Chapter 78 Returning to the Original World / You, a Living Person, Venture In...
The four stood inside the blossoming wooden fortress, looking up at the sky.
As the smoke and dust slowly dissipated, the white figure hovering in the air, radiating a cold, malicious, and ominous aura, was clearly revealed. That devastating attack just now was obviously his doing.
Hashirama Senju narrowed his eyes, his face filled with confusion and wariness: "Who is that?" He had never seen a being dressed like that and possessing such strange power.
Madara and Izuna were equally alarmed, as they had no idea who this sudden and formidable enemy was.
Only Yan Sheng, though he had never seen this person before, could tell from the other's distinctive pale skin, gray-blue long hair, white magatama robe, and subtle energy fluctuations that were different from chakra, that there was one answer.
He said with certainty, "Otsutsuki."
—She's not just similar to Kaguya, she's practically identical.
It doesn't refer to appearance, but simply style, much like how in the martial arts world, you can tell which school someone belongs to just by looking at their moves.
"Otsutsuki?" Hashirama Senju looked blank; he had never heard of this name before.
Madara and Izuna were deeply shocked.
They had only recently learned from Yan Sheng about the name of this extraterrestrial race, a future threat to the world's destruction. But...didn't Yan Sheng say these guys wouldn't appear for another hundred years? How come they're here right before their eyes today?
Has the crisis of the future arrived ahead of schedule?
The situation is critical, and there is no time to think.
Yan Sheng drew his sword from his waist with a "whoosh," the cold moonlight swirling around the blade.
He quickly made arrangements:
"Chief Senju, continue treating Madara, don't stop." Madara's eyes are the key right now, and his fighting power must be restored as soon as possible.
"Izuna, you're in charge of covering for them and being wary of possible sneak attacks or area-of-effect attacks."
Finally, he pointed the gleaming tip of his sword directly at the arrogant figure in the air, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable resolve:
"Over there—I'll go."
Yan Sheng had his reasons for making this arrangement:
Firstly, he wanted to test the sword in his hand to see if it was still incredibly sharp against these Otsutsuki, who were known as the "Clan of Gods".
Secondly, and most importantly, Madara is now nearly blind, greatly reducing his ability to protect himself. Facing the Otsutsuki, whose abilities are unknown and whose methods are unpredictable, any mishap could have unimaginable consequences. He must personally stop this strongest enemy.
Thirdly, the abilities of the Otsutsuki often involve the realm of rules, making them difficult to defend against. He couldn't guarantee that he could be constantly distracted to protect Madara; on the battlefield, swords have no eyes, and the best protection was to allow Madara to recover his strength as quickly as possible so that he could protect himself. This point is actually the same as the second one.
When Madara heard that Yan Sheng was going to fight alone, he asked in a low voice, "Can you do it?"
Yan Sheng's answer was simple and calm: "Give it a try."
Before he finished speaking, he slightly bent his knees, pushed off the huge wooden petals with his toes, and shot towards the sky like an arrow released from a bow, or a blue meteor shooting against the heavens.
As Yan Sheng flew towards him, a hint of contempt flashed in Otsutsuki Kageshiki's eyes. Another incompetent, lowly being.
He casually raised his hand, and several dark purple energy waves shot towards Yan Sheng.
Yan Sheng's expression remained unchanged as he swung his long sword.
Breath of the Moon, First Form, Dark Moon, Night Palace.
The massive, crescent-shaped slash tore through the air, precisely cleaving away the energy wave.
Moon Breathing - Second Form - Pearl Moon Dance.
Two even more powerful crescent-shaped slashes flew out in a crisscross pattern, forcing Jing to move and dodge.
Moon Breathing, Third Form, Aversion to the Moon, Erosion.
Countless crescent blades accompanied by straight-line slashes swept through like a storm, blocking Jing's retreat.
Yan Sheng didn't use his full strength right away. However, his swordsmanship was fierce, and his attacks were like a tidal wave.
Moonlight-like slashes intertwined in the air, forming a web of death. The exquisite and dazzling swordsmanship was filled with a destructive beauty, causing the three spectators below to be secretly terrified.
......
