The battle between the two sides grew increasingly fierce, with powerful ki blasts erupting one after another.
Vegeta continuously unleashed volleys of energy attacks towards Hashirama Senju, who countered by combining ninjutsu, sage arts, and haki, meeting each move with a suitable defense. For a time, they were locked in a stalemate!
The surrounding terrain had long been transformed into a pockmarked wasteland, a scene of utter devastation.
"There's no point in us continuing to fight. Have you made your decision?" Vegeta said.
"So, what exactly are you proposing?" Hashirama asked.
A sinister smile curled at the corner of Vegeta's mouth. "You just need to help me find all the Dragon Balls, let me summon Shenron and make my wish. Then I can prevent Frieza and his army from coming to this planet! It's a transaction, beneficial for both of us. What do you think?"
"That suggestion sounds good!" Hashirama nodded in agreement.
Vegeta's heart leapt with joy, thinking Hashirama had accepted his terms. He hurriedly said, "Then take me to find the Dragon Balls quickly, before it's too late!"
Yes, if Frieza discovered his whereabouts, his entire plan would be ruined!
"Setting aside that the Dragon Balls aren't mine to give and that the people of Namek would need to decide such an important matter..." Hashirama shook his head, then raised his hand and pointed towards the sky, continuing, "...it seems it's already too late for that now."
Vegeta swiftly turned to look, his pupils rapidly contracting.
At that moment, a spaceship had pierced through Namek's atmosphere and was rapidly descending towards their location.
"Frieza's ship? Damn it, how did he get here so fast?!"
Vegeta's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't overly surprised that Frieza had come to Namek, but the speed of his arrival was alarming!
Why had he discovered his trail so quickly and arrived at Namek now?
What filled Vegeta with panic, naturally, was Frieza's arrival.
He hadn't gathered all the Dragon Balls yet to wish for immortality. If Frieza discovered his betrayal, death would be his only fate!
"Escape. I must escape first and hide. I cannot let Frieza find me!" At this moment, fear welled up in Vegeta's heart—fear born of Frieza.
"BOOM!"
Just as Vegeta was thrown into panic, a massive explosion sounded in the distance, shaking the ground for miles around.
Simultaneously, Vegeta's expression changed drastically as a voice came through the communicator in his ear: "Prince Vegeta, please avenge me!"
This... Nappa was dead?
Vegeta was utterly stunned. That explosion just now was Nappa's final act—self-destruction!
They had only separated a short while ago, and now Nappa had already been killed.
There truly were other powerful beings on this planet!
Vegeta's face shifted through a range of emotions. The situation was now very bad. He hadn't expected there to be other powerful fighters in this world; otherwise, Nappa couldn't have been killed so quickly.
Of course, what concerned Vegeta more was that Frieza had arrived on Namek with his forces so swiftly. This place was no longer safe for him!
A thought flashed through Vegeta's mind. An intense aura suddenly erupted from his body as his ki surged out wildly, enveloping him completely.
The next instant—
"Whoosh!"
Vegeta's figure vanished, reappearing instantly before Hashirama Senju as he launched a ferocious ki blast straight at him.
Seeing this, Hashirama's expression shifted slightly. He swiftly entered Six Paths Sage Mode and met the attack with a powerful punch of his own.
"KABOOM!"
A violent shockwave erupted. Hashirama stood firm, unmoved, while Vegeta was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into and collapsing a small hill not far away!
However, something surprising happened.
After being sent crashing to the ground, Vegeta quickly got up. Instead of charging at Hashirama again, he turned and shot off in the opposite direction at top speed!
Vegeta was fleeing!
Learning of Frieza's imminent arrival had placed immense pressure on him. He decided to retreat temporarily, find a place to hide, and avoid a direct confrontation with Frieza at all costs!
Watching the once supremely confident Vegeta, who had just been fighting him desperately, now fleeing in panic, a look of astonishment crossed Hashirama's face.
The shift was far too abrupt!
Hashirama didn't pursue Vegeta. Instead, he turned his gaze towards the direction where the spaceship had crashed, falling into deep thought.
Whoever was on that ship must be incredibly powerful to frighten Vegeta into such a panic.
Soon, Hashirama found Madara Uchiha, who was holding a corpse—none other than Vegeta's subordinate, the fellow Saiyan, Nappa!
"Well, Hashirama, you didn't finish yours off?" Madara Uchiha asked.
"He got away!" Hashirama replied with a smile, not dwelling on it. He continued, "We should head back now. From what that guy said, it seems some more troublesome characters have arrived."
A short while later, Hashirama and Madara returned to the village where the Grand Elder and the others resided.
On the way back, Madara had already sent the corpse via "red envelope" to Sabaody Archipelago. He knew Orochimaru, following Lin Xuan's instructions, was researching Saiyan genetics.
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T/N:
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