"This is Root's base?"
Looking at the collapsing earth, especially the giant deep pit revealed beneath the surface, Takemi raised an eyebrow, but he quickly understood what was happening.
Root's base, just like its name, was buried deep underground.
It wasn't surprising for a massive battle in this location to cause the ground to collapse.
"It's not really suitable to fight here, though. I should find an opportunity to move this somewhere else."
This was his Konoha!
How could he allow this place to be destroyed?
As he pondered, the Akatsuki members had already scrambled out, covered in dirt.
"This guy…"
Sasori and Kakuzu stared in disbelief at the collapsing earth and the leveled surroundings, falling silent.
Itachi and Kakuzu, however, remained relatively calm. One was an inside man, and both had already been hit hard.
"You…"
Nagato, on the other hand, seemed to find it difficult to accept. He stared at Takemi in disbelief, his lips twitching slightly.
Although he had heard that this guy possessed abilities similar to his own, he had never encountered him directly, so he couldn't be sure.
But now, he was completely certain!
"Who exactly are you? Why do you have the power of the Rinnegan?!"
"The power of the Rinnegan?"
Takemi shook his head slightly. Although his face was obscured, everyone could sense his disdain.
"I believe I said that the Rinnegan is the power of the God tree fruit. What you are using is merely the power derived from the fruit."
"God tree fruit?"
Takemi's words left Nagato bewildered. Not just him, but everyone else present struggled to understand what he meant.
They all knew Nagato possessed those eyes, and it was those eyes that kept them in line, making them behave.
But from what they knew, wasn't the Rinnegan supposed to belong to the Sage of Six Paths?
What exactly was going on?
"My apologies, discussing the God tree with you lesser beings was my mistake, because you simply wouldn't understand." Takemi shook his head now.
He calmly looked at Nagato, chuckled softly, and continued, "So, can you give me your eyes? That way, you can avoid a battle that doesn't belong to you."
"Hmph!"
Nagato didn't speak, but instead snorted coldly and adopted a battle stance.
The other Akatsuki members exchanged glances. The next moment, Sasori suddenly unrolled a scroll, and in an instant, the Third Kazekage's puppet appeared beside him.
Several masked clones abruptly split from Kakuzu's body, circling him.
Itachi's eyes instantly transformed into the Mangekyo, and Kisame raised samehada.
"I understand."
Seeing this, Takemi nodded, seemingly with a sigh.
However, at this moment, he was actually more intrigued. He had already learned of Nagato's changes from Kisame.
He was very curious to see what level such a 'complete version' of Nagato possessed.
"It seems letting go will be very difficult for you. That's alright, you can continue to hold on, and then…"
Buzz—
In a flash, he had already made his move!
"I will take it myself."
A casual voice, accompanied by the roar of Chakra.
Totsuka Blade, combined with the long blade formed from the black rod, was subtly unleashed.
In an instant, a storm swept through everything around them.
Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!
Kakuzu immediately pressed his hands to the ground, and a massive Earth wall rose from the earth.
However, this earth wall was instantly sliced open by the blade.
"What?!"
Kakuzu's expression changed. His jutsu was broken so easily?
Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wall!
Seeing this, Sasori could only helplessly control the Third Kazekage to use Magnet Release.
However, this iron wall constructed from Magnet Release didn't last long. Sasori watched in shock as a huge bulge instantly appeared on the iron wall.
Boom—
The next moment, a violent roar erupted, and this iron wall shattered, scattering endless iron sand across the ground.
Moreover, the visible aftershock continued to spread wildly towards Sasori.
"This is bad!"
Sasori and Kakuzu's expressions changed. One controlled the Third Kazekage puppet, immediately trying to evade, while the other instantly ran towards the flank.
However, before either of them could move, they suddenly felt a powerful suction force that pulled them in.
Summoning Jutsu!
Fortunately, Nagato made his move at this moment. He slammed one hand onto the ground, and instantly several summoned beasts burst out of the earth, roaring as they blocked Sasori's path.
Boom—
The residual energy heavily struck these summoned beasts, causing blood to splatter everywhere.
These summoned beasts wailed, their bodies tearing apart. But under Nagato's energy control, their broken bodies reattached themselves.
"Good application."
Takemi nodded slightly.
But the next instant, the blade, infused with the interwoven Yin Release and Yang Release, struck again.
Boom—
In a flash, the earth began to tremble, and those summoned beasts were obliterated almost instantly.
"What?!"
Nagato felt somewhat incredulous. Weren't these summoned beasts immortal?
But he had no time to think further, Takemi's blade was already coming towards him.
Shinra Tensei!
Nagato immediately gritted his teeth and raised his hand. A violent repulsive force instantly filled the space in front of him, firmly pushing back Takemi's strike.
Amaterasu!
Itachi instantly seized the opportunity. As his Mangekyo spun, black flames furiously surged towards Takemi.
However, Takemi seemed to have no intention of even dodging. He merely glanced at the incoming black flames.
Buzz—
A strange power erupted, and these Amaterasu flames stopped in front of him, not advancing an inch.
The next moment, these flames fell to the ground and began to burn and spread continuously.
Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!
Fire Release: Searing Migraine!
Wind Release: Pressure Damage!
Combination Ninjutsu: Blazing Wind Cyclone!
At this moment, Sasori and Kakuzu, having broken free from the control, both instantly formed hand signs.
Iron needles like a torrential downpour, combined with flames like a surging tide, instantly swept towards Takemi.
"Your timing is good, but…"
Takemi shook his head slightly, his voice seemingly full of mockery.
He suddenly raised his hand, and a curtain of light appeared in his palm.
The iron needles and flames dissipated almost instantly, and only then did he continue.
"Only one person seems to have learned their lesson. The others don't seem to have learned anything at all."
"…"
Witnessing this terrifying scene, everyone, including Nagato, fell into silence.
Although it had only been a few brief exchanges, they all seemed to sense how incredibly exaggerated the person before them was.
Especially Nagato, who was now clenching his teeth. He knew all the ocular jutsu this guy had used earlier.
But to achieve this level, he seemed utterly incapable of it.
That level of control over details, that extreme application method, was something he had never mastered.
"Who exactly is this guy, and why is he like this?"
Nagato clenched his fists, and the others' expressions grew extremely grim. Takeshiki's danger level seemed even higher than they had imagined.
"Alright, I think I need to get serious now, but before that…" But at this moment, Takemi spoke again.
"I think it would be better if we left this place first, wouldn't it?"
As his words fell, in an instant, Nagato and the others found that everything around them had changed.
Just moments ago, they were still within Konoha, but now they had arrived in a forest outside Konoha.
They could even turn their heads and see Konoha in the distance.
"This is…"
At this instant, all of them felt a tremor in their hearts. They had been transferred without even realizing it.
How terrifying was this spatial ability?!