At first, Ōtsutsuki Kageshiki could easily cope with the attacks using energy attacks and spatial teleportation, but as Yan Sheng's offensive became increasingly fierce, he gradually felt the pressure. In particular, Yan Sheng's unpredictable and tricky slashes almost hit him several times.
This guy's swordsmanship is amazing! Luckily, there's no such person in the future, otherwise it would be even more difficult to deal with.
Although Jing Shi was shocked, the arrogance of the Otsutsuki still prevailed. He looked down on inferior life forms and was convinced that Yan Sheng must have died young, otherwise why would he never appear in the future wars against the Otsutsuki?
Actually, if you think about it, people who live to that age will be centenarians; it's normal if they don't.
However, the Otsutsuki clan has a long lifespan, and besides, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju were able to live to that time. Others who did not live to that time could only be said to have "died young" or were too weak.
Given that he had tested Yan Sheng and found him to be quite capable, he could only die young.
Therefore, when Yan Sheng's "Breathing of the Moon - Land Form - Long Night Lonely Moon - No End" unleashed its countless intricate slashes as if they were about to engulf him, just as it was about to severely injure him—
Time rewind!
Jing Shi's ability is no longer simply spatial movement, but involves the reversal of time: he can not only rewind Yan Sheng's time to a few seconds ago, but also recall Yan Sheng's memories within those few seconds.
This means that, from Yan Sheng's perspective, even when his attacks were about to hit, his opponent would always be able to avoid the initial move that put him in danger at the last moment in a way that was almost "predictive" and just right, so that all subsequent attacks would miss.
At first, Yan Sheng was just wondering why this Otsutsuki's fighting skills weren't that great, and he relied more on his own abilities. It was as if he knew the Otsutsuki's attack route in advance.
Is that also a skill?
His doubts were abruptly dispelled by Hashirama Senju, who was watching from below: "Hey...brother! Your opponent seems to be able to rewind time!"
Hashirama's words struck like a thunderbolt, and Yan Sheng instantly understood. Time reversal? So that's how it is.
Are you comparing Rinnegan?
A cold glint flashed in Yan Sheng's eyes. He was not entirely ignorant of the power of time.
So, in the next confrontation, when Yan Sheng seemingly repeated his previous attack pattern, Ōtsutsuki Kageshiki, with a smug smile of absolute control, activated Time Rewind once more—
"Buzz!"
A power, also involving the rules of time but even colder and more domineering, erupted from Yan Sheng's body. The two Rinnegan eyes that he usually concealed with genjutsu were revealed on his face.
It wasn't a large-scale time reversal, but rather a precise, forceful interference with and cancellation of the time reversal effect acting on his own attack trajectory.
"Pfft—!"
The dull thud of a sharp blade piercing flesh sounded exceptionally clear at that moment.
The sneer on Ōtsutsuki Kageshiki's face froze instantly, replaced by utter shock and disbelief.
He looked down and saw that the long sword, shrouded in the cold moonlight, had pierced his chest, and excruciating pain surged through him like a tidal wave.
He suddenly raised his head, only to be met with Yan Sheng's two pairs of Rinnegan eyes, which exuded endless majesty and indifference after he activated the power of the Rinnegan.
"No, impossible! How could you... negate my..." Jing Shi's voice was distorted by pain and horror. He couldn't understand how a "lower life form" could wield such a level of time power. Even if he had the bloodline of the Otsutsuki, the concentration of the bloodline was so thin that it could be ignored. It would be good enough if he could barely awaken the Rinnegan. But this person also possessed... more than one pair of Rinnegan?!
Yan Sheng stared blankly at Ōtsutsuki Keishi, as if looking at a moth pinned to a specimen board.
From this moment on, the battle truly entered a rhythm he was familiar with.
***
The excruciating pain of his chest being pierced and the unbelievable humiliation surged and erupted in Otsutsuki Keishi's heart, just like the speech he was giving.
He's a noble Otsutsuki, how could he be so badly injured by a lowly life form?!
"Ughhhhh—you lowly insect!" He roared angrily, forcefully shaking off Yan Sheng's longsword. Ignoring the blood spurting from his chest, he unleashed even more violent and chaotic energy fluctuations around his body.
