The almost one-sided barrage of explosive attacks left everyone present utterly stunned.
At first, they had assumed that with the kind of power Hiruko had just shown, even if Tsunade unleashed the Shinigami's ultimate release—her Bankai—the fight would be neck and neck, blow for blow. No one expected that Tsunade's power would completely crush the so-called "ultimate ninja" who prided himself on possessing five Kekkei Genkai.
"Kh… cough!"
Blood spurted from Hiruko's mouth. His body twisted and split apart, his frame caving under Tsunade's relentless strikes until he was nothing more than a heap of mangled flesh—like a puddle of writhing black sludge straight out of Zetsu's form.
Fortunately, the cells of Hashirama Senju were still working, and along with the power of all things in his body, Hiruko's 'damaged' state was being continuously repaired.
But the expression on Hiruko's face did not ease with the repair of his limbs.
In their clash just now, Hiruko had been horrified to discover that after Tsunade's Bankai, his Steel Release could no longer block her blows at all, and he had lost all advantage in speed.
On top of that, his Dark Release couldn't absorb spiritual power. If he hadn't instinctively used Swift Release to retreat the moment he sensed danger, Tsunade's combo would have finished him off in one strike.
"Steel Release's defense is still there… but after Bankai, is it that shimmering aura around her that gave her the power to pierce my Steel Release?"
Hiruko panted, fear slowly creeping into his heart. His unwavering belief in his perfection as the ultimate ninja began to falter.
Impossible. My power can't be limited to this. My talent… my capacity… it's not just this level!
Boom—boom—BOOM!
Hiruko's unwillingness seemed to have triggered the inner emotions of the other Akatsuki members. A series of loud bangs suddenly came from all around them.
Following that, a series of beastly roars came one after another.
Massive summoned creatures broke through the Allied Shinobi Forces' defensive line, charging deep into the battlefield.
Without exception, each summon bore the signature black receiver rods of Nagato's creatures. And above some of these summons stood the figures of the Six Paths of Pain.
"The Rinnegan…" Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, eyes locking instantly onto the Deva Path among them. "Long time no see, leader."
Perched atop the great Yatagarasu, Deva Path Pain seemed to have sensed something and looked back with a cold gaze.
"You're a Shinigami captain now, too, Orochimaru."
"Oh? Does the leader intend to fight me?" Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "With just the Deva Path and those Six Paths of Pain? That's not enough to be my opponent. And… your real body shouldn't last much longer either, not when you're fighting that monster."
The Deva Path of Pain didn't respond. It just focused its gaze, and a sucking force erupted from its palm.
Hiruko, who was fighting fiercely with Tsunade below, was pulled by this suction force and flew towards the sky, landing on top of one of the Animal Path's summoned beasts. At the same time, along with the other Six Paths and the Akatsuki members, he quickly retreated to the back.
Such a sudden move made the nearby shinobi frown, unease flashing through their hearts.
The Deva Path spread its arms, as if it was preparing something.
"That jutsu is…"
Rasa and Fugaku noticed the massive amount of chakra gathering at the first moment. Their brows furrowed abruptly, and their expressions changed dramatically.
"It's that repulsion technique!"
"Not good—stop him, now!"
Tsunade turned toward Deva Path, appearing in an instant beside Orochimaru. Both their gazes fell on the silent figure who had yet to move—Yagura.
Against a large-scale, high-intensity AOE technique like Shinra Tensei, the best counter was a jutsu of equal magnitude.
Yagura's hand rested on the Zanpakutō at his waist.
"Shikai."
A terrifying spiritual pressure erupted, and under the astonished gazes of the people around him, the tip of the Zanpakutō in his hand suddenly sprayed out a stream of water.
"Reflect and bloom—Rinka."
The stream of water gathered, remaining in mid-air like a living thing, and in an instant, it condensed into a mirror in front of Yagura that was so shiny it could be used for reflection.
The Deva Path of Pain, who was preparing a Super Shinra Tensei in the sky, felt his heart sink when he saw the water mirror.
It didn't matter. No matter what the jutsu was, his chakra had already been gathered. The Rinnegan's overbearing repulsive force was enough to crush everything!
"Super Shinra Tensei!!"
A massive shockwave erupted from the village's center, sweeping outward in all directions. Anything in its path—man or object—was crushed to dust.
But the instant the repulsion surged forth, a figure identical to the Deva Path atop the Yatagarasu stepped out of the water mirror.
From the "mirror" Deva Path's body, a repulsion just as fierce erupted to meet the incoming force head-on.
The two waves of force slammed together in the sky, each trying to rebound the other.
Allied shinobi scrambled behind Yagura, hoping the Soul Society's captain could block Pain's assault.
BOOM!
The Wood Release ruins that Nagato had spread across the battlefield earlier were obliterated by the collision of forces. The expanding shockwave swept outward like a giant beast devouring everything.
Dust and smoke filled the air, blending with the curtain of rain until the entire battlefield was shrouded in mist, obscuring all sight.
"He… he can use Nagato's Shinra Tensei?!"
In the shadows, White Zetsu's face twisted in disbelief. Shinra Tensei was only possible with the Rinnegan—yet this man could unleash it at full power!
"Water Mirror Technique. Yagura's specialty," Black Zetsu's tone was low. "Back then, Madara planned to control him as the successor to the Third Mizukage, a pawn for Obito's scheme. But the sudden rise of Mizukage Yuki Yoru ruined that plan."
