With a thunderous boom, the entire forest was swept crooked by the gale unleashed by the explosion.
Even Yamato and the others watching from afar were caught in it, branches raining down with a clatter.
Kakuzu stared fixedly into the smoke kicked up by the explosion, muttering, "Did it hit?"
Pain's emotionless voice came from within the smoke. "If you want to take your abilities to their utmost limit, then join Akatsuki."
"You don't seriously think you can beat me, do you? Don't make me laugh... Shinra Tensei!"
A repulsive force powerful enough to crush bones erupted, leveling everything within several hundred meters.
Naruto cursed, pulled the two girls into his arms, and was hurled away like a rag doll.
Kakuzu, who had been directly facing Pain, suffered the worst. His body smashed through who knew how many trees, and even the Lightning Release mask on his back cracked.
When the dust settled, a huge bare clearing had been forcibly carved out in the center. Every tree and stone was gone.
Pain walked up to Kakuzu, who was down on one knee and gasping heavily. His face remained expressionless. "You lost."
Kakuzu struggled to raise his head, his eyes filled with shock and terror. "This power... where did it come from...?"
Putting on that melodramatic pose, Pain spoke to Kakuzu. "I am an existence meant to correct this world. Come with me. You have lived for so many years; I can give you a place to belong."
Kakuzu froze for a moment. Pain's words had struck the softest part of his heart.
After being a monster for so many years, no one had treated him like a person in a very long time.
The muscles in Kakuzu's face relaxed, though his mouth still refused to yield. "Hmph. An organization with