His stance shifted—subtle and relaxed—but the change carried weight. The ground beneath Naruto's feet groaned softly before cracking, thin fractures spreading outward as natural energy pooled around him, invisible yet oppressive, like the air itself had grown heavier.
Across the field, Pain watched him closely. His face remained calm, composed as ever, yet his eyes lingered longer than before, tracing Naruto's movements with deliberate care. For the first time since stepping onto this battlefield, certainty no longer guided his thoughts.
Naruto's form vanished in a sharp burst of speed, kicking up a violent rush of wind and dust.
He slipped past the towering summons in an instant, their massive bodies reacting a moment too late, and appeared directly beside the Animal Path. Her eyes widened, shock flashing across her face as she twisted toward him, hands starting to rise—
Too slow.
Naruto's fist thrust forward and buried itself into her abdomen.
BAAM
The impact echoed across the wasteland. Sage-enhanced force exploded outward, sending her body flying as she tore through the air, streaking past Pain before crashing hard into the ground with a dull, dragging skid.
At the same time, her summons unraveled, collapsing into massive clouds of smoke that billowed outward with a deep whoomph, swallowing the area before slowly dispersing.
The Naraka Path moved instantly, catching her mid-fall. Without hesitation, it dragged her toward the looming King of Hell, its grotesque mouth creaking open as it prepared to restore her broken body.
But Naruto had already moved again.
He appeared behind Naraka in a flicker, his hand clamping down on its shoulder with crushing pressure. The Path stiffened. Pain turned sharply, his ripple-patterned eyes narrowing as he realized Naruto was now standing directly behind him.
Naruto drew his arm back, Sage chakra coiling tightly around his fist, ready to strike—
"Banshō Ten'in."
The air snapped.
An invisible force seized Naruto mid-motion and violently yanked him forward, dragging him across the battlefield at blinding speed. The sudden pull compressed the air around him, fabric snapping as he was hurled straight toward Pain.
Naruto didn't fight it.
His lips curled into a grin.
He just made my job easier, he thought.
While being pulled forward, Naruto reached into his pouch and snapped his wrist, sending a kunai spinning ahead of him.
Wheepp
Pain reacted instantly, forming a black chakra rod in his hand and swinging to deflect it—but his focus stayed on the blade itself.
Not the paper tags wrapped tightly around it.
BOOOOM
The explosion detonated right in front of him, fire and smoke bursting outward with a concussive roar. Pain was launched backward, tearing through the smoke before crashing into the ground with a heavy crack, debris scattering as the earth buckled beneath him.
The invisible pull vanished.
Naruto landed cleanly, boots scraping stone as he absorbed the impact and surged forward without slowing. His attention was already locked onto the Naraka Path.
Chakra spiraled violently into his palm, air whining as a large Rasengan formed, its rotation deep and unstable, tugging at everything nearby.
Naruto closed the distance in a heartbeat and slammed the Rasengan into Naraka's torso.
BOOOOM
The technique chewed through the body from the inside out, shredding it completely as the Path was launched backward, smashing into a distant tree with a splintering crash before collapsing lifelessly.
Naruto straightened slowly, the fading wind from the Rasengan stirring dust around his feet.
Only one Path was left now.
Naruto slowly turned.
Pain was already rising from the crater, dust sliding off his cloak as he straightened.
Parts of the black robe were scorched and torn from the explosion, the red clouds singed at the edges, yet most of it still hung intact around his frame. His posture was calm, deliberate—too calm for someone who had just been blasted across a battlefield.
Their eyes met.
Far away, hidden deep within the metal tower, Nagato stared through Pain's vision in stunned silence. Calculations raced through his mind, each one unraveling faster than the last.
This wasn't just unexpected—it was wrong. The Six Paths were supposed to be overwhelming. Absolute.
Beside him, Konan noticed the pause.
"…What's wrong?" she asked quietly, her paper wings rustling faintly.
Nagato didn't answer her.
Instead, he spoke.
His voice carried through Pain, cold and heavy, echoing across the ruined clearing.
"You are the first to come this far, Naruto Uzumaki. I'll give you that," Pain said, his gaze never leaving Naruto. "But now that they're gone, I can finally fight without holding back."
The pressure in the air shifted subtly, like a storm tightening its grip.
"I will make sure you feel pain," he continued, voice steady and absolute, "and so will your village—after I am finished with you."
The moment the words ended, Pain moved.
But not toward Naruto.
He shot away in a blur, body cutting through the terrain as he vanished into the forest, branches snapping and leaves exploding in his wake.
Naruto watched him go, head tilting slightly.
' Figures,' he thought.
Pain moved through the forest with practiced efficiency, ducking low branches, leaping over roots, twisting between trees as if he knew the terrain by heart. His speed was precise, purposeful—not panic, but intent.
Naruto followed.
Not rushed. He moved at a steady pace, feet barely touching the ground as he slipped between trees, letting Pain widen the gap.
His breathing remained calm, Sage Mode steady, natural energy flowing without resistance.
' He's trying to get closer to the host,' Naruto thought, eyes sharp.' A better range, he gets more power.'
A smirk tugged at his lips.
' Should I stop him?' No. I can take him either way.'
The forest began to thin.
Trees spaced out, light breaking through the canopy as they reached a wide clearing.
Pain came to a stop first, turning slowly to face Naruto, cloak swaying as the wind passed through the open space.
A second later, Naruto landed across from him, boots crunching softly against dirt and scattered leaves.
They stood there, facing each other, the forest silent around them.
Naruto broke the silence first.
"I thought you were gonna run forever," he said casually. "Guess you're not a coward after all."
Pain didn't react immediately. His eyes remained fixed on Naruto, unwavering.
"In the shinobi world," he replied calmly, "there are no cowards. Only those who know when to retreat… and when to stand."
Naruto chuckled, rolling his shoulders as the tension between them thickened.
"Yeah," he said with a grin, "that's exactly what a coward would say."
TO BE CONTINUED