"If it were an ordinary Water Mirror Technique, it couldn't copy Shinra Tensei perfectly. That power just now... it seems to be his Zanpakutō's release."
"A Zanpakutō that copies techniques? That's just broken." White Zetsu was floored.
"None of these Shinigami's releases are simple. But once we know their abilities, the pressure on us will lessen."
Black Zetsu's gaze slid over Orochimaru and Tsunade.
From his intel with Obito's infiltration of Kirigakure, Zanpakutō have two releases: Shikai and Bankai.
The first is Shikai, the second Bankai. Both are similar in nature, but Bankai is generally a vastly strengthened form of the Shikai.
Tsunade's Zanpakutō enhances herself dramatically—enough to ignore Steel Release defenses.
Yagura's, as shown now, copies ninjutsu.
In ninja combat, intelligence is paramount. If they could learn the abilities of all thirteen captains of the Gotei 13, they could find ways to counter each one. It might even be enough to break this deadlock.
The sound of drizzling rain fell.
Far above the battlefield, tens of kilometers away, the two strongest forces of each side stood together—not fighting, but watching the war below like old acquaintances, exchanging occasional words.
"So, you had this realization because you met that guy, Jigen, and he told you the true nature of this world, huh?"
"You are the key."
Nagato shook his head. "Jigen just shattered my ridiculous and self-deceiving personal opinion. What truly enlightened me was your way of thinking and everything you've done."
"Honestly, too much praise will make me arrogant, you know."
Yoru smiled at him. He had expected another pointless fight, but to his surprise, Nagato had set aside his obsession before the battle even began, choosing instead to reconcile.
Such a change was startling—especially given that not long ago, during the Battle of the Gold Sand Fortress, Nagato had fought him to the death.
And for anyone thinking this was suspicious or too quick—well, compared to the original story where War Arc Nagato and Obito were talk-no-jutsu'd by Naruto in one speech, this wasn't so abrupt.
This twisted, tragic world had created countless stubborn, tragic souls. And once you untied the knot in their hearts, they longed for peace more than anyone.
"Then tell me—after your epiphany, can you see the path I'm walking?" Yoru's gaze swept the battlefield, now tipping in Soul Society's favor. "As the leader of Akatsuki, your actions decide the fate of your organization.
"Will you, in despair, abandon the group your old friend built—now warped beyond recognition? Or…"
"Yahiko's dream is noble. Akatsuki will not be destroyed by anyone."
Nagato's voice was firm. "This Allied Shinobi assault will not be our downfall. It will be our rebirth. As for your path…"
The ripples of his Sage eyes reflected Yoru's image. Nagato shook his head—then nodded. "I don't care if you seek eternal rule or higher realms. Compared to those who would consume this world as mere energy, you are my best choice."
"Smart men… I said before, all three of you were smart."
Yoru sighed, his expression complicated.
He respected both Nagato and Yahiko.
Yahiko's dream was grand—willing to act and endure hardship even knowing the path was long and perilous.
Nagato was the same, but his growth had been twisted by false guidance and cruel reality, turning him into the distorted Pain.
"I'm very pleased that you can make such a judgment and choice, because you yourself are very aware of what you will have to face after making these choices."
"That includes the ninja villages of the great nations, including the three Kage here today, Obito and Zetsu, and even that guy, Jigen," Yoru said softly: "But I can help you deal with them to a certain extent. But the prerequisite is that you have to show the capacity and talent you have now."
"After all, I need a reason to deal with them, don't I?"
Nagato's eyes narrowed slightly, and chakra gathered in his body, but Yoru showed a smile.
"Don't rush. Your opponent isn't me."
"It's me."
A calm voice came from behind.
Nagato turned, startled—and saw a figure both familiar and strange.
Short black hair, refined features, blood-red eyes, and a pure white haori fluttering in the wind.
Nagato instantly knew.
The Uchiha clan's once-greatest prodigy.
Captain of Second Division of Kirigakure's Gotei 13—
Uchiha Shisui.
...
Konoha.
The Memorial Stone.
Dressed in black and wearing a spiral mask, Obito looked at the stone before him. Slowly, he knelt and placed fresh flowers at its base, then deftly began clearing weeds around it.
Rin had died in battle, but as the Three-Tails' jinchūriki, even her name couldn't be carved into the stone—let alone a proper grave to visit.
So every so often, Obito would come here to the Memorial Stone, clearing dust and weeds from Rin's memorial stone while quietly speaking of his longing and pain.
"Rin… do you think I can make it to the other shore?" he murmured, his single eye beneath the mask clouded with doubt. But in moments, that uncertainty hardened into conviction.
"No… I will make it. I will succeed!"
"Wait for me, Rin!"
With that inner resolve renewed, he stood up. He then took out another bouquet of flowers from his Kamui dimension and placed it on another memorial stone.
"And you too… Kakashi."
After placing the flowers, Obito vanished into the darkness, moving swiftly toward the Sarutobi clan compound.
This trip to Konoha wasn't just to reaffirm his resolve—part of his plan required the help of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Using Kamui, he slipped into the Sarutobi compound without resistance—only to spot a small, hooded figure slipping furtively out of the area.
"…Hm?"
The person was short, no more than ten years old by the look of it. Hidden under a black cloak, but the chakra signature made Obito feel an odd sense of familiarity.
His gaze sharpened, a strange expression crossing his face
He moved on. When he reached Hiruzen's residence, the former Third Hokage was just closing his door. Two cups of tea still steamed inside—evidence of a recent guest.