Naruto and Konan had spent four hours exploring the Realm of Reincarnation. Pain's former summons-the Statue Panda, Mighty Rhino, Flying Monster Bird, and Three-Headed Hellhound-had signed contracts with Naruto one after another...
A Shadow Clone grabbed Crab by its two feelers while Naruto worked with Toad Sniper to drive a Black Receiver into its forehead.
"Whew." After landing, Naruto left Sage Mode and caught his breath. "This is even harder than fighting Danzo..."
Poof!
Crab vanished. The contract had been successfully formed!
Konan said, "We've had quite a haul tonight. Eighteen already."
Naruto asked, "Konan, is there a limit to how many creatures the Animal Path can summon?"
Konan said, "There's no limit to how many summons you can form contracts with. But Rinnegan summons need the user's chakra to act, so there's a limit to how many you can summon in battle. Nagato's limit was twenty-seven..."
Naruto murmured, "Twenty-seven, huh? I've signed contracts with eighteen so far, six of them marine creatures. There's still room for more..."
Konan asked, "Aren't you going to rest?"
Naruto smiled. "Dreams end sooner or later. Getting in here wasn't easy, so let's make every second count!"
Konan nodded. "All right. I'll stay with you."
Naruto entered Sage Mode again. After traveling ten kilometers, he suddenly stopped and stared in surprise at the familiar giant beast before him. "Who would've thought..."
Konan asked in confusion, "What is that? I've never seen it before."
Naruto said, "If I'm not mistaken, that's Danzo's summon, Baku!"
Konan looked at Naruto. "Danzo? Did his summon die?"
Naruto said, "Yeah, you weren't there at the time, Konan. Danzo sacrificed Baku to block my Sage Art Fire Release!"
Konan looked back at Baku. "Any summon that can enter the Realm of Reincarnation after death is extraordinary. Do you want it?"
Naruto smiled. "Meeting here must be fate. Why would I let this chance slip by?"
"Rooar...!" Baku recognized Naruto, and the traumatic memories came rushing back. It turned and fled.
Naruto smiled. "Pretty quick on your feet for such a chunky fellow..."
Thud!
Seeing Naruto in relentless pursuit, Baku realized escape was impossible. It planted its feet, turned around, and opened its enormous mouth, sucking fiercely to swallow Naruto!
"Trying that again? You really don't learn, do you..."
Unhurried, Naruto took a Black Receiver in hand and threw it with the wind, straight down Baku's throat!
"Rooar...!!"
With a miserable cry, Baku vanished into white smoke. It now belonged to Naruto!
Naruto landed on the ground and murmured, "Strong, but not too bright, apparently. Just like your master..."
If Baku's here, that other guy should be here too...
That was what Naruto thought.
"This is too slow. Time to speed up the search!"
"Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Everyone, if you can handle a summon, do it yourselves! If you can't, team up! If even that doesn't work, leave a mark and dispel yourselves. Once I get the message, I'll come right over with Flying Thunder God, believe it!"
"Got it!!"
"Leave it to me!!!"
"Are there any other kinds of crabs? I'm gonna catch them all, believe it!!"
The Shadow Clones raced off in every direction, and Naruto sat down on the ground.
First, he had used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to force his way into the Realm of Reincarnation. Now that he was inside, he had actually used it again!
Konan was secretly astounded. When he fought Nagato, his chakra was powerful, but nowhere near this level. Ever since he obtained the Rinnegan, his chakra has grown by leaps and bounds. He might not be far behind Nagato now...
The Shadow Clones fought fiercely with the summons they encountered, but there were clearly far more hunters than prey. A dozen, or even nearly a hundred, Narutos surrounded a single summon. Everything went smoothly, and the number of contracted summons quickly passed a hundred and kept climbing.
With mixed feelings, Konan said, "Nagato spent over a decade entering the Realm of Reincarnation at least ten times. Altogether, he formed contracts with around a hundred and fifty summons. At this rate, you'll get there in one night..."
