A day and a half passed in the blink of an eye.
8:00 a.m.
Jiraiya and the others arrived at the Hokage's office right on time.
When they saw Naruto and the rest, they weren't too surprised.
After all, the kids had already shown terrifying strength during the graduation exam—strength that didn't even seem inferior to theirs.
"Let's go."
Kitazawa stood up and spoke.
The group quickly made their way to the open ground in front of the Forest of Death.
Time passed little by little.
"They're here!"
With his Byakugan, Hyuga Hiashi spotted Akatsuki's movement and immediately warned everyone.
Moments later, a sharp whistling cut through the air, and more than a dozen figures dropped from afar and landed on the ground.
At the front stood the Six Paths of Pain.
Behind them were six Akatsuki members.
All of them were newly recruited—people never mentioned in the original story.
Kitazawa thought to himself: as expected, Zetsu and Uchiha Obito were still hidden in the shadows, not showing themselves.
Which was normal.
Zetsu's role in Akatsuki had always been intelligence gathering; he'd never really displayed combat ability.
And Obito's Kamui was perfect for ambushes. Staying concealed only made him more dangerous.
"Yahiko…?"
When Jiraiya saw Deva Path Pain, the name slipped out before he could stop it.
"Hand over the Seven-Tails and the Nine-Tails. I'll spare your lives."
Deva Path ignored Jiraiya and spoke coldly.
"That's impossible."
Kitazawa shook his head.
"In that case, you'll witness the power of a god!"
Deva Path didn't waste another word and flicked his hand.
Summoning Jutsu!
The Animal Path formed seals and slammed a palm onto the ground.
A hellhound, a giant bird, a bull, a panda, and other massive summons appeared all at once.
"You three—use summoning."
Kitazawa looked at Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.
The three of them bit their thumbs and slammed their hands to the ground.
In a burst of smoke, three enormous figures appeared: Mount Myōboku's Gamabunta, Ryūchi Cave's Manda, and Shikkotsu Forest's Katsuyu.
Jiraiya, who had been about to summon as well, immediately stopped.
Staring at those three familiar summons, he looked dazed for a moment.
Uchiha Fugaku, Hiashi, and the others felt their emotions surge too.
The "standard loadout" of the Three Sannin was the summons from the Three Great Sage Regions.
There was no doubt—Konoha's future would be supported by them.
Before anyone could think further, the battle between summons was already underway.
Their massive bodies brought terrifying destructive power.
In an instant, the ground shook like an earthquake and dust exploded into the air.
"We're going in!"
Naruto shouted. "Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A dense sea of shadow clones appeared.
He charged straight at the other Akatsuki members.
Yakumo Kurama followed closely behind.
She'd already realized her genjutsu didn't work on the Six Paths of Pain with the Rinnegan.
Multiple Arrows!
Hinata stood her ground and released her bowstring.
Nine Yin Release arrows shot forward.
Spiral Arrow!
Neji locked onto the Animal Path with his Byakugan.
Sealing Technique Absorption Seal!
The Preta Path suddenly appeared, stepping in front of the Animal Path.
Neji's Spiral Arrow was immediately absorbed.
Sasuke turned his gaze to the Asura Path.
Aside from Deva Path, Asura Path's offensive pressure was the fiercest.
Shino Aburame raised both hands.
A huge swarm of kikaichū poured out, surging toward the Human Path.
"Hold."
Kitazawa stopped Jiraiya and the others from entering the fight.
The original plan was for Naruto and the rest to handle Akatsuki's six new members.
But clearly, those six weren't enough to challenge them—add the Five Paths of Pain, and it finally became about right.
Shinra Tensei!
Deva Path looked at Kitazawa.
An invisible repulsive force blasted Naruto's shadow clones away like paper—and kept going, surging toward Kitazawa.
Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!
Kitazawa clapped his hands together.
A line of wooden pillars rose from the earth and curved into an arched barrier.
The repulsive force slammed into it, making the arch shudder violently.
"Fall back!"
Kitazawa warned them, then leapt up.
Lightning Release: Chidori Senbon!
Midair, he snapped his right hand.
Brilliant lightning condensed into a storm of senbon needles, blanketing Deva Path.
Deva Path's Shinra Tensei was on cooldown, so he instantly darted left.
When Kitazawa landed, he chased after him.
North of the Forest of Death lay a chain of mountains.
On a distant peak, Obito—masked—stood watching the battlefield.
Different from usual, he carried a war fan on his back.
