The real Shinobi World...
Land of Earth, Iwagakure
Standing beneath the Heavenly Screen, Ōnoki's small frame seemed unusually heavy. He had been weighing the pros and cons of a "new friendly policy" with Konoha, but now, all his political calculations were shattered by the scene before him—
"Boom--!"
In the Heavenly Screen, Gate of Death Might Guy's "Evening Elephant" erupted one after another, and the shockwaves from the air cannons even made the real-world Iwagakure tremble slightly. Ōnoki's pupils contracted violently, and every wrinkle on his aged face was etched with shock.
(This power... each strike is enough to destroy a mountain!)
As someone who experienced the Two Scales Shinobi World War, he knew all too well the terror of this power—back then, Madara Uchiha could rout the Iwagakure army with just a glance, and now, the Six Paths Madara in the scene actually took all the attacks... and just wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, laughing like a madman who had found a new toy!
"What a joke..." Ōnoki's fist clenched involuntarily, his nails digging deep into his palm.
(If this monster were to be resurrected... the entire Shinobi World would be crushed!)
"Lord Tsuchikage!" Akatsuchi, standing beside him, anxiously supported him. "Are you alright?"
Ōnoki did not answer, but stared intently at the figure of Six Paths Madara laughing wildly in the Heavenly Screen, a sharp light flashing in his turbid eyes.
"Immediately summon the Explosion Corps and the Anbu." He suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse but resolute. "The pursuit and capture of Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi must be intensified!"
Land of Wind - Sunagakure
On the towering sand tower, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro stood side by side, gazing up at the fierce battle in the Heavenly Screen.
When the scene showed Gaara controlling a cloud of sand to send Kakashi into the sky, Kankuro couldn't help but whistle and grin:
"Hey, I thought you were just watching the show in there, turns out you're actually quite useful!"
Temari chuckled, then punched Kankuro on the head with her backhand, saying irritably:
"If you can't speak properly, then shut up! Do you think everyone is like you, just hiding behind Puppet?"
Kankuro clutched his head, wailing dramatically, "Hey, hey, I fight with my brain! Besides, what's wrong with Puppet Technique? Puppet Technique is pretty strong too!"
Temari rolled her eyes, too lazy to pay him any attention.
Gaara, however, simply gazed silently at the Heavenly Screen.
The image of Kakashi being lifted up by the sand clouds was reflected deeply in his eyes.
(My skills... are far from sufficient.)
The "self" in the Heavenly Screen, though participating in the battle, was ultimately only an auxiliary force. Against an enemy like Six Paths Madara, no matter how fast the sand was, it couldn't catch up with the godlike Gate of Death Might Guy; no matter how strong the defense was, it couldn't withstand the annihilation power of the Truth-Seeking Orb.
(If such a crisis were to actually occur in the future... I absolutely cannot just be a bystander.)
He slowly clenched his fist, the sand flowing silently in his palm, as if in response to his determination.
Temari noticed his silence and turned her head to ask, "What's wrong, Gaara?"
Gaara withdrew his gaze, his voice low but firm:
"After the Heavenly Screen display finishes, I need to revise my cultivation plan."
The wind and sand swept across his face, and a long-dormant fighting spirit ignited in his emerald eyes.
(Become stronger... strong enough to change the future!)
On a hill within the Land of Lightning.
Kisame Hoshigaki sat cross-legged, Samehada leaning against him, the blade gleaming coldly in the Heavenly Screen. He looked up at the battle in the Heavenly Screen that defied common sense; each of Gate of Death Might Guy's attacks distorted the air, and the shockwaves seemed capable of tearing the earth apart.
"Mr. Itachi, that Konoha Taijutsu ninja is terrifyingly strong..." Kisame grinned, his shark-like teeth gleaming menacingly in the shadows. "That air cannon... it terrified me. Did you know anything about that guy back in the village?"
Uchiha Itachi stood silently to the side, his dark eyes reflecting the crimson figure in the Heavenly Screen.
