"Are they still not back?"
Underground in Amegakure.
Konan thought that, judging by Deidara and Sasori's usual style, they should have finished the job quickly.
The One-Tail couldn't possibly withstand Deidara's relentless bombardment.
Why had there still been no word for so long?
"Sunagakure has no shinobi left who can put up a fight. The great villages have all been recuperating in recent years, and to preserve their strength, they've been paying us to carry out their missions."
"Compared with the Five Great Shinobi Villages during the Third Shinobi World War, they're more like a bunch of puppets made of paper."
"Our age is coming. An age that will end war and suffering forever."
Black rods that absorbed chakra covered Nagato's body.
The Six Paths of Pain were still stationed in the village. Their many pairs of eyes watched over all of Amegakure like surveillance cameras.
No one could escape Nagato's sight.
Deva Path stood at the highest point.
All of Amegakure's shinobi and civilians were under his protection.
The homeless, the rogue ninja driven out of their villages—
It didn't matter who you were.
Once you came to Amegakure, you could hide beneath the cover of darkness and take shelter from the rain.
"Nagato."
"I sense danger."
Konan's instincts kept her on alert at all times.
"Once we take the One-Tail, Sunagakure will be left without any powerful fighters."
"Hidan and Kakuzu have returned, and Itachi and Kisame are on their way back."
"What's more, I'm here. Anyone who dares to obstruct our plans will die!"
Nagato had barely finished speaking before he started coughing.
His health was worsening by the day. Would he really last until that day came?
"What's that guy been up to lately?"
Konan thought of the Masked Man.
"He and Zetsu could come back at any time."
Nagato had barely finished speaking when—
A figure wrapped in plants rose up from the ground.
"Something's happened!"
Zetsu said coldly, "Sasori of the Red Sands and Deidara have betrayed us!"
"Naruto Uzumaki appeared in Sunagakure and defeated them. Then, somehow, he made them surrender."
"Deidara is now leading Naruto Uzumaki here to Amegakure."
"If we want to deal with them all at once, you'll have to act!"
Zetsu's words made Nagato's already frail body feel even worse.
"Naruto Uzumaki!"
Nagato looked at Konan.
"Jiraiya's student, and the current Hokage!"
Konan understood what Nagato meant.
"It looks like we'll have to settle this through a clash between students of the same master. I wonder if this junior of ours, trained by Jiraiya, will surpass us."
Coughing, Nagato was just about to step out of the darkness.
Rare ripples appeared in his Rinnegan.
"What's wrong, Nagato?"
It had been a long time since Konan had seen him feel so threatened.
"He's here!"
Nagato had never expected Naruto to arrive so quickly.
He had invaded Amegakure all by himself!
"I'm here!"
Naruto stood as he emerged from the water.
"System, have I gotten the Punishment Points from that mission yet?"
"Give me three draws right now!"
[The Host has completely turned to darkness. Sasori and Deidara were not saved; instead, they have completely fallen to darkness. Achievement unlocked: Blackened Naruto] [Received 3,000 Punishment Points] [Triple draw complete] [Six Paths Tools: Amber Purifying Pot] [Six Paths Tools: Bashosen] [Kekkei Tōta: Dust Release]
"Looks like you finally showed a little conscience this time. You didn't get in the way of the first step toward unifying the Ninja World."
Naruto carried the Bashosen and Amber Purifying Pot on his back.
Even as he faced off against the Six Paths of Pain, he strolled about at his leisure, taking the time to master Dust Release.
"I can't believe I was still discovered, even though I used the Body Flicker Technique the whole time after sneaking into Amegakure."
Naruto tossed a Flying Thunder God Kunai from his hand.
"Guess I'm still not fast enough."
If he wanted to take over the entire Ninja World, he needed the Akatsuki's strength!
Only after conquering the whole Ninja World would Naruto have enough chakra to open the Gate of Life and Death.
"Have you ever felt pain?"
Deva Path Pain stood at the center of the Six Paths of Pain.
