Nagato's gaze for the first time showed an extremely shocked expression. Although he was very confident in the Gedo Mazo's power, Guy's current attack was too terrifying; he couldn't let anything happen to the Gedo Mazo.
Immediately with a flick of his wrist, the Six Paths Pain figures around him simultaneously flashed into the air to intercept Guy.
Deva Path, Hell Path, Animal Path, Human Path, Shura Path, and Preta Path—each of the Six Paths Pain had Rinnegan and different unique abilities. Deva Path immediately set up Shinra Tensei, trying to directly repel Guy's attack. Animal Path pressed on the vacuum space to summon fierce and strange giant monsters to pounce on Guy. The giant shadow of the King of Hell also suddenly appeared, joining the charge toward Guy.
At the same time, Nagato himself also dashed quickly into the air to attack Guy. All the Six Paths Pain abilities originated from him, so he could also use all those techniques. The Gedo Mazo spewed purple dragon-shaped chakra from its mouth, trying to swallow that red vapor.
However, the red vapor produced from Guy's opening of the Eighth Gate wasn't from chakra at all. It was very special blood vapor energy resulting from burning blood and vitality. The chakra dragon that usually always succeeded now had no effect whatsoever.
Guy's final attack burning his life truly proved his extraordinary power. Shinra Tensei that should be able to repel all forces, for the first time lost its function. That unbreakable shield was instantly shattered by the red dragon-shaped vapor. Layer upon layer of air shockwaves mixed with red vapor struck Deva Path's body very hard.
Deva Path's body instantly shattered into pieces in the air.
Nagato's pupils drastically contracted—he couldn't hold back a mournful cry: "Yahiko!"
That Deva Path puppet body was indeed made from his best friend Yahiko's corpse. Meanwhile, Preta Path and the other four paths also didn't end well. The summoned monsters also couldn't provide meaningful obstruction; they were pierced by Guy's red dragon vapor, making red blood spurt wildly.
People below held their breath while looking up. The sky seemed to rain blood, accompanied by body parts falling and hitting their faces.
Everyone was amazed by Guy's devastating attack; even someone as strong as Hashirama might not be able to perform an attack at this level.
However, just when everyone thought the Gedo Mazo would be destroyed by that attack, Nagato's figure suddenly blocked in front of Guy, withstanding Yakai's attack with his own body.
*BOOM!*
Nagato's chest caved very deeply into his body.
The green fire on the Everlasting Lantern at his shoulder trembled violently; the lamp oil shrank drastically at a speed visible to the naked eye, depleted by more than half in just one breath.
Guy's eyes widened, but Nagato instead smiled. His caved chest slowly recovered to its original form. He calmly wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, then struck his palm to Guy's chest and gave a hard kick.
Guy's body fell shooting to the ground like a missile.
Kakashi moved quickly, flashing into the air and catching Guy's body.
At this time, Guy had almost burned the remainder of his life; all his bones were shattered, he looked like he had just crawled out of a blood pool. His skin cracked everywhere, and blood flowed without stopping.
"Sorry... I failed..." Guy's mouth opened slightly, his voice very weak like a thread.
Kakashi's lips behind his mask trembled softly. His eyes were blood red with anger, and his entire body couldn't stop shaking.
Jiraiya roared madly: "Nagato, what exactly are you trying to do!"
Nagato, while holding Naruto whom he had seized back from Guy's hands, sighed long: "Doing what I should do!"
As he said this, he threw Naruto directly into the Gedo Mazo's mouth. From the statue's mouth, chakra energy resembling chains spurted out, connecting himself to Naruto's body.
Everyone could clearly see: inside Naruto's body, a nine-tailed fox was struggling and roaring loudly, forcibly dragged by those chains toward the Gedo Mazo's mouth.
No one expected that even though Guy had opened the Eighth Gate and launched such a terrifying attack, he still failed to stop Naruto's abduction by Nagato.
Nagato, who possessed the Gold List reward Everlasting Lantern, turned out to be able to withstand Guy's strongest attack alive.
This was the true power of the Gold List!
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"Guy..."
Hashirama's eyes suddenly widened. He turned toward the blood rain falling in the distance. The red vapor covering the sky like red clouds earlier had disappeared. The world seemed to fall into deep sadness.
"Why are you daydreaming instead!"
Seeing Hashirama daydreaming in the middle of battle, Enel felt underestimated. He swung Mjolnir's hammer and struck it hard toward Hashirama's head. Wild lightning resembling a python raged, making Hashirama's hair blow violently.
"Get lost—"
Hashirama suddenly exploded in anger. He just waved his hand. From the ground, very large tree roots shot high, coiling and locking Enel and Gin very tightly as if having life.
Giant wooden hands emerged from thin air and slapped both of them until they were repelled far away. Hashirama was already very angry; he had no more time to waste energy on these two people.
"We must go now!" Hashirama stared coldly at the black-robed figure in the distance with radiating killing intent. He knew the situation there was already very urgent. If he didn't go immediately, big problems would occur.
The black-robed figure stood motionless, staring at Hashirama and the other two in silence. After some time, he said slowly: "Fine. Today you did well—I'm satisfied. You may go."
After saying that, he waved his hand lightly. The tree roots locking Enel and Gin were cut. Both returned to his side, then the space around all three of them distorted, swallowing them until they disappeared without a trace.
"This First Place of the Gold List..." Tobirama stared at the direction they disappeared with thoughtful eyes. His face looked gloomy: "Something's wrong!"
Hashirama glanced at him and said coldly: "There's no time to think about that now—move quickly!"
After that, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Hiruzen dashed at full speed toward the direction of battle.
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Nagato who had lit the Everlasting Lantern was currently in a condition that was nearly unbeatable. As long as he didn't die, the Six Paths Pain could continuously be resurrected even after being destroyed.
Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the others, though they had exerted all their power, still couldn't break through Akatsuki's defensive line to save Naruto who was in the process of Bijuu extraction. They knew that as a Jinchuriki, Naruto shared fate with the nine-tails in his body; once the Bijuu was extracted, he would also die.