Chapter 325: Secret Report, Borrowing a Knife to Kill
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had never witnessed such a power, not even up until the moment of his death.
Leaving aside whether his strength could be said to rival that of a god, at the very least, it had long since surpassed the limits of ordinary mortals—far, far beyond them.
For an average person, not to mention killing him, even injuring him was an impossibility.
What's more, whenever his body sustained damage, it would automatically heal itself at a speed far greater than anyone could imagine.
In other words, in theory, even Uchiha Dali shouldn't have been able to kill him outright.
And yet, here and now, although his opponent had not killed him…
He had been refined.
The moment he realized he was about to be transformed into a chakra pill, despair filled Isshiki's eyes.
But he did not beg for mercy again.
"It seems… you won't be answering my question either…"
He muttered to himself, weighed down with hopelessness.
To his surprise, Uchiha Dali gave a faint smile. "Before you die, I suppose it won't hurt to tell you."
"This power… is also the ability of the Rinnegan."
"The Rinnegan? Impossible…"
"I already told you—why would it be impossible?"
As he spoke, Uchiha Dali's eyes shifted, transforming into the form of the Rinnegan.
A pair of golden, nine-tomoe Rinnegan.
They radiated supreme majesty, as though they embodied infinite, inexhaustible power—alive in their own right.
Just one glance into those eyes made Isshiki's heart tremble in terror; he could not even look directly at them.
Only now did he finally understand: the Rinnegan had yet another form.
"It seems… I truly was ignorant…"
"What do you call those eyes?"
"Heavenly Rinnegan."
"A good name… This must be power close to that of the gods, no?"
"If you ask me, I can only say—I don't know."
"But now… you can rest in peace."
With that, Uchiha Dali quickened the refinement. In an instant, what remained of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's body vanished completely.
In its place, a crystalline chakra pill the size of a fist, radiating immense energy, floated before Uchiha Dali.
Gazing at this chakra pill—larger than Kinshiki's by an entire circle, and containing energy several times greater—Uchiha Dali's lips curved upward into a satisfied smile.
"Much obliged."
He offered a word of thanks to the void, then swallowed the pill without hesitation.
It was, after all, a way to strengthen himself.
Why not?
The moment he consumed the pill refined from Isshiki, Uchiha Dali felt the chakra within his body double instantly.
It coursed rapidly through his limbs and bones, nourishing his organs and meridians.
Most importantly, his very cells grew more active, more resilient, brimming with vitality…
Uchiha Dali smacked his lips in satisfaction, then lifted his gaze toward the Divine Tree towering into the heavens.
At its peak, a massive chakra fruit was already faintly visible, beginning to condense.
"In that case, I'll be taking this fruit as well."
Smiling, he soared upward, leisurely flying toward the divine fruit.
...
Meanwhile, on a distant planet.
After escaping to this world, the wedge of Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki seized the body of an unlucky host, taking it for his own.
With a new vessel, his life was temporarily extended, giving him the chance to observe this planet.
He quickly discovered that its inhabitants were unlike those of any other world.
The beings ruling this vast planet were called Kunkun. They bore some resemblance to himself: upright, four-limbed creatures.
The difference was their heads—shaped like watermelons, parted neatly down the middle, each side sprouting ten thick strands of hair.
"Strange-looking as they are… at least they'll let me survive for now. I can search for a more suitable vessel later."
"Still, one thing truly pleases me—their chakra is incredibly abundant. More than any beings I've ever encountered on other planets."
"In that case, if I can absorb the chakra of this world…"
But as the thought formed, Momoshiki's brow furrowed.
He realized he couldn't possibly drain this planet's chakra.
First, the temporary body he now possessed could not contain such overwhelming power. Sooner or later, it would rupture—and he would die.
Unless he found a true vessel before that happened, one fit to complete his rebirth.
Second, and far more crucial: he no longer had a Ten Tails.
Without the Ten Tails, there could be no Divine Tree. Without the Divine Tree, there would be no chakra fruit.
He could only look upon this treasure trove, powerless to claim it.
"Damn that man!"
The thought of the one who had left him in this state made Momoshiki grit his teeth.
Just recalling that smiling face filled him with hatred so deep he wished he could tear the man apart.
But that was beyond him now.
Still… if he couldn't, that didn't mean others couldn't.
At that moment, Momoshiki thought of one man—Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki.
The chakra fruit meant for Kyōshiki had already been stolen by that Uchiha.
Surely, if anyone would be enraged enough to retaliate, it would be him.
In that case, there was no need for Momoshiki to confront Uchiha Dali himself.
All he had to do was summon Kyōshiki, and let him vent his fury.
Yes, let them fight each other. A glorious battle, no doubt.
And if they destroyed one another in the process… then the stage would be his.
With that thought, Momoshiki began searching for a suitable spot to construct a long-range spatial communication array.
"This body may be lacking… but contacting Kyōshiki should still be possible."
"I can hardly wait to watch those two fight. It'll be spectacular."
His intentions were clear—nothing good could come of them.
For both Kyōshiki and Uchiha Dali were threats he could never withstand.
If they could clash, and preferably cripple one another, it would be his chance to rise.
Soon enough, Momoshiki found the right place and began weaving the seals to activate the array.
This formation wouldn't send his body, but his consciousness—projected across space and time.
Much like the Projection Technique.
As the array activated, Momoshiki's awareness pierced through the layers of space-time, arriving in a void.
Calling it void wasn't entirely accurate—for directly ahead burned a colossal star, blazing with boundless light and heat.
And before that star, seated cross-legged in the emptiness, loomed an enormous figure.