The Heavenly Screen showed the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, who had exhausted too much Chakra, leaping into view in front of Naruto to face the Six Paths of Pain. The Asura Path among them stared coldly at Naruto behind Tsunade, his mechanical voice icy and merciless. "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... I've finally found you." Before the words had faded, his body sprang into motion, shooting toward Tsunade like an arrow loosed from a bow. His arm instantly transformed into a sharp blade aimed straight at her vitals. But just as the blade was about to reach her, an orange figure flashed into view like lightning—it was Naruto! His fist, wreathed in raging Chakra, slammed into the Asura Path's mechanical body. With a tremendous crash, the Asura Path's body shattered in an instant, parts flying in all directions and turning to dust.
"It's me you want!" Naruto growled, his voice filled with suppressed anger and resolve. His gaze was as sharp as a blade as he stared at the remaining Pains ahead, as though he meant to see right through them. He stood tall, like a beast poised to strike, ready to tear apart the enemies before him at any moment.
Tsunade stood beside Naruto, her gaze flickering. For an instant, she seemed to see two familiar figures overlapping with him—one was Jiraiya, her dear friend who was always joking around and acting unseriously, yet was utterly dependable; the other was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage who had sacrificed himself to protect the village. Their will and their convictions seemed to live on in Naruto. The corners of Tsunade's mouth rose slightly, and an indescribable sense of relief welled up in her heart.
The atmosphere on the battlefield was heavy with tension. The remaining members of the Six Paths of Pain watched Naruto and Tsunade coldly, as though weighing their next move. Naruto, however, refused to give an inch. His fists were clenched, and Chakra boiled within him, as though proclaiming that no matter how powerful the enemy was, he would fight to the end and protect everything he cherished.
With the Asura Path smashed apart by Naruto's punch, the other five Paths reacted swiftly, taking up a tight defensive formation. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, like a precision killing machine, cold and merciless. The Animal Path attacked first, rapidly forming Hand Seals and shouting, "Summoning Technique!" In an instant, a massive summoned rhinoceros charged out of the smoke with a deafening roar, bearing straight down on Naruto.
Naruto, however, showed no fear. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he crouched slightly, then leaped up and seized the rhinoceros by its enormous horn. Drawing on the power of Senjutsu Chakra, he actually hurled the behemoth away!
Meanwhile, the two Toad Sages, Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima, also joined the fight. They quickly formed Hand Seals and chanted under their breath, trapping the other summoned beasts so they could not move. Naruto seized the chance, quickly gathering Chakra in both hands until a gigantic Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan took shape in his hand, radiating dazzling light. He charged at the trapped summoned beasts and slammed the Rasengan down hard.
"Boom!" With a tremendous crash, the summoned beasts were sent flying by the Rasengan's power, dissolving into smoke in midair. At the same time, Gamabunta and the other summoned toads joined the battle. Gamabunta swung his enormous sword and brought it down, easily dealing with the remaining summoned beasts. The situation on the battlefield reversed in an instant.
Naruto did not stop there, however. Fighting spirit burned in his eyes as he rapidly formed Hand Seals again, Chakra gathering in his hand into a rapidly spinning Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. He leaped up and hurled it hard at the five Paths of Pain. With a shriek that tore through the air, the Rasenshuriken sped toward the enemy like a meteor of destruction.
The five Paths of Pain quickly scattered to evade it, but the Rasenshuriken's range and speed far exceeded their expectations. Enormous energy erupted, tearing the ground apart and warping the air. Naruto stood at the front, his gaze blazing, as though declaring that he would never retreat from this battle, nor would he ever lose.
The battle reached a fever pitch. The Animal Path watched Naruto coldly, rapidly formed Hand Seals, and shouted, "Summoning Technique!" In an instant, a gigantic summoned bird burst from the smoke, spreading wings that blotted out the sky as it swooped straight at Naruto with a piercing cry. Its talons glinted coldly, as though they would tear Naruto to pieces.
Naruto reacted with incredible speed, however. His figure flashed, and with an explosive burst of Senjutsu Chakra, he instantly dodged the giant bird's deadly attack. Its talons missed and slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Seeing this, the Animal Path charged at Naruto without hesitation, trying to engage him at close range. Her movements were swift and fierce, every strike carrying a deadly threat.
Just then, the toad Sage Shima quickly formed Hand Seals and chanted, "Sage Art: Wind Release: Dust Storm!" A violent sandstorm swept across the battlefield in an instant, completely obscuring the surrounding view. Sharp blades of wind mingled with the dust, not only preventing the enemies from seeing their surroundings but also greatly hindering them. The figures of the five Paths of Pain became indistinct in the dust, and their movements slowed as their vision was blocked.
Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the Senjutsu Chakra within him flowing swiftly. Using the sensory ability granted by Sage Mode, he pinpointed the Animal Path's location. Though the dust obscured his vision, Naruto's senses were as precise as radar. He quickly gathered Chakra in both hands and shouted, "Twin Rasengan!"
In an instant, Naruto appeared before the Animal Path like a ghost. Each hand held a rapidly spinning Rasengan, and he drove them toward her body without hesitation. The first Rasengan slammed into the Animal Path's chest, and the second followed immediately, completely destroying her body.
The dust gradually settled, and the battlefield came into view once more. Naruto stood where he was, breathing slightly hard, but his gaze remained sharp as a blade. Deva Path Pain watched Naruto coldly, then closed in on him in an instant like a ghost. He was so fast that he reached Naruto almost in the blink of an eye. Naruto reacted swiftly and engaged him alongside Gamabunta. Gamabunta swung his enormous sword, its blade slicing fiercely through the air as it came down on the Deva Path. The Deva Path, however, dodged easily, leaped onto him, and rushed toward Naruto.
