A massive plume of smoke erupted, obscuring everyone's vision.
In the next instant, three colossal centipedes burst from the ground. Their bright orange and jet-black bodies darted at incredible speed, lined with razor-sharp spines along their backs.
They effortlessly shattered Iwagakure's defenses, crushing everything in their path into dust.
At the same time, a monstrous, fearsome three-legged bird burst forth from the smoke, its beak gleaming like a deadly drill. The Animal Path stood atop the beast, surveying the battlefield below.
"Too simple," muttered the Animal Path. From above, the brutal massacre of Iwagakure's ninja by the centipedes was clearly visible, casualties mounting rapidly. "I can wipe them all out without even using Shinra Tensei."
The ninja of Iwagakure had planned to regroup for better defense against Nagato's attacks, but instead, he summoned massive summoning beasts of such overwhelming size.
Furthermore, he performed no hand seals—four summoning beasts at once, without a single hand seal.
All they could see were four.
"Not so fast, you bastard!" Kitsuchi roared. "Everyone, concentrate your fire! The centipedes are too fast—we can't keep up! Wait until they get closer before attacking! If we can pin them down, I'll finish them off in one blow!"
He was about to unleash his strongest technique. The ninja of Iwagakure quickly obeyed their commander's orders, throwing everything they had to stop the centipedes' advance. Yet, barely into the battle, they had already suffered nearly two hundred casualties.
Explosive Tags, Shuriken, long-range Ninjutsu—if it could cause damage, they unleashed everything they had.
Just as they prepared to focus fire on Kitsuchi's target, a giant chameleon suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Its gaping maw opened wide, revealing the fully armed Asura Path hidden within.
Armed with weapons on all six limbs, dozens of missiles shrieked through the air, instantly blowing the surrounding ninja into bloody chunks.
"Kill it!"
The ninja charged the chameleon, completely missing the Asura Path concealed inside. Brandishing its razor-sharp blades, the Asura Path cut down each charging ninja one by one.
[Earth Release: Earth Wall!] Realizing their mistake, the ninja performed Earth Release techniques, raising towering walls to block the Asura Path's assault.
However, some walls weren't strong enough, collapsing instantly under missile bombardment, leaving those behind with no chance to survive.
Blood, severed limbs, and torn flesh… it was a scene straight from hell. The Asura Path let out a mocking laugh—it was no longer human—it had become a cold-blooded killing machine.
Standing atop the giant bird, the Animal Path used Summoning Jutsu to bring both the Naraka Path and Preta Path onto the battlefield.
This way, should any of the Pein Paths sustain injuries, they could retreat back to the bird's back to receive healing from the Naraka Path, while the Preta Path ensured their protection.
Kitsuchi already knew—there was no way they could win this battle. Nearly half of the thousand ninjas he had brought lay either dead or severely wounded.
He glared in fury at the Human Path and Asura Path falling from the heavens. These two Pain bodies crashed to the earth like meteorites falling from the heavens, yet rose without a scratch.
The Asura Path gazed expressionlessly at the furious Kitsuchi.
"You're angry—I can sense it," he said. "Someone like you must have experienced many wars, right? As the son of the Tsuchikage, you certainly accomplished great feats in the last war. But you've likely never truly experienced the suffering of war itself."
"What did you say?" Kitsuchi snarled through gritted teeth. "Are you asking me to thank you?"
"Correct," Nagato intoned through the Human Path. "Only by experiencing my suffering can you truly understand me and appreciate me. Mortals like you rarely get a chance—this close to the divine will."
This guy was actually that arrogant! Kitsuchi became even more enraged. He knew—one of the most dangerous ninja in the world had to die!
He focused chakra into his palms and slammed them down on the earth. "[Earth Release: Earth-Shaking Pillar!]"
The ground violently trembled. The terrain beneath the Human Path and Asura Path instantly collapsed, trapping them within an endless abyss.
Kitsuchi didn't intend to kill them with this technique—he only wanted to separate them. Eliminating these two Pain bodies himself would take pressure off the others.
"Just hang in there," he sneered, a mocking smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "I'll end this farce soon enough."
Occupying Amegakure was the Tsuchikage's order—every ninja of Iwagakure was bound to complete the mission at any cost—even with their lives. In the past, entire families from Iwagakure had sacrificed themselves to fulfill missions.
The Asura Path scoffed,
"Do you truly believe you can change anything? From the moment you set foot on this land, the outcome was already decided. Your struggles are nothing but the death throes of a dying man."
Underneath his hooded cloak, the Human Path's arm split open, revealing a pitch-black blade—an emphasis to his words.
Kitsuchi formed three hand seals and smashed his palm onto the ground. "Even if I die, I'll drag you bastards down with me!"
"[Earth Release: Mountain Crusher Technique!]"
The earth beneath him exploded upward. Two colossal slabs of stone shot upward, encasing Kitsuchi and the two Pains inside—threatening to crush him into nothingness.
Kitsuchi laughed bitterly. At the crucial moment, the Human Path and Asura Path disappeared in bursts of smoke.
"Damn it!" Kitsuchi quickly adjusted his jutsu, forcing the crushing rocks away and pinning them against either wall to escape certain death. Yet he remained tightly wedged in the narrow space, completely immobilized.
"Bastard..." he muttered curses under his breath, his back and cheeks crushed painfully against the cold stone.
Was that a summoning technique? Summoning humans? Impossible! Such treachery!
Above, intense fighting sounds continued echoing, but gradually grew weaker. Explosions and war cries grew distant. As the final echo died, Kitsuchi closed his eyes in anguish.
A heavy silence settled over the battlefield. The entire fight hadn't lasted more than twenty minutes.
Kitsuchi writhed in agony, attempting to use ninjutsu to escape his predicament, but the techniques he used were too wide-ranging, rendering him unable to move even an inch by his own strength.
When your strongest jutsu fails to take your enemy down with you, you can't expect to have any strength left to keep fighting.
"Such a pity. I finished you off so quickly. However, I'll make you feel the pain I've endured," rang Asura Path's voice in his ears. Kitsuchi desperately struggled, trying to break free from the restraints. "I'll give you time to reflect on what just happened, but rest assured—death remains inevitable. [Ninjutsu·Cursed Rain!]"
Thick raindrops began to fall, slowly soaking into the cracks of the rocks where Kitsuchi was trapped. Once the water reached his ankles, it would begin draining his chakra, further reducing his chances of escape.
He would have plenty of time to taste the torment of losing a thousand souls before dying slowly in regret and despair.
******
In Amegakure, villagers scrambled onto their rooftops, witnessing the enemy's swift elimination.
Konan hovered high above, her gaze fixed firmly on the battlefield, never once shifting her eyes from the Akatsuki base.
Since the end of the last great war, Rain Country had never experienced the brutality of war so intensely. Though internal conflicts were just as brutal, whether Akatsuki or Hanzo emerged victorious, Amegakure itself would not be destroyed.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>