Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 183 Playing the Strings, Time Domain

The distant horizon began to lighten, and the torrential rain that had lasted all night gradually subsided.

A damp, cold wind swept across the scorched earth littered with corpses, unable to dispel the thick, pungent stench of blood and burnt flesh, as Konoha ninjas and Kumogakure ninjas fought each other.

hum!
A profound aura seemed to descend from the sky onto the battlefield. The earth did not tremble, but the air suddenly became solid, heavy, and suffocating.

All the ninjas, whether from Konoha or Kumogakure, instinctively raised their heads.

The next moment, they saw darkness spreading from the distant horizon at a speed visible to the naked eye.

What didn't look like dark clouds were more like shadows, quickly obscuring and covering the faint light of dawn in the east, as if plunging us back into darkness.

But this scene came quickly and went quickly.

Just a few breaths later, as if a stage curtain had been drawn back, the darkness gradually faded, and the light of dawn shone down on the earth once more, as if the scene just now was merely an illusion.

However, before everyone on the battlefield could recover from their shock, a roar that sounded inhuman suddenly rang out from a corner of the battlefield, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a tall, dark figure wearing a pale, bone-like mask and exuding a chilling aura appeared in the center of the battle between Konoha and Kumogakure.

The towering 'Hollow' roared with its head raised before slowly lowering it, its crimson eyes scanning the horrified Konoha ninja below.

However, this was just the beginning; Nurui's mutation was not an isolated case.

At the same time that this lower-level 'Hollow' was born, some corpses in various parts of the battlefield also began to undergo strange changes.

Those ninjas who died with intense resentment, anger, and hatred in their lives also began to be distorted and changed after the rules of the 'Virtual World' covered the entire ninja world!
puff!puff!puff!

Corpses were torn apart as if emerging from cocoons, and dozens of ordinary 'Hollows' of various shapes but all covered with pale masks and exuding a cold aura crawled out from the corpses!
Both the Konoha ninjas and the Kumogakure ninjas on the battlefield were shocked by this sudden change, and they were stunned by the scene that was beyond their comprehension.

"So, what is that?"

"Nuruyi? What... what has he become?"

"Those who died, all of them came back to life?"

Under that chilling aura, the surrounding ninjas subconsciously took a few steps back, staring in horror at the ominous monsters crawling out of the corpses!

However, the 'Void' pays no heed to their fears.

Beneath their masks, their eyes gleamed with the same crimson light—a greed for the souls of the living and a destructive desire for life.

"Roar!"

Nuruyi, transformed into a 'Hollow,' let out another roar, suddenly opening the massive black maw beneath its mask, and a dark red energy radiating terrifying energy began to condense.

False flash!

boom! !

A thick, dark red beam of light, as thick as a laser cannon, burst forth from the mouth of the 'Great Hollow', sweeping out with a piercing shriek that tore through the air!

The Hollow's head slowly turned, and a dark red beam of light swept across its massive body like the scythe of death!
laugh!laugh!
Wherever the red beam passed, whether it was a Konoha ninja or a Kumogakure ninja, whether they were trying to defend themselves or fleeing in panic, they were all instantly vaporized and annihilated!

There wasn't even time for a shrill scream; all that remained was a trail of smoky trail on the ground!
call……

The crimson beam from the 'Great Hollow's' mouth slowly faded, and a huge, charred circular area appeared on the battlefield around it!

Everything within the area covered by the beam of light—people, weapons, corpses, rocks—was completely wiped out, leaving only a death trail of a fist emitting blue smoke!
"That's Nurui? That deserter?!"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Monster! Monster!"

Seeing this terrifying scene, the faces of the Cloud Village ninjas were filled with disbelief!

With just one strike, he wiped out dozens of ninjas in the vicinity!
Fear spread rapidly across the battlefield like a plague.

However, the fear emanating from their bodies made those 'voids' like sharks smelling blood, their eyes beneath the masks revealing even more greedy desires.

The ordinary 'Hollows' let out sharp screechs and pounced on the terrified ninjas around them!
The massacre has begun!

"what!!"

"No! Don't come over!"

"What the hell is this?!"

