UK:GSW Chapter 403 – The Battle Between No. 2's Hidden Leaf and Nagato
It was precisely because of such confidence that the main world's Hidden Leaf remained so calm toward No. 2's Nagato. After all, when you have more than three different ways to take him down, there's nothing to be afraid of.
This calm attitude was quickly picked up by the leaders of No. 2's Hidden Leaf. After all, it wasn't exactly a secret that the main world's Hidden Leaf possessed overwhelming combat power and had even revived the heroic spirits of the First Hokage and others.
Realizing this, No. 2's leadership immediately understood that Nagato's attack posed no real crisis to the main world's Hidden Leaf.
With that in mind, in the secret meeting room of No. 2's Hokage Building, Fifth Hokage Tsunade — after a brief private exchange with her advisors — spoke in the joint WeChat conference as the representative of No. 2's Hidden Leaf:
"Everyone, we need your help."
Yes — a direct request for aid, with no beating around the bush.
Although this might be seen as lowering their own prestige, No. 2's Hidden Leaf had little prestige to speak of in the first place, given the already close diplomatic ties and mutual understanding between the two. Prestige was a secondary concern.
After all, both sides were Konohagakure. The inherent trust of sharing the same origin made in-depth cooperation much easier than with other powers.
This was one such moment.
Naturally, the main world's Hidden Leaf did not refuse. The only reason they hadn't offered help from the start was out of respect for No. 2's sovereignty and autonomy — they wouldn't make decisions on No. 2's behalf, just as No. 2's current decisions and plans were their own.
Although No. 2 had chosen to follow the main world's path of reform — with the main world offering guidance — when the moment of decision came, the main world never interfered or persuaded.
No. 2's Hidden Leaf had chosen this path because they had witnessed the main world's achievements and greatness, knowing clearly it was the right road. And to make their own Konoha stronger, they had resolutely chosen it.
Having made their choice and determined their future development route, they wouldn't hesitate in matters like this. When aid was needed, they would ask — pride be damned.
And the main world's Hidden Leaf responded positively. Minato Namikaze, the Sannin, and Tobirama Senju immediately set out for No. 2's world. Uchiha Kei also traveled via his puppet clone, ready to summon the First Hokage and his wife at any time.
Without a doubt, such a lineup for dealing with No. 2's Nagato was overkill — even "using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken." Nagato might be strong, but to the main world's Hidden Leaf, he wasn't truly dangerous.
What's more, No. 2's shinobi wouldn't just stand by; they would fight alongside them. This deployment wasn't solely for Nagato.
The most important goal was to capture No. 2's Black Zetsu.
With Obito already gone, Black Zetsu would not want Nagato to fall. To prevent that, he would likely stay close, perhaps even secretly attach himself to Nagato and seize control at a critical moment.
Then, whether he escaped with Nagato or forced him to revive No. 2's Uchiha Madara, he would retain a path forward. Given Black Zetsu's devious nature, he would almost certainly choose this course.
Thus, this operation was also a hunt for Black Zetsu.
With this consensus reached, the leadership of both Konohas quickly began planning the operation to ensure smooth cooperation.
A detailed battle plan was soon finalized. Without delay, No. 2's Hidden Leaf dispatched the elderly Jiraiya to lead a team to intercept Nagato.
Given Nagato's current combat power, if they waited for him to reach the village, the damage to Konoha would be enormous regardless of the outcome.
Thus, intercepting him en route was the wisest choice.
Fortunately, ever since White Zetsu first discovered Nagato, they had kept him under observation. He was now about 300 kilometers from the village, and Jiraiya's team, leaving immediately, was expected to intercept him just over 100 kilometers out.
The location was a mountain range, an uninhabited zone in the Land of Fire.
An uninhabited zone so close to Konoha might sound strange, but given the village's role as a military base, it was entirely reasonable.
In fact, Konoha even had an outpost there.
Of course, as development continued, the areas around Konoha would change — in both worlds.
The difference was that in the main world, change was already underway. The mountains there were being redeveloped; a railway would soon be built through them by cutting directly through the rock.
The mountains would no longer be a barrier, but a transport route — with a city planned as its hub.
No. 2's Konoha had not yet begun such work, but with the main world as a reference, they would eventually follow suit.
For now, however, this mountain range was chosen as the battlefield. After the fight, it would almost certainly be reshaped — from mountains to plains, perhaps even to a crater.
After all, as in the Fourth Shinobi World War of the original history, the top fighters of this era could alter the terrain with ease — and Nagato, controlling six jinchūriki and their tailed beasts, certainly could.
The intercepting shinobi of No. 2's world could do the same — and even more so with the main world's reinforcements.
