"Have you truly made up your mind to kill me?" Nagato asked, and despite the gravity of the threat, a cold smile spread across his features.
The question carried layers of meaning—recognition of their shared history through Jiraiya, acknowledgment of the philosophical divide that now separated them, and perhaps even a trace of the idealistic boy who had once believed in peaceful solutions.
Almost immediately, Nagato sensed Kakashi and Itachi tensing beside Minato, their battle-ready stances indicating they were prepared to support their Hokage in whatever came next.
Through his enhanced perception, Nagato could clearly detect that while Minato appeared to have emerged victorious from his battle with the masked man, the Fourth Hokage's chakra reserves were significantly depleted compared to his normal levels.
However, Minato's return to Konoha also represented the complete failure of their carefully orchestrated plan to destroy the village. With their primary objective compromised and their forces scattered, continuing this confrontation would likely result in his own death—an outcome he couldn't accept when so much work remained to be done.
Whoosh!
Minato's eyes hardened with resolve, and his legendary speed suddenly increased to levels that made the air itself seem to slow around him.
Almost simultaneously, Nagato's Rinnegan blazed with power as devastating repulsive force erupted outward from his floating form.
"Shinra Tensei!"
The rocky debris beneath Nagato's position was the first to be affected, fragments of stone and earth hurled away with bone-crushing force. The invisible wave of repulsion spread outward like a tsunami, once again threatening to scatter Minato, Kakashi, and Itachi across the battlefield.
Under normal circumstances, Minato might have been able to use natural energy to form a protective barrier against such an attack. But his chakra reserves had been severely depleted by the previous battle, and more importantly, he had already absorbed virtually all the available natural energy in the vicinity during his final exchange with the masked man.
Without those resources at his disposal, Minato had no choice but to rely on conventional evasion techniques.
"So this is the true power of the Rinnegan," Minato thought grimly as he was forced to retreat.
He had analyzed intelligence reports about these legendary eyes for years, but witnessing their capabilities firsthand was an entirely different experience. The casual ease with which Nagato could manipulate fundamental forces was both impressive and deeply concerning.
As all three Konoha ninja were pushed backward by the repulsive wave, Nagato used the opportunity to launch himself skyward, seeking the aerial advantage that would allow him to escape if necessary.
"Sage Art: Flying Thunder God Stage Three!"
But even as Nagato began his ascent, Minato was already implementing his counter-strategy. Brilliant yellow chakra suddenly erupted from behind the Fourth Hokage, creating a dazzling rain of energy that spread in all directions like scattered stars.
Hum!
Seeing the approaching chakra storm, Nagato directed one of the mechanical arms extending from his back to intercept the attack. Light purple energy began gathering in the cannon-like aperture at its tip.
BANG!
A concentrated beam of destructive force lanced out, annihilating several of the chakra projectiles that were aimed directly at Nagato's position.
Flash!
However, Minato's true body had already moved, using the energy beam as cover to close the distance between them. By the time the attack finished, he was less than five meters from Nagato's airborne form.
"Frog Kumite!"
Minato's fist shot forward with tremendous force, and the natural energy still clinging to his form created visible shockwaves that rippled through the air like disturbed water.
The compressed wave of force struck Nagato before he could fully react, shattering the two mechanical arms he had raised in defense and sending him tumbling backward through the air.
But Minato was already pursuing, determined not to allow his opponent to gain altitude and the tactical advantages it would provide.
Having analyzed Nagato's abilities during their confrontation, Minato understood that allowing him to reach sufficient height would make escape virtually guaranteed—something he couldn't permit.
"Asura Path!"
Rather than panic at Minato's aggressive pursuit, Nagato activated another of his Rinnegan abilities. The mechanical arms extending from his back suddenly began elongating and multiplying, reaching toward Minato with grasping claws and weapon attachments.
The moment those artificial limbs came within range, Minato felt a chill of supernatural dread run through his very soul.
"I absolutely cannot let those touch me!" he thought with alarm.
While the two combatants engaged in their deadly aerial dance, Itachi and Kakashi managed to regain their footing and began moving to provide support.
Whistle!
Suddenly, several small white birds descended from high above, their clay forms gliding silently toward the battling pair.
Itachi, whose newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan provided enhanced visual acuity, spotted the threat before Kakashi could react.
"It's that explosive artist!" Itachi called out in warning.
