Chapter 238: Bankai: Hakka no Togame! Was the Four-Tails Frozen to Death?

"Tailed Beast Ball!"

Seated before the projection, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsuchikage Ohnoki, and the Third Kazekage nearly exclaimed in unison!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flickered repeatedly, making no effort to hide the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"The Land of Whirlpools is finished now! A single Tailed Beast Ball will destroy at least one-third of the nation!"

Tsuchikage Ohnoki voiced some concern: "Using a Tailed Beast Ball so soon?"

Would the Land of Whirlpools not hold a grudge against their Land of Earth for this?

Although the Fourth Tailed Beast Jinchuriki was dispatched to carry out a mission in the Land of Lightning, he ultimately belonged to the Land of Earth.

It was inevitable that the Land of Whirlpools would mark this down against them.

Nevertheless, they should wait and see whether the Land of Whirlpools could withstand this single Tailed Beast Ball first.

If they survived, it would be fine; at worst, they could shift the blame onto the Land of Lightning.

If they could not withstand it, then the Land of Whirlpools could simply be extinguished.

The Third Kazekage's expression remained calm: "It seems the Land of Whirlpools is about to be destroyed once again."

He had anticipated this result the moment he saw the Land of Earth dispatch the Fourth Tailed Beast Jinchuriki.

How could a nation without a Tailed Beast possibly oppose one?!

Of course, the Land of Whirlpools still had a sliver of hope.

That hope lay in Sealing Techniques specifically designed for Tailed Beasts.

But after the previous destruction of their nation, members of the Uzumaki Clan had either died or fled, and even their Sealing Techniques had been seized.

Did there truly still exist someone capable of suppressing a Tailed Beast using a Sealing Technique?

Furthermore, no one from the Uzumaki Clan had appeared in the Land of Whirlpools for a very long time...

He recalled Elder Chiyo's proposal from last time: to ally with the Land of Whirlpools and jointly partition the Land of Fire?

It seemed that opportunity was now lost.

Just as they held a pessimistic view of the Land of Whirlpools' fate,

within the projection, the Four-Tails swallowed the Tailed Beast Ball, compressed to its utmost limit, in one gulp!

Then, opening its mouth, a massive bowl-shaped energy cannon erupted instantly!!

Boom!!!

Kuchiki Rukia watched helplessly as the energy cannon was about to engulf her, yet her face suddenly became utterly expressionless.

Her long black hair danced wildly in the air currents generated by the energy cannon!

"Has she given up?"

Seeing Kuchiki Rukia's expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen believed she must have surrendered.

After all, that was a Tailed Beast Ball capable of destroying an entire Ninja Village!!

Even he, the strongest Hokage, possessed no means to counter a Tailed Beast Ball.

Let alone a mere Captain from the Land of Whirlpools.

Although the Captains of the Land of Whirlpools were powerful, they still fell far short when facing a Tailed Beast.

I'm afraid only Ninja like Uchiha Madara and the First Hokage could likely handle a Tailed Beast.

Facing the Tailed Beast Ball directly, there was not a trace of panic in Kuchiki Rukia's eyes.

Illuminated by the glow of the Tailed Beast Ball, she now resembled an ant looking up at a giant.

Yet, no one saw any fear in her gaze.

Why?

Could it be that she felt no fear at all?

"Bankai: Hakka no Togame."

What?

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked puzzled; Kuchiki Rukia seemed to have said something, but he had not heard it clearly.

But very soon, his attention was drawn to the sudden change occurring within the projection.