Screams rang out once again on the battlefield, but this time, it was no longer a battle between ninjas, but a one-sided massacre and devouring!
Ignoring the factions of Konoha and Kumogakure, 'Hollow' tore apart the bodies of ninjas with its sharp claws, and even pounced on them, opening its mask to devour their souls!
The ninja whose soul was being drained opened his mouth wide and stared wide-eyed. His blurry, visible spirit was sucked out in front of others until all light disappeared from his eyes and he became completely silent.

Now that the rules of the 'Virtual Realm' have spread throughout the entire ninja world, changes have occurred that even Hyuga Kumokawa did not anticipate.

These 'hollows' have changed under the rules of the ninja world. Now they can not only feed on souls, but also absorb the spiritual energy that ninjas dissipate due to intense emotional fluctuations.

Just like the 'Mouryou' in the Land of Demons, the 'Go' in the Box of Paradise, and even the 'Zero-Tails' in the Land of Sky, they all feed on the spiritual energy of ninjas or even ordinary people.

There is a generally accepted name for this strange existence in the ninja world.

——Monster!
"Monster! Die!"

A Cloud Village ninja roared in terror as he swung his sword at the 'Great Hollow's' black body, but stumbled as if he had disappeared into a shadow, feeling only a bone-chilling cold.

The next moment, his chest was pierced by the 'Great Hollow', and his soul was extracted from his body.

A Konoha ninja in the distance attempted to attack with Fire Release, but the flames he exhaled passed straight through the 'Hollow' after touching it, as if they had no substance.

The 'Hollow' creature's crimson eyes locked onto the Konoha ninja, and its mouth began to gather that destructive dark red light once again!
At this critical moment, a shadow loomed over them, and the shadow grew larger and larger.

"Eat Jiraiya-sama's technique to crush street vendors!"

As a loud and comical voice rang in, a toad the size of a mountain descended from the sky.

Boom! !
The enormous body, carrying immense force, slammed precisely into the 'Hollow' that was gathering a Cero, and a deafening roar echoed throughout the battlefield!
The earth trembled violently under this blow, and the enormous impact sent everything around it flying!
The dark red light emanating from the 'Great Hollow' instantly dissipated, crushed beneath the sudden, overwhelming pressure.

After the rising smoke and dust dissipated, everyone on the battlefield looked up and saw a giant red toad with a pipe in its mouth and a short knife at its waist appear.

Upon seeing the figure standing atop the toad's head, the spirits of the Konoha ninja instantly lifted.

"It's Jiraiya-sama!"

"Lord Jiraiya has made his move!"

"Jiraiya... cough! cough cough!"

Before they could rejoice, Gamabunta's enormous single eye swept across the chaotic and bloody battlefield below, and he couldn't help but gasp when he saw those strangely shaped 'Hollows'.

The pipe he held in his mouth sparked when he took a puff, and the white smoke he exhaled made the Konoha ninja cough.

"Hey! Jiraiya!" Gamabunta's voice carried a hint of displeasure and seriousness. "You bastard, what kind of place is this? Why are there so many disgusting things here?"

"I'm sorry, Bunta, the situation is urgent."

Jiraiya stood firmly atop Gamabunta's head, his usual playful expression gone. He frowned as he looked at the Hollows on the battlefield and said in a deep voice, "These monsters are strange!"

"Nonsense, I know something's wrong too!"

Gamabunta felt the power and chill beneath him, and lowered his massive body even further to press down, saying in a muffled voice, "This aura is even more unsettling than that of a tailed beast!"

Just as Gamabunta finished speaking, the chill beneath him suddenly intensified.

hum! !

An even more violent and concentrated wave suddenly erupted from beneath Gamabunta.

"Jiraiya, you bastard! What did you make me suppress? A Jinchuriki?!"

Gamabunta's single pupil suddenly contracted, and he couldn't help but curse, but he immediately reacted.

Its massive body displayed astonishing agility, and the muscles in its hind legs instantly tensed up like compressed springs!
boom! !

Just as Wen Tai leaped upwards, an even thicker red beam of light shot into the sky from the spot where it had been pressing down!

The dark red beam of light grazed Bunta's leaping abdomen, tearing a huge hole in the dark clouds above!

"so close!"

