Nagato clearly sensed that although the Ten-Tails Tailed Beast Bomb deflected by Takuno caused devastating damage—far surpassing that of Naruto's Tailed Beast Bomb or Madara's "Tengai Shinsei"—and nearly destroyed the Ten-Tails' core will, the destructive energy of the explosion had been precisely contained to the outside.
He remained unscathed inside the Ten-Tails' maw; this was undoubtedly a deliberate act by his opponent. Otherwise...
Amidst such a terrifying explosion, there would have been absolutely no chance of survival.
More importantly, this thunderous strike diverted everyone's attention.
Shocked by Takuno's god-like power, the Allied Forces assumed that anyone inside the Ten-Tails' maw could not possibly survive such an onslaught.
They subconsciously dismissed the possibility that he was right there, thereby buying him the precious time needed to fully merge with the Ten-Tails.
Takuno, his face hidden behind a fox mask, turned toward Nagato, let out a lazy yawn, and waved his hand nonchalantly:
"Think nothing of it. It was just a whim."
His stone throne remained unmoved amidst the lingering shockwaves of energy, and his low, deep laughter held a playful undertone.
"Besides... letting them struggle a little longer makes the show far more interesting, don't you think?"
Upon hearing the brief yet information-packed exchange between Nagato and Takuno, the Allied Forces camp erupted in an uproar.
"Damn it!" The Raikage A's roar cracked like thunder, echoing across the desert air thick with the stench of gunpowder and blood.
Enveloped in residual blue Lightning Nature chakra, his muscles bulging, he glared furiously at the languid figure seated on the distant stone throne.
"That so-called 'Collector'... he did it on purpose?!
He knew all along that Nagato was inside the Ten-Tails—he even deliberately held back to 'protect' him! What exactly is he plotting?!"
A chill, accompanied by a sense of absurdity, instantly swept through the Allied Forces' command center and the front lines. Minato's expression was grave; he fixed his gaze on Takuno, attempting to discern any underlying intent behind that fox mask and the figure's relaxed posture upon the stone throne.
"His objective... is completely unknown," he said in a low voice to the Kages and key strategists beside him.
"But one thing is certain: whatever his intentions, we must absolutely avoid provoking his hostility!"
Minato's voice held a note of unprecedented wariness.
"Even Nagato, in that state, was so wary of him; his words held gratitude, yet concealed a deep guard...
Doesn't that speak volumes? The Collector's power... I fear it surpasses even that of Nagato as the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki!"
It was hard to believe... Nagato had attained such power by absorbing and merging with the Ten-Tails—a beast formed from all nine Tailed Beasts.
But that Collector... on what basis did he possess such might?
Could it be solely due to the Tailed Beast chakra he had 'collected'?
How could that possibly suffice to fuel the kind of power that could swat away the Ten-Tails with a mere flick of a hand?!
Endless questions weighed heavily on the minds of every ninja in the Allied Forces.
They had just barely survived the devastating impact of Tengai Shinsei and the chaotic aftermath of the Ten-Tails' rampage, thanks to the Nine-Tails chakra cloaks shared by Naruto.
Immediately after, they had witnessed the terrifying form Nagato took as the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki...
And now, they were confronted with the Collector's inscrutable, playful attitude.
The Raikage, Ay, clenched his fists until the knuckles cracked; rage churned within his chest, yet he forced it down.
He knew that venting his fury on the Collector now would be tantamount to suicide.
The stranger's detached, otherworldly air and unfathomable strength made the Raikage—a man renowned for his explosive temper and raw power—feel a profound sense of helplessness for the very first time in his life.
The Allied Forces' objective remained the Ten-Tails and Nagato, yet the presence of Takuno hung over everyone like a Sword of Damocles—poised to fall at any moment, though no one knew upon whom the blade would strike. At this moment, Madara's Rinnegan was locked firmly onto the figure of the Collector, who sat enthroned upon a seat of stone.
The oppressive aura radiating from Nagato—now the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki—was enough to strike terror into the Allied Shinobi Forces; yet, it was the presence exuded by that languid figure on the throne that truly gave Madara pause.
That power... a light unlike any he had ever known flashed within Madara's Rinnegan.
It was not fear, and certainly not cowardice!
He had witnessed through Black Zetsu how Takuno suppressed the Ten-Tails with a mere flick of his finger, effortlessly dismantling a Tailed Beast Bomb capable of obliterating the continent, and even shattering the will of the fully realized Ten-Tails itself...
Such power far surpassed the limits of what he had once imagined possible for Hashirama.
