Chapter 339: An Amicable Reconciliation
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki felt a twinge of temptation at Uchiha Dali's proposal.
The reason was simple—he too had someone he needed to be on guard against. Uchiha Dali wasn't his only enemy.
If that man were to seize the chance while he and Uchiha Dali fought to the death and came here to deal with him, then things would become troublesome.
Precisely because of this concern, Kyōshiki didn't outright refuse Dali's suggestion.
Instead, he even cast a meaningful smile at Dali.
"You're trying to trick me?"
After a moment, Kyōshiki asked coldly.
"What makes you say that?"
Dali feigned confusion, though in truth he had already guessed what Kyōshiki was thinking.
It was obvious the man was tempted, but he was suspicious by nature, assuming Dali was deliberately testing him.
But that wasn't the case.
"I don't believe you'd so willingly agree to reconcile with me."
Kyōshiki snorted.
"There's nothing to doubt. I can't take you down, and you can't take me down. If we keep fighting, a third party will only benefit. Think carefully about my words."
"Don't forget, I seem to recall there's someone you've always been wary of, isn't there? That man once clashed with you in the ninja world, which is why you set up that barrier."
Dali's words struck home.
He noticed Kyōshiki's expression change slightly.
Clearly, that man's threat—or more accurately, the weight of the threat in Kyōshiki's heart—far exceeded his own.
Otherwise, given Kyōshiki's nature, he would never have revealed such a look at a time like this.
Sensing an opening, Dali pressed on, following the same line of persuasion, reminding him again and again.
Everything he did served one purpose—to buy time.
His heaven-defying comprehension allowed him to grow at an unimaginable pace, theoretically without limit.
As long as he solved one problem, everything else would fall into place.
For now, what he needed to clarify was the identity of the man who made Kyōshiki so uneasy.
If he could gain just a little more time, then whether it was Kyōshiki or that mysterious powerhouse, neither would be worth fearing.
Kyōshiki showed a brief hesitation.
After a few seconds, he nodded briskly. "I have to admit, you really know how to exploit human psychology, Uchiha Dali."
"This round goes to you. I agree to your proposal—let's call a temporary truce."
"From now on, we'll leave each other alone. Neither of us will provoke the other."
"But if you dare go back on your word, heh… don't think I'm easy to deal with. I'll tell you this—I still have a higher form I haven't used yet. Not because I took pity on you, but because that form isn't meant for you."
After some inner struggle, Kyōshiki agreed to Dali's suggestion.
Both sides accepted the temporary ceasefire, no longer continuing the fight.
Still, Kyōshiki didn't forget to say a few words to preserve his pride.
Dali only smiled faintly.
He couldn't be bothered with such posturing.
In the end, strength was the only standard.
Either you could fight, or you couldn't—empty words meant nothing.
"Remember what you just said, Kyōshiki."
"If you break the agreement, I won't let you off. And I'll tell you this as well—I still have a trump card I haven't used. Trust me, you don't want to see it."
"Because if I use it, you'll die."
Dali's words made Kyōshiki's face darken slightly.
Clearly, he wasn't pleased.
But Dali wasn't lying.
If Kyōshiki didn't know better and forced his hand, Dali would unleash that move no matter the cost.
The reason he hadn't used it earlier was precisely because of the unknown man that Kyōshiki feared.
If that man were lurking somewhere, waiting for him and Kyōshiki to fight until both sides were crippled, wouldn't that be the perfect opportunity for him to swoop in?
So, he too had to keep a trump card in reserve.
"You really do know how to talk."
Kyōshiki snorted, then turned away, unwilling to waste any more words with Dali. "This ends here. Go back to your own place!"
With that, he opened a rift in space and prepared to step through.
As he did, his body quickly returned to its normal form.
Yet the instant he returned to normal, his expression suddenly changed dramatically, as though struck by lightning, his whole body jolting.
Dali caught the subtle shift and instantly grew alert.
Kyōshiki's shock wasn't directed at him, but at something else.
Dali instinctively scanned his surroundings, his sensory domain expanding outward endlessly.
But he found nothing.
"What's wrong?"
Dali had no choice but to ask directly.
Kyōshiki didn't respond at first, frowning as he continued searching for something.
After a while, he finally said in a deep voice, "Our decision was wise. That man really has been watching our every move—and now he's begun to act."
"If we keep fighting here, neither of us will gain anything. He'll be the one to profit."
"So, who exactly is he?"
Dali seized the chance to ask the question he had long been curious about.
Previously, Kyōshiki had refused to answer, but now, with things easing between them, he gave it some thought before replying.
"Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki."
"Àoshì?"
"That's right, Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki."
"Oh… I see."
Dali realized he had misunderstood, confusing the name with a word that sounded similar.
"So he's the one you're wary of?"
"It seems you truly don't know who he is."
Kyōshiki gave him a meaningful look.
Dali only stared back at him with an incredulous expression. "I'm not one of your clan—how would I know your family relations?"
"You're right. He is indeed part of my family. That man… is also my elder brother."
"Another brother?"
Hearing this, Dali widened his eyes. "You mean a real, blood-related brother?"
"We're twins. What do you think?"
Kyōshiki countered.
Dali finally understood.
One named Kyōshiki, the other Àoshiki—the names alone screamed sibling energy.
"So just how many brothers do you have?"
He couldn't help but ask.