Yuzuru's casual remark made Ōga start trembling uncontrollably.
Sure enough...
She was going to die.
But she still had not found the meaning of her life!
At that thought, tears filled Ōga's eyes. She squeezed them shut and pleaded at the top of her lungs, "Please spare me! I'll do anything!"
Yuzuru glanced at her and recalled what he knew about her.
In his memories, Ōga was one of Kara's Inners, though she was not skilled in combat.
Amado had merely altered her brain.
Later, after secretly researching Jigen's heart, she had been severely injured by Jigen. Then, after being moved by Boruto, she chose to abandon darkness and turn to the light.
After giving it some thought, Yuzuru asked, "Give me one reason not to kill you."
Ōga immediately replied, "I was Amado's assistant in Kara. I have extensive experience with artificial humans, cyborgs, and Scientific Ninja Tools."
Yuzuru nodded and tore the white cloth from Ōga's forehead.
Then he placed a hand on her forehead, channeling the power of Yang Release into her body.
"I've erased Kara's mark from you. From now on, you'll work as an assistant at the research base."
After saying that, Yuzuru vanished from the spot.
She was a scientific talent, after all. He might as well leave her to Orochimaru.
Ōga collapsed to her knees, drained of strength but relieved.
"Good thing I have plenty of knowledge in my head. I nearly got killed like Delta..."
Hearing her murmur, Itachi, who had been about to leave, stopped.
"No, you're mistaken."
Ōga looked up in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Itachi hesitated before speaking slowly. "Compared to the knowledge in your head, I think your appearance was far more useful."
Watching Itachi's departing figure, Ōga instinctively touched her cheek.
Her appearance?
Shisui stepped forward with a smile. "Since Lord Yuzuru has accepted you, we're comrades from now on."
"I'll take you to the research base to meet Lord Orochimaru. Follow his arrangements from now on."
"Oh, and... is Ōga your name, or your codename in Kara?"
"Why?"
"I think it sounds a little unpleasant."
Looking at Shisui's bright, earnest eyes, Ōga could not help but complain inwardly.
'This guy is really blunt.'
"Then... I'll be called Hachime from now on."
Kara.
Inside the research base, Amado stared at Delta's completely vanished signal, his expression dark to the extreme.
Delta was a clone he had created based on his deceased daughter, a vessel for all the grief he held for her.
But now, Delta's data core had disappeared.
That meant Delta...
Was dead!
Bang!
Amado slammed a fist onto the table with a dull thud.
At that moment, the door was pushed open from outside, and Kashin Koji slowly walked in.
"Why are you here?" Amado asked coldly.
Koji closed the door and calmly said, "I killed Victor."
"What?"
Amado looked at him in surprise. "Why would you do that?"
"Now that Kawaki has fallen into Yuzuru's hands, there's no need for us to keep pretending with Jigen."
"I'm going to confront Jigen and see whether I can force Isshiki Ōtsutsuki to reincarnate."
Kashin Koji was a clone Amado had created using Jiraiya's cells.
At first, he had been made to strengthen Kara and help the organization gather intelligence throughout the shinobi world.
Later, after Amado learned the truth about Isshiki and Jigen, he made the decision to betray Kara.
Naturally, the Kashin Koji he had personally raised stood on Amado's side.
"Where is Delta? With her help, I'd have better odds."
Amado said heavily, "Delta is dead."
"After receiving Jigen's order, she immediately headed for Konoha. Her signal has now disappeared completely."
Because Delta was hot-tempered and often spoke without thinking, Amado had never told her about Jigen and Isshiki.
He had not expected that decision to lead to Delta's death in Konoha.
Koji spoke slowly, "Don't grieve. Delta was never truly your daughter."
"If you bring Kara's research results and seek refuge with Yuzuru, there may be a chance to revive the real Delta."
Amado asked, "Yuzuru can revive Delta?"
Koji nodded. "According to the intelligence I gathered, he truly possesses the power to bring the dead back to life."
"However, Delta has been dead for far too long. I cannot guarantee that she can still be revived."
Amado thought for a moment before saying in a low voice, "I understand. Let's pack up immediately."
Koji turned and headed for the exit.
"Then I'll go hold Jigen back."
Kara's headquarters.
Conference room.
Jigen was not lying inside his recovery pod as usual. Instead, he paced restlessly through the room.
There was only one thought in his mind now.
He had to get Kawaki back!
Suddenly, a toad hopped in through the door.
Seeing the scroll in its mouth, Jigen reached out and opened it.
After taking only one glance, delight appeared on his face.
There was only one sentence on the scroll.
Kawaki has been retrieved. Come immediately.
Jigen used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared directly at the location marked on the scroll.
"Kashin Koji?"
"Where is Kawaki?"
Jigen swept his gaze across the area and found that Koji was the only one nearby. His expression immediately darkened.
Koji said blandly, "Chief, Kawaki is still in Konoha."
"You lured me here just to die?" Jigen snarled as he shot forward.
Bang!
Their fists collided, and Koji was forced back several steps.
"Chief, this body of yours should not have much time left."
"Now that none of Kara's Inners are by your side, I'll make sure you disappear from this world completely."
A cold smile appeared on Jigen's face.
"So you learned my secret. It seems Amado has betrayed me as well."
"Lowly humans truly cannot be trusted."
"But don't celebrate too soon. Even if I have to drag this broken body along, I'll personally eliminate traitors like you!"