The massive earthquake spread across the land, splitting the ground into countless fissures. The two colossal titans continued their clash as if nothing else existed, each impact sending shockwaves across the battlefield and hurling boulders into the air.
It was unimaginable what kind of catastrophic scene would occur if either of their attacks landed directly.
Just the sight of their enormous bodies was enough to make hearts pound with terror—let alone the near-apocalyptic power they wielded.
Aoyama thought for a moment, then decided to leave first. Staying to watch was far too dangerous—there was no guarantee he wouldn't get caught in the crossfire.
If he got struck even once by mistake, his body would never withstand it.
The deafening rumble never ceased. Just by raising their heads, both Akatsuki and the Konoha squad could see the two monsters still colliding endlessly. Their only thought now was the same—get away from the battlefield.
In the depths of Pain's Rinnegan eyes, a surge of killing intent flashed.
A traitor to Akatsuki… and he still possesses such terrifying power. In the future, he will undoubtedly become a major obstacle to the Plan.
"Let's rest for a bit," Kakashi finally said, though his gaze was still tense. "That beast is far too large. What surprises me the most is that Aoyama has a summoning on that scale. Even Jiraiya-sama's toads of Mount Myōboku aren't that massive."
Kakashi knew this well—his teacher, the Fourth Hokage Minato, had contracted the Mount Myōboku toads. Whenever he faced a formidable enemy on the battlefield, he would summon them. After seeing them multiple times, Kakashi understood their scale clearly. Yet even the largest toad of Myōboku paled in comparison to Behemoth.
And Behemoth wasn't Aoyama's only Titan. He also possessed another giant beast—less destructive than Behemoth, but still terrifying. If Aoyama summoned "Big Sis," her unique ability to transfer and amplify energy could combine with any Titan, doubling its power.
Just summoning Behemoth alone had already shaken the entire shinobi world. If Aoyama revealed "Big Sis" as well, the world's powers would erupt into chaos.
Such massive creatures could sweep entire battlefields, deciding wars almost instantly.
Nara Shikaku frowned, voice calm but grave:
"It's true, Aoyama's summon is incredibly powerful. But that also makes things more dangerous. Our primary mission was to infiltrate the Land of Rain and gather intel on Akatsuki. Now, the mission must be considered a failure. We can't proceed further. Both Aoyama's Behemoth and Pain's summoned monster are far too dangerous."
He paused, then continued:
"Our priority now is to return to the village and report everything to the Hokage, so Konoha can prepare for what comes next."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "You're suggesting the other villages will test both the Land of Rain and us, because of these two giant summons?"
Yamanaka Hiashi nodded. "Shikaku is right. I've studied intel on Hanzo the Salamander of the Rain. He was the only ninja after the Warring States period recognized as a 'Demi-God'—precisely because of his terrifying summon. If other villages learn Aoyama possesses a beast greater than Hanzo's… they will act. Some may even ally to probe or pressure Konoha."
Akimichi Chōza clenched his fists. "If that's true, then we must hurry back to the village and warn the Hokage. He has to prepare before other villages make their moves."
"Exactly," Shikaku agreed. "I never thought Aoyama still had such a trump card."
"HAHA! Aoyama! Let's have a hot-blooded clash someday!"
Aoyama gave him a deadpan look. "No thanks. Your lifelong love is Kakashi—you should clash with him instead. Don't look at me."
Kakashi sighed. "Enough. As captain, I declare this mission a failure. We withdraw immediately and report to the Hokage."
The two titans continued their world-shaking battle. But everyone else—Akatsuki and Konoha alike—had long since chosen to retreat. Watching that kind of devastation for too long only made you fear the next wave might swallow you whole.
Because Akatsuki had intercepted them before they even left the Land of Fire, the Konoha team made it back to the village faster than Akatsuki.
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed his pipe as he listened to Shikaku's report, his face darkening with each detail. When he heard that Akatsuki could summon a monster larger than mountains, he unconsciously compared it to Enma, the Monkey King, his own summon.
The difference was depressing.
Enma could fight alongside him, but in terms of raw power? Against titans like Behemoth, Enma was nothing more than a supporting fighter. In fact, in the last battle, Enma had been mauled by Manda of Ryūchi Cave and forced to dissolve the summoning just to survive.
After a long silence, Hiruzen muttered, "Summons of that scale… likely only Aoyama and Akatsuki possess them. You're right, Shikaku. If we don't prepare in advance, the other villages will probe us, and Konoha will suffer great losses."
He then turned to Aoyama, forcing a smile onto his wrinkled face.
"Aoyama, that summoning beast of yours—can others sign the contract as well? My chakra reserves are still strong. If I could summon such a giant, I might be able to manage it."
Aoyama couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Without Danzō around to scheme, the Hokage himself had become greedy.
But Titans were not normal summons—they could never be contracted by others.
He shook his head firmly. "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama. Behemoth only acknowledges me, and I don't have access to the summoning scroll. No one else can contract him."
Hiruzen sighed, nodding. "I see. Then we'll rely on you in the future."
Summons with strong personalities were always prideful. That much was obvious from the Three Great Sages alone—Mount Myōboku's toads, Ryūchi Cave's snakes, and Shikkotsu Forest's slugs. No one could contract them without recognition.
Even if Hiruzen couldn't claim Behemoth, the fact remained: as long as Aoyama lived in Konoha, the village effectively held a weapon no less terrifying than a tailed beast—one that might even surpass them in destructive capability.
With the Senju Clan long faded and no new Mangekyō in the Uchiha Clan, shinobi wars had devolved into bloody stalemates or mass-tailed-beast assaults.
But now, with a titan larger than any bijū…
Hiruzen's imagination raced. He could already see it: the next shinobi war, four villages joining forces against Konoha—only for Konoha, with a single titan, to smash them all back.
The thought made his old heart race with exhilaration.