Naruto smiled. "Quantity doesn't mean quality. My senior liked to choose carefully, but Mom taught me not to be picky..."
Konan shook her head with a helpless smile.
"Oh?"
Suddenly, Naruto's gaze shifted, and he stood up.
Konan asked, "A pleasant surprise?"
"You could say that."
Naruto placed a hand on Konan's shoulder and teleported to another location with Flying Thunder God.
The Flying Thunder God Mark his Shadow Clone had left before vanishing lay on the ground.
Looking at the enormous purple snake towering dozens of meters before him, Naruto said gravely, "Just as I thought. You're here too, Manda!"
Manda fixed his slit pupils on the person before him. "The blond brat who was with that stinking toad back then. You're the last person I expected to see here!!"
Naruto smiled. "We've already gotten acquainted through a fight. How about we skip the extra 'pleasantries'?"
Manda stared coldly at Naruto. "I could cooperate with you. But once you're back outside, you have to kill that Sasuke Uchiha for me!!"
"Oh?" Naruto's eyes flickered. "I'll ask why, for the record."
Manda said viciously, "He used me, with that Sharingan of his! I'd rather die than let him have his way!!!"
Naruto's gaze darkened. "Hey, Manda. Tell me, can you swim?"
Manda: "?"
Naruto said with a perfectly straight face, "Answer me. This is important."
Manda said, "Other than flying, there's nowhere I can't get around! I only stay out of the water because I refuse to mingle with those stinking toads!"
Naruto said, "Oh. Then keeping you around might still be useful..."
Manda said, "What did you say?"
Bzz!
The three tomoe in Naruto's right eye spun!
"That eye...!?"
As Manda recoiled in horror, three tomoe instantly appeared in his slit pupils!
Whoosh! Naruto leaped up, gripped a sharpened Black Receiver with both hands, and drove it into Manda's eye!
Crunch!
The agonizing pain snapped Manda awake, and he roared, "That damned Sharingan got me again!!!!"
Naruto said, "Work hard. If you can find the Pervy Sage, I'll spare your life. Otherwise, I'll send you back to the Realm of Reincarnation to wander forever..."
"I refuse to come back here! That monster... is here!!!"
Poof!
Leaving behind a terrified cry, Manda vanished into white smoke. He now belonged to Naruto!
Poof, poof, poof...!
The Shadow Clones scattered across the realm finished their battles and vanished one after another.
Naruto had ventured deep into the Realm of Reincarnation. He gazed solemnly at the thick fog at its far end.
"I can feel a lot of terrifying chakra up ahead. It's even on par with the Tailed Beasts..."
Konan asked, "Do you still want to go on...?"
Naruto said, "We've come this far. How could we leave without finding out what's there? But don't worry, Konan. I know my limits..."
Konan said, "All right, then."
The two headed toward the thick fog, the forbidden zone of the Realm of Reincarnation.
To be cautious, Naruto asked, "Konan, you said there were beings here that even Nagato in his prime couldn't form contracts with. Can you tell me about them?"
Konan said, "When I came into the Realm of Reincarnation with him, we encountered an ape. Its body was incredibly hard, and Nagato couldn't drive his Black Receivers into it. I think its name was 'Monkey King.'"
Naruto's eyes flickered. "Monkey King? The Third's summon was called Enma..."
"Nagato speculated that it might have been Enma's ancestor."
Konan paused, then revealed another startling fact. "Before that, there was another time when Nagato came in alone and nearly lost his life. I asked what he'd encountered, but he wouldn't say a word!"
"Afterward, I couldn't stop worrying, so I came with him. Whatever it was, even Nagato was helpless against it. If we encounter it..."
Tap!
Suddenly, Naruto stopped in his tracks, his gaze turning exceedingly grave.
Konan frowned. "What's wrong...?"
Naruto clenched his hand. "I can sense an incredibly evil and terrifying chakra. And it has Sage Power from the same source as mine..."
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