"What absolutely terrifying power!" the Third Hokage breathed, his aged voice carrying a mixture of awe and deep concern as he watched the very fabric of space itself ripple and distort under the pressure of Nagato's gravitational manipulation.
Along with Sakumo and the other elite ninja who had evacuated from the Hokage building's rooftop, the Third Hokage found his pupils contracting involuntarily as he witnessed forces that challenged his understanding of what was possible within the bounds of ninjutsu. The space around Nagato seemed to bend and compress under the influence of his enhanced Rinnegan abilities, creating visual distortions that hurt to observe directly.
If any of them had been in Minato's position at that moment, caught between those crushing waves of repulsive force, they would have been either seriously injured or killed outright by such an attack. The realization was both humbling and terrifying for warriors who had spent decades believing themselves to be among the most powerful individuals in the ninja world.
These were all legendary figures who had earned their reputations through countless battles and achievements that had shaped the course of history. Sakumo's blade had earned him the title of White Fang, the Third Hokage had been called the Professor for his mastery of countless techniques, and yet the level of power being displayed above them was already beyond anything in their accumulated experience or knowledge.
The transformation that Nagato had undergone represented a fundamental shift in the balance of power that governed their world, introducing capabilities that rendered traditional tactical thinking obsolete.
In midair, as Minato realized that his natural energy defenses on both sides were about to collapse under the overwhelming pressure, he made the tactical decision to abandon defensive measures in favor of an offensive counter-attack. Rather than continuing to resist forces that exceeded his ability to contain, he would redirect the momentum of the battle in a direction more favorable to his own capabilities.
With fluid precision, he raised his right hand and began concentrating chakra at a density that would have been impossible for most ninja to achieve or control.
"Senjutsu: Mini Rasengan Shuriken!" he called out, his voice carrying clearly despite the tremendous forces swirling around him.
On the tip of his right index finger, natural energy and chakra combined to create a technique that was deceptively small in appearance but devastating in its concentrated power. The palm-sized construction contained all the destructive potential of its larger cousins while adding the cutting properties that made it one of the most dangerous attacks in his arsenal.
With a movement that combined perfect timing with tactical brilliance, Minato hurled the miniaturized technique directly toward Nagato's position high above the village.
Ding ding ding!
The tiny wind blades that comprised the technique's outer shell began spinning at tremendous velocity, creating a sound like countless metal objects striking one another in rapid succession. Despite its reduced size, the attack moved with incredible speed, and Nagato's enhanced perception immediately detected the massive amount of chakra compressed within such a small package.
Swish!
As the shuriken streaked through the air toward its target, Minato suddenly vanished from his previous position and reappeared directly adjacent to his own attack. The movement was so perfectly timed that it seemed as though he had been transported along with the technique itself.
"Using his own ninjutsu as spatial coordinates for transportation?" Nagato observed internally, his analytical mind appreciating the technical sophistication of such a strategy.
The approach demonstrated a level of tactical innovation and technical mastery that went far beyond what Nagato had encountered in their previous confrontations. The man floating before him had become significantly more sophisticated in his control over both his natural abilities and his mastery of senjutsu techniques.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to resist the crushing force generated by the bidirectional Shinra Tensei technique that Nagato had employed. The fact that Minato had not only survived the attack but had managed to launch an effective counter-offensive spoke to growth that exceeded even Nagato's enhanced analytical capabilities.
Seeing that Minato was planning to close the distance between them using such an innovative approach, Nagato allowed himself a cold chuckle that held no trace of genuine amusement.
The transformation he had undergone was not limited to the integration of tailed beast chakra—his physical form had been enhanced through modifications that combined the Rinnegan's power with technological augmentation that would have seemed impossible to earlier generations of ninja.
The robe covering his back suddenly tore apart as if slashed by invisible blades, revealing the pale, transformed skin beneath. From his shoulder blade area, a mechanical appendage began to extend with the smooth precision of advanced engineering, telescoping outward until it formed what was unmistakably a weapon system of unprecedented sophistication.
The mechanical arm continued to unfold and reconfigure itself until it had formed a cannon muzzle that was aimed directly at Minato's approaching form. The device appeared to be a seamless fusion of organic tissue and mechanical components, representing a level of biotechnological integration that defied conventional understanding.
