Normal Chiba vs. Peak Nagato

"Mm!"

Konan knew she was only qualified to watch, so she immediately nodded to Nagato, then flapped the pair of paper wings on her back and flew high into the sky.

"Lord Chiba, you are younger than I am. In your normal state, you may not necessarily be a match for me at my peak, so you should attack first."

After confirming that Konan had reached a safe area, Nagato made this suggestion to Chiba.

"I do not really care who attacks first." Chiba said indifferently, "But since you said so, let us do that."

Before his words had even faded, Chiba had already crossed the dozens of meters between them, appeared before Nagato, and threw a fierce punch at his face.

Since he was testing his strength in his normal state, naturally, he had to begin with close combat.

"What speed!" Nagato was instantly startled.

Fortunately, the Rinnegan's dynamic vision and decades of combat experience allowed him to keep up with Chiba's movements. He immediately took a step back and raised his right hand before Chiba's fist.

Bang!

A tremendous force surged through him. Nagato staggered back several steps, while the movements of his right arm and even the flow of Chakra through it became somewhat uncontrollable.

"Byakugan, Hyuga Gentle Fist!" Nagato's expression hardened.

From that single probing attack, he instantly realized that Chiba's speed, strength, and other attributes had already surpassed the conventional Kage Level.

Moreover, competing in close combat against Chiba, who possessed the Byakugan and the Hyuga Gentle Fist Style, was quite disadvantageous for Nagato.

More accurately, among opponents of the same level, it was difficult for anyone to gain an advantage in close combat against the Hyuga Clan.

"Since that is the case, let us compete with ninjutsu instead." With that thought, Nagato flexed his