A gigantic Rasenshuriken wrapped in pitch-black flames tore through the sky, spinning toward the back of Momoshiki's lava giant.
Its name was Scorch Release: Light Wheel Gale Black Arrow Zero Style…
But that wasn't important right now.
At that moment, Momoshiki was completely locked in an ORA ORA vs. MUDA MUDA slugfest against Chinatsu. His full attention was focused on overwhelming her, leaving him completely oblivious to the attack approaching from behind.
By the time he sensed it…
It was already too late.
Momoshiki instinctively turned his head.
Seeing the enormous black-flamed Rasenshuriken rapidly filling his vision, an expression of disbelief spread across his face.
A… sneak attack?!
BOOM!!!
The Rasenshuriken exploded against the lava giant's back.
Black flames instantly spread across its enormous body.
Even the incomplete Ten-Tails had been wounded by an attack of this caliber. Taking it head-on without any defense…
The damage was catastrophic.
But…
That wasn't the most devastating part.
The real threat…
Was Chinatsu.
How could she possibly waste the opening Naruto and Sasuke had created?
The barrage of fists that had paused for only an instant erupted once more.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!!!"
Thousands of colossal Buddha fists crashed into the front of the lava giant one after another.
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
Already caught between attacks from the front and rear, the lava giant finally reached its limit.
Cracks spread across its molten body.
Then—
CRASH!!
The entire construct shattered into countless pieces.
Momoshiki was blasted out from within, tumbling across the ruined battlefield before crashing heavily into the ground.
For several seconds…
He completely lost consciousness.
When he finally forced his eyes open again…
The lava giant had disappeared.
His entire body screamed in pain.
"I…"
"…lost?"
"I…"
"…actually lost?"
"No…"
"I couldn't have lost!"
Lying on the ground, Momoshiki clenched his fists and roared toward the sky.
"ISSHIKI!!"
"Were you just standing there watching?!"
"Why haven't you attacked yet?!"
The moment Chinatsu heard that name…
Her expression froze.
Isshiki…?
Which Isshiki…?
…Isshiki Otsutsuki?!
An overwhelming sense of danger surged through her body.
It was stronger than anything she had ever felt before.
Without hesitation, her Mangekyō Sharingan swept across the battlefield, searching desperately for any trace of the hidden enemy.
Naruto and Sasuke felt it as well.
A terrifying gaze.
Someone…
Was watching them.
The brothers instinctively turned around.
Nothing.
Or rather…
They had looked too slowly.
A figure silently appeared directly in front of them.
Isshiki Otsutsuki.
Without a single wasted movement—
BANG!!
His fist slammed into Naruto's abdomen.
Naruto's eyes widened as he was sent flying.
At nearly the same instant—
BOOM!!
Isshiki's kick crashed into Sasuke's stomach, launching him across the battlefield as well.
Before Naruto could recover…
Isshiki casually caught him by the throat with one hand and lifted him into the air.
Only then did he glance toward the defeated Momoshiki.
"Don't rush me."
"The jinchūriki of Konoha are surprisingly stubborn."
"It took a little longer than expected."
His explanation was only half true.
The jinchūriki had indeed resisted fiercely while he harvested portions of their Tailed Beast chakra.
However…
It hadn't delayed him for very long.
Isshiki never intended to extract every last bit of chakra.
For reviving the Ten-Tails, only a sufficient quantity was necessary.
Once he had gathered enough…
He simply left.
The real reason he had arrived late…
Was because he had been quietly watching Momoshiki's battle from beginning to end.
Momoshiki understood that now.
He had sensed Isshiki's presence long ago.
He simply hadn't called for help.
After all…
He believed he could defeat Chinatsu himself.
In the end…
Reality had proven otherwise.
What… a disgrace.
Isshiki looked down at the defeated Momoshiki, finally ending his silent mockery.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he launched several chakra projectiles toward him.
Momoshiki immediately absorbed the chakra through the golden Rinnegan in his palms. Although his injuries weren't completely healed, he quickly regained the ability to fight.
Two Momoshikis…
Plus Isshiki.
Chinatsu's eyelids twitched.
How am I supposed to fight this?
She had barely managed to hold her own against Momoshiki and Kinshiki together.
Now…
There was an opponent even stronger than fused Momoshiki.
The gap in strength was obvious.
Fused Momoshiki had ultimately been defeated by Naruto and Sasuke working together.
Isshiki, however…
Had completely overwhelmed them.
Kurama had been effortlessly impaled.
Perfect Susanoo had been kicked apart like glass.
Even two fused Momoshikis probably couldn't accomplish something like that.
"…Looks like it's finally time."
Chinatsu slowly exhaled.
She had only one trump card left.
The Eight Gates Formation.
Opening all Eight Gates would multiply her strength to an unimaginable level.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
She could drag all three Ōtsutsuki down with her.
When Might Guy taught her the Eight Gates…
She had already prepared herself for this very moment.
Just like Guy had once said—
"Let me experience… the climax of youth!"
"Eight Gates Formation…"
Chinatsu focused every ounce of chakra within her body.
She intended to open all Eight Gates in a single breath.
Her chakra surged violently.
Her aura climbed higher and higher.
Just as she was about to break through and force open the Eighth Gate—
She suddenly froze.
She…
Couldn't move.
Not even a finger.
It wasn't because of exhaustion.
Nor was it because her body had reached its limit.
It felt as though an invisible force had completely restrained her.
Within seconds…
Chinatsu understood exactly what had happened.
Her shadow…
Had become connected to Momoshiki's.
Shadow Possession Technique.
A secret technique of the Nara Clan.
Normally, Chinatsu could have shattered it through brute force.
But the caster…
Was Momoshiki.
With an Ōtsutsuki supplying chakra to the technique, the restraint had become terrifyingly powerful.
She couldn't even force herself to open the Eighth Gate.
"Damn it…"
Cold sweat slowly rolled down Chinatsu's forehead.
Across from her…
Momoshiki finally smiled.
A broad…
Satisfied…
Victorious smile.
"So…"
"You've finally been cornered."
After suffering so many beatings…
Watching Chinatsu struggle at last felt unbelievably satisfying.
The relationship between Chinatsu and Momoshiki?
Enemy and enemy?
No.
More like…
Love-hate rivals.
Because of the Shadow Possession Technique, Chinatsu's body completely mirrored Momoshiki's movements.
If Momoshiki stood still…
She could only stand still.
If he raised his arm…
She had to raise hers.
She had become nothing more than a puppet.
Only then did Isshiki slowly descend until he stood directly in front of her.
He calmly raised one hand.
Above his palm…
Dense streams of multicolored Tailed Beast chakra gathered together.
The chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts.
On the other side…
Momoshiki still possessed one Rinnegan.
The other…
Remained within Chinatsu.
Everything was ready.
Isshiki's expression remained indifferent.
"Now…"
"Let Kaguya's resurrection begin."
The moment he finished speaking—
He forcefully injected the condensed Tailed Beast chakra into Chinatsu's body.
Their plan…
Was to use Chinatsu as the perfect vessel.
A sacrifice.
A body through which Ōtsutsuki Kaguya would overwrite her existence, break free of the ancient seal, and return to the world once again.
The final act…
Had officially begun.
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