Buzz!
The cannon's muzzle began to fill with rich purple light that pulsed with barely contained energy. The illumination was not merely visual—it carried with it a sense of pressure and potential that made the air itself seem to vibrate in anticipation of what was to come.
Bang!
A concentrated beam of purple energy erupted from the weapon with explosive force, then rapidly expanded as it traveled through the air until it had become a massive shock wave several meters in diameter. The attack was not merely destructive—it was transformative, altering the very space through which it passed.
At the same moment that Nagato's assault was launched, the defensive barriers that Minato had constructed using natural energy finally reached their breaking point and shattered like glass under impossible pressure.
Looking at the oncoming shock wave that promised annihilation for anything caught in its path, Minato's face grew pale as he recognized that his current position offered no viable defensive options. With the split-second timing that had made him legendary, he activated his signature technique and vanished from the point of impact.
Rumble!
The purple shock wave struck the location where Minato's Mini Rasengan Shuriken was still traveling, and the collision between the two techniques created an explosion that illuminated the entire sky above Konoha. The detonation was visible from miles away, a pillar of light and destruction that seemed to challenge the sun itself.
In the aftermath of that initial explosion, an even more violent force tore through the expanding energy field, creating a hole in the very fabric of the blast through which an enhanced purple shock wave emerged with even more devastating power than the original attack.
The secondary shock wave descended vertically like divine judgment, its purple radiance creating the appearance of a supernatural meteor shower that was clearly visible to every ninja positioned throughout the village below.
Its trajectory was unmistakable—the attack was aimed directly at the Hokage building and everyone who remained on its rooftop.
Just as the descending shock wave was about to impact the building that served as both the village's administrative center and its symbolic heart, a black barrier materialized in its path with the suddenness of a master magician's illusion.
The defensive construct spread outward like liquid shadow, creating a surface that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. When the purple shock wave struck this barrier, it created ripples that resembled water disturbed by a thrown stone, but the barrier itself proved to be far more resilient than any normal defensive technique.
The black surface behaved like a bottomless void, absorbing and redirecting the enormous energies that should have been sufficient to level several city blocks. Rather than being overwhelmed or penetrated, the barrier seemed to grow stronger as it consumed more of the attack's power.
When the shock wave had been completely absorbed by the space-time barrier, Minato appeared in front of the defensive construct, his concentration evident as he mentally directed the redirected energy toward a target that could safely absorb such forces.
Bang!
Almost simultaneously with the barrier's complete absorption of the attack, a tremendous explosion occurred on the ocean surface hundreds of miles away, off the coast of the Land of Water. The redirected energy created waves that would be visible from shore, a testament to the devastating power that had been casually deflected from the village.
On the rooftop of the Hokage building, Minato stood holding one of his specially marked kunai, his expression grave as he studied Nagato's hovering form with the careful attention of a scientist observing a dangerous new phenomenon.
"It seems that he has indeed gained far greater power than anything he possessed in our previous encounters," Minato assessed grimly.
The brief exchange had provided him with crucial intelligence about the extent of Nagato's transformation. The ability to manipulate such enormous quantities of chakra, combined with the mechanical augmentations that had been revealed, suggested that his opponent had undergone changes that went far beyond simple tailed beast integration.
The battle they had just concluded, brief as it was, had provided Minato with definitive proof that Nagato could indeed access and utilize the chakra of all five tailed beasts that had been integrated into his system. Without such massive energy reserves, the power output of his Rinnegan techniques would never have reached the levels they had just witnessed.
The current version of Nagato represented a threat that was significantly more dangerous than even the masked man who had attacked using his complete Susanoo technique. That previous encounter had required every ounce of Minato's skill and experience to survive, but this confrontation promised to be even more challenging.
The power demonstrated by the purple shock wave that Nagato had just launched was comparable to that of a Tailed Beast Ball—one of the most destructive attacks in the known arsenal of ninjutsu. But unlike the masked man, whose forced enhancement of his abilities had created time limits and sustainability issues, Nagato's power appeared to be both stable and potentially limitless.
As a legitimate jinchūriki of five different tailed beasts, his access to their combined chakra reserves meant that even Minato could not predict the upper limits of what his opponent might be capable of achieving. The implications for the coming battle were deeply concerning.
