"Nagato, they're catching up!"
Konan's voice was laced with urgent panic as she retreated closely behind Nagato. Nagato could clearly sense several figures closing in rapidly from behind, his heart sinking instantly.
Hearing Konan's words, a wave of intense anxiety seized Nagato. The pursuers were incredibly fast, on the verge of overtaking them. A heavy sense of oppression weighed on them both, and Nagato couldn't help but curse under his breath.
"How can they be this fast?"
Nagato's voice was full of frustration. "Konan, don't worry about it, keep retreating! I'll buy you some time!"
Nagato felt utterly powerless. He now realized that only two of the Six Paths of Pain remained intact. Only with all six paths assembled could he possibly stand against the pursuers. If he couldn't find a way to delay them, it was only a matter of time before they were caught.
Desperation clung to Nagato. He glanced back; the only puppets he could still control were those of the Asura Path and the Human Path. Yet the pursuers behind them pressed on relentlessly. No matter how desperately they fled, the enemy always seemed a step faster.
As Nagato and Konan fled, the ominous feeling in their hearts grew stronger. They knew the pursuers wouldn't give up easily; they were determined to capture them. The tension in the air was almost palpable.
Then, the situation changed abruptly.
With a sharp cry, the three pursuing figures closed in suddenly, their overwhelming aura nearly suffocating. Nagato's heart pounded wildly as he controlled the Asura and Human Path puppets to face the trio, his mind racing for a strategy.
He strained with all his might to control the situation, focusing intensely on manipulating the two Pain bodies. But before he could act, Aoki from among the pursuers had already made his move, effortlessly shattering the two puppets.
Nagato tried to use the shared vision of his Rinnegan to track Aoki's movements, but it was futile. Aoki's speed was extreme; even with Nagato's sharp eyes, he couldn't catch a glimpse of his form.
Defeat and fear intertwined, twisting Nagato's face into an expression of terror. He finally realized the opponent possessed terrifying strength far beyond his comprehension. The sense of crisis in his heart grew heavier, his expression darkening completely.
With no retreat left, Nagato made a decisive decision. "Konan, we keep moving!"
His voice held a mix of resignation and resolve. Clearly, even if hope was slim, continuing to retreat was their only option.
But Nagato's plan ultimately failed. Before he could recover from his shock, the three relentless pursuers once again intercepted the pair, forcing them to stop and stand back-to-back, ready for battle.
"How is this possible? How can they be this fast?"
Nagato muttered to himself, his tone full of disbelief. He looked at Konan beside him, his eyes filled with concern. "Konan, if you get a chance, run! I can't let them capture you too."
Konan firmly shook her head, her gaze unwavering. Yahiko's death had long shattered her world, and now Nagato was her last hope. She would never abandon him in such perilous times, simply standing quietly by his side, ready to face whatever was to come together.
Seeing Konan's resolute demeanor, Nagato swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. In that moment, he realized he was not alone. And the First and Second Hokage, long since departed, would never retreat when Konoha faced a crisis—they would confront all enemies head-on.
Just as Nagato and Konan prepared for a desperate struggle, a golden light suddenly flashed before their eyes. It was Minato, who had rushed over immediately after meeting Naruto.
Naruto stared blankly at his father's sudden appearance, momentarily forgetting the crisis at hand. And when he learned that Konoha's crisis had already been resolved, his shock deepened even further.
Before Naruto could fully process it, Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique, instantly transporting them both to the battlefield.
"Leave it to Naruto!"
Minato's voice was filled with certainty. "First and Second Hokage, trust him. He will surely surprise you!"
Seeing Naruto arrive, Aoki immediately stepped forward to stop Hashirama and Tobirama from taking action, turning his gaze to the blond boy before them. The Hokage present were still unaware of Naruto's true strength. If they knew what Aoki was thinking, they would be even more astonished.
Aoki smiled and gave Naruto a meaningful look, as if to say, "You haven't yet witnessed the true power of the Seventh Hokage."
The Hokage would never know that Naruto possessed abilities far beyond their imagination.
With his unique Talk no Jutsu, Naruto gradually unraveled the knots in Nagato's heart. A bond quietly formed between them, as if everything had returned to its original course. And this was the only hope for resolving the situation.
Nagato's gaze grew increasingly resolute. He prepared to unleash his ultimate technique, the power within him awakening, his potential fully ignited, ushering in this critical moment.
In an instant, Nagato chose to sacrifice himself, performing the Rinne Rebirth to revive all the villagers who had perished in Konoha.
This scene was shocking even to those unfamiliar with the original story. The once relentless enemy now made such a move, leaving everyone stunned by Nagato's choice.
The First Hokage and the others, along with Minato, watched in utter disbelief as Nagato's words became reality.
The villagers who had fallen during Pain's invasion awoke once more. Tsunade watched this miraculous scene, the heavy weight in her heart finally lifting, replaced by an indescribable sense of relief. Thanks to Nagato's sacrifice, they had ultimately succeeded.
"This is truly unbelievable," Tsunade murmured softly, filled with gratitude. And Konan, following the original course of events, silently left, carrying Nagato's body with her.
Aoki and the others also returned to Konoha, bringing this arduous journey of aid to a close. Naruto excitedly pulled Minato along, chattering endlessly about his experiences, his face glowing with joy.
Though father and son came from different worlds, the bond of blood thicker than water ultimately transcended the barriers of time and space. Listening to Naruto recount the various trials of this world, Minato's heart was filled with worry, yet also mingled with a pride he could hardly conceal.
Fortunately, everything was moving in a positive direction. The Third Hokage and Danzo had already been brought to justice, and Konoha had finally achieved a hard-won victory and peace after the calamity.
Seeing the living First and Second Hokage, along with the Fourth Hokage from a parallel world, standing before them, Kakashi and the others were utterly stunned, their pupils contracting sharply in disbelief. These legendary figures from the past, long thought lost, now stood before them in the flesh—a testament to Konoha's strength and resilience.
Among the crowd, fans could hardly contain their excitement and had already begun urging the First Hokage for autographs. Tsunade waved her hand, and the entire village of Konoha instantly erupted into a sea of celebration, a stark contrast to the desolation of its near-destruction. The villagers cheered wholeheartedly in this rebirth after the catastrophe.
While Konoha basked in the joy of victory, the scene was entirely different within the Akatsuki's base.
Listening to Zetsu's report, Obito's expression was one of disbelief, tinged with absurdity. He simply could not accept that those Hokage were still alive.
"Stop joking around! There has to be a limit to jokes!"
Obito cried out, unable to comprehend the situation. "Those Hokage of Konoha have been dead for so many years. How could they possibly still be alive?"
Beside him, Black Zetsu shared Obito's astonishment, his hopes instantly shattered. The resurrection of these Hokage completely disrupted their meticulously laid plans, making them question the very meaning of their actions.
At this moment, both Obito and Black Zetsu fell into confusion, beginning to ponder the value of their existence. Their grand ambitions—whether Obito's desire to save the world or Black Zetsu's schemes to revive his mother—seemed utterly insignificant in the face of Konoha's indomitable will and the unyielding spirit of its leaders.
The world's landscape had quietly shifted, leaving Obito and Black Zetsu adrift in endless uncertainty, forced to reexamine their path and contemplate the true meaning of life.
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