bookcurios Chapter 446: Gathering of Subordinates
Chapter 446: Gathering of Subordinates
Brook stopped wasting time with the Toad Sage. He had to reclaim the power of Hirasaka's heart that had been scattered among these three.
With a wave of his right hand, a chilling Gate of Hell appeared, connecting directly to the Pure Land Hell.
A black-haired man in red armor stepped out first, followed by three burly dark-skinned men.
"I didn't expect another mission so soon. Is this a full-scale operation this time?"
Madara Uchiha had escaped death itself. Over the past few days, he and his younger brother, Izuna, had already completed the recovery missions for the monsters Mōryō and Satori. They had even enjoyed themselves for a few days in the living world.
"What powerful auras. Is this the true strength of the Slug Sage and the Toad Sage?"
Hashirama Senju also walked out.
After the demon generals of the Asura Palace appeared, the other demon generals and demon soldiers of the Six Paths Reincarnation Palace began to return to the familiar ninja world one after another through the Gate of Hell.
"So this is Mount Myōboku, one of the Three Great Sacred Lands?"
"Is Lord Brook finally making a move against the Three Great Sacred Lands?"
Soul after soul emerged from the Gate of Hell, leaving everyone astonished.
"And there's more."
Brook opened another black portal and brought over Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Sasori, and several other Kage-level ninjas.
Then, with a summoning technique, he called forth the White Snake Sage and a group of giant snakes from Ryūchi Cave.
This terrifying lineup instantly made Hirasaka, the Toad Sage, and the Slug Sage tense up.
"So those are the souls of the Kage from past generations? Lord Brook's ambition is truly magnificent."
Orochimaru licked his lips with his long tongue.
"I spent so much time studying Impure World Reincarnation back then, but now that Lord Brook has sealed the Pure Land Hell, that forbidden technique has become useless."
After the souls from the Pure Land Hell met the ninjas of the living world, hushed conversations broke out. Some searched for their sons. Some looked for their fathers. Others stared at old enemies and old friends with complicated expressions.
"White Snake! You truly betrayed us!"
The Toad Sage gritted his teeth as he spoke to the White Snake Sage. Then he exchanged a look with the Slug Sage and secretly communicated through telepathy.
"Sage Art: Reverse Contract Summoning!"
Bang! Bang!
Jiraiya and Tsunade were suddenly summoned to the side of the Toad Sage and the Slug Sage. The moment Tsunade appeared, the Toad Sage immediately restrained her.
This sudden change left Brook speechless for a moment.
He had deliberately not brought Tsunade along because he did not want her involved in this battle, but the Slug Sage had still managed to summon her here.
And they had clearly severed their summoning contracts before. How could they still perform reverse summoning?
It seemed these two cunning old sages had kept another trick hidden.
"What's going on?"
Tsunade cried out in confusion. When she realized she had been forcibly summoned and instantly restrained, her expression changed.
"Toad Sage, what is happening? Release Tsunade first!"
Jiraiya was also stunned, but when he saw Tsunade being controlled, he immediately became anxious.
Even though Tsunade was already Brook's imperial consort, Jiraiya could not simply watch her be held hostage.
"Jiraiya, Mount Myōboku is about to be destroyed by Brook. I had no choice but to do this. Will you help us? Will you help Mount Myōboku?"
The moment the Toad Sage opened his mouth, he placed himself in the position of the weak, trying to bind Jiraiya to Mount Myōboku's side.
However, the trap had already been placed on Jiraiya. If he resisted, he would become a hostage as well.
"What exactly is going on?"
Jiraiya asked blankly.
"Is Mount Myōboku going to war with the entire world?"
"Hey! You damned toad! Give me back my precious granddaughter!"
A red-haired woman shouted furiously at the Toad Sage, while the black-haired man beside her hurriedly pulled back his hot-tempered wife.
"Grandpa? Grandma? Second Grandpa?"
Tsunade stared at those familiar figures in shock.
If she had not been restrained by the Toad Sage, she would have rushed over already.
"Tsunade, is that really you?"
Hashirama spoke solemnly.
He had not expected Brook to start a war with the Three Great Sacred Lands so quickly, nor had he expected his own granddaughter to become the Toad Sage's hostage.
And from what he had heard, Tsunade had become Brook's woman.
Did that mean Brook was now his grandson-in-law?
Of course, Hashirama did not dare say such a thing aloud.
Tobirama's eyes flickered as he quickly analyzed the situation.