The dark purple energy danced wildly like out-of-control tentacles, indiscriminately bombarding all directions without any order, interspersed with even more frequent and reckless time-reversal power.
He wanted to disrupt things; he wanted to completely distort the timeline of this airspace, making it impossible for the other side to predict or adapt.
Yan Sheng's eyes narrowed. Faced with this chaotic and frenzied counterattack, he did not retreat but instead charged forward. The sword in his hand moved even faster, and the slashes of Moon Breath were like a never-ending blue storm, shattering and splitting the chaotic energy tentacles one by one.
Moon Breathing, Fifth Form, Moon Soul Calamity Vortex.
The strikes collided and annihilated with the energy, bursting forth with blinding light and deafening roar.
Both sides used the ability to rewind time to its fullest extent. Especially under Jing Shi's reckless outburst, the flow of time in this airspace became extremely unstable, and even localized distortions and overlaps occurred.
To the three spectators below, the battle in the sky appeared incredibly bizarre, even somewhat... comical:
One second ago, Yan Sheng's fierce slash was about to hit Jing Shi, but the next second, Jing Shi's figure suddenly "flashed" to the position he was in half a second ago, and the slash missed.
Immediately afterwards, Yan Sheng's figure also experienced a barely perceptible "tremor." The tiny flaw that had appeared when his attack missed vanished instantly, as if it had never existed, and his knife was thrust out again at an angle that defied common sense.
Sometimes, the two of them would experience a brief "pause" at the same time, their movements would freeze for a moment, as if the video had dropped a frame, and then they would resume their previous movements at a faster speed.
Sometimes, the energy waves released by Jing Shi would inexplicably "retract" into his hand halfway through the flight, and then be released again; Yan Sheng's crescent slash might also suddenly "retreat" a few feet during its flight, with its trajectory slightly altered.
The whole scene looked like two people performing a poorly made shadow puppet show with serious lag; one would pause, the other would stop, the movements were disjointed and full of awkwardness.
"What... what kind of bizarre fighting style is this?" Izuna frowned, his Sharingan spinning rapidly as he tried to analyze it, but he only felt dizzy and disoriented, the disorientation of time affecting his observation.
“It’s time…they’re fighting for control of time in that area!” Hashirama’s expression was grave. He possessed superhuman perception and could vaguely sense the chaotic fluctuations of time laws in that space. “Every ‘stag’ is a game and a counteracting of time.”
Although Ban couldn't see the details clearly, the constant energy collisions made him deeply aware of the danger and the high level of this battle.
He was filled with enthusiasm and wanted to join in, but his eyes... He clenched his fists tightly, his eagerness to restore his sight as soon as possible reaching its peak.
***
The turbulent flow of time in the sky gradually subsided.
Ōtsutsuki Kageshiki was covered in wounds, with blood gushing out like a stream of tears. His once spotless white robe was now tattered, and his face was filled with anger and incredulous fear.
His prized time-reversal ability was becoming increasingly ineffective under the interference and suppression of his opponent. Each activation required more energy, while his opponent gradually adapted, and the cold blade always managed to strike again at his weakest moment after the reversal, like a persistent, lingering ailment.
Impossible... How could I... lose to a lower life form?
The stark contrast between his inner pride and the dire reality drove Jing Shi to the brink of madness. But his remaining rationality told him that if he continued, he might truly perish here.
escape!
Escape this point in time immediately! Once he returns to the normal timeline, he can recover and then gather more of his people...
The moment this thought arose, Yan Sheng immediately understood his intention.
"Trying to leave?"
Yan Sheng's icy voice was like the pronouncement of death.
He gave his opponent no more chances, his aura suddenly surged, and the long sword in his hand burst forth with unprecedentedly brilliant moonlight, turning the night sky a deep blue.
【Fleeting Beauty】Activated.
"Breathing of the Moon, Form of Sixteen, Moonbow, Lonely Moon".
Before the move was even named, the blade had already struck.
It was no longer a scattered slash, but an ultimate crescent moon condensed to its extreme, seemingly capable of severing the cause and effect of time and space. Wherever its light passed, even the disordered flow of time was smoothed out and frozen.
