"A miraculous recovery!?"
"That old sage from Mount Myōboku really is incredible!"
The White Ape King stared in shock.
Moments ago Raiden's body had been nearly destroyed by Isshiki Ōtsutsuki.
Yet now, after the power of the Toad Immortal Talisman circulated through his body, the injuries had completely disappeared.
The ape king quickly helped him up.
"How do you feel? Are you alright now?"
Raiden slowly opened his eyes.
Sage chakra flowed smoothly through every part of his body.
His vitality surged.
"Yeah."
"I'm back in action."
He clenched his fist.
At that moment—
a furious voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Kaguya, you wretched traitor!"
"How dare you betray me?!"
"I'll feed you to the Ten-Tails myself!"
As expected—
Isshiki had already subdued
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
He held her by the neck and dragged her toward the waiting
Ten-Tails.
But Isshiki's attention was completely focused on Kaguya.
He paid no attention to Raiden.
"White Ape King."
"Prepare to attack."
Raiden spoke immediately.
"Alright! Let's do it!"
The White Ape King understood instantly.
A flash of light erupted.
"Demon Weapon Transformation!"
"White Ape King—Transform!"
In an instant—
the ape king transformed into a golden cudgel and landed in Raiden's hand.
Raiden poured all of his Sage power into the weapon—
and hurled it with explosive force.
WHOOSH!
The golden staff shot forward like a meteor.
Straight toward Isshiki.
At that moment Isshiki stood beside the Ten-Tails, gripping Kaguya with both hands.
Because his hands were occupied, he glanced at the incoming object with mild disdain.
"Hmph."
"A meaningless trick."
His eye activated.
The dōjutsu ability
Sukunahikona.
Isshiki attempted to shrink the incoming weapon and store it within the timeless dimension of
Daikokuten.
But suddenly—
his expression changed.
"Wait…?"
"Why can't it shrink?!"
"This isn't an object!?"
Before he could react—
the golden cudgel suddenly expanded.
The White Ape King returned to his true form mid-air.
"What?!"
Isshiki's eyes widened.
The ape king grinned viciously.
"Surprise!"
"That kick you gave Raiden earlier—"
"I'm returning the favor!"
He delivered a devastating flying kick.
A massive foot slammed directly into Isshiki's face.
BOOM!
The impact exploded through the bamboo forest.
Without stopping—
the White Ape King grabbed Kaguya with one hand and hurled her aside to safety.
Then he kicked Isshiki again—
this time sending him flying straight toward the open mouth of the Ten-Tails.
"NO—!!!"
Isshiki roared in fury.
But the Ten-Tails didn't care.
To it—
everything was simply chakra.
The massive creature devoured him instantly.
"White Ape King!"
"That kick was incredible!"
Raiden burst out laughing.
"That's a legendary kick!"
"Even stronger than when Might Guy used the Eight Gates against
Madara Uchiha!"
If Guy's kick nearly ended the Fourth Shinobi War—
then the White Ape King's kick might have just ended the entire Ōtsutsuki crisis.
Isshiki's fate was now unknown.
But in Raiden's mind—
unknown meant dead.
Kaguya quickly approached.
"Thank you for helping me."
"I am deeply grateful."
She bowed respectfully.
Raiden smiled happily.
After all—
the Chakra Fruit would soon be his.
His rise was about to begin.
Nearby—
the Ten-Tails began to change.
After devouring the sacrificial Ōtsutsuki, its body rapidly transformed.
The earth trembled violently.
"BOOM—!"
From the creature's body—
the legendary
Divine Tree
emerged.
Moments later—
a brilliant fruit appeared.
The Chakra Fruit.
Normally such a fruit required centuries to ripen.
But the sacrifice of a pure Ōtsutsuki accelerated the process dramatically.
Isshiki's chakra was extremely potent.
Thus the fruit manifested almost instantly.
A dazzling white light illuminated the entire bamboo forest.
Raiden's eyes shone with excitement.
"That's it!"
"That's the Chakra Fruit!"
Kaguya smiled gently.
"Manji-kun."
"This is what you deserve."
"Please take it."
Raiden grinned.
"Kaguya… I wish you happiness."
"You can finally pursue your own life now."
"Remember to invite me to your wedding."
"I'll definitely attend."
Deep down—
Raiden actually sympathized with Kaguya.
In the original history she had suffered greatly.
Her clan treated her like a disposable sacrifice.
Her husband betrayed her.
Even her own sons would eventually oppose her.
She was ultimately sealed away for a thousand years.
A tragic existence.
Kaguya looked at Raiden quietly.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
But there was also something strange in her eyes.
"Thank you."
"You are different from the others."
"Alright!"
Raiden rushed forward without hesitation.
The Chakra Fruit fell into his hands.
"I succeeded!"
"I finally succeeded!"
Raiden laughed wildly.
From this day forward—
he would break through the Super Kage ceiling.
He would possess power comparable to the Six Paths level.
Immortality.
Ultimate strength.
Everything he desired.
The White Ape King scratched his head.
Although he didn't understand why Raiden was so happy—
seeing his friend excited made him happy as well.
But then—
the ape king glanced toward Kaguya.
And his pupils shrank.
Something was wrong.
Meanwhile—
Raiden frowned.
"…Strange."
"My killing-intent perception keeps reacting."
His Sage instincts had never failed before.
Was it the Divine Tree?
Or something else?
But none of that mattered.
Once he ate the Chakra Fruit—
everything would be resolved.
At that point he could proudly declare:
I stand at the peak of the Six Paths!
Who dares challenge me?!
"Raiden!"
"LOOK BEHIND YOU!"
The White Ape King suddenly roared.
Too late.
A gray bone spike pierced straight through Raiden's chest from behind.
The tip burst out of his torso.
His pupils shrank to needle points.
With great difficulty—
he turned his head.
Kaguya stood quietly behind him.
Still calm.
Still elegant.
Behind her—
the White Ape King lay on the ground exhausted.
He had attempted to intercept the attack with his bare hands.
In his grip—
remained the deadly technique known as
All-Killing Ash Bones.
"White Ape King…?"
Raiden stared in disbelief.
For a moment he thought the ape had betrayed him.
But then—
he realized the truth.
The bone spike embedded in his chest.
The White Ape King had only tried to stop it.
The attack had originally been aimed directly at him.
Raiden stared at the ash bone piercing his chest.
Then at Kaguya.
Then at the wounded ape king.
And finally understood.
"So that's how it is…"
He murmured weakly.
"Wow… incredible…"
"White Ape King…"
"Catching the Demon King's Ash Bone with your bare hands…"
"…that's practically suicide…"