Wen Tai crashed to the ground a short distance away, creating a large crater. Looking down at his abdomen, a look of lingering fear crossed his face. "That damn thing, despite its small size, had such a powerful attack! It almost ripped me open!"

The terrifying heat of the beam of light only grazed past for a moment, yet it felt a burning pain on its skin and heard a sizzling sound, leaving a burn that went straight upwards on its belly.

"Bunta, do you know what that is?"

Jiraiya stood atop Bunta's head, his expression extremely grave.

He had seen it clearly just now: the immense pressure that Wen Tai exerted, enough to crush mountains, only temporarily restrained the monster and did not cause any fatal damage.

Judging from the attacks of others, the ninjutsu damage was also minimally effective...

On the contrary, the monster's attacks, once launched, were incredibly fast and quite powerful.

How could these bizarre things suddenly appear in large numbers on the battlefield and launch indiscriminate attacks?
"It looks a bit like some kind of monster?" Gamabunta said in a deep voice, "but I've never heard of such a monster before."

Although it had lived far less than Gamamaru, it was still quite knowledgeable, having even seen the 'Enlightenment' in the Box of Bliss.

However, this was the first time it had ever seen a monster that looked like this.

“However, I think there’s something more worthy of your attention than that monster,” Gamabunta said meaningfully.

Jiraiya's eyes flickered slightly, but his brows remained furrowed as he said in a deep voice, "Never mind, let's try to see if the ninjutsu is feasible!"

After saying that, he quickly raised his hands to form a hand seal, his chest and mouth bulging out.

But the next moment, Jiraiya suddenly raised his head, and Gamabunta's eyes rolled upwards at the same time. The two of them looked up at the seemingly empty cumulus cloud in the sky!

Bunta and Jiraiya had been working together for a long time, so there was no need for further explanation. In an instant, the muscles in his hind legs bulged and he pushed off the ground with a powerful thrust, displaying an astonishing explosive force from his massive body.

boom! !

Gamabunta's body shot into the sky like a cannonball, the immense force creating a deep crater in the ground, while Jiraiya above him raised his head and spat out flames!

Fire Release·Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

Bunta also exhaled air, and the flames danced even more fiercely like a raging dragon, blowing towards the being hidden behind the clouds!

This attack came suddenly and from a tricky angle. From the very beginning, the target was not the 'Great Hollow' beneath their feet, but the watcher hidden in the sky!
Swish!Swish!Swish!
Just as the blazing flames were about to crash into the clouds, a chilling aura surged forth!

Five incredibly strong threads, almost invisible to the naked eye, swept out from the clouds like sharp harp strings.

The speed was so fast that it exceeded the limits of vision, instantly cutting through the cumulus cloud, as if a scalpel were cutting into a flame!
laugh!
With a soft sound like a blade slicing through thin paper, the flames, hot enough to melt steel, split into six in mid-air in an instant!
The cut surface of the flame was extremely smooth, creating a bizarre and shocking scene.

"what?!"

Jiraiya's expression changed instantly, and the cut-open clouds slowly dispersed, revealing a slender figure within.

The 'Puppet Master' floated silently in the air with its wings spread, its long purple hair fluttering in the airflow, and the corner of its mouth seemed to curl into a cold arc.

Its slender right hand gracefully rises and spreads its five fingers, with five silk threads extending from the fingertips like the strings of a musical instrument.

"So weak, only fit to be food."

It didn't look at Jiraiya, but instead looked at the 'Hollow' below, uttering words of disgust.

The order given to it by that person was to search for newly born 'Menmos' in the ninja world, and if they had the potential to become intermediate 'Menmos', to bring them back to Las Noches.

However, the following 'Great Void' only barely reaches the lower level, acting entirely on instinct and lacking any independent consciousness, which means it is impossible for it to become an intermediate level.

The first time she carried out that person's order, she only managed to find a piece of trash here, which made the 'Puppet Master' feel annoyed.

So it turned its gaze to Jiraiya and the giant toad.

"What an ugly creature."

Its tone was icy cold, and its ten fingers twitched slightly.

Five sharp threads sliced ​​through the flames without slowing down, tearing through the air with a subtle yet chilling shriek, heading straight for Jiraiya and Gamabunta, who were in mid-air!

"Damn it!"

