Underground cavern.
The White Snake Sage was still facing off against Jiraiya and Android 18.
Blood flowed from the countless wounds covering its body.
With the power of the Path of the Present, as long as it remained underground, these injuries should have healed immediately.
But the White Snake Sage was too weak.
Having lost its heart and then suffered Android 18's sneak attack, it had no time to repair itself at all.
Through their connection in the soul channel, it had also heard of the predicament Obito and Kabuto Yakushi were facing. Everyone was too busy looking after themselves; no one could come help it.
"Accept your fate, Number One. This is your end."
Android 18 said, "Let us see this through with dignity."
"Fuck you!"
The White Snake Sage spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm. "Anyone in this world can kill me! But you, Android 18—you don't deserve to!"
"Your body, your memories, everything you possess came from 'me.' You're killing yourself with your own hands, all to grovel before a human."
"Even if I die, I am still the White Snake Sage."
"Even if you live, you're still nothing but a beast."
With that, it suddenly pulled out a huge bundle of Explosive Tags from behind its back.
A deafening explosion rang out.
Jiraiya shielded Android 18 and fled the center of the blast.
The explosion lasted a long time. By the time it ended, the ground had sunk three or four meters.
Jiraiya asked, "Is it dead? It didn't use the explosion to escape, did it?"
"It's dead."
Android 18 stood at the edge of the crater, staring at the ground below, where thin wisps of smoke still rose. Her tone betrayed no emotion. "The White Snake Sage no longer exists."
Jiraiya was a rough,