Chapter 343: Inescapable Death
Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki still wanted to press further, to get clearer information about Uchiha Dali.
Those images he had seen—Uchiha Dali using Ultra Instinct against Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki in his third stage, clashing back and forth evenly—were carved deeply into his mind.
The scenes would not fade, and he felt that if left unchecked, Uchiha Dali would surely become his formidable rival in the future.
Just then, a figure suddenly flashed forward to block his path. Fixing his gaze on Àoshiki, he spoke in a low, firm voice:
"What business do you have with our Fourth Hokage? Until we know your true purpose, we will never reveal any more information to you!"
Hearing this, Àoshiki turned his eyes toward the man.
"And what is your name?" he asked.
"Namikaze Minato! I am the Hokage's aide!"
"Hm, Hokage's aide. In other words, if that man isn't here, then you are second-in-command, isn't that right?"
Àoshiki nodded slightly.
Minato did not confirm or deny it, but his expression remained grim, his eyes wary and unyielding.
"You are not qualified to fight me. Your best option is to answer my questions honestly."
"Resistance means certain death."
His words were light, as if he were stating something trivial.
But while he spoke casually, the weight of it was not lost. The leaders of the small nations immediately became restless, unable to sit still.
They had just barely established a unified nation, their peaceful lives had only just begun—and now, they were told they might die? They could not accept this.
Yet, with the Land of Fire as the leader of the newly-formed Five Elements Nation, and with its high command not having agreed, the smaller countries' leaders dared not speak rashly.
All of them hesitated, faces conflicted, at a loss for what to do.
At that moment, a large and imposing figure stood up.
"What we should be asking is your purpose! Just tell us honestly and clearly!"
"When the Fourth Hokage returns, we will naturally pass your situation on to him!"
"Right now we know nothing about you. If you think we'll hand over more information about the Hokage, that's absolutely impossible!"
The one who spoke was none other than the hot-tempered Fourth Raikage.
He was supposed to have died in battle against Pain's Six Paths, but Uchiha Dali had saved him.
Because of that, he now not only admired Dali deeply, but also respected and defended him instinctively.
Hearing his words, Àoshiki only nodded calmly.
"Your courage is commendable."
No sooner had he finished speaking than, suddenly, the Raikage's body ignited in front of everyone's eyes.
But it wasn't ordinary fire. It was a pale-blue flame.
It erupted from within his body, consuming him instantly. In only a moment, the powerful Raikage was reduced to ashes, leaving behind only a heap of blackened bone fragments.
Everyone was stunned, dumbstruck.
Who among them had ever seen such terrifying power?
Even Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Shisui, and Namikaze Minato—top-tier fighters—were left in absolute shock.
The Fourth Raikage might not have been the strongest in the ninja world, but he was far beyond ordinary men, solidly at a level above Kage-class.
Even if Minato went all out, defeating him in a short time would not have been easy.
And yet, before their very eyes, this mysterious Ōtsutsuki had struck—if he had even struck at all—and the Raikage was instantly annihilated, reduced to nothing but ash.
Such fearsome power chilled them to the bone.
No one dared voice another word of defiance.
Seeing this overwhelming might, Shisui intended to step forward and use his most powerful genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami.
But Fugaku stopped him with a firm hand and shook his head.
"You are not his match, Shisui."
"The best thing we can do now is not provoke him further. Otherwise, the entire ninja world may face utter destruction…"
"But, Lord Fugaku—?"
"This matter will have to be left to the Fourth Hokage. But where he is now, I do not know."
Fugaku lowered his voice, speaking with Obito.
They did not realize that their words had been perfectly overheard by the enemy.
Àoshiki's gaze turned toward them.
"You seem to be a clever one. Not bad. But if you show me disrespect again, this place will be leveled, and this planet will turn to dust, erased from existence."
"So if you still wish to live, you'd best do exactly as I say."
"The energy of this world no longer holds any value to me. I have little interest in destroying it. As long as you obey, you will come to no harm."
Àoshiki had clearly offered them a chance to live.
Fugaku and Minato exchanged glances, and both nodded slightly.
The knife was in his hand; they were the meat on the chopping block. They had no choice but to comply.
"Ask what you will," Fugaku said.
"Tell me everything about Uchiha Dali," Àoshiki demanded.
"Never mind, no need to trouble yourselves. I'll do it myself."
Changing his mind, he swept his eyes over the group, locking onto Fugaku, then strode toward him.
Though his movements were visible, no one could track his speed—one instant he was there, the next he was standing right before Fugaku.
Àoshiki pressed one hand against Fugaku's forehead.
In the blink of an eye, he had obtained all the information he sought. Then he released him.
"So that's how it is."
"It seems he truly isn't here. However, hm…"
"The power of the Ōtsutsuki should not be sullied by lowly creatures like you."
Muttering to himself, Àoshiki turned and walked toward the exit of the council chamber.
But at the very instant he turned, the entire chamber—floor, walls, ceiling—suddenly froze solid.
The icy aura spread in an instant, freezing not only the room but everyone within it.
And then, the freezing breath surged outward from Konoha, swiftly spreading across the entire world.
Àoshiki stepped into the air, his figure dwindling into a small black dot high above the planet.
As he was about to leave the atmosphere, the ninja world below was already frozen for ten thousand miles in every direction—transformed into an icy, lifeless planet, radiating waves of chilling frost into the deep, endless void of space.