t force your hand, I had no idea when I would see the Ten-Tails reborn."

Deva Path Pain stared coldly at Jigen. "Akatsuki needs no partners. Only executors."

Jigen met Pain’s gaze evenly, his expression certain. "I can help you collect the Tailed Beasts faster." His tone shifted as he said coldly, "Or right now, Amegakure can become nourishment."

Konan’s Paper Butterflies quickly formed a barrier. Her brows furrowed. "Your so-called cooperation sounds more like a threat."

Jigen’s gaze swept back and forth between Deva Path Pain and Konan. "This is a deal. You capture the remaining Tailed Beasts, and I’ll help." He stressed his next words. "Otherwise, your goal will only grow farther and farther away."

Hidden underground, Nagato, his body covered in Black Receivers, suddenly sensed something. He spoke to Jigen. "Are you from Konoha?"

Jigen laughed. "Konoha? Heh heh heh heh."

He was not even from the ninja world.

"Think it over. I’ll come find you again."

"The capture of the Tailed Beasts must be put on the agenda. Otherwise, the entire ninja world will be overturned. Whether you believe me is for you to decide."

With that, Jigen stepped into the void and vanished from before Konan and Deva Path Pain in the blink of an eye.

The moment he left, space suddenly trembled.

Obito, twisting the void, appeared within the room. Seeing Konan frowning, he asked curiously, "What happened?"

Although Obito possessed the same ability as Jigen, Jigen appeared far stronger than him.

At least, that was how Nagato saw it.

After the battle at Konoha, Obito had exposed his true identity.

Before Nagato, he had long since lost even basic trust.

After investigating for some time, Nagato had also figured out exactly who Obito was and what he had done.

Nagato controlled Deva Path Yahiko and said expressionlessly, "Nothing. Start capturing the Tailed Beasts."

"We’re capturing them now?"

Nagato sighed softly. He could not even be bothered to mock Obito anymore.

If he were Madara Uchiha, the first thing he would do after being revived would be to kill Obito.

A complete and utter traitorous disciple.

He did not do a single thing Teacher had arranged for him.

Walking across the unknown island, everyone finally saw a sign on the island.

"Foosha Village, Goa Kingdom of the East Blue? Why is it called Foosha Village? Are there lots of windmills on the island?" The moment Carrot finished speaking, Pirate World Fang Yu pulled a long face.

"Damn, where the hell did this bring me?" He looked at the baffled Vivi and Brook behind him, gritting his teeth. "No, if we pull Luffy onto the ship too, what would that make us? Even if we shoved him into a ditch, we can’t bring him aboard!"