Pure Land Hell, Training Hall.
Madara Uchiha's face carried a rare trace of excitement.
At last, he could return to the ninja world and dance once more.
The moment the mission board opened, he swept away nearly all of the high-level missions, splitting them with Uchiha Izuna and the others. Only a few scraps were left for the remaining Asura Demon Generals.
Then, without wasting another second, they used the victory points they had earned from defeating Kaguya to return to the ninja world in prosthetic bodies. Their vessels were powerful White Zetsu bodies, and their purpose was to complete missions while also taking a good look at the world they had once ruled from afar.
The other demon generals also fought to seize missions, all eager to return to the ninja world, enjoy themselves, and visit the descendants of their families.
Mission One: In Hozuki Castle, capture Mui, recover the Box of Ultimate Bliss, and seize the monster Satori.
Mission Two: In the Land of Demons, capture the monster Moryo.
Mission Three: Capture Hiruko of Konoha and recover the Chimera Technique.
Mission Four: Investigate the secrets of the Three Great Holy Lands.
Mission Five: Capture rogue ninjas and recover all their energy.
At the same time, missions related to Hell Merit Points had also been released in the world of Ten Thousand Nations.
Mission One: Retrieve the chakra armor technology of Kazahana Dotō from the Land of Snow.
Mission Two: Kill Hyde and seize the Stone of Gelel mine.
Most of these were resource missions related to the development of the ninja world.
They were usually handed over to Kakashi and Might Guy, the Hokage Guards, or to Obito Uchiha's new team.
As for Brook himself, he had already returned to the ninja world with Kaguya and begun their journey to explore the planet's hidden secrets.
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The ninja world, the ancient kingdom of Roran.
A black portal slowly opened, and two figures flew out of it.
"Why not attack the Three Great Holy Lands directly and wipe out those ant-like beasts?"
Princess Kaguya spoke with cold arrogance, though her hand would occasionally drift to her stomach. Two powerful new lives were already growing within her, and a faint maternal glow softened her usually indifferent expression.
"Food should be eaten one bite at a time. Think of this as our honeymoon."
Brook held Kaguya's hand and walked leisurely toward the source of Roran Dragon Vein.
"I didn't expect this place to contain the power of time. This planet really is far from ordinary."
The closer Brook and Kaguya came to the core, the more clearly they sensed a strange power. It was neither chakra nor natural energy.
"The power system of this planet is extremely complicated. The monsters that the Asura Palace demon generals were sent to capture, such as Satori and Moryo, don't seem to be native creatures either."
Brook stepped into the core of the Dragon Vein.
He did not allow the Dragon Vein to throw him through time. Instead, he began devouring its temporal power directly. He possessed the spacetime authority of the Southern Underworld God, and this power could strengthen that ability further.
"Your devouring ability is just as evil as the Otsutsuki clan's, perhaps even more terrifying. It can actually fuse abilities without limit."
Princess Kaguya watched Brook freely devour the Dragon Vein's power. She felt a trace of dread, but even more than that, envy.
She hoped their offspring would also inherit this terrifying ability to devour and fuse.
"This is the power of the Four Gods, the fusion of four true divine powers. It is stronger than the power of your Otsutsuki God."
Brook was very satisfied as he absorbed the power of time.
"Follow me from now on, and you will also walk this path of evolution."
"You said Lord Otsutsuki Shibai evolved to the highest level and left this world. Is that true?"
Princess Kaguya knew little about the high-ranking members of the Otsutsuki clan. Her status in the clan had been relatively low.
"It should be true."
Brook's expression turned somewhat grim.
"How much of the Otsutsuki God's legacy and the Northern Yomi God's inheritance did that bastard devour? He actually became powerful enough to break through the limit, ascend his soul, and leave the Northern Yomi Star Region behind, abandoning only a shell."
Brook did not know whether the remaining scraps would be enough to help him advance into a true Underworld God-level existence.
"That's good news. The Otsutsuki higher-ups should be much weaker now, or perhaps they are fighting among themselves for power."
Princess Kaguya knew very well that the deadline for handing over the Divine Tree Fruit had passed long ago. She and Isshiki had also cut off the delivery of chakra to the clan.
The fact that no one had investigated for so long proved that something had indeed gone wrong inside the Otsutsuki clan.
Before Kaguya ate the Divine Tree Fruit, she had only been an ordinary Otsutsuki with Byakugan and no other special abilities. Isshiki, on the other hand, had already evolved his eyes and gained Sukunahikona and Daikokuten.
