Chapter 338 – Isshiki's Death
"Your time is running out, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki," Madara said as he stared at him calmly.
"What?" Isshiki looked at Madara, unmistakable shock flashing across his face.
"There's no need to be surprised. By taking over the body of an ordinary human, that vessel was never capable of bearing your power from the very beginning. And on top of that, for the Ten-Tails to grow, a pure Ōtsutsuki bloodline is required. Your plan was to kill me and then completely seize the fully matured Ten-Tails, wasn't it?" Madara said evenly.
"To think you even know that… I underestimated you, Uchiha Madara." A glint of surprise flickered in Isshiki's eyes.
"No need for flattery. Since your time is nearly up, let's fight to our hearts' content. Dance as much as you like in the final moments of your life. I, Uchiha Madara, will not run," Madara declared, the aura around his body growing more terrifying with each passing second.
A trace of disdain briefly appeared in Isshiki's eyes. Yet within his cold heart, a heat he had never felt before began to stir. He had never imagined that a mere mortal—one he had always looked down upon—could possess such breadth of spirit.
"Then let us slaughter each other. Become a soul in my hands, Uchiha Madara," Isshiki said, his gaze sharp as he locked onto Madara.
"Hmph. That expression of yours is truly magnificent. Only in a state like this do you finally deserve to enter my sight," Madara replied.
The excitement in his eyes was no longer hidden.
Compared to the humiliation he had felt when fighting Yusuke, he much preferred a battle filled with uncertainty like this. This was the true pleasure of combat.
The reason Madara strove so relentlessly to become stronger wasn't just to pursue a higher horizon for himself.
There was another reason.
He regarded Yusuke as someone of the same kind. From the depths of his heart, he acknowledged him. He knew that man had been alone for far too long.
Madara wanted to present an unparalleled battle to the man so similar to himself. At the same time, he wanted to defeat him—to prove that Uchiha Madara would never stand beneath anyone.
Uchiha Madara was the strongest.
For all of that, he had to defeat Ōtsutsuki Isshiki here and seize the Ten-Tails into his own grasp.
Neither of them spoke again. With time rapidly running out, Isshiki truly prepared to stake everything, unleashing all his remaining power without holding anything back.
Madara had no intention of avoiding the clash either.
A grand battle unlike any before began.
They fought from day until night, until the very space they occupied was completely destroyed. In the end, both of them stood within the void, facing each other.
"I lost," Isshiki said at last.
He was still just a step weaker. He knew there was no longer any way to turn things around.
"You are very strong. Among all those who have fought me, you stand near the very top," Madara said flatly, as if such praise was only natural.
"Near the very top, huh?" Isshiki smiled bitterly, mocking himself.
"I want to know… just how strong is that man with the blindfold?" Isshiki asked, looking at Madara.
In the final moments of his life, he wanted to know how strong that man truly was in Uchiha Madara's eyes.
"I don't know," Madara answered calmly.
"Hahaha… When I first descended into this world, I believed everyone here was nothing more than mortals and paid them no attention. Then I was ambushed by Kaguya and gravely wounded. After that, I lived in this world under the identity of Jigen. I saw many things and came to understand many things. From that moment on, I knew the Ōtsutsuki clan was destined to fail," Isshiki said.
There was no longer any arrogance in his eyes. More precisely, Isshiki's arrogance had long since vanished—ever since he had been forced to live in humiliation. What remained now was only the calm of someone who had seen everything clearly.
Madara didn't speak. He simply looked at Isshiki quietly. He felt that Isshiki was very similar to the version of himself who had once failed.
"Although the Ōtsutsuki Clan does possess power that few beings can reach. That's precisely why they became so arrogant. But that arrogance is also the very reason for their failure. I have seen far too many humans and far too many events. From the moment Kaguya's sons distributed chakra to the people of this world, to when Ōtsutsuki Indra created ninjutsu… I knew that their creativity would eventually surpass the Ōtsutsuki Clan," Isshiki said, his gaze dim.
Even though the Ōtsutsuki clan was the origin of all chakra.
So why did they fail?
Because they did not understand the potential of humanity.
When ninjutsu was developed, he had already realized it. Then came the creation of scientific ninja tools.
Though still imperfect, anyone who wasn't a fool could see it—these humans were far more terrifying than the so-called "gods" they worshipped.
"You're right. I once foolishly believed that when I returned, in a world without Hashirama, no one would be able to stop my plans. But it turns out I was merely a frog in a well. Perhaps only that man has the ability to change this world," Madara said.
"You hold that annoying man in very high regard, khuk khuk," Isshiki said with a faint cough.
"Annoying man? Hahaha, you're not wrong. At the same time, he is also someone I will pursue for the rest of my life. That is why I need the Ten-Tails within your body," Madara said.
"Can you defeat him?" Isshiki asked.
"No," Madara replied without the slightest hesitation.
"Hahahahaha! Then my defeat was not in vain! Hahahahaha!" Isshiki burst into loud laughter. It sounded as though it came from a deep sense of relief within his heart.
"Uchiha Madara… could you come closer?" Isshiki said.
Madara didn't answer with words. He simply stepped forward, expressing his intent through action.
Seeing Madara's response, admiration surfaced in Isshiki's eyes. The man's breadth of spirit made him feel utterly defeated.
"To make the Ten-Tails fully reach its perfect form, a sacrifice from a pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki is required," Isshiki said.
Madara nodded. He had long learned this from Kaguya.
"And before my death, I will help you fully perfect this Ten-Tails. This is my voluntary sacrifice. I don't know what its final form will become, but I believe you will be able to control it," Isshiki said.
Isshiki smiled faintly, then pulled the Ten-Tails out from his body. The Ten-Tails stood at his feet, letting out a savage roar.
"Uchiha Madara, look into my eyes," Isshiki said.
Before Madara could react, an overwhelming dōjutsu power erupted and slowly merged into Madara's eyes.
"This…" Madara felt his eyes begin to heat up.
The sensation was incredibly familiar. This feeling of fusion was exactly like when he awakened his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"It's only my dōjutsu. I possess one more ability—the power to transfer my ocular strength and techniques to another," Isshiki said as he coughed.
At that moment, both of Isshiki's eyes had become almost like those of an ordinary human. More precisely, they had lost all their power—he had become blind.
"Why?" Madara asked.
"This will increase your chances of defeating that man. Don't hesitate. I've left behind no deception. Because now, even the power of 'Karma' is no longer something I can use. Uchiha Madara… take my eyes and look upon this world properly," Isshiki said.
A white light shimmered from Isshiki's body. Then he completely merged into the Ten-Tails.
The Ten-Tails began madly absorbing chakra from the surrounding space. Before long, the already cracked and fragile dimension completely collapsed.
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