"Not very familiar with it," he replied casually.
That's the truth.
Back in Konoha, he would occasionally see the man in the green bodysuit running upside down around the village, shouting things like "youth." At the time, Itachi just thought the man was ridiculously exaggerated, even a little comical.
(I never imagined... that it could be this powerful.)
He narrowed his eyes slightly, but his thoughts drifted to a more distant place.
(Where exactly is Orochimaru hiding?)
(Sasuke is in his hands, what's his situation now?)
Kisame's gaze remained fixed on the Heavenly Screen.
Despite being repeatedly bombarded by Gate of Death Might Guy's "Evening Elephant," Six Paths Madara simply wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he got up, laughing maniacally in a defiant manner. That overwhelming power stirred a strange ripple within Kisame's heart.
(A fake "Madara Uchiha"... a fake Eye of the Moon Plan...)
His memories came flooding back—
During his time in the Kirigakure's Anbu, he was ordered to carry out a mission. Faced with the encirclement of Konoha's Ibiki Morino, his teammates looked on in despair. But he, without hesitation, swung his sword and killed them all.
"Rather than being tortured to death... I'd rather send you on your way myself."
He personally slit the throat of the Suikazan Fuguki; that once high-ranking superior was nothing but a coward in the face of death.
--Until the Masked Man who called himself "Madara Uchiha" appeared and showed him an "ideal world" without pain using his Sharingan.
(How ironic...)
Now, Heavenly Screen truth has been revealed: the Masked Man was "Madara Uchiha," but so what?
He was already mired in a quagmire, with no way to turn back.
"What a fake Shinobi World..." Kisame suddenly sighed in a low voice.
Itachi glanced at him sideways, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
Kisame didn't explain, but simply reached out and stroked the blade of Samehada, the rough texture reminding him of the warmth of fresh blood.
(Whether it's fake or real...)
(My blade will only strike this decaying world.)
The Land of Rain, deep within the tower.
In the dimly lit chamber, the mechanical devices emitted a low hum, and the Chakra tubes of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path were wrapped around Nagato's emaciated body like blood vessels.
His deep-set eyes, those Rinnegan, were fixed on the battle in the Heavenly Screen, his pupils contracting slightly with each explosion.
(Six Paths Madara... he withstood such an attack and was completely unharmed?)
Gate of Death Might Guy's "Evening Elephant" was powerful enough to shatter mountains, but Six Paths Madara merely wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and laughed even more maniacally. That almost godlike power made Nagato's fingers unconsciously clench the armrest.
(I need... that form.)
His breathing became rapid, and a sharp pain shot through his chest. His broken body was already beyond repair; each use of the Rinnegan felt like burning away his life force. His original plan was to remain hidden behind the scenes, using the Six Paths of Pain to act on his behalf. But now—
(The Heavenly Screen revealed everything.)
Nagato thought about what he had told Konan: that he was an invincible god.
Invincible?...
The Six Paths Madara projected on the Heavenly Screen was truly "invincible," while his own body, barely clinging to life, could barely even leave the secret chamber.
(If such a battle were to break out in the future... how should I respond?)
He closed his eyes, and memories flooded back—
--Yahiko's body lay cold in his arms, raindrops mingling with blood as they slid down.
He vowed to become a "god" and bring peace through suffering.
But now, even this "divinity" has been torn to shreds by the Heavenly Screen.
(I must regain my health... I must gain greater power!)
He suddenly opened his eyes, a resolute glint flashing in his Rinnegan.
"Konan," his voice was hoarse like rusty iron scraping, "Contact Jue... I need to know all the information about the 'Six Paths Power'."
Konan frowned slightly. "But our plan..."
"The plan has changed." Nagato interrupted her, the mechanical device creaking shrilly in response to his emotional fluctuations. "This world... is more dangerous than we imagined."
Outside the window, the torrential rain in Amegakure never stops.
And the Nagato in the secret chamber finally tore off the disguise of "god".