The temples on both sides of his head bulged high.
The top of his head was bulging as well.
It looked as though something was about to emerge from within.
His mouth opened and closed widely, saliva streaming uncontrollably from the corners of his lips.
He looked like a mutated gorilla that had lost all reason.
Before Kitahara Kaede and Itachi Uchiha could make any move.
Otsutsuki Mana moved again!
He was considerably faster than before.
The two of them could not even make out the afterimages he left behind.
They could only rely on the traces that suddenly appeared at certain points.
To determine his location.
"This is trouble!"
Itachi Uchiha's expression immediately changed.
If his odds of defeating Otsutsuki Mana alone had been three out of ten before.
Then Kitahara Kaede joining him against Otsutsuki Mana would have raised those odds to six.
But now that they were facing such a frenzied beast.
Their chances had practically fallen to zero.
As for why they were not truly zero.
It was because they both hoped Tsukikawa Isshiki would step in.
After all, Tsukikawa Isshiki was someone who could stride unhindered through the stars.
Unfortunately, Tsukikawa Isshiki's next words shattered the last trace of luck they held onto.
"Don't overthink it. I was that powerful last time because I had the Bronze Mirror with me. I didn't bring it out this time."
Since they could not rely on Tsukikawa Isshiki.
Kitahara Kaede's expression hardened.
"Back to back!"
He called out to Itachi Uchiha.
The two swiftly moved.
Pressing their backs together.
As they waited for Otsutsuki Mana's attack.
"Once you spot him, don't clash with him head-on. We'll stall for time."
Kitahara Kaede continued.
Itachi Uchiha understood what Kitahara Kaede meant.
Standing back to back was simply to give them