Chapter 500
Just pretend I killed him in an illusion.
Chapter 500 Just pretend I killed him in an illusion.
"The Great Toad Immortal".
Seeing that the Great Toad Sage did not react, Jiraiya assumed it was half asleep as usual, bowed, and said, "The war is urgent. If there are no other questions, we will take our leave."
Hinata Kumokawa also bowed slightly, his posture impeccable.
boom!boom!
Two plumes of white smoke exploded and quickly dissipated, restoring the hall to its former tranquility.
The chirping of insects and the faint sound of a distant stream further accentuated the peace of the place, making it seem like a completely different world from the war-torn outside.
However, Fukasaku and Shima did not relax; they both turned their gazes to the massive figure that had fallen silent again on the stone seat.
"Master?" Fukasaku asked hesitantly, "Is there a problem with that child..."
It recalled the entire process of its resurrection and Hinata Kumokawa's behavior after being resurrected.
Everything seems normal: injuries have healed, consciousness is clear, logic is sharp, and strength appears to have improved...
But the Great Toad Sage's unusual silence made the perceptive Fukasaku and Shima sense something amiss.
This is unlike the usual attitude of the Great Toad Sage towards the "Child of Prophecy".
"actually……"
After a long while, just when Fukasaku and Shima thought the Great Toad Sage had fallen into a deep sleep again and was not going to answer, the old, slow voice sounded again.
“Not long ago, I saw more than just that ‘child of prophecy’.”
More?
Fukasaku and Shima were both taken aback.
“I heard a voice for the first time,” the Great Toad Sage’s voice grew deeper and deeper. “‘Those who are trembling with fear, bow down and serve your lord, and receive my teachings.’”
"Furthermore, 'I will grant you kingdoms with inheritances, and the ends of the earth will be yours; I will send tyrants to their doom, and the life and death of all things will be in your grasp.'"
Its voice echoed in the silent hall, each word seemingly carrying a thousand pounds of weight, striking Fukasaku and Shima's hearts.
What is this? Is it a declaration?
But it's not over yet.
The Great Toad Sage continued in his dreamlike tone, recounting what he had witnessed: "He brought disaster and war, and peace and order were overturned..."
"Ninjas will no longer exist in the world, and all living beings will live in their shadow."
Shima Fukasaku paused for a moment, a look of surprise and doubt appearing on his face.
It's important to know that the Great Toad Sage's wording regarding prophecies has always been vague.
Even if he is the child of prophecy, it only means that he will bring about change to the ninja world. This change may be destruction or rebirth. The key lies in guidance and education.
This gave Jiraiya the space and opportunity to make his mark.
However, the "sight" that the Great Toad Immortal just recounted was completely different.
Extreme, absolute, and full of destruction, with no choice and no room for maneuver, leaving only the end of ninjas and humanity living in the shadows.
This is a thousand times more terrifying than any prophecy, because the very foundation of the ninja world has been uprooted.
“Master,” Shima couldn’t help but speak up, “why didn’t you tell Jiraiya all this earlier? If this is true…”
There was no response.
"Huh...huh..."
On the stone seat, the Great Toad Immortal had closed his half-open eyes again, his huge body slumped slightly, and a long, slow snore began to rise again.
"Master? Master!" Shen called out twice, but only snoring answered him.
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance, both seeing deep helplessness and worry in each other's eyes.
At this moment, before the Great Toad Sage completely fell into a deep sleep, only one thought remained in his mind.
Is this time, the revelation of fate truly correct?
Why do I feel so uneasy and afraid this time?
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Mount Myoboku, near the entrance to the labyrinthine mountain shrouded in mist.
"Tsk, why aren't they out yet?"
Tsunade crossed her arms tightly in front of her chest, her fingers unconsciously pinching her upper arms, her feet pacing back and forth, her face filled with anxiety and seriousness.
He would glance at the labyrinthine mountain shrouded in mist from time to time, and then look towards the direction of the Land of Hot Springs.
Reason told her that Hinata Kumokawa was already dead, and they shouldn't waste any more time; her departure with Jiraiya would cause more casualties.
However, she didn't want to give up. She didn't know when it started, but she had come to regard Hyuga Kumokawa as her hope, even though she originally didn't believe Jiraiya's nonsense.
So now, every passing second feels like a dull knife cutting into her flesh, and her mind is filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts.
Jiraiya has been inside for a while now, so what's the situation inside?
Although Mount Myōboku is a sacred place, its ability to bring the dead back to life has long exceeded the scope of medical ninjutsu and touched upon forbidden territory. Even the live slug of Shikkotsu Forest could not do anything about it.
The Great Toad Sage is really something...
Bang!Bang!
Just then, two plumes of white smoke exploded behind her. Tsunade shuddered, stopped in her tracks, and turned around abruptly.
The white smoke quickly dissipated, revealing two figures.
It was Jiraiya, and...
"Hyuga Kumokawa!"
Tsunade's eyes lit up with surprise, but the surprise lasted for less than half a second before being quickly replaced by seriousness.
He rushed forward and grabbed Hinata Kumokawa's wrist.
