"Um… I don't think I should stay here."
"Maybe I should go back to the Spirit World."
"Why don't you find someone else?"
The White Ape King spoke awkwardly, glancing nervously toward the distant figure of
Isshiki Ōtsutsuki.
Raiden was speechless.
"Where exactly am I supposed to find someone else in the middle of the night?!"
He should have realized it earlier.
The ape had clearly been drunk last night.
It was his own fault for believing the exaggerated bragging of an ancient summon beast.
Raiden had always assumed that the older a creature was, the stronger it must be.
Apparently—
that wasn't always true.
If only he had brought peanuts along with the wine yesterday…
Maybe the White Ape King wouldn't have gotten so drunk.
Raiden grabbed the ape king's arm firmly.
"No."
"The arrow is already on the string—it has to be released."
Then he asked seriously:
"Tell me honestly… can Isshiki break your defenses with one move?"
The White Ape King scratched his head.
"No."
"He can't break my defenses."
"My body is extremely tough."
Raiden quickly made a judgment.
Low attack.
High defense.
A pure tank.
"Fine."
"You're going whether you like it or not."
Raiden spoke decisively.
"This won't be a prolonged fight."
"We only need to assist Kaguya Ōtsutsuki with a sneak attack."
"As long as one decisive strike succeeds, we win."
"And if it fails—"
"I run."
The White Ape King gritted his teeth.
"…Alright!"
"I'll do it!"
"I'll give it everything I've got!"
At that moment—
Kaguya slowly walked toward the grotesque juvenile Ten-Tails.
Isshiki watched calmly.
There was no trace of caution in his expression.
After all—
he never believed Kaguya would dare betray him.
And in his eyes, the natives of this planet were nothing more than insects.
To him, victory on this world was inevitable.
Raiden silently gave the signal.
"Now."
Immediately—
the bamboo forest erupted with croaking.
"Quack! Quack! Quack!"
Hidden toads began producing rhythmic sound waves, creating a sonic interference similar to the auditory genjutsu later used by Mount Myōboku's elder sages.
The entire forest filled with the echo of frogs.
Isshiki frowned.
"What is this?!"
He instinctively covered his ears.
The sound didn't damage him—
but it disrupted his concentration for a brief moment.
And that moment…
was exactly what Raiden needed.
"NOW!"
The golden staff descended like lightning.
Empowered by Sage Mode, Raiden's speed exploded.
He appeared in front of Isshiki almost instantly and swung the staff toward his face.
BANG!
Caught off guard, Isshiki's vision blurred slightly.
Raiden didn't hesitate.
Two more strikes followed instantly.
BANG!
BANG!
"Enough!"
Isshiki finally raised his arm.
The golden staff struck his forearm—
and stopped completely.
It felt like hitting solid steel.
Isshiki wiped the blood from his nose and glared coldly.
"So."
"A native of this planet?"
"Since when did Earth's insects dare challenge the Ōtsutsuki Clan?"
Raiden's heart sank.
Something was wrong.
Three full-power strikes—and Isshiki hadn't even been pushed toward the Ten-Tails.
Damn it.
That monkey tricked me!
"Die."
Isshiki moved.
His hand shot forward like lightning.
A Kage-level shinobi wouldn't even have time to react.
But Raiden had mastered Sage perception.
Natural energy allowed him to sense killing intent before the attack landed.
WHOOSH!
He ducked instantly.
Isshiki's hand sliced through empty air.
"…Hmm?"
Isshiki showed mild surprise.
Then his other hand slammed downward.
Raiden vanished.
In the blink of an eye he appeared behind Isshiki.
Isshiki's eyes narrowed.
Impressive reflexes.
Comparable to those two from the neighboring pair…
Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki
Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki
"This native brat moves well."
Isshiki said coldly.
Raiden swung the golden staff again.
"But my staff is even harder!"
BOOM!
The strike landed directly on the back of Isshiki's head.
Isshiki staggered slightly.
His face twisted with fury.
"BASTARD!"
He spun around and delivered a devastating kick.
Raiden's pupils shrank.
He couldn't react in time.
The kick struck his abdomen.
The force was overwhelming.
His body bent violently as the impact punched straight through his torso.
Bones shattered instantly.
"PUFF!"
Blood sprayed from Raiden's mouth as he flew backward.
He crashed to the ground while still gripping the golden staff.
The White Ape King immediately reverted to his original form and caught him before a second impact could worsen the injuries.
"Raiden!"
"Raiden!"
The White Ape King's face turned pale.
That kick should have been fatal.
Isshiki didn't even look at them.
Anyone struck by that blow should already be dead.
His attention returned to the croaking toads.
Those creatures were the real annoyance.
CLAP.
Isshiki brought his palms together.
Instantly—
countless black chakra rods materialized in the air.
These weapons were manifestations of his mysterious dōjutsu power.
Nearby—
Kaguya froze in shock.
It wasn't that she refused to act.
The exchange had simply happened too fast.
From beginning to end—
less than two seconds had passed.
Without activating the Byakugan, she could barely track the afterimages of the battle.
Even she hadn't expected this native to exchange multiple blows with Isshiki and briefly catch him off guard.
But now—
an opportunity appeared.
Kaguya activated her Byakugan.
Because she had prepared in advance with a Toad Immortal Talisman, the sonic interference had not affected her.
Now Isshiki was distracted controlling the black rods.
A perfect chance.
Kaguya moved.
Her figure flashed forward like lightning.
"Isshiki—!"
"Die!"
Both palms struck simultaneously.
She launched the attack directly toward Isshiki—
forcing him toward the waiting Ten-Tails.
"Issiki!? You—"
Isshiki's eyes widened in shock and fury.
He had never expected Kaguya to betray him.
Meanwhile—
the White Ape King looked down at Raiden's mangled body with tears in his eyes.
"Raiden… are you alright?!"
His voice trembled with regret.
If he had truly been strong enough to fight Isshiki…
Raiden wouldn't have suffered such devastating injuries.
Raiden coughed violently.
"Do I… look alright?"
His abdomen was nearly split apart.
Bones shattered.
Internal organs severely damaged.
He cursed internally.
Damn.
This Ōtsutsuki is terrifying.
That kick alone could shatter even a fully formed Susanoo.
The only reason he survived was because of his immortal physique strengthened by Sage cultivation.
Anyone else would have been reduced to blood mist.
To prevent the summoned toads from being killed, Raiden immediately dispelled the summoning.
"Let's retreat…"
The White Ape King spoke with a choked voice.
"We'll go back to the Spirit World and heal."
But Raiden shook his head weakly.
He had come here for the Chakra Fruit.
There was no way he would retreat now.
"Don't cry."
"Take the Toad Immortal Talisman from my chest…"
"…and stick it on my face."
"Okay!"
The White Ape King wiped away his tears and quickly retrieved the talisman.
He placed it directly on Raiden's face.
The next moment—
a brilliant divine light erupted.
Sage energy surged through Raiden's body.
His shattered bones reformed.
His torn organs regenerated.
Within a single second—
his body completely recovered.
Not a single scar remained.