Chapter 281: Alarmist Talk
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure before him—Uchiha Madara. At a glance, he saw that Madara had already devoured the Ten-Tails' power, completing his evolution to become its jinchūriki.
Yet instead of anger, Isshiki actually grew excited.
"You've got some skill after all, to have actually resurrected the Ten-Tails!"
"From here on, we can sweep across this world as we please!"
"You and I together will gather all the chakra of this world, condense it into a chakra fruit, and then move on to plunder chakra from other planets! Step by step, we'll become the ultimate evolved beings!"
Isshiki once again tried to win Madara over.
But Madara was unmoved. After hearing him out, he merely let out a meaningful, dismissive snort.
In an instant, Isshiki's smile vanished, his gaze turning cold.
"So, you're refusing?" he asked, staring at Madara.
"Now that I've become the same kind of being as you, why should I share the chakra fruit with you?"
"What I want—I'll have all of it."
Madara's reply was icy.
At this, Isshiki didn't grow angry but laughed instead. "You're sure you want to act alone?"
"What's wrong? Planning to fight me?"
"Then try me. I was just about to test how strong I've truly become."
Madara was already itching for a fight.
His body slowly floated upward, rising through the passage until he stood face-to-face with Isshiki.
But Isshiki made no move. He only sneered. "It's true, your power has grown. I admit that."
"But members of the Ōtsutsuki clan usually move in pairs through the universe, so that if anything happens, they can watch each other's backs."
"Are you sure you want to act alone?"
His words didn't sound like a threat, but more like a reminder.
Madara said nothing.
Isshiki continued, "The vastness of the cosmos is far beyond what you can imagine, and the dangers it holds are not things either of us can predict."
"With our current strength, neither of us is capable of sweeping through the universe alone."
"More importantly, there exist beings beyond this universe, in higher dimensions. Some may come here from elsewhere, some may already be leaving this dimension for another—but one thing is certain: if you encounter them, with your current ability, you will die without a doubt."
Madara had indeed never thought this far ahead.
Of course, he hadn't really intended to fight Isshiki to the death either.
Hearing this, he chose to step down the ladder Isshiki had offered him.
"From the way you speak, it sounds as though you've seen such a being?" Madara asked curiously.
"I've only heard of him," Isshiki said.
"He is a member of the Ōtsutsuki clan, named Ōtsutsuki Shibai."
Isshiki cast Madara a glance. The latter kept silent, listening closely.
So Isshiki went on.
"All ninjutsu, senjutsu—everything we know—are nothing more than imitations of the divine arts left behind by that man."
"Ōtsutsuki Shibai is the source of everything. His power is known as 'divine arts.' For countless ages, he ceaselessly devoured chakra, evolving again and again, until he became the Ōtsutsuki closest to a god."
"Now, because his power grew far too immense, he no longer needs the constraints of a physical body. He abandoned it, transcending this world in a unique form, entering a higher dimension."
"Compared to him, even at my peak, my power was worthless. With a mere glance, or even just a thought, he could erase me effortlessly…"
Though these were matters from long ago, Isshiki still spoke with lingering fear. Especially when he mentioned Shibai's name.
Madara watched Isshiki's body language but couldn't discern whether his words were true or false.
As Madara stayed silent, unable to judge, Isshiki spoke again.
"You seem doubtful, but I swear it's true."
"For countless years, because of Shibai's existence, every Ōtsutsuki was required to hand over their harvested chakra fruits. Anyone who dared defy him was mercilessly erased."
"But now, since Shibai has already left this world, we who remain have no such concerns. One after another, the Ōtsutsuki have begun imitating him, using the Divine Tree he left behind to gather chakra fruits."
"Each one of us seeks to become what he once was."
"Even so, that doesn't change how little we truly know about the universe."
"That's all I'll say. If you don't believe me, act as you please."
With that, Isshiki actually activated his space-time jutsu and vanished before Madara's eyes.
Only after Isshiki's trace disappeared did Madara's gaze finally grow cold.
The reason he hadn't dared strike just now was his wariness of Isshiki's strength.
"I don't know exactly what happened to him… but I can sense it clearly. He's nothing like when he fought Uchiha Dali before."
"He's stronger now."
Madara thought to himself in silence.
Quickly regaining focus, he turned his eyes toward the distant horizon.
That direction was toward the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire—his next target.
Though Isshiki had left after a few words, he hadn't departed without leaving something behind.
The air still held a special mark—Isshiki's method of contact. Should Madara change his mind, he could use this unique wedge-mark to reach him.
"That man will always be a threat. He'll never just sit and watch me take this world's chakra. His so-called 'cooperation' is nothing but a pretense."
"After all, his goal is also to plunder this planet's chakra to make a chakra fruit…"
"In any case, first I'll take back my eyes."
Madara resolved. Since for now neither he nor Isshiki could overcome the other, retrieving his eyes would be the first step.
When the time came, if Isshiki truly dared to act, he would have no fear
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