Back then, when Chiyu blasted apart the Three Great Sage Lands, Jiraiya chose to share Mount Myōboku's fate—living and dying with the Great Toad Sage, Fukasaku, Shima, and the others.

That was almost ten years ago.

Yet now…

In Orochimaru and Tsunade's field of vision, the towering, broad‑shouldered figure with flowing white hair—a form they knew better than anyone—was unmistakably Jiraiya!

Although a white mask covered his face, they had partnered with him for years. There was no way they could be wrong.

Tsunade could not stop herself from crying out in shock. "You're … "

"Jiraiya?!"

Orochimaru's expression changed as well.

"Impure World Reincarnation?"

"No. Judging from his condition, he isn't an Edo‑Tensei corpse. Then this must be … "

"Hmph. Whoever you are, it seems you intend to rescue Tsunade and her people."

"In other words, you still mean to stand against me…"

But—

The mysterious newcomer shook his head.

"You're mistaken, Orochimaru."

"Quite the opposite: I'm here to invite you to become one of us."

At once, Orochimaru and Tsunade's faces tightened.

"Invite me? Become comrades?"

"Who exactly is this 'us' you speak of?"

The Jiraiya‑look‑alike smiled faintly.

"An organization far more powerful than the Akatsuki."

"I'm aware the Akatsuki is already a shell of its former self; the few who remain merely scurry about under Uchiha Chiyu's tyranny, eking out a pitiful existence."

"But if you choose to join us, I guarantee you far greater power—and…"

"Every kind of research material you could ever need, so you can indulge in your experiments to your heart's content."

Orochimaru's heart stirred, yet he still gave a cold laugh.

"Do you think two sentences are enough to win me over?"

"Who do you imagine yourself to be?"

"Why should I believe your group can contend with Uchiha Chiyu?!"

"That man even slew Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, progenitor of chakra!"

The stranger chuckled.

"I know."

"But let me tell you something…"

"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was once nothing more than a servant—an attendant—to our leader."

At that, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and the others all gaped in utter disbelief.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki—

The so‑called origin of chakra, the source of all creation, revered as a goddess!

A servant to someone else?!

Impossible!

Orochimaru sneered. "Trying to feed me a fairy tale fit for toddlers?"

The mysterious man shook his head.

"I'm telling the truth."

"Orochimaru, I know your current experiment—trying to fuse every ninja clan's blood into yourself. Ultimately, you wish to trace all lines back to their root and turn them into Ōtsutsuki blood."

"Join us, and our leader can promise not merely authentic Ōtsutsuki blood, but even the chance to approach the universe's mightiest being…"

"…the power of the Ōtsutsuki God!"

Orochimaru couldn't hide the gleam in his eyes.

"The God… of the Ōtsutsuki?"

The man nodded. "Yes. Even among the Ōtsutsuki, he is pure legend."

"He traverses the cosmos, devouring the energy of world after world, growing ever stronger—so strong he has already transcended flesh and matter, left this dimension behind, and become a true deity."

"His techniques are called Divine Arts."

"Creating universes, annihilating planets, igniting worlds, erasing time and space…"

"Utterly beyond comprehension."

"That is the ultimate power."

Orochimaru's blood pounded; the pupils of his serpentine eyes burned with crazed fervor.

"Does such power truly exist?"

The man smiled. "Follow me and see for yourself."

"And if you don't believe me, someone of your ability can leave whenever you wish."

At last Orochimaru grinned.

"Fine. Very well."

"Whether you're Jiraiya or not, you've convinced me…"

"Tsunade, today's fight ends here. I've found something far more interesting…"

"But we will meet again—and so will the one behind you…"

"Uchiha Chiyu."

With that, Orochimaru departed alongside the Jiraiya‑like man.

Tsunade knew they two together were unbeatable for now and could only let them go.

Uchiha Yamakaze frowned. "Lady Tsunade, was that mysterious man truly Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin?"

"Wasn't he killed years ago by the Lord of the Shinobi World?"

Tsunade shook her head. "I'm not certain, but his build and voice matched Jiraiya perfectly—only his personality felt different."

"Never mind. Those details aren't what matters most…"

"The group that just recruited Orochimaru is the key. As that man said, they're likely far more frightening than the Akatsuki!"

Kabuto agreed: "Indeed. If he spoke the truth, that organization is terrifying…"

"Kaguya herself once served their leader, and they know the secret of the so‑called Ōtsutsuki God—like something out of myth."

Tsunade said gravely, "Whatever the case, we must inform Lord Chiyu immediately."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

…

Soon, at the Ninja World Council—

Tsunade reported everything, and the upper echelons of every village were shaken.

"Lord Chiyu, do you think the mysterious man's claims are real?"

All eyes turned to Chiyu.

Chiyu nodded calmly.

Faces turned even paler.

"So the leader of that organization is actually more terrifying than Kaguya?!"

This time Chiyu shook his head.

"I don't think so."

"But didn't you just confirm Kaguya once served under him?"

"That's true, but it doesn't mean he's stronger than she was."

Chiyu of course knew exactly who the Jiraiya‑like man and his organization were:

Koji Kashin.

Kara.

"That man is Koji Kashin—not the real Jiraiya, but a clone."

Tsunade caught her breath and nodded; it made sense.

"The organization he mentioned is called Kara. Its ostensible leader is a man named Jigen."

"But Jigen is only a host. The one truly pulling the strings is…"

"Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."

Everyone grasped it at once: this was the real mastermind—the one Kaguya had once served.

Chiyu continued:

"Isshiki arrived on our world with Kaguya to oversee the Divine Tree—the root of the Ōtsutsuki clan's power.