Ōtsutsuki Keishi's pupils contracted sharply as he used his last bit of strength to try to activate time reversal, only to find that time around him had become stagnant and heavy, as if it had sunk into a quagmire.
"No--!"
The desperate screams were mercilessly swallowed up by the sharp glint of the blade.
The ultimate crescent moon swept across his body without any obstruction.
Jing's movements froze completely, his expression forever frozen in shock and resentment.
The next moment, his body, like shattered porcelain, disintegrated inch by inch from the spot where he was struck, turning into specks of light and dissipating into the night sky without leaving a trace.
Yan Sheng hovered silently in place, watching his opponent completely annihilate, before slowly sheathing his longsword at his waist. The cold moonlight then faded away.
He then landed lightly on the ground and walked up to the three of them.
Hashirama Senju's hand remained around Madara's eyes, the pure Yang Release chakra continuously nourishing Madara's nearly necrotic eye meridians and cells.
As you can see, fine beads of sweat have seeped from the temples of the pillars, clearly indicating that this process has taken a toll on him.
Before Yan Sheng could speak, Ban spoke first, his tone filled with barely suppressed excitement and hope: "It's working. I can feel the blurriness in my vision lessening, although it's slow, but it's definitely recovering." For him, who had already accepted his fate of blindness, this was undoubtedly heavenly news.
He paused, then turned his gaze towards Yan Sheng. "Yan Sheng, you... that person, have you dealt with him?"
“Hmm.” Yan Sheng nodded, then brought up a more serious topic, “He’s here for you. Considering his ability to manipulate time, I suspect he’s not from this world, but rather someone who traveled through time from the future.”
He looked at Madara, his tone carrying an undeniable urgency: "Therefore, time waits for no one. I can't be sure if similar people will appear later. Madara, you must recover your strength as soon as possible."
As Hashirama Senju listened to their conversation, his憨厚 (honest and simple) expression gradually turned serious. He couldn't help but interject, "Wait, why do I have a feeling that you're hiding something from me? No, I should say that you know something... that I don't know." He keenly sensed that Yan Sheng and the Uchiha brothers seemed to be sharing some important secret.
He looked at Yan Sheng and asked the most crucial question: "So, what exactly is the situation with that guy named Otsutsuki? Why is he targeting Madara and Izuna?"
Yan Sheng looked at Hashirama and calmly corrected his misunderstanding: "Clan Chief Senju, you've misunderstood."
"The Otsutsuki's target is not Madara and Izuna."
His gaze swept over Madara and Hashirama, finally settling on Hashirama's face: "To be precise, his target is you, and Madara."
Seeing Hashirama's astonished expression, he continued in his calm tone, "It seems your future... is very promising."
"Otherwise, the Otsutsuki wouldn't have gone to such lengths to travel back in time to eliminate you. The only explanation is that at some point in the future, your existence caused them significant losses."
What is it?
future?
Hashirama Senju gaped, digesting this astonishing information. Madara Uchiha, though unable to see clearly, couldn't suppress a proud smile playing on his lips. Izuna, meanwhile, looked at his brother and Hashirama with complex emotions, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
The assassination attempt from the future is more like a special medal, a testament to the heights these two will reach in the future.
Izuna snapped out of his complicated thoughts and was about to say something more about the future when he suddenly noticed a barely perceptible change in Yan Sheng's expression. Although the change was so subtle that it was almost impossible to catch, he still noticed it.
He asked with concern, "What's wrong, Yan Sheng?"
Yan Sheng's strange expression stemmed from the fact that just moments ago, the cold, vast flow of information from the planetary consciousness of this world resonated directly in his mind:
[Mission: Prevent Uchiha Izuna's death. Status: Completed.]
[Dwell Time Adjustment: A spacetime ripple was detected caused by a battle with the high-dimensional target "Ōtsutsuki Kageshiki," resulting in compromised stability. Final dwell time: two minutes.]
Yan Sheng: "..."
He had a three-month stay in every world he had experienced before, so why was he only allowed two minutes here?
The planetary consciousness's feedback was concise and cold: [Your battle with the Otsutsuki just now severely disrupted the local timeline structure.]
