At Amegakure.
Uchiha Ruri stood within the forehead of the Fourth Form Susanoo, seemingly becoming one with this enormous mass of energy.
Ruri's figure flickered in and out of view inside the Susanoo's forehead. Her presence seemed to infuse this already incredibly powerful mass of energy with even greater strength.
At that moment, Ruri and the Susanoo seemed to have become one. Their powers blended together and grew stronger.
A giant dozens of meters tall suddenly appeared in this peaceful village. The panicked villagers fled in every direction, afraid they would die here.
"So you're hiding and refusing to come out, huh? Then I'll force you out." Ruri's lips curled into a cold smile, and a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, as if she could see through every hidden corner.
She knew Pain was lurking in the shadows, not showing the slightest weakness, but that wouldn't stop her from forcing him out.
Now, she decided to use this tremendous power to drive that scheming bastard out of his hiding place.
With a single thought from Ruri, the Susanoo instantly took shape. Its enormous body towered like a mountain, radiating a suffocating pressure.
She stretched out both hands, and two enormous blades appeared in the Susanoo's grasp. Their keen edges glinted coldly, as if they could cut through anything.
Ruri aimed toward Amegakure. That was where her target was.
She knew the Akatsuki members were hiding somewhere in that village, watching her every move.
Without hesitation, Ruri gripped the hilts tightly and swung forward. Two fierce waves of blade energy instantly tore across the sky, racing toward Amegakure.
The blade energy carried the combined power of all the Tailed Beasts, sweeping everything away like two raging tornadoes.
The trees and houses along their path seemed utterly frail before this immense force, crumbling into powder one after another.
The villagers of Amegakure were thrown into a panic by the sudden disaster and fled in every direction. But the blade energy moved too fast for them to react, and they were mercilessly swept up in it.
Ruri didn't stop. She kept swinging the twin blades, sending wave after wave of blade energy crashing toward Amegakure.
The entire village seemed engulfed in a storm of blades. Shattered houses and screams of terror were everywhere.
Six Paths Sasuke already had extensive combat experience. After receiving Sasuke's memories, the system's artificial idiot consciousness had helped him by separating their respective consciousnesses, allowing Ruri to remain clearheaded. She relied mostly on herself to absorb the memories, drawing combat experience from Sasuke's recollections.
After Uchiha Ruri stopped attacking, Amegakure's battered houses resembled Konoha after Pain's attack in the original story.
"We've got quite an extraordinary enemy here, Mr. Itachi. Is that one of your relatives?" Kisame Hoshigaki sounded shocked, though he managed to remain unusually calm.
His gaze was fixed on the enormous figure drawing closer in the distance: the Susanoo controlled by Ruri. The immense aura it radiated inspired awe.
Itachi Uchiha stood beside Kisame, his Mangekyō Sharingan already activated. His deep pupils seemed to contain the secrets of an endless universe.
He stared at Ruri's Susanoo, feeling its powerful aura wash over him, and felt a ripple of emotion stir in his heart.
"That's your clan's Susanoo, isn't it? That power really is terrifying," Kisame exclaimed again.
As an experienced ninja, he had seen countless formidable enemies and techniques. But this was the first time he had seen anyone control Susanoo to such an extent as Ruri.
Itachi didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed on Ruri's Susanoo.
He knew this would be the most difficult battle of his life. Ruri's Susanoo had evolved to its Fourth Form, and its power was beyond anything Itachi could have imagined.
Ruri's Susanoo slowly drew closer, every step seeming to land on everyone's hearts. Its enormous form towered like a mountain, filling them with dread.
The powerful aura it gave off seemed to make the air around them congeal.
"I've already dealt with every member of my clan, but I've never seen this person before. And she's stronger than I am." Itachi finally spoke, his voice low, as if recounting a painful past.
He knew a battle between him and Ruri was inevitable, but he didn't regret his choices.
He was already starting to regret joining the Akatsuki. He had only just met the new member, and now some unfamiliar clan member had shown up? And the worst part was, she was incredibly strong.
"Mr. Itachi, what should we do?" Kisame asked anxiously. His voice echoed through the air, carrying a trace of helplessness and uncertainty.
He knew that although he and Itachi were both powerful ninjas, they would have little chance of winning against an enemy like Ruri.
Ruri's Susanoo towered before them like a mountain. Its immense form and overwhelming power filled them with an unprecedented sense of oppression.
Itachi didn't answer Kisame right away. His gaze remained fixed on Ruri's Susanoo.
"Let's fight," Itachi said calmly. His voice was steady, yet full of resolve and determination.
He knew this would be the most difficult battle of their lives, but they wouldn't back down.
Just then, Konan, Pain, and Juzo Biwa walked over. Their arrival surprised Itachi and Kisame, but also gave them a glimmer of hope.
"Itachi, Kisame, are you all right?" Konan asked with concern. She looked them over and only relaxed after seeing that neither was injured.
She knew that against an enemy like Ruri, the slightest mistake could leave them injured—or even dead.
"We're fine," Itachi replied. He turned to Pain and gave a slight nod.
He knew Pain was a trustworthy ally, and his joining them would make the battle seem more hopeful.
Pain said nothing, only returning the nod. He paused to look at Ruri's Susanoo, then turned to Itachi and Kisame.
"You two stand back. I'll go meet our new friend first. No matter how powerful she is, it's all futile before a god," Pain said arrogantly.
Before you continue