237 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Nagato's expression remained indifferent as he listened, showing no reaction outwardly. But deep within, a fire of irritation burned.

First, he had been captured by Uchiha Akira and almost killed. Now, an unknown figure from the so-called Ōtsutsuki Clan dared to dismiss him, treating him as just another would-be Sage of Six Paths—a self-proclaimed deity reborn. This blatant disregard stirred his anger.

His Rinnegan glimmered with a faint purple light as he locked eyes on Jigen, who stood at the center of a crater below. Nagato's voice was cold and sharp:

"Very well. Let's see what you've got. If you truly share the Sage of Six Paths' lineage, prove it to me."

He then turned his gaze toward Akira.

"Fifth Hokage, if you're so inclined, feel free to join forces with this so-called Ōtsutsuki."

Akira glanced briefly at Jigen and then Nagato. A soft chuckle escaped his lips before he leapt into the air, speeding toward Tsunade and the others.

"You're not going anywhere!" Jigen's eyes narrowed as he surged into the air, chasing after Akira.

With a wave of his right hand, black rods appeared from nowhere, whistling through the air as they shot toward their target.

But Akira didn't bother dodging. Instead, he activated Kamui, allowing the rods to pass harmlessly through his body before vanishing into the void.

"Your opponent is me!"

Nagato appeared midair, stepping on nothingness as he approached Jigen. The Six Paths staff in his hand swung down, emitting a piercing sonic boom that rippled through the battlefield.

Jigen countered with a single black rod, holding it in front of him.

Clang!

The crisp, metallic sound echoed, its resonance lingering.

"This isn't right! Something's off about his strength!"

Nagato's pupils contracted as he quickly realized that the Jigen before him was vastly different from just moments ago.

The Ōtsutsuki Clan had the ability to suppress their chakra signatures, making it nearly impossible to judge their true power by appearance or presence alone. Even with the Rinnegan, Nagato had no choice but to assess Jigen's abilities through direct combat.

"How irritating," Jigen muttered, his dark eyes flashing with disdain.

Without warning, black rods burst from Nagato's body, piercing through him. Stifling a groan, Nagato staggered slightly.

Jigen followed up with a spinning kick that sliced through the air with a sharp whine, slamming into Nagato's chest with enough force to shatter mountains.

Boom!

The ground quaked violently as if struck by a meteor, showcasing the sheer strength Jigen possessed in his current state.

For most, that kick would have been fatal. But for Nagato, it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

As the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, Nagato's body was far more resilient than even the Ōtsutsuki. His regenerative abilities and durability far exceeded Jigen's. Even the full power of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki couldn't match the immortality Nagato's condition granted him.

Back in ancient times, Isshiki had been severely injured in a surprise attack by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and was forced to implant his essence into Jigen's body to survive. That kind of injury would've been insignificant for someone like Nagato.

Boom!

Dust and debris scattered as Nagato, gripping the Six Paths staff, soared from the crater, undeterred.

Jigen's eyes narrowed as he analyzed Nagato's resilience.

So this is what it means to wield the Ten-Tails' power through a Jinchūriki. They've managed to refine its abilities beyond simple chakra absorption. These humans are far from ordinary.

The clash between the two intensified. Each strike created ripples in the air, waves of energy radiating outward as their battle shook the heavens.

Despite Nagato's formidable strength, Jigen, in his second-stage Kāma state, gradually gained the upper hand. His mastery of taijutsu and relentless combat experience overwhelmed Nagato, forcing him to rely on his superior physical endurance to keep up.

From the ground, Tsunade observed the fierce battle with a mix of awe and concern. Turning to Akira, she asked,

"Fifth Hokage, who is that? You seem to know something about him."

"That's Ōtsutsuki Isshiki—or rather, what remains of him. He's from the same clan as the Sage of Six Paths' mother and possesses immense power. At his full strength, he might rival the Sage of Six Paths himself," Akira explained, his sharp eyes analyzing every move Jigen made.

"Ōtsutsuki? So that's what they're like?" Shisui muttered, his disbelief evident.

Even Fugaku, usually composed, appeared visibly unsettled. This version of the Ōtsutsuki wasn't what they'd imagined. They had expected someone more ethereal, akin to Nagato's presence—a figure exuding divinity.

The Jigen before them, while powerful, didn't seem utterly invincible. His movements and attacks, though overwhelming, were still within their grasp to perceive and counter.

"No," Akira corrected. "Jigen is only a vessel—a container for Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. What you're seeing now isn't Isshiki's full power, merely a fraction of it channeled through Jigen's body."

"A vessel? What does that mean?" Tsunade asked, frowning.

"It's a unique ability of the Ōtsutsuki Clan," Akira explained. "They can transfer their essence into a host through something called Kāma. Essentially, they digitize their consciousness, implanting it into a suitable vessel. Over time, the Kāma dissolves, and the Ōtsutsuki resurrects through the host's body. This process allows them to achieve near-immortality."

"So... all of the Ōtsutsuki are immortal?" Tsunade's voice carried a hint of disbelief.

"In theory, yes," Akira said with a nod. "But in practice, it's not that simple. Finding a compatible vessel is incredibly difficult. Even after thousands of years on Earth, Isshiki hasn't found a perfect host. Jigen is far from ideal, which is why Isshiki hasn't fully resurrected."

"If this is just a fragment of his power, how strong would he be at full strength?" Fugaku asked, his normally stoic expression now grim.

"He'd be stronger, but not by an insurmountable margin," Akira reassured. "Jigen's current state is already close to Isshiki's true form."

Hearing this, Tsunade, Shisui, and Fugaku all breathed a small sigh of relief.

Though Jigen's power was immense, it wasn't entirely beyond their comprehension. For now, at least, it was a battle they could still grasp.