Chapter 352: Another Attempt at Alliance
This battle didn't last very long—for a simple reason.
In terms of overall individual strength, there was no doubt that Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki was stronger than both his younger brother Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki and Uchiha Dali.
In a one-on-one fight, the two of them would each only have about a forty or even thirty percent chance of victory against Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki.
However, at this moment, Àoshiki had to face both of them at once.
That meant the power and damage of his attacks had to be divided between Uchiha Dali and Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki.
As a result, his damage output was inevitably weakened.
Meanwhile, Dali and Kyōshiki's attacks both landed fully on him without any dilution.
For instance, if the two of them clashed head-on with Àoshiki, each of their attacks could inflict roughly seventy percent damage on him.
Àoshiki's own strike, though capable of dealing one hundred percent damage, would have to be split between the two opponents—leaving each to bear only fifty percent.
That was something both Uchiha Dali and Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki could easily handle.
Well within their endurance.
But their combined attacks could deal a total of one hundred forty percent damage to Àoshiki.
Who would be the first to fall was already obvious.
Feeling the growing pressure, Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki didn't waste a single word—he immediately began to split.
In the blink of an eye, at least two hundred replica clones appeared around him.
With the emergence of these clones, his aura surged to an unprecedented, terrifying level.
In an instant, he shattered the joint attack of Uchiha Dali and Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki, even launching a powerful counteroffensive.
Of course, neither of the two were pushovers.
They had anticipated this.
Seeing Àoshiki deploy his replication technique, they simultaneously activated their own.
Within moments, Kyōshiki had produced about one hundred fifty clones, while Uchiha Dali created around fifty.
Thus, the battle once again returned to an even playing field.
The clones clashed violently, each matching its counterpart, while Àoshiki still had to fight both Uchiha Dali and Kyōshiki at the same time.
"You really have improved a lot over the years… Kyōshiki."
Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki looked at his younger brother, who was now nearly as strong as he was, and couldn't help but remark.
But to Kyōshiki, those words sounded like mockery—a provocation.
He snorted coldly.
"And you, my dear brother, have been stagnant for years.
Since you can't continue evolving, why not transfer your energy to me? Then I can take your place and see what the higher dimensions are really like."
"In terms of seniority, shouldn't it be the younger brother sharing his energy with the elder? You really don't know how to respect your elders."
"Hmph. Looks like someone needs a lesson."
Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki gave a cold snort and charged toward Uchiha Dali and Kyōshiki again, launching a renewed assault.
Facing the incoming attack, Uchiha Dali grinned. "You two brothers are quarreling and fighting, yet somehow I get dragged into it. How about you two go at each other first?"
"Uchiha Dali, don't mess around at a time like this! If I fall, you won't be any better off!"
Kyōshiki thought Dali truly intended to let the brothers destroy each other and quickly warned him.
Uchiha Dali only laughed heartily and continued fighting seriously alongside Kyōshiki against Àoshiki.
The three fought fiercely, blow for blow, neither side gaining the upper hand.
Just as the battle was about to enter a stalemate, Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki suddenly halted his attacks and turned to Dali.
"This is a grudge between my brother and me. Why are you, an outsider, helping him trouble me?"
"You heard him earlier—we're in the same boat. If I don't help him, I'll be the one suffering later."
Uchiha Dali replied with a light, teasing smile.
They were all old foxes; of course he understood what Àoshiki was thinking.
As expected, Àoshiki continued, "If you stay out of this and no longer interfere, I can guarantee that I will never attack you afterward."
"Don't listen to his nonsense, Uchiha Dali!" Kyōshiki urgently shouted. "He's lying to you! He'll never keep that promise!"
Àoshiki simply looked at Dali with a faint, knowing smile, as if he already had him cornered.
But Dali had never trusted him to begin with. Seeing that expression only made him less likely to believe anything Àoshiki said.
He even tried using Observation Haki to read Àoshiki's mind—but, unsurprisingly, just as with Kyōshiki, it was completely impossible to discern his thoughts.
"And what if I refuse?"
Uchiha Dali mirrored Àoshiki's expression and calmly asked.
"Refuse?" Àoshiki chuckled softly. "You should think carefully. Even if not for yourself, you should at least consider your homeland—and your loved ones."
His tone carried a hidden implication. Dali's heart sank slightly.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked coldly.
"Exactly what I said," Àoshiki replied with a playful smile. "Think about your homeland—and your family."
Seeing that Dali still looked skeptical, Àoshiki raised his hand.
A light screen appeared before him.
On it was a completely white, frozen planet—lifeless and desolate.
The moment Dali saw it, his pupils contracted sharply.
He recognized it instantly.
That was the Shinobi World.
"You bastard…" Dali narrowed his eyes.
He hadn't expected Àoshiki to have visited the Shinobi World before coming here to deal with him.
"Hmph…" Àoshiki sneered.
"I once planned to harvest that planet's energy, but my foolish brother ruined my plans.
No matter—it's just a single planet's worth of energy. I didn't care much.
But I didn't expect that the planet I nearly destroyed back then would give birth to you, Uchiha Dali."
"Now, can it help you make your decision?"
Àoshiki finished speaking and waited leisurely for Dali's answer.
Beside them, Kyōshiki's expression darkened.
"Uchiha Dali," he warned grimly, "don't listen to him! That planet's already been stripped of its life force—everyone there is dead! Even if you stop fighting and side with him, nothing can bring them back!"