"Uh... I don't think I should be here... Maybe, maybe I should head back to the Summoning Realm?"
"Why don't you find someone else?"
The White Ape King spoke awkwardly, glancing nervously at Ōtsutsuki Isshiki in the distance.
"Where am I supposed to find someone else in the middle of the night?"
Manji was speechless.
He should've known this guy had gotten drunk last night.
It was his own fault, too. He'd been biased in favor of the ancient ninja era, thinking that the older something was, the more awesome it had to be. He'd put way too much faith in the wisdom of his ancestors...
And it was even more his fault for not bringing the White Ape King a couple of peanuts last night. If he'd had even a few peanuts, the White Ape King wouldn't have gotten so drunk...
Manji gripped the White Ape King's hand tightly. "No! We've already drawn the bow, so we have to let the arrow fly!"
"Tell me, can Isshiki actually break through your defenses?"
Manji asked in a grave voice.
The White Ape King scratched his head. "He can't break through my defenses. I have an indestructible body."
Manji thought it over calmly, then immediately came up with a label for the White Ape King:
Low offense, high defense!
"Fine, White Ape King. You're going in whether you like it or not!"
"Stay calm. This isn't going to be a long fight. We just need to help Kaguya launch a surprise attack. As long as we land one hit, we'll be fine!"
"If it doesn't work, I'll make a run for it."
Manji said solemnly.
The White Ape King gritted his teeth, then spoke. "All right! I'll charge in! I'm all in!"
Just then,
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya slowly walked toward the Ten-Tails.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, on the other hand, wore an impassive expression and showed no sign of caution.
The main reason was that he didn't believe Kaguya would dare to even think of ambushing him.
Besides, Isshiki had always looked down on the natives of this planet. He believed that he, Isshiki, was invincible here!
Open!
Manji gave the silent command.
The next moment, countless toads began chanting in the woods!
"Ribbit, ribbit~~~ Ribbit, ribbit~~~ Ribbit~~"
The chanting echoed through the entire Bamboo Forest!
"What's going on?!"
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's expression changed drastically as he clapped his hands over his ears.
"Now!"
Manji gripped the Golden Cudgel and struck without warning!
The toads' chanting could only disrupt Isshiki temporarily. It couldn't hurt him at all—it could only distract him.
But this was an ambush, after all. That little distraction was enough!
All his Sage power erupted!
Manji appeared before Isshiki almost as if he'd teleported, then swung his staff fiercely at Isshiki's face!
Caught completely off guard, Isshiki took the blow head-on and staggered, dazed!
Press the advantage!!!
Manji's expression hardened!
He aimed at Isshiki's face and swung twice more. Bam! Bam!
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
"That's enough!!!"
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's face twisted with anger as he raised a hand to block!
The Golden Cudgel struck him like it had hit steel, unable to move even an inch farther!
A little blood trickled from Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's nose. His eyes were icy as he stared at Manji!
"So you're just a native of this planet!?"
"Since when did a native dare to pick a fight with the Ōtsutsuki!?"
Once he saw who was attacking him, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's expression turned furious!
This is bad! Manji thought.
Oh, come on! Enma's screwing me over! I hit Isshiki three times and still couldn't knock him toward the Ten-Tails!
"Die!"
Isshiki reached out with a lightning-fast grab!
If that strike had been aimed at someone at Kage Level, they wouldn't have had time to react.
But Manji, who had mastered Sage Mode, possessed a special ability.
Killing intent detection!
Whoosh!!!
Manji ducked down, barely dodging the attack!
"Hm?!"
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was slightly surprised, then immediately reached down with his other hand to grab him!
Manji suddenly darted aside again, instantly circling behind Isshiki!
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was stunned!
This native had quick reflexes! They were no worse than Momoshiki's or Kinshiki's, from the pair next door!
"You're a scrawny little native, aren't you?"
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki said coldly.
The moment Manji appeared behind Isshiki, he swung the Golden Cudgel with all his might. "But my staff's as hard as steel!"
Boom! Bam!
A deafening crash!
The blow landed squarely on the back of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's head!
"Bastard!!"
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki stumbled from the blow. His face twisted viciously as he fired a backward kick!
Manji's pupils shrank!
Before he could react, the kick slammed into his abdomen!
That strike tore straight through Manji!
The tremendous force pierced his abdomen!
Even his bones were shattered!
"Pfft!"
Manji spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward, clutching the Golden Cudgel!
The moment he hit the ground, the White Ape King immediately dispelled the Golden Cudgel and reached out to catch Manji, preventing him from being hurt further by the fall.
"Manji! Manji!"
The White Ape King stared at Manji's injuries in horror. There was no way he could survive a blow like that...
"Hmph!"
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki couldn't be bothered to look at them. Anyone hit by his full-strength kick was bound to die!
For now, he decided, he had to get rid of those annoying toads!
Isshiki brought his palms together!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless Black Receivers appeared in midair!
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was stunned!
It wasn't that she hadn't wanted to act.
She simply hadn't had time!
The two of them had moved so fast that their exchange was over in barely two seconds!
Without activating her Byakugan, Kaguya could only see two blurs!
In the blink of an eye, the two had already traded blows!
She hadn't expected this native to exchange two moves with Isshiki and even catch him off guard. His reaction speed was better than hers, too!
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had used the Toad Talisman beforehand to block the chanting, so she hadn't been affected by it.
"This is my chance!"
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya activated her Byakugan and attacked the instant Isshiki began controlling the Black Receivers!!!!
"Isshiki! Die!"
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya sprang into action, thrusting both palms forward!
She sent Ōtsutsuki Isshiki flying toward the Ten-Tails!
"Kaguya!? You!!!!"
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was both furious and shocked. He'd never imagined Kaguya would dare betray him!
Meanwhile,
"Manji, Manji, are you all right?!"
The White Ape King stared at Manji's terrible injuries, his eyes growing moist.
Grief and regret washed over him, along with a deep sense of frustration!
If only he really had been capable of fighting Isshiki for three days and three nights...
Then Manji wouldn't have been so badly hurt...
"Cough, cough... Do I look all right to you?"
Manji looked down at himself. He'd nearly been kicked in half. His entire abdomen was gone, and his bones were broken...
Damn it! Manji cursed inwardly. This guy really is strong as an ox! One kick tore right through me!
He'd nearly seen his life flash before his eyes...
Still, it made sense.
Isshiki could probably kick right through a fully formed Susanoo.
Manji had only survived thanks to the Sage Body he'd spent years cultivating.
Anyone else would've been reduced to a cloud of blood.
To keep the Phantom Sound Toads from being killed, Manji immediately canceled the Summoning Jutsu.
"...Manji, let me get you out of here... We're done fighting... We'll go back to the Summoning Realm and treat your injuries!"
The White Ape King's voice choked with emotion, and a few tears slipped from his eyes.
Manji gave a bitter smile.
He still had to take a chance if he wanted the Chakra Fruit!
"Don't cry. Help me take the Toad Immortal Talisman out of my clothes and put it on my face."
Manji spoke gently.
"Okay!"
The White Ape King wiped away his tears, quickly took the Toad Immortal Talisman from Manji's clothes, and immediately placed it on his face.
The next second, divine light flashed!
An incredible power began restoring Manji's body. In just one second, he was back to normal!
Not even a scar remained!
Before you continue