During the next period of time, Tsunade once again experienced what it felt like to live each day on the edge — where only constant vigilance could ensure survival.
She was shocked by how many so-called Hollows there were in the Forest of Menos.
According to Kagetsu, this place had only been occupied by the first Hollow less than ten years ago.
Were there really that many souls from the Shinobi World and the Pure Land?
Besides the so-called Faceless Ones, she encountered all sorts of bizarre and grotesque Hollows — some had human-like faces with insect bodies, while others were so abstract they only vaguely resembled people.
Some were enormous in size, yet not necessarily powerful. Others looked small and slender, but if she let her guard down even for a moment, they could cause her serious trouble.
She had thought her strength was more than enough, but here, she once again felt the pressure she had once experienced when facing Hanzo of the Salamander in the Land of Rain.
Chakra wasn't nearly as effective against Hollows as her fists were. In this place, combat followed an entirely different system — one based on soul power.
Soul quality!
This was something Tsunade noticed and later confirmed with Kagetsu. The higher the quality of one's soul, the stronger they could become here.
All around this world drifted spiritual particles — called Reishi — that made up the Hollows.
Every soul that entered this place would gradually be altered and influenced by that energy.
The only difference was that powerful shinobi, those with immense chakra reserves, took longer to be fully affected or transformed.
If the influence ran too deep, the soul might deform or mutate. And if one was wounded by a Hollow, the Hollow's energy would seep into their soul like a poison — slowly leading them toward corruption.
Of course, it was also possible that this process could have a positive effect — allowing one's soul to become even stronger.
According to Kagetsu, the power of the Hōgyoku mode could prevent her soul from falling into corruption here, though it couldn't completely guarantee that nothing would go wrong.
Based on her own observations and Kagetsu's advice, Tsunade had developed a unique fighting style of her own while in this place.
"How much longer do we have to stay here?"
Inside a tree hollow perched on a branch, Tsunade, who was hiding her spiritual presence just like Kagetsu, asked him quietly.
"Almost done. Just one more hunt," Kagetsu replied calmly.
Though the Forest of Menos was swarming with countless Hollows, as long as they withdrew in time, even the unexpected encounters hadn't caused them any serious harm.
"That's good. I don't know if souls can actually feel hunger, but I definitely do," Tsunade muttered, rubbing her stomach with a grimace.
"The need for a soul to eat is a sign of evolution. It means your soul's potential hasn't been fully tapped yet," Kagetsu reassured her.
Tsunade shot him a sharp look. She had no desire to devour like the Hollows did. Just thinking about it—knowing they were consuming fragments of human souls—made her feel sick.
"Has Orochimaru been here before?" Tsunade suddenly asked. But before Kagetsu could answer, she spoke again, as if confirming it to herself.
"Of course he has! The damage to his soul must have been repaired here. I examined his body before and tested his mental state.
With the power of the Hōgyoku, I can clearly sense changes in both body and soul.
Orochimaru's original soul was distorted—clearly, he's modified himself more than once. Under the influence of some forbidden technique, his soul has already become twisted.
But later on, I discovered something surprising—his twisted and damaged soul had actually started to heal! That incomplete feeling I used to sense from him… it was slowly fading away.
But just recently, it felt like his soul had been split again! I asked him about it at the time, and he only said it was the result of experimenting with a forbidden technique. He claimed it would recover soon.
I should have realized it earlier! Physical injuries can be treated, but when it comes to the soul, that's a forbidden domain for shinobi! Even Second Grandpa only barely touched the surface of that mystery."
"What you suspected… is true," Kagetsu nodded, confirming Tsunade's guess about Orochimaru's condition.
"He's devouring souls?" Even though she had already guessed it, Tsunade still frowned when Kagetsu admitted it.
"Hollows are incomplete beings. Their souls can't find peace, and those with obsessions mutate into what they are. They're created through violent separation and fusion of souls.
Here, devouring and fighting for survival happens constantly. Unless they gain true consciousness and self-awareness, their rank and status are no different than the wild beasts of the Shinobi World."
Kagetsu glanced out into the dark cave entrance. Even though he couldn't see them, he knew the faceless ones must be lurking nearby. These were the most common type of Hollow in the Forest of Menos.
Their greatest ability is copying the memories of other souls, using them to evolve further.
"You mean… it's normal here for souls to be devoured?" Tsunade sighed.
"Do you think Orochimaru-sensei would feel any guilt about it?" Kagetsu replied calmly.
Tsunade went silent.
Of the three of them, Orochimaru always had the lowest moral baseline. He was the most flexible with his ethics.
As long as it helped him achieve his goal, he never cared much about the methods.
Even before she left the village, Orochimaru had already begun to grow more extreme and cold-blooded.
But after returning and seeing him again, he wasn't as fallen as she expected. In fact, he was surprisingly well-respected in the village.
"I'm worried..."
"You're worried about Lord Dan and the others, right?"
Kagetsu hit the nail on the head, voicing the true fear buried in Tsunade's heart. Clearly, this world of the dead had stirred terrifying thoughts in her about the fate of her lover's and relatives' souls.
"They're not here."
"How do you know that?"
Tsunade instinctively grabbed Kagetsu's wrist. But a moment later, realizing she was being too emotional, she let go and apologized. Then she asked again, "Did you and Orochimaru search the area?"
"High-quality souls are sought after by all realms of the dead. Technically speaking, the Pure Land is what most people think of as the afterlife. It's also the place where the souls of the shinobi world are meant to go.
Compared to the Pure Land, this place is more like a cage, a breeding ground for chaos. There's no peace, no serenity—only battle, conflict, and evolution.
Most of the renowned shinobi from history are in the Pure Land. It operates under its own set of rules. As far as souls go, Hueco Mundo still can't compete with it.
Hollows with consciousness and the ability to think are extremely rare here.
Based on the information from the sweep Orochimaru-sensei and I conducted earlier, we've confirmed the existence of only one such individual."
Kagetsu held up a single finger toward Tsunade.
"Who?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
Even instinct-driven Hollows were dangerous enough. One that had full consciousness—how powerful would that be?
If someone could survive here for so long, constantly absorbing spiritual particles to strengthen their soul, then purely in terms of soul strength, they might stand at the very top of this world of the dead.
"Third Raikage, A."
Kagetsu gave her a name she hadn't expected.
****
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