Just when Jigen was quietly sneaking into the depths of Amegakure, trying to find the remains of Rinnegan, Demonic Statue of the Outer Path or other valuable objects in the strongholds or secret facilities that Nagato might have left behind, a "eye" that he had tried to avoid for thousands of years, but always penetrated the worry, crossed the boundary between life and death, and fell on him.
Pure Land.
On a platform made of soft light, Hagoromo Otsutsuki, also known as Sage of Six Paths, is sitting cross-legged.
He was wearing a white simple robe, with double horns on his forehead, a majestic and peaceful face, and his eyes were Purple Eyes and Rinnegan.
In front of him, there was a huge light screen that rippled like water waves, which clearly reflected the figure of Jigen who was carefully searching inside Amegakure.
Hagoromo's eyes were as calm as water. Looking at the being dressed as Monk in the light screen, a trace of solemnity and determination flashed deep in his eyes.
He turned his head slightly and looked to the side of the platform.
There, a huge Toad, all orange in color, wearing a necklace with the word "oil" and Scholar's Cap written on it, was Great Toad Sage Gamamaru of Mount Myōboku. At this time, Great Toad Sage was squatting on a special futon.
Completely different from the drowsy look he always had when he was at Mount Myōboku, Gamamaru is now full of energy, with a pair of huge frog eyes shining with wisdom and insight. Even the tilted Scholar's Cap on top of his head has been carefully straightened, making him look particularly solemn.
"Gamamaru," Sage of Six Paths spoke slowly, his voice like an ancient bell echoing in the Pure Land space, "In your opinion, is now... the best time to take action against him?"
Gamamaru made a low and clear voice. "Hagoromo, you and I both know that the child named Naruto Uzumaki is the biggest variable in the past thousand years and the key to Shinobi World's future.
His nature is not bad, and he has protection and fetters in his heart. Although his methods are tough and his behavior is different from you and me, his foundation is still for the life of this land."
He also cast his gaze on Jigen in the light screen, and a cold determination flashed in his eyes. "But this guy in front of me is a bad-to-narrow 'Beyond the Heavens visitor'."
He does whatever it takes to achieve his goals and regards all living beings in this world as trivial.
He is fundamentally different from Naruto."
Gamamaru paused and made a more precise metaphor. "One is an eagle soaring in the sky, although it is wild, it still belongs to this world, and the other is an evil eagle that is locked in a cage, always coveting destruction and plunder."
Which one is internal trouble and which one is external enemy?
Which one is light, which one is serious, which one is urgent, which one is slow?
It's clear at a glance."
He looked at Sage of Six Paths and his tone became meaningful. "We can even cooperate with Naruto to deal with this purely external threat.
After all, Naruto has taken root in Shinobi World and has an inseparable bond.
And Isshiki, he will always be an outsider."
Finally, Gamamaru turned his attention to the suspended light curtain in front of Sage of Six Paths, as if the light curtain itself was a Chessboard, and Jigen was an orphan that broke into Chessboard. He said with a smile, "How about taking this opportunity to play a 'chess of life and death' with him?"
He is alone, has no pieces to use, and has no power to draw on. Just like the 'pieceless general' on Chessboard, how can he survive? What about us 'chess players' who have been setting up in this world for thousands of years and have chess pieces everywhere?"
Sage of Six Paths heard the words and pondered for a moment, the light in Rinnegan's eyes flowed slightly.
He nodded slowly and said in a deep voice, "That makes sense.
This beast has been lurking for thousands of years. If we don't take this opportunity to deal with it, it will definitely cause a catastrophe when he finds the perfect Vessel and regains his strength.
Since he took the initiative to enter this situation.
Then, as he wishes."
After the words fell, Sage of Six Paths stretched out his hands and raised them weakly.
The light curtain in front of him that reflected the figure of Jigen suddenly glowed brightly, as if it came to life.
Immediately afterwards, the light curtain and the scene on it began to shrink and deform, and finally turned into a huge three-dimensional Chessboard shadow with flowing light, suspended in front of Hagoromo.
