Although it's unclear whether Itachi still had Amaterasu after awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, if this sealing technique can restrict someone's movement, then Amaterasu surely wouldn't still be called the "merciful flame," right?
The destructive power of Fire Release doesn't need to be explained, but when you actually look at its performance in battle, it's kind of underwhelming.
Even high-level Sage Arts, like the kind Goemon uses, don't have particularly impressive results.
Technology Development Department.
Orochimaru's clone narrowed his eyes slightly after hearing Tsunade's decision.
With a hint of emotion, he said, "This time, Tsunade's going to be ahead of us."
If only the White Snake Sage were as easy to talk to as the Slug Sage.
If not, even the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku would be fine. The source of thɪs content is novel•fire.net
At least if you're rejected there, you don't have to worry about dying.
But the White Snake Sage…
Orochimaru shook his head.
The simplest and most direct way to get the White Snake Sage to hand over their reverse scale is to defeat them in battle.
He might end up being the last of the Sannin to obtain a spiritual weapon.
Still, Orochimaru wasn't in a rush. Worst-case scenario, he could always bring Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kagetsu along for a "righteous" group beatdown of the White Snake Sage.
Though if that happens, his relationship with Ryūchi Cave might completely fall apart.
"I'm leaving now! Take care of yourself during this time." Tsunade waved her hand.
She and Kagetsu were heading to the Shikkotsu Forest and another location.
Even Kagetsu couldn't say for sure how long it would take to retrieve the spiritual weapon.
"You've got me and Jiraiya here. If something really happens, the old man's still in good condition," Orochimaru said casually, showing no concern for the retired Third Hokage.
At this stage, his teacher's physical condition and strength were still relatively at their peak.
If things truly got out of hand, they could always call out the old Hokage or the old advisers as a last resort.
Tsunade heard the subtle malice in Orochimaru's tone when he mentioned the Third, but she didn't care.
Her feelings toward the old man, now living a comfortable retirement, were complicated.
If he were to run into some trouble, Tsunade might even enjoy watching it unfold.
After making preparations and saying her goodbyes, Tsunade entrusted the medical division to Nonō Yakushi, then she and Kagetsu were summoned to the Shikkotsu Forest by a reverse summoning performed by the slugs.
This time, however, they weren't greeted by the Great Slug Sage.
Instead, a small slug about the size of a palm, filled with Sage Chakra, was delivered to Tsunade through one of the slug's split bodies.
"Our physical bodies will remain here for now. The slugs will help keep us alive," Kagetsu said as he entered his Hōgyoku Mode, waving a short blade that looked like an enlarged scalpel.
"I thought your spiritual weapon was a wooden sword?" Tsunade asked curiously, eyeing the blade Kagetsu now held in his transformed state.
According to what Kagetsu had said before, a person should only have one spiritual weapon bonded to their soul.
"This is its true form. After refining the weapon and syncing with it, you can draw out its hidden power—this is its advanced form," Kagetsu explained.
Tsunade nodded. She didn't fully understand Kagetsu's experience, but it sounded like another form of mastering the weapon—learning how to bring out its deeper uses and potential.
Once she had her own spiritual weapon, she would naturally go through the same process of understanding and connection.
"Where are we going?" Tsunade finally asked.
"The world of the dead," Kagetsu replied as he swung his blade, separating Tsunade's soul from her powerful physical body.
Nourished by the power of the Hōgyoku, Tsunade's soul had already undergone a kind of transformation. Compared to the soul of an ordinary shinobi, hers was vastly different in quality.
Aside from being more solid and just as powerful, the biggest difference was that she could resist the pull of the Pure Land.
In other words, her soul alone was strong enough to remain in the shinobi world and move freely, almost as if she were still alive.
A glowing rune extended from Kagetsu's soul to Tsunade's body, like a black chain of symbols linking the two of them together.
Immediately after, a black cavity opened up before them. Kagetsu stepped in first, and Tsunade followed closely behind.
They passed through a dark tunnel—completely devoid of light, with their sensory perception greatly weakened.
It was hard to tell which way was forward.
The only thing keeping Tsunade certain she was on the right path was the rune glowing faintly on her wrist.
It felt like they had been walking forever, yet also as if no time had passed at all.
At that moment, Tsunade's sense of time and awareness became distorted.
A sudden, indescribable jolt of disorientation swept through her entire body.
When she finally broke free from that strange feeling and looked around, she realized that she and Kagetsu had arrived in a dull, lifeless place.
Tall, bare trees covered the sky, blocking out the dark, black clouds. The light was very dim, and she could only see a few meters around her.
But the enhanced perception from the Hogyoku Mode came with her, acting like a partial replacement for her eyes here.
Looking into the dark depths around them, Tsunade had a faint feeling of being watched.
"Is this the world of the dead? The Pure Land?" Tsunade asked Kagetsu with curiosity.
People always had different ideas about the world of the dead.
But now that she was experiencing it herself, all Tsunade felt was desolation and a strange discomfort.
Her perception was like a sensitive radar, constantly giving her mixed feelings.
But seeing Kagetsu's calm expression made Tsunade think maybe the watching and danger she felt were just her own worries, that she was being too sensitive.
"No, this is another world of the dead. It's different from the Pure Land where chakra souls go," Kagetsu shook her head, denying Tsunade's guess.
"What's the difference?" Tsunade asked, following Kagetsu closely and tightening her focus.
From her danger sense and ninja experience, she knew this place was not safe.
Luckily, she still had the power inside her body that gave her some peace of mind. Losing her physical body didn't mean her soul was powerless.
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