Nagato's death, Itachi switches sides
"Heh, the Eight-Tails escaped?"
Unexpected, yet also expected!
Tōka leaned her head against the tree trunk, lying lazily on the branch, seemingly unconcerned about the Eight-Tails' escape.
Black Zetsu's eye twitched as he delivered the intelligence. Even as a schemer who never revealed his true thoughts, he couldn't help but feel a surge of urge to beat Tōka up.
Black Zetsu steadied himself, pulled the remaining half of his body out of the tree trunk, and stood at the tip of the branch as if it were weightless.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.
Black Zetsu's body swayed uncontrollably, and so did his heart.
The Nine-Tails has been settled, but the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki has run away. Nagato, this pawn, isn't as useful as I thought!
"Where are they?" Tōka slowly sat up, resting his chin on his hand and asking lazily.
"Them"? Which "them"?
Black Zetsu Tōka was asking about Nagato and Konan, who had returned from the Land of Lightning, or Itachi and Kisame, who had set off from the Land of Fire on an assassination mission.
After a pause, Black Zetsu said, "Nagato and Konan should have already left the Land of Land of Lightning. They're traveling by sea from the Land of Frost into the Land of Fire."
"The intelligence has been sent to Itachi and Kisame, and the two have already arrived at the border of the Land of Fire."
"You're pretty quick, aren't you? Let's go take a look too." Tōka grinned, turning to stare intently at Black Zetsu. "Let's bring that thing along as well."
"That thing?" Black Zetsu's expression froze, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "I understand."
The northern border of the Land of Fire is bordered by the Land of Earth to the west, the Land of Lightning to the east, and the sea that separates the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning to the north.
The northern border of the Land of Fire is not bordered by the sea, as it is separated from the sea by several Small Nation.
With the Eight-Tails escaping, Nagato was unable to gather any information about it. This setback will only make Kumogakure's defenses even tighter.
Therefore, Nagato plans to retreat to the Land of Rain first.
"Nagato, are you worried about that guy?" Konan followed behind Nagato, walking slowly.
She could tell that when fighting the Eight-Tails, Nagato hadn't used his full strength at all, or rather, he hadn't even unleashed half of his power.
Aside from being wary of that guy, Konan couldn't think of any other reason why Nagato would do this.
"You're right, I still can't figure out just how strong that guy is," Nagato's deep voice rang out.
As Tōka's image flashed through his mind, a solemn look appeared in Nagato's eyes.
Just when he thought he had seen through Tōka, he discovered that Tōka had only shown him the tip of the iceberg.
Nagato didn't doubt the power of the Rinnegan, but he knew that the Rinnegan's power placed a heavy burden on his body...
Nagato never showed any cowardice, not even in the most intense pain, because he didn't want Konan to worry.
After Yahiko left, he was the only one left to protect Konan.
After a brief exchange, the two moved forward slowly in silence.
The Pain's Six Paths had already dispersed, using the Paper Cranes folded by Konan's Paper Dance) to scout the surrounding area.
Konan raised her eyes and looked around at the surrounding scenery.
We're almost at the border. If we continue into the Forest, we'll reach the Land of Fire. Following the northern border of the Land of Fire will take us directly back to the Land of Rain.
Although the borders of the Land of Fire are very unstable, with bandits and Rogue Ninja appearing one after another, you will basically not encounter Konoha Ninja.
Before engaging the Nine Tailed Beasts, they still need to accumulate power and should not let unnecessary battles affect their ultimate goal.
However, not wanting trouble doesn't mean trouble won't come knocking.
The nearby Forest stood in the wind, their swaying Tree Shadow flickering on the two figures, creating a somber atmosphere.
"Itachi, Kisame." Nagato narrowed his eyes and slowly approached.
Bang bang bang!
A series of white smoke bursts around Nagato, as Pain's Six Paths was summoned back by Nagato's Summoning Technique.
Each of the Pain's Six Paths is proficient in a system of Ninjutsu.
Nagato himself possessed all the Ninjutsu of the six Pain's Six Paths.
"Why are you here?" Konan stood behind Deva Path, her eyes flashing with vigilance.
Even within an organization, she couldn't trust anyone other than Nagato.
Itachi slowly raised a hand, pointing his index finger at Nagato behind Konan. "Rinnegan, can you see through my Genjutsu?"
The chilling voice, like a Cold Wind, swept across the clearing outside the Forest, like a strange spell.
My vision began to distort, and the sky instantly darkened and dimmed.
