"Nice job!"
Konan almost jumped in excitement, were it not for her current opponent demanding her attention.
She transformed part of her body into paper shreds to dodge the shuriken flying from behind, couldn't help cheering for Nagato.
"This is just the beginning—we're far from finished."
Yahiko slit the throat of a Mist ninja and grinned at Konan.
Since Kakuzu had taken on Ao Shin, both he and Konan were free to fight as well.
The two of them drew heavy fire from the Mist ninjas, effectively evening the odds for the Akatsuki despite being outnumbered and outmatched.
One after another, Mist ninjas fell under their attacks. The balance of victory steadily tipped toward the Akatsuki.
As they spoke, Isobu fully emerged from the dispersing smoke and dust.
Its massive single eye glared viciously at Nagato, filled with killing intent.
"So ugly!"
Underneath his crimson bangs, Nagato's expression screamed nothing but revulsion.
His cutting remark only fueled Isobu's rage further.
"Water Release: Cannonball Barrage!"
Emerging from the bottomless crater, Isobu rapidly gathered massive chakra inside its throat.
Then, it opened its giant mouth, launching several large chakra-infused water spheres like missiles toward Nagato.
The chakra-infused water spheres blazed brilliant trails across the air as they hurtled forward.
As they soared past, the air around them compressed, creating sharp sonic booms.
"Is that all you've got?"
As the massive water spheres surged toward him, Nagato's lips curled into a faint, scornful smirk.
His eyes revealed an overwhelming arrogance, as though he was looking down on Isobu's tremendous form like an insignificant ant.
He would make Isobu feel the true weight of the gap between them—and the crushing reality of despair.
[Shinra Tensei!!!]
A thunderous roar echoed. A tremendous force, completely opposite to Universal Pull, erupted from Nagato like a violent hurricane.
Under the force of the Repelling Wave, the massive water spheres reversed course—flying back faster than they had come.
"Nani?!"
Seeing this, Isobu's eyes filled with disbelief.
It was practically shooting itself in the foot.
As the one who initiated this attack, Isobu knew better than anyone how powerful this technique was.
Yet now, it had no choice but to face the rebound of its own move.
With no time to react, Isobu swiftly retreated into its hardened shell.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
A crisp series of cracking noises rang out as the water spheres smashed violently into the shell, instantly shattering apart.
The tremendous impact sent Isobu reeling backward, staggering like a mountain shaken by thunder.
After barely surviving the onslaught, Isobu retreated into the crater.
"Konan wasn't wrong after all," Nagato nodded slightly, eyes locked straight ahead.
"Dang, that shell really is solid."
His eyebrows slightly furrowed, revealing a trace of surprise on his face.
Originally, he thought that attack would be sufficient to break through the defense.
But unexpectedly, reality turned out different.
Once again, Isobu emerged unscathed, now standing outside the massive crater.
Its massive body was encased in a thick turtle shell that gleamed under the sunlight, seeming all the more solid and imposing.
"An ability to draw in targets and reflect ninjutsu?"
Isobu mused internally, its thoughts clouded with doubt and wariness.
For the moment, it hesitated to attack again, fearing another embarrassing situation.
It even felt a sense of relief that it had only used Iron Missiles before, instead of unleashing the far more powerful Tailed Beast Ball.
If it had fired a Tailed Beast Ball, it couldn't even bear to imagine how ridiculous that scene would have been.
Knocked down by its own Tailed Beast Ball? The mere thought was utterly absurd.
Would it become the laughingstock of a perfect Jinchūriki?
"What's this? Already too afraid to move?"
Nagato's voice echoed from a distance, drawing closer.
Isobu slowly lowered its massive head. Its lone eye locked onto Nagato, who stood not far away, rage flaring within it once more.
Was this how little regard he had for it?
In all its long existence, no one had ever dared to mock it so openly.
"I admit, you're strong."
"But the outcome remains uncertain."
Isobu's deep, rumbling voice echoed across the battlefield, though it clearly wavered with uncertainty.
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
Nagato slightly lifted his chin, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.
Then, as if strolling leisurely through his own courtyard, he took a slow, deliberate step forward.
Though his pace seemed unhurried, each step was steady and powerful, steadily closing the gap between himself and Isobu.
As Nagato drew closer, an invisible pressure bore down on Isobu like suffocating chains, making it hard to breathe.
Fear, like a creeping black mist, clung tightly to Isobu's heart, refusing to fade.
Instinctively, it stepped back, no longer willing to face this man.
It was truly afraid!!!
Reaching the crater's edge once more, Isobu came to an abrupt halt—it could go no farther.
"Is that all the courage you have?"
Nagato pinched his pinky finger slightly, gesturing toward Isobu while offering mockery without restraint.
[Suiton: Isobu Great Waterfall!]
Blinding fury and resentment shattered Isobu's reason completely.
At this moment, how could it care about Nagato's terrifying power capable of reflecting ninjutsu?
This chapter isn't over yet!
A surge of massive chakra erupted like a tidal wave, radiating outward from Isobu at its core.
In an instant, a colossal cascade of water rose skyward, seeming to blot out heaven and earth itself.
As shadows engulfed the battlefield, tension rose among all present.
"Has it gone mad?"
"With such a devastating technique, not even their own side will remain unscathed."
A look of surprise crossed Konan's face—how desperate had Nagato pushed this creature to become?
"Rest assured, Nagato will handle it."
Though Yahiko's expression remained stern, his words brimmed with unwavering faith in Nagato.
Taking this opportunity, the two killed several distracted Mist ninja.
"You won't have your way so easily," Nagato said calmly yet firmly. He didn't stop walking and continued steadily toward Isobu without hesitation.
To him, the immense water curtain that obscured heaven and earth seemed like an illusion—utterly harmless.
Roar~
The water curtain roared forward like a raging beast, ready to devour everything in its path.
Yet Nagato remained calm and unmoved.
[Blocking Technique Absorption Seal]
He uttered calmly, and instantly an invisible circular barrier surrounded him.
The water curtain crashed down violently. The massive stream looked like collapsing mountains—terrifying even to look at.
But before Nagato, the torrent halted as if it had encountered an insurmountable chasm.
Under everyone's gaze, an astonishing scene unfolded.
The water curtain rapidly receded at an incredible speed until it completely vanished, as if wiped away by an invisible giant's hand.
As the mist in the air gradually dissipated, sunlight bathed the land once more.
That breathtaking water curtain seemed as though it had never existed.
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