Kakashi recognized the clay constructs immediately—they were signature techniques of Deidara, the Akatsuki member he had fought earlier.
Without hesitation, he reached into his ninja tool pouch and withdrew several specially prepared kunai.
Crack!
Even as he drew the weapons, Kakashi channeled lightning chakra through their metal forms, causing them to spark and hum with electrical energy before hurling them skyward.
"Damn you, Kakashi!" Deidara's voice carried clearly from high above, filled with artistic indignation. "You're trying to ruin my masterpiece again!"
Despite his anger, the explosive artist's timing was impeccable. Kakashi's intercepting attack would arrive just slightly too late.
"Katsu!" Deidara formed the single-handed detonation seal and spoke the activation word.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Just as Nagato and Minato were about to make physical contact, a series of violent explosions erupted directly above them, engulfing both fighters in smoke, flame, and concussive force.
Through the thick black smoke, Minato's enhanced senses remained locked onto Nagato's position, but another obstacle was already descending from above.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
From the large clay bird carrying Deidara and his partner, countless ninja tools began falling like metallic rain—shuriken, kunai, senbon, and other weapons creating a deadly storm that threatened to skewer anyone caught beneath it.
This indiscriminate bombardment would affect both Minato and Nagato equally, showing little concern for friendly fire.
The sheer volume of projectiles being launched simultaneously suggested capabilities beyond normal human limits. This was likely the work of a master puppeteer rather than conventional throwing techniques.
"Sasori's contribution," Minato realized, recognizing the tactical signature of the legendary puppet master.
Whoosh!
Using the cover provided by the explosive diversion, Nagato managed to soar above the descending weapon storm, his body rising beyond the reach of most projectiles.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
Those few weapons that did approach his position were effortlessly deflected by repulsive force, unable to penetrate his defensive barrier.
The same gravitational manipulation that protected him also reached down toward Minato, threatening to pin the Fourth Hokage in place while the weapon barrage found its target.
But Minato had no intention of allowing such an easy escape.
THUD!
At that moment, another massive object was hurled down from the clay bird above, its size and irregular shape immediately catching the attention of both Kakashi and Itachi.
The huge projectile began dissolving in mid-air as it fell, releasing some kind of invisible payload that spread through the atmosphere like an undetectable plague.
"Hmm?" Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he tried to identify the new threat.
"This is..." Itachi's enhanced vision picked up subtle distortions in the air, and sudden understanding filled him with alarm. "Lord Hokage, don't breathe! Retreat immediately!"
Hearing Itachi's urgent warning, Minato made an instant tactical decision based on trust in his subordinate's judgment.
Flash!
His form vanished from the midst of the explosions and materialized beside Kakashi in a blur of yellow light.
"What's the situation?" Minato asked, his gaze fixed on Itachi for explanation.
"There are countless microscopic objects saturating the air," Itachi reported with grim certainty. "This has to be some form of poisonous or explosive technique."
"Nano-scale bombs," Kakashi muttered as recognition dawned. His hands moved through familiar seals with practiced efficiency.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Dragon Tornado!"
Kakashi spread his palms wide, and massive amounts of electrical energy formed into a spiraling storm that surged upward toward the contaminated air.
"Damn it!" Deidara's voice cracked with frustration as he watched his carefully crafted technique being systematically destroyed by lightning-based attacks for the second time today.
As the electrical storm raged through the atmosphere, the invisible explosive particles were completely neutralized by the opposing chakra nature.
During this reprieve, Nagato—now revealing his true appearance without disguise or concealment—had managed to reach the large clay bird where Deidara and Sasori waited.
"Itachi," Minato said, finally noticing the distinctive new pattern in the young man's eyes. "Your Sharingan has evolved."
However, his sensory abilities confirmed that Mikoto, Sasuke, and the other members of Itachi's immediate family showed no signs of serious injury or distress. Whatever had triggered this transformation, it hadn't been personal loss in the traditional sense.
"Summoning Technique!"
BANG!
Suddenly, an enormous cloud of smoke erupted at the base of the partially collapsed mountain, and from within it emerged a massive summoned creature.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
In the blink of an eye, the creature's body seemed to liquefy, splitting into countless smaller components that quickly spread across the entire mountainside like a living blanket.
The familiar sight of Tsunade's legendary slug summons filled Minato with hope—reinforcements had finally arrived, and with them came the possibility of turning this desperate defense into a coordinated counterattack.