"Uh… I don't think I should be here… how about I head back to the Summoning Realm first?"
"Or maybe you should find someone else?"
The White Ape King spoke awkwardly, casting a fearful glance toward Otsutsuki Isshiki in the distance.
Wanci sighed, speechless.
He should have known better. That ape had clearly drunk himself senseless last night.
And honestly, it was partly his own fault. He had romanticized the ancient era of the ninja world, believing that the older something was, the more powerful it must be. He trusted too much in the so-called wisdom of the ancients.
Even worse, he hadn't brought any peanuts for the White Ape King last night. If there had been even a handful to go with the alcohol, maybe things wouldn't have gotten this out of hand.
Wanci grabbed the ape's arm tightly.
"No. There's no turning back now. The arrow's already on the bow."
His voice turned serious.
"Tell me honestly. Can Isshiki break your defense or not?"
The White Ape King scratched his head.
"No. That's impossible. My body is indestructible."
Wanci quickly assessed the situation.
Low offense. High defense.
"Good. Then whether you like it or not, you're going in."
"Stay steady. This isn't a prolonged fight. We just need to assist Kaguya with a surprise attack. One successful strike is enough."
"And if it fails… I'm running."
Wanci's tone was calm but decisive.
The White Ape King gritted his teeth.
"…Fine! I'm in! Let's risk it all!"
At that moment, Otsutsuki Kaguya slowly approached the Ten-Tails.
Isshiki stood nearby, expressionless, completely unguarded.
He simply didn't believe Kaguya would dare betray him.
Besides, he had always looked down on the inhabitants of this planet. In his eyes, he was invincible here.
"Now!"
Wanci murmured under his breath.
In an instant, the forest erupted with the chanting of countless toads.
"Gua… gua… guaaaa…"
The bamboo grove echoed with strange, rhythmic croaks.
"What is this?!"
Isshiki's expression changed drastically as he covered his ears.
"This is it!"
Wanci moved.
The toad chanting couldn't harm Isshiki, but it was enough to disrupt him for a moment. And in an ambush, a moment was all that mattered.
Sage power surged through Wanci's body.
He appeared in front of Isshiki almost like teleportation and swung his staff straight at his face.
Bang!
Caught off guard, Isshiki took the hit head-on, his vision spinning.
Wanci pressed the advantage.
With a fierce expression, he followed up with two more strikes.
Bang! Bang!
Blood sprayed.
"That's enough!"
Isshiki roared in anger, raising his arm to block.
The staff slammed against him like it had struck solid steel, unable to move even an inch further.
A trickle of blood ran from Isshiki's nose as his cold gaze locked onto Wanci.
"So… just a native?"
"Since when did natives think they could challenge the Otsutsuki?"
Recognition turned to fury.
Wanci's heart sank.
Damn it. That ape really set me up. Three solid hits and still couldn't knock him toward the Ten-Tails.
"Die!"
Isshiki struck.
His hand shot forward like lightning. A normal Kage-level fighter wouldn't even have time to react.
But Wanci, in Sage Mode, possessed something different.
Killing intent perception.
Whoosh!
He ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"Hm?"
Isshiki was slightly surprised, then immediately followed up with another downward strike.
Wanci vanished again, slipping behind him in an instant.
Isshiki was startled.
This native's reaction speed… it rivaled top-tier Otsutsuki warriors.
"Fragile body," Isshiki said coldly.
But Wanci's reply came with a swing of his staff.
"Maybe. But my staff isn't!"
Boom!
The blow crashed into the back of Isshiki's head.
"Damn you!"
Isshiki staggered forward, then retaliated instantly with a brutal back kick.
Wanci's pupils shrank.
Too fast.
Before he could react, the kick slammed into his abdomen.
The impact punched straight through him.
Bones shattered. Flesh tore apart.
"Pff!"
Blood burst from his mouth as he was sent flying, clutching his staff.
The moment he hit the ground, the White Ape King reverted from staff form and caught him, preventing further damage.
"Wanci! Wanci!"
The ape's voice trembled with fear.
This kind of injury… it should have been fatal.
Isshiki didn't even bother looking at them.
Anyone who took that kick head-on was as good as dead.
His focus shifted to the chanting toads.
He clapped his hands.
In an instant, countless black rods materialized in the air.
Kaguya froze in shock.
It wasn't that she didn't want to act.
She simply couldn't keep up.
The exchange had lasted barely two seconds.
Without activating her Byakugan, all she could see were blurred afterimages.
And yet… that native had actually landed hits on Isshiki.
Even caught him off guard.
His reaction speed… might even surpass hers.
Because she had used a sealing talisman earlier, the toad chanting didn't affect her.
A perfect opportunity.
Kaguya activated her Byakugan and struck.
"Isshiki… die!"
She lunged forward, both palms thrusting out, sending Isshiki flying toward the Ten-Tails.
"Kaguya?! You…!"
Shock and rage filled his voice.
Meanwhile…
"Wanci… are you alright?"
The White Ape King's eyes reddened, tears falling.
Regret and helplessness flooded his heart.
If only he were strong enough to fight Isshiki head-on…
Wanci wouldn't have suffered like this.
Wanci gave a weak, bitter smile.
"Do I look alright to you?"
He glanced down.
His body was nearly severed at the waist. His abdomen was gone. Bones shattered.
He cursed inwardly.
That guy really hits like a monster.
One kick nearly sent me to the afterlife.
Still… it made sense.
Isshiki could probably shatter a complete Susanoo with a single kick.
The only reason Wanci survived was his Sage-enhanced body.
Anyone else would've been reduced to mist.
To protect the illusion toads, Wanci quickly dispelled the summoning.
"…Let's go. I'll take you back to the Summoning Realm. We'll heal there. This fight is over."
The White Ape King's voice broke.
Wanci shook his head faintly.
For the chakra fruit… this was a risk worth taking.
"Don't cry. Take the Sage Talisman from my robe… and place it on my face."
"…Okay!"
The ape wiped his tears and did as told.
The moment the talisman touched Wanci's face, a divine light burst forth.
His body began to regenerate at an impossible speed.
In just one second, he was completely restored.
Not even a scar remained.