Kakashi, looking embarrassed, stared at the Fifth Hokage standing within the shattered remnants of the complete Susanoo, stunned.
The attacking enemies—especially the ones who faced off against the Fifth Hokage—were so powerful it shocked him.
But what shocked him more was the Fifth Hokage's strength.
Even such formidable enemies were still defeated by the Fifth Hokage, dying at his hands.
How strong was the Fifth Hokage to be able to kill such a powerful enemy?
"Isn't Uchiha Madara no more than this?"
The overwhelming strength shown by the Fifth Hokage reminded him of Uchiha Madara.
He felt that the current Fifth Hokage might be as strong as Madara had once been, and stood on equal ground to...
Swish, swish, swish!
In the distance, many Konoha ninjas arrived.
After receiving orders from Uchiha Fugaku not to interfere, they had been observing the battle from afar.
Once they saw the fight was over and Uchiha Fugaku had won, they rushed over.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama!"
...
They addressed Uchiha Fugaku with utmost respect, their faces filled with shock.
After witnessing such a stunning battle and seeing the massive crater-like potholes resembling lakes, they couldn't help but be in awe. The battle between Uchiha Fugaku and the Deva Path clone of Nagato had completely overturned their long-held beliefs.
They had always thought that while Kage-level shinobi were powerful, they could still be overwhelmed and killed when outnumbered.
The Third Raikage was the best example.
But after seeing the terrifying power displayed by Uchiha Fugaku and Nagato's Deva Path clone, they started to question that idea.
Faced with such destructive power, did numbers really matter?
Luckily for them, the winner was the Fifth Hokage.
If he had lost and the enemy had attacked Konoha, they wouldn't have stood a chance.
"I didn't expect such a powerful man to exist in the Akatsuki organization. Fortunately, he died by Hokage-sama's hand."
Hatake Kakashi sighed.
As a former Anbu captain, he knew a lot about Akatsuki.
Even so, he hadn't expected someone in Akatsuki to be stronger than a Wood Release user.
Fortunately, the Fifth Hokage was also at that level. After a fierce battle, he had killed this powerhouse.
"That's not necessarily true."
Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.
He knew Nagato well, and he understood the six destroyed figures were merely clones—not Nagato himself.
As long as Nagato had time, he could recreate six equally powerful clones.
"Hokage, didn't the man fighting you die? Did he escape?"
Hatake Kakashi asked in surprise.
"No, he didn't escape. I killed him."
Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.
"Then what do you mean by what you said just now?"
Kakashi was puzzled.
Fugaku didn't respond directly but instead asked:
"The Rinnegan, said to belong only to the Sage of Six Paths, was in the hands of six individuals. Don't you find that strange?"
"It is strange that six people had those eyes."
Kakashi frowned.
The Rinnegan, believed to be unique to the Sage of Six Paths, suddenly appeared in six people. That was indeed odd.
"The ones I killed earlier, and the one just now, bled very little—far less than normal."
Fugaku paused for a moment.
"I suspect these were not living people, but something like puppets from the Sand Village."
At present, all forces in the ninja world knew very little about Nagato.
He couldn't show too much knowledge, so he guided Kakashi slowly.
"Not real people, but puppets?"
Kakashi's eyes widened in shock.
Still, given the earlier explanation, he could now accept it more easily.
Even so, it was difficult to digest.
Just a puppet caused such devastation. If the enemy could make more, the danger remained.
"Take the remaining four bodies back for investigation. We may learn something."
Fugaku stopped there, revealing no more to Kakashi.
The ninja world knew too little about Nagato, and revealing too much would raise questions.
Saying Nagato might still be alive was significant—it would affect Konoha's future strategies.
...
At Akatsuki's secret base in the Land of Fire.
"Defeated."
Nagato, who had been focused on controlling his clones, looked deeply shocked.
He wielded the Rinnegan said to belong only to the Sage of Six Paths, and called himself a god—yet he had lost!
"What did you lose?"
Konan, who had been watching him, didn't understand right away.
"I lost. All six paths, including the Deva Path using Yahiko's body, were destroyed."
Nagato said heavily.
"That's impossible. Nagato, how could you lose?"
Konan was stunned.
Nagato—defeated? How?
She had been with him constantly and knew just how strong he was.
His power far exceeded that of Kage-level shinobi and approached legend.
How could someone like that lose?
"I did lose… I lost to the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku."
Nagato shook his head.
Even he hadn't expected this outcome.
He had believed no one in the ninja world could stand against him—but he lost to the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku, who had been mostly unknown in the early part of his life.
"Fugaku is that strong?"
Konan's eyes widened.
She had known Fugaku defeated the man who impersonated Uchiha Madara—but she didn't realize Fugaku was strong enough to defeat Nagato himself.
"I underestimated him."
Nagato looked serious.
Though he hadn't used his full power—these were just clones—it still proved how powerful his opponent was.
He spoke with resolve.
"I've decided to undergo Shennong's treatment and repair my legs."
Shennong was a powerful medical-nin. After recruiting him into Akatsuki, Nagato had him examine his legs.
Shennong proposed a treatment plan.
But Nagato didn't accept it. His body harbored too many secrets. The treatment might expose them or allow tampering.
He had believed his strength was enough for any foe.
But now, sensing his limits, he would accept the treatment.
"I'll watch Shennong closely during the process to ensure your safety."
Konan, understanding Nagato's reasoning, didn't object.
She would simply monitor Shennong to prevent anything going wrong during the treatment.
...
The group returned to Konoha, carrying the four bodies.
The village's high alert was lifted. The corpses were handed to the analysis team. Fugaku convened a village meeting.
There, he explained the crisis in detail.
"One attack created several crater-like lakes. If it had landed on Konoha…"
A clan leader wiped cold sweat from his brow.
One attack could've destroyed the entire village, leaving 90% casualties.
"I didn't expect Akatsuki to have someone even stronger than a Wood Release user."
Another clan head was shocked.
A Wood Release shinobi surpassed average Kage-level strength and could easily defeat elite jonin.
Yet someone stronger than that existed in Akatsuki.
"Thankfully we have Hokage-sama. Otherwise, Konoha would've been doomed."
A clan head looked at Fugaku with awe.
A ninja with village-destroying power… and he was on their side.
With that strength, Fugaku's reputation only grew stronger.
"Hokage-sama, you raised the alert level quickly. Did you know how strong the enemy was?"
Nara Shikaku asked.
"I had some idea," Fugaku nodded.
"Because of the Wood Release user, I've paid close attention to Akatsuki. By chance, I learned they have someone with the Rinnegan."
That was his pre-prepared reason, knowing someone would ask.
"A terrifying opponent. He had the legendary Rinnegan… Thank heavens Hokage-sama defeated him!"
A clan head sighed in relief.
"No, I suspect—"
Fugaku was about to speak when—
Knock knock.
Yamanaka Inoichi, head of the Analysis Division, entered and walked up to Fugaku.
"Hokage-sama, your guess was right. These corpses have been dead for a long time. They're likely puppets."
Fugaku nodded, scanning the room.
"As Inoichi said, those killed were probably just puppets. The real user may still be alive."
"And I believe all six puppets were controlled by one person."
Everyone grew serious.
So, they weren't real bodies—meaning the real enemy still lived. Konoha would likely face him again.
Their only reassurance: the Fifth Hokage defeated him once. He could do it again.
"Hokage-sama, I suggest we closely monitor Akatsuki's movements,"
Nara Shikaku proposed.
Everyone in the room agreed.
(End of this chapter)