The Uchiha Gunbai: capable of deflecting and absorbing ninjutsu, then converting it into a storm.
In the original story, Obito used it to knock away Naruto's Rasengan.
Madara was even more absurd—he used it to swat away Naruto's mini Tailed Beast Bomb.
Obito stared at Kitazawa with bone-deep hatred.
He hadn't forgotten the grudge of losing an arm back then—
Even if the one who actually did it was Kakashi Hatake.
Just then, Zetsu emerged from the ground.
Half black, half white—the fusion of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
"What terrifying strength…"
Black Zetsu watched Kitazawa press Deva Path into a beating and couldn't help sighing.
In its view, aside from the reincarnations of Asura and Indra's chakra, the shinobi world shouldn't produce a monster like this.
And Kitazawa clearly wasn't one of those reincarnations.
His age and bloodline didn't match.
On the contrary, Naruto and Sasuke were most likely this generation's Asura and Indra.
They were born the same year Madara died.
And one was Uzumaki, the other Uchiha.
"Can Nagato win?"
White Zetsu asked.
"Deva Path alone will have a hard time."
Black Zetsu thought for a moment. "He has to merge the Six Paths… or summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
It understood exactly how terrifying Hashirama's Wood Release was.
Kitazawa wasn't there yet, but based on what it was seeing, his strength surpassed Deva Path.
"If I find an opening, I can step in and help him."
Obito spoke coldly.
His confidence came from Kamui and Izanagi.
Kamui could bring him close to Kitazawa without a sound.
And even if he failed, Izanagi could preserve his life.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu said nothing.
They both knew Obito's hatred toward Kitazawa.
And if he coordinated with Nagato, it really might be possible to kill Kitazawa.
In fact, it wasn't just Obito.
If the timing were perfect, Black Zetsu would also attempt a sneak attack.
It was just… cautious by nature.
At the slightest hint of danger, it would retreat.
To free Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, it had waited a thousand years—patience was not a problem.
Unless cornered, it would never act lightly.
"Is this the power of a god? That's all?"
After fighting for a while, Kitazawa said loudly.
Jiraiya, Fugaku, and the others watching couldn't help letting out a breath.
Until now, Akatsuki had felt like an overwhelming threat.
They'd captured seven jinchūriki, and even Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage had been helpless.
But seeing this, it really did seem—as Kitazawa said—not that terrifying.
"You want to see god's power? As you wish!"
Deva Path immediately withdrew the chakra from the other five Paths.
To him, Kitazawa's words were a signal.
If they were going to act, even "acting" had to be done at full force.
Chibaku Tensei!
Deva Path flew into the air and clasped his hands together.
A small black sphere, radiating horrifying gravity, suddenly formed.
In an instant, the earth began to quake.
Trees, rocks, grass—everything—was torn upward, surging into the sky.
"What is that?!"
Fugaku and the others stared wide-eyed, shock shock written across their faces.
The sheer scale of it made their minds reel.
On the distant mountain…
Obito's eyes narrowed.
"Chibaku Tensei!"
Black Zetsu's spirit lifted. "Nagato's finally using his real strength!"
"But Kitazawa has Flying Thunder God."
White Zetsu reminded him. "He can dodge Chibaku Tensei."
The moment Obito heard "Flying Thunder God," hatred flickered on his face.
Back then, when he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he'd swaggered into Konoha to trigger the Nine-Tails incident—
Only to be brutally taught a lesson by Minato's Flying Thunder God.
"He can dodge it. Others can't."
Black Zetsu shook its head. "Kitazawa's only option is to break Chibaku Tensei with brute force."
"This is an opportunity."
Obito's heart stirred.
Chibaku Tensei was said to be the strongest sealing technique in the shinobi world.
Once inside its range, gravity seized your body, your chakra could spiral into chaos, and you couldn't move.
"If it works, then yes—worth trying."
Black Zetsu murmured.
In front of the Forest of Death—
"Defend!"
Jiraiya shouted.
But he didn't need to.
Fugaku, Hiashi, and the others were already moving.
That omnipresent pull was dragging them toward the sky.
For the first time, they truly felt how terrifying the legendary Rinnegan was.
For a moment, their worry shifted to Kitazawa.
And Kitazawa himself was deciding how to deal with Chibaku Tensei.
After thinking, he decided not to use the World-Ending Arrow like last time.
Because he wanted to see if he could lure Obito out.
He could use Minato to confirm Obito's position—but that was the last resort.
If Obito jumped out on his own, even better.
