Although a bit disheveled, Tsunade's injuries had fully healed. Despite being blasted away just now, she had only suffered a few minor wounds.
'In this mode, her speed, strength, defense, and recovery are all enhanced...'
Nagato silently analyzed Tsunade's abilities. He had never paid much attention to the so-called Sannin before, so he didn't know much about them—only that Tsunade was a top-tier medical ninja in the shinobi world.
But judging from that punch just now, he had to be cautious of her Taijutsu as well.
Click-clack.
Mechanical parts of the Asura Path once again deployed from Nagato's body. Six arms extended from his back, each transforming into different weapons, including lasers and missile launchers.
"Die."
Nagato launched over a dozen missiles in one go.
Not only Tsunade, but even nearby Konoha ninjas and Ōnoki were targets. Tsunade, however, received special attention—seven missiles were aimed at her alone.
"Watch out!"
Tsunade had just enough time to shout a warning before using her Taijutsu body flicker to dodge the incoming barrage.
Boom boom boom!
Explosions and shockwaves blasted across a hundred meters instantly.
Not only were the missiles fast, but their destructive power was immense. Tsunade had to use her body flicker three times in succession to evade them all.
The others weren't as fortunate. Kurenai Yuhi reacted quickly, using a Genjutsu clone to escape. Kiyo Hyuga used Rotation right away; with her current chakra level, it was more than enough to block the explosion.
Others weren't so lucky. Besides Ōnoki who used Earth Release to defend, most were injured. One was severely wounded—both arms blown off and completely out of combat.
"Universal Pull!"
Nagato seized the moment, using Universal Pull to draw three severely injured Konoha and Iwa ninjas toward him. In their state and caught off guard, they couldn't react.
"Help—"
Before the cry for help finished, the trio were sliced in half by saw blades extending from Nagato's back.
If Tsunade was too tough to deal with, then Nagato would prioritize clearing the small fry. Having access to all of Pain's abilities, he was nearly flawless at any range.
"Damn you! Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
Enraged by the swift death of a fellow Iwa jonin, Ōnoki flew into the sky and fired a white cube-shaped energy beam from his palms.
The beam sped toward Nagato, but he raised a hand and used Preta Path's chakra absorption to nullify it completely, recovering some of his own chakra in the process.
Seeing this, Ōnoki grimly muttered, "As expected, he can use all six Paths of Pain's abilities. He's the true Rinnegan wielder."
"Isn't that obvious? Everyone, stay out of close combat."
Tsunade spoke sharply, bit her finger, smeared the blood on her palm, and quickly formed hand signs.
"Summoning Jutsu."
A four-to-five-meter-tall slug appeared, gently asking, "Lady Tsunade?"
"Slug, the enemy is the Rinnegan user. After you split up, attach to everyone. I'll heal them whenever they're injured."
"Understood, Lady Tsunade."
The slug split into many smaller ones and attached to the nearby ninjas, enabling Tsunade to heal them in real time.
But most of these ninjas were helpless against Nagato. Only a few elite jonin could provide Tsunade any meaningful support.
"Summoning Jutsu."
Nagato summoned more creatures—this time not for attack, but for extending his vision. With shared sight between him and his summons via the Rinnegan, he gained multiple angles on the battlefield.
Boom!
Tsunade stomped hard, shattering the ground and launching countless giant rocks into the air.
"Take this!"
She grabbed two massive stones and hurled them at Nagato with a loud whistle through the air.
"Futile."
Nagato's Asura arms fired twin laser beams, reducing the boulders to rubble. But hidden behind the debris, Tsunade had already closed the distance.
So she was hiding behind the rocks—
"Almighty Push!"
A violent shockwave blasted out just as Tsunade nearly landed a punch to his face.
Sent flying, Tsunade this time managed to twist in midair and stop herself by crashing into and smashing another large boulder. She quickly assessed her injuries—three fractured ribs. Minor issue.
As she was sent flying, Ōnoki and Kiyo Hyuga launched their attacks.
