87. Shinigami

Their hearts sank when they saw this scene. Their attacks alone should have wiped out any powerful being, even Hashirama would have found it hard to survive this.

But here was Shiroken, standing unaffected and uncaring. They all turned to look back, Hashirama had not moved an inch from where he stood previously. There was only a calm expression on his face.

"Why are you not fighting, brother?" Tobirama asked.

Hashirama folded his arms and replied in a heavy voice, "Can't you all see? He's just playing with us. You were not there when I saw him fight the last time. He was stronger than me by leaps back then, and now he has become many times stronger than that. Do you really think we pose any threat to his existence?

"From the start, he was just toying with us. Maybe he was bored and wanted a spar. So it's better to surrender now. Jiraiya and Hiruzen, you two are a few of the strongest people in Konoha, I can't see you die and our village gets even weaker."

Shiroken felt amused. Hashirama had completely recognised Shiroken's abilities it seemed. And Shiroken wouldn't complain if Hashirama lost his will to fight him. Because even he himself felt like that when fighting Minoshiki.

How circumstances changes a man… Hashirama went from being an idealist to being a realist.

Shiroken floated in the air and waited for them to make another move. "So, are you not going to fight?"

They silently looked at each other's faces. But that was when Hiruzen gathered the rest of them around and suggested something, "I... I suggest we use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal on him. Maybe, the Shinigami can take him away. I saw him having trouble taking out Minato's coffin."

Minato was quick to add on, "But the fact that he was able to sever the control of the Shinigami over my soul, clears it and shows this won't work on him."

"What other options do we have? This is the last resort, to seal his soul." Hiruzen added.

"We can surely try and hope the otherworldly powers can work on him." A beaten Jiraiya spoke. He had regretted moving too close to Shiroken.

"Now let's do it. There are a few of us, but I don't think those reincarnated can summon the Shinigami. Jiraiya, the cost of using this seal is death. I can not allow you to do it. After me, we will need stronger people in the village to lead it." Hiruzen said, seemingly already decided on who would do it.

No one had any objections. Hiruzen had himself harmed the village too much, it was only right if he sacrificed himself. Just like how Minato did, and just like how Tobirama did.

"You should all distract him, while I will initiate the seal." Hiruzen firmly said.

Nodding, everyone ran to Shiroken, this time even Hashirama tried. He went overboard from the start and created the true several thousand hand statues. This was only possible in Sage Mode.

All hands one after another tried to punch Shiroken. Jiraiya and Minato at the same time summoned a lot of giant toads. Tobirama was using his large scale water attacks.

Shiroken smirked, "Did nobody teach you? Big equals slow."

*BOOM*

Shiroken slammed his fist on the giant Buddha. A large giant crack spread around on the statue, spanning its whole body amidst wood cracking sounds.

"You are no match for me. None of you are. But honestly, this scares me… Because when the day comes and we all will have to fight for the survival of this planet, all of you will be too weak." Shiroken spoke while dogging and attacking.

Hashirama fully understood what Shiroken said. He wanted to talk to him about this but first, he decided to see how successful they are with the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

Hashirama put his hands together and created another giant statue. But he also tried to get close to him, so he could use his Hokage Style Elder Jutsu: Tenth Edict On Enlightenment.

This power was what Hashirama used during his fight with the tailed beasts. With this, he could weaken them and even control them. He hoped that it would also work on Shiroken.

*BAM*

Shiroken punched Hashirama in the head. He noticed the man was trying to reach him. He sped up his punches and started to tackle and punch back in 360 degrees, as he was surrounded by them. One punch to the back, one to the left and one to the right. They were everywhere.

*BOOM*

He punched Minato, who had appeared behind him with his fast jutsu. Minato's body flew away a hundred metres away.

"Sage Art: Goemon!" Jiraiya and the two toads on his shoulder spewed out fire, oil and air altogether.

"Hehe..." He chuckled and quickly moved to Tobirama, who was spewing water from his mouth. He abruptly grabbed Tobirama and made him fight the attack of Jiraiya with water.

"Still want to fight?" He asked them after defeating them into embarrassment.

"MOVE!" Just then Hiruzen's loud shout resounded. All of them moved away from Shiroken in an instant.

Shiroken looked towards the voice and found Hiruzen standing with two more clones of his. Each had their hands together. Most likely it was a jutsu too. Shiroken focused, and when he used his Nature vision, he finally saw a hue of a figure.

A giant figure shrouded in white clothing, that had two horns and long white hair. The face looked demonic, with sharp teeth, and in between them a knife was held. Only Hiruzen, Shiroken, Tobirama, Hashirama and Minato could see it.

"Is that the Shinigami that Minato used to seal Kurama?" Shiroken asked them.

But they were actually nervous and didn't answer his query. Hiruzen was already looking like he'd drop dead at any moment.

The Shinigami hovered behind Hiruzen, it was chanting some mantra. After some time, a cursed seal appeared in its arm. Then, all of a sudden the Shinigami plunged his arm into Hiruzen's chest. Hiruzen's soul was already separated from his body by now and it was being held using the Shinigami's hair.

The arm the Shinigami had pierced into Hiruzen's chest now crossed it and stretched towards where Shiroken stood.

All this time, Shiroken was just analysing this Shinigami. It had some level of resemblance to an Otsutsuki. He had no idea where it came from, but he had by now understood that this was also a being purely made of Natural Energy. That was why it could exist as an intangible being.

~Maybe this is some kind of a monster that likes eating people's souls.~ He deduced.

*BAM*

He felt Shinigami's arm punching his stomach. But, sad for the Shinigami, Shiroken's body was too strong for his claws to pierce. Still, Shiroken purposefully allowed him to do it. The reason being, he knew it was not going to work for him.

*SLASH*

It entered his stomach. Shiroken himself didn't know if he had any internal organs, because he didn't feel them yet. He had no idea how he even digested the food. He also never needed to poop ever since he grew up and got stronger.

The Shinigami seemed to be fiddling and looking for something inside Shiroken's stomach. After 10 minutes passed, everyone felt awkward. The Shinigami started to feel the pressure too as his face slowly started to look slightly different.

His expressions also changed and his normal angry eyes started to comically widen.

Shiroken smiled, "Haha... Yes, you're not going to find any soul in there."

(⊙o⊙)

This hit the Shinigami like a wall, his eyes completely opened, he even sweated and his nose started to run. He quickly retracted his arm in fear. Never in his time of existence had he encountered such a bizarre condition. He couldn't understand how a being could live without the soul.

But then he realised. Shiroken was like himself, totally made of Natural Energy, but on a much larger and higher level than him. Shiroken was akin to the planet itself. Could the Shinigami take a tree, a rock or a desert's soul? The answer was no.

"What happened?" Jiraiya asked around as he couldn't see it.

Hashirama sighed and facepalmed himself, "He even embarrassed the Shinigami. Just admit defeat."

"BUT... What about Lord Third? Shinigami took his soul, he will die if this happens. All for nothing." Jiraiya reminded them.

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