440 The Shimura Has Ice Release

The dark clouds overhead grew even heavier.

But the two fighting inside the barrier had no mind to care about that.

Using his final trump card, Takeshi finally inflicted real damage on Isshiki.

Realizing that shrinking was useless in the current battle, Isshiki abandoned all flashy techniques and engaged Takeshi in a brutal, close-quarters fight.

"Die!"

After who knows how many times his black rod was bounced away by the transparent armor covering Takeshi's body, Isshiki finally stabbed it into Takeshi's abdomen.

Feeling the sharp pain tearing through his stomach, Takeshi knew his armor wouldn't last much longer. He reversed his grip and slashed down, cutting off Isshiki's right arm that was holding the weapon.

Isshiki, whose arm had been severed, extended his left hand and slammed it hard against the base of the black rod. The immense force pushed the rod completely through Takeshi's body, bursting out from his back.

Takeshi refused to be outdone—his blade swept across, carving a massive wound across Isshiki's abdomen.

Both staggered back several steps, widening the distance between them.

Gritting his teeth, Isshiki picked up his severed arm and pressed it back against the cut.

The wound on his abdomen began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Takeshi gritted his teeth, pulled out the black rod that had pierced him, threw it aside, and let white smoke rise from his wound as it fully regenerated with Isobu's help.

"Takeshi, your chakra is probably running out."

Isobu reminded him from within their shared consciousness.

Because Takeshi needed to fight, Isobu had taken on part of the task of adjusting the ratio between natural energy and chakra.

The earlier breach in his armor had also happened because Isobu couldn't maintain it any longer. Unlike ordinary chakra, Takeshi required all seven chakra natures at once—one wrong step and he would become a walking bomb.

"I get it. Let's stop this mode for now."

Takeshi nodded, letting Isobu rest a little.

"Mm. I'll keep supplying you with tailed-beast chakra," Isobu said, his tone carrying a hint of apology.

"It's fine, Isobu. And… thank you for helping me all these years."

Takeshi lifted his head toward the sky. The clouds were denser than before, now completely pitch-black.

"And… sorry. I might end up dragging you into danger with me."

"You're talking weirdly today." Isobu grumbled, his voice rough.

"You…" Takeshi muttered, then kicked away Isshiki as he lunged again.

"Fire Style: Majestic Flame Annihilation!"

Isshiki stared at the flames and couldn't understand why Takeshi would use such a basic fire technique at a time like this.

Wary of a trap, he didn't absorb it and dodged instead.

"Water Style: Severing Wave."

Water shredded through the sea of flames and shot straight toward Isshiki.

The brief clash created steam that slowly drifted into the sky.

"Isobu."

"What is it?"

"Sorry."

"You've already done plenty you should apologize for."

Before Isshiki could figure out what was happening, a bolt of lightning split the sky and struck him directly as he dodged the water attack.

"What?!"

Hit by lightning, Isshiki froze in shock.

"Lightning is also a form of natural energy, idiot." Raising his right hand, Takeshi guided the lightning with natural energy and laughed.

"So what? Something like this—"

Isshiki didn't finish before more bolts struck him again.

One after another, the relentless strikes forced him to one knee. The man who had always looked down on this planet and its inhabitants finally felt the wrath of the world itself.

More and more lightning converged, forming a massive pillar of light.

Even Isshiki had to consider his last words under an attack like that.

"Wait—wait! I acknowledge you, Shimura Takeshi! Someone like you shouldn't be a lower-class being! I'm willing to accept you on behalf of the Ōtsutsuki clan! We can evolve together!"

Isshiki was finally afraid.

He wasn't at full strength; the battle's origin had surprised him; all his failures stemmed from the schemes of a "lower being"…

But he had no energy left to think. Now, he only wanted to survive. No matter how disgraceful—it didn't matter. He wanted to live.

But Takeshi ignored him and slammed the lightning pillar down.

The moment it touched the ground, the earth beneath them trembled.

Isshiki was swallowed by blinding light.

Lightning and thunder continued for several minutes. Before the final sparks faded, a charred figure burst out. Using the last of his strength, Isshiki rushed Takeshi, grabbing his throat.

The Kāma mark had already been carved.

Having completed this, Isshiki finally exhaled in relief.

With this, even if he needed time to suppress Takeshi's consciousness, he would eventually resurrect.

It would just take longer than usual.

"Finished carving it?"

Takeshi gasped, not prying away Isshiki's hand on his neck. He simply stared at him.

"What are you planning?"

Isshiki was shaken by Takeshi's attitude. The boy's gaze made it very clear that something was about to happen.

"Nothing. The clouds haven't dispersed yet, have they?"

Takeshi raised a finger toward the sky.

"So what? The Kāma is already—"

Isshiki's pupils shrank violently. He stared at Takeshi in disbelief.

"What are you—"

"Heaven, Earth, and Man—let virtue bear the burden and drive out the phantoms."

Natural armor surged over Takeshi again, but this time, it was fully materialized before Isshiki's eyes.

It meant Takeshi had compressed and fused the seven chakra natures with natural energy to the limit—each piece contained terrifying power. And this armor wasn't for defense.

It was a bomb.

Any external trigger would detonate the immense power inside.

This was Takeshi's final technique.

"Really… I feel like Deidara now."

Under Isshiki's horrified stare, Takeshi guided the lightning down onto himself.

There was no explosion. No screams. No agony.

Only pure, blinding white.

This sealed-off space resembled a miniature Big Bang—everything was swept inside, then silence.

By the time Hatake Kakashi arrived with Sasori's severed head, joining up with Obito and the others at the location, all he saw were three Flying Thunder God kunai stuck in the ground.

There were no other traces.