A Way to Turn the Tables

Nagato currently possesses the Rinnegan, but he dares not unleash Rinnegan full power. This is because his body is riddled with holes, and if he is not careful, it could cause an uneven distribution of Chakra. In that case, even without the Masked Man attacking him, he would instantly revert to the state he was in when the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was drained dry.

"Nagato."

Seeing Nagato struggling to stay afloat, Konan felt a pang of heartache. If it weren't for wanting to save her, Nagato wouldn't be in this state. As the only person Nagato trusted, Konan knew that Nagato couldn't maintain this condition for long, and once she came out of it, Nagato wouldn't live much longer. It was precisely because she knew this that Konan blamed herself even more for being so weak and holding Nagato back.

"You'd better not go over there. They're not like me, showing any mercy to women."

Zabuza used his Kubikiribōchō to block Konan's path, preventing her from going to support Nagato.

"Get out of the way."

Konan roared furiously, her icy gaze fixed on Zabuza.

"Hehe."

You're a stray dog now. You're no longer that lofty "angel."

"Recognize your place, woman."

Zabuza said mockingly.

Konan, ruthless and taciturn, charged forward, her kunai aimed precisely at Zabuza's throat. Zabuza hadn't expected the usually cold and aloof Konan to be so ruthless in combat, striking with a deadly move right from the start.

Zabuza hands imbued with Chakra, easily seized the Konan's hand. A smile crept onto Zabuza's lips, and he was about to taunt Konan when, unexpectedly, the moment Zabuza grasped Konan's kunai, she Zabuza released it. Then, as if by magic, a brand new kunai flew out from her wide sleeve and was caught in Konan's hand.

Konan's movements quickened. Zabuza reacted swiftly. Kubikiribōchō horizontally, intending to cleave Konan in two. But he stopped halfway through. Zabuza's mission was to trap Konan, preventing her from supporting Nagato, but he couldn't kill her. If Konan died, who knew what foolish things Nagato might do? What if he destroyed the Rinnegan? That would be a huge loss.

Zabuza is now the Masked Man's confidant, so he cannot disobey the Masked Man's orders. Konan smiled slightly, as if she had known all along that Zabuza would make this choice.

Zabuza stood still, showing no sign of preparing for anything. Konan thought to herself that Zabuza had given up.

"As expected of a lackey! So obedient to its master."

But before Konan could succeed, countless flying needles came from the side, their target being none other than Konan. Now, Konan faced two choices. First, continue the attack, risking her life for another. Second, retreat; the flying needles were merely there to block Konan's attacks, not to kill her.

"Why."

Konan sighed inwardly. She had finally backed down.

"Konan, you're being nosy."

Zabuza wasn't happy; instead, he scolded Haku for helping him. In Zabuza's eyes, "I didn't ask you for help, so your intervention was meddling."

"It was my fault, I disturbed your hunt, Mr. Zabuza."

Haku immediately apologized to Zabuza. Although Haku didn't think he had done anything wrong, since Zabuza said he was wrong, then he must be wrong. Zabuza held a supreme position in Haku's heart.

"The Kekkei Genkai."

Konan's expression turned grim when she saw the suddenly appearing ice house. It was another enemy subordinate, and a rather strong one at that. Keep in mind, Konan had attacked first, yet Bai's ice needles had managed to strike first despite being a second move – that was incredibly impressive.

The stronger the enemy, the more uncertain it becomes whether Konan and Nagato will be able to escape.

"Got it."

Konan slapped her head, feeling a pang of regret for not thinking of it sooner.

Konan prepared to use the unexploded Explosive Tag to deal with the two people in front of her.

"Nagato, I'm sorry. Just kill me already."

Yahiko spoke to Nagato. Because Yahiko was now essentially an executioner, and he wanted to harm his friend. Although Yahiko told Nagato to get rid of him as soon as possible, things didn't go as planned! Yahiko was the one who struck the hardest.

Nagato at Yahiko's face, Nagato naturally wouldn't go all out against him, because that face frequently appeared in Nagato's dreams.

Nagato didn't use his full strength against Yahiko, but the other ninjas weren't so lucky. They were brutally beaten by Nagato, their bodies destroyed more than once, but they would recover in no time.

Nagato now harbors intense hatred for the ninja who invented the "Impure World Reincarnation" Ninjutsu. Why did you have to research dead people for no reason? Doesn't it disgust you?

"Bang!"

Yahiko kicked Nagato in the kidney. This caused Nagato excruciating pain! A person only has two kidneys, and Nagato felt as if Yahiko had ruptured one of them.

Yahiko's choice of target was also carefully considered. He wanted Nagato's pain to override his reason, so that Nagato could attack him without restraint, instead of always holding back. Otherwise, Nagato would die at his hands sooner or later.

"Peng."

As expected, Yahiko felt that Nagato's attack on him had become stronger.

"Um?"

The Masked Man felt that his control over the ninja he had resurrected using the Impure World Reincarnation technique seemed to be weakening. He didn't understand what was wrong.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, the Masked Man ordered his subordinates to attack all at once. Instantly, Nagato's pressure increased dramatically. He had just figured out a way to deal with the Impure World Reincarnation ninja: sealing them away. And coincidentally, the Six Paths of Heroes possessed this skill.

"What keen senses!"

Nagato knew why the Masked Man had given such an order. It was because Nagato had slowly channeled the sealing power into their bodies, weakening the Masked Man's control. That's why the Masked Man had resorted to attacking as a whole.

Nagato is now surrounded by enemies on all sides! The Masked Man and Kisame have also joined the battle.

Konan was anxious seeing this situation, but Zabuza was firmly blocking Konan way, making it difficult for Konan to go and support Nagato.

"Just a little bit more."

Konan anxiously. She was trying to establish contact with the Explosive Tag she had set up. Once the connection was restored, she could use it to break the deadlock. Her and Nagato's situation would be much better.