"Splash--Splash--"
The rain in Rain Village seems to have never stopped since the village was born. Lead-gray clouds hang low over the sky, swallowing up all the light, leaving only endless, cold rain lines lashing against the towering iron towers, the damp streets, and the ever-turbulent sea outside the village.
"Pat... pat..."
The rhythmic sound of footsteps pierced through the clamor of the downpour and the roar of the waves, coming from the sea.
A figure, ignoring the Dotō below that could swallow a giant ship, walked step by step on the undulating sea as if walking on flat land.
The seawater sank and rippled beneath his feet, yet it could not touch him in the slightest.
A howling wind lifted the hem of his robe and cloak as he slowly made his way towards Rain Village.
In the sky, countless pieces of paper seemed to drift out, dancing against the rain, gathering together, and finally coalescing above the sea into a slender figure wearing a black robe embroidered with red clouds— Konan.
She hovered in the air, her paper wings unfurling slightly behind her. Raindrops fell on the paper, but mysteriously slid away without wetting it at all.
The two faced each other across the sea and the rain, dozens of meters apart.
" Obito, is he here?"
Menma's voice pierced through the wind and rain, without questioning or provocation, more like a confirmation inquiry.
Konan was silent for a moment, raindrops sliding down her pale cheeks. "We can't directly command that man." Her voice was as cold as ever. "Did things really have to come to this?"
"I don't want war either, but there's nothing I can do about it."
He raised his head slightly. "I don't want everyone around me to become something like White Zetsu in the future."
Turn into White Zetsu?
This made Konan frown; she didn't quite understand what it meant.
"I can explain it clearly," Menma continued. "But your companion who wields the Rinnegan ... is still immersed in the illusion of power brought by those eyes. No matter what I say now, he won't listen to me."
"Splash--!"
The rain intensified, crashing onto the sea and creating countless white foams.
A piece of plain white paper, drifting from the edge of Konan's wing, was whipped up by the gale and gently landed on the sea surface in front of Menma.
"Swish! Swish!"
Two figures burst forth from beneath the churning sea without warning! They moved so fast that they left only two blurry afterimages and streaks of water in the rain!
One man wielded a massive, menacing blade as wide as a door, its edge viciously slashing towards Menma's neck! The other man held two strangely shaped, fanged swords in each hand, swiftly thrusting them towards the Menma's knees!
The timing, the angle, and the coordination were all absolutely perfect!
However--
"Smack!"
A soft sound.
Without even turning his head completely, Menma casually raised his left hand, his palm precisely pressing against the massive blade that had slashed down to his neck!
There was no harsh, metallic clang; the slash was firmly blocked by a single palm, unable to advance an inch!
At the same time, he casually stepped forward with his right foot, landing squarely on the tips of the two swords that were aimed at his legs! The two swords were firmly under his foot, remaining motionless no matter how hard their owner tried to pull them away.
These two Jonin attacks, enough to instantly kill a Jonin, couldn't even leave a single wrinkle on Menma.
Menma's gaze calmly swept over the two attackers who had suddenly appeared, their faces now showing undisguised astonishment, and the iconic Ninja Blade in their hands.
"I see..."
"Is there Juzo Biwa, and Raiga Kurosuki?"
"Lightning—let him rest in peace!!"
Seeing that their joint attack had failed, Kurosuki Raiga Kurosuki immediately poured all his Lightning Release Chakra into his Lightning Blade, Kiba! The two swords clashed, unleashing a blindingly pale white lightning bolt!
"BOOM--!!!"
A bolt of lightning tore through the rain and struck hard Menma was standing!
At the same time, Juzo Biwa had already retreated hastily, his hands Hand Seals.
"I have no grudge against you, but this is the mission! Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"
A white mist suddenly appeared from the sea surface, spreading rapidly and enveloping an area of several hundred meters in the blink of an eye! Visibility was completely cut off.
However, Menma of the lightning strike, didn't even try to dodge.
He allowed the devastating pillar of lightning to engulf him completely.
The blinding lightning dissipated, and water vapor rose.
Menma's figure reappeared--
Unharmed.
Not to mention injuries, even his seemingly ordinary black robe didn't have the slightest scorch mark or damage.
"..."
From within the mist, the sound of Raiga Kurosuki gasping for breath could be heard.
Menma stood quietly on the sea surface. Around him, a strange force field, invisible and intangible, yet capable of making one's soul feel "stagnant," was quietly spreading.
[Divine Spell: Absolute Tranquility]
Originating from the power of the [ Star Eye ], it connects with the origin of the universe. It represents the planet within Menma's body, located at the edge of the Solar System, possessing the most extreme low temperatures and violent storms in the universe, symbolizing "isolation" and "absolute stagnation".
The [ Starry Sky Chakra ] granted by Neptune.
This technique creates a microscopic "energy stillness field" on the user's body.
Any energy form that attempts to invade this domain—whether it be Ninjutsu, chakra impact, or purely physical attack—will have its internal molecules or atoms forced to slow down until they come to a complete stop, thus losing all kinetic energy and destructive power.
Simply put, it means absolute immunity to Ninjutsu and Taijutsu.
The power of the stars allowed Naruto to step into a realm that transcends the Six Paths.
Throughout the Solar System, every planet bestows a unique "divine art" upon travelers who resonate with the stars.
The only thing that frustrated Naruto was that whenever he mastered a divine technique, his "true name" would immediately appear in his mind like a brand, as if the planet itself was telling him that he didn't even have the chance to choose a cooler name for himself...
" Summoning Technique!"
A sharp shout pierced through the fog!
"Roar--!!!"
Amidst a deafening roar, the silhouette of a colossal creature burst forth from the thick fog! It was an extremely bizarre monster, entirely pale, with fleshy wings on its back, its body appearing as if several ferocious animals had been crudely sewn together, exuding a chaotic and violent aura!
They weren't the distinctive Summoning Beast of the Six Paths of Pain, but rather more like some kind of... artificially synthesized weapon.
" The Chimera Technique Hiru?"
Menma's voice remained steady, carrying an assessing tone, "It seems you [Akatsuki] have indeed recruited quite a few 'interesting' talents."
The stitched-together monster locked onto Menma, letting out a bloodthirsty roar. Its massive, mountain-like body, accompanied by a foul stench, swung its claws and charged towards Menma, who was smaller than its finger.
"[ Susanoo ]!"
Just as the giant claw was about to strike—
A towering, crimson-red half-body energy giant, its skeleton, muscles, and armor instantly taking shape, radiating a chilling and majestic Dojutsu!
Wearing an animal mask, Shisui Uchiha appeared in front of Menma, manipulating the arms of his Susanoo to forcefully withstand the overwhelming attack of the fused monster!
"Boom--!!!"
The two enormous forces collided, and the shockwave violently pushed aside the surrounding seawater, creating a brief ring-shaped vacuum!
" Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Almost at the same time, a deep sound came from another direction.
Another figure appeared on the rocks in the sea not far away. Behind him, a masked monster mysteriously "emerged." The masked monster opened its mouth wide—
"Call--!!!"
A raging hurricane erupted from its mouth! The wind pressure was so strong that it instantly dispersed the dense fog that filled the sea, sweeping it away completely!