Under Ye Zi's quiet gaze, the battle that would determine the future course of everything was about to begin.
Soaring through the sky, Animal Path broke through Konoha's sensory barrier, descending rapidly toward the center of the village like a falling artillery shell.
Because of the sheer speed and the fact that it came from the sky, no one in the village noticed what was happening.
However, the middle-aged man in charge of maintaining the barrier immediately sensed something. His face, marked with several painted lines, changed color in an instant. His tall hat shifted slightly as his body trembled, and the white tassel tied to the tip of the hat swayed gently.
In front of him was a spherical model of the sensory barrier made of pure chakra. When Animal Path pierced through it, the model rippled violently near the village's center.
"Enemy intrusion! A single individual, coordinates: center, double eleven!" the man reported quickly and clearly, his voice carrying a note of fear.
Ye Zi's two previous invasions had caused considerable damage to the village, and now, another single intruder? Could it be him again?
After all, the alert showed just one person, and Ye Zi had also fought alone.
The Konoha shinobi responsible for passing along information turned pale. The shadow left in his heart from Ye Zi's last attack turned into a chill that spread through his whole body.
Without hesitation, he used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared to relay the message.
—
In the central area of the village...
Just before Animal Path landed, it activated a Summoning Jutsu midair, releasing clouds of white smoke as it descended. Passing through the mist, it landed steadily with one knee on the ground, hand pressed to the surface.
The other five Paths of Pain stood in a line before it.
No words were exchanged. As Animal Path slowly stood, Deva, Preta, Human, and Naraka Paths broke off into two teams and shot off in opposite directions.
Asura Path, still wearing its eerie smile, suddenly raised its right arm. With a mechanical click-clack, the arm transformed—revealing a cache of missiles hidden within.
—
Inside the paper-made tree tower...
Through shared Rinnegan vision, the world was now split into six perspectives before Nagato's eyes.
"Let's begin."
His deep, cold voice echoed through the hollow space inside the giant paper tree.
Konan pressed her lips together, silently watching the focused and serious expression on Nagato's face.She couldn't see what was happening in Konoha, her only task now was to monitor Nagato.
—
Back in Konoha...
A barrage of cold, steel missiles launched from Asura Path's mechanical arm, flames trailing behind them as they rocketed toward a densely packed residential district.
Fifteen missiles struck the rooftops of various buildings almost simultaneously.
BOOM!
The synchronization was perfect. There were no delay, no gaps. The resulting explosion shook the entire village.
This was the official call to war from Nagato.
Black smoke rose into the sky. The stench of gunpowder wafted through the air. One building after another collapsed in flames.
Many Konoha residents were instantly killed in the blast. Others were buried beneath rubble.
Still more residents, terrified, burst out of their homes and fled.
On nearby streets, citizens stared in horror at the smoke clouding the air, their bodies trembling.
Summoning Jutsu!
Animal Path pressed its hands to the ground, activating a summoning circle.
Poof! Poof!
Two puffs of white smoke erupted, revealing a giant centipede and a three-headed hellhound. The colossal beasts charged straight into nearby houses, demolishing them like paper.
Konoha's civilians, seeing the destruction, turned and ran, screaming in panic.
Explosions. Giant monsters. Mass panic.
Just as Nagato had planned, the destructive entrance of Animal Path and Asura Path instantly drew the attention of Konoha's shinobi.
One after another, shinobi leapt across rooftops, heading toward the source of the attack.
Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!
Four more clouds of smoke erupted, four more massive creatures emerging: a water buffalo, a rhinoceros, a crab, and a giant bird (Yatagarasu).
All of them shared two traits: enormous size and Rinnegan eyes, with multiple black receiver rods embedded in their bodies.
Now, six massive summoned beasts stood before the approaching Konoha shinobi.
"Six of them?!""But I thought it was only one intruder?!"
The sensory team's intel had reported only a single invader. But now there were six summons, and two people.
Because of Animal Path's unique summoning technique, it had successfully deceived Konoha the moment it breached the barrier, misleading them into believing there was only one attacker and drawing many of their forces to the wrong location.
This gave Human Path and Naraka Path more freedom to gather intel on the Nine-Tails' location.
"No time to think, we can't let them destroy the village!"
"Everyone spread out! Form teams and pin down the summons!"
"Medical units, fall back!"
"Go!"
The nearly 200 Konoha shinobi suppressed their shock and fear. Training kicked in. They quickly split into seven squads, engaging the six summons and Animal and Asura Paths directly.
The medical ninjas withdrew a safe distance, while the taijutsu fighters charged forward without hesitation. Those specialized in mid-to-long-range combat began forming hand seals, preparing to cast jutsu.
These 200 were only the vanguard, more Konoha reinforcements were already en route.
Asura Path tilted its head slightly, that chilling smile still on its face. Raising its arm again, another volley of missiles launched toward the incoming taijutsu users.
Facing unknown abilities, the first to rush in were almost always the first to fall.
The airborne taijutsu fighters were struck mid-jump.
Boom!
The explosion turned them into nothing but scattered chunks of flesh, raining down in a crimson shower.
No screams. No cries. Only silence. And blood.
Seeing the attack, the other Konoha shinobi immediately grew cautious.
Even so, after the deaths of a dozen comrades, more close-range fighters charged forward.
Animal Path, weak in combat, retreated behind Asura Path after summoning the primary beasts. It provided visual support and held on to reserve summons for defense.
This might have been just a battle, but it bore all the cruelty of a true war.
Death and sacrifice were nothing out of the ordinary.
If you want to read more...
Check out the patreon and get 55 chapters in advance -> SaintXI
Currently on Chapter 580 - In the Shadow of His Father