Why had a being known as the "Collector" come into existence in this world?
What was the source of his power? A massive enigma churned within Madara's mind.
Yet, what surged within him was not timidity, but an excitement that burned like fire!
Yes—shock! Shock the likes of which he had never experienced before!
But hard on its heels came the ignition of a long-dormant fighting spirit and a burning desire for conquest.
To think that, upon his ultimate path of seeking power, such an insurmountable peak had appeared?
It was... exhilarating!
"I might not be a match for him right now..." Madara calmly assessed the situation.
The pressure Nagato exerted after merging with the Ten-Tails was formidable, certainly, yet it paled in comparison to Takuno; even Nagato himself had expressed both "gratitude" and wariness toward the man.
Madara saw this disparity with absolute clarity.
"But what if I were to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki?"
The thought struck his mind like a thunderclap.
Madara was utterly convinced that, should that happen, he would possess the means to go toe-to-toe with the Collector!
This power was the very goal he had spent years plotting to attain.
And now, atop that ultimate power, there was the added prospect of a rival who made his blood race: the Collector!
It was the perfect gift from destiny for his pursuit of power!
At the mere thought of clashing with such a being, Madara felt the blood in his long-dormant, skeletal frame begin to boil once more. He harbored not the slightest doubt that he would ultimately become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.
Although the plan had hit a few snags, as long as the goal remained within reach, Madara possessed countless ways to achieve it.
Unless... that Collector, seated upon the throne, chose to intervene.
But... Madara's gaze swept over Takuno once more.
The man's fox-masked face was shrouded in shadow; his posture was languid, as if the fierce battle determining the fate of the ninja world were merely a play.
The Collector had allowed Nagato to merge with the Ten-Tails, perhaps even given him a nudge.
If so, what reason could he possibly have to stop Madara from obtaining that same power?
Was there truly a fundamental difference between him and Nagato in the Collector's eyes?
Were they not both merely pawns seeking power, or... amusing playthings?
At that thought, the last shred of hesitation in Madara's heart vanished.
Since the Collector had no intention of interfering, nothing stood in his path to becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki that could truly be called an obstacle!
Nagato? That was a matter to consider; having gained the power of the Ten-Tails, Nagato was someone even Madara could not easily handle.
Madara licked his lips.
Faster! He had to be faster! An unprecedented sense of urgency drove him.
He craved that power; he yearned to stand on equal footing with Takuno.
He could almost picture the moment he would descend as the perfect Ten-Tails Jinchūriki and drag the Collector down from that stone throne—the seat from which he looked down upon all living beings!
That throne, symbolizing absolute power, belonged to the strongest!
And that was a position Madara was determined to claim!
Takuno was unaware of Madara's thoughts, though even if he had known, he likely wouldn't have cared much.
After all, he had no intention of stopping Madara from becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki; in fact...
If Madara didn't want to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, Takuno would have stepped in to force him to become one!
Because... Black Zetsu's plan to resurrect Kaguya had to succeed! High above the desert battlefield, Nagato—wielding the powers of the Six Paths—acknowledged the Collector's assistance before turning his gaze downward toward the assembled Five Kage Alliance and the Allied Shinobi Forces. His Rinnegan, brimming with boundless power, swept indifferently across every face.
Seated upon his stone throne, Takuno's lips curled into an amused smile as he awaited what would come next.
Nagato raised his Six Paths staff, pointing it toward the Allied Forces.
His voice suddenly rose, filled with unquestionable resolve and the tone of a divine proclamation:
"Alliance of the Five Kage! Mere ants of the shinobi world! The pain and despair you have endured are but a necessary path toward true peace!
The order of the old world is rife with hatred and an endless cycle of war; it has rotted to the very core!"
"I now possess the power of a god! This power exists not for destruction, but for reconstruction!"
His Rinnegan erupted with a dazzling, awe-inspiring light.
"I shall put an end to this chaotic era of futile strife! I will create a realm devoid of war, pain, and hatred!"
"Whoever stands in the way of this path to 'peace'—be it anyone—"
Nagato's tone dropped to freezing cold, carrying a threat of utter annihilation.
"—shall be reduced to dust... beneath this agonizing divine judgment!"
As the proclamation ended, the very air seemed to freeze.
The immense chakra of the Ten-Tails surged and roared at his command; the glow of the Truth-Seeking Orbs intensified, and an invisible pressure made the earth itself tremble.
Hovering high above, he appeared like a deity passing judgment on the world, heralding the end of the old era.
