Chapter 15: The Last Stand

Naruto and Sasuke stood side by side, battered but not broken. The Five Kage lay defeated behind them, their best efforts crushed in an instant.

And now, it was up to them.

Isshiki stepped forward, his presence overwhelming, his golden eyes cold and uncaring.

"You two still stand? Admirable," he mused. "But pointless."

Naruto clenched his fists. "Like hell it is!"

In an instant, he charged, Kurama's chakra igniting around him. Sasuke followed, his Rinnegan already spinning, searching for openings.

Naruto struck first—a massive Rasengan forming in his palm—

Isshiki shrunk it before it could hit.

Naruto's eyes widened.

Sasuke teleported behind Isshiki, his sword aiming for the Ōtsutsuki's throat—

Isshiki caught it with two fingers.

CRACK.

The blade snapped in half like brittle glass.

Then—a shockwave.

Both Naruto and Sasuke were sent flying before they even realized what happened.

Sakura landed between them, fists clenched, her chakra pulsing violently.

"You're not fighting alone!" she shouted.

Naruto groaned as he pulled himself up. "Sakura, this guy is way worse than Kaguya. You sure about this?"

Sakura's eyes burned with determination. "I don't care. If I run away now, what kind of teammate would I be?" This work was created by shredder121

Isshiki barely acknowledged her. "Another insect. How tiresome."

Sakura vanished in a blur of speed.

Then—

Her fist connected.

The ground shattered beneath Isshiki, the sheer force of her punch distorting the air—

But Isshiki barely moved.

Instead, he grabbed her wrist mid-strike.

Sakura's heart stopped for a second.

His grip tightened—

And then—

Naruto's Rasengan crashed into Isshiki's side.

BOOM!

Smoke and debris erupted from the impact.

Sasuke appeared behind Isshiki, his Rinnegan glowing.

"Amenotejikara!"

Space twisted—

Sakura switched places with Isshiki's own shadow.

And before Isshiki could react—

Sakura's fist SLAMMED into his skull.

For the first time—he staggered.

Naruto and Sasuke didn't waste the opening.

"NOW!"

A blinding golden light erupted from Naruto as his chakra reached its peak.

Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan burned fiercely as he unleashed his full power.

Sakura's strength surged, her chakra rivaling even Tsunade's in her prime.

The three of them charged together.

Isshiki's eyes narrowed.

And then, he got serious.