It was certain that the monster was the Ten-Tails Great Toad Sage had spoken of. The Ten-Tails was one with the Rinnegan, and the Rinnegan was within that mysterious organization, Akatsuki.
"Akatsuki?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others were stunned. How had this gotten tied to Akatsuki?
"Are you sure Akatsuki killed B?"
A flash of lightning streaked past as the Fourth Raikage rushed over and demanded angrily.
"It was definitely Akatsuki. According to the intelligence I obtained, the Ten-Tails and the legendary Rinnegan are one entity. The Rinnegan is in Akatsuki's possession, and by using it to merge the nine tailed beasts, one can form the Ten-Tails."
Jiraiya was utterly certain of this.
"Could that Akatsuki be working with the Heavenly Ninja Country?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen voiced a suspicion. Mainly because their journey here had gone far too smoothly. They had encountered no obstruction at all, as though the Heavenly Ninja Country had deliberately let them through and allowed them to come here.
Now that Akatsuki had brought out the Ten-Tails, no matter how one looked at it, something was wrong.
"Uh... I don't know about that."
Jiraiya froze for a moment. He had never considered that possibility.
At the same time, atop the Ten-Tails' head, Nagato Uzumaki looked at his former teacher.
"Master Jiraiya, in the end, you chose to stand against us."
"But you are destined to lose!"
As Nagato Uzumaki's words fell, the Ten-Tails entered its third form. Its previously gaunt body became thick and powerful.
Because it had devoured all the tailed beasts this time and possessed ample power, its transformation accelerated.
"It's time to end all of this!"
Raising his hands to form seals, Nagato Uzumaki began sealing the Ten-Tails.
The Ten-Tails was now complete. Beyond this lay the Divine Tree, but the Ten-Tails at its