On the Heavenly Screen, the battle between Pain and Naruto, who had undergone Tailed Beast Transformation, grew ever fiercer. The entire battlefield seemed to be torn apart by violent Chakra. Naruto was completely dominated by the Tailed Beast's power. Crimson Chakra enveloped his body, and four tails lashed wildly through the air. Every attack carried the power to destroy heaven and earth. His claws tore through the air, the ground cracked beneath his feet, and rocks and dust flew everywhere, as if the whole world were trembling in his rage.
Pain was driven steadily back by Naruto's onslaught, almost powerless to fight back. He stumbled as the fierce attacks forced him farther and farther back, as if he might fall at any moment. Yet despite being at an overwhelming disadvantage, there was not a trace of panic or pain on his face. Instead, he was exceptionally calm. His gaze was profound and indifferent, as though he had anticipated all of this.
Just as Naruto's transformed fist was about to strike again, Pain suddenly spoke. His voice was low and calm, carrying an indescribable detachment. "Do you hate me?" The question seemed to pierce through the clamor of battle and strike Naruto's heart. There was no provocation or anger in Pain's voice, only an almost compassionate calm, as though he had long since seen through the nature of hatred and even transcended hatred itself.
Naruto, in his Tailed Beast form, had completely lost his reason. A scarlet Chakra Cloak enveloped his body, and his tails danced wildly through the air, as though they would tear everything apart. Only a beastlike ferocity remained in his eyes, and a low growl rumbled from his mouth. He seemed unable to distinguish friend from foe, driven by nothing but an instinctive desire to destroy. Naruto did not answer Pain's question—or rather, he could no longer answer. His consciousness had been swallowed by the Nine-Tails' anger, leaving only endless frenzy and the urge to destroy.
The sky had darkened because of Naruto's Tailed Beast Transformation, thick clouds gathering as though even nature felt oppressed by the battle. Fierce winds howled, lightning flickered faintly among the clouds, and an apocalyptic atmosphere hung over the entire battlefield. Pain stood before Naruto, his expression still calm despite the terrifying power he faced. He looked up at the sky, swallowed by darkness, as though questioning the entire world.
"Even now, can you still say that people can truly understand one another?" Pain's voice was low and forceful, filled with deep disappointment and helplessness. His words revealed his doubts about the nature of the world, as though telling Naruto that hatred and pain were its truth, while understanding and peace were no more than illusory hopes.
Then Pain's voice rose sharply, as though he meant to unleash all the pain that had built up inside him for so long. "My pain is greater than yours!" The words exploded across the battlefield like thunder,
Pain and Naruto, who had already undergone Tailed Beast Transformation, faced each other as fierce winds howled and sand and stones flew. A heart-stopping battle was about to begin. Pain's gaze was cold as he quickly formed Hand Seals. The Black Rods behind him flashed with an eerie light, and several sharp attacks shot toward Naruto like black lightning. Orange Tailed Beast Chakra surged around Naruto like a blazing fire. He roared and swung his enormous claws, smashing each of Pain's attacks in turn. Every collision unleashed a deafening boom, blasting enormous craters into the ground and sending earth and stone flying.
Just as the battle reached a fever pitch, with both sides fighting at full strength and neither giving ground, the necklace Tsunade had personally given Naruto suddenly shone with a blinding light. A mysterious power stirred faintly within it. Seemingly sensing the danger of Naruto's rampage, it activated on its own, intending to forcibly seal his out-of-control power. The light from the necklace wound toward Naruto like ropes. Sensing the strange restraint, Naruto's eyes flashed red. With a roar, he seized the necklace in his huge, fanlike hand. Crack! The necklace, which carried so many memories and the meaning of protection, was crushed in an instant, dissolving into specks of light that scattered on the wind.
But this brief interruption did not stop the fight. Pain seized the opportunity to launch another fierce attack, attempting to bring Naruto under control. Naruto paid it no mind. He threw back his head and roared, his body swelling once more. The surging power of the Tailed Beast burst through every obstacle like a flood through a broken dam, rushing toward Pain. Once again, the two fell into a fiercely intense fight to the death, every clash seeming to tear the world apart.
The real Shinobi World
Tsunade looked up, her gaze fixed on the necklace, as though an invisible force had pulled her into a whirlpool of memories. Images of the past flashed through her mind one after another like a revolving lantern. After countless partings and deaths, through years of turmoil, the necklace had once again become a comfort in the softest corner of her heart. And now it had appeared around that brat's neck.
Heavenly Screen video
Naruto, in his Tailed Beast form, lay in the water with his mouth pointing upward. Chakra gathered, and a pitch-black Tailed Beast Bomb rapidly formed in his mouth, radiating a suffocating pressure.
"Tailed Beast Bomb!"
Pain stood in the distance. Though the shockwaves of battle had left his body swaying slightly, his expression remained as calm as ever. He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the enormous explosion. "The power of the Nine-Tails really is remarkable," he said evenly.
Rather than meet it head-on, Pain quickly turned and ran into the distance. His movements were light and swift, as though he were guiding something. Seeing this, Naruto, in his Tailed Beast form, let out an earth-shaking roar and gave chase without hesitation. Every step shook the earth, and his crimson Chakra left a long trail behind him, as though it would burn the entire world to ashes.
At last, Pain stopped near a forest and turned to face Naruto, who was close behind. He looked at him through his Rinnegan, his voice still calm. "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, your power is indeed astonishing, but this is as far as you go."
Meanwhile, Nagato, hidden in the shadows, slowly raised his hands and formed a complex seal. His body was weak, but a resolute light shone in his Rinnegan. He murmured, "Chibaku Tensei, begin."