"They plant a Ten Tails seed on each planet; it devours natural energy, becomes a Divine Tree, and bears Chakra Fruit.

"The Ōtsutsuki consume those fruits for unimaginable strength.

"They always travel in pairs, master and servant. Upon landing, they sacrifice the servant to the Ten Tails to speed the tree's growth.

"Normally a servant cannot rebel—but Kaguya was an exception.

"To escape her fate, she ambushed Isshiki, fed his body to the Ten Tails, made the tree bloom, then ate the fruit herself and gained vast power.

"That was the 'beginning of the plot.'

"Fearing the clan's retaliation, she cast Infinite Tsukuyomi and made a White Zetsu army.

"What she didn't know was that Isshiki did not truly die.

"Half‑dead, he hijacked the body of a wandering monk named Jigen and has survived for a thousand years.

"That's an Ōtsutsuki secret art: implanting Kama marks into others to make vessels—or 'containers'—for resurrection."

Everyone listened as if hearing a legend.

"So Isshiki created Kara," Tsunade summarized. "What's their goal?"

"Simple," Chiyu replied. "Jigen is human; he can't wield Isshiki's full power, and his body is failing after a millennium.

"Isshiki holds another Ten Tails. He wants the perfect container, feed Jigen's body to the beast, grow the Divine Tree, transfer into the new vessel, eat the fruit, and surpass his former peak.

"Kara exists solely to serve Isshiki's will."

Sarada Uchiha muttered, "So the 'great sage' seeks a second rebirth?"

"It makes sense," someone said. "As an Ōtsutsuki master, being betrayed and left to wither for a thousand years is a monstrous shame."

"But choosing this moment is foolish," another added. "With Lord Chiyu here, his plan cannot possibly succeed."

Chiyu did not dispute it.

"Isshiki's power doesn't worry me. But if he's making his move now, he must have a reason…"

Kakashi asked, "What reason?"

"Most likely," Chiyu said, "other Ōtsutsuki pursuers have arrived."

He named them:

Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki.

Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki.

Ōtsutsuki Urashiki.

Though these three did not frighten Chiyu, endless Ōtsutsuki interference would doom the shinobi world to chaos. He planned to wipe them all out in one stroke—then bring the fight to the clan's home planet.

Meanwhile, Isshiki was surely racing to regain strength and courting other Ōtsutsuki allies—hence the scientist he was recruiting.

Kara already had Amado, but Isshiki wanted more minds and power to speed his goal.

Chiyu's supreme eye, Takamagahara, could survey the entire ninja world—yet Kara's base lay in Isshiki's personal dimension, beyond his sight. He would use other means to watch them, and he sensed the three Ōtsutsuki already closing in.

As Lord of the Shinobi World, the Underworld, and the Moon, Chiyu's awareness spanned both realms, Earth and Luna. He plotted, then waited for the Ōtsutsuki to appear.

…

At the same time—

In an extradimensional realm: Kara's underground headquarters.

Koji Kashin led Orochimaru inside.

Beyond the dazzling high‑tech equipment, Orochimaru even saw old acquaintances:

Kakuzu, Sasori of the Red Sand, Kisame Hoshigaki, and even his former research partner…

Hiruko!

Plainly, these ex‑Akatsuki had been recruited long before him.

Orochimaru chuckled.

"Kakuzu, Sasori, Kisame, Hiruko… Long time no see."

"Who'd have thought we'd meet again after Akatsuki's fall?"

Hiruko sneered. "Spare us the sarcasm, Orochimaru. You're just another stray dog—no different from us."

Orochimaru sensed a strange, formidable power in Hiruko; clearly, progress had not been his alone.

Their paths differed—Orochimaru fused bloodlines, Hiruko absorbed Kekkei Genkai—but both had become terrifying.

Koji Kashin spoke sternly: "From now on you're comrades of Kara, same as in Akatsuki. No infighting—or…"

"You'll answer to Lord Jigen!"

Orochimaru smiled. "Very well. But where is this leader of yours?"

No sooner had he spoken than several figures strode in.

At their head was a man with a gentle, almost compassionate face. He wore white robes, a long braid, the Roman numeral IV beneath his left eye, and a rhombus mark on his chin—the Ōtsutsuki crest.

He looked ordinary, yet a deep pressure and dread washed over Orochimaru.

This could only be Kara's leader.

Sweat beaded on Orochimaru's brow, yet he still smiled slyly.

"So, you're the head of Kara?"

The man sat casually, glanced at Orochimaru, and spoke.

"Yes. My name is Jigen."

"Orochimaru, Kara and I need your power."

Orochimaru smiled. "Fine—but I need the whole truth. I won't act blindly."

Jigen did not refuse. "I'll tell you. The same goes for all of you ex‑Akatsuki."

He soon recounted his story—but added one final promise:

"When the Divine Tree bears fruit, I will share it with everyone in Kara."

"With me, and with you. We will all gain that ultimate power!"

The assembled members exchanged looks. None believed him, yet none could oppose him.

Orochimaru smiled. "Understood."

"So, what exactly do you want me to do?"

Jigen gestured to the white‑haired, bespectacled man beside him.

"This is Amado, a peerless scientist. With you, Hiruko, Sasori, and the rest, I expect techniques rivaling Kaguya's to emerge."

"First…I need power—limitless power."

"Amado, Orochimaru, Hiruko—you will help me obtain it."

"And the rest of you, along with Kara's might, have only one mission—"

"Find in this ninja world the Kama best suited to me, the perfect vessel for my resurrection…"

"My container!!"

~~~

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