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Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: Pure Land Divine Tree

Shhh!

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, who had been incessantly rambling, disintegrated into ashes amidst the blue streak of light.

"Is he dead?"

"I doubt it," Danzo said cautiously, scanning the surroundings.

As if in response to Danzo's words, Ōtsutsuki Hamura's body reemerged from a mass of writhing flesh on the other side, his expression filled with excitement and urgency.

Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!

A golden light flashed, momentarily halting the grotesque tumors spreading across the area. But rather than stopping, they began growing even faster.

"Resistance is futile. The moment you entered the Pure Land, your fate was sealed..."

Hagoromo's words were cut short by a crescent-shaped slash that once again reduced him to ashes.

However, with every attack Danzo unleashed, the Divine Tree's growth only accelerated.

Within mere seconds, the entire space was engulfed by pulsating tumors.

When the monstrous growths finally reached Susanoo, the once-impenetrable defense crumbled like fragile paper.

Instead, the moment the tumors made contact, they sprouted tendrils that burrowed into Susanoo's form, greedily absorbing its energy at an alarming rate.

Danzo turned to Kaguya, who wore a deeply troubled expression.

"Do you trust me?"

Kaguya hesitated for a moment before nodding solemnly.

"Hold onto my hand. Don't resist."

Danzo took her hand and pulled her into his embrace. As Susanoo slowly faded away, the relentless tumors surged forward, tightly enveloping them.

As the surrounding mass pressed in, the two were swallowed into darkness.

...

Mount Myōboku

The enormous palace atop the mountain had long been abandoned following the passing of the Great Toad Sage.

Yet it remained a sacred ground, home to many of the Toad's sealed artifacts.

A single purple orb shattered through the temple's ceiling, soaring into the sky above Mount Myōboku.

"Hahaha! Finally… it's finally happening!"

The laughter sent ripples of unease through the toad populace. Countless toads, big and small, turned their gaze toward the sky.

"That's…" Elder Fukasaku stared at the floating orb—one that had always rested before the Great Sage—with a face full of apprehension.

The Great Sage had once foretold a prophecy: Mount Myōboku faced the threat of annihilation.

Before his passing, he had ordered the mountain sealed, hoping to avoid the impending disaster.

But now...

Crack...

Fine white cracks spread across the surface of the purple orb.

With its shattering, a blinding white light engulfed the land.

The energy it released sent chills down the spines of every toad, filling them with an instinctual terror.

As the light faded, a towering tree materialized in its place. At its peak hung a single, glistening red fruit.

One mere glance was enough to ignite an insatiable hunger deep within the soul.

"The… the Divine Tree… The records left in the temple were real…"

"It's the Divine Tree, exactly as described in the ancient texts..."

"But why here…?"

Before the toads could process what was happening, a voice echoed from the sky once more.

"For the sake of Gamamaru, I shall grant you the honor of becoming nourishment for the Divine Tree's awakening..."

As the words fell, the Divine Tree radiated another wave of soft white light.

Instantly, the toads' eyes turned vacant, their bodies bound by the tree's branches, hanging in the air. Their life force, souls, and chakra were rapidly drained away.

Before long, rows of withered toads dangled from the Divine Tree's limbs.

Even the two sage elders were not spared.

Mount Myōboku, once teeming with life, was reduced to an eerie silence.

The only thing that remained standing was the Divine Tree, towering with an imposing presence.

Under the serene sky, a gentle breeze passed through, making the shriveled toads sway slightly—an unsettling, macabre sight.

...

Konohagakure – Senju Residence

In a warmly decorated bedroom, Tsunade sat on the bed, her expression unusually gentle as she played with the baby in her arms, who was eagerly gulping down food.

"Little one, how are you this hungry? You take after your father..." She suddenly paused, her face flushing slightly.

She stole a glance at Shizune, who was busy folding clothes nearby. Luckily, she hadn't noticed.

"Lady Tsunade, why hasn't Lord Danzo visited in the past few days?" Shizune asked, placing the neatly folded garments into the wardrobe. She turned to watch the heartwarming scene with a sweet smile.

"Why should I care where that bastard is? Who knows what kind of trouble he's off stirring up?" Tsunade responded nonchalantly, brushing off the question as she continued playing with the baby.

"Pfft." Shizune's quiet giggle caught Tsunade's attention.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You always say one thing but mean another, Lady Tsunade. If Lord Danzo doesn't come, then I'll have to help you instead." Shizune's gaze briefly flicked toward Tsunade's chest.

A hint of pink dusted Tsunade's cheeks as she shot Shizune a glare.

"You spend too much time around that guy. You're becoming just as shameless."

"How is this shameless? At least it's better than when Lord Danzo visits, and you immediately kick me out of the room." Shizune smirked mischievously.

Tsunade adjusted the baby in her arms and looked at Shizune with a teasing smile.

"Then next time he comes, why don't you stay?"

Shizune's face instantly turned beet red, and she hurriedly looked away, fidgeting with her fingers in embarrassment.

Watching her reaction, Tsunade narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"You're not actually considering it, are you? He's not a good man, you know."

Shizune lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "Lord Danzo… he's actually very kind."

Tsunade sighed, feeling helpless.

"Do whatever you want. It's your life."

She was well aware of Danzo's… diverse tastes. Whether it was Nonō Yakushi, the Wind Daimyō's wife, or even that fox-like Mizukage, he certainly got around.

Not to mention the absurd number of tricks he had up his sleeve—who knew where he learned them?

The thought alone made her irritated.

"I'm telling you, he's not a good person. Think this through carefully."

Shizune's voice was soft but firm. "That's not what you said the night before last, Lady Tsunade."

"The night before last?" Tsunade frowned, searching her memory. Then, her expression stiffened as she turned to stare at Shizune.

"You were here that night?"

Shizune kept her head down, her fingers fidgeting even more.

"The little one was crying… He seemed hungry… So I…"

Tsunade placed a hand over her forehead and sighed deeply.

"...Forget whatever you heard. Just erase it from your memory."

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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