Chapter 244 : Sealed!!

(Slowly pacing in a consistent pattern, Isshiki didn't seem rushed.)

Then, a sinister smile crept onto his lips. 🙂

"Of course, Sasuke, with your space-time ninjutsu, you could try to escape and leave the Hokage here."

His intentions were clear.

Anyone observant enough could see through his façade; it was merely an excuse to eliminate Sasuke out of fear for his space-time ninjutsu.

His combat prowess had been utterly overshadowed, and now he simply wished to witness Sasuke forsake Naruto and flee.

Isshiki continued his leisurely stride, seemingly offering Sasuke ample time for contemplation.

"At this moment, Naruto exhausted the last of his chakra to conjure hundreds of shadow clones to disrupt the situation!"

Anxiously, Naruto implored Sasuke, "Leave, abandon me! We'll both perish here otherwise! There won't be another chance!"

Unwilling to accept such a fate and unwilling to abandon Naruto, Sasuke protested, "But without you, our odds of success in the future are slim!"

Naruto forced a smile 🙂

"You're the same, Sasuke! And with your space-time ninjutsu, perhaps you can rescue me! At least there is hope."

As all the shadow clones vanished, Isshiki began to advance.

Despite his inner reluctance, at Naruto's insistence, Sasuke, tormented, activated his space-time ninjutsu to escape to a different dimension.

Reluctant, yet compelled to act.]

Off-screen, Sasuke's emotions surged, his face buried in self-reproach as tears flowed.

"Forgive me, Naruto, I'm worthless."

Naruto approached, offering solace with a familiar smile.

"As my future self said, our chances of victory are slim unless you depart."

Naruto's expression turned solemn.

"Sasuke, you understand, don't you? It's the hardest decision to make."

"To bear everything alone."

"It's akin to, just like that man from before."

Uchiha Itachi was taken aback, not by Naruto's piercing revelation, but by the depth of his pain.

Unexpectedly, he was struck by the depth of perception in a twelve-year-old.

Itachi's smile softened as he gazed at Naruto.

"You truly are something, Uzumaki Naruto. Sasuke is fortunate to have a friend like you."

At that moment, Sasuke ceased his tears, his gaze fixed on Naruto with a sense of awe, as if basking in the warmth of the sun.

[Sasuke leaves, gradually approaching Naruto.

However, on Naruto's countenance, he didn't find the expression he had hoped for, leaving him slightly disheartened. 

Without further movement, Sasuke began to retreat, leaving behind only a chilling echo in the void:

"Seventh Hokage, in this dark world, live as fervently as you can!"

"The next time we cross paths, your life will be on the line. Naturally, you must endure until then."

Naruto kept his gaze lowered, speaking solemnly, "I shall remember your words, and I will repay them in kind."

"Merely relying on consciousness is futile; it's truly tiresome," Isshiki remarked impassively before swiftly gesturing with his hand.

Suddenly, the colossal black mass in the sky began to distort and descend, while the ground quivered violently, releasing black forms into the air.

After several moments, the two immense black semi circles merged into a single closed sphere, enveloping Naruto in a void devoid of light.

Cracking sounds reverberated once more as Jigen showed more fissures.

"It's truly pathetic; I can barely exert half my strength," Isshiki lamented, dissatisfaction evident in his eyes. 

In the next instant, a vortex materialized behind him, whisking him away into a different dimension.]

Orochimaru's expression twisted with disdain.

"The body is feeble!"

"So powerful, yet lacking a physical vessel to contain himself. Indeed, severing ties with the physical form is the optimal solution."

With a pointed glance at Uchiha Madara, whose expression soured, Orochimaru issued a command:

"Madara, focus your efforts entirely on supporting my studies of mechanical bodies."

Madara turned to comply.

He recognized Orochimaru, understanding that the other wouldn't act aimlessly, while simultaneously contemplating the crucial question:

"Are you attempting to allure Isshiki with your mechanical body?"

Orochimaru nodded knowingly:

"Indeed, it's not just any ordinary contraption. That would be far too simplistic. What I seek is a unique mechanical vessel capable of harnessing Chakra! Naturally, achieving such complexity poses a considerable challenge."

"But once successful, we shall wield tremendous power with it.

"With this video now released, Isshiki might fail to find Kawaki in the future, and the machine's body will serve as a decoy!"

Madara remained silent, acknowledging Orochimaru's strategy as a deviation from the norm.

Nevertheless, it was worth a try.

Orochimaru believed that, following the release of this video, the five major ninja villages would converge towards him.

In the face of a common threat, all conflicts would cease to exist.

This time, it would require the collective strength of the entire ninja world to fend off foreign enemies, thereby garnering significant support for Orochimaru.

After scrutinizing the video and engaging in thorough discussions, perhaps a solution could be gleaned from it.

"Proceed," urged Madara, signaling the continuation of their discourse, prompting Orochimaru to nod in agreement and resume his discourse.

(As the scene of their meeting gradually fades, it transitions to a pair of frog eyes.)

[It's Kashin Koji, the outsider, who observes the entire exchange through his summoned frog, hidden from sight.

[He has finally seized this opportunity... an opportunity to defeat Ōtsutsuki Isshiki!

[Simultaneously, Kashin Koji's mask is lifted, revealing his true identity.

[He is Jiraiya, yet not Jiraiya!]

[He is a clone engineered by Amado, infused with Jiraiya's genetic makeup, all in a bid to confront Isshiki.

[Driven by the destiny-bound potential within Jiraiya's genes, he seeks to exploit any sliver of hope to bring about change and overcome the insurmountable foe that is Isshiki!]

"Leading the change, spritzing—I never imagined the old man's appraisal to be so high," Tsunade mused as she dashed over, her thoughts veering in a slightly different direction.

Just as she was about to speak, she overheard Jiraiya, his back turned to her, grasping at his spiky hair, murmuring in a hushed tone:

"Ah, as expected of me—so stylish, so powerful!"

"Consider it settled; I'll adopt this style from now on!"

"Ha! This time, I must claim Tsunade's quarters!"

Lost in his own whimsical reverie, Jiraiya, the most unguarded of souls, remained oblivious to Tsunade's approach from behind.

And in the next instant...

Jiraiya's startled cries echoed throughout Konoha.

****

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