"Yan Sheng?" Izuna called out again when he saw that Yan Sheng was silent.
Yan Sheng raised his eyes, looked at Madara and Izuna, and announced in a calm tone, "I'm leaving."
Izuna instinctively asked, "Where are we going?"
"Go back to your own home."
Hashirama Senju was completely confused by the phrase "their own home," but Madara and Izuna immediately understood—Yakushige was referring to the other world they belonged to.
Madara frowned slightly: "Are you leaving already?" They had only just "reunited" (although they were brothers from another world), and there were still many things they hadn't learned about each other.
"There's no other way." Yan Sheng's voice remained calm. "Time is of the essence, we only have one minute left. If you have any questions, ask them now."
Hashirama Senju, still oblivious to the situation, tried to ease the tension by chuckling sheepishly, "No rush, we'll talk about it next time."
Yen Sheng: "There will be no next time."
Hashirama Senju's smile froze, his face filled with bewilderment. What did he mean by "no next time"? Had Yan Sheng and Madara fallen out? Was he leaving the Uchiha clan?
Madara took a deep breath, suppressing the many questions in his mind, and decisively said, "I have no problem. Izuna, what about you?" Dwelling on parting now was pointless; seizing this last moment to obtain crucial information was the most important thing.
Izuna had countless questions to ask: about the other world, about the future, about the Uchiha's path... but with less than a minute left, he had to make a choice. Finally, he asked the question he most wanted to know at that moment, the question that most concerned the core of his brother's dream:
"Is peace achieved in your world?" he added. "My brother's dream was peace. Not on a large scale, of course, but at least he wanted a peaceful land."
Yan Sheng's reply was meaningful: "Soon."
When there is only one absolute voice left in the world, and everyone has to obey this single will, the conflicts will naturally cease.
This is his understanding of the path to "peace" that is being promoted in his world.
Izuna sighed sadly, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
“Really…that’s wonderful.” He said softly, his tone complex and difficult to decipher. “I hope my brother…can also achieve this goal in this world.”
Ban, listening from the side, was completely bewildered, having no idea what cryptic language his younger brother and Yan Sheng were using: "What does it mean?"
Yan Sheng was about to explain when he suddenly felt a powerful repulsive force descend upon him. The surrounding scenery was as if it had been splashed with thick ink, instantly plunging into pure darkness.
It seems he won't have a chance to say anything more.
Under the watchful eyes of Madara, Izuna, and Hashirama Senju, Yan Sheng's figure vanished into the sudden darkness, like a pen mark erased by an eraser, leaving no trace.
Hashirama Senju's eyes widened in disbelief as he exclaimed, "Eh?! Space-time manipulation?! That's amazing?!"
Izuna quickly composed himself, knowing that now was not the time to dwell on Yan Sheng's departure.
He immediately turned to Ban and asked urgently, "Brother, are your eyes better? If they are, let's hurry back to our territory!" He had too much information to discuss with his brother alone, and he also had to prepare for the coming storm.
Madara checked his vision; although it wasn't completely clear yet, he could see things roughly and it was no longer a blur. He nodded and then invited Hashirama beside him, "Hashirama, come back to the Uchiha clan compound with me. I have a lot to tell you."
Hashirama was initially delighted, as he was eager to have an in-depth conversation with Madara. However, he immediately realized that the conversation was taking place in the Uchiha clan. Was he serious? He broke out in a cold sweat, scratching his head awkwardly, and said, "Although I really want to agree... are you sure your clansmen won't rush up and chop me up if they see me?"
A domineering confidence appeared on Ban's face as he said in a deep voice, "What I'm about to say... at that time, all of them will be present."
***
Uchiha clan territory, council hall.
The atmosphere was as heavy as the sea before a storm.
All the Uchiha clan members gathered here stared intently at Hashirama Senju, who stood in the center of the hall, their gazes like poisoned kunai.
Those eyes were filled with the resentment of a blood feud, vigilance, and undisguised killing intent. Even with Hashirama Senju's extraordinary strength, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, feeling like a lamb that had fallen into a wolf's den.
