World-shaping vision, a hero's true colors!

In the cold room, dozens of infants hung from the ceiling in transparent bags, with IV lines connected to machines below keeping them alive.

"Th-this is..." Minato froze in shock.

Standing before the table, Kashin Koji looked at the dumbfounded Minato. "Surprised? These children are all vessels chosen by Jigen—no, by Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. They were born with chakra unlike ordinary people's. Even so, they still couldn't meet Isshiki's needs, so..."

Kashin Koji lowered his gaze to Ananda, sleeping soundly in his arms. "What he truly needs is this child!"

Crack! Minato clenched his fists.

Kashin Koji looked up, his gaze inscrutable. "Minato, kindhearted as you are, can you fight me without restraint in a place like this?"

"..." Minato lowered his head, burying his face in shadow. "Can I ask you something?"

Kashin narrowed his eyes slightly. "What?"

Minato voiced the question weighing on his mind. "During our fight just now, why did you repeatedly drop hints and tell me about your companions' abilities?"

Kashin Koji's gaze grew even deeper. "Oh? You noticed already... Now, why might that be?"

Bzz! Minato raised his head. The black dots at the centers of his Rinnegan had become horizontal pupils, and sweat streamed down his handsome face. "And I sensed Mount Myoboku Sage Art chakra in you!"

"Master Jiraiya... is that you?"

"..." After a heavy silence, Kashin Koji reached for his mask. "Since you've seen through me, there's no helping it!"

Click! The mask fell away, revealing Jiraiya's weathered face to Minato. His long years in the shadows had given him a deeper, more melancholy air than before.

So it was true!

Minato's pupils contracted sharply as he grasped a truth he did not want to face. "You were the one who took Ananda, too, weren't you? That's why you spared me!"