Seeing this, Naruto quickly leaped up, gathering Chakra in his hands as he tried to attack from the side. But the Deva Path flickered like a phantom, easily avoiding Naruto's assault. His Rinnegan were cold and merciless, as though they had seen through everything already. Naruto felt the Senjutsu Chakra within him being rapidly depleted.
At that critical moment, an idea struck Naruto. He quickly took a scroll from his back and threw it toward Sage Fukasaku, tossing it to the two Toad Sages. Sage Fukasaku reacted swiftly, catching the scroll and unfurling it. The densely packed runes on it glimmered faintly; it was the reverse summoning formula Naruto had prepared in advance.
Sage Fukasaku rapidly formed Hand Seals and shouted, "Reverse Summoning Technique!" A flash of white light appeared, and two Sage Mode clones of Naruto sprang from the scroll, landing firmly on the battlefield.
Deva Path Pain watched coldly, seemingly unconcerned by Naruto's strategy. He tried to pull Naruto and his clone toward him. Naruto's clone reacted swiftly, however, forming Hand Seals with the original as Naruto shouted, "Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!" A rapidly spinning Rasenshuriken took shape in his hand, and he hurled it straight at the Deva Path.
The battle entered its fiercest phase, and Naruto's Rasenshuriken was swiftly absorbed by the arriving Preta Path. The Preta Path's hands were like black holes, devouring every bit of the Rasenshuriken's energy. He then stared coldly at Naruto, as though mocking his helplessness. Naruto did not back down, however. His gaze remained firm as he swiftly gathered Chakra in both hands again and shouted, "Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
This time, Naruto did not attack directly. Instead, he threw the Rasenshuriken into the air while quickly tossing a smoke bomb. Smoke spread instantly, shrouding the entire battlefield. Deva Path Pain's Rinnegan flickered slightly as he tried to see what was happening within the smoke, but Naruto moved faster than he had anticipated.
The moment the smoke spread, Naruto used his Shadow Clone as cover and leaped down from the air, charging straight at the enemy behind the Preta Path. His fist, wreathed in raging Chakra, slammed into the enemy and utterly destroyed him. At the same time, Naruto's Sage Mode clone attacked from the other side, joining the original in a fierce assault on Deva Path Pain.
Deva Path Pain watched coldly as it all unfolded. He raised his hands slightly and shouted, "Shinra Tensei!" A powerful repulsive force erupted instantly, sending Naruto and his clone flying. Naruto's body tumbled through the air several times before crashing heavily to the ground, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. But he did not give up. He quickly climbed to his feet, his gaze as sharp as ever.
Just then, Gamabunta also joined the fight. They charged at Deva Path Pain from three directions, trying to buy Naruto time. The Deva Path merely smiled coldly and raised his hand again. "Shinra Tensei!" The powerful repulsive force sent all three toads flying as well. Their bodies slammed heavily into the ground, leaving them temporarily unable to fight.
Deva Path Pain fixed his gaze on Naruto again and shouted, "Banshō Ten'in!" A powerful attractive force erupted instantly, pulling Naruto inexorably toward him. Naruto tried to struggle, but the pull was too strong for him to resist. The moment he was drawn in front of the Deva Path, the Preta Path suddenly struck, grabbing Naruto.
The Preta Path's hands were like black holes as they began frantically absorbing the Chakra inside Naruto. Naruto felt his strength rapidly draining away, and his body gradually weakened. But then the Senjutsu Chakra within Naruto suddenly erupted. The Preta Path's absorption ability was powerful, but he could not withstand the pure energy of Senjutsu Chakra.
His body rapidly began to petrify, eventually turning into a stone statue that could no longer move. Naruto took the opportunity to break free and quickly retreat, putting distance between himself and Deva Path Pain.
Though his body was utterly exhausted, Naruto's gaze remained determined. He knew the battle was not over and that he had to keep going, for Konoha and for everything he cherished. Deva Path Pain watched Naruto coldly, seeming a little surprised by his tenacity, but he soon returned to his indifferent manner.
Deva Path Pain's Rinnegan were cold and merciless, as though everything were under his control. He slowly raised his hand and shouted, "Banshō Ten'in!" A powerful attractive force erupted instantly, and before Sage Fukasaku could react, it pulled him inexorably toward Pain. Deva Path Pain held a pitch-black rod in his hand and thrust it into Sage Fukasaku's body without hesitation.
Naruto's eyes widened, and he roared as he rushed over, but Deva Path Pain was faster. Sage Fukasaku's body trembled slightly, and he lost consciousness. The Deva Path threw him over, and Naruto hurriedly caught him.
Deva Path Pain fixed his gaze on Naruto again and shouted, "Banshō Ten'in!" Naruto felt an irresistible force pulling him inexorably toward Pain. Unable to move in midair, he could only watch as he flew toward the Deva Path. Just as Naruto drew close, the Deva Path knocked him to the ground and thrust out the Black Rods in his hand, pinning him firmly in place.
"Argh!" Naruto let out a muffled groan of pain, his body completely suppressed by the Black Rods' power and unable to move. His Chakra was blocked by the Black Rods, and he could not even maintain Sage Mode. Deva Path Pain stared coldly at Naruto, as though looking at trapped prey.
"Nine-Tails Jinchuriki captured." Deva Path Pain's voice was cold and merciless, as though announcing the end of the battle. He slowly raised his hand, preparing to bring Naruto completely under control and take him back to the Akatsuki to complete their plan.