Demonic Statue of the Outer Path

"Yahiko, wake up."

"Why, why was the resuscitation ineffective this time?"

Although Nagato had healed Yahiko's wounds, he discovered that the man's face had turned a deathly blue, and his breathing was growing increasingly faint.

"Because this time, I coated the blade with the poison of the Salamander." Hanzo glanced triumphantly at the black-purple liquid on his blade.

Having recovered from the previous clash, Hanzo straightened his attire while closing in on Nagato.

"Even though you healed his wounds, the Salamander's poison had already spread throughout his body, seeping into his internal organs. In other words, the moment I struck him, he was destined to be a dead man."

The cruel truth spilled from Hanzo's lips, each word striking Nagato's heart like a hammer. Unable to accept reality, he poured vast amounts of chakra and life force into Yahiko's body, yet it had no effect at all.

"Nagato... don't waste your energy. Pro, promise me... take care of yourself and Konan..." At this final moment, Yahiko no longer sought world peace; he only wanted to see Nagato and Konan survive.

"No... don't... worry about me..." After whispering his final request, Yahiko breathed his last in Nagato's arms.

"Yahiko!" At this moment, Nagato could no longer control his emotions; he clutched Yahiko's corpse and let out a heaven-shaking howl.

Following this, intense waves of energy began to surge within his Rinnegan. He gently laid Yahiko's body on the ground, then stood up to face the approaching Hanzo.

"Hanzo, you deserve to die!" His Rinnegan eyes locked onto Hanzo's figure, and the sheer hatred in Nagato's voice was palpable.

Even the usually arrogant Hanzo could not help but cast aside his contempt.

"Are you getting serious?" Sensing Nagato's aura climbing steadily, Hanzo quickly adjusted his state.

"Summoning Jutsu: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."

In an instant, the chakra and life force within Nagato were drained away in massive quantities. His hair began to turn from red to white, and his skin became sunken due to the extraction of his flesh and blood; in no time, he was reduced to the appearance of a frail old man.

"What is that?"

As Nagato was gradually drained, Hanzo felt a terrifying aura emanating from behind him—an aura devoid of any reason, containing only infinite madness and a will for destruction.

"Roar, roar, roar, roar..."

As a giant hand emerged from the ground, a withered, tree-like, giant monster crawled out, revealing most of its body.

The monster had nine closed eyes on its face and ten pillar-like protrusions on its back. It opened its massive maw and roared at Hanzo, a crushing, overwhelming pressure surging toward him.

This monster was the incarnation of the God Tree, the husk of the Ten-Tails.

"See? I told you not to be impulsive," Suikazan Fuguki boasted confidently from not far away.

The three members of Kirigakure also saw the monster that had suddenly appeared on the battlefield; its hideous form and terrifying aura were so oppressive that the Mist Ninja could barely lift their heads.

Even the usually taciturn Biwa Juzo chimed in, "Indeed. The waters of the ninja world are truly too deep; one might run into some freak at any moment."

The Mist Ninja behind them looked at their superiors in silence, thinking to themselves, You guys aren't much better.

"Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, kill him for me."

Logically, as the summoner of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, one should be able to establish a mental connection with the summon, but Nagato found himself completely unable to communicate with it; the only emotions radiating from it were destruction and more destruction.

With no other choice, Nagato could only release a portion of the Demonic Statue's instincts and attempt to drive it to attack Hanzo.

"Roar, roar, roar, roar!"

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path let out a hideous roar, then raised its left hand and slammed it down toward the top of Hanzo's head.

"Water Clone Technique."

Facing this unstoppable blow, Hanzo had no choice but to dodge, but the Rain Ninja around him lacked such reaction speed and were crushed into pulp under the palm of the Demonic Statue.

"What kind of monster is this?"

"We have no way to fight something like this."

"Where is Lord Hanzo? Why can't I see him? Should we retreat?"

Under the terrifying might of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Rain Ninja troops had long since lost their will to fight. Seeing their leader, Hanzo of the Salamander, fleeing in such a sorry state, they had completely lost the heart for battle.

"You dare to flee in the face of battle? Damn you."

Faced with the sight of his troops breaking and fleeing in terror, even Hanzo had no good solution.

"Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Technique." Driven by the thought of making one last stand, Hanzo expended a massive amount of chakra to unleash his most powerful S-rank ninjutsu.

Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Technique is an upgraded version of the Water Style: Water Shark Bullet Technique, possessing even greater destructive power. Furthermore, it can absorb the chakra from an opponent's ninjutsu to further increase its own destructive force; this technique grows stronger as the opponent does. When clashing head-on, it can absorb the opponent's chakra and become even larger, which was Hanzo's trump card.

When the massive shark-shaped water construct viciously bit into the arm of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, this S-rank ninjutsu actually began to absorb the life force within the statue itself. Its size continued to grow, and its destructive power intensified, actually tearing a chunk out of the Demonic Statue's arm.

The performance of the Great Shark Bullet Technique gave Hanzo a glimmer of hope.

"Roar~"

Provoked by the tiny ant, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path let out an angry roar; as the husk of the Ten-Tails, when had it ever suffered such humiliation? It extended its other arm and grabbed the Great Shark Bullet. The giant shark, which appeared massive to mortal eyes, was crushed to pieces by the Demonic Statue, sending liquid mixed with chakra splattering everywhere.

"Pfft!"

With his S-rank ninjutsu destroyed by brute force, Hanzo, as the caster, suffered a significant backlash.

At this moment, even the man known as the demigod, Hanzo of the Salamander, felt the urge to retreat.

"Hanzo, don't you dare run!" Seeing Hanzo hesitate, Nagato was the most anxious of all. He had exhausted his body to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and he could not let Hanzo escape.

Just as Nagato prepared to spare no cost to establish a deeper connection with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Konan's voice pulled him back from the brink of his extreme emotions.

"Nagato, stop... if you continue like this, you will die. Don't let Yahiko's sacrifice be in vain."

Konan appeared behind Nagato, cradling Yahiko's corpse. Her soothing presence temporarily calmed the raging fire in Nagato's heart.

"But, Yahiko..." Looking at the life that had been so vibrant just moments ago, now reduced to a cold corpse, Nagato broke down in uncontrollable sobs amidst his extreme grief.