Ōnoki had created Earth Clones earlier and now took advantage of the cooldown between Nagato's Almighty Push, using Earth Release: Earth Spear and Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu. Kiyo Hyuga attacked with Eight Trigrams: Empty Palm.
But all attacks were absorbed by Nagato's Preta Path, converted into chakra.
"Everyone, be careful. He seems able to absorb our ninjutsu to replenish his chakra. That puppet didn't show this before."
Kiyo Hyuga shouted loudly. With the Byakugan, she clearly saw the increase in Nagato's chakra, though slight.
Ōnoki's face darkened. "If that's the case, then ninjutsu is useless. We'll have to rely on Taijutsu." But among them, Tsunade was the strongest in Taijutsu, and even she was blasted away twice. The rest wouldn't last more than a few seconds.
Not everyone had Tsunade's monstrous recovery.
After one round, everyone retreated far away—except Tsunade, who remained close to Nagato.
They knew Nagato could use gravitational abilities to pull enemies in for a kill.
Earlier, these elite jonin could at least restrain the Pains. But now, even approaching Nagato was dangerous.
"Universal Pull!"
Nagato, frustrated at Tsunade's recovery, realized dragging this out would affect his plans. His pale purple Rinnegan glinted coldly as he prepared to finish her off.
The gravitational force grew strong enough that Tsunade couldn't resist, getting pulled into the air and dragged straight toward Nagato.
"Lady Tsunade!" Kiyo Hyuga and others cried out.
Thud!
Just before reaching Nagato, Tsunade was pierced through the abdomen by the saws of the Asura Path. Blood splattered across the ground.
"This is the end, Sannin Tsunade."
As Nagato said this, he suddenly realized the saws weren't tearing her apart.
Moreover, the wound began glowing green with medical chakra—barely five seconds passed before the bleeding stopped.
"Don't underestimate me, you damn brat!"
Tsunade suddenly raised her head, shouting and swinging a powerful punch toward Nagato. She had faked vulnerability just to get close—once she was in range, not even the Rinnegan could withstand her strength.
Her other hand gripped the saw tightly, preventing him from flinging her away.
"Almighty Push!"
As the punch neared, Nagato used Almighty Push again, but Tsunade had anticipated it and held on tight.
Rumble!
Despite the force pushing her, Tsunade didn't let go. Though she was badly shaken, her goal was achieved.
"I told you, brat! Don't underestimate your seniors!"
She shouted again, swung another punch furiously at Nagato. Unable to use Almighty Push again so soon, Nagato had to turn his head and use Asura Path arms to guard.
But just as he tried to swing the saws, he realized his body was frozen.
'Can't move? Damn—'
Boom!
Tsunade's monstrous punch slammed into Nagato, sending him flying. Though he was shielded by Asura arms, her strength wasn't something easily shrugged off.
He flew dozens of meters and crashed into the invisible lizard. Though its tongue caught him, Nagato's body was wracked with pain—his shoulder nearly immobilized.
"As expected of Tsunade of the Sannin..." Nagato slowly propped himself up, speaking in a flat tone. That punch may have missed his head, but he definitely couldn't afford to take another.
And her recovery...
Nagato watched as black markings appeared on Tsunade's forehead and spread across her body. Her abdominal wound and all injuries from Almighty Push healed in seconds.
'I can't drag this out any longer.'
He thought grimly, then clasped his hands and gathered chakra.
"Summoning Jutsu: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!"
Boom!
A rift a hundred meters wide split the ground. From it emerged a massive, monstrous creature, craggy all over, with ten closed eyes on its head. It was nearly a hundred meters tall.
ROAR!!
The Demonic Statue let out a thunderous roar and raised its iron-chain-bound arm, swinging it directly at Tsunade and the Konoha forces.
Its sheer power and speed meant even Tsunade would take time to recover if struck. Others wouldn't survive at all.
Tsunade took a deep breath, then quickly formed hand signs and thrust both hands forward.
"Sage Art: Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"
(End of Chapter)