Sensing the terrifying sharpness contained within those threads, Gamabunta's expression instantly changed, displaying a reaction speed disproportionate to his massive body...

Clang! !

Wen Tai drew the short sword that gleamed coldly from his waist, its broad blade forming a shield in front of him, blocking the five deadly slicing threads that were about to strike.

However, at the moment the silk thread collided with the short sword, fine cracks appeared on the blade of Gamabunta's sword, which was enormous for a human!
Click! !
The stalemate lasted less than half a second before a crisp snapping sound rang out!
Bunta's huge, sturdy short sword snapped in two under the cutting of the silk thread!

The broken blade tip spun and flew high into the air, but the cutting of the silk thread did not stop!

They were only hindered for a negligible moment, and the five cold threads of light continued their momentum, instantly slicing past Wen Tai's hand that was tightly gripping the broken sword!
puff! !
Five terrifying, deep, smooth cuts, revealing the bone, appeared instantly on Bunta's palm, gushing out hot blood mixed with flesh and fascia!

"Well!!"

The excruciating pain caused Wen Tai to groan and his body to tremble violently as he watched the silk threads continue to cut towards his chest.

"Jiraiya!"

Moonta let out a deafening, almost terrified roar!

It knew that its massive body was like a lamb to the slaughter in front of these strange threads. If it hesitated for even a moment longer, it and Jiraiya would be cut into pieces!

"untie!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiraiya instantly formed hand seals, his voice resolute!
boom!
A huge plume of white smoke exploded, and Gamabunta vanished without a trace, leaving only five slicing threads that futilely cut through the empty air.

Jiraiya's figure lost its footing the moment the summoning jutsu was dispelled and plummeted downwards!
"Humph."

The 'Puppet Master' snorted coldly and gently flicked her slender fingers.

Swish!Swish!Swish!
The five threads that had just missed their target suddenly twisted in mid-air, like venomous snakes with life, drawing five deadly arcs.

With a piercing shriek, it hurtled towards the free-falling Jiraiya, aiming to strangle him!

However, even in this desperate situation, Jiraiya's eyes showed no fear, but rather a resolute glint.

His falling body twisted violently, and he reached his right hand behind him with lightning speed!

Clang!
With a heavy, ancient sound of metal scraping against metal, he forcefully pulled a uniquely shaped broadsword from the meticulously crafted scabbard on his back!
The sword was incredibly thick and heavy, with a grayish-white color throughout, and its blade was not even sharpened.

This sword is named 'Sloth'!
Just as the five deadly threads were about to touch Jiraiya's body, he gripped the hilt of "Sloth" tightly with both hands and shoved the heavy blade toward the rapidly approaching ground below!

Boom! !

The heavy sword tip touched the muddy, scorched ground. There was no earth-shattering explosion, no dust-filled impact, only a muffled thud like a boulder falling into a deep pool.

Laziness in the Realm of Time!

In an instant, a heavy and viscous force field, like invisible ripples, spread out from the sword's center!
At this moment, in Jiraiya's eyes, the dust, raindrops, and even the howling wind in the air... all seemed to be slowed down by an invisible hand.

Their speed of falling, drifting, and flowing slowed down abruptly to a degree visible to the naked eye.

The five threads that came slicing towards this area with a piercing shriek also slowed down abruptly the moment they touched this area.

They seemed to be stuck in an invisible, sticky swamp, the cutting tracks clearly visible in the air, yet their speed of progress became like a snail's crawl!
What was originally a deadly, sharp screech turned into a faint buzzing sound, like the flapping of a mosquito's wings, when it reached Jiraiya's ears!

Time, in this small space, was forcibly stretched out!
Only Jiraiya is able to move freely within this realm of time!

"Manipulating time, what a powerful force."

Jiraiya had expressed this sentiment more than once.

During this time, he actually used this sword to kill people, and like Kakashi, he also learned that he needed to devour souls to become stronger.

Every time I use the power of this sword, I can't help but marvel at just how powerful the person who forged it must have been.

However, now is not the time to lament.

Jiraiya estimated the chakra he was consuming, easily dodged the five cutting threads, and then pulled "Sloth" from the ground and slashed fiercely!

call! !

(End of this chapter)