[Northern Snow Mountain · Unknown cave · Late at night]
A blizzard howled outside the cave, enveloping the entire world in a vast expanse of white. Deep inside, a campfire flickered, its orange-red light casting wavering shadows across the rock walls, barely keeping the darkness and cold at bay.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki leaned against a rock, a wound across his chest so deep it exposed bone. Traces of blue reiatsu lingered along its edges, slowly eating away at his flesh. His eyes were closed, his breathing heavy and ragged. Every breath brought searing pain.
"Uchiha Ryūha..." He gritted his teeth, venom filling his voice as he spoke the name. "I'll remember you."
He had never imagined he would suffer such a crushing defeat at a mortal's hands. A thousand years ago, he had been an elder of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, a mighty warrior who had conquered countless planets. Even the Sage of Six Paths had only been able to seal him away, not kill him. Yet now, a descendant of the Uchiha had sent him fleeing in disgrace, like a beaten stray.
"I need to recover my strength..." Isshiki opened his eyes, a vicious glint flashing through his pure-white pupils. "I need more chakra... more life energy..."
His gaze turned toward the blizzard outside. Deep in these snowy mountains lived ancient creatures-not humans, not beasts, but something between the two, monsters born from remnants the God Tree had left behind in ancient times. They possessed powerful life energy but no intelligence, making them the perfect nourishment.
"I'll use them to recover." Isshiki struggled to his feet and staggered outside, clutching his wound.
The blizzard struck him head-on, bitterly cold. But Isshiki possessed an Ōtsutsuki Clan combat body, and this little chill meant nothing to him. He closed his eyes, stretched his