Chapter 259 Malice

What kind of creature was this?

The monstrous insect within the womb was far from ordinary. Its size had been grotesquely enlarged, now slightly larger than a human. Its body was writhing and malformed, with limbs twisted into several pairs of jagged, razor-sharp arms. Its mouth, swollen and misshapen, was lined with jagged teeth, blood still dripping from them in a grotesque display. The creature exuded an overwhelming aura of malevolence, its very existence radiating pure evil.

The sight of it encased within the protective membrane of the womb, was enough to make all three Hokages recoil in disgust.

Naruto grimaced, his voice thick with revulsion. "What the hell is that thing?" He clenched his fists, fury building in his chest. "No wonder people hate it so much. We need to destroy it—quickly!"

Sasuke, his eyes narrowing in disgust, added with quiet determination, "The worst part is that it's attacking humans. A creature like that doesn't deserve to live."

Kakashi's expression remained stoic, but his tone was sharp as he assessed the situation. "Hmph, I knew it."

He glanced between Naruto and Sasuke, already calculating their options. "We don't all need to take the shot. One of us will be enough to deal with it."

The three Hokages exchanged brief, silent nods before coming to a decision. A quick round of finger-guessing determined who would take the lead.

In the end, it was Kakashi who stepped forward.

As Kakashi made his move, the cursed spirit immediately sensed his presence. It had been on a rampage, attacking humans indiscriminately, but now it froze. Its closed eyes turned toward the new threat, instinctively recognizing something far more dangerous looming before it.

Kakashi's aura was unmistakable—powerful and lethal. The creature's primitive instincts kicked in, and without hesitation, it acted in malice. Its brain, ruled by a singular impulse, urged it to attack.

With a snarl, the monster tore its own protective embryo, bared its teeth, and charged toward Kakashi.

Kakashi remained unfazed, his body moving with practiced ease. In a flash, his arm transformed into blue flames, crackling with raw energy. Arcs of thunder and lightning crackled through the air, screaming like a chorus of birdsong.

It was the Phoenix Fruit, perfectly fused with his new Raikiri—an ability Kakashi had recently acquired. The combination was devastating. The lightning, wild and untamed, would have burned him alive, but the Phoenix's regenerative power kept the damage to a minimum. Meanwhile, the violent fire surged with brutal force, ready to tear apart anything in its path.

Kakashi moved at lightning speed, the cursed spirit unable to react in time. In an instant, the creature was pierced, frozen through by the electrical surge.

The lightning spread like wildfire across its body, scorching it black from head to toe.

With a final violent jolt, the cursed spirit quivered, its form disintegrating into a pile of ash. It was gone—obliterated in an instant.

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged impressed glances, their voices full of admiration.

"As expected of Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said, his tone full of awe.

"Yeah, that's incredible," Sasuke added, eyes wide. "You developed such a powerful jutsu in such a short time? That's seriously impressive!"

Both spoke with genuine respect. Despite their strength and experience, they couldn't help but be amazed by Kakashi's raw power. Not only was it devastating, but it was also a perfect balance of offense and defense, designed to protect him as much as destroy his enemies.

However, a sense of caution lingered. The creature had been no match for them. It had been like using an anti-aircraft gun to swat a mosquito.

With the monster dealt with, Kakashi's eyes narrowed, sensing the area around them. "There shouldn't be anything else nearby," he said, his voice steady. "Let's move on and find the next one."

Naruto, eager for the next challenge, grinned. "Right, let's go!"

Naruto and the others quickly set off, moving swiftly to address any threats they encountered along the way.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, and Tobirama formed their trio, employing the same search method as Naruto and his group. It wasn't long before they arrived at a building, a strange, pungent odor filling the air.

"Judging by this purple-black aura," Uchiha Madara observed, his eyes narrowing, "this should be the 'domain' they mentioned."

Hashirama nodded in agreement. "Yes, it seems likely. The composition is different, but the effect is the same."

Madara continued, "When we used the space-time ninjutsu or seals, space was bound by Chakra. But from the feel of it, they're using different forces to create this. The methods differ, but the principles are essentially the same."

After hearing their assessment, the three agreed to approach the building. They had no intention of letting this monster remain unchecked, though they weren't sure how strong it might be. Still, based on their instincts, they felt confident it wouldn't be too much trouble.

The purple-black space, though massive, seemed impenetrable. The trio could sense the difficulty in crossing between the inside and outside—it felt almost impossible.

Moving swiftly, the three of them reached the space in no time. Tobirama, always the fastest, was the first to arrive, standing just outside the barrier. Once the others caught up, he spoke.

"It's no use," he said, frustration in his voice. "I tried several methods, but I couldn't breach it. Once this space is closed off, there's no way to see inside."

After hearing Tobirama's words, the other two fell silent for a moment, each lost in thought.

"Looks like we'll have to wait," Hashirama finally said, breaking the silence. "It doesn't matter who's inside. If the battle with the monster goes poorly, then it's just bad luck for him. But if he succeeds... then he might save his own life."

His tone was thoughtful, though there was an underlying tension. They had only just arrived, and the details about the enemy remained unclear. What if the monster contained within was extraordinarily powerful?

None of them could afford to rush in without a plan. If they underestimated their opponent, it would surely backfire. So, they decided to remain patient and approach the situation with caution.

The three of them waited in silence, watching as the purple-black barrier slowly began to dissipate, melting away like ice under the warmth of the sun. Eventually, it vanished entirely.

Seeing this, the three exchanged looks, and Hashirama spoke first, a relieved smile creeping onto his face. "This works out perfectly. It doesn't matter who or what the other party is now. We can go in and handle it."

With that, the trio stepped forward, entering the building together. The ominous purple-black barrier had faded, but as they crossed the threshold, they realized it hadn't been anything particularly alarming. The structure was ordinary—marble floors, concrete walls, and several pillars in the center. It seemed almost mundane.

However, their vigilance was far from gone. As one, the three activated their special eyes—whether the Sharingan, Rinnegan, or a combination of both. Each of them was on high alert, determined to stay cautious. The threat ahead was still unknown, and they would not let their guard down.

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