Above Chessboard, the longitude and latitude are vertical and horizontal, exuding a mysterious and unpredictable atmosphere.
Sage of Six Paths held up the light Chessboard with both hands, and with a movement of his body, it turned into a stream of light, carrying Chessboard and flying towards some kind of "node" below that connected Mortal World and Pure Land.
The figure of Gamamaru also followed closely behind.
In the secret room where Amegakure and Nagato once lived.
Jigen is carefully examining the remains of a seal on a wall, trying to parse out useful information.
Suddenly, warning signs rang in his heart.
An indescribable force that transcended space and convention Sensing enveloped the area where he was without any warning.
"What?!"
Jigen's face changed suddenly, and he started Space-Time Ninjutsu to escape without even thinking.
He recognized this breath as the power belonging to the level of existence of superior Otsutsuki!
However, it's too late.
That power is not an attack, but more like the advent of rules and the unfolding of a domain.
Jigen felt that the scene in front of him was distorted and changed instantly.
The walls, pipes, and Ruins all disappeared, and the solid ground underfoot turned into a Chessboard grid that was as smooth as a mirror and shimmered with light.
All around is the boundless, starlit void.
He looked down and saw that he was standing on a huge three-dimensional Chessboard made of light.
Chessboard is huge, criss-crossed, and each grid contains strange power fluctuations.
And he was standing in the middle of the side of Chessboard, on a huge grid marked King General!
Jigen suddenly raised his head and looked opposite Chessboard.
What first appeared on the opposite side were three figures with auras as deep as the sea:
On the Jade General seat in the center, sitting Hagoromo Otsutsuki, Rinnegan looked at him calmly, not angry or intimidating.
On the left side is Gold General, which is Great Toad Sage Gamamaru. The huge frog eyes are shining with wisdom and insight into everything.
On the right side of Gold General is Asura, with the same calm gaze and the will to protect.
Immediately afterwards, as if responding to the call of the chess player, more "chess pieces" positions on Chessboard began to shine with dazzling light, and the figures gradually solidified and appeared on their respective "chess positions":
Silver General bit: Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju.
Knight bit: Tobirama Senju, Uchiha Izuna.
Lance bit: Minato Namikaze, First Kazekage.
Bishop bit: Hamura Otsutsuki.
Rook bit: Indra.
On more Pawn bits, Second Raikage, Third Raikage, Fourth Raikage appeared in sequence...
As well as other major Shinobi Village, the phantom souls or Impure World Reincarnation bodies of past "shadows" who have passed away in the long history and whose strength and reputation were top-notch.
The entire Chessboard was immediately filled with the auras of powerful men from past generations.
Although they were in different states, their eyes all fell on Jigen, who was standing alone in the "King General" position opposite.
For a moment, above Chessboard, there were strong men like clouds and momentum like a rainbow.
It forms an extremely disparity with Jigen, who is alone and alone.
Jigen stood in his "King General" seat, leaned over and glanced at the very clear "King General" words at his feet, then slowly raised his head, and looked at Sage of Six Paths who was sitting in the opposite seat "Jade General" through the Pawn in the middle.
The initial shock and solemnity on his face had faded away, and the deep calm was restored again, but his eyes became darker.
"You are indeed not dead."
Jigen's voice sounded, "It even looks stronger than your mother before she swallowed Chakra Fruit."
This is obviously beyond the scope of ordinary Otsutsuki, and even Isshiki couldn't do it before.
Even among the top Otsutsuki, the opponent is the best.
Sage of Six Paths nodded slightly, and the old god responded on the ground, "The physical body has been annihilated long ago, and this is my soul that relies on Pure Land. Life and death for me are meaningless."
However, this side Shinobi World must not allow 'outsiders' like you to interfere, destroy, and plunder at will."
His voice was not loud, but with unquestionable firmness and protective will, it rumbled and echoed in the Chessboard space.
On both sides of Chessboard, on one side is the "coalition army" that has gathered the will of Pure Land and the heroes of the past generations, and is ready; on the other side is Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, who breaks into the chess game alone, as King General but has no pieces to use.