Pain watched impassively as the White Zetsu died under his enemy's blade. White Zetsu belonged to 'Uchiha Madara', not him. Although the creature was a member of Akatsuki, it didn't take orders from Pain.
"Consider it a gift, given our similar philosophies," Naruto said, black markings slowly appearing on his right arm. After talking for so long, his Sage Mode was finally ready. Although their ideals were similar, the realization of his opponent's philosophy was predicated on Naruto's own life. They might become kindred spirits, but they would never be friends. Besides, he had come here to fight, to suppress his own swelling ego! Not to discuss some damn philosophy.
"Pain, let's fight!" As he spoke, Naruto's body was enveloped in golden chakra, entering Kurama Chakra Mode. "You, who have walked out of the abyss, should understand that peace cannot be achieved through words alone."
"I acknowledge your peace, but that doesn't mean I'll meekly hand over my life to you!"
"Excellent! This is precisely what I hoped to see!" An immense chakra pressure also erupted from Pain's body. The calm sea surface began to churn due to the collision of their chakras.
Facing the incoming giant golden claw, a massive repulsive force instantly filled the space several meters around Pain.
The cooldown period is here!
Seeing this, Naruto's eyes lit up. Having fought Nagato several times, he knew the power of 'Shinra Tensei' and, more importantly, its weakness. A full five-second window—for ninja of their caliber, that was more than enough time to do many things.
Whoosh!
The distance between them was instantly bridged by a golden line.
Clang!
Pain, wielding a black rod, strained to block Kusabimaru's blade.
A creation of Yin-Yang Release... Naruto's eyes flickered. This was something on a completely different level of knowledge for him. But unfortunately, when brute force reached a higher tier, the hierarchy of knowledge could be overcome.
VMMMM!
The senjutsu chakra within him surged out madly, coating the blade. An almost tangible cutting sensation appeared between them.
Crack!
A soft sound.
Pain's pupils constricted. The black rod he had created with Yin-Yang Release had cracked!
Screeech!
A huge gash appeared on his body. If he hadn't dodged backward just then, his entire torso would likely have been split in two.
"A puppet, as expected." Naruto stood with his sword, observing the mechanical constructs within his opponent's body. His mind stirred. Just as he was about to press his advantage, his opponent suddenly vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
At that moment, several missiles whistled in from the distance. Naruto swung his longsword lightly. A blade of light flashed, and several "fireworks" suddenly exploded.
"Ninjutsu: Summoning Technique!"
The Animal Path had arrived on the battlefield at some unknown point. It rapidly formed hand seals and slammed its hands onto the sea surface. Two enormous summoned beasts appeared: a giant green, eight-headed bird and a dark-skinned, thorn-covered hell crab.
On the shore, the King of Hell summoned by the Naraka Path chewed voraciously. A moment later, the Deva Path Pain's intact body slowly emerged from its gaping mouth. The Animal Path, standing atop the eight-headed bird, formed hand seals again, re-summoning the Deva Path and Naraka Path to the battlefield.
Naruto plunged Kusabimaru, now brimming with natural energy, into the Preta Path. Catching this scene from the corner of his eye, several flashes of his blade lit up, dicing the Preta Path, which was beginning to turn to stone, into countless pieces. He let the currents drag the remains into the depths of the sea.
"Is this what the Sage of Six Paths' 'Six Paths' refers to?" Naruto asked. Counting the Preta Path he had just minced, there were a total of six enemies on the field, perfectly matching the number of the Six Paths.
"Not sure. I've never seen the old man fight," Kurama's voice sounded in his mind.
BOOM!
From beneath the sea, a massive pincer suddenly shot out.
"The clone has lost contact." On land, far away, two figures observed the distant battle.
"Died in the crossfire?" Masked Man asked.
"Not sure." The pitcher plant White Zetsu shook its head. "That's the most likely possibility. After all, my clone was deployed there in advance."
"Can you even interfere in a battle of this level?" Black Zetsu asked, looking at the massive waves erupting in the distance.
"..." Masked Man's exposed three-tomoe Sharingan spun slightly, but he said nothing.
"I've already found the vein of Gelel Stones," Black Zetsu continued, seeing his silence. "If you don't make a decision soon, Shinno will die at Uchiha Sasuke's hands. That guy has been on the run for so long, and the tricks he's accumulated over the years have run out."
"...Useless." Masked Man said, though it was unclear whether he was referring to Shinno or someone else.
"Heh heh, whether he's useless or not doesn't matter to us." Black Zetsu shook his head slightly. "You don't need to worry that Nagato will escape our control after his body recovers. When 'he' transplanted the Rinnegan into Nagato, he never intended to limit Nagato's growth."
Gazing at the two massive plumes of white smoke that suddenly erupted in the distance, Black Zetsu continued, "We need someone to restrain the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, who has already broken free of control. You can't, I can't, and the current Nagato can't either..."
Masked Man's exposed Sharingan began to spin rapidly. The three tomoe in his pupils slowly merged, forming a strange pattern.
"Where is he?"
"The Land of Rivers."
Space rippled like a vortex, and Masked Man's figure vanished.
"Pushing this child so hard, will there be any problems?" White Zetsu asked, watching him disappear.
"Compared to the plan failing, his emotions aren't that important," Black Zetsu said, his tone utterly flat.
"Who do you think will win the fight between the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and Pain?" White Zetsu shifted his gaze back to the battlefield.
"Nagato expended too much in the battle against Onoki," Black Zetsu stated.
"It couldn't be helped. Without Nagato, we wouldn't have been able to obtain the Four-Tails and Six-Tails," White Zetsu said.
"Only the Deva Path is left."
"It seems Pain is going to lose..." White Zetsu was slightly stunned. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's growth was simply too fast.
Whoosh~
Naruto's body flew backward uncontrollably, carving a scar hundreds of meters long across the sea surface. He shook his slightly dazed head. Though the cost was considerable, trading injuries for taking out a Path was a decent exchange. Naruto stood on the water again, looking at the final Deva Path Pain.
Only the toughest bone left to chew... The choice of battlefield this time was a bit poor. If it were on land, relying on the Flying Thunder God Formation, he wouldn't be in such a sorry state.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Six black rods instantly crossed the hundreds of meters and appeared before him. Naruto's figure abruptly vanished, reappearing on an exposed reef. To be honest, the creations of Yin-Yang Release were still quite a threat to him. Not because of the damage, but because of the sealing power they contained. None of the sealing techniques he currently mastered had a binding force comparable to the black rods.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Two water dragons surged from the surface, snapping towards him.