Chapter 369: There's Another Way... You Must Die!
The Dragon Vein doesn't belong to anyone. The Roran Clan's token can control the Dragon Vein to some extent, but so can the Sage of Six Paths.
In comparison, the authority of both is equivalent.
Thus, the scene of the massive Dragon Vein floating in midair occurred. It would sometimes charge toward Hagoromo Gengetsu and then suddenly turn back.
Taking advantage of the token and the Sage of Six Paths struggling for control, a sharp glint flashed in Hagoromo Gengetsu's eyes as he extended his right hand forward.
In the next moment, a black portal opened behind the heavily injured Uchiha Madara, and a slender hand darted toward the back of Madara's head like lightning.
Madara wasn't slow to react. He quickly lunged forward, putting some distance between himself and the threat.
However, at this moment, Hagoromo Gengetsu had already emerged from the black portal.
Just as Madara was about to take further action, his vision blurred, and Hagoromo Gengetsu instantly appeared before him.
Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!
Hagoromo Gengetsu suddenly swung his fist, mercilessly striking Madara with a force that shook the heavens.
Boom!
A tangible shockwave violently expanded from the point of impact between the two.
Crack!
The sound of bones breaking echoed.
Blood splattered across the sky.
Unable to withstand the blow, Uchiha Madara was sent flying.
Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't give him a chance to breathe. He stepped forward and unleashed another punch at Madara's side.
Strike while the iron is hot—he was determined to end it.
For the next while, despite Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's attempts to interfere, Hagoromo Gengetsu kept his focus on Madara, aiming to eliminate him while continuously disrupting the Sage of Six Paths.
The latter was now residing within Madara's body.
The more pressure Hagoromo Gengetsu applied to Madara, the more distracted the Sage of Six Paths became in his struggle for control over the Dragon Vein.
Soon enough.
Seeing Madara coughing up blood and growing weaker, while the Dragon Vein, affected by this, began to shift its focus toward Ōtsutsuki Kaguya with a long cry, the two Sages of Six Paths within Madara's body began to converse again.
"Madara is useless now; we should return to Naruto's body," the Sage of Six Paths from the original world quickly suggested.
"What about the Dragon Vein?" the Sage of this world coldly retorted.
This was a case of trying to steal a chicken and losing the bait.
The Dragon Vein was becoming increasingly uncontrollable.
It wouldn't be long before it entirely fell into Hagoromo Gengetsu's hands.
"Let's leave for now. The Dragon Vein is slow; it won't catch up with us anytime soon."
The Sage of Six Paths from the original world couldn't think of any useful strategies and decided to retreat first.
"So, you're suggesting we run away?" the Sage of Six Paths from this world was very dissatisfied. "This is my world! I will never hand over this planet to someone else!"
If they couldn't deal with Hagoromo Gengetsu this time, the hope for the future would only grow dimmer.
Unlike the Sage from another world who had no emotional ties to this land, the Sage of this world had no intention of fleeing.
"Do you have any other ideas?"
Uchiha Madara was on the verge of collapse. The Sage from the original world, not wanting to end up trapped again like with Obito, anxiously asked.
"I do!"
The Sage from this world indeed had another solution.
"What is it?"
The Sage from the original world was surprised, not expecting his counterpart to have another method.
Then, he heard an icy voice.
"You die!"
As the words fell, the Sage of this world suddenly launched his chakra at his counterpart, quickly beginning to devour him.
"You!!!"
The Sage from the original world was startled and fought back with all his might, but to little avail.
The two were originally of the same source, fused within Uchiha Madara's body in chakra form. Now that one side had made a move, the other had no time to escape. Furthermore, the Sage from this world had complete chakra.
When the original world's Sage of Six Paths had assumed victory after the Dragon Vein's eruption, he had faithfully returned half of his chakra to his mother.
In the struggle between the two, it was inevitable that the Sage of Six Paths known to Hagoromo Gengetsu would gradually be overwhelmed.
"Why?!!"
With most of his chakra already consumed by his counterpart, the Sage from the original world questioned bitterly.
The Sage of this world continued his actions while replying:
"Since you were the one who activated the Dragon Vein, bringing Mother and Hagoromo Gengetsu across time and space to this world, there's no need to control the Dragon Vein further. As long as I kill you, the initiator, Mother, Hagoromo Gengetsu, and the other travelers from different times will automatically return to their original world."
Killing the one who first activated the Dragon Vein could send those who traveled through time and space back to their original worlds.
The Sage of this world hadn't used this method initially because there was still hope to resolve the problems posed by his mother and Hagoromo Gengetsu.
Being a Sage of Six Paths himself, he understood what his counterpart was thinking and was willing to help him out.
But only as long as it was within his power and didn't endanger his world.
The situation now, however, was that Hagoromo Gengetsu was invincible.
Given this, the Sage of this world had no choice but to send Hagoromo Gengetsu and the others back, like banishing a plague god.
As for what would happen to the original world, it was no longer his concern.
"No! You can't do this!"
The Sage of Six Paths from the original world shouted.
He had gone through great lengths to bring Hagoromo Gengetsu and his mother to this other world, all to relieve the pressure on his original world.
If they were sent back now, all his efforts would be in vain!
"You've forced my hand!"
The original world's Sage of Six Paths said with a ruthless tone.
At the same time.
Hagoromo Gengetsu also noticed the abnormality within Uchiha Madara's body.
Due to the sudden upheaval in the Sage's chakra, Madara's aura had significantly weakened.
Seizing the opportunity, Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't hesitate and immediately took action.
Puchi!
This time, Madara, unable to dodge, stopped in place, a complicated expression on his face as he looked down at the hand that had pierced through his heart and emerged from his back.
His gaze dimmed as he lifted his head to face the close proximity of Hagoromo Gengetsu.
"Hashirama... Dying at your hands, Hagoromo Gengetsu, isn't so bad."
Madara slowly lowered his head.
Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't stop there. A massive suction force erupted from his palm, and as before, he began stripping away the Sage of Six Paths' chakra.
The Sage of this world, with his complete chakra and having consumed some of his counterpart's chakra, was able to resist for a while.
However, at that moment.
The weakened Sage from the original world had a sudden realization.
"This is the moment!"
Roar!!
In the distance, the Dragon Vein erupted with a furious, violent roar.
Taking advantage of the momentary lapse in Hagoromo Gengetsu's control over the Dragon Vein during his battle with the Sage from this world, the Sage from the original world immediately issued a series of commands.
He couldn't strip away the control of the other two, but he could input a series of self-destructive commands, such as making the Dragon Vein explode, split apart, or weaken itself.
As mentioned before, the Dragon Vein never truly belonged to anyone.
Compared to other chakra, the Dragon Vein's chakra was more independent and self-governing.
As long as it wasn't detrimental to itself, it didn't mind following the controller's commands, but it would never accept self-destructive orders.
Such commands would only lead to one outcome.
The Dragon Vein went berserk!