The moment he saw Naruto, he struck a haughty pose.
"We are invincible. You will surely die in the depths of Amegakure."
The Six Paths of Pain spoke in unison.
It was like several loudspeakers blasting Naruto from every direction.
"Wait!"
Something wasn't right.
Naruto raised a hand to stop the battle from beginning.
Wasn't this supposed to be Jiraiya's storyline?
[Ding!] [The Tale of the Gallant event has been triggered. Host, rescue Jiraiya from Amegakure as soon as possible.] [The world line has diverged! The Host is surrounded by the Six Paths of Pain in Amegakure. Escape as soon as possible and make Nagato and Konan see the error of their ways.] [Reward for this mission: 200 Goodwill Points] [Failure will result in a penalty of 2,000 Punishment Points]
"What?"
Naruto stomped on the water, sending it surging upward.
"Why do I get fewer Punishment Points for fighting the Six Paths of Pain than I did for beating up Deidara and Sasori?"
"Fine, you want them to see the error of their ways? I get it!"
Sage Mode Double formed the base, with Kurama Mode on the outside.
At that moment, Naruto was so furious at the Turn Back to the Shore System's lousy reward that he was practically fuming.
Animal Path summoned several large beasts into the vast space.
Naruto used the Summoning Technique, too.
The next second, he summoned Toad Gamabunta, the Ten-Tailed Snake, Katsuyu, and the Rabbit Family.
"I'm in a bad mood today. Could you all hurry up and deal with these controlled summoned beasts?"
Naruto flashed past Animal Path.
"No problem!"
The Ten-Tailed Snake was eager to meet more powerful people like Naruto.
After returning to Ryūchi Cave last time, he had earned the Snake Sage's approval. The Sage had even prophesied that Naruto would surely master the Ryūchi Cave Sage Technique.
The Ten-Tailed Snake had just opened his mouth to bite when—
The Rabbit Family went berserk. Their bodies grew hundreds of times larger, and they pinned down the Three-Headed Dog and beat him senseless.
Naruto turned around, and a huge hand reached for his neck.
It was Asura Path, whose Chakra Enhanced Strength was formidable!
If its chokehold landed, his neck would snap on the spot!
Asura Path's body had been entirely rebuilt with machinery, and any joint could turn into a weapon.
"You think you can choke me?"
Naruto stood still and let Asura Path grab him by the neck.
But even after a barrage of blows, Asura Path couldn't break through even Kurama's Chakra Cloak.
Naruto's body was also protected by the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, which gave him incredible defensive power.
Trained to its peak, it let him fight Tailed Beasts with his bare hands. Asura Path was nothing by comparison!
"Chakra Enhanced Strength!"
Seeing that Asura Path's attacks were useless, Naruto tore off his arm.
He turned and kicked Asura Path in the stomach, blasting hundreds of mechanical parts out of him.
"If Sasori didn't rebuild you, then you're a true jack-of-all-trades."
Naruto stomped Asura Path into a heap of scrap metal with Painful Sky Leg.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. Your time to die has only just arrived!"
Human Path came from behind while Preta Path approached from the front.
One tried to take Naruto's soul, the other his chakra.
They even attempted to seal Naruto's ninjutsu and render his attacks useless.
Naraka Path seized the chance to use King of Hell Reincarnation, attempting to bring Asura Path back to life.
"Do you really think everyone's soul and chakra are on the same level?"
Naruto combined the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Sage Mode Double, and Kurama Mode to boost his speed and explosive power.
"You're already dead."
Deva Path raised his hand, ready to surround Naruto and kill him.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A force of repulsion shot toward Naruto, intent on flinging him away.
But just as Naruto had said—
Not everyone was on the same level!
Naruto drove both feet into the ground, crushing the rock into a deep crater. Surrounded by the Six Paths of Pain, he stood firm as a mountain!
The Nine-Tails swept across the battlefield, its tails lashing through the air like ribbons.
"You call yourself the Deva Path?"
Naruto grabbed Human Path and Preta Path by the neck, one in each hand.