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The Anbu couldn't believe what they were seeing—Tsunade's forehead mark had vanished.
"She used the Creation Rebirth jutsu!"
"And she passed every last bit of chakra to Lady Katsuyu!"
"All to protect the villagers from Pain…"
"At this rate, she's…"
Naruto glanced around at the ruined landscape. Please, let everyone still be okay…
All over the rubble, Konoha shinobi began crawling out from under the debris—some saved by Katsuyu, others by sheer luck or their own skill. But the cost had been heavy. The village was devastated.
Members of the Hyūga branch family rushed toward Hinata."Lady Hinata, are you alright?!"
Hinata, gentle as ever, shook her head."Don't worry about me—how bad are your wounds?"
The man gritted his teeth."If anything happened to you while Lord Hiashi and Lord Hizashi are gone… it would be my lifelong disgrace. Please, spare your concern for me."
"That only makes me feel guiltier," Hinata murmured while bandaging him up. "If the main family isn't here and everyone is injured… I'll be the one blamed for failing them."
Meanwhile, Pain slowly stepped toward Naruto. His cold eyes locked on the boy in front of him."Good. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down."
Outside the village walls, the five other Pain bodies began to rise again, their broken forms standing tall.
"Why are you pushing things this far?!" Konan snapped.
"Because this is my justice," Pain replied, his voice like steel.
The massive Asura Path grabbed the female summoner body and hurled her skyward. Midair, she flew over Tendō's head and clapped her hands together."Summoning Jutsu!"
In an instant, the other Paths appeared, dropping down to land in front of Tendō.
"Six bodies together again…" Fukasaku muttered grimly.
Then, staggering on unsteady feet, Tsunade forced herself between them and Naruto.
"I am the Fifth Hokage!" she declared hoarsely.
"You've trampled on the dreams and treasures left by our ancestors. That's unforgivable! As Hokage, I'll end this with my own hands!"
Tendō regarded her coldly. "So, you've tasted a bit of pain. But you're not the one I seek."
The Asura Path's back split open, launching a missile straight toward her—
—but a blur of orange shot past. With a single crushing punch, the Asura Path was obliterated.
"The one you're after… is me!"
Orange markings framed Naruto's eyes, his pupils sharp like a toad's, locked on the Rinnegan.
Tsunade froze. In that instant, Naruto's back overlapped with two figures from her memory—Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage… and Jiraiya, the Toad Sage.
Naruto's voice rang out:"These guys don't need the Hokage's help. Granny, step back and have some tea."
"Naruto!"
Sakura turned to a nearby Hyūga. "What just happened?!"
"Amazing… Naruto defeated a Pain with one strike!"
Sakura's eyes went wide in disbelief. "Naruto… you…"
On Gamabunta's head, Gamaken muttered to Fukasaku, "Grandpa, don't you see it? The shadows of two familiar figures."
Fukasaku's voice was proud. "Aye. This boy's surpassed those who came before."
"Uzumaki Naruto…" Tendō whispered.
Naruto's expression hardened. "Let's finish this."
Outside the Battle – The Real World
The watching Naruto was practically bouncing with excitement."No way! Future me one-shotted that monster Pain?!"
He couldn't hold back a grin. "Future me, you're awesome! I'll work hard to catch up!"
Sasuke stared at the image of Naruto with his fierce orange eyeshadow, fists clenched."That's Naruto…? Power beyond even the Hokage? Then where am I? I refuse to believe he's stronger than me!"
Kakashi's gaze softened as he watched Naruto's back on the screen."You've finally reached that height, Naruto. In you, I see my teacher Minato again."Then he glanced at his own injured body in the ruins and shook his head. As a teacher, I look pathetic.
Elsewhere, Danzō scowled."He's grown this strong? Has he mastered the Nine-Tails' power?"No… there's no trace of tailed beast chakra. I underestimated that brat.
On the road back to Konoha, Jiraiya smiled."Well done, Naruto. You've surpassed me. A perfect Sage Mode—just like your father."
Far away in a small gambling town, Tsunade looked up at the vision in the sky."So I… became the Fifth Hokage. And that boy… so much has happened in the future." She pushed aside her cards. "That's enough for today. I'm done."
Her fellow gamblers blinked in shock. The legendary sucker… quitting?
Back in battle, Tendō eyed Naruto with a calculating calm."So, my main body can't recover its power yet. In that case…"
The remaining four Paths spread out, forming a protective ring around him.
"Gamaken!" Naruto called.
The giant toad leapt down from Gamabunta's head."Take Granny Tsunade to safety!"
"Granny, tell everyone in the village not to interfere. If I have to fight while protecting them, I'll lose the edge."
"Got it." Tsunade reached into her robes, pulling out a tiny Katsuyu. "Take this—it knows Pain's abilities."
Fukasaku snatched the little slug and hopped with Shima onto the scroll strapped to Naruto's back.
"Hide with Naruto, little one," Fukasaku said.
The slug slipped inside Naruto's clothes.
Naruto asked softly, "This might not be the time, but… I can sense everyone's chakra through nature energy. Kakashi-sensei—he's out on a mission, isn't he?"
Tsunade's weary face darkened. She said nothing.
"I see…" Naruto's voice grew firm. "Go, Gamaken!"
With a powerful leap, the toad bounded out of the battlefield.
The summoner Path clapped her hands."Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive rhino with Rinnegan eyes charged forward. Naruto narrowed his eyes, caught its horn, and held it fast.
Nearby, Sakura gasped as Gamaken landed beside her, Tsunade cradled in his hand."Shishō!"
"I'm fine, Sakura." Tsunade's skin had gone pale, her strength fading.
"You've done enough, Lady Tsunade," Sakura whispered, fighting tears.
Meanwhile, Naruto heaved the rhino into the air and flung it skyward.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Two more beasts appeared. But before they could attack, Fukasaku and Shima leapt high.
"Sage Art: Frog Song!"
Waves of sound paralyzed the beasts in place.
Naruto dashed straight between them."Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two identical Narutos appeared, each forming a glowing blue sphere in their hands.
The real Naruto charged at Pain, while his clones hurled the spinning orbs at the immobilized beasts.
"Sage Art: Giant Rasengan!"
The attacks slammed into the creatures, launching them skyward.
"Shō, Ken, Hiroshi!" Naruto shouted, naming his clones as they struck.
"..."
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