"Insolence!"
Hyūga Hiashi—former clan head, father-in-law of the Hokage—held immense prestige in Konoha. To be called a roadside dog by a mere branch family youth—
Unforgivable.
Even sensing something strange about Taro, Hiashi did not fear him.
He had the Caged Bird Seal.
"Looks like I'll have to discipline you."
Two fingers rose before his chest.
"Forbidden Technique — Caged Bird!"
But before the seal could activate—
Uratarō vanished.
A finger struck Hiashi's chest like a spear.
His face twisted.
"This speed—this precision—!"
He flew backward, spine smashing into the wall.
A red hook pierced his chest.
A palm-sized white chakra flame was torn free.
He collapsed.
"This… impossible… You're not Hyūga Taro… Who are you…?"
Uratarō ignored him.
I chose a branch family vessel for low visibility.
But the Caged Bird seal allows the main house to destroy Taro's brain instantly.
Even if I revive through Kāma, forced resurrection starts the countdown.
Worst case: hunted by shinobi while scrambling for a vessel.
He stopped before Hiashi.
I rarely kill fish in my own pond.
But today—an exception.
The blade slid into Hiashi's heart.
Hiashi's Byakugan dimmed in disbelief.
Hyūga Hiashi, age sixty-one—
Dead.
Konoha Interrogation Room
Naruto knew nothing yet.
He sat across from Kawaki, Sasuke at his side.
"If you don't talk," Naruto said gently, "we can't protect you."
After hours of silence, Kawaki finally looked up.
"What's the point of telling someone like you?"
"You don't have the power to change anything."
A chūnin snapped, furious.
"Do you know who you're talking to?! That's the Hokage!"
Kawaki studied Naruto.
"Hokage… strongest ninja…"
Naruto smiled, though bitterness flickered deep in his eyes.
"Strongest or not, I can protect you."
"Tell me—who are these people you think can't be changed?"
Kawaki hesitated—
The door burst open.
"Lord Seventh! Something's happened!"
It was Natsu of the Hyūga branch family.
"What happened?"
"Lord Hiashi… he's been killed!"
Naruto froze.
"Who?"
"Hyūga Hiashi. Your father-in-law."
The room spun.
Sasuke caught Naruto as he staggered.
"Don't fall apart. You're the Hokage."
Naruto clenched his fists.
"Right… I can't… Hinata needs me… the village needs me…"
Sasuke's heart tightened watching him.
"Go. I'll handle this."
Naruto left, barely aware of how his feet moved.
Sasuke sat down slowly.
Hyūga Hiashi… murdered?
Why now?
"Overreacting over one death," Kawaki muttered. "So that's the Hokage."
Sasuke's hand tightened.
"You don't have family?"
"Family?" Kawaki laughed bitterly.
"If mine died, I'd probably laugh."
Another broken child.
Sasuke didn't have patience left.
"Tell me what you were about to tell Naruto."
"After watching that pathetic display? No thanks."
The table flipped.
Sasuke had Kawaki by the throat against the wall.
"We lost eight shinobi bringing you here."
"Cooperate—or I'll make you."
Kawaki trembled.
"He'll kill me…"
"I don't know where to start…"
Sasuke grabbed his left wrist.
Thumb pressing hard on the Kāma.
"Start with this."
"J-Jigen… He's the one who put it on me!"
"Who is Jigen?"
"Leader of an organization called Kara. They're monsters…"
"Kara…"
Sasuke etched the name in memory.
"Details. Appearance. Abilities."
"I—I don't know how to explain…"
"Then—"
"Wait! I remember something!"
"What?"
"Someone called him by another name."
"What name?"
"Ishiki."
Sasuke's pupils shrank.
"Ishiki… full name?"
"Ōtsutsuki Ishiki."
The world stopped.
Sasuke ordered Kawaki detained and burst from the room.
Storm clouds rolled overhead.
Akira -was right.
An Ōtsutsuki named Ishiki still lurks.
Kara will move soon.
We must adjust immediately—
Lightning split the sky.
A red hook pierced his cloak mid-stride—
And punched through his chest.
His strength vanished instantly.
Darkness swallowed him.
Thunder roared.
Rain poured.
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki stood in the downpour, staring at the half-meter-tall violet chakra flame in his hand.
He burst into laughter.
"So easy."
"So easy!"
He stored Sasuke's chakra.
Examined the fallen man.
"Already weakened… and I took the rest."
He reached toward Sasuke's Rinnegan.
Another card against Akira.
Space twisted above his neck.
"…What?"
Kamui.
The distortion collapsed to a singular point.
Uratarō's head vanished.
Cleanly severed.
Blood sprayed into the rain.
His body dropped to its knees.
The Kāma on his palm erupted in blinding light.
On a nearby rooftop—
Obito lowered his hand from his eye.
"That's it," he told kaze beside him.
"When the vessel dies, Kāma forces resurrection."
"Our prey—Ōtsutsuki Urashiki—is about to return."
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