In midair, Nagato suddenly ceased his pursuit and came to a complete stop, hovering in place with the same effortless grace that had marked all his movements since arriving at the village.
Minato frowned as he observed this unexpected pause, his tactical mind immediately working through possible explanations for such behavior. Was Nagato conserving energy for a more devastating attack? Was he waiting for some external signal or development? Or was this simply the confidence of someone who believed the outcome was already predetermined?
Soon, Minato made the cross-shaped hand seal that preceded one of his most versatile techniques.
Bang, bang, bang!
Several shadow clones materialized around him with perfect synchronization, each one an exact duplicate possessing all his memories, skills, and tactical knowledge. As soon as they appeared, the clones immediately vanished using the Flying Thunder God technique, each one traveling to a different location where their presence would be required.
One of the shadow clones appeared beside Kushina, then turned to address the Third Hokage and the other assembled defenders who had remained on the rooftop.
"We must prevent the Akatsuki organization from capturing any additional tailed beasts," the clone announced, his voice carrying the urgency of someone who had identified an existential threat to their entire strategic position.
"Otherwise, if Nagato manages to acquire the power of the remaining tailed beasts, even I will lack the ability to oppose him effectively."
Minato's expression was grave as he delivered this assessment. The mathematics of the situation were clear and unforgiving—Nagato's power seemed to scale exponentially with each tailed beast he integrated. If he managed to achieve the same kind of fusion with the One-Tail, Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails, the resulting entity would be beyond anything the combined forces of the ninja world could hope to challenge.
The Third Hokage and the other elite ninja nodded their understanding, their faces showing the weight of recognition as they processed the implications. Having witnessed Nagato's capabilities firsthand, they could no longer treat this as a conventional military threat that could be addressed through traditional means.
"We don't have reliable intelligence about how Nagato has distributed the members of the Akatsuki organization among the three target villages," Minato's clone continued, his voice taking on the brisk efficiency of someone coordinating a complex military operation under time pressure.
"Therefore, the safest approach is to distribute our own forces as evenly as possible among all three locations, ensuring that each village receives adequate support regardless of the specific threats they might be facing."
Swish, swish, swish!
As soon as these words were spoken, Minato's remaining shadow clones materialized beside every elite ninja who was present on the rooftop. Along with these clones, all the most powerful and skilled individuals currently available in Konoha had been assembled for deployment.
Itachi and Sasuke stood ready, their Sharingan already active as they prepared for whatever challenges awaited them. Nawaki was present as well, his expression showing the focused determination of someone who understood that the next few hours would determine the future of their world.
Observing these preparations from his elevated position, Nagato allowed a smile to spread across his transformed features. The response was proceeding exactly as he had anticipated when designing his strategy—Minato was being forced to divide his attention and resources in precisely the way that would create the greatest opportunities for the Akatsuki's individual operations.
Minato's shadow clone quickly outlined the deployment strategy that had been developed to address the multiple simultaneous threats they were facing.
Among the three villages under attack, Takigakure was the weakest and would require the most substantial support to defend against even a moderate assault. Kirigakure, by contrast, possessed significant defensive capabilities of its own and would need less external assistance. The Sand Village fell somewhere between these extremes, requiring a balanced response that could adapt to whatever specific threats emerged.
"Sakumo, Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade will provide support to Takigakure and ensure the protection of the Seven-Tails," Minato announced, his voice carrying the authority of someone whose tactical decisions were not subject to debate.
The assignment made strategic sense—Takigakure's relatively limited military capabilities meant that they would need the most substantial reinforcement to have any hope of repelling an Akatsuki assault.
"Itachi, Shisui, and Sasuke will deploy to the Sand Village," he continued. "Although their techniques may not be entirely effective against the masked man's space-time abilities, their Mangekyō Sharingan powers should provide sufficient tactical options to restrain and potentially counter his offensive capabilities."
The assignment acknowledged both the limitations and the strengths of the Uchiha ninja—while their techniques might not be able to directly overcome Kamui, their advanced ocular abilities offered the best chance of tracking and predicting the masked man's movements.
