Online Substitute

With his killing intent solidified, Pain held nothing back this time, pouring a massive amount of Chakra into his Rinnegan.

In an instant, an invisible force field spread out from Pain like a nuclear explosion, ten times more powerful than the simple repulsion of the Tailed Beast Bomb from before.

The blinding white light nearly scorched their eyes, the air trembled violently, compressed into visible ripples, and a deafening roar erupted.

The already ravaged land suffered even more, the ground cracking like fragile glass, solid rock turning to dust, its outer layers stripped away to reveal fresh stone beneath.

Heaven and earth suddenly fell into a dead silence, the entire world seemingly facing its end at that moment.

"Ah!"

Akimichi Choza roared, his body rapidly expanding and growing enormous, yet he became drastically thinner. Two blue Chakra wings suddenly sprouted from his shoulders.

He had finally activated "Expansion Jutsu: Butterfly Mode," his ultimate form achieved by burning a large amount of body fat, consuming vast amounts of his Chakra.

But under the immense pressure, he couldn't attack the Pain in the sky, only manage to arch his body like a great tree in a storm, providing cover for his companions.

"Go quickly!"

He roared loudly, grabbing Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi, who were pinned down and unable to move, one in each hand, and flinging them towards the distance.

"No!"

The two screamed, unwilling to abandon their comrade and escape alone at such a moment.

Nara Shikaku quickly formed hand seals, controlling his giant Shadow Whip, attempting to reduce the pressure on Akimichi Choza.

Yamanaka Inoichi used the "Mind Disturbance Technique" on Akimichi Choza, trying to control him and escape together.

But the methods that had always worked flawlessly now failed completely.

Yamanaka Inoichi's secret technique was reflected back; Akimichi Choza refused Yamanaka Inoichi's control.

The big man, who always smiled honestly and followed his companions' orders, now displayed an unprecedented stubbornness.

"This guy is too strong, there's no chance!" Akimichi Choza roared loudly.

"Just go!"

"Remember to take the intel back!"

With no leverage in mid-air, the two could only watch in despair as Akimichi Choza's familiar, honest face grew further away, completely powerless.

"Haha..."

Accompanied by laughter, a giant energy face suddenly appeared in their line of sight, and a pair of enormous palms swung towards them.

"Since you don't want to leave your comrade, then stay with him!"

Uchiha An, controlling his Susanoo, suddenly intercepted them mid-flight, his laughter laced with the cruel pleasure of a cat playing with a mouse.

Caught in mid-air, the two had nowhere to dodge and were immediately grabbed by the Susanoo.

"Haha... Akimichi Choza, thank you!"

Uchiha An laughed maniacally, tightening his grip.

"No!"

Yamanaka Inoichi screamed, disregarding the backlash damage from his secret technique, desperately pouring Chakra into it and launching a mental assault towards Uchiha An.

Uchiha An also went berserk, pushing his Mangekyo Sharingan to its limit. Blood tears flowed from his left eye again from the strain of using his ocular jutsu. Even as his head swam from the mental impact, he did not loosen his grip.

Nara Shikaku's attempted resistance with the Shadow Whip was utterly useless against the Susanoo's palms, being easily crushed and dissipating like a spiderweb.

With a "poof," two masses of flesh exploded between the Susanoo's fingers, scattering in mid-air and drenching everything.

"Haha..."

Uchiha An's laughter grew more frenzied. He slowly opened his palms, displaying the blood and pulp dripping down his fingers to Akimichi Choza, who was kneeling on one knee under the pressure of "Almighty Push," unable to raise his head.

"See, Akimichi Choza, your good brothers are now meat paste!"

"Why are you still resisting!"

"Turn back quickly and become meat paste with them!"

"Haha..."

"Damn it!" Akimichi Choza's eyes turned blood red, as if he had activated his Ketsuryūgan. He endured the pressure of "Almighty Push," trying to get up and attack Uchiha An.

But his body only swayed before being slammed down heavily again, spitting blood in large mouthfuls. His butterfly wings were completely shattered, and his massive body slowly shrank.

His body had finally reached its limit, crushed by the immense pressure.

His final Chakra turned into faint sparks, dissipating into the air. The flame of his life was like a candle in the wind, liable to extinguish at any moment.

Without his protection, the remaining Konoha Ninja couldn't hold on for even a moment. They were all pressed to the ground by the immense pressure, their bones broken, suffering heavy casualties, their screams rising one after another.

Pain stood silently in mid-air, watching their tragic state, experiencing their current suffering. His Rinnegan was devoid of emotion.

He was just waiting for the cooldown of "Almighty Push" to pass so he could deliver another blow and annihilate them all.

But suddenly, his brow furrowed, and he looked up at the giant sphere in the sky.

Everyone followed his gaze. The stone sphere, which had been sealed tightly, was now trembling violently on its surface, revealing cracks. Strands of fiery red Chakra were leaking out from within.

Is the Nine-Tails about to break free?

How is that possible?

Others might not know, but Uchiha An knew very well.

The Rinnegan's ocular techniques were the most powerful in the ninja world.

Once sealed by "Chibaku Tensei," let alone the Nine-Tails, even the Rabbit Goddess Kaguya Otsutsuki couldn't escape!

Was it because Pain's Chakra was insufficient?

Precisely because he understood, he found it even more unbelievable.

Under everyone's astonished gazes, the sealing stone sphere exploded with a roar, and a figure appeared before them. Small in stature, with yellow hair, it seemed to be the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki from before.

But the tamed golden-red Nine-Tails Chakra cloak on his body now, and his calm, unfamiliar eyes, all declared that this person was not the original Uzumaki Naruto.

Pain frowned but didn't pay it any mind.

He was just a child; even if he had tamed the Nine-Tails, what could he do?

Could he possibly contend against the power of a god?

He slightly raised his hand, preparing to cast another "Chibaku Tensei" to resolve the issue completely.

But who knew that the figure flashed in mid-air, suddenly disappearing from thin air. When it reappeared, it was already beside the severely injured Akimichi Choza.

The speed was so fast that even the Rinnegan could barely track it, leaving only a golden afterimage in the air.

Akimichi Choza forced his eyes open and met Uzumaki Naruto's gaze. In his eyes, he saw a gentle and familiar look. That gaze seemed to transcend time and space, perfectly overlapping with a certain figure in his memory.

"Fourth Hokage-sama..." he moaned subconsciously.

Holy crap!

This is the Fourth Hokage logging in to fight for him!