The Black Rod Broke, but Nagato Hadn't Lost Yet

As his words fell, Nagato raised both hands.

One unleashed terrifying repulsive force; the other, attractive force that tore through space.

The two forces met before him, instantly crushing the surrounding rain into white mist.

Ren charged in with his blade.

The edge cut through the air, leaving a pitch-black streak.

Boom!

Repulsive force collided head-on with the blade.

The ground beneath Nagato erupted in layers, but Ren flashed through the oncoming force.

The next instant, he appeared at Nagato's side.

The longsword slashed diagonally!

Nagato's pupils contracted. He immediately used Banshō Ten'in to pull himself away.

But Ren's blade did not chase him. It struck where the pull would take him.

Slash!

The black blade grazed Nagato's shoulder.

His Akatsuki cloak split open, and a deep gash appeared in the flesh beneath.

Nagato grunted and swept his Black Rod back at Ren.

Ren raised his blade to block.

Clang!

The impact drove them apart again.

The wound on Nagato's shoulder healed rapidly.

The abundant vitality from Hashirama's Cells kept repairing his flesh. In the blink of an eye, only a faint red mark remained.

But the cracks in his Black Rod kept spreading.

Ren drove off the ground and crossed more than ten meters in a flash.

Nagato had only just raised his Black Rod when Ren's longsword came down.

Crack!

The fracture at the rod's center widened.

Nagato immediately channeled Yin–Yang Release to repair it, but he could no longer mend it as fast as the longsword damaged it.

The blade kept pressing down.

Cracks crisscrossed the Black Rod, as though it might snap at any moment.

"Nagato's losing ground!"

An Iwagakure scout on the hillside stared hard at the battlefield.

"His repulsive force and attractive force can't hit Ren consistently."

"Ren has the advantage in speed, strength,