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Above the vast waters surrounding Amegakure, a lone figure walked leisurely across the surface, moving outward.
"That's…" Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, peering at the distant silhouette. "Nagato has come out alone."
"Let's go." The Fourth Raikage, A, took the lead. "We'll meet the leader of the Akatsuki head-on."
He turned to his subordinate, Darui, and ordered, "The rest of you, hold your positions. Darui, take command of the troops from here!"
The other three Kage and Jiraiya similarly signaled their forces to halt. Thus, the five strongest shinobi of the Allied Forces stepped onto the battlefield first.
Side by side, their figures varied in height and build, yet their strides were equally resolute as they advanced through the relentless rain, closing the distance between themselves and Nagato, who now stood before them on the water's surface.
"You've all finally arrived."
Nagato allowed the rain to stream freely down his face, his Rinnegan sweeping coldly over the five standing before him.
"The Four Kage… and my teacher, Jiraiya," he said calmly. "Aren't you bringing your armies?"
"Teacher?!"
Though the Four Kage had already received intel from Konoha during their march, they couldn't help but shoot sharp glances at Jiraiya.
Look at what you've done!
Their eyes clearly conveyed their accusation.
But Jiraiya, a man whose face had long been tempered by years of literary research in bathhouses, remained utterly unfazed, pretending not to notice.
"Against you, numbers mean nothing, Nagato," he replied smoothly. "By the way, where's Konan? Why isn't she joining the fight?"
"I am enough for this war, Jiraiya-sensei."
An invisible force erupted from Nagato, repelling the rain around him. His drenched hair and clothes began to dry as the droplets no longer touched him, instead scattering before contact.
His voice rose like a proclamation:
"The Five Great Shinobi Villages… How many scars have your nations left upon these lands? Starting today, your unchallenged era ends here."
"Enough talk!"
A's body crackled with lightning.
"All I know is that the Akatsuki killed my brother. That is unforgivable!"
His massive frame blurred forward, closing the distance in an instant. A fist charged with terrifying force shot straight for Nagato's face.
"Asura Path."
Nagato's right arm whirred and clicked, transforming in an instant into a complex mechanical construct. Flames burst from the elbow's exhaust pipes, accelerating the forearm with explosive force. A steel-plated fist met A's lightning-wreathed punch.
BOOM!
A dull collision echoed as sparks scattered. The shockwave blasted away the rain around them.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
A was forced back five steps before regaining his footing.
Without pause, Nagato's mechanical arm morphed again. Small missiles streaked out from its structure, trailing flames.
"Lava Release: Dissolving Jutsu!"
Mei Terumī spat forth a stream of pale-yellow corrosive liquid, melting the missiles midair.
"Sand Burial!"
The ground beneath Nagato's feet liquefied into a cascading sinkhole of sand.
Fighting in the rain severely weakened Gaara's abilities, forcing him to rely on terrain manipulation to restrict Nagato's movements.
"Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
Ōnoki thrust his hands forward, releasing a blinding white beam.
"Almighty Push!"
Nagato repelled the sinking sand beneath him, launching himself skyward just before the beam struck.
"Rasengan!"
"Lariat!"
Jiraiya and A leaped simultaneously from opposite sides, attacking midair.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Nagato's left hand slapped the air, unfurling a ring of black seals.
POOF!
A massive three-headed crimson dog materialized, tanking Jiraiya's Rasengan and A's elbow strike.
As the two retreated, the remaining three Kage launched another coordinated assault.
---
At the Valley Camp:
Every eye was locked onto the battle unfolding in the rain.
"Damn it!" Kankurō slammed his fist into his palm. "This rain is crippling Gaara's abilities!"
"What can we do? You think we can just stop Amegakure's eternal rain?" Temari glanced up at the storm-heavy clouds.
"You were right, Shikamaru. There's no way we can intervene in a fight like this."
Kiba clenched his teeth, watching the earth-shaking clash in the distance. He knew he wouldn't last more than a few exchanges against Nagato.
"Whine…" Akamaru nuzzled his leg reassuringly.
"Don't give up, Kiba!" Rock Lee's eyes burned with determination. "Gaara's our age, yet we're stuck watching from the sidelines! I can't accept this!"
"Remember this frustration," a broad hand clapped his shoulder, "and when the time comes, unleash the fires of your youth!"
"Might Guy-sensei!" Lee turned, eyes shining.
"Give it your all!"
Guy flashed his signature "Shining Teeth & Thumbs-Up" combo.
"I WILL!"
Lee mirrored the pose with equal intensity.
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
A sudden outcry drew their attention back to the battlefield.
"Huh?!"
Lee spun around—only to see a grotesque, towering statue now standing at the center of the battlefield, its form piercing the heavens.
Nagato stood atop its head, gazing down at the five shinobi below.
"ROOOAAAR—!!"
The statue's deafening bellow shook the earth, sending tremors through the ground.
"This is…"
Ōnoki hovered midair, his expression grave as he stared up at the colossal figure.
"The Gedo Statue, having absorbed all the tailed beasts' chakra. You may call it the Ten-Tails," Nagato declared from above. "It is the natural incarnation of this world—a monster beyond your ability to defeat!"
"Let's see just how undefeatable it is!"
Despite his small stature, Ōnoki erupted with overwhelming energy. He plummeted downward, slamming his palms onto the ground.
"Earth Style: Twin Mountain Jutsu!"
A deep rumbling surged from below as the earth on either side of the Gedo Statue heaved upward, forming two massive hemispherical boulders that slammed toward it.
"GRROOAAARR—!"
The statue roared again, thrusting its arms out to halt the crushing stone.
"Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Sphere!"
Ōnoki raised his hands once more, conjuring a glowing white cube that expanded rapidly into a colossal beam, lancing toward the statue.
"ROOOAAARR—!"
The Ten-Tails opened its maw, spewing forth a chaotic storm of multi-colored chakra orbs. The spheres merged midair, colliding with the white beam.
BOOOOOOM—!!
A cataclysmic explosion lit up the sky, bleaching the world in blinding radiance.
Ōnoki gritted his teeth, pushing the beam forward—but the Ten-Tails' chakra barrage resisted fiercely. The light slowed, inching forward with increasing difficulty.
At last, just before reaching the statue, Ōnoki's strength gave out. With a frustrated gasp, he released the technique, panting heavily.