As Nagato activated his Ninjutsu, the earth began to tremble violently, as though an invisible force were surging up from deep underground. Loose stones, soil, trees, and even whole stretches of rubble were pulled by a powerful gravitational force, slowly rising into the sky. The ground beneath Naruto's feet also began to crack. Huge chunks of rock were torn free by the pull and sent flying skyward.
Naruto let out an angry roar, trying to resist the pull with the Tailed Beast's power, but his body was still gradually drawn off the ground. The surrounding rocks and soil rapidly gathered around him, forming an enormous sphere that enclosed him. The sphere grew larger and larger, hovering in the air like a small planet and radiating a suffocating pressure.
Pain stood on the ground, looking up at the gradually forming "Chibaku Tensei."
Konan stood beside Nagato, her brows slightly furrowed and a hint of concern in her eyes. Looking at the enormous sphere slowly rising into the sky in the distance, she said softly, "Nagato, is it really necessary to go this far?"
Nagato was breathing slightly hard. Clearly, using such powerful Ninjutsu had placed a considerable strain on his body. His Rinnegan remained fixed on the Chibaku Tensei in the sky as he spoke in a firm, calm voice. "Konan, that's the Nine-Tails. We can't afford to be careless."
He paused, a profound light flashing in his eyes as though he were recalling something. "Besides, compared to the moon the legendary Sage of Six Paths created, this is nothing."
Konan fell silent for a moment, then nodded gently. She knew Nagato's resolve and understood how terrifying the Nine-Tails' power was. She said no more, simply standing silently beside Nagato and watching the Chibaku Tensei in the sky.
Nagato continued, "Once Chibaku Tensei is fully formed, the Nine-Tails will be completely sealed inside it. Then our plan will be complete. Capturing the Nine-Tails will be a crucial step toward achieving peace."
In the real Shinobi World, many of the shinobi watching the Heavenly Screen video witnessed the astonishing scene of Nagato unleashing Chibaku Tensei. They were all stunned by its world-destroying power.
Raikage's Office
Fourth Raikage A slammed his fist onto the desk, shattering it instantly. His eyes widened as he stared at the enormous sphere on the distant Heavenly Screen and roared, "Are you kidding me?! Ninjutsu like that is challenging the very limits of the Shinobi World!"
Ōnoki floated in the air, staring at the Chibaku Tensei on the Heavenly Screen with a deep frown. "Ninjutsu on this scale reminds me of that terrifying man, Madara Uchiha..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stood on Konoha's Kage Rock, gazing from afar at the enormous Chibaku Tensei in the sky. The pipe in his hand stopped moving without his realizing it. His eyes filled with shock and gravity as he murmured, "This power... it's terrifying. Even in the Shinobi World War of the past, I never saw Ninjutsu on such a scale. Perhaps only the First Hokage, Lord Hashirama's secret Wood Release techniques, could match it."
The image of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, involuntarily rose in his mind. That man, known as the God of Shinobi, had once used secret Wood Release techniques to suppress the Nine-Tails and had even fought an earth-shaking battle with Madara Uchiha. The Third Hokage sighed deeply.
Meanwhile, at Root's secret base, Danzo stood in a dim room, watching the video on the Heavenly Screen. When the Chibaku Tensei appeared before him, a cold light flashed in his one eye, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "That man... he's become so powerful. It's unbelievable," he muttered.
His thoughts returned to a night in the Land of Rain many years ago. Back then, he had joined forces with Hanzo of the Salamander to ambush the young Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, attempting to nip the Akatsuki in the bud. Nagato had displayed the power of the Rinnegan then, but he had been nowhere near his current level.
"Hmph. If I'd known, I should have finished him off back then." Danzo's voice carried a hint of regret and malice. "The power of the Rinnegan really is extraordinary. Just how did he master that power?"
Danzo's gaze grew even darker. He tightened his grip on his cane and began considering a new plan. No matter what, the power of the Rinnegan must be mine to use. Whether Nagato or Naruto, their powers will become tools for achieving my goal.
In the daimyo's residences across the various countries, the nobles who had always stood above everyone else had fallen into an unprecedented panic. They had witnessed the terrifying scene of Nagato unleashing Chibaku Tensei on the Heavenly Screen. That world-destroying power filled the daimyo, who ordinarily lived in comfort and privilege, with deep fear.
Daimyo's residence, Land of Fire
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire sat in a lavish hall, the fan in his hand trembling slightly. His face was pale, and a hint of panic entered his voice. "Is... is this the power of a shinobi? That Nagato can actually use such terrifying Ninjutsu! If that power were used against us, wouldn't we be completely unable to fight back?"
His advisers nodded in agreement, and one of them said quietly, "Lord Daimyo, the power of shinobi has already gone far beyond our control. We must find a way to suppress them, or else... the consequences will be unthinkable."
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Give the order. Summon all the staff and advisers. We must devise a plan. The power of shinobi must be kept within controllable limits!"
Daimyo's residence, Land of Wind
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind stood on a raised platform, staring at the distant Heavenly Screen with a deep frown. His voice carried a hint of anger and unease. "That Nagato is a monster!"
Daimyo's residence, Land of Lightning
The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning slammed his fist onto the table and roared, "Are you kidding me?! He can use such terrifying Ninjutsu! What about our Land of Lightning's shinobi? Isn't there anyone who can stand against him?"
Daimyo's residence, Land of Earth
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth sat in his chair, his face dark. There was a hint of coldness in his voice. "The power of shinobi has already become a threat to our rule."
Daimyo's residence, Land of Water
The Daimyo of the Land of Water stood by the window, frowning deeply as he watched the Heavenly Screen. His voice carried a hint of worry. "The power of shinobi is beyond anything we imagined. It's a threat to our rule. If we don't take action, sooner or later the shinobi will threaten our position."