Trouble!
The tide of the battle had shifted dramatically in a short time. Rasa and the other invaders were already formidable, but Amagakure's forces had managed to hold their ground through sheer numbers.
However, the revelation that the enemy possessed immortality completely changed the game.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Waves!"
A massive surge of gold dust swept forward, targeting the ninjas of Amagakure.
"Ahhh!" A scream echoed as an elite jonin was swallowed by the gold dust, vanishing without a trace.
"Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"
Haku unleashed his secret technique, darting between the ice mirrors and launching deadly senbon at Rasa.
But Rasa paid him no mind. With his secret of immortality exposed, he abandoned defense entirely, opting for an all-out offensive strategy.
He directed all his gold dust toward attacking.
Boom!
The sound of shattering ice mirrors filled the air. Rasa's gold dust formed a sharp, agile spear that pierced through each mirror with incredible speed. Even Haku couldn't escape; the spear struck him, piercing his abdomen.
"Haku!" Zabuza cried out in alarm, swinging his Executioner's Blade at the gold dust, only to produce another shower of sparks.
Fortunately, Water Man acted swiftly. His thick, light-blue water-like tentacles stretched out and successfully pulled Haku to safety.
But the cost was steep—another person lost their life because Water Man was occupied.
"Dammit! Everyone, hold on!"
"I've already sent a distress signal to Lord Ten'ei and the others!" Zabuza shouted, his voice carrying a mix of urgency and hope.
The distress signal had reached the members of Akatsuki. Among them, only Deidara was currently capable of providing support.
"Deidara, go ahead. I'll keep an eye on Orochimaru," Jiraiya said seriously, aware of the gravity of the situation.
Deidara nodded and prepared to leave in haste. Amagakure was the stronghold for everyone—it couldn't afford to fall.
However, just as he was about to depart, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure blocked his path.
The newcomer had horns on his head and three eyes: a pair of Rinnegan and a Sharingan on his forehead.
His face appeared aged, and he wore a white robe with six black tomoe on the chest.
It was none other than the legendary figure of the ninja world, often mistaken as the originator of chakra—the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki.
"Young man, leave this matter to me," the Sage said calmly.
"Although I cannot foresee the future as accurately as Gamamaru, I can sense that your presence here is the true key to overcoming fate."
The Sage wasted no time with riddles, speaking directly to Deidara.
Deidara frowned. "But aren't you supposed to be suppressing the ancient gods?"
He remembered clearly that entities like the Death God and Jashin hadn't personally appeared on the battlefield because of the Sage and his brother's suppression.
"My main body remains where it should be. The one here, as well as the one heading to Amagakure, are merely clones," the Sage replied.
"But Mōryō's attack on Amagakure feels premeditated. Can a clone really handle it?"
Deidara felt uneasy. From the moment news from Amagakure arrived, he had suspected that everything was part of Mōryō's grand scheme. The sudden assault seemed too deliberate.
What was Mōryō's goal? It remained unclear. Amagakure didn't seem to hold anything decisive for the war's outcome. Destroying the village might anger Akatsuki, but anger wouldn't diminish their combat effectiveness.
Still, a disaster in the rear was unacceptable to Deidara and the others. After all, their loved ones and families were there.
Why did they fight so desperately? To carve out a brighter future for those they cared about.
"If you know it's a trap, then you shouldn't go," the Sage advised.
"Mōryō likely intends to lure you there. If he captures or kills you, everything will be over."
The Sage's clone wasn't there just to inform Deidara—it was there to stop him from returning.
"I can't stand by and watch the people I protect fall into danger!" Deidara's resolve was unwavering.
Some things couldn't be compromised.
Some actions had to be taken, even if they seemed impossible.
"Young man, you must consider the bigger picture."
"No! I only want to create the future I desire!"
Seeing Deidara's steadfast determination, the Sage sighed, realizing further persuasion would be futile. He had no choice but to reveal his trump card.
"Rest assured, the clone heading to Amagakure carries a portion of my main body's power."
"And your comrade—the new Ten-Tails Jinchūriki—has been monitoring Mōryō's main body."
"Even if Mōryō has diverted some of his power, my clone will be able to handle it."
Hearing this, Deidara's expression softened slightly, though he remained skeptical. "Are you sure?"
"Can your clone really withstand Mōryō's assault?"
The Sage relented, offering a compromise. "You should be able to communicate with your comrades at any time, correct? Why not ask them directly?"
"Based on the timing, my clone should have arrived by now."
Recently, Nagato had gathered a significant amount of resources to produce a batch of new rings and distribute them among Akatsuki members.
These rings were incredibly convenient, enabling real-time communication across the entire ninja world without regard to distance—a marvel of advanced technology.
Deidara activated the "Blue" ring on his finger, establishing a mental connection.
"Zabuza, what's the situation in the village? Has an old man with Rinnegan shown up to assist?"
"Rinnegan? Isn't that something only the leader and Uchiha Obito possess? Are there new Rinnegan users in the ninja world?" Hidan's voice interjected.
Kakuzu's scolding followed. "Hidan, don't interrupt at a time like this."
"And don't forget—Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, had Rinnegan."
The Sage of Six Paths?
Zabuza froze for a moment. The ninja world was becoming increasingly surreal. Was the legendary founder of ninjutsu really appearing now?
"I haven't seen—wait! Yes! An old man with Rinnegan has indeed appeared!"
"Could he really be the Sage of Six Paths?"
Zabuza stared at the elderly figure who had suddenly appeared in the center of the battlefield, unsure of what to feel.
Reverence, fear, respect, doubt—his emotions churned, leaving him momentarily speechless.
The Sage, however, ignored the crowd and focused his gaze on Rasa and the others.
"Mōryō, are you still not going to show yourself?"
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