"Genjutsu?!" Konan's heart tightened, and she quickly turned to look at Nagato.
The Rinnegan has some resistance to visual Genjutsu, so it's alright if she's caught in Genjutsu, as long as Nagato doesn't fall into the genjutsu itself...
However...
When Konan turned her head, she saw Nagato, who also looked surprised.
"Nagato, you too?" Konan asked uncertainly, as ordinary Genjutsu should be useless against Nagato.
"It must be the Sharingan's power." Nagato frowned, and his raised hands immediately Hand Seals.
The Sharingan's abilities? Konan was skeptical. Shouldn't the Sharingan's abilities also fall under the category of visual Genjutsu? How could the Rinnegan be unable to resist the Sharingan's power?
Buzz!
A burst of chakra erupted from Nagato's body, rushing into Konan's body and instantly dispersing the chakra that had been disrupted by the Genjutsu within her.
The distorted vision returned to normal, and the vast world regained its color.
Just then, a sharp, piercing gust of wind suddenly rang out, and the chill on my neck made the hairs on my neck stand on end.
"We got it!"
With a loud shout, a huge black shadow crashed down towards Konan and Nagato.
Kisame bypassed Pain's Six Paths defenses and plunged into the innermost layer, raising his Samehada high in the air.
It looked like they wanted to slice off both of their bodies at the same time!
Genjutsu come suddenly and go quickly.
Itachi's ability to drag Nagato into a genjutsu realm is enough to demonstrate his strength, but to trap Nagato with Genjutsu for an extended period...
Putting aside whether Itachi could do it, even if he could, he wouldn't do it.
"Kisame, I'm sorry."
Itachi stood expressionless in the Tree Shadow, darkness enveloping his body, and three ink-black Tomoe spun rapidly in his scarlet pupils.
Buzz!
A massive amount of chakra surged into Itachi's eyes, and the three rapidly spinning Tomoe eventually merged into a triangular windmill.
A terrifying Dojutsu suddenly erupted!
Shinra Tensei!
Boom!!
A devastating repulsive Repulsion Field suddenly erupted, and the world seemed to freeze for a moment. Kisame was frozen in place.
Immediately afterwards, a Repulsive Force storm exploded from where Nagato was located.
Besides Konan, the bodies of Pain's Six Paths were also sent flying backward along with Kisame, like kites that had lost their tether.
In the raging storm, several figures swung wildly and erratically, hurtling straight away into the distance!
Bang!
A dull thud rang out, and Kisame stood up with a livid face. The powerful Repulsion Field had sent him flying.
This is the power of the Deva Path from the Pain's Six Paths!
"Nagato isn't as weak as he looks!" Kisame wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Compared to Nagato and Konan, he was more concerned about Itachi.
If there are only two enemies, then the battle is two against two.
Just as Tōka had told him before they came, if they couldn't win, they could choose to retreat.
If there are three enemies, the battle will instantly turn into a one-against-three situation, and if that happens, Kisame has no confidence that he can escape.
In terms of Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, air superiority, and reconnaissance, Kisame has absolutely no advantage.
Perhaps Taijutsu...
But facing these three guys, Kisame didn't think his Taijutsu would be of much use.
"It seems they've had a falling out?" The figures of the Pain's Six Paths regrouped around Nagato and Konan, and this time Konan dared not be careless.
"They're enough for the battle." Konan said coldly, her chakra surging within her.
Sheets of paper flew off her body, circling around her and Nagato, disguising themselves as a giant Rock in the open space.
Nagato and Konan were protected; the battle only required the Pain's Six Paths.
Kisame's sneak attack allowed him to successfully approach Nagato and Konan, partly due to Itachi's Genjutsu and partly due to their carelessness.
At this moment, Nagato and Konan will not give Kisame a chance.
"If you cannot provide a satisfactory explanation for your actions just now," Deva Path said, taking a few steps forward expressionlessly.
His icy gaze pierced Kisame's body like a sharp sword. "You will die."
"Heh heh, there's nothing to explain. If you really need an explanation..." Kisame grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp shark teeth, and sneered.
"I'd like to hear what Itachi-san has to say."
Itachi glanced at Deva Path indifferently, then shifted his gaze to Kisame's face.
Kisame looked as if he had seen a ghost, and quickly lowered his head, not daring to look Itachi in the eye. He had witnessed the power of the Sharingan far too many times.
Kisame was also very clear about the power of the Mangekyou Mangekyo, which surpassed the Sharingan.