Even now, Brook still wondered how Kaguya had managed to launch a successful sneak attack back then. Just how arrogant and careless had Isshiki been to leave himself completely unguarded against Kaguya, his intended sacrifice?
"Actually, Yomotsu Hirasaka connects directly to Northern Yomi Hell. Do you want to go there and take a look?"
Brook turned and asked.
He suspected that Kaguya did not understand the principle behind Yomotsu Hirasaka at all. She only knew how to use it. She probably had no idea what Northern Yomi Hell truly was.
"What is there to see in that dark place? Every time I enter it, I feel uneasy. I don't want to stay there."
Princess Kaguya liked using Yomotsu Hirasaka, but she disliked remaining inside that space.
"Are you afraid of the dark? Or does your Otsutsuki clan fear the primordial power of the Underworld Gods?"
Brook wondered whether the Otsutsuki clan had been cursed by the Northern Underworld God after He perished together with the Otsutsuki God.
"I don't know. It just makes me uncomfortable."
Kaguya had no desire to continue that topic.
"Enough. Once you finish devouring this place, let's go to the Three Great Holy Lands."
"That toad has many secrets and benefits. Don't kill it too quickly before we squeeze everything out of it."
Brook comforted her.
Kaguya now carried his offspring, and she was definitely eager to kill the Great Toad Sage for revenge.
However, Brook had promised not to harm them. The Great Toad Sage had even specifically reminded Brook to keep a close eye on Kaguya.
Clearly, it had foreseen something.
But would Brook truly care about a casual promise made for convenience?
Back then, it had only been a delaying tactic to obtain benefits first. He had never forgotten the grudge from that ambush.
"Hmph. Then we'll torture it properly."
Princess Kaguya's voice was cold.
"In any case, the Toad Sage must die."
"Let's go to Ryūchi Cave first. That old White Snake Sage fears death more than anything. Maybe it can become our pet."
Brook laughed.
Kaguya only had a grudge against the Great Toad Sage, not the White Snake Sage. In that case, Brook would first subdue those snake demons who had trained into spirits.
The snakes of Ryūchi Cave preferred transforming into human forms. Their sage arts seemed more advanced and unique than those of Mount Myōboku.
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Three Great Holy Lands, Ryūchi Cave.
The White Snake Sage had been uneasy all day.
No, not just today. Ever since the battle with Brook, its heart had never known peace again.
After Brook broke the seal and released Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, that unease had turned into panic.
First, it feared that Brook would plant the Ten-Tails Divine Tree again. Second, it feared that Brook and Kaguya would come seeking revenge against the Three Great Holy Lands.
Still, the one who should truly be trembling right now was that dead toad.
The White Snake Sage was grateful that it had not offended Brook too thoroughly. If Brook really invaded the Three Great Holy Lands, it might still have a chance to surrender.
As for the Great Toad Sage?
That old toad was dead for sure.
In its true form, the White Snake Sage was a great serpent covered in white scales. It coiled lazily upon its throne, a pipe hanging from its mouth.
It could only hope that Brook would not attack the Three Great Holy Lands.
It could only hope that Brook would never find Ryūchi Cave.
For that reason, it had completely severed Ryūchi Cave's summoning contracts. The great snakes were no longer allowed to establish contact with the ninjas of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Nations.
Although that meant the snakes would lose their human snacks, it was the only way to ensure their safety.
The White Snake Sage slowly breathed in and exhaled smoke, wondering if it could outlive Brook.
But once it remembered that Brook might be a true god, and that Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was an alien being with an extremely long lifespan, despair settled heavily over its heart.
Perhaps it would spend the rest of its life living under the shadow of Brook and Kaguya.
It had just exhaled a puff of smoke and let out a sigh when a black portal suddenly opened inside Ryūchi Cave.
The terrifying aura spilling out of it made every scale on the White Snake Sage stand on end.
The three high-ranking figures of Ryūchi Cave, Tashin-hime, Ichikishima-hime, and Takitsu-hime, also fled in panic to the White Snake Sage's side, waiting anxiously for the arrival of the man beyond the portal.
"Disgusting natural energy. And it reeks of ugly snakes."
Princess Kaguya had only just stepped into Ryūchi Cave with Brook, yet she was already complaining about the environment.
Ryūchi Cave was dark and damp, perfect for giant snakes to live in, but hardly pleasing to Kaguya.
