Alternate Space.
In the vast, silent space, only pale gray light shone from some unknown direction, illuminating the cold ground below.
Jigen sat on an ancient-looking stone chair, his elbow resting on his knee and his chin propped on one hand, his eyes lowered and his breathing steady.
He seemed to have fallen asleep.
But he was merely thinking.
Over all these years, Isshiki had long since grown accustomed to life in the Shinobi World.
Those hidden bases, buried supplies, experimental materials accumulated over the years, and research results were all foundations he had built up bit by bit.
Jigen's body had a limited capacity, and he could not exert his full strength at all times, so he had to rely on Kara and other external resources.
The vessels, scrolls, Formula samples, and the few failures he had once branded with Karma without success stored in those bases were all pieces he could use to deal with future upheavals.
He was reluctant to abandon them because they embodied a thousand years of preparations.
Unless he had no other choice, he would not order them all destroyed.
But this time, he had to.
When the Search Team unearthed that abandoned base, he knew there would be trouble.
From the moment the intelligence came back, he had to make a choice.
His options were limited: risk striking to intercept and kill them, or decisively cut off his own route of retreat.
Isshiki hesitated for a long time, even traveling to the Land of Rivers himself and sitting on a cliff, watching the squad of Konoha ninja pass through the dense forest with the remains.
In the end, he still did not strike.
The moment he thought of Shihōin Naraku, he began to waver.
He knew how powerful Naraku was, and had even