Ch. 421Fighting Isshiki (4): Divine technique sequences
Plot points and events
- Obito arrives through a space-time vortex and reveals that Sasuke’s Rinnegan contains Ashubha, a time-leaping dōjutsu that makes feints and surprise attacks useless unless Sasuke is stopped before he can activate it.
- Isshiki reacts with shock. His thoughts disclose that Ashubha was once a component of the divine technique Omotaru, created by combining several techniques. Itachi overhears this with Ame-no-Uzume and realizes divine techniques may be assembled from existing abilities—a potentially vital clue for Sasuke’s growth.
- Sasuke attacks Isshiki relentlessly. Isshiki initially gives up, convinced that Sasuke’s strength and Ashubha make defeat inevitable.
- While being beaten, Isshiki reviews his long strategy: he endured for a thousand years, founded Kara, sought a suitable reincarnation vessel, and planned to obtain a high-quality Chakra Fruit. He avoided taking power prematurely because he believed immortality from the fruit was essential.
- Isshiki regrets emerging from hiding after trusting Amado, especially as the shinobi world has become far stronger and more unpredictable than he expected. When Sasuke breaks his horn, the pain revives his resolve.
- Isshiki concludes Sasuke has repeatedly avoided killing him outright, suggesting Sasuke has a reason not to. He identifies this restraint as his opening and decides to try planting Kāma on Sasuke.
Character developments and interactions
- Isshiki shifts from despair to renewed determination. His memories reveal his caution, ambition, and obsession with controlling events; he now sees Sasuke’s reluctance to kill him as a possible path to survival.
- Sasuke demonstrates overwhelming power and uses his time-leaping ability to make Isshiki’s usual tactics ineffective. He appears to be holding back from a killing blow, though his motive remains unclear.
- Itachi quietly extracts important information from Isshiki’s thoughts and recognizes its possible value to Sasuke.
- Obito informs Isshiki and the others about Ashubha’s capabilities; Itachi and Kabuto arrive together through a space portal.
Significant themes
- Control versus unpredictability: Isshiki’s carefully planned thousand-year strategy collapses as the world changes beyond his expectations.
- Knowledge as power: The revelation about divine technique sequences may help Sasuke advance, while Isshiki’s hidden thoughts expose both his plans and his vulnerability.
- Endurance and desperation: Isshiki’s patience has defined his life, but his decision to step into the open becomes a fatal miscalculation—unless he can exploit Sasuke’s restraint.