After the battle, No. 2's Konoha could put the transformed land to immediate use; destroying the mountains would open a direct route from the outside.
But that was for later.
For now, both sides were closing in fast.
Nagato, now in perfect health, strode forward in his Akatsuki cloak. With him were six individuals with black chakra rods embedded in their bodies and Rinnegan eyes.
Each had a distinct appearance, and all were once the jinchūriki of the Two-Tails through the Seven-Tails.
Once prized as strategic weapons by their villages, they were now lifeless corpses, controlled by the Rinnegan as Nagato's extensions.
Beside him was his constant companion, Konan, moving forward as well.
Their destination — Konoha.
The original Six Paths of Pain were absent — clearly discarded.
Of course, only the non-Deva Paths were abandoned. The original Deva Path, the body of their dearest friend Yahiko, was special to both Nagato and Konan.
Nagato had kept Yahiko's body as the Deva Path so that Yahiko could exist as a "god" and receive the honor he deserved in the new world.
As Nagato himself had once been crippled and unfit for the front lines, this was his way of preserving Yahiko's presence.
Now, with his body restored and stronger than ever thanks to Black Zetsu's arrangements — but with a terrifying enemy beyond even the Rinnegan on the horizon — Nagato had decided to preserve Yahiko's body in safety, unwilling to risk even its intactness.
Thus, the current "Six Paths" were entirely made up of jinchūriki.
Before long, Nagato and his group entered the mountains, aiming to cross them and continue toward Konoha.
Then, with the powerful sensory abilities of the Uzumaki Clan, Nagato suddenly detected something and came to an abrupt stop.
The six jinchūriki halted with him.
Konan stopped as well, asking, "Nagato, what is it?"
Nagato's expression darkened. "Someone strong is approaching fast… and one of them is… Jiraiya-sensei."
His voice grew heavy as he spoke, already anticipating the confrontation with his former master.
Unlike in the original story — where Nagato ultimately killed Jiraiya — his intent toward his teacher was different from that of Orochimaru or Obito toward their own foes.
In that earlier battle, Nagato had only intended to drive Jiraiya away, never going all-out, sending only a few Paths into battle and keeping the Deva Path out of the fight.
Even then, he had pulled his punches, aiming to force Jiraiya to leave the Hidden Rain, not to kill him.
It was Jiraiya who fought with full killing intent — as a shinobi should.
Nagato only killed him once he realized Jiraiya was resolute and their positions irreconcilable.
Even then, his first choice had been to spare him.
Now was the same. Even though he had decided to attack Konoha and knew he would face his teacher, Nagato's feelings were complicated. He had no intent to kill Jiraiya outright.
His plan was simple — seize Naruto Uzumaki and leave. He had no desire to destroy Konoha or slaughter its people.
This, too, was true in the original story — Nagato only turned to mass destruction after Tsunade's words provoked him, leading to the infamous "Feel Pain" scene.
Nagato might appear cold, but in truth, he was one of the most sentimental and restrained of the major antagonists. Without provocation, he would not go to extremes.
The Uzumaki Clan, after all, tended toward such persistence.
Back in the present, Konan's normally cool face changed slightly at Nagato's words, revealing her mood.
She frowned. "Why would Jiraiya-sensei be heading toward us? Could it be… that Black Zetsu betrayed us?"
Nagato shook his head. "I don't think so. That guy isn't trustworthy, but for now, our interests align — there's a basic level of trust.
"If he meant to betray me, he had plenty of chances during my body's restoration, rather than waiting until I had power comparable to the First Hokage."
"So it must be that Konoha has found some way to track us… or else… Konoha has ties to the enemy Black Zetsu spoke of — the one from beyond the shinobi world."
Nagato narrowed his eyes, the Rinnegan glinting coldly.
Then his expression shifted slightly in surprise, turning oddly complex.
Konan noticed and asked, "Nagato, what is it?"
Nagato paused, then said, "I sense the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. He's with Jiraiya-sensei, heading toward us."
This time, it was Konan's turn to be shocked.
Naruto — here? And approaching them?
What strange move was this?
Could it be that Konoha hadn't tracked them at all, and that Jiraiya was simply bringing Naruto into the mountains to hide — only to run into them by coincidence?
Both Nagato and Konan found the thought oddly plausible. It was too coincidental otherwise. And with the Akatsuki's hunt for tailed beasts widely known, Konoha — one of the first to learn of it — would surely hide Naruto, not bring him toward danger.
But they had no more time to ponder. At that moment, No. 2's shinobi arrived.
The moment they saw each other, Nagato and Konan knew — the other side had come for them, not to seek shelter.
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