The next day, Lin Yu got up from his warm bed and stretched comfortably. Such leisurely days were truly enjoyable.
Occasionally, he would fight low-level monsters to show off in front of people, or have long conversations with Mikoto and the others. Ever since Uchiha Madara died, Lin Yu hadn't encountered an opponent who could make him fight seriously.
Invincibility was truly lonely!
Flutter, flutter...
A carrier pigeon flew to his window. It stared at him with its small eyes for a moment, then preened its feathers.
Who would send him a letter?
Nothing much seemed to have happened recently. Could it be that Nagato had gone somewhere to fight again?
Lin Yu pondered as he untied the note from the pigeon's leg. Just as he was about to open it, he felt something rub against his arm. It was another pigeon, which then opened its beak towards him.
Lin Yu's forehead broke out in a sweat. Had the pigeons in the ninja world also become sentient? Was it asking him for travel expenses?
Lin Yu casually conjured a tree branch for it. Without paying attention to the pigeon's bewildered expression, he opened the note.
"The flower thief has been found!"
The flower thief? Who was that?
Did someone dare to steal his rice bowl, Lin Yu of the Uzumaki clan?!
However, after seeing the signature at the end, Lin Yu's expression suddenly became excited. He hadn't expected a piece he had casually placed to be so useful!
"Ji Ba, Ba Ji, and Bo Gang. I had almost forgotten these eccentric names. I didn't expect them to deliver such a great gift at this time!"
At this moment, Lin Yu's face showed excitement, anticipation, and a hint of fear.
Because he didn't know how much of Isshiki's power Jigen could currently wield. It was impossible for him to use all of it unless Isshiki wanted to commit suicide. He hadn't found a suitable Karma yet, and Jigen's body couldn't withstand his full power.
But without a doubt, Jigen now possessed the combat power of the Six Paths level. Lin Yu had to prepare meticulously!
"Perhaps now is the time to evolve my Mangekyo Sharingan."
Lin Yu hesitated. He hadn't claimed the reward for the last mission he completed because he had an idea: ordinary Rinnegan were not that strong. To evolve, he needed to aim for a mutated version!
The reason Lin Yu had this thought was that the mission reward mentioned an opportunity to advance to Eternal Mangekyo, not directly a Rinnegan!
It was an opportunity!
And opportunities had to be created and grasped by oneself. He only had one pair of Sharingan now. If he could add some other energy, perhaps he could evolve a unique Kekkei Genkai.
Lin Yu felt it wasn't worth using this opportunity on Jigen, who couldn't exert his full power!
Besides, with his current strength, it wasn't impossible to clash head-on with him. However, the Otsutsuki clan was too mysterious. Who knew what other methods they might have? Therefore, Lin Yu needed to be fully prepared.
After all, if he died, he wouldn't have Karma to revive him.
"But time is tight. It's already been a night. I wonder if Jigen has left the Land of Rice Fields."
"I must hurry!"
Lin Yu whispered, "Kurama, get ready. It's time for our fusion."
Inside the sealing space, Kurama was playing Dou Dizhu with his clones. Hearing Lin Yu's thoughts, he wagged his tail and asked, "Fusion? Is the enemy very strong?"
"Not entirely. After this, I'll set you free. This is my promise to you."
Kurama was momentarily stunned, and in his eyes appeared the image of a young Uzumaki Lin Yu making a promise to it: Kushina would be its last Jinchuriki.
Now that they were fusing again, Kushina's Jinchuriki status would be lost, and Lin Yu's promise would be fulfilled.
"Hmph! Considering these many years, I'll help you one last time!"
Kurama said haughtily, but its eyes didn't seem entirely happy. It had lived quite well over the years, and Lin Yu had taught it many peculiar things.
Like Dou Dizhu, Mahjong, Thirteen Cards... and so on. Kurama truly felt that its past life had been lived in vain!
It would definitely boast to the other Tailed Beasts in the future and teach them, then trick... win all their savings!
Especially Shukaku, that cowardly tanuki, it had to trick him out of everything!
Lin Yu chuckled, "Why do you look unhappy? Don't forget I have the Undying Nether Flame, so I won't die even without a Tailed Beast."
"Hmph! I don't care if you live or die!"
Kurama became haughty again. Lin Yu deliberately said, "Doesn't Kurama, you want to go out? In that case..."
"Who said that!"
Kurama roared loudly in the sealing space, "How could I not want to go out! If you have the guts, release me now and see if I'll pay attention to you!"
"Alright, after this, you won't be able to stay even if you want to!"
Lin Yu collected his thoughts. He was going to find Kushina to have the Nine-Tails fuse with him. Being a Jinchuriki was such a dangerous profession; raising a pet was much safer!
...
In the Land of Rice Fields, in a hidden corner, a man wearing a white haori with a long braid down his back was inspecting something.
In front of him were rows of cages, each containing ragged children. Some were orphans of war, some were lured children, and a very small number were sold to traffickers by their own families.
This was a human trafficking market, and the buyer was Jigen.
"There's no one I fancy in this batch."
Jigen wore a straw hat that covered half his face, but the unique Karma mark on his jaw betrayed his identity.
"Please don't rush, esteemed guest. We have another batch of high-quality goods the day after tomorrow. You'll be satisfied!" The trafficker's face was full of fawning smiles. This person was a major client, and he couldn't afford to offend him.
"Tomorrow! Tomorrow, here again."
With that, Jigen's figure disappeared from the spot. Before leaving, he glanced back at the corner behind him.
Tch, a few little bugs.
Ji Ba, who was monitoring from not far away, was so terrified by Jigen's backward glance that his rough face immediately turned pale. He had never seen such eyes before.
It was as if, in his eyes, people were not people at all, but mere ants that could be crushed to death at will.
"How is it?" Ba Ji, who was keeping watch, asked.
"Confirmed, it's the person the master is looking for, but..."
Ba Ji happily said, "As long as it's him, what are you worried about? Are you afraid the master isn't this guy's opponent?"
Ji Ba's face looked troubled. He shook his head and didn't say more. He was afraid that his true thoughts would scare them.
Because Ji Ba truly felt that the master's strength back then was inferior to this flower thief named Jigen.
Moreover, the gap was huge!
Ji Ba sighed inwardly, hoping that the master's strength had increased over the years, otherwise, they would have to run away!
"Don't worry, the master is invincible!" Bo Gang, seeing Ji Ba's hesitation, comforted him.
"I hope so!"
The figures of the three disappeared from the spot. Shortly after, a braided man in a white haori stood where Ji Ba had been, muttering, "Master? Perhaps he has the qualifications to become a Karma."
The alley fell silent again...