He certainly didn't want to fall into Itachi's Genjutsu before the battle even started; in a battle between experts, losing control of one's body in an instant can be fatal!
"Kisame, it's a pleasure to team up with you." Itachi's face remained as cold as ever; Kisame had almost never seen him smile.
Even when he smiles, it's just a fake smile that doesn't reach his eyes.
"It seems that Itachi has already taken the opposite side." At this moment, Kisame recalled what Tōka had once said.
Itachi could never be a comrade.
Itachi-san, we can never be comrades after all!
The conversation between the two was inexplicable, and Nagato didn't understand it, but he knew that Itachi and Kisame could no longer fight together.
"Could you explain this to me?" Deva Path's cold voice rang out.
"We missed our chance earlier, so killing him now will be much more difficult." Itachi glanced at Deva Path indifferently, showing no intention of replying.
It's not the right time to discuss this in detail; let's wait until after the battle...
Deva Path could see that Itachi's attack was aimed at Kisame, and he could also see that Kisame's defensive stance was aimed at everyone present.
The factions were immediately divided.
Adhering to the principle of caution, Nagato decided to assist Itachi in defeating Kisame first, as for whether there was any need to fight Itachi again afterward.
That depends on how Itachi explains it.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
A row of Shuriken was thrown from Itachi's hand, at tricky and unpredictable angles and with incredible speed!
If you think Itachi's attack ended so simply, you'd be sorely mistaken!
Zi-Yin-Xu-Chou-Mao-Yin!
The itachi who threw the Shuriken immediately raised his hands, his palms moving so fast they became a blur!
Buzz!
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu."
With a low shout, the weasel spat out a series of fireballs, their trajectories scattering like the fruits of Phoenix Sage Flower.
Under his covert manipulation, the fireball hurtled towards the Shuriken, instantly setting it ablaze.
Flames enveloped the rapidly spinning Shuriken —this was the Shuriken the Ninja World by the Uchiha Clan!
Having partnered with Itachi for so long, Kisame was naturally well aware of Itachi's abilities.
What may seem like an ordinary Shuriken becomes the deadliest weapon in Itachi's hands, with Fire Release Shuriken shooting from the most unpredictable angles.
Kisame's expression darkened, and his chakra immediately began to surge.
"Water Release · Water Wall!"
Kisame spewed out a large amount of water, forming a Water Release: Water Wall like ocean waves.
The Water Release: Water Wall rises in a circular pattern from all four sides, centered on Kisame, perfectly blocking attacks from all directions.
Using this move to deal with Itachi's Shuriken is the wisest and most effective choice!
However, Itachi and Kisame were not the only ones on the Battlefield; the Pain's Six Paths were also watching from the sidelines, ready to strike at any moment.
Seeing Itachi's relentless attack, both Nagato and Konan's eyes narrowed.
"Seriously?"
We still need to be careful!
Click click click!!
Asura Path darted forward and stood at the very front of the group, then suddenly stretched out his arm and aimed it at Kisame in the distance.
Explosive Bullet Fire Arrow!
Missiles launched from the Asura Path's arm have a tracking effect. The best way to deal with them is to defend against them head-on, or to use extremely agile movements to guide them off course.
Kisame, trapped within the Water Wall, had his view blocked by the massive water curtain.
But he could smell the strong burning odor in the air, and the sound of missiles hurtling through the air was clearly audible to him.
"The Asura Path?!"
Kisame never actually witnessed Pain's Six Paths's full power, but he learned many of Nagato's secrets from Tōka.
This includes the abilities of each of the Pain's Six Paths, and Nagato's possession of the power of all of them.
"If you don't show some real skills, you might really die here!" Kisame curled the corners of his mouth, seemingly smiling, but in reality, only a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
The massive chakra surged wildly, transforming into a tangible Chakra Storm around Kisame's body.
The blue chakra was crystal clear!
After the Water Wall blocked Itachi's attack, it shattered in an instant, turning into waves that fell in all directions.
The moment the water curtain fell, Kisame's figure was revealed.
He bent slightly, his hands clasped in front of him in Hand Seals, and his cheeks puffed up rapidly like balloons.
A terrifying surge of chakra erupted like a monstrous wave.
Kisame possesses an astonishing amount of chakra and is known as the Tailed Beast Without a Tail.
"Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" With a low shout, a massive wave of water gushed out of his mouth.
In an instant!
The open space was instantly submerged by the vast ocean, and the rushing water swept into the dense Forest, uprooting Big Tree that would take several people to encircle!