Chapter 181 : Battle!

[Onoki: Ah, this... Are you certain she's a powerhouse in the Otherworld?"

[Fourth Raikage Ai: The Fifth Hokage restricted the selection to five worlds, leaving us with five options. The worst among them won't be weaker than us, right?"

[Killer Bee: Hey, who are you? Baga Yalu, with such clarity, you're definitely not my older brother."

[Fourth Raikage Ai: Killer Bee, the old man may be reckless, but he's not brainless."

[Mabui: Even as the Fourth Raikage, Master Ai still maintains such straightforward judgment."

[Jiraiya: Incredible. This Esdeath is stunningly beautiful and alluring, but also quite promiscuous?"

[Kurotsuchi: Her remarks indicate that Lord Ran's beauty and charm are unmatched in theMyriad Worlds."

[Terumi Mei: Thank you, once again, for the praise."

[Uzumaki Karin: What does this have to do with the Fifth Mizukage?"

[Terumi Mei: Isn't this validating my vision?"

[Yamanaka Ino: ~

[Temari: Whoever said that must have poor eyesight.]"

[Konan: Perhaps the vision is shared, but self-awareness may differ."

[Tsunade: Indeed, success can be achieved without altering oneself."

[Terumi Mei: I feel like you're singling me out."

[Ino: Don't take it personally, it's just..."

[Ōtsutsuki Kaguya: Even ordinary individuals dare to seek glory under the bright moon."

[Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo: ..."

[Ōtsutsuki Hamura: ..."

[Uchiha Madara: Two days, and is it not expected to be a hit with women?"

[Onoki: Madara-sama is right. I agree."

(...)

Numerous words flooded the golden scroll within a brief span.

Fortunately, Ran hadn't granted Esdeath permission to access the Gold List's chat content; otherwise, he couldn't predict her next move.

As for Esdeath, the nympho label seemed far-fetched.

I don't buy it either.

Esdeath hailed from the world of Akame ga Kill, born in the harsh northern borderlands, akin to nomads, belonging to the Partas clan, renowned for hunting Danger Beasts, her father being the clan chief.

From a tender age, her father instilled in her the creed of "the strong thrive," leading her to embark on solitary hunts, facing down Danger Beasts.

Upon returning from one such hunt, she found her entire clan decimated by marauding northern invaders, solidifying her resolve to toughen up in order to survive.

In essence, she's a "beast" with a blend of scholarly knowledge and human virtues.

She staunchly upholds the natural law of survival of the fittest.

Yet, in her enforcement of this law, she maintains a sense of humanity, treating her subordinates and common folk with kindness, generously sharing the emperor's bounty with her troops, dining alongside ordinary soldiers, thereby fostering unwavering morale in her ranks.

In public, she enjoys widespread admiration within the Empire.

Internally, she's human; outwardly, she's stoic.

And in her innermost thoughts, she echoes the unyielding resolve of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

However, amidst the ceaseless bloodshed and her pursuit of strength, her perspective begins to shift.

In a world where she stands invincible, where could she find a man stronger than herself?

Necessitating a change in criteria.

"The Esdeath listed in the Gold List is the Esdeath on the verge of falling in love.

"She's seen my information, hence her current demeanor is understandable."

"But as a supreme hand-to-hand combatant, queenly figure, despite her feminine side towards men, she remains steadfast in her principles, exhibiting an extreme contrast in her treatment of foes.

"Nevertheless, she favors the proactive approach.

"After all, she's chosen a formidable yet slightly inferior cutie.

"And I'm no cutie."

"I refuse to alter Esdeath's charismatic persona."

"The portrayal of her softer side needn't contradict.

"But looking down remains looking up,

"A change is imperative!"

Ran made a split-second decision and declared, "Esdeath, are you up for a bout?"

Esdeath's smile froze.

The entire ninja world:

"Is this even real? Is the Fifth Hokage playing tricks on us? Has he been possessed by Fourth Raikage Ai?"

"Why the sudden rush to action?"

The girl across from them, referred to as Esdeath, seemed more than willing to engage in a relationship.

To this, Ran would retort with a statement about the significance of head of the house's hierarchy in the family.