Seeing Brook's intent, he knew this battle was inevitable. But now Tsunade had become a hostage. What would Brook choose?
Would he abandon Tsunade?
No.
They had to find a way to save her.
"Slug. Toad. Why have you become so much stronger?"
The White Snake Sage looked at her two ancient acquaintances in disbelief.
In such a short time, they had undergone a shocking transformation.
"Hmph! That has nothing to do with you, traitor!"
The Toad Sage spoke with open disgust.
"Brook! Tsunade is your imperial consort! Can you bear to watch her die in front of you?"
The Toad Sage's voice turned threatening. His words instantly enraged the Senju clan.
Even Hashirama, who had still been thinking of mediating between both sides, showed anger on his face.
He would never allow anyone to harm his precious granddaughter.
"At first, I only planned to execute the ringleaders and spare the rest of the toad clan. But now, every last toad here will die."
Brook suddenly gave a cold laugh and spoke slowly. His chilling killing intent made the entire toad clan of Mount Myōboku tremble.
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill her? Don't think your time-stopping ability can save her!"
The Toad Sage spoke nervously.
"If Brook makes even the slightest move, I will kill Tsunade and fight him to the death!"
"Oh?"
Brook's smile turned icy.
Kaguya and Madara were already waiting for his order. If Brook gave the command, neither of them would care about Tsunade's life. They would strike without hesitation.
"Soul King's Power: Time Stop!"
"Soul King's Power: Teleportation!"
"Yomi Hirasaka!"
Brook did not believe the Toad Sage was truly that powerful. He activated his abilities at once and decided to take Tsunade by force.
As the world froze, Brook instantly reached into the black space beside him and pulled Tsunade out.
When everyone regained their senses and movement returned, Tsunade was already standing beside Brook.
The moment she was free, Tsunade rushed toward Mito Uzumaki and Hashirama Senju, completely ignoring Brook, the man who had just saved her.
Hirasaka looked at the Toad Sage with clear disdain.
One moment, the toad had claimed Brook could not save anyone.
The next moment, the hostage had been taken away right from under his nose.
How embarrassing.
The Toad Sage stared at Brook, his face pale.
What would have happened if Brook had chosen to deliver a killing blow instead?
Could Brook still use this enhanced time ability?
Was there any cooldown?
Cold sweat covered the Toad Sage's body. He quietly moved closer to Hirasaka and the Slug Sage, afraid that he would not survive Brook's sudden attack.
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After seeing the Toad Sage's movements and rescuing Tsunade, Brook no longer wasted words.
As for Jiraiya, if they wanted to kill him, then let them.
Brook could not be bothered to save him.
"Groot, Kaguya, you two deal with that old toad!"
"Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, lead the demon generals and demon soldiers of the Pure Land Hell against the slug!"
"White Snake, Orochimaru, you two lead Ryūchi Cave and the ninjas of All Nations against the toads of Mount Myōboku!"
Brook immediately gave the order.
The Toad Sage and the others had to die today.
If the Slug Sage had not greedily devoured part of Hirasaka's heart, Brook might not have killed it. But now, there was no saving it.
"Yes, Lord Brook!"
Everyone moved at once, splitting the battlefield and charging toward their assigned opponents.
Madara wanted to fight the Slug Sage alone, but the Slug Sage was no longer what it had been before. Its strength had risen by several levels, far beyond what Madara could handle alone.
Brook ignored that side. As long as they could hold the Slug Sage back, it was enough.
His own gaze had already locked onto Hirasaka, this newborn Hirasaka who possessed half the power of Hirasaka's heart.
"If you were not so intent on devouring me, perhaps I could have become your friend."
Hirasaka stared at Brook without emotion.
"But coexistence is impossible. I will not surrender my power."
"Hand over the power of Hirasaka's heart. Perhaps I can help your soul be reborn."
Brook spoke calmly.
Of course, he knew that was impossible. No one would willingly give up power.
"Let me see your strength. After I defeat you, I will dig through your mind and take the information about Hirasaka myself."
The newborn Hirasaka was full of confidence. The protective shield around him glowed with faint golden runes. He did not believe Brook could break through it.
"Your confidence comes from that shield? I remember it has a flaw. I hope you can keep guarding it."
The power of the Four Gods surged around Brook.
Based on pure strength, even Six Paths power might not be enough to match this newborn Hirasaka.
Brook needed to finish this quickly. Otherwise, Kaguya and Groot might not be able to defeat the strengthened Toad Sage, and Kaguya was already pregnant.