"The Hidden Mist Village benefits from the presence of the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi and the New Seven Ninja Swordsmen, all of whom are formidable combatants in their own right," Minato concluded. "Therefore, it should be sufficient for Nawaki and Uchiha Yoruki to provide additional support in that location."
After completing the personnel assignments, Minato turned to address the two individuals who would remain with him in the village.
"Kushina, when the actual battle begins in earnest, the defense of the village will be your responsibility," he said, his voice carrying both absolute confidence in her abilities and the weight of enormous responsibility. "I will attempt to lure Nagato away from the populated areas to minimize collateral damage."
The strategy acknowledged the reality that their coming confrontation would involve forces capable of leveling entire districts if they were unleashed within the village proper. By drawing the battle away from civilian infrastructure and defensive installations, Minato hoped to protect both the village's physical structure and its remaining inhabitants.
"Third Hokage, please remain in the village and coordinate the activities of our remaining ninja forces," Minato requested, his tone showing the respect due to someone whose experience and tactical knowledge would be invaluable in managing the complex defensive operations that lay ahead.
Both Kushina and the Third Hokage nodded solemnly, their expressions showing complete understanding of the magnitude of what they were being asked to accomplish.
"Please, everyone," Minato said, looking directly at each of the assembled ninja who would soon be transported to distant battlefields, "we must not allow any additional tailed beasts to fall into enemy hands."
The plea was delivered with the gravity of someone who understood that the fate of their entire world hung in the balance. Each mission that was about to be launched represented a critical component of their overall defensive strategy—failure at any single location could cascade into global catastrophe.
Then, each shadow clone placed their hands on the shoulders of their assigned team members, establishing the physical contact necessary for mass transportation using the Flying Thunder God technique.
The clones began sensing for the distinctive chakra signatures of the Flying Thunder God markers that had been placed in different directions around the world, each one serving as a beacon that would guide their teams to their designated battle zones.
Jiraiya's expression was particularly heavy as he looked up at the confrontation taking place in the sky above them, his eyes moving between Nagato and Minato as they faced each other across a distance that seemed to represent more than mere physical space.
The Great Toad Sage had once prophesied that his disciple would be someone capable of bringing about tremendous changes to the world, transformations that would lead civilization toward either unprecedented peace or total destruction. The prophecy had been deliberately ambiguous, offering hope and warning in equal measure.
Today's confrontation seemed to represent the culmination of that ancient prediction. Minato and Nagato had become living embodiments of the two possible futures—one representing the path of cooperation and understanding, the other advocating for control through superior force.
The fate of the entire world would be determined by the outcome of this single battle, a truth that weighed heavily on everyone present as they prepared to take their assigned positions in what might be the final conflict of their age.
Swish, swish, swish!
Under Nagato's watchful gaze, Sakumo and eight other elite ninja vanished simultaneously, their forms disappearing as the Flying Thunder God technique transported them instantly across vast distances to their assigned battle zones.
When their figures had completely faded from view, Kushina nodded respectfully to the Third Hokage, and both of them dispersed to take up their positions within the village's defensive structure.
Kushina rushed toward the Hokage building with the fluid speed of a master kunoichi, her destination being the barrier control center located in the building's heart. From that position, she would be able to manipulate and repair the protective dome that had been damaged during Nagato's penetration of the village's defenses.
Nagato's gaze returned to focus entirely on Minato, his attention no longer divided by the tactical maneuvering that had dominated the previous phase of their confrontation.
Under Minato's careful observation, Nagato actually began to turn in the air, rotating his position as if preparing to change the fundamental nature of their engagement.
"Now that all the troublesome complications have been removed from the equation," Nagato said, his voice carrying across the distance with supernatural clarity, "it's finally time for the ultimate showdown between you and me to begin in earnest."
He glanced downward with apparent indifference at the village of Konoha spread out below them, his expression showing no trace of concern for the thousands of people whose lives hung in the balance.
"You don't want this battle to take place here, do you?" he asked, the question carrying both challenge and invitation.
The implication was clear—if Minato truly cared about protecting the village and its inhabitants, he would follow Nagato to whatever battlefield the transformed ninja chose to designate. It was both a tactical maneuver and a test of character, designed to exploit Minato's protective instincts while creating conditions more favorable to Nagato's overwhelming power.
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