16 Chapter Sixteen: Miracle

As soon as the Sage's Stone touched the ground, it exploded, releasing the power of the Six Paths, dispersing everything it touched into nothingness!

The terrifying energy fluctuations spread far and wide, even catching the attention of the Four Kages who were halfway there!

Shihé clapped his hands to the ground, causing countless Earth Formation Walls to rise. However, under the exploding energy waves, these walls gradually disappeared, leaving Shihé scratching his beard helplessly. "We can only try to minimize the impact. Using such a terrifying Ninjutsu in the Land of Iron, it seems we need to leave quickly."

Turning his head to the bewildered Wu, Shihé said, "Wu, after returning to the village, take the envoy team to the Village Hidden in the Rapids. As neighboring countries, it's necessary to establish good relations."

"Understood." It was only now that Wu realized the terrifying energy fluctuations were likely caused by the Rapids Shadow. He knew about Hashirama and Tobirama and understood they wouldn't use such Ninjutsu. This power, which could annihilate everything, was even stronger than his Dust Release.

In another direction, Retsudou and Shaman exchanged a glance, both seeing deep fear in each other's eyes. They knew the Rapids Country the best, and they were the most concerned about the policies proposed by Ruri during the meeting. They deeply understood that implementing those development policies would inevitably be effective. By then, the Rapids Country's strength would rival that of other countries, and with Ruri, the powerful Rapids Shadow, they might even give rise to another behemoth like the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Whitesleeve, who walked with his hands behind his back, felt a slight tremor in his entire being after sensing the energy fluctuations. As the eldest among the Six Kages, Ruri's age probably wasn't even half of his, yet his strength seemed to surpass him completely. Before these energy fluctuations, Whitesleeve had intended to find time to go to the Village Hidden in the Rapids to inquire about the source of the Water Release. Now, he completely dispelled that idea.

Aerys's footsteps quickened even more, so fast that even the guards had trouble keeping up. Deep footprints, half a foot deep, revealed his inner turmoil.

"Gone," Ruri said urgently, panting heavily. The explosion of the Sage's Stone had depleted all his chakra, even exhausting the chakra of the Seven-Tails. He had put all his effort into that attack. Although he could agree to Hashirama's compensation and possibly gain a lot of resources, various S-rank techniques, or even forbidden techniques, as the Rapids Shadow, one of the Six Kages, he couldn't just swallow his pride after someone had attempted to kill him.

"Gone? But..." Angledo looked at the smoke rising from the explosion, the center of which was where Hashirama and Tobirama had been. After such a terrifying explosion, would they still be alive?

"You've fought with Hashirama before. He's not that easy to kill. Even with this level of explosion, it's not certain to injure him." Ruri sighed. He knew he had held back. At the last moment, he had changed the position of the Sage's Stone, avoiding placing Hashirama and Tobirama at the center of the explosion. Even if they had been at the center, Hashirama could have withstood such an attack, but Tobirama might not have.

Even though they were only at the very edge of the explosion, Tobirama had still suffered some injuries. Unlike Hashirama, he didn't have the protection of Wood Release or Sage Mode and didn't possess chakra as potent as a Tailed Beast's. So even though Hashirama had taken most of the energy impact for him, Tobirama's arm had still been grazed by the explosion, and that arm was now gone. For a ninja like Tobirama, losing an arm meant he couldn't form seals anymore.

Tobirama couldn't feel any pain from the severed arm, his gaze empty as he numbly stared at the spot where his arm used to be. For a ninja, losing an arm meant the end of their career.

Hashirama patted Tobirama's shoulder, brushing off the dust. It was impossible for him not to harbor any resentment. Even with his easygoing personality, it was impossible not to resent someone who had severed his own brother's arm. But he couldn't hate. Moreover, he couldn't start a war because of an arm.

"For the hard-won peace, we must consider the bigger picture," Hashirama said, sounding naive or foolish. He had worked so hard for this peace for so many years. He couldn't let it all be destroyed because of an arm.

"Let's go home, Tobirama," Hashirama said, walking in front of Tobirama and squatting down, carrying Tobirama on his back.

"Huh? Big brother, what are you doing? I lost my arm, not my leg!" Tobirama regained some energy, struggling a bit, but it was futile.

"You always wanted me to carry you like this when you were little. Father would always scold you for it!"

Tobirama was stunned for a moment, then stopped struggling. He said softly, "Big brother, let's go back to the Leaf Village. I wonder how Madara will make fun of me this time."

"Let's go! Don't overthink it. Too much thinking makes you stupid. We should enjoy the hard-won peace!"

After the two left, there was movement in the city.

Most of the warriors had never left the Land of Iron in their lives, and their understanding of ninjas was mostly hearsay. They would only occasionally converse with passing ninjas they encountered within the country, and even then, it was rare. This lack of exposure meant their understanding of ninjas was very limited, and some old-fashioned warriors even thought of ninjutsu as mere magic tricks, easily broken with a single blow.

But today's events left them shocked. When Hashirama used the Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, the warriors in the city were already too scared to speak. Creating a forest out of thin air was nothing short of a miracle!

When this forest was burned to ashes by a black flame in an instant, they didn't know how to react anymore. A black flame? That terrifying aura? Was this hellfire?!

After the explosion, they were numb. Even the shockwave that caused half of the city wall to disappear couldn't stir their emotions. In just one day, they had experienced everything that warriors in their profession shouldn't have to endure. People in houses subconsciously came out, gathering together, afraid of what terrifying thing might happen next.

After the smoke from the explosion cleared, a huge pit the size of a football field appeared outside the city. The ground seemed to have disappeared out of thin air, smooth and even, with two people on the edge.

It was Hashirama and Tobirama. Hashirama was okay, and his Mangekyou Sharingan was gradually fading. With Sage Mode, Wood Release, and powerful chakra, he barely withstood the explosion