Sending his own woman into this kind of battle was truly a sin.
He and Kaguya had originally thought they could crush the Toad Sage with ease, but who would have expected that the old toad would make such a triumphant comeback?
"Come then, alien god!"
A powerful divine force erupted from the newborn Hirasaka and rushed straight toward Brook. That terrifying power was comparable to an attack from Jin, the Western Underworld God.
"As expected of Hirasaka's heart source power!"
Brook struck back with the power of the Four Gods.
His power was vast and complex, while Hirasaka's was less abundant but purer. In terms of energy intensity, Hirasaka's power was slightly superior to Brook's.
Brook possessed the power of the two legs of the Southern Underworld God, Soul King, which had transformed into clones. He had also absorbed the energy of one of Hirasaka's vertebrae, along with the clone powers of the Eastern and Western Underworld Gods, King Yama and the Grim Reaper.
Only by fusing all of that had Brook barely managed to catch up with a portion of the Northern Underworld God's core power.
But Brook was not discouraged.
If he could already contend with the primordial power of the Northern Underworld God this quickly, then one day, he would be able to challenge Jin.
After exchanging dozens of blows with the newborn Hirasaka, Brook quickly realized something.
This fellow lacked combat experience.
He was only able to hold on against Brook by relying on the rune shield around him and the high-level source energy within his body.
The newborn Hirasaka's energy was extremely advanced, making him immune to many of Brook's abilities. Even Time Stop could not halt him.
"Is this all you have? Too weak, Brook!"
At first, Hirasaka struggled. But as time passed, he discovered that as long as he protected the tiny flaw in his rune shield, Brook could not hurt him at all.
"Do you know how that flaw in the rune shield was created? It was made when the Otsutsuki God pierced Hirasaka's heart."
Brook still had not managed to injure the newborn Hirasaka.
But he only needed one chance to kill him.
"Is that so? But are you as strong as the Otsutsuki God?"
Knowing that he would not be injured, the newborn Hirasaka gradually realized that Brook might not be as overwhelming as he had imagined. His confidence swelled.
Brook sneered inwardly, but his counterattacks grew weaker and weaker, as if he were running out of strength.
His deliberate show of weakness made Hirasaka increasingly excited. His attacks became more and more ferocious.
Seeing Hirasaka suppress Brook, the Toad Sage was also thrilled. He no longer held back any strength for escape.
He launched his fiercest attacks against Kaguya and that useless Ten-Tails, determined to eliminate these two disasters.
"Kaguya, you old hag! You and Brook, that alien plunderer, are destined to meet a miserable end!"
After gaining the slightest advantage, the Toad Sage began insulting Kaguya, venting all the frustration he had held in for the past few days.
"Souls of the past Kage! Ninjas of All Nations! Do you still intend to serve this alien invader, Brook? He is our enemy! Wake up!"
"If Brook is killed, all of you will face our reckoning. Think carefully!"
The Toad Sage's thunderous voice rolled across the battlefield, trying to persuade and threaten everyone at the same time.
Some people did waver slightly.
However, most of them were already under Brook's control. They could not possibly defect to the Toad Sage.
"You damned toad! Get in there!"
Annoyed, Kaguya directly dragged the Toad Sage into the icy space within her Amenominaka dimension, intending to freeze him to death.
She temporarily gave up on fighting the Toad Sage and brought Ten-Tails Groot with her to assist Brook against Hirasaka.
Seeing the Toad Sage vanish and Kaguya arrive, the newborn Hirasaka's expression shifted for a brief instant.
And that single instant was enough.
"You panicked."
After showing weakness for so long, Brook finally revealed his fangs.
"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
"Soul King's Power: Time Stop!"
"Soul King's Power: Teleportation!"
"Yomi Hirazan!"
Ultimate Killing Move: Heart Extraction!
A gigantic Grim Reaper manifested, instantly stunning the shaken newborn Hirasaka. Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
A pitch-black hand, as if crossing time and space itself, pierced through the flaw in the rune shield and plunged straight into Hirasaka's heart.
"Newborn Hirasaka, remember this. Never be arrogant. Never panic."
Brook's boundless power of the Four Gods poured into the newborn Hirasaka's body, making him swell several times larger. Cracks spread across his flesh.
Then Brook's dark hand suddenly transformed into countless tree roots, frantically taking root, growing, and spreading throughout Hirasaka's body.
.....
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