Having just formed his Golden Core, Neji returned from the moon. Rather than descending directly upon the Ninja World, he hovered in the void beyond the planet's orbit.
Beneath his feet, the azure planet slowly turned. Clouds drifted and curled, while the veins of mountains and rivers were faintly visible, brimming with life and vitality.
Yet, to Neji's senses now that he had reached the Core Formation Stage, this planet resembled a precious treasure covered in tiny cracks. Several obscure yet powerful alien energies, like parasitic tumors, were silently eroding its vitality.
The most conspicuous among them were naturally the scattered remnants of Kaguya Otsutsuki's will, as well as the dark figure of Black Zetsu lurking deep within the earth's veins.
The auras of the two were connected, like one complete curse.
The other presence was even more concealed and cunning. It did not remain in one fixed location, instead using exquisite space-time techniques to continually shift between the planet's dark side and the gaps within certain specific dimensions. Like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, it patiently waited for the chance to strike a fatal blow.
"Ōtsutsuki Isshiki..."
Neji silently repeated the name. From the fragments of Kaguya and Black Zetsu's wills, he had learned of this man's existence. He knew Isshiki was the "guardian" who had descended alongside Kaguya, yet had been gravely wounded by her sneak attack a thousand years ago. Relying only on the secret technique Sukunahikona, he had shrunk his brain to survive, clinging to life by constantly changing "vessels" while plotting his resurrection.
Previously, Neji had sensed something, but Isshiki's concealment methods were extraordinarily sophisticated, and the state of his Karma was highly unusual, making him difficult to pinpoint accurately.
But now, things were different.
He stood quietly in the void and slowly