Tendo Pain, under Nagato's absolute control, remained perfectly still, a statue in the pouring rain. Yet the Chakra radiating from him simmered like a cauldron on the verge of boiling over, and the glow of his Rinnegan seemed to grow colder by the second, as if it could devour the entire world in a single moment.
Beside Konan, Preta Path moved silently, forming a defensive shield that intercepted a fireball hurled by Jiraiya. The battle had escalated beyond control, and Jiraiya was increasingly struggling to manage the chaos. Every move from the Six Paths, every attack unleashed in precise coordination, tested even his unparalleled skills.
Nagato's rationality teetered on the edge of collapse. His fury toward Danzō was barely restrained by the rules of the battlefield. If he had been anywhere else—away from Amegakure, where using large-scale destructive techniques was prohibited—Danzō would have long since been obliterated for his insolence.
Indeed… it was the great nations, and their endless schemes, that were the root of the world's tragedies.
The oppressive silence thickened, solidifying around the combatants, each breath seeming heavier than the last. Suddenly, Chikushōdō made a subtle hand gesture, and from the dense mist of the battlefield, enormous summoning formations erupted.
Boom!
Gigantic figures leaped forth. Two Hell Crabs, each the size of a small house, charged with ground-shaking momentum, their pincers threatening devastation. A chameleon blinked into visibility, gliding across the rain-slicked earth, almost invisible in the storm. Above, the Eight-Handed Crow spread its massive wings and emitted a piercing, bone-chilling cry. Four summoned beasts had entered the fray, each one more terrifying than the last.
Kakashi moved instantly, fluid and decisive. His hands formed signs in rapid succession, Water Release surging forth in a blinding Raining Mist. Dense clouds of water mist mingled with the heavy rain, condensing into a swirling sphere in his palm. Lightning chakra crackled along its surface.
Chidori!
With a streak of blue-white light, he tore through the rain curtain, impaling the Hell Crab's massive pincer mid-air. The impact sent a violent explosion echoing across the battlefield. The crab screeched and reeled, its enormous body cracking the ground beneath it.
Meanwhile, Asura Path approached Danzō silently. Its mechanical back apparatus opened, and a volley of missiles shot forth, aimed with lethal precision. Danzō exhaled, forming a cutting Wind Release that intersected the missiles. Explosions erupted around him, yet not a single step did he lose, not a single movement faltered.
The invisible chameleon then struck, its jaw snapping and tongue lashing out at lightning speed, whipping air currents into a frenzy. But Danzō, seemingly anticipating every strike, tilted his body, stepping with perfect precision. He evaded the attack with the calm confidence of a master tactician, then slammed a palm to the ground.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Consecutive Wave!"
A torrent of high-speed wind bullets shot forth, striking the chameleon's exposed scales with surgical accuracy. The beast recoiled, forced into retreat, as Danzō's movements flowed seamlessly, each step and strike measured to perfection.
Even Jiraiya, summoning a toad to intercept the Eight-Handed Crow's dive, paused for a moment to observe. His eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"This old man… nimble as a young ninja… no, even more than that," he murmured. "There's something… chilling about him."
Indeed, Danzō was a different person. His movements were economical, composed, and ruthlessly precise. There was no wasted motion, no hesitation, and his aura was cold and intimidating. Remarkably, he fought without even drawing on the Sharingan. Using only Wind Release and his exceptional taijutsu, he was already holding his ground against Pain's summoned beasts.
It was disconcerting.
Kakashi, by contrast, maintained a rhythm with his Lightning and Water Release, coordinating attacks with unerring precision. One Hell Crab had fallen, and the Eight-Handed Crow was impaled midair by the Toad Sword Master. The arena of battle was a tempest of rain, mist, lightning, and the echoes of monstrous clashes.
Kakashi landed heavily, crouched slightly as if absorbing the storm itself. He drew his long sword deliberately. Though it hadn't moved, the intent behind it radiated lethal certainty. Water mist swirled around the blade, sharpening its presence in the gloom.
Enhanced by his Sharingan, his focus became unbreakable. His eyes locked onto Tendo Pain with a cold, calculating precision.
Then he moved.
Like a flash of lightning, he closed the distance to Deva Path, the sword slicing through the rain-soaked air. Every movement was pre-calculated, perfectly timed.
Tendo Pain reacted immediately, spinning his Rinnegan violently. Shinra Tensei erupted in a shockwave, dispersing rain, mist, and rubble alike. Yet Kakashi had already anticipated it, vanishing before the repulsive force could reach him.
He had measured the cooldown of Shinra Tensei—five seconds. Every variable, every moment, was accounted for. In the next instant, Kakashi's form appeared behind Tendo Pain, blade raised, guided by both Sharingan and instinct, ready for the finishing strike.
The mist rose like a curtain, and the blade descended, deadly, precise… unstoppable.
Before the strike could land, a familiar voice pierced the storm: "Stop, Kakashi! And Danzō!"
Jiraiya's command was forceful, carrying authority that cut through the tension. The water mist trembled, the blade paused mid-swing. Tendo Pain, expressionless, observed the halt, as if reading the subtle hand of fate itself.
From the shadows, Black Zetsu's voice echoed: "Leader, wait."
Slowly, he emerged, his gaze sweeping over the tense gap between Kakashi and Deva Path before shifting toward Nagato's main body. "We cannot continue entangling ourselves with Konoha in this manner."
Even Black Zetsu, usually patient and manipulative, could not hide the strain in his tone. Uchiha Gen's influence had exceeded all predictions.
"From my deductions," he continued, voice low and precise, "Uchiha Gen's Mangekyo Sharingan seems to exert mental influence on his clan members. Currently… he is likely in a state of mental breakdown. As for Danzō…"
His words carried subtle implications, scanning the battlefield toward Danzō, standing calm amidst the chaos. "He controls numerous Uchiha Sharingan. It's possible… he has also encountered unforeseen complications."
The room fell silent, the weight of speculation hanging like fog over the battle. Even vague conjecture from Black Zetsu stirred unease in every mind present.
Jiraiya's eyes lingered on Danzō. The old man's demeanor remained twisted and somber, a visage of gloom consistent with the veteran he had always known. Yet… something felt off.
Jiraiya shook his head slightly. "It shouldn't be… like this."
Black Zetsu, recognizing the exposure, seethed inwardly. Jiraiya's sharp perception had pierced the careful veil of explanation he had woven, leaving him with little choice but to hint at Uchiha Gen's side effects as a pretense for the strange anomalies in the battle....
The storm raged on. Rain pounded against the battlefield, wind howled through shattered stone and debris, and the Six Paths of Pain advanced silently, their intent undeniable. Yet amidst the chaos, two figures—Kakashi and Danzō—stood poised, each a paradoxical force of precision, experience, and hidden strength.
The clash between them had only begun.
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