All Hokage in The Chat Group

Upon hearing the news, Ryan was genuinely surprised for the first time. Ōtsutsuki Ishiki isn't acting alone?

The information was unexpected. After all, the Ōtsutsuki clan had always regarded themselves as gods compared to humans, who they saw as mere ants. The vast disparity in power and status made it almost unthinkable for an Ōtsutsuki to collaborate with anyone, let alone humans.

The only plausible explanation was that the woman spotted alongside Ishiki was also part of the Ōtsutsuki clan.

As this thought crossed his mind, Ryan grew quiet, a storm of speculation brewing within him.

"Another Ōtsutsuki...Ōtsutsuki woman… Who could it be? Kaguya?"

The possibility sent a jolt through him. It seemed unlikely—almost absurd. There was deep animosity between Ōtsutsuki Ishiki and Kaguya.

The reason Ishiki had been absent for so long, severely injured and on the brink of death, was Kaguya's betrayal. Her ambush had nearly ended him. After such treachery, how could the two of them possibly align again?

Could Ishiki truly be so magnanimous as to forgive her?

And yet, despite the implausibility, Ryan couldn't shake the uneasy premonition growing in his chest.

What if it's true?

If Ishiki and Kaguya had indeed set aside their enmity and joined forces, it raised an even bigger question, 'What could their shared goal possibly be to unite such bitter enemies?'

The thought filled Ryan with an urgent sense of curiosity and determination. There was only one way to uncover the truth.

"Let's go!" he commanded without hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished, moving swiftly toward the unfolding mystery.

Kakashi and the others hurriedly followed behind Ryan, pushing themselves to their limits to keep up with his incredible speed.

Unlike ordinary people, Ryan moved with a swiftness that far surpassed the capabilities of most ninjas. Even with techniques like the Body Flicker Technique, they couldn't match his pace.

As a result, Kakashi and the rest of the team trailed farther and farther behind, the distance growing with every passing second.

In less than half an hour, Ryan sensed something unusual.

There was a chakra signature ahead—one distinctly different from that of ordinary ninjas. It was unique, otherworldly.

Ōtsutsuki.

Ryan's experience fighting members of the Ōtsutsuki clan made him keenly aware of their aura. More importantly, his strength and bloodline bore a connection to theirs, making him highly attuned to such presence.

As soon as Ryan locked onto the chakra, it became clear that the other party had also sensed him. They stopped abruptly, as though waiting for him to arrive.

Wasting no time, Ryan vanished in a flash, reappearing mere moments later directly in front of the source.

Standing before him was a figure exactly as the reports described:

Pale, unnaturally white skin, with a long, spiraling horn protruding from his head. One eye was completely white, while the other shone with a golden hue.

Ōtsutsuki Ishiki. Ryan paused, observing his adversary. Ōtsutsuki Ishiki's expression, calm and composed at first, quickly shifted to one of shock.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Ishiki exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Who are you? Why do you have the chakra of my clan?!" It was rare for Ishiki to even acknowledge someone outside the Ōtsutsuki bloodline. Typically, he wouldn't waste words on those he deemed beneath him.

But Ryan was different. To Ishiki, the sensation emanating from Ryan was unnervingly familiar, almost as though he were facing one of his own. The power emanating from Ryan was far beyond that of an ordinary Ōtsutsuki clansman.

For Ryan, the sense of familiarity with the Ōtsutsuki clan wasn't surprising in the slightest—it would have been more surprising if there hadn't been any resemblance.

After all, he wielded several abilities derived from the Ōtsutsuki. Signature techniques like Yomotsu Hirasaka and Amenominaka, once unique to Kaguya, were fully within his grasp.

But his capabilities didn't stop there. Ryan had also acquired abilities from other Ōtsutsuki members, such as Momoshiki's Dual Rinnegan Palm Technique and other highly advanced techniques.

In total, the array of Ōtsutsuki powers Ryan possessed far exceeded even that of the single member of the main family. Could anyone wield so much of their power without exuding the same aura? Ryan, however, didn't respond to Ishiki's astonished inquiry.

Instead, his eyes focused on the man standing before him—the opponent he was about to face. If his memory served him correctly, Isshiki's right eye, the Kokugan, harbored a unique ability.

That golden eye allowed him to see the life force of living beings as fire-like shadows, and more importantly, it granted him the power to shrink anything non-living to a minuscule size. However, it did have one limitation: it couldn't be used on living organisms. Additionally, Isshiki himself could shrink to a microscopic form at will, returning to his original size just as easily whenever he desired.

What made him even more dangerous, however, was his second ability—Daikokuten. With it, Isshiki could store shrunken objects in a pocket dimension, retrieving and manifesting them anywhere at will. This power was not only unpredictable but also devastating in combat, allowing him to summon anything he needed in the blink of an eye.

Ryan knew he would need to be cautious. Against such a foe, even the smallest mistake could prove costly.

"Hmph," Ishiki sneered, his tone laced with disdain. "I don't know how you managed to steal the power of my clan." His expression darkened, and his voice grew colder. "But today is the day you die!"

Ishiki's gaze burned with resolve. He didn't care to learn how Ryan had come to possess Ōtsutsuki abilities.

All that mattered was eradicating this human, this pretender, who dared to taint the legacy of his clan. At that moment, Kakashi and the others finally caught up.

They stood a short distance behind Ryan, their gazes fixed on the two figures facing off. None of them dared to step forward.

The sheer aura radiating from these two powerful individuals was overwhelming, making Kakashi and his team feel utterly insignificant.

They understood all too well that if they joined the fight, their presence would likely be more of a hindrance than a help. Instead of aiding Ryan, they might inadvertently increase the difficulty of his battle.

Recognizing this, Kakashi quickly made the call. "Stay back," he ordered, keeping his tone firm. "We'll monitor the surroundings and ensure no one interferes."

The Anbu team nodded, falling into formation to watch for any unexpected threats.

Though their strength paled in comparison to Ryan's, Kakashi's judgment proved sound. At this level of combat, their role was better suited to support and vigilance rather than direct involvement.

They focused on keeping the battlefield clear of interruptions, aware that any sneak attack could disrupt the delicate balance of the confrontation.

Meanwhile, Ryan stood unfazed, his gaze locked on Ōtsutsuki Ishiki.

"I heard you have a companion," Ryan said, his voice calm but cutting. "Isn't that person with you?"

Ishiki responded with a cold sneer. "To deal with an ant like you, my presence alone is more than enough. Why would I need anyone else?"

His tone dripped with disdain, but Ryan remained unbothered. In an instant, a Truth-Seeking Ball materialized in Ryan's hand. It shifted and stretched, transforming into a gleaming golden longsword.

"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!" Ryan roared.

With a deafening boom, an immense wave of golden chakra erupted from the sword, slicing through everything in its path.

Ōtsutsuki Ishiki's eyes widened in shock as he witnessed the power unleashed before him. He immediately recognized it.

"This… this is our clan's technique!" Ishiki exclaimed, his voice betraying a mix of surprise and anger.

Reacting quickly, Ishiki activated his abilities. With a sharp motion, he redirected the devastating golden chakra, shrinking it down to nothing and transporting it into a separate dimension.

The entire attack—a force capable of obliterating the moon itself—vanished without a trace.

The battlefield grew eerily silent as the two adversaries locked eyes once more. The tension was palpable, a prelude to the inevitable clash yet to come.

---

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