He was ushering in a new order of "peace"—one that, in his view, could only be realized through absolute power and excruciating suffering.
Just then, Madara's reanimated body suddenly appeared before the ranks of the Allied Forces. The purple light of his Rinnegan swept over the tense crowd, finally locking onto Minato.
Ignoring the Lightning Nature chakra instantly erupting from the Raikage (A) and the wall of sand raised by Gaara, his deep voice cut through the din of the battlefield. "Minato, the Alliance's 'ants' cannot stop Nagato as he is now. And as for me..."
He glanced at the Six Paths version of Nagato hovering high above, the nine Truth-Seeking Orbs slowly rotating behind him.
"The power of this vessel is also insufficient. Cooperation is the only option to counter Nagato."
"Cooperation?!"
The mocking voice of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, rang out first; his floating body trembled slightly with agitation.
"How laughable! Uchiha Madara—who once treated the Allied Shinobi Forces like mere blades of grass on the battlefield—now admits his power is lacking? You're actually bowing your head to ask for help from the very 'ants' you once scorned?!"
His aged face betrayed a mix of humiliating memories regarding past defeats and derision toward this absurd proposal.
Madara shifted his gaze to Onoki, a flicker of recognition crossing his Rinnegan.
"Hmph... so it was you. That little runt who cowered behind Mu back then—you managed to scrape by with your life, and now you actually have the guts to bark."
The contempt in his tone struck precisely at the deepest shadow in Onoki's heart.
Onoki's face turned livid, and the glow of his Dust Release flared up violently, only to be halted by Minato raising a hand beside him.
Minato looked at Madara and spoke.
"Uchiha Madara, we may not know exactly what kind of plan you have..."
"But one thing is certain: your scheme is likely even more extreme than Nagato's!"
Minato's words implied that there was no possibility of cooperation between them.
Madara chuckled; he didn't bother to refute Minato's speculation, asking instead with a look of intrigued amusement:
"Even so, that is a matter for later. Right now, you lot can't even get past Nagato."
Just as Minato was about to say something more, the Six Paths Nagato spoke.
His white hair streaming in the air, he swept his gaze over everyone below, his eyes cold and resolute. "Hmph. It seems you all require some 'guidance' to recognize reality."
Nagato's voice, amplified by the immense chakra of the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, echoed across the battlefield. It carried the cold indifference of a god, yet beneath that lay a subtle, barely perceptible trace of concern.
"Since you are so intent on challenging the power of a god, I shall grant your wish. Come at me, all of you!"
The core reason behind this seemingly arrogant challenge was his concern for Konan's safety.
Obito's warped space-time abilities were elusive and unpredictable; he had already attempted to target Konan on multiple occasions.
The battlefield was a chaotic mess—the Allied Forces, Madara, and that man, Obito.
Nagato knew full well that Konan was his only true bond and his greatest vulnerability; he would absolutely not allow history to repeat itself.
He would never let the tragedy that befell Yahiko happen to her.
The moment the words left his lips, Nagato acted.
One of the nine Truth-Seeking Orbs instantly softened and reshaped itself into a pitch-black sphere with a dark, shimmering luster. Like an impenetrable fortress, it swiftly and precisely encased Konan.
This layer of absolute defense—forged from the power of creation—blocked all external physical attacks and energy blasts; even spatial fluctuations could not penetrate it.
Konan's face was faintly visible within the sphere; she seemed to want to say something.
But her voice was cut off, and her eyes were filled with worry.
Nagato did not turn to look at her, yet his actions spoke volumes.
He drew everyone's attention to himself, gathering all hostile fire and threats.
At the same time, he used his ultimate defense to ward off any potential sneak attacks from Obito—this was the true intent behind his command for them to "come at him all at once."
He sought to dominate the battlefield with absolute power, isolating the greatest danger away from himself and Konan, and creating a secure "ultimate battlefield."
"Now," Nagato said, gripping his Six Paths staff. His gaze was piercing, locked firmly onto the Allied Forces and Madara. "Let your defeat bear witness to the cornerstone of the new world!"
As Nagato declared the start of the battle, Konan—shielded by the Truth-Seeking Ball—became the only safe haven amidst the chaotic fray, as well as a silent testament to Nagato's power and resolve.
Meanwhile, Obito lurked within a swirling vortex of space-time; his Mangekyō Sharingan fixed upon that impenetrable black sphere, his expression grim.
Unable to find an opportunity to destroy the cursed seal embedded in his heart, he had no choice but to follow Black Zetsu's plan and press on.