The ground shuddered violently as Tendo Pain's Shinra Tensei surged outward, tearing the air and shattering the earth in a terrifying display of power.
Danzō's body trembled uncontrollably, almost losing balance under the sheer force of the repulsion. He spun his Sharingan frantically, trying to perceive and counter the attack, but the magnitude of the force overwhelmed even his formidable defenses. The stone beneath his feet cracked and splintered, sending him stumbling backward several steps, his robes flapping wildly in the storm.
Though Danzō's strength had grown immeasurably over the years, standing before Tendo Pain was humbling. A surge of unwillingness and shame welled up inside him, clashing with the pride of the veteran ninja he had always been. For the first time in a long while, he felt powerless.
The Root ninjas, loyal to a fault, surged forward as one, forming a temporary shield to protect their master. Yet in the face of Nagato's unstoppable fury, their efforts were akin to paper walls against a tidal wave. Each movement of the Six Paths of Pain carried lethal precision, and their collective presence exuded an aura of annihilation.
Nagato's Rinnegan glowed ominously, his gaze cold and merciless. The Six Paths stepped in unison, their every motion flowing like a relentless torrent. The very air seemed to bend to their will, charged with killing intent.
Amid the chaos, Konan descended gracefully before Jiraiya, paper swirling around her in the storm. Her eyes, usually soft and perceptive, were now filled with coldness and unspoken disappointment.
"Jiraiya-sensei…" she said, her voice quiet yet piercing, "do you also wish to protect someone like Danzō?"
Jiraiya's expression tightened, and a long, weary sigh escaped his lips. "Konan… he is still a ninja of the Leaf Village." His voice carried helplessness and inner struggle, the conflict evident in every word.
He knew Danzō's true nature, and he knew the hatred that countless villagers harbored toward him. Yet Jiraiya, bound by the principles of the village, could not simply watch Danzō die. He could not allow the Root operatives, who were merely following orders, to perish in vain. Even hatred had limits when duty and loyalty were involved.
Konan's gaze dimmed at his hesitation, her voice trembling with restrained fury. "The Ninja World is already on the brink of ruin… yet people like Danzō still speak of Yahiko in such a condescending tone. It's unbearable. It's pure oppression."
Paper swirled violently around her, forming a tempest of sharp, whirling blades. The storm's hum and rustle merged with the rain, creating an oppressive, suffocating rhythm.
"Jiraiya-sensei…" Konan's voice rose, carrying her frustration and sorrow like a sharp blade.
Jiraiya responded instantly, summoning a jutsu combining Water Release and flames from his mouth. Streams of scalding water and fire collided with the falling paper, incinerating it in a flaring display of power. Yet he clearly restrained his full strength—every strike measured to repel and control, not to destroy his former student.
The battle unfolded in a delicate balance: rain mingled with fire and water, paper clashing against elemental jutsu. It was fierce yet restrained, controlled yet emotionally charged. Jiraiya's movements reflected not only skill but deep internal conflict.
His eyes flicked to Kakashi, hoping the young Copy Ninja would understand his approach—protecting the village while maintaining a semblance of restraint. The Rinnegan, the Six Paths of Pain, and the remaining Akatsuki forces were far too strong to dismiss, yet they were indispensable in maintaining order in the crumbling world.
Meanwhile, Danzō's smirk and his evident disdain for Akatsuki were unmistakable. Yet he could not foresee Kakashi's next move.
Just as a Root ninja was hoisted into the air by Asura Path's mechanical grip, prepared for a fatal strike, Kakashi's figure appeared like a shadow. His movements were instantaneous and fluid, placing himself between the Path and the ninja.
Hand signs formed rapidly, the surrounding mist condensing into a swirling Water Release: Raining Mist. A dense, rotating water sphere emerged in his palm, intercepting the deadly strike with precision. Kakashi landed steadily, the injured Root ninja shielded behind him, blade drawn and ready.
"Kakashi, you…" Jiraiya muttered, astonished.
Kakashi's eyes did not waver. "Jiraiya-sama… they are Leaf Village shinobi, following orders. They bear no guilt in this situation."
The weight of his words struck Jiraiya like a physical blow. Kakashi had seen through the subtle threads of duty, morality, and internal conflict that bound them all. He chose decisively to protect—not just the village, but the individuals who remained loyal even under morally gray circumstances.
Jiraiya's chest tightened. The young man had grown beyond the aloof genius he had once trained. Kakashi had become a true inheritor of the Will of Fire, a beacon capable of illuminating hope amid darkness. Jiraiya's thoughts lingered: Perhaps, in the end, he is the most suitable to lead…
The rain poured on, yet Kakashi's presence remained sharp and unwavering, a stalwart figure amidst the tempest.
Danzō, assessing the battlefield, turned his gaze toward Kakashi. But before he could act, Asura Path lunged again, a blur of metallic limbs and lethal intent.
Danzō reacted instinctively, ducking and evading with the agility of a young ninja. In perfect synchrony, Kakashi anticipated the trajectory and unleashed the Lightning Blade. The electric currents coursed along his weapon, striking Asura Path with blinding speed. The mechanical Path was forced back several steps, temporarily thrown off balance.
The Six Paths had yet to respond fully, their offensive momentarily disrupted by the sudden, coordinated defense. Kakashi and Danzō's brief tactical exchange demonstrated precision, timing, and mastery—two forces clashing amidst the storm, a dance of chaos and control.
Danzō straightened his posture, rain sliding off his cloak. His attention shifted, not to Asura Path, but to Kakashi himself. "I hear… you've already met the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Kakashi's silence was deliberate. Words now were unnecessary; his pause implied everything Danzō needed to know.
The veteran ninja's gaze then fell upon Jiraiya. "If you wish to become the light in the Nine-Tails' heart, you must be its only light…"
Those words struck Kakashi like a lightning bolt. Jiraiya's presence—his guidance and connection with Naruto—was the greatest obstacle to Kakashi's own path as mentor and guardian. Danzō's ambition, cold and calculated, was clear: he sought to manipulate relationships, positioning himself or others as the pivotal force.
Kakashi's voice was low, almost reflective. "Light… do I even need it?"
His Sharingan's tomoe rotated subtly, awakening dormant power within him. Chakra surged, intertwining with his keen perception, sharpening his senses and resolve.
"Danzō-sama, joking with me using genjutsu is not amusing," he said, calm yet laced with sarcasm and icy composure.
A flicker of surprise crossed Danzō's face. The genjutsu, flawless in execution, had been effortlessly dispelled. The Sharingan that had once consumed Kakashi's chakra now served him fully, sharper and more precise than ever. Something fundamental had shifted.
Neither man moved, yet the tension between them was palpable—an invisible current of intent, strategy, and anticipation crackling through the rain-soaked battlefield.
The Six Paths of Pain, sensing the mounting pressure, began to advance slowly, their intent unmistakable. Tendo Path, Nagato's lead, fixed its unyielding gaze on the two combatants, preparing to act should the balance of this encounter tilt.
The storm above continued unabated, rain streaking like needles against the chaos below. Yet amidst it all, two young men—one veteran, one inheritor—stood unwavering, each embodying determination, cunning, and the heavy weight of responsibility in a world on the brink of collapse.
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