Sage Mode!
Wood Release: Wood Golem Jutsu!
Kitazawa formed seals at once.
The next second, an enormous wooden Buddha-like giant appeared.
It stood in front of everyone, bracing against Chibaku Tensei's pull.
Jiraiya and the others instantly felt the pressure drop.
They stared up at the wooden giant, stunned.
It was far larger than even the three sage-region summons—towering into the clouds.
Not only Jiraiya's group—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and those stationed in Konoha could clearly see it too.
"Kitazawa's Wood Release… is starting to resemble the First Hokage."
Hiruzen said in shock.
As Tobirama's student, he'd seen Hashirama's Wood Release.
That near-invincible power had made him believe no second person could ever possess it.
Yet Kitazawa was getting closer and closer.
His speed of growth was unbelievable.
Tsunade smiled.
She always lost when she gambled—
But with Kitazawa, she'd finally won once.
She glanced at Kurenai Yuhi.
After this, she'd talk to her.
Because Deva Path had recalled the other five Paths' chakra, Naruto and the others paused their battles.
As for the six newly recruited Akatsuki jōnin, they'd already been restrained by Yakumo and Sasuke.
"So awesome!"
Naruto stared at the wooden giant, awestruck.
Sasuke canceled his Susanoo.
A moment ago he'd been thinking of summoning Susanoo to resist the pull and try to destroy Chibaku Tensei with it.
Hinata said nothing—she kept her Byakugan fixed on Kitazawa standing atop the wooden giant's head.
Ninja Art: Mind Body Transmission Technique!
Kitazawa immediately contacted Nagato.
Banshō Ten'in!
Deva Path raised a hand.
A massive attractive force locked onto Kitazawa.
Kitazawa pretended it was his first time seeing Banshō Ten'in.
Caught off guard, he was dragged into the air.
The closer he got to the Chibaku Tensei core, the stronger the pull became.
Now, Kitazawa felt an unprecedented gravitational force, yanking him straight toward the growing mass.
The sphere—after swallowing enormous debris—had become a gigantic ball.
"Hokage-sama?!"
Fugaku and the others' faces changed drastically.
Kitazawa twisted midair and landed on the surface of the Chibaku Tensei mass.
But the pull forced him into a hunched posture, wobbling as if he might slip.
At that moment, his eyebrows lifted.
Behind him, space warped—
Obito appeared.
Obito held the Uchiha Gunbai in his left hand, and slammed his right palm straight at Kitazawa.
Wood Release: Cutting Technique!
The skin of his right arm bulged, sharp branches erupting outward.
Kitazawa had Byakugan active the entire time.
The moment Obito appeared, he'd already seen him.
In that instant, he had two choices:
First: counterattack immediately.
Obito was solid while attacking—meaning Kitazawa could hit him.
Second: use this chance to mark him with Flying Thunder God.
Obito already had Minato's mark, but Minato only had a single thread of chakra left—his sensing range was limited.
If Kitazawa placed his mark, then as long as Obito remained in the shinobi world, Kitazawa could sense him.
Unless Obito became the Ten-Tails jinchūriki, he wouldn't be able to remove the mark.
Kitazawa chose the second option.
Because Obito had Izanagi—one eye could last ten minutes.
Kitazawa couldn't kill him twice in a short window.
And Nagato, to keep the "act" going, would keep attacking too.
With a loud bang—
Kitazawa grabbed Obito's wrist.
The sharp branches pierced his palm, drawing blood.
Kitazawa ignored it, clenched his left fist, and drove it into Obito.
Obito reacted instantly, raising the Gunbai to block.
The surging force, converted through the Gunbai, transformed into a raging storm.
Obito used Kamui without hesitation and vanished.
He understood that this level of storm wouldn't do anything to Kitazawa.
Kitazawa didn't chase.
His Flying Thunder God mark was already carved onto Obito.
Kitazawa withdrew his right hand.
The wound in his palm—where branches had pierced through—was already healing on its own.
With his current physique, even without releasing the Strength of a Hundred Seal, as long as it wasn't fatal, he could recover rapidly.
Flying Thunder God Technique!
Kitazawa escaped Chibaku Tensei's range instantly.
He reappeared on the wooden giant's head.
Sage Art: Wind Release—Rasenshuriken!
He raised his hand.
Sage chakra surged, forming a shuriken-shaped Rasengan.
Without hesitation, he hurled it at Chibaku Tensei.
BOOM!
