Wait, You're Really Going?

Manji was stunned. He'd never expected this unremarkable-looking White Ape King to have actually fought the strongest Ōtsutsuki Isshiki!

Was that possible?

Impossible?

It really was possible!

The White Ape King was indeed a master of Taijutsu, and his body was incredibly tough. The Monkey Demon King in the future could even take a Kusanagi Sword head-on, and this White Ape King had Sage Arts backing him up!

As long as he wasn't afraid of Black Receivers.

In theory, he really could go toe-to-toe with Isshiki.

Manji knew there was some exaggeration in that claim, but he'd never seen the White Ape King take a hit. At least, the White Ape King had never taken damage when Manji had blasted him with Sage Arts.

Even if he couldn't beat Isshiki, keeping him occupied shouldn't be a problem.

The White Ape King and Isshiki were evenly matched.

Kaguya was about a three-to-seven match against Isshiki.

That meant Manji and Isshiki should be about a two-to-eight match.

The White Ape King and Isshiki were evenly matched.

Manji < Isshiki

White Ape King = Isshiki

Manji + White Ape King + Kaguya > Isshiki

A light bulb went on in Manji's head!

So, by rounding things up, didn't that mean the three of them could take Isshiki down together?

"Damn, brother, why didn't you tell me you were this strong?"

"If you had a trick like that, why didn't you use it sooner?"

Manji stepped forward and poured the White Ape King a full cup of wine himself.

The White Ape King gulped down the wine, then, unable to hold his liquor, slumped over the stone table and mumbled, "Manji, don't worry. You came to the right guy. I've been itching to settle things with that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki!"

"I, the White Ape King, will make sure that alien goes home in defeat!"

"Those backwater space-farers actually dare to come wreak havoc in our world. They probably don't know that I, the valiant White Ape King, am here to protect Earth!"

With that, the White Ape King fell asleep, snoring like thunder.

We're set! We're set! Everything's under control!

"With this, we should be able to win for sure!"

Manji was delighted. Thank goodness he had these animal friends. Otherwise, it really would've been hard to handle on his own.

Now he had the White Ape King as a major asset.

And Kaguya, too!

Wouldn't that make beating Ōtsutsuki Isshiki a sure thing?

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, huh? Just you wait!

After leaving the Ape Demon Summoning Realm,

Manji received a message from the White-Browed Toad.

It told him that the Stealth Robe was ready.

That very night, Manji put on the Stealth Robe and went to find Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

He was doing this because he wanted to test how well the Stealth Robe worked.

If even Ōtsutsuki Kaguya could detect him, there was no way he could fool Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

The Land of Ancestors, Emperor's Mansion.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya sat upright in her chambers, gazing at the mirror with a restless mind.

Soon, Isshiki would feed her to the Ten-Tails.

That was her fate!

Every pair of Ōtsutsuki had one member destined to be sacrificed.

But ever since she had come to this planet,

she had fallen in love with a human, and she couldn't accept her fate!

She didn't want to be sacrificed!

Why couldn't that bastard Isshiki be the one sacrificed!?

Why did it have to be her?

Her intense resentment filled Kaguya with indignation. That was why she had gone to Manji, hoping to see if a powerful native of this planet could help her.

"Sigh... It looks like he doesn't dare come..."

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya sighed softly.

It made sense, too. That man named Manji usually kept a low profile and valued his life too much.

How could he possibly come help her?

Besides, he might not even know what a Chakra Fruit was...

While Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was sighing,

Manji had already appeared in a corner of the room without her noticing.

He wore a white robe and gazed at Kaguya calmly.

Kaguya hadn't noticed him at all.

Manji nodded to himself. It looked like the robe really worked. Even Kaguya hadn't spotted him.

Isshiki probably wouldn't be any different.

Although the Black Eye was powerful, it had never been shown to possess greater perception than the Byakugan in the original story. Otherwise, there would've been no need for Isshiki to activate his Byakugan during battle.

Just then, Manji calmly stepped out.

"Kaguya, I'm here!"

Manji spoke calmly.

Hearing this, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, who had been looking in the mirror, turned around with a stunned expression!

Her eyes flashed with shock and disbelief!

Because she, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, hadn't sensed when Manji had appeared at all!

The only person who could suddenly appear beside her like that was Ōtsutsuki Isshiki!

Yet a powerful native of this planet had managed to do it!

"How long have you been here?"

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya rose warily and asked in a low voice.

"Let's skip that. I came to discuss what we talked about. I agree to team up with you. Once it's done, I want the Chakra Fruit!"

Manji spoke in a low voice, then waved a hand to signal Kaguya to relax.

When Ōtsutsuki Kaguya heard that Manji had agreed, her face clearly brightened.

"No problem!"

Kaguya agreed without hesitation.

Manji furrowed his brow and studied Kaguya's cool, composed face.

He couldn't understand why Kaguya was willing to give up the fruit.

As a member of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, she should understand its power better than he did.

"Why? From what you told me earlier, that fruit is supposed to be incredible. How can you bear to give it to me?"

Manji asked calmly.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya smiled tenderly. "Because, because I don't want power. I want to be with the person I love."

Manji felt enlightened by her answer.

Kaguya was in love with the Emperor of the Land of Ancestors right now. So that was it. Mystery solved.

"Since that's settled, let's discuss a plan."

Manji got straight to the point.

Soon, the two of them had worked out a plan. All that remained was the sacrifice.

A few days later,

in a vast bamboo forest,

a Ten-Tails lay in a huge crater, ravenous and waiting to be fed, its enormous mouth gaping open.

"Next, we sacrifice Kaguya..."

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki gazed calmly at the Ten-Tails.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was already walking toward him.

Not far away, Manji wore a white robe that blended in with the surroundings, following close behind.

Manji stayed on high alert. If Isshiki suddenly attacked, Manji would immediately retreat into the Peace Hotel, then use Summoning Jutsu to return to Mount Myōboku.

"Wait, bro, you're really going?"

The White Ape King, transformed into a Golden Cudgel, gave Manji an incredulous look and spoke.

"Why wouldn't I? What, did you think I was pretending?"

Manji looked at the White Ape King with mild confusion.

The White Ape King swallowed, his face stiff. He thought to himself, Crap, I went too far!

"Wait, you're not telling me that what you said last night about fighting Isshiki for three days and three nights was a lie!?"

Manji suddenly realized something and looked at the White Ape King, barely able to keep a straight face.

"I... I..."

The White Ape King stammered.

"Ah, whatever. I'll come clean now. I... I can't beat Isshiki..."

The White Ape King said, looking innocent.

"Damn it! Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Then what was all that about fighting that guy for three days and three nights!?"

Manji was shocked.

Damn, I'm practically at the guy's front door, and now you're telling me the gun you gave me was a toy!?

"I... I really did fight Isshiki for three days and three nights, but... but... he was the one who pinned me down and beat me for three days and three nights... In the end, I couldn't take it anymore, so I went back to the Summoning Realm..."

The White Ape King spoke with a stiff expression.

Amazing. I thought fighting Isshiki for three days and three nights was impressive. Turns out you were the one getting beaten the whole time!