Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

"Alright," Naruto replied after a moment's thought. "You'll get your written document, but time is pressing, so we'll deliver it later."

"That's acceptable," Amado nodded. "However, I won't deactivate the bomb on Shikadai until I have that document in hand. It's my only life insurance."

Naruto turned to Shikamaru with an apologetic look.

Shikamaru sighed deeply, suppressing his frustration. "It's fine. Let's keep going."

Amado smirked slightly, then continued, "Since Sasuke's question implies you already understand the Karma mechanism, I'll elaborate.

"Ishiki isn't dead. After Kaguya's betrayal, Ishiki barely survived by shrinking his body and entering the ear of a wandering monk named Jigen. Like a parasite, he absorbed nutrients from Jigen's body, taking over his brain and body over time.

"Today, Ishiki speaks with Jigen's voice and acts through Jigen's body. Technically, Ishiki is still physically hidden within Jigen's brain."

Amado paused, locking eyes with Naruto. "The Karma on Jigen is Ishiki's failsafe—a means to resurrect in his true form.

"The Karma is a backup file containing the complete genetic and chakra data of an Ōtsutsuki. Once it's implanted in a host, the data decompresses over time, gradually overwriting the host's body and mind. Eventually, the host ceases to exist, replaced entirely by the Ōtsutsuki who implanted the Karma."

Amado's explanation was clinical, but it carried a chilling undertone. While his words described Ishiki and Jigen, they also pointed directly to Boruto and Kawaki—both victims of the Karma.

Naruto remained calm, much to Amado's confusion.

"Do you have any way to remove the Karma?" Naruto asked, his tone steady.

Amado hesitated, his thoughts racing. Why is he so calm? Isn't this his son we're talking about? Could the rumors of a strained relationship between Naruto and Boruto be true?

With a frustrated sigh, Amado replied, "Unfortunately, I have no way to remove Boruto's Karma. If you want to stop Momoshiki's resurrection, your only option is to kill Boruto now."

The room fell silent, the weight of Amado's suggestion hanging heavily in the air.

Naruto broke the silence. "There's no need to tell me that. Killing Boruto is not an option. But does that mean Kawaki's Karma can be removed?"

"Yes, it can..."

Before Amado could explain further, his glasses lit up, projecting a video feed from the Kara Organization's base onto the wall.

Amado glanced at the screen. "Perfect timing. We might be witnessing the death of Jigen and Ishiki right now."

In the projection, flames raged around Jigen, summoned by Kashin Koji through a powerful summoning technique.

Boruto, watching from outside the interrogation room, asked, "Flames? But I thought flames didn't work against the Karma."

Kawaki explained, "It's not ordinary fire. It's natural flames summoned through a jutsu, immune to absorption by the Karma."

Onscreen, the flames abruptly shrank, folding in on themselves.

"Karma? No," Sasuke said, narrowing his Sharingan. "That's his shrinking ability."

Amado nodded in confirmation. "That's Ishiki's unique ability, Daikokuten. He can shrink and restore anything he sees at will, except for living creatures."

Naruto frowned. "So these flames can't kill him?"

"Under normal circumstances, no," Amado replied. "But this isn't a normal situation. Ishiki hasn't recovered the chakra he lost in his fight with you. He doesn't have the strength to counter Kashin Koji's attack."

Naruto nodded in understanding. "So the timing of your attack was deliberate. You waited until Ishiki was at his weakest."

"Exactly," Amado said.

Naruto leaned back, glancing at the screen. "Let's see how this plays out. If Ishiki reincarnates in Jigen, it'll create an opportunity to remove Kawaki's Karma."

Amado froze, startled. "Wait—you already know about the Karma mechanism?"

Shikamaru slammed his hands on the table, glaring at Amado. "We know more than you think. Don't try to manipulate us."

Naruto called out to the room, "Someone bring Kawaki in."

"No need, Seventh Hokage," Kawaki said, opening the door. Boruto followed closely behind him, waving casually.

"Dad! I'm here too!" Boruto called.

Naruto sighed, exasperated. "I should've known you'd show up..."

Amado's expression changed when he saw Kawaki, but it was the figure following behind Boruto that left him utterly stunned.

Kirito entered the room silently, his head slightly bowed. As Amado caught sight of him, his breath hitched, his pupils constricted, and his face turned pale.

"...Ōtsutsuki," Amado whispered, the word escaping his lips like a gasp.

The room was tense as Amado's eyes darted between Kirito and the others. The casual acceptance of Kirito's presence by Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru only heightened Amado's shock.

"Why... why is there an Ōtsutsuki in Konoha?" Amado stammered, his voice trembling. "How is this possible? This doesn't make sense!"

His mind raced, piecing together fragments of information. I chose Konoha for my exile because I was certain there were no Ōtsutsuki here. This changes everything. When did he arrive? It must have been during Naruto's seal... That's the only time my surveillance was inactive. But why would Konoha tolerate an Ōtsutsuki?

Naruto interrupted Amado's spiraling thoughts. "The method Kirito mentioned earlier is already being implemented."

Kirito stepped forward, his calm demeanor cutting through the tension. He looked at Kawaki and said, "This process will be painful. You'll need to endure it."

Kawaki blinked in confusion. "What process?"

Meanwhile, on the screen, Jigen had been completely engulfed by flames, showing no signs of resistance.

(End of Chapter)