Chapter 313: The Fat Meat in Hand Is About to Fly Away
The saying "a horse dies running toward the mountain it sees" means that what looks close is, in reality, very far away.
Those five words perfectly described the situation for Ōtsutsuki Isshiki when he arrived at this planet.
He had chosen to target this world because of its relatively small size and the massive amount of chakra he sensed scattered across it.
Thus, Isshiki had traveled from afar to reach this place.
But the journey had taken a great deal of time.
By the time he arrived, everything had already changed drastically.
The chakra presence was still here, but it had gathered together, no longer dispersed across the planet as it had been.
That could only mean one thing.
Isshiki rose into the sky to look, and sure enough, what he suspected came into view.
On the distant horizon, an enormous tree pierced the heavens.
Its colossal trunk rivaled mountains, its height exceeding ten thousand meters, thrusting straight into the clouds.
Above it, a blood-red moon hung in the sky.
There was no doubt—this was a Divine Tree.
And the existence of a Divine Tree on this planet could only mean that another Ōtsutsuki member was already here.
"The Divine Tree is about to bear fruit…"
By observing its state, Isshiki judged that within half an hour at most, the Divine Tree would produce a chakra fruit.
This was supposed to be the planet he had set his sights on.
Yet now, someone else had beaten him to it.
How could he possibly accept that?
"I want to see just who dares to take what's mine!"
Filled with unwillingness, Isshiki surged toward the location at great speed.
…
Having conquered the world and successfully transformed the Ten Tails into a Divine Tree, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki was now floating cross-legged in the void, patiently waiting for the chakra fruit to form.
Eyes closed, serene and at ease, he dreamed of consuming the fruit, evolving into a higher form, and gaining even greater power.
That way, he would be one step closer to becoming the ultimate god.
But his reverie was shattered when a massive, overwhelming chakra presence suddenly burst into his perception range.
Urashiki's eyes snapped open, shock flashing across his face as he turned sharply to look behind him.
On the distant horizon, a figure was charging forward at such incredible speed that the naked eye could barely perceive it.
Judging from the immense chakra—far surpassing his own—this was no ordinary being.
Urashiki instantly activated his Byakugan to investigate.
One glance, and realization struck him.
"So it's that guy…"
In the blink of an eye, Isshiki appeared before him.
Urashiki recognized him at once, and Isshiki spoke first: "Looks like I came at just the right time."
"Oh, it's Brother Isshiki. What brings you here? Weren't you acting together with Kaguya?"
A flicker of apprehension flashed in Urashiki's eyes.
Within the Ōtsutsuki clan, his status was on the same level as Kaguya's, but Isshiki's rank was far higher—equivalent to his direct superior.
According to the clan's hierarchy, chakra fruits harvested from worlds must first be offered to higher-ranked Ōtsutsuki.
Which meant that now, with this planet's chakra fruit about to ripen, Isshiki's sudden appearance was anything but good news for Urashiki.
"I'm the one asking questions here, not you."
"All you need to do is answer honestly."
"Your partner—you fed him to the Ten Tails, didn't you? That means he won't revive for a while."
"There's an urgent situation, so I'll be taking this chakra fruit first."
Isshiki's tone was domineering.
As far as he was concerned, low-ranking Ōtsutsuki like Urashiki and Kaguya deserved no courtesy.
Besides, those of lower rank harbored ambitions of their own—Kaguya herself was the best example.
No matter how well you treated them, when the time came, they would never show you mercy.
That was the truth of human—or rather, clan—nature under the weight of self-interest.
So there was no reason to show him any respect.
Urashiki, hearing Isshiki's commanding words, was naturally displeased.
He hesitated.
"But Brother Isshiki, this chakra fruit has already been reserved by someone else."
"Oh? Who dares to make such a claim?"
Isshiki's face instantly darkened.
To him, this sounded like nothing more than Urashiki's excuse to refuse him.
"It's… Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki."
Urashiki's eyes flickered slyly as he uttered the name, carefully watching Isshiki's reaction.
Sure enough, Isshiki's expression shifted.
"Kyōshiki?"
At that name, Isshiki's face betrayed unease.
He stared at Urashiki with suspicion. "Is it really him?"
"Absolutely."
Urashiki nodded earnestly, swearing it to be true.
"This is troublesome," Isshiki thought grimly.
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki—he was a madman.
A battle-crazed, bloodthirsty lunatic. Even other Ōtsutsuki weren't spared; if they defied him in the slightest, he would slaughter them without hesitation.
And his madness was backed by sheer, overwhelming strength.
Kyōshiki had devoured so many chakra fruits over the ages that most of the clan considered him second only to the ascended Ōtsutsuki Shibai in raw power.
His strength defied imagination.
Even the proud and arrogant Isshiki dared not speak loudly or breathe too heavily in Kyōshiki's presence.
Now, Isshiki found himself in a bind.
If this fruit had indeed been claimed by that man, then he had no choice but to give it up.
Because there was no way he could seize it from him.
The struggle on Isshiki's face betrayed all of this, and Urashiki knew his ploy had worked.
He seized the chance to suggest: "Brother Isshiki, if you want a chakra fruit, then you definitely can't take this one. But on the planet next door, there's also an abundance of chakra."
"Just plant a Divine Tree there, and it won't be long before you can harvest one."
"In fact, with your ability, you might even obtain results faster than I will here."
Urashiki tilted his head upward as he spoke.
In the southeast-by-south direction, a massive planet loomed so close that its presence was visible to the naked eye.
Isshiki extended his senses, and indeed, just as Urashiki said, that planet radiated vast reserves of chakra.
And yet, Isshiki did not move.
His eyes remained fixed on the nearly ripened chakra fruit before him.
A wild, dangerous thought refused to leave his mind.