On the battlefield!
Hinata Cang Yue sensed that something was wrong.
Naruto, who had been increasingly corrupted by the Nine-Tails' Chakra, had grown a ninth tail—but the corruption had abruptly and strangely stopped.
Hmm, that was one hell of a cheat!
The Nine-Tails was the strongest of all the tailed beasts. It wasn't as though no one could withstand its Chakra's corruption.
Tang Ping, herself, Red Eyes... all of them could endure it.
The question was, why could he?
Only now did Hinata Cang Yue understand what a "protagonist" was. Only someone capable of all sorts of unbelievable things could be called a protagonist!
"Dong Dong Wave!"
She extended her right index finger, seizing the chance while he remained motionless.
Whoosh!
A transparent spiral of Chakra shot toward his head like an indestructible spear.
He had survived having his heart pierced earlier. Surely he wouldn't survive with his head shattered this time.
"Wood Release: Barrier Wall Technique!"
A deep shout rang out.
An enormous wooden shield shaped like a fanged demon face enclosed Naruto, who was still regaining consciousness.
It was Hashirama Senju!
He had used Wood Release to protect Naruto.
Naturally, the Dong Dong Wave could not pierce through his strongest defensive Wood Release.
"Orochimaru, what is the meaning of this?"
Hinata Cang Yue calmly turned in midair to face Orochimaru, who had arrived.
Naruto was from Konoha. They were trying to capture him, yet he had saved him?
It was utterly ridiculous.
"This... perhaps there was an issue with the talisman, allowing the First Hokage to regain his autonomy?"
Orochimaru sounded puzzled.
Because he truly had not ordered it. He had simply suddenly lost control over Hashirama Senju, allowing him to regain the ability to act on his own.
He could not even undo the Impure World Reincarnation