"Welcome to Ryūchi Cave, Lord Brook, Lady Kaguya."
The White Snake Sage immediately transformed from a white-scaled serpent into an old woman and bowed respectfully to the two ruthless beings.
Inside, however, it was utterly panicked.
How had they found Ryūchi Cave?
These space-time ninjutsu were far too unreasonable. Was there anywhere in this world that could stop them?
"With your thousand years of wisdom, you should already know why I'm here."
Brook looked around calmly.
"Of course, you can try resisting. You can even call the Toad Sage and the Slug Sage for help."
Although Ryūchi Cave was dark, damp, and unsuitable for humans, its rich natural energy was extremely tempting.
If the White Snake Sage dared to resist, Brook would kill them all, harvest their souls, and leave the Ten-Tails Groot here to drain the natural energy dry.
The Ten-Tails Groot could absorb energy without transforming into a Divine Tree because its nature was already similar to that of a tree.
Other tailed beasts had their own attributes as well. Shukaku had sand and wind, Son Gokū had lava, and so on.
"This old woman would not dare. From today onward, Ryūchi Cave will serve Lord Brook as its master!"
The White Snake Sage surrendered without hesitation.
Right now, clinging to Brook's side was the only choice. As long as the Divine Tree was not planted and the planet was not destroyed, it was willing to accept anything.
"Pragmatic ones usually live longer. Don't resist."
Brook chuckled.
He had known this old snake would have such a personality.
He directly branded the White Snake Sage's soul and body, ensuring it could never escape his grasp again.
"Yes, Lord Brook!"
The White Snake Sage trembled as it lowered its head.
It had accepted its fate.
It had never expected Brook to come for it first instead of killing that dead toad.
Brook casually marked Tashin-hime, Ichikishima-hime, and Takitsu-hime as well, ensuring that none of the three snake women could escape.
"Be obedient from now on, and I'll keep you safe. Now hand over all the sage techniques of Ryūchi Cave. I need to study them."
Brook gave the order.
He intended to study the sage arts of the Three Great Holy Lands and see how they differed from the primal sage arts.
"Yes, sir!"
The White Snake Sage presented the Ryūchi Cave Sage Scroll to Brook. It also handed over other ancient treasured texts on sage arts.
Ryūchi Cave's sage techniques had been slowly developed from these ancient writings.
In fact, the sage arts of the Three Great Holy Lands had all been created step by step, based on their beast bodies and those ancient primal sage techniques.
"Next stop."
After obtaining Ryūchi Cave's Sage Scroll, Brook took Kaguya and stepped through a black portal, leaving Ryūchi Cave behind.
"Phew."
Only after Brook and Kaguya disappeared did the White Snake Sage, Tashin-hime, Ichikishima-hime, and Takitsu-hime collapse in relief.
They felt despair, yet also the relief of surviving disaster.
From now on, however, they were Brook's slaves and servants.
"Sigh. I don't know whether this is good or bad."
The White Snake Sage let out a deep sigh.
"In this entire world, no one can resist Brook's power anymore."
"Sage, why don't the three of us go serve Lord Brook? I heard he likes women. We can transform into more beautiful forms."
Tashin-hime, Ichikishima-hime, and Takitsu-hime spoke carefully.
They were willing to risk everything to protect Ryūchi Cave.
"I don't know whether Lord Brook would even be interested in snakes like us. We'll discuss it later."
The White Snake Sage was somewhat tempted, but it still did not dare act rashly.
If they displeased Brook, or drew Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's hostility, the consequences would be unbearable.
However, the next time Brook came, they could try changing their appearances, dressing themselves beautifully, and seeing whether Brook showed any interest.
Then they could decide what to do.
After leaving Ryūchi Cave, Brook and Kaguya appeared directly in Shikkotsu Forest.
"It ran."
"It seems the Toad Sage called the Slug Sage away and left the traitorous White Snake Sage behind."
Brook and Princess Kaguya did not sense the Slug Sage's presence. It had already escaped.
That made sense.
The entire Shikkotsu Forest was the Slug Sage's body and its countless divisions. It was everything in this place. If it fled, then everything fled with it.
"That dead toad can predict the future."
"No hurry. Let them run around for a while. Since they're gone, we'll take this entire Shikkotsu Forest."
Brook directly summoned the Ten-Tails Groot from his alternate dimension, intending to release it into Shikkotsu Forest and let it absorb the natural energy there.
.....
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