Body temperature is normal, and pulse is strong.
But that's not enough.
Tsunade's chakra surged into Hyuga Kumokawa's body, flowing through his meridians to every corner of his body.
Cell activity, visceral function, nervous system...
Hyuga Kumokawa remained calm, offering no resistance, allowing Tsunade's chakra to flow through his body, perfectly controlling the body's reactions—pulse, body temperature, chakra…
A moment later, Tsunade's tense body relaxed, her tightly pursed lips parted slightly, and she exhaled a long breath of stale air that had been trapped in her chest.
"There really are no aftereffects?"
She released her grip, took a half-step back, her gaze still fixed on Hyuga Kumokawa's face, and murmured, "Even more so, his chakra pathways are wider and stronger, and his cell activity is inhuman..."
What methods did Mount Myoboku use?
Seeing that Tsunade had finished her examination, Jiraiya, who was standing nearby, finally felt relieved and a relieved smile appeared on his face.
“Of course.” He said proudly, “I knew it. If Shikkotsu Forest can’t solve the problem, Mount Myōboku will definitely have a solution. After all, the Great Toad Sage personally took action.”
Tsunade glanced at him, ignored Jiraiya, and took a deep breath.
The air was filled with a faint smell of gunpowder and blood, which pulled her from her shock back to reality. Her eyes sharpened again as she looked toward the Land of Hot Springs.
"We should go back," Tsunade said.
"Yes." Jiraiya's smile faded, and he nodded emphatically with a serious expression.
Hinata Kumokawa's gaze was also directed towards the Land of Hot Springs, but his vision seemed to extend further and deeper.
For Jiraiya and his group, it was only a few days.
But for him, more than a thousand years have passed.
"The ninja world...it's been a long time," he thought calmly.
Without another word, the three figures vanished into afterimages and sped off towards the Land of Hot Springs.
------
At this very moment, in the Land of Hot Springs, on the third level of the underground palace.
The purple beam of light that had pierced through the dome and ground of the underground palace and stretched unstoppably straight into the sky began to slowly recede and thin, converging and dissipating towards the center.
The figures that were shrouded within then became visible.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Onoki, Mei Terumi, and many other Allied Shinobi all wore expressions of bewilderment and lingering fear, their memories stuck on the last scene they witnessed.
"This is……"
Onoki was the first to snap out of his daze, his body hovering in the air as he frowned and scanned the familiar enclosed space around him: "The third level of the underground palace?"
"How did we end up here again? What was that thing we just saw?"
“Illusion?” Mei Terumi pressed her throbbing temples and boldly guessed, “Or is it some kind of prophecy about the future?” None of them dared to speculate in such an absurd direction as “traveling to the future.”
The passage of time is beyond their comprehension; they could never have imagined it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was even more somber than that of Onoki and Mei Terumi.
His first glance was directed forward to the location of the stone statue, where Nagato and Orochimaru stood.
Swish!
Konan and Hanzo simultaneously appeared in a flash, guarding Nagato's side, equally wary of the allied forces who held an overwhelming numerical advantage.
However, one person is missing.
Danzo Shimura has disappeared.
Orochimaru!
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at the retreating figure, his teeth clenched, his voice forced out through gritted teeth, filled with barely suppressed rage: "What on earth did you do?!"
Orochimaru slowly turned around, facing the enraged Hiruzen Sarutobi and the many covetous Allied Shinobi. Instead of being nervous, he revealed a strange smile.
"What did I do?" He slowly licked his lips with his long, thin tongue. "Just think of me as someone who killed Danzo in an illusion, and the power of the third level of the dungeon made it a reality."
The truth, of course, is far more bizarre than this.
However, for Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others at this moment, Orochimaru's explanation was the most understandable and acceptable.
The ninja world is not without the power to turn illusions into reality. For example, the Kurama clan of Konoha, which has long since declined, possesses a similar ability through "manipulation of the five senses".
The underground palace has always been eerie, and it's plausible that it contains some kind of power that can materialize illusions.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Onoki, and Mei Terumi, along with the Allied Shinobi behind them, did not doubt Orochimaru's statement.
They simply couldn't understand why Orochimaru would do such a thing.
Why would they suddenly attack Danzo, an ally, in this place and at this time?
Especially Hiruzen Sarutobi, despite Danzo's many faults and mistakes, was once a comrade who fought alongside him and supported Konoha.
Seeing him killed by Orochimaru, his old and new grudges combined to drive him almost insane.
"Take them down!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi practically roared the command, and his chakra erupted from his body.
At his command, the Allied Shinobi immediately transformed into streaks of black shadows and pounced on Orochimaru, Nagato, and the others!
However, Orochimaru didn't even lift a hand in the face of their attacks.
Beside him, Nagato withdrew his gaze from the Ten-Tailed Stone Statue, turned expressionlessly to face the charging crowd, formed hand seals, and then slammed them to the ground.
"Spiritual communication!"
Bang!
A muffled explosion resounded in the relatively enclosed space, making people's eardrums ache, and a large cloud of thick white smoke exploded behind Orochimaru and Nagato.