The still-forming Chibaku Tensei exploded under the Rasenshuriken's strike.
A storm descended.
Chakra currents burst outward like fireworks.
Jiraiya and the others held their breath.
The falling chakra torrents felt like they carried crushing weight, pressing down on them.
At that moment, the wooden giant raised its arms and blocked the entire shockwave.
"Damn it!"
Obito reappeared on the mountain peak.
"How is his reaction that fast?"
Black Zetsu frowned.
"It's like he's got eyes on the back of his head."
White Zetsu echoed.
They didn't know Kitazawa had Byakugan active.
If they had, Obito never would've attempted the sneak attack—
The Byakugan had a full 360-degree field of vision. Unless the gap was enormous, it was impossible to ambush successfully.
"Looks like only the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path can defeat him."
Seeing Chibaku Tensei fail completely, Black Zetsu spoke grimly.
As soon as it said that, Nagato used Summoning Jutsu.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path appeared.
Gamabunta and the other summons instinctively retreated.
"What is that?"
Jiraiya's pupils shook. Feeling its terrifying aura, his scalp went numb.
No one could answer him.
Fugaku and the others stood frozen in shock.
Many of them had seen the Nine-Tails before.
But compared to the Demonic Statue, the Nine-Tails' size was nothing.
"Does the shinobi world even have summons like this?"
Hiruzen stared wide-eyed.
"Kitazawa's in danger. You stay here—I'm going to support him!"
Tsunade's heart jolted. She forced down her worry and spoke quickly.
"Tsunade-sama."
Kurenai grabbed her wrist. "Believe in Kitazawa!"
"B-but…"
Tsunade got only one word out—then stiffened.
Hiruzen did too.
Because a towering Thousand-Armed Kannon statue appeared—vast and heaven-reaching.
Its size was no less than the Demonic Statue.
The two colossi stood facing each other like twin mountains.
Hiruzen couldn't help thinking of the two statues at the Valley of the End.
Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha—reborn?
"That can't be…"
Obito stared at the Thousand-Armed statue, his face pale with horror.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu were equally stunned—especially Black Zetsu.
It had lived in the shinobi world for a thousand years.
Every moment, it provoked battles between Indra and Asura's reincarnations.
And aside from those two, everyone else was… mediocre—less than one ten-thousandth of their level.
So what was this Kitazawa who had appeared out of nowhere?
Black Zetsu's head buzzed.
Did the Sage of Six Paths have a secret child… and was Kitazawa the reincarnation of that child's chakra?
Otherwise, how could he have power comparable to Indra and Asura's reincarnations?
"Kitazawa-sensei… is this strong?"
Sasuke clenched his fist unconsciously.
He'd always known Kitazawa was strong.
But he thought, no matter what, Kitazawa wouldn't be that far beyond Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
Yet the appearance of that Thousand-Armed statue shook his belief.
In front of it, his Susanoo looked like a child's toy.
"As expected of Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto gave a thumbs-up. "A man like that—that's the goal of youth!"
Hinata, Neji, and the others were too stunned to say anything at all.
A thunderous boom rang out.
The Demonic Statue charged the Thousand-Armed statue.
Top Transformed Buddha!
This time, Kitazawa didn't even use a Perfect Susanoo—
And even so, under the Thousand-Armed statue's barrage of blows, the Demonic Statue looked like it might collapse at any moment.
"Not good!"
Black Zetsu said gravely. "Nagato's going to lose!"
"That's the Demonic Statue after devouring seven tailed beasts—how can it lose?!"
Obito took an involuntary step back.
Looking at Kitazawa, an unfamiliar fear rose in his chest.
With his current strength, if he fought head-on, he probably couldn't deal any meaningful damage to Kitazawa.
"What do we do now?"
White Zetsu hurriedly said. "Next, Kitazawa will definitely take his Rinnegan!"
"The Rinnegan can't fall into Kitazawa's hands!"
Black Zetsu snapped. "We leave—now!"
"Leave?"
Obito asked unwillingly. "We're just giving up?"
"If we don't give up, what else can we do?"
Black Zetsu shot back.
"…"
Obito fell silent.
He'd already tried one sneak attack. Kitazawa would be on guard now.
A second attempt would have even lower odds.
"Don't worry. I have a second backup plan."
Black Zetsu took a deep breath, making up its mind.
Nagato's body was already in poor condition. After this fight, it would be even worse.
He likely wouldn't be able to use the Rinnegan properly anymore.
Better to use what remained of him… to revive Uchiha Madara.
