Clang! Clang! Clang!
In a split second—
the chakra black rod and the cane collided over a hundred times.
Their speed—
so fast—
Konan and Orochimaru couldn't even follow it with their eyes.
To them—
the entire area around the statue tower—
was filled with countless straight, black geometric lines.
Afterimages.
The traces left behind by two monsters colliding.
Boom!
A metallic ripple spread like water.
After another clash—
they separated.
Standing atop two distant towers—
a hundred meters apart.
Between them—
the rain fell like a curtain—
as if dividing two different worlds.
"…!"
Orochimaru's pupils trembled violently.
Equal.
Kamizuki Gen—
was actually on par with the Deva Path.
"…It's over…"
He cursed inwardly.
"That old fool—has he lost his mind?!"
"A monster like this—"
"—and he let him become a rogue ninja?!"
"Konoha is digging its own grave!"
Then again—
what could Konoha even teach him now?
Brainwash him with the Will of Fire?
Ridiculous.
Konan was equally shaken.
This was the first time—
she had ever seen someone fight Pain to a standstill.
Her thoughts shifted.
Should they—
really recruit him?
On the tower—
Gen laughed.
"HAHAHA! This is incredible!"
He spun the cane in his hand.
After warming up—
he had fully adapted to this body.
To fight someone equal—
at this level—
was pure exhilaration.
Body and spirit—
both intoxicated.
The cane in his hand—
was already cracked beyond recognition.
Even the finest chakra metal—
couldn't compare to Pain's black rods forged through Yin–Yang Release.
But even so—
the shattered cane held together—
bound by Gen's overwhelming chakra.
Pain's expression grew serious.
He released the black rod—
letting it fall and shatter.
He had already gone through several.
And more importantly—
this boy's fighting style…
was strange.
He had immense chakra—
yet fought like a samurai.
No ninjutsu.
Only raw combat.
Decision made.
Pain formed hand seals.
The Rinnegan gleamed.
Boom!
The tower beneath Gen exploded—
and a bald, heavily augmented figure burst upward—
reaching for his throat.
The Asura Path.
Gen didn't even flinch.
Still smiling—
he raised his cane—
and smashed it down.
The difference in speed—
was absolute.
Gen's current stats—
matched the Deva Path.
The other Paths?
In his eyes—
they were nothing.
BOOM!!!
The strike landed clean.
The Asura Path's head—
exploded instantly.
It didn't even have time—
to activate its weapons.
Fragments scattered.
Its body—
fell lifelessly.
Gen didn't even look.
Because—
something else had already arrived.
Behind him—
like a ghost—
the Preta Path appeared.
Large.
Defensive.
It wrapped its arms around him—
locking him in place.
The Rinnegan glowed—
ready to absorb chakra.
But—
Gen simply tore free.
With raw strength.
He grabbed its throat—
and leapt down with it—
slamming it into the ground.
BOOM!!!
A massive crater—
hundreds of meters wide—
formed instantly.
Rainwater flooded in.
Gen stood up.
At the center—
the Preta Path lay in pieces.
Destroyed.
"…This…"
Orochimaru felt cold sweat run down his back.
Two Paths.
Gone.
Effortlessly.
There was no longer any doubt.
Then—
the rain stopped.
Not naturally—
but as if something massive—
had blocked the sky.
"…Nagato—no!"
Konan looked up—
her face changed instantly.
The ground trembled.
Inside the crater—
rocks began to rise—
pulled upward.
Gen looked to the sky.
Above—
countless fragments gathered—
forming a massive—
irregular—
terrifying sphere.
A miniature moon.
A prison.
A grave.
Gravity—
crashed down on him.
His body—
lost control.
He was dragged upward—
along with everything else.
That sphere—
was waiting for him.
"Chibaku Tensei."
Pain raised both hands.
Godlike power—
poured from the Rinnegan.
"Show me…"
"…your limits."
Konan exhaled in relief.
At least—
it wasn't being dropped.
Otherwise—
half of Amegakure would be gone.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"…So it ends here."
Even he—
felt awe.
This—
was divine power.
High above—
Gen stood on the surface of the growing sphere.
Upside down.
The sky below him.
The earth above.
Fragments continued to pile on—
sealing him in.
Pain watched.
"…What will you do?"
Gen looked up.
Their gazes met—
across the sky.
But—
no fear.
No panic.
Only—
calm.
He stepped—
and jumped.
Breaking free for a brief moment—
hovering level with the sphere.
He inhaled deeply.
Muscles bulged.
Veins surged.
His fist—
pulled back.
"FULL POWER—!!!"
His teeth clenched.
His right fist—
shot forward—
like a cannon.
Toward—
the star.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read chapters ahead on Patreon → patreon.com/c/CelestialInkstudios