The Golden Purifying Storm and the Stripping of Natural Energy

Kushina's warm, soft body rested in his arms, the faint fragrance of her hair lingering at his nose. In the meridians that had just been filled to the brim, the Nine-Tails' Primordial Chakra surged like molten gold, scorching and fierce.

Every cell in Baishi's body cried out with greedy satisfaction.

Yet his gaze passed over Kushina's soft red hair and pierced dozens of kilometers of space, coldly watching the Forest of Death in the floating Water Mirror.

In the mirror, the Skeleton Monster hung pinned in midair by dark-gold chains. The mass of black-red bloodlight in its chest had swollen to its limit.

Destructive energy had been compressed to the extreme, like a heart ready to explode at any moment. Every beat sent visible ripples through the surrounding space.

One last desperate struggle...

The corner of Baishi's mouth curved into an almost cruel smile.

Fine. Let's see how much value this shoddy toy of yours can show before it's drained dry.

He patted Kushina's back reassuringly, telling her not to worry. Then indifference took complete hold of his eyes, which had once again deepened into unfathomable abysses.

The invisible Yin Release Thread connected to Hyuga Hiashi drew taut once more.

The Forest of Death.

An icy wind whipped snowflakes against every face.

But at that moment, neither the Hyuga clan members kneeling on the ground nor Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi high in the treetops felt the slightest chill.

The "flesh-and-blood bomb" about to explode before their eyes seemed ready to ignite their blood and boil it away!

"Lord Orochimaru! We have to go!" Kabuto Yakushi's voice broke. He seized Orochimaru's shoulder and tried to drag him away from the coming devastation. "If we don't leave now, it'll be too late! An explosion on this scale—we..."

"Shut up!"

Orochimaru threw off