The elders' gazes were mostly fixed on Uchiha Madara, who was standing at the very front, filled with dissatisfaction and doubt.
They were about to rebuke Madara for bringing the clan leader, their sworn enemy, into the heart of the clan's territory—a move they saw as inviting a wolf into the house and a desecration of the Uchiha's honor.
However, Ban did not give them a chance to speak.
He stood before the crowd, his imposing presence as a powerful figure and the demeanor of a clan leader were unmistakable.
He surveyed the entire area, his voice not loud, yet it resonated like thunder in the ears of every Uchiha clansman, crystal clear, carrying an undeniable determination:
"I want to form an alliance with Hashirama."
"What?!"
"Chieftain, have you gone mad?!"
"That's impossible!"
"We absolutely will not agree to this!"
After a brief silence, a fierce protest erupted like a volcanic eruption, accompanied by incredulous gasps. The elders trembled with rage, while the younger members of the clan were so enraged that they nearly drew their swords on the spot.
Hashirama Senju was stunned by this sudden and long-awaited news, and for a moment he forgot where he was, a silly smile appearing on his face.
Ban had anticipated the tribe's fierce reaction. His face remained expressionless, and his tone was cold and firm: "This is not a matter for discussion."
His voice drowned out all the noise and opposition, clearly resounding throughout the entire hall:
"This is a notification."
Unable to persuade him, and for the first time having the same thought as Tobirama Senju—that he was at his wit's end—Izuna stood numbly to the side.
Oh well, as long as my brother's happy. He can't stop him anyway.
***
The endless darkness receded, and the distortion of space gradually subsided.
First, blurry outlines of objects appeared before my eyes, like looking at the world through frosted glass, then light poured in, and my vision became completely clear.
Yan Sheng stood still, adjusting his posture slightly, and then scanned his surroundings. The room was elegantly and luxuriously furnished, with the distinctive style of the Fire Country's nobility, and a faint scent of sandalwood filled the air.
This is... his residence in the Daimyo's Mansion in the Land of Fire.
He returned to his own world.
Without a moment's delay, Yan Sheng immediately went to the huge floor-length mirror in the room. He gazed at his deep eyes in the mirror, and with a slight thought, activated the ability of his right kaleidoscope: Underworld Vision.
The scene in his field of vision remained unchanged, but in his perception, two strings of numbers appeared above his head in the mirror.
He ignored the string of deep, black numbers that seemed to devour all light.
His gaze was fixed on another string of golden numbers. The numbers seemed to be cast from flowing gold, radiating a warm and sacred light: 12345678910... The numbers continued to extend, their length astonishing.
Yan Sheng held his breath, trying hard to recall the string of black numbers he had seen above Yoriichi's head a long time ago. The length... seemed to be almost the same as the string of golden numbers before him.
I should have saved enough.
A thought struck him like a boulder falling to the ground, resounding in his heart. The accumulated merit had finally reached a level sufficient to offset the "cause and effect" he owed to Yoriichi.
So, what will he do next? How will he repay this immense merit, transcending the boundary between life and death, and deliver it to Yoriichi, who is in hell?
Yan Sheng silently called out in his heart to the planetary consciousness that, in the darkness, maintains the operation of the world.
Silence.
After a long while, there was still no response. Just as Yan Sheng frowned slightly, preparing to give up for the time being and seek another method—
A cold, vast, and utterly emotionless stream of information, like a gentle trickle, slowly seeped into the depths of his consciousness:
"At night... when you're sleeping... you're thinking... you're going to hell..."
The information came in fits and starts, as if the transmission itself was quite laborious. This showed just how weak the planetary consciousness of his world was.
It's evening.
Yan Sheng turned his head and looked out the window. He remembered that when he transmigrated and left this world, it was early morning, just as dawn was breaking. This meant that he would have to wait for a whole day.
However, Yan Sheng was not impatient. He had already completed the long journey, so a few more hours wouldn't make a difference.
He calmly walked to the window, looking down at the city gradually awakening and starting to bustle, his heart at peace as he waited for night to fall.
Meanwhile, in some unknown, dark corner of the world.
Black Zetsu was lurking anxiously.
