Inside the headquarters of the Ninja World Government, Makoto also learned about the situation on the battlefield through Yu's report.
"That Black Zetsu fellow is actually more prepared than Kabuto."
Makoto leaned back on his Empty Throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.
Compared to the Edo Tensei powerhouses summoned by Kabuto during the Fourth Great Ninja War in the original work, the quality of those summoned by Black Zetsu was clearly a level higher. He never expected that even Duy would be summoned.
The fortunate thing amidst the misfortune was that Duy's strength was limited.
Even if he opened the Gate of Death, he could only barely reach the level of a Super Kage, unlike Guy who, upon opening the Gate of Death, could directly kick Six Paths Madara half to death.
Makoto was a bit curious: 'If Guy died and was then reanimated to open the Gate of Death, wouldn't that make him invincible?'
But upon second thought, he realized this was impossible.
The strength of those reanimated by Edo Tensei was restricted.
Madara himself commented on the Senju brothers, Hashirama and Tobirama, saying that being summoned like this, they couldn't display their living strength.
This was also why the reanimated Hashirama could at most only use the Wood Human Technique, and couldn't summon the True Several Thousand Hands.
If Guy died and was reanimated, he could probably open at most up to the Seventh Gate as his limit, and couldn't open the Gate of Death at all.
Even if he did open it, he wouldn't reach his living level.
…
Coastal Area.
The Second Unit, led by Jiraiya, had already arrived at the predetermined position.
Like the two previous units, Jiraiya also encountered acquaintances.
Hanzo of the Salamander.
Nagato.
Because he hadn't used the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique like in the original work, Nagato, though emaciated, still maintained that head of red hair.
Although the Rinnegan in his eyes were replicas from the Edo Tensei, they still emitted an awe-inspiring pressure.
Before the war began, Jiraiya had already met Konan, who had been taken in by Makoto, and had learned from her about the experiences of Yahiko, Nagato, and herself over the years.
"Sensei."
Nagato's tone was unexpectedly calm.
"Send me off."
After Yahiko died, Nagato scoffed at Jiraiya's theory that 'people can understand each other'.
But after death, upon meeting this teacher again, he actually felt a little relieved.
Jiraiya wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, then bit his thumb and pressed it to the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
Bang—!
Two clouds of white smoke burst open, and two toads appeared on Jiraiya's shoulders.
Shima!
Fukasaku!
The two Toad Sages from Mount Myoboku.
"Jiraiya-chan, it seems something extraordinary is happening on your side."
Fukasaku squinted his eyes and looked at Nagato in the distance, a hint of seriousness in his tone.
Jiraiya nodded, pressed his palms together, and closed his eyes.
He needed to condense Senjutsu Chakra to enter Sage Mode.
And this would take some time.
"You young ladies by Makoto's side."
Jiraiya called out while condensing his Senjutsu Chakra.
"Help me buy some time!"
Alice, Nino, and Itsuki exchanged glances and nodded.
The three charged out from the unit and stood in front of Jiraiya.
Nagato didn't give them time to prepare.
He raised his right hand, palm facing forward.
"Shinra Tensei."
An invisible repulsive force erupted from his palm, like an invisible tsunami, sweeping toward the Second Unit.
Itsuki pushed both hands forward, activating the power of the Wind-Wind Fruit.
A fierce wind surged from her palms, forming a rotating wall of wind in front of Shinra Tensei.
Shinra Tensei collided with the Wind Barrier, producing a thunderous roar.
Itsuki's body shook violently, her feet sliding half a meter backward on the sandy ground, her ankles buried beneath the sand.
The power of Shinra Tensei continued to increase.
Just as her Wind Barrier began to crack—
"Barrier!"
Mrs. Yuigahama rushed out from the rear of the unit.
Her index and middle fingers crossed, and a semi-transparent cyan barrier appeared out of nowhere in front of her.
The power of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit!
Shinra Tensei crashed against the double defense of the Barrier and the Wind Barrier, producing a muffled thunderous roar.
"Thank you, Auntie Yuigahama."
Itsuki caught her breath, beads of sweat sliding down her forehead, and thanked Mrs. Yuigahama.
"It's nothing."
Mrs. Yuigahama smiled slightly, her gaze never leaving Nagato in the distance.
"This person is very strong. You girls be careful."
"Prometheus!"
Alice called out loudly.
A crimson red light shot up from behind her, condensing in the air into a fireball like a small sun.
Prometheus!
One of Big Mom's three Homies.
Alice reached out and twisted Prometheus's 'face'. Prometheus grinned and transferred the flames to his new owner's arm.
"Heavenly Fire!"
Alice flicked her hand, sending the crimson red flames straight at Nagato.
At the same time, Nino wasn't idle either.
She unfolded her fan and waved it, activating the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Crimson red flames wrapped around her fair arms, spreading from her wrists to her shoulders, like a flaming stole.
"Dragon Flame Dance!"
Nino waved her fan, and a fire dragon roared out from the fan's surface, forming a double flame with Alice's Heavenly Fire.
Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!
The two flames, one left and one right, formed a fire net that blotted out the sky and sun, enveloping Nagato.
Facing this double flame that blotted out the sky, Nagato immediately activated the power of the Preta Path, extending both hands forward, trying to absorb the flames.
But in the next instant, Nagato's expression changed.
Unable to absorb!
His Rinnegan watched the oncoming flames, his pupils slightly contracting.
'Not Ninjutsu?'
The next moment, Nagato's body was directly engulfed by the flames.
The crimson red flames wrapped around his greyish-white Edo Tensei body, and within the flames, the emaciated body was visibly being burned away.
Alice and Nino high-fived each other.
Nino turned around, looking at Jiraiya behind her who had already entered Sage Mode and whose face had taken on a frog-like appearance, and said with a hint of pride:
"Sorry old man, it's already over."
But just then, Itsuki, the younger sister behind them, suddenly shouted:
"Nino! Look out!"
Nino's expression changed, and she whipped her head around.
Nagato had already broken through the flames and was charging straight at her.
His Edo Tensei body was riddled with holes from the flames, but it was still capable of movement.
This level of attack couldn't yet destroy the Edo Tensei body.
The five fingers of his right hand turned into blades, slashing toward Nino's neck. This was the power of the Asura Path.
Nino tried to raise her fan to block, but it was too late!
"Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"
At this critical moment, a figure rushed out from behind Nino.
Jiraiya.
His face had completely become frog-like, and with Fukasaku and Shima on his shoulders, it signified that Sage Mode was complete.
A Big Ball Rasengan with a diameter exceeding five meters condensed between Jiraiya's palms, the blue light illuminating the entire battlefield like daylight.
Boom—!
The Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan collided head-on with Nagato's blade hand.
The moment Nagato's blade hand touched the Rasengan, it was repelled by the rotating, tearing, shredding force.
His entire right arm was shredded, turning into greyish-white dust that scattered in the air.
Then, the Rasengan crashed into his chest, sending his entire body flying.
Nagato's body traced a parabola through the air and crashed heavily onto the sandy beach, creating a large crater.
Jiraiya landed in front of Nino, his broad back blocking her view ahead.
"Little girl, you can't be careless on the battlefield."
Nino bit her lip.
Although she was a bit unconvinced, she still accepted Jiraiya's criticism.
Nino took a deep breath, swallowing the unwillingness, and stood back beside Alice, raising her fan as a weapon. The flames of the Flame-Flame Fruit reignited on her arm.
At this moment, she also understood why Makoto didn't appoint them as captains before the war started.