Clang—clang—clang—
In the blink of an eye—
The chakra black rod and the cane collided hundreds of times.
Speed—
Beyond perception.
Even Konan and Orochimaru—
Couldn't follow.
…
All they saw—
Were traces.
Endless black streaks—
Slashing across space.
Afterimages—
Of two monsters colliding.
…
BOOM—
A final impact.
A ripple—
Like water—
Spread through the air.
…
They separated.
Two towers—
Hundreds of meters apart.
Rain—
Falling like a curtain—
Dividing two worlds.
…
"…!"
Orochimaru's pupils trembled violently.
Equal…
He's actually equal to Pain…
…
This—
Was a disaster.
"A genius like this…"
"…and Konoha let him go?"
"…Are they trying to destroy themselves?"
He cursed inwardly.
…
Konan remained silent.
For the first time—
She witnessed someone—
Matching Pain.
Blow for blow.
…
And now—
She had to decide.
Accept him?
Or—
Fear him?
…
On the tower—
Yuan laughed.
"Hahaha—this is incredible!"
He spun the cane in his hand.
Fully adapted.
Fully in control.
…
This level—
This power—
Fighting an equal—
Was pure exhilaration.
…
His weapon—
Was breaking.
Cracks spread—
Like shattered glass.
After all—
No forged weapon—
Could rival Pain's Yin–Yang black rods.
…
And yet—
It didn't collapse.
Because—
His chakra—
Held it together.
…
Pain's expression hardened.
He released the black rod.
It shattered on the ground.
…
Not the first.
Not the last.
He had already gone through several.
…
This boy—
Fought like a warrior.
Not a shinobi.
No techniques.
No tricks.
Only—
Overwhelming force.
…
Decision made.
Hands formed seals.
The Rinnegan—
Glowed.
…
BOOM—
The tower beneath Yuan—
Exploded.
From the collapsing debris—
A figure shot upward.
A bald, armored giant—
Covered in spikes.
The Asura Path.
…
It lunged—
Straight for his throat.
…
Yuan's smile widened.
He raised his cane—
And—
SWUNG.
…
Too fast.
Too heavy.
Too absolute.
…
CRASH—
Direct hit.
…
The head—
Exploded.
No resistance.
No defense.
Just—
Gone.
…
Metal fragments scattered.
The body—
Fell.
…
Yuan didn't even glance at it.
…
Behind him—
A presence.
Silent.
Sudden.
…
The Preta Path.
…
Its arms wrapped around him—
Locking him in place.
Trying to absorb—
His chakra.
…
Too late.
…
Yuan broke free—
With pure strength.
Grabbed its neck—
And—
SLAMMED it down.
…
BOOM—
The earth collapsed.
A crater—
Hundreds of meters deep.
Rainwater—
Pouring in instantly.
…
At the center—
Yuan stood.
…
The Preta Path—
Destroyed.
Limbs scattered.
Silent.
…
"…This…"
Orochimaru stepped back.
Cold sweat slid down his spine.
…
Two Paths—
Gone.
Just like that.
…
The rain—
Stopped.
…
No—
Blocked.
…
"Nagato…!"
Konan looked up.
Her face—
Pale.
…
The ground trembled.
…
Rocks—
Lifted.
Floating.
Rising past Yuan—
Ascending into the sky.
…
Above—
A mass began to form.
Debris.
Stone.
Steel.
…
A sphere.
Irregular.
Massive.
…
A star—
Descending.
…
Gravity—
Crushed everything.
…
Yuan's body—
Pulled upward.
Control—
Slipping.
…
The sky—
Became his grave.
…
"Planetary Devastation."
Pain raised both hands.
His voice—
Cold.
Absolute.
"Show me."
"Your limit."
…
Konan exhaled slowly.
Relief—
Mixed with fear.
At least—
It wasn't falling.
Otherwise—
The entire Rain Village—
Would be erased.
…
"Is it over…?"
Orochimaru muttered.
Watching.
Hoping.
…
Above—
Yuan stood.
Upside down.
On the forming sphere.
Sky below.
Earth above.
…
Gravity—
Still pulling.
Still compressing.
…
Pain watched.
Silent.
Curious.
…
But—
No fear.
No hesitation.
On Yuan's face—
Nothing.
…
Then—
He moved.
A single step.
A leap—
Breaking gravity—
For an instant.
…
He inhaled.
Deep.
…
Muscles tensed.
Veins bulged.
…
His arm—
Drew back.
…
"FULL POWER—"
"PUNCH!!!"
…
His fist shot forward—
Like a cannon.
…
And struck—
The star.