It waited and waited, but found that the plague it had carefully planned and spread had not worsened or spread as it had expected, causing panic and turmoil. Instead, under Yan Sheng's control, the epidemic began to improve and was gradually brought under control.
hateful!
Black Zetsu gritted his teeth, filled with resentment.
Its attempt to cause trouble failed again. It felt incredibly frustrated and angry.
Damn it, Uchiha Kokushibo!
It cursed viciously.
How can someone be both a great fighter and so intelligent? Doesn't he have any weaknesses?
Black Zetsu pondered ominously what new loopholes to find and what kind of trouble to create in order to continue stirring up conflict in the ninja world and create an opportunity for his mother Kaguya's resurrection.
However, before it could come up with a new wicked plan, trouble came knocking first.
......
This is the third time!
Black Zetsu sensed once again the massive and familiar chakra aura of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, which had reappeared near its hiding place.
Moreover, this time they were closer than the previous two, and the search intent was clearer.
As the saying goes, things don't happen more than three times. Moreover, the hiding places it chose were all extremely secluded and rarely visited. There was absolutely no reason for Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju to frequently appear in these places.
etc--
A chilling thought uncontrollably crept into Black Zetsu's mind:
Could it be... someone looking for me?!
Could it be... that Uchiha Kokusatsu not only found out it was responsible for the plague, but also...
Black Zetsu suddenly remembered something it had overlooked, something that happened ten years ago.
Ten years ago, he and Yan Sheng faced off for the third time. In order to escape, he abandoned his split body.
The split entity was sealed away on the spot by Uchiha Kokusatsu and then handed over to Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama.
Black Zetsu: "..."
Could I really be that unlucky?
...
...
Spicy!
Black Zetsu instantly understood everything. The reason why Madara and Hashirama were able to approach its hiding place so precisely time and time again must be that the split entity had a weak but indelible connection with the main body. With this connection, the two of them could narrow down the area step by step, like using a compass, and eventually find its true hiding place.
Rewind to the night Yan Sheng returned to his own world.
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly through the silent Daimyo mansion.
Yan Sheng dismissed his attendants and lay alone on the large bed. He did not ponder politics or cultivate chakra as usual, but closed his eyes early.
He cleared his mind of all distractions and calmed his thoughts. He silently repeated in his heart that single goal, that name and destination buried deep within him:
Yoriichi...Hell...
Go see Yoriichi... go to hell...
Consciousness wavers between sinking and drifting, and the sense of the passage of time becomes blurred.
He didn't know how much time had passed; it felt like a moment, yet also like eternity. A sudden, overwhelming sense of falling, like a roller coaster crashing to its peak, swept over his entire soul.
"!"
Yan Sheng suddenly woke up, or rather, his consciousness suddenly focused and became clear at a certain critical point.
He suddenly opened his eyes.
The scene that came into view stirred strong ripples in his usually calm mind, and even made him doubt himself for a moment—was he dreaming?
He was standing in a... extremely bizarre and absurd "courtyard".
Beneath my feet lies soft, dark red soil, and as far as the eye can see, it is filled with... goldfish.
They are not kept in water tanks, but rather "grow" in the soil like plants, one by one or in clusters.
Their plump bodies are rootstocks, their colorful tails stretch and sway like leaves, their huge heads and dull eyes are exposed to the air, and their mouths are still opening and closing.
A faint, strange smell filled the air, a mixture of fishy and earthy odors.
Goldfish...grass?
Just then, as if sensing the intrusion of a stranger, the large patch of snapdragons closest to Yan Sheng suddenly stirred. They abruptly raised their heads, their dull fish eyes focusing intently on Yan Sheng, and then—
"Aaaaaaahh ...
A sharp, piercing scream, seemingly capable of piercing eardrums and reaching the depths of the soul, rang out.
Yan Sheng felt a chill run down his spine. Driven by his fighting instincts, he instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, his fingers clenching so tightly that the veins on his thumb and forefinger bulged. A chilling killing intent spread through him, and his eyes sharp as knives. He was ready to strike and eradicate the strange, noisy "plant."
Just as Yan Sheng's murderous aura was about to erupt and his blade was about to be drawn...
