True Identity

Koji admits that his entire purpose has always been Jigen's death. Watching from Konoha, Naruto cannot grasp why two Kara operatives would turn on one another, which prompts Amado to reveal that neither man ever truly belonged to the group. Kara was only cover for their real goal of destroying Jigen while he is drained from the earlier clash with Naruto and Sasuke, a weakness they will not see again. Jigen dismisses Koji as nothing more than Amado's instrument, an insult Koji embraces as the very definition of a shinobi.

Their duel opens with a burst of fire that Jigen swallows through his Kama, though Koji uses the moment to slip behind him, coat him in oil, and plant several toads whose flames flare hotter for it. Kawaki doubts any of this can harm someone shielded by a Kama. The fight shifts into taijutsu, with Jigen dodging Koji's shadow clones and skewering them with his rods.

Amado exposes Jigen's origin: Isshiki arrived on the planet alongside Kaguya, was betrayed by her, and survived only by seizing a dying novice monk named Jigen. Before continuing, Amado secures a written asylum arrangement and refuses to free Shikadai's collar without it. He then reveals, using Boruto and Momoshiki as his model, that a Kama is copied Otsutsuki data implanted like a compressed backup that slowly overwrites its bearer until the original Otsutsuki is reborn.

Amado clarifies that Isshiki entered Jigen as a parasite rather than through a normal implant, later grooming Kawaki as a sturdier host because Jigen's frame cannot hold a fully restored Isshiki. Koji eventually reveals summoned natural flames that Jigen cannot absorb, since they are not Fire Release.

Naruto recognizes the fighting style Koji uses, hinting at a familiar identity beneath the disguise. Amado insists the group must prevent Isshiki's rebirth in Kawaki and promises to teach everyone how to kill an Otsutsuki, since as long as Kama exist these beings can keep cheating death.