Otherwise, no one could deal with Kitazawa.
And after taking the Rinnegan out, there wasn't even a good successor.
Give it to Obito?
Possible, yes—but even with the Rinnegan, Obito probably still couldn't beat Kitazawa.
It would be pointless.
"Move!"
When Black Zetsu saw the Demonic Statue fall, it spoke urgently.
Then it sank into the ground.
Obito glared resentfully at Kitazawa—and vanished.
Kitazawa's eyes narrowed.
Not because he saw Obito's gaze, but because he sensed his Flying Thunder God mark disappearing.
He stopped holding back.
In a single Body Flicker, he appeared in front of Deva Path.
"I'll hold on to the Six Paths of Pain for you."
With that, he knocked Deva Path unconscious with a punch.
At the same time, the real Nagato spat out a mouthful of blood.
Even if it was "acting," the chakra consumption was real.
"Nagato—are you okay?"
Konan asked anxiously.
"If Kitazawa isn't lying, then Black Zetsu and Madara will arrive any moment now."
Nagato wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"And Kitazawa will chase after them."
Konan's voice was low.
"Mm."
Nagato nodded. "In a moment, Black Zetsu and Madara should try to draw you away. Just go along with it."
"I understand."
Konan stood. "To avoid them noticing anything, I'll take you and leave."
She pushed Nagato's wheelchair toward the exit.
The next second, space twisted—Obito appeared.
At the same time, Zetsu rose from the ground.
"What are you trying to do?"
Konan demanded immediately.
"We have no ill intent. We're trying to help Nagato escape."
Black Zetsu argued smoothly. "Kitazawa will catch up soon. You can't get away dragging him like this."
Konan's face darkened, hesitation flashing in her eyes.
"I'll take Nagato."
Black Zetsu said at once. "You and Madara stay behind to block Kitazawa. Once I'm far enough, Madara can use space-time ninjutsu to bring you out."
"I don't trust you!"
Konan snorted.
"Our goals are the same. Now that the Eye of the Moon Plan has failed, we can't afford to fight each other even more!"
Black Zetsu declared.
"Time's running out!"
White Zetsu urged. "If we don't move, none of us will get away!"
Konan fell silent.
Then Nagato spoke: "Konan… listen to it."
"But—"
Konan hesitated, then finally said, "Be careful."
"Relax. I'll protect him."
Black Zetsu stepped forward. "Nagato, I'll cling to your body. That way I can take you underground."
Nagato nodded.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu immediately turned into two masses of black-and-white sludge.
The sludge seeped into Nagato's body.
He was instantly controlled—and sank into the earth.
After who knew how long, light returned to Nagato's eyes.
He was in a cave.
"Where is this?"
Nagato looked around.
"You don't need to know."
Black Zetsu said, and finally dropped the pretense. "Nagato, your mission is over."
"…What do you mean?"
Nagato tried to struggle up.
But the next second, black matter spread, covering his body and arms.
He instantly lost control of himself.
So what Kitazawa said was true!
But wasn't Madara supposed to be holding Kitazawa off with Konan?
Then who was Black Zetsu reviving?
As that thought crossed his mind, White Zetsu peeled off from his body.
It spat out a corpse—eyeless, only hollow sockets.
"Uchiha Madara?!"
Nagato blurted.
Because he remembered Kitazawa saying the Rinnegan originally came from Madara.
And this corpse happened to be missing both eyes.
"Clever."
Black Zetsu spoke—and Nagato realized his hands were forming seals on their own.
A seal he knew all too well.
Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.
"You've lost your value as a chess piece."
Black Zetsu said calmly. "Sorry. Now we have to bring out the one who can clean up this mess."
"I see."
Nagato suddenly became calm.
He lowered his head, looking at the black matter on his body.
A transcribed seal triggered.
Five Elements Seal, Four Symbols Seal, Eight Trigrams Seal, and Self-Cursing Seal—four sealing techniques all slammed down onto Black Zetsu at once.
Black Zetsu, which had been controlling Nagato's hands, froze.
It reacted instantly—furious and shocked—and screamed:
"You set me up?!"
The next second, Kitazawa appeared inside the cave.
Black Zetsu's heart turned cold.
Why was Nagato cooperating with Kitazawa?
When did he learn the truth?
"Buy one, get one free? How generous."
Kitazawa glanced at Madara's corpse and laughed.
Without hesitating, he began hurling sealing techniques at Black Zetsu like a storm.
~~~
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