The next moment, from within the white smoke, a withered hand with a grayish complexion and an unimaginably large size suddenly shot out and swept across the charging Allied ninjas.
"Varied……"
The dozens of allied ninjas at the forefront didn't have time to react. Like flies being swatted, they were instantly smashed into a cloud of exploding blood mist by the giant hand.
Some flew backward like rag dolls, crashing hard into the hard stone wall in the distance, making a tooth-grinding sound of bones cracking and tendons snapping, and spitting out large patches of dazzling blood.
"Roar!!"
A savage roar emanated from the white smoke, and a violent shockwave dispelled the remaining smoke.
The monstrous, hideous body of the Outer Path Demon Statue appeared before the Allied Shinobi Forces, its five open eyes filled with savagery.
Although the third level of the underground palace is very large, enough to accommodate thousands of people, the advantage of numbers becomes a burden in the face of such a behemoth.
The crowded formation will only cause terrible casualties with every attack from the Outer Path Golem.
"Disperse!"
Without hesitation, Hiruzen Sarutobi made a decisive move and shouted sharply, "Everyone, leave this place and go up there!"
The allied ninjas immediately abandoned their attack, their figures flashing like lightning, transforming into swift black shadows as they rushed toward the huge gap above their heads, left by the previous purple beam of light.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others stood once again on the ground outside the underground palace.
Everywhere you look, there is devastation and death.
"what?"
Seeing that the area outside the underground palace was completely empty, Mei Terumi's face showed surprise and doubt: "Where is everyone else?"
They only brought a few thousand Allied Shinobi Forces into the underground palace. The main force led by the Fourth Raikage stayed behind to deal with the 'Kage'. How could they have suddenly disappeared?
"Mizukage, now is not the time to dwell on these things!"
Onoki, equally bewildered and with a gloomy expression, calmly said, "Let's deal with the immediate threat of Orochimaru and the Akatsuki organization first, then we can talk about other things!"
After saying that, he roared at the allied ninjas behind him, "Prepare to unleash your ninjutsu!"
Meanwhile, inside the third level of the underground palace, smoke and the stench of blood slowly filled the air, and the deep roar of the Outer Path Demon Statue echoed in the empty space.
"Orochimaru……"
Nagato did not rush to pursue. He turned his head slightly and looked at Orochimaru beside him, his tone devoid of any warmth: "You killed Danzo and lost the power of the Impure World Reincarnation."
"How can our business cooperation continue?"
Facing the scrutinizing and wary gazes of Nagato and the other two, Orochimaru's smile deepened.
"Don't worry, I can do anything Danzo can do."
Orochimaru raised his head, looked at the huge gap above him, and said in a relaxed tone, "However, let's get out of here first, we can't really use our skills here."
If Orochimaru still has any trump card that allows him to remain so confident, then there is only one person...
That person, who is clearly very important, but has never appeared.
Nagato gave Orochimaru a deep look, but didn't press further. He simply raised his hand to form a hand seal.
As the actual executor of the Otsutsuki Isshiki plan, he received a lot from Isshiki.
For example, the methods used to control the Gedo Mazo...
"Roar!"
Behind them, the demonic statue of the Outer Path, with only its upper body visible, let out a low growl, its two huge, thick hands bracing against the ground.
Rumble!
The entire underground palace seemed to tremble, with rubble falling down. The lower half of the demonic statue, buried deep in the lower layers, was forcibly pulled out amidst the earth-shaking tremors.
Dust billowed, revealing its complete and ferocious form.
Immediately afterwards, the Gedo Mazo slowly bent down, its two giant hands outstretched. Nagato and his two companions leaped onto one of the palms without hesitation. Orochimaru chuckled and stood on the other palm.
"Let's go."
With Nagato's indifferent voice, the Gedo Mazo's massive body crouched slightly, then its legs unleashed a terrifying power completely at odds with its clumsy appearance, and it leaped upwards.
boom!!
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, along with Nagato, Orochimaru, and two others, burst forth from the gap, stirring up a violent gust of air and billowing dust as they appeared outside the underground palace.
They appeared beneath the sky shrouded in the smoke and dust of war, right before the allied ninjas who were already on high alert.
"attack!!"
The moment the Gedo Mazo appeared, Hiruzen Sarutobi's furious roar echoed across the battlefield.
The next moment, the allied ninjas unleashed their ninjutsu, which had been ready for a long time, like a torrent, bombarding the Gedo Mazo that had not yet found its footing.
Seeing this, Konan and Hanzo's eyes narrowed, and they instinctively prepared to defend and counterattack.
However, Nagato, who was standing in front of them, simply raised one hand to stop them.
He didn't look at the surging ninjutsu, but instead slightly turned his head and focused his gaze on Orochimaru on the other giant hand of the Gedo Mazo.
Orochimaru's unsettling smile remained unchanged as he raised his hands and swiftly formed hand seals, moving so fast that they left afterimages in the eyes of ordinary people.
"Summoning Jutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!" He roared, a maniacal grin spreading across his face.
(End of this chapter)