A deep, mellow, and magnetic male voice, seemingly capable of soothing the soul yet imbued with undeniable authority, rang out unexpectedly from very close behind him:
"Who are you."
when......? !
Yan Sheng was shocked. With his perception abilities, he hadn't noticed anyone approaching at all. He was only surprised to realize that the other person had come so close and started speaking.
Without the slightest hesitation, Yan Sheng immediately suppressed his killing intent towards the goldfish grass, his body taut like a bowstring, turning sharply and adjusting all his muscles to their optimal offensive and defensive state. His sharp gaze shot towards the source of the sound like lightning:
Standing behind him was a tall man.
He wore a uniquely styled black haori, the material of which appeared heavy yet subtly shimmered with a muted sheen. The hem reached his ankles, swaying gently in the faint air currents of hell. Beneath the haori were equally dark garments, outlining his strong and upright physique.
The man's face was handsome yet carried an inhuman coldness. His skin was an almost transparent pale white, forming a stark contrast with his jet-black clothing. He had short, jet-black hair, and most striking were his obsidian-like eyes, deep and cold, which were now calmly and intently watching Yan Sheng with scrutiny and inquiry.
On the top of his forehead grew a small, sharp demon horn.
He simply stood there, exuding a chilling and powerful aura that blended seamlessly with the eerie courtyard, as if he were the master of this place.
Yan Sheng instantly realized that the person in front of him was no ordinary being.
His grip on the knife didn't loosen, but the surging murderous aura around him slowly subsided, though the wariness in his eyes remained undiminished. Meeting the other's scrutinizing gaze, he responded with the same calm, yet arrogant tone:
"It is basic etiquette to state your own name before asking someone else's name."
Upon hearing this, the tall man's pale, cold face remained expressionless. He chuckled, and his deep, magnetic voice rang out unhurriedly:
"It is basic etiquette not to trespass into someone else's yard without the owner's permission."
Yan Sheng: "..."
He looked around at the eerie place filled with screaming goldfish and asked, "Is this your home?"
“It’s obvious,” the man said calmly, then his obsidian-like eyes narrowed slightly, revealing an even sharper scrutinizing light. “You are a living soul, still carrying a strong aura of the mortal world. How did you come to Hell?”
Before Yan Sheng could explain, the man had already lost interest and casually waved his hand: "Go back. This is not a place for the living."
The moment his words fell, Yan Sheng felt an invisible, intangible yet immensely powerful force suddenly act upon him. It was as if an invisible hand had grasped his soul, trying to "pull" him off this land. His body became light, and he involuntarily began to float towards the dim, indistinct sky.
Yan Sheng immediately realized what the other person was doing and hurriedly said, "Please wait a moment! I have something important to discuss—"
However, the tall man showed no interest whatsoever, not even bothering to lift his eyelids, and the upward thrust did not weaken in the slightest.
Seeing his consciousness fading and his connection to this hellish place about to be severed, Yan Sheng, in desperation, disregarded everything else and threw out the only bargaining chip he could think of that might pique the other party's interest:
"I wonder if you're interested in accumulating merit!"
These words were like a pause button being pressed.
The immense force that had been pushing Yan Sheng away vanished instantly.
Yan Sheng's fleeting consciousness stabilized and returned to the ground. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had made the right bet.
A noticeable change in expression appeared on the tall man's previously indifferent face.
He raised an eyebrow with interest, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and carefully examined Yan Sheng again, as if he were seeing him for the first time.
"Oh?" His deep voice trailed off a meaningful syllable, and a faint, yet chilling, curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Merit...?" He repeated the word, his gaze sweeping over Yan Sheng like a scanner. "I didn't realize before that you carried such a vast golden light of merit. Interesting."
He crossed his arms, leaned forward slightly, and asked with the look of someone scrutinizing valuable goods, "Tell me, what important business do you, a living person, have come to Hell with so much 'hard currency'?"
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Author's Note: Time doesn't flow in the original world after I transmigrated. I wonder if you all remember that? Let's review—
Before I traveled through time, the plague was already under control, and everyone was learning chakra. Madara and Hashirama then set off to find Black Zetsu. [cat emoji]
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