Slaying the White Snake (Good Fortune in the Year of the Snake)

Boom!

The power of Scarlet Rot surged like a massive shockwave, blooming with the flower and crashing indiscriminately in every direction.

All life force withered beneath the curse of Scarlet Rot.

Whether it was the nearly hundred-meter-long purple-black serpent, the forest summoned by Wood Release, or Senju Hashirama atop the thousand-meter Buddha.

Senju Hashirama looked at the scarlet sheen staining his body. He could feel his life force rapidly beginning to decline.

To him, this was utterly unbelievable.

As the strongest individual of the Senju Clan, Senju Hashirama had been practically immortal on the battlefield. And after being revived through Impure World Reincarnation, although he no longer possessed that Sage Body, his reincarnated body still could not be destroyed by conventional means.

Yet the power of Scarlet Rot clinging to his body did not damage it. Instead, it adhered to him, causing the vitality within his body to begin decaying.

Hiss—

Amid a terrifying hiss, part of the White Snake Sage’s body was also stained by the curse of Scarlet Rot. Drawing upon the natural energy she had absorbed and accumulated over a thousand years, the enormous serpent’s body petrified from its tail in an instant, becoming like a stalactite.

Bai Cangshu emerged from the wind, appearing high in the sky. He descended on the breeze, the only one to have avoided that attack.

Bai Cangshu landed atop the White Snake Sage’s enormous body. Looking at the giant serpent that was gradually petrifying, attempting to evade the Scarlet Rot curse this way, he suddenly threw a punch.

Bang!

The powerful force pierced through the White Snake’s massive body and blasted into the Erdtree’s interior.

But the White Snake was enormous, and seemed to have no reaction at all. Seeing this, Bai Cangshu’s smile only widened.

Of all types of defense, the one he feared least was this kind—relying on immense vitality or powerful defenses to take his attacks head-on.

Bai Cangshu spread his hands, one above and one below.

The intense Satsui no Hado within him was activated. In an instant, purple killing intent surged forth, as if flooding heaven and earth.

Heaven’s Will rose from the flower of Scarlet Rot, completely naked. As though she had foreseen everything, she looked at the Erdtree that her corruption had blasted open with a massive wound. Her figure was now much taller, and she walked directly inside.

It had already been decided that the age of the Golden Order could not descend through her hands. Then, at the very end, she had to accomplish her purpose.

The instant she entered the Erdtree, the world darkened. Then boundless Satsui no Hado surged around the Erdtree, engulfing everything—whether it was the Senju Buddha statue eroded by Scarlet Rot or the gigantic White Snake that had likely lived for over a thousand years.

Bang, bang, bang…

The sound of fists striking flesh erupted in a dense rhythm, like drumbeats.

Heaven’s Will did not look back. Entering the Erdtree, she indeed saw an ancient, gigantic toad that appeared ready to die at any moment, seated before two Shōnen.

Both Shōnen had their eyes closed. One wore an orange tracksuit and goggles, while the other wore the coat of the Uchiha Clan. Both were enveloped in the golden radiance of the Golden Order.

They seemed immersed in that beautiful dream where no one died, unwilling to awaken.

Even as the Great Toad Sage repeatedly stimulated them with senjutsu, neither woke.

"Great Toad Sage, you cannot be certain that these two are the so-called children of prophecy, can you? Why wade into these troubled waters?"

Poof! Poof!

Two clouds of smoke burst apart, and two small, cloak-wearing toads appeared before Heaven’s Will. Fukasaku and Shima, two high-ranking members of Mount Myōboku, had also been summoned.

Both toads contained powerful senjutsu Chakra. They were perfect examples of the fusion between this world’s native power system and the Chakra imparted by the Otsutsuki Clan.

Mount Myōboku was likely the most involved in the world among the three sacred lands, and the place most deeply integrated with the Otsutsuki Clan.

The Great Toad Sage Gamarun had been close friends with the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo. He also possessed powerful prophetic abilities and had always influenced the world’s development in his own way.

As she spoke, Heaven’s Will walked toward the three sages. She sliced her left hand with her right, and blood dripped down as the rancid stench of decay grew ever stronger.

At the same time, Heaven’s Will furrowed her brows slightly. Scarlet Rot had begun eroding her mind. This power was potent, but its risks were just as great. Using it too often could result in her being eroded and possessed by the Outer God: Goddess of Scarlet Rot.

The dripping blood continuously spread the curse of Scarlet Rot. That was what made this power so terrifying. So long as Scarlet Rot descended, so long as one was tainted by this curse, even if one’s strength surpassed hers, the best outcome would be mutual destruction.

"Fukasaku, Shima, hold her off for two minutes. I will call these two children back."

The Great Toad Sage turned around and continued casting a technique on Naruto and Sasuke. But Heaven’s Will knew full well that such carelessness was precisely what would bring about his defeat.

Inside the Erdtree, as Heaven’s Will’s blood continuously dripped onto the ground, vitality began to fade. Sasuke and Naruto seemed to sense that something was wrong; both frowned in their sleep.

They began awakening from that golden slumber. The world where no one would ever die was decaying.

"Don’t… don’t go…"

Sasuke opened his eyes, which were already glowing with golden light.

Seeing this, the Great Toad Sage suddenly inhaled, and Uzumaki Naruto’s body flew toward him from the center of the Erdtree.

Clearly, at the final moment, he had chosen the child of prophecy in his heart.

Heaven’s Will suddenly charged toward the three of them.

Ribbit!

Fukasaku and Shima opened their mouths at the same time, releasing terrifying croaks.

Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant!

This sound-based Genjutsu was extremely difficult to guard against. In an instant, it froze the charging Heaven’s Will in place. Clutching her forehead, she appeared to be in great pain.

The next moment, her body swelled and twisted before exploding with a bang into a mass of filthy blood.

As Scarlet Rot deepened once more, Heaven’s Will’s true body appeared behind the two toads. With one hand, she grabbed Uzumaki Naruto out of the air, and black Slave Shackles silently fastened around Uzumaki Naruto’s neck.

Warning: You are attempting to capture an Important Plot Character using the special item: Slave Shackles (Purple). This action will result in unpredictable consequences.

Heaven’s Will revealed a terrifying smile.

Splash!

A jet of water pierced Heaven’s Will’s body like a laser. As her body exploded, the water jet abruptly changed direction, slicing toward the space on the other side.

Heaven’s Will appeared in that direction at that very moment. Barrier after barrier had already risen behind her; the Great Toad Sage had no intention of letting her go.

But she had already experienced this scene many times through her talent, as if she had long prepared for it.

A straw doll appeared in her hand. At the instant her body was shattered by the water blast, the straw doll broke apart first.

She evaded the attack. Her figure began to fade, and together with Uzumaki Naruto, who had just opened his eyes, she slowly vanished.

"Mercenary Tao, our grudge is settled…"

Boom!

A massive impact rang out, as though something weighing a thousand tons had crashed down from the sky.

Gamarun pressed his hands together, and a huge crystal appeared. Through it, he used the Telescope Technique to see beyond the Erdtree, amidst a decayed wasteland.

A tall man stood within a giant crater, holding up the enormous White Snake’s head in one hand and pushing the fallen serpent’s corpse toward the roots of the Erdtree.

Use the White Snake Sage as a sacrifice to bring the Golden Order into the world!