"Your ambition and courage are admirable," said Esdeath, her approval growing. "It seems even in the realm of ninjas, you're quite the catch."

"Consider your challenge accepted, handsome ninja," she added, her gaze fixated on Uchiha Ran with increasing satisfaction.

Even if she didn't aspire to transcend her current capabilities, weakness wasn't something she admired.

"Challenge accepted. Let's see what you're made of," Esdeath declared, rising from her seat, her aura poised.

Uchiha Itachi: ?

"Why does this feel so intense?"

"Challenge issued," the light curtain glowed with Ran's instructions.

On the other end, Esdeath received the prompt for the challenge.

"Challenge accepted. I'll opt for public mode," Esdeath announced boldly.

The impending battle was poised to transcend realms, allowing witnesses from both worlds to observe.

Esdeath reveled in it. Lately, rumors of unrest in the imperial capital, whispers of rebellion, and the looming threat of the revolutionary army had been circulating.

This was the perfect opportunity to showcase their strength and strike fear into the hearts of their enemies.

Simultaneously, it was a chance for the powerhouses of the Otherworld to witness Esdeath's prowess.

Furthermore, it served to introduce Uchiha Ran to her world, establishing his as a force to be reckoned with.

Esdeath had chosen him to be her partner.

Bolstered by the information provided by Golden List and Ran's confidence right now, she believed Ran to be a formidable opponent—one who wouldn't let her down.

"Public Mode?"

Ran was taken aback, then felt a wave of relief wash over him...

It was no surprise that Esdeath, who had faced off against more than ten Night Raiders and a million-strong army after the emperor was overthrown in the decisive battle of the imperial capital, carried herself with unparalleled dignity.

"Let's fight over there," Ran accepted Esdeath' decision.

In the next moment, a golden beam of light shot forth, illuminating the surroundings.

Ran and Esdeath vanished in an instant.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar echoed through the skies of the Ninja World and Akame ga Kill World.

Shortly after, a colossal three-dimensional image materialized, casting its reflection across the entire world.

In the hearts of everyone, a strange sensation arose; all they had to do was look up to witness it.

The camera began to zoom in, revealing a massive circular platform island, over 100 kilometers in diameter, surrounded by the vast sea. Ran and Esdeath now stood at its center.

"You're quite tall," Ran remarked, looking slightly upward into Esdeath' eyes.

Indeed, this woman's height easily exceeded 1.7 meters, and with the addition of the high-heeled, long white military boots she wore, she appeared taller than the average 1.8-meter man.

Fortunately, Ran's strength had recently surged, along with his physical fitness. His height now held steady at a perfect 1.86 m, giving him an advantage when it came to matching shoes.

"I haven't looked up at people for a long time," Esdeath said with a smile.

As she examined him closely, it became even more difficult for her to ignore Uchiha Ran's handsomeness and charm.

All she want is to hold him in her arms and cherish him.

If you can hold him in your arms as you sleep at night, you'd gladly meet your demise, wouldn't you?

What's most striking is that she can sense the immense deterrent power and strong aura of danger emanating from him.

That sense of danger reminded her of the time she almost lost her life hunting a Danger Beasts as a child.

No, he must be very strong.

But this doesn't explain the strength of his aura.

"I know you very well," Ran suddenly remarked.

"Then do you know what I want to do most?" Esdeath inquired.

Ran replied, "Fall in love with me."

"That's correct," Esdeath applauded encouragingly, smiling. "As a reward, why don't we share a passionate first kiss?"

Ran: ?????

Ninja World: ????????

"No!" Esdeath held his face and objected, "The first kiss should be meaningful, not just romantic."

"Or perhaps we should venture to a deserted island to be alone?"

Susanoo glanced at Najenda suspiciously and asked, "Boss, do you really think we need at least 50,000 elite soldiers and over 10 genuine Tegui users, including the ace Akame, to join forces and defeat the Imperial Army?"

Najenda replied, "How am I supposed to know why she suddenly changed like this? Shouldn't Esdeath have a connection to Akame's sister? And what's with this sudden romantic interest?"