Chapter 282

"No, it can't be, right?"

They couldn't believe it, but in their hearts, they couldn't help but somewhat agree with this statement.

After all, Shukaku's massive body couldn't just disappear.

Unless...

Shukaku had turned back into the Jinchuriki's appearance?

Thinking of this, they couldn't help but scan Tia Harribel's vicinity back and forth, looking for Bunpuku's figure.

None, none, still none!

On that battlefield, except for Tia Harribel standing in the sky, there wasn't another figure.

Only that pile of yellow sand remained, bearing the traces of Shukaku.

Could it be...

Despair rose in their hearts.

Even if they didn't want to believe it, the facts were before them, and they couldn't help but believe it.

Shukaku was likely really...

Even the Tailed Beast that made people tremble with fear was...

They fixed their gaze on Tia Harribel, and then looked at the other Espada of the same rank as her.

One of them had already beaten Shukaku into non-existence.

Wouldn't the others all be able to match a Tailed Beast?

In the distance, Two-Balance Onoki's face was livid.

The moment Shukaku's figure was lost, his heart had subconsciously defaulted to Shukaku's death.

... Requesting flowers...

Although he had already imagined the existence of the Espada to be powerful enough, and even used Tailed Beasts to match them.

But Shukaku's defeat so quickly still caught him somewhat off guard.

In his view, even if Shukaku couldn't take down Tia Harribel, it would definitely be able to stalemate for a period of time.

As long as it could successfully hold off one Espada, it wouldn't be a loss.

Although they lost Shukaku's power here, the Hollow side also lost a top-tier combat force.

A one-for-one exchange was never a loss for them.

But he never expected that Shukaku would appear so useless against the backdrop of Tia Harribel.

Not even firing the Tailed Beast's signature Tailed Beast Ball.

What should they do now?

The Ninja Alliance's Tailed Beasts were already incomplete, and now they had lost a Shukaku.

The dead Four-Tails, the Two-Tails captured by the Hollows, the Three-Tails and Six-Tails located in the former Land of Water within the Land of Whirlpools' sphere of influence.

And the Eight-Tails, which had just been severely damaged.

Calculating it this way, they had already lost 4 and a half Tailed Beasts' worth of power.

And the opposite side had all the Espada; how were they supposed to fight this?

Were they supposed to let the Nine-Tails fight ten by itself?

Hmm...

It seems that might not be impossible?

It is said that the Nine-Tails could take on the other eight Tailed Beasts by itself; perhaps it really had the power to save the situation!

Of course, they couldn't pin all their hopes on the Nine-Tails.

The Third Kazekage's expression changed slightly.

Shukaku's rapid defeat clearly caught him off guard as well.

Wasn't Shukaku still looking very confident just now? How did it suddenly lose in the blink of an eye?

This change happened too fast, didn't it?!

Fortunately, the Third Kazekage didn't see Bunpuku's corpse, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

If the Tailed Beast died, then Bunpuku, as the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, couldn't have escaped unscathed either.

But since Bunpuku's corpse hadn't appeared, it proved that Shukaku might still be alive.

Of course, there was another possibility.

That was that Shukaku and Bunpuku were directly extinguished by the golden light from Tia Harribel, not even leaving a corpse behind!

But at least it left a glimmer of hope.

The Third Kazekage prayed silently in his heart, hoping Shukaku was alright.

In his heart, he didn't think Shukaku had died so simply.

"Kazekage!"

Suddenly, Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice pulled him back.

A fatal sense of threat flooded his brain, and his heart pounded faster and faster!

His body subconsciously leaned to the side, but it was still a second too late!

Hiss!

The Third Kazekage only felt a sudden pain in his shoulder; a green light spear forcibly tore off his left arm and slammed into a small mountain behind him with undiminished momentum!

Boom!!

The green light spear slammed into the mountain, producing a violent explosion, with such power that the entire ground trembled!

The Third Kazekage let out an "ah", covering his severed arm where blood was flowing freely!

His face became ferocious, and he gritted his teeth, forcibly holding back from letting out a scream.

His eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and the tearing pain from his severed arm crazily stimulated his brain!

The Third Kazekage stared fiercely at Ulquiorra, the hatred in his eyes seemingly about to overflow.

At this moment, Ulquiorra's appearance was completely different from when they first met.

He wore a white long robe, a helmet with two horns on his head, and his black fingernails had turned into long claws.

Additionally, his hair seemed to have grown longer, and his tear marks showed signs of deepening and thickening.

What was even more impressive was the pair of wings on his back that were enough to block out the sky!

And the black raindrops that were constantly falling from the sky at this moment!

Although this was the first time the Third Kazekage and Sarutobi Hiruzen had seen this appearance, they had some understanding of it through the intelligence sent by the Land of Lightning.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was grave, "Is this the state that defeated the Eight-Tails..."

He couldn't help but look at the mountain that had already been razed to the ground, his mood becoming even heavier.

Could a casual strike cause such power...

The Espada were indeed existences that didn't follow reason...

Seeing the state of that mountain, the Third Kazekage felt deeper hatred for Ulquiorra, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a sense of luck.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't reminded him just now, giving him time to react.

I'm afraid it wouldn't have been just his arm accompanying that mountain.

Thinking of this, the Third Kazekage shuddered.

He didn't dare to be careless in the battle with Ulquiorra ever again!

Ulquiorra said expressionlessly: "Are you afraid?"

The Third Kazekage and Sarutobi Hiruzen's hearts instantly chilled!