Chapter 40: Isshiki’s Last Stand

As the battle raged on, the tide of the fight seemed to be slowly shifting in favor of Konoha's defenders. The combined efforts of the Kage, the Konoha 11, and Team 7 were pushing back Isshiki and Toneri. However, something dark and terrible was about to unfold.

Isshiki's Desperation

Isshiki's once calm and confident expression twisted into one of madness as he stood in the midst of the battlefield. His chakra was being drained by the continuous attacks, his strength being slowly whittled away by the relentless onslaught. But Isshiki had a plan, one that would turn the tide of the battle in his favor.

"I will not lose," Isshiki muttered to himself, his eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity. His fingers began to twitch as he summoned the power that had been hiding within him—the Ten-Tails.

He reached into his chakra reserves and, with an earth-shattering roar, consumed the Ten-Tails. The colossal beast's chakra flooded into Isshiki, amplifying his power to unimaginable heights. The air itself seemed to vibrate as Isshiki's aura expanded, the ground beneath his feet cracking like the earth itself was splitting apart.

"NO!" Tsunade shouted, seeing the transformation unfolding before her eyes. "We need to stop him now!"

But it was too late.

Isshiki's transformation was complete. His body rippled with newfound strength, his chakra flaring as he absorbed the Ten-Tails into himself. His physical form grew taller, more monstrous, his eyes burning with an otherworldly glow. He was no longer the Isshiki they had been fighting before—he was something far worse.

The Battle Shifts

As Isshiki's new power coursed through him, he looked down at the Kage, the Konoha 11, and the cubs with a cold, calculating smile.

"You were foolish to think you could stand against me," Isshiki sneered, his voice echoing with the power of the Ten-Tails. He raised his arm, and in an instant, the landscape around them changed. Massive tendrils of chakra shot out from his body, tearing through the earth and sending shockwaves throughout the battlefield.

The Kage barely had time to react as the tendrils slammed into them, throwing them across the field. Gaara's sand shielded him, but the force was so strong it shattered his defenses. Mei's mist struggled to hold up against the onslaught, and Onoki's jinton was barely able to keep up with the sheer intensity of Isshiki's chakra.

Tsunade was thrown backward, crashing into the earth with a massive impact. She struggled to rise, blood trickling from her mouth as she looked at Isshiki in horror.

"This is impossible…" she whispered. "How can he be this powerful?" This work was created by shredder121

The Others Struggle

The Konoha 11 fought valiantly, but against Isshiki's overwhelming strength, their efforts seemed futile. Kiba and Akamaru were knocked aside by a single swipe of Isshiki's chakra-infused arm. Shikamaru's strategies were crushed before they even had a chance to take effect.

Sasuke and Naruto rushed forward, determined to stop Isshiki, but even their combined strength wasn't enough to keep up with the transformed Ōtsutsuki. Naruto's Rasengan collided with Isshiki's new form, but it only left a small mark on his body before being absorbed into his overwhelming chakra.

"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, pulling him back as a tendril of chakra whizzed by them, narrowly missing them both.

"We can't fight him like this!" Sasuke added, his Rinnegan glowing as he frantically analyzed Isshiki's power.

Isshiki laughed coldly, his voice booming across the battlefield. "You think you can defeat me? With this power, I am unstoppable!"

Toneri's Healing

Meanwhile, Toneri, still recovering from the previous blows dealt by the shinobi, slowly floated back down from the sky. His body was still healing, but the moment he saw Isshiki's transformation, his eyes widened in fear.

"No…" Toneri muttered, looking at Isshiki's immense power. "This is beyond what I expected…"

But as Isshiki continued to destroy everything in his path, Toneri forced himself to stand. "I must help him…"

Floating down toward Isshiki, Toneri gathered his chakra and prepared to launch an attack of his own. He wasn't fully healed, but if there was any hope of stopping Isshiki, he would have to join the fight. However, his healing was taking longer than expected, and he found himself struggling to keep up.

The Desperate Stand

As Isshiki rampaged, the cubs—each one growing in power, their chakra intensifying—rushed to join the battle. The Nine-Tails cub, now glowing brightly with chakra, charged at Isshiki, its claws slashing across the air. But Isshiki simply swatted the cub aside like a fly, sending it crashing into the ground.

"No!" Naruto shouted, his heart sinking as he saw his cub struggle to rise. But before he could react, Isshiki's attention turned to him, and with a single swipe, he sent Naruto flying across the battlefield.

The Konoha 11 struggled to get back on their feet, but Isshiki was relentless. He tore through their defenses like they were made of paper. Even Might Guy's Eight Gates didn't seem to faze Isshiki. With a roar, Isshiki released an enormous blast of chakra, and Guy barely managed to dodge, only to be knocked down by a second strike.

"YOUTH!" Might Guy yelled as he struggled to rise. "I'll never give up, no matter how strong you are!"

But even his strength wasn't enough against Isshiki's new form.

The Moment of Despair

With a final, earth-shattering roar, Isshiki released a massive burst of energy that enveloped the entire battlefield. The shockwave sent everyone flying backward, leaving them gasping for breath.

Isshiki stood above them, victorious. His chakra was overflowing, and the battlefield was littered with the battered bodies of the Kage and the Konoha 11. The cubs, despite their will to fight, were lying motionless, unable to move.

"Is this your best?" Isshiki laughed. "Pathetic. I will be the ruler of this world, and nothing will stand in my way."

Naruto, barely able to rise, looked up at Isshiki, desperation in his eyes. "There has to be a way…"

But even he could barely hold on to hope as Isshiki stood victorious, the Ten-Tails' chakra coursing through him.