Chapter 220: Treated as a Vessel
As the leader of the Land of Iron, Mifune had weathered countless storms over the years. He had seen and experienced enough that he would not completely lose himself at a time like this.
Faced with Jigen's counter-question, Mifune remained calm and asked in return, "Then, if I join your team and help you achieve your wish, what will I gain?"
A chakra fruit—once eaten, it would grant unimaginable power, allowing one to evolve into a new member of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
Jigen had clearly said as much earlier when he was explaining things.
If that was true, of course Mifune would want a share of it.
Step by step evolving into a supreme godlike being—that temptation was far too great.
Compared to something as petty as peace in the shinobi world, such a child's-play goal was hardly worth mentioning.
But would this man before him actually agree?
"As long as you're a member of Kara and help me achieve my goal, I'll share the chakra fruit with every one of you when the time comes," Jigen replied without hesitation. "Right now, there's only you and me in the organization, so once we succeed in reviving the Ten-Tails and reclaiming the chakra fruit, the power will be split evenly between us."
Such a promise— even if only partly true—was enough to tempt anyone beyond reason.
Mifune was moved.
His earlier plan to escape and tip off Konoha, asking Uchiha Dali to deal with this formidable foe, had already been tossed out of his mind.
Right now, he only wanted to become eternal.
"So, what's next? What's your plan?" Mifune asked.
"So you've agreed to join, have you?"
"Next, we need to find a suitable 'vessel.'"
"Vessel?" Mifune was clearly puzzled.
"My current body is too weak. I need a vessel to complete my rebirth," Jigen explained without hiding anything.
His words left Mifune speechless.
This body… too weak?
Really? Even in such so-called "weakness," he couldn't gain the slightest advantage against this man—he could even be instantly killed.
If Jigen's words were true, and he really was in a weakened state without his full strength… then what would he be like once he regained his true power?
The thought alone filled Mifune with deep dread—and also an unfamiliar burning desire.
If he could obtain the power of the chakra fruit condensed by the Divine Tree, could he also become as strong as Jigen?
If it was possible, then no price would be too high.
"So, how do we find a suitable vessel?" Mifune asked curiously.
Jigen stepped forward and suddenly grabbed Mifune's wrist.
In Mifune's startled gaze, a brilliant stream of light surged from Jigen's body, forming a double-helix pattern like DNA before quickly drilling into his body.
Yet, Mifune didn't feel anything unusual.
A moment later, Jigen released him.
"I've implanted my 'Kāma' into you. It contains all my genetic information and power," Jigen said. "Once the Kāma finishes unsealing, if your body meets the requirements for a vessel, you'll become suitable for my rebirth—and you'll gain all of my power."
"If you can't withstand my chakra, then you're not a suitable vessel. It won't affect you—you'll still be you."
Jigen's tone was so casual, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with himself.
But Mifune felt far from comfortable after hearing it.
He realized the so-called "vessel" was simply a tool—a container that could house Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's possession.
Right now, Jigen was also just such a container.
While meeting the conditions would grant him all of this man's power, at that point he would no longer be himself.
His body would be taken over, his consciousness erased—he would become Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
That was not what Mifune had in mind.
He wanted to become eternal, to become an unmatched god—but not as Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's vessel.
Still, what was done was done. The Kāma was already implanted, and he couldn't defeat this man. So, though he was displeased, Mifune showed no hint of it.
"If I'm not suitable, then you've wasted your effort, haven't you?" Mifune asked casually, though inwardly he was already thinking about how to get away from him.
"That's why we need to keep looking for more vessels," Jigen replied.
"We'll start with this country."
He began to walk away, but Mifune spoke up: "But how do you plan to deal with Uchiha Dali and the Konoha behind him?"
That made Jigen stop in his tracks.
Turning with a puzzled expression, he asked, "Uchiha Dali? Who's that?"
That surprised Mifune—this man didn't know who Uchiha Dali was?
Was he new here? Or had he been in some kind of information-sealed place all this time, completely unaware of the current state of the shinobi world?
Without wasting words, Mifune quickly explained.
"After the Third Shinobi World War, a powerful ninja named Uchiha Dali emerged in Konoha. Not only did he become the Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf in the Land of Fire, but after taking office, he used his overwhelming strength to conquer the other nations.
"As of now, aside from our Land of Iron, every single country—big and small—has become a vassal of Konoha.
"If you intend to carry out your plan, I think we'll first have to face the pressure from Uchiha Dali…"
Mifune's explanation made Jigen's eyes instantly turn cold.
He truly hadn't known any of this.
Until today, he had spent a long period in a half-dormant state.
That was because the body of the monk Jigen was simply too weak to bear the vast chakra of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Though the Kāma had allowed Jigen, a mere mortal, to live for over a thousand years, his body had gradually reached its limits with time.
To put it plainly, Jigen's body could collapse at any moment.
This was why it would occasionally fall into slumber, preventing Ōtsutsuki Isshiki from moving freely.
Therefore, the most urgent task now was to find a truly suitable vessel.
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