Chapter 202:
"So, you left Mitsuki out there all by himself, didn't you?"
After listening to Jiraiya's explanation, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and asked.
"Yeah." Jiraiya nodded, taking the healing potion handed to him by the clone Gray Wolf who had awakened the memories of the original Gray Wolf. "Thanks."
For some reason, Jiraiya felt the way the clone Gray Wolf was looking at him was a bit strange.
"N-No problem," the clone Gray Wolf replied, flustered.
In the clone's recovered memories, this was the first time Red Wolf had ever said "thank you" to him. Even though Red Wolf's past memories were gone, the clone Gray Wolf believed that one day, Red Wolf would remember everything—remember the Green Pastureland, remember the Wolf Castle, remember the Sheep Village.
"Don't worry. Once Mitsuki has eaten enough, he'll naturally regain consciousness," Orochimaru said indifferently, not at all concerned about Jiraiya and Mitsuki's mission failure.
Konoha Village
"Hm? Minato, look—it's a toad!"
Hearing croaking at her feet, Kushina looked down.
Minato gently picked up the toad, which was croaking incessantly, and examined it. "This toad must be carrying intel from Master Jiraiya."
Since his reincarnation, Jiraiya hadn't had the chance to re-sign the Mount Myōboku contract, but he'd still raised a few gifted tadpoles to serve as summoning beasts.
"Minato, what's written on the paper?"
After retrieving the small scroll from the toad's mouth and releasing it, Minato's face gradually turned serious as he read the contents.
"It's a request from Master Jiraiya. He wants us to bring the berserk Mitsuki back safely."
"Mitsuki?" Kushina frowned.
"Orochimaru's son—the one he modified and turned into a ghoul," Minato reminded her.
"Oh, him. I remember he's friends with our grandson."
"Yeah." Minato nodded. "I have to go get him. According to Master Jiraiya, a berserk Mitsuki will recklessly feed across the Shinobi World, which could provoke a large-scale retaliation."
"Then I'm coming with you, Minato."
"So that's who it was—I thought this aura felt familiar. It's Urashiki Ōtsutsuki's vessel." Evilmoku stood behind Mitsuki, who was gnawing on something.
The voice from behind made Mitsuki alert. Guarding his food, he stared warily at Evilmoku.
"You really bring shame to the Ōtsutsuki Clan, Urashiki."
Evilmoku's words seemed to agitate the part of Urashiki's spirit inside Mitsuki, triggering an attack.
Evilmoku easily sidestepped the strike and countered with a kick, sending Mitsuki flying.
"Your vessel's only talent is taking hits—just like you, Urashiki."
Mitsuki let out a bestial roar, and markings began to appear across his body.
"Hmph." With a snort, Evilmoku vanished in a blur, reappearing above Mitsuki and stomping him into the ground.
Each time Mitsuki struggled to rise, Evilmoku slammed him back down again.
"Trash, just as expected."
Though both were from the Ōtsutsuki Clan, Isshiki Ōtsutsuki ranked far above Urashiki. After all, Isshiki and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had arrived in the Shinobi World together and were considered elders. As a senior, Isshiki always looked down on the frivolous and reckless Urashiki.
"Rasengan!"
"Hm?"
Evilmoku caught Minato's arm mid-strike, stopping the Rasengan he'd formed after teleporting in with Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Chakra chains burst from Kushina's back, wrapping around Evilmoku.
Evilmoku glanced over his shoulder at Kushina and sneered, "So it's S.H.I.E.L.D.'s SpongeBob and Patrick."
Effortlessly breaking free from the chakra chains, Evilmoku took a few steps back. Meanwhile, Mitsuki, who had been pinned beneath his foot, was finally able to get back on his feet.
Evilmoku had no problem bullying Mitsuki, since he was just an external member of S.H.I.E.L.D.—similar to the outer ring of Kara. But SpongeBob and Patrick were internal members.
Evilmoku wasn't ready to go to war with S.H.I.E.L.D. just yet. After all, they were an organization capable of collaborating with the universe's dark forces like OMG.
And cooperation could only exist between parties of equal strength.
"You okay, Mitsuki?"
Minato and Kushina approached Mitsuki.
After eating, and with Evilmoku's verbal assault having suppressed Urashiki's consciousness, Mitsuki's true self had regained control.
"SpongeBob? Patrick? What are you doing here…"
"Red Wolf asked us to bring you back," Kushina said from the side.
"I never thought S.H.I.E.L.D. would care this much, even about one of its outer members." Evilmoku observed how Minato and Kushina were tending to Mitsuki.
"Patrick, calm down," Minato said, grabbing Kushina's hand. "This enemy isn't someone we can handle."
Though they usually addressed each other by their real names, during missions, they used only their codenames.
"Relax. S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Mutant Beasts are still in a cooperative phase, so I won't lay a hand on you," Evilmoku said dismissively, arms crossed.
Besides the Armored Warriors, the only ones Evilmoku truly took seriously within S.H.I.E.L.D. were the seldom-seen Deputy Director Husky, and the extremely mysterious Director Bald Egg.
With that, Evilmoku disappeared into the black mist of his personal dimension.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu…"
As someone deeply familiar with such techniques, Minato immediately recognized the oddity of Evilmoku's black mist.
"Sorry… and thanks for rescuing me."
Mitsuki looked at Minato and Kushina.
"No need to thank us. You're our grandson's friend, after all."
"A friend, huh…" Mitsuki muttered.
Ever since becoming a ghoul—and then devouring Urashiki Ōtsutsuki to become his vessel—Mitsuki had felt increasingly detached from humanity.
Heroes didn't need monsters as friends. The most fitting end for him… was death.
That was how Mitsuki saw it.
Before leaving, Mitsuki pressed his palms together and closed his eyes in front of the half-eaten human corpse.
It was both an apology and an expression of gratitude. This had become Mitsuki's ritual since turning into a ghoul—the only way he could fool himself into thinking some part of him was still human.
"Let's go."
Only after Mitsuki completed his ritual did Minato speak.