A blast of air more than a hundred meters high swept across the land. Whether Ninja outside the impact zone or buildings in its path, all were destroyed on contact. The earth shook violently, and deep fissures spread across the surface like a web.
The shockwave pressed down forests along the border of the Land of Fire. At this moment, Toneri Otsutsuki knelt on the flying Ninja Tool platform that was carrying him farther away. Through his powerful perception, he saw his father's broken body fall toward the ground, his life force fading fast.
"Father… no, Father…" Toneri stared with empty eyes as tears blurred his face. The land below, which his father had called filthy, now filled his heart not only with disgust but with deep hatred and a cold desire for destruction. The mission of the Otsutsuki Clan and his father's brutal sacrifice burned into him.
His young face slowly twisted as he fixed those few presences firmly in his mind. One day, he would kill them and destroy this twisted and wrong world. With that thought, his figure vanished completely from the Ninja World.
A thunderous roar rolled across the land. It was impossible to tell how long it lasted, perhaps only a few seconds, perhaps as long as a century. Under that terrible sound, the passing of life was silent, and even time itself seemed mute.
When the noise that shook the eardrums finally weakened, and the dust cloud that covered the sky began to rise, the scene at the meteor's impact point slowly appeared. What remained was enough to make anyone fall quiet.
"..."
Hanzo appeared in the area, his mouth open as he stared at what lay before him, unable to make a sound. His mind rejected the sight, and shock froze him in place.
What kind of joke was this? What had just happened?
A massive meteor had plunged deep into the ground, still giving off scorching heat and a sharp, choking smell. Within the entire area, life, buildings, and terrain were gone, leaving only twisted layers of rock and ash drifting in the wind.
A tiny number of surviving Ninja far from the impact zone collapsed on the ground. Their minds were blank, their eyes dull as they stared at the hellish scene before them. They felt no relief at surviving, only fear and confusion that reached into their bones.
"Damn it. 'Shadow' and Nagato..."
Hanzo suddenly realized something, his body shuddering as he cried out and rushed forward. Those two were not still here, were they?
The moment he charged toward the meteor, in the dead silence at its center, something happened. A tightly condensed dark red beam burst out from inside the meteor without warning.
It cut through the solid mass like a precise laser, melting a smooth edged tunnel straight through it. Steam rose from the opening as several figures leapt out one after another, landing lightly on top of the meteor.
At the front stood 'Shadow' in a black robe, the hem of his cloak fluttering slightly in the hot air. The darkness under his hood swallowed even the red glow of the meteor.
Beside him, 'Uzumaki' looked even more eerie in the crimson light, its pale body stark and cold. Nagato's Rinnegan swept across the battlefield below, now reduced to total ruin.
Kakuzu and Miyashiro En both showed lingering fear from surviving, mixed with doubt and alarm at the power of 'Uzumaki' and the being in the sky. Their expressions were tense as they took in what had just occurred.
"So this is what you call clearing the field?" Kakuzu said in a low, hoarse voice. "You knew all along that the guy in the sky could do something like this. You really are completely insane."
If that female shaped monster had not used that technique again to melt a hole through the meteor, none of them would have lived. No matter how many hearts he had, surviving that kind of force would have been impossible.
Compared to Kakuzu's lingering fear, Nagato stood silently, thinking through everything that had happened. The man in the sky had used Shinra Tensei, and he could not understand why.
He also realized that Rinnegan's Universal Pull was not limited to what he had thought. It could pull down a meteor, and that same force could match the power of Shinra Tensei's repulsion.
"So this is what 'Shadow' wanted me to see?"
Nagato raised his head and looked deeply at the figure before him. Was this a warning that the Ninja World was far more complex than he imagined, and that even possessing Rinnegan did not guarantee his wish could be fulfilled?
"Aren't you still alive?" 'Shadow' said calmly, his tone carrying a faint smile. He ignored Kakuzu's resentment and looked down at the land below, now completely erased and lifeless.
This battlefield, along with every struggling life on it, whether from Konoha or Sunagakure, had fallen into total silence. Countless Ninja had lost their lives, and not a trace of vitality remained.
At this moment, he could feel that the limited space inside Box of Ultimate Bliss was already full. This harvest had been truly impressive.
"It is a pity that Box of Ultimate Bliss has limited space," 'Shadow' thought with a quiet sigh. "It looks like I still have to wait for Orochimaru to find 'Time Space Cave'."
The current Box of Ultimate Bliss was like a palace, vast but still confined, nothing like an independent world such as Mount Myoboku. Letting low grade spirits crowd his palace was hardly acceptable.
"Uzumaki," 'Shadow' said suddenly. "Go back to Las Noches and keep an eye on those people for me."
Hearing the name Las Noches, 'Uzumaki' froze for a moment, then understood it was the name of that space. It lowered its head slightly and replied, "Yes, my lord."
Under the gaze of Kakuzu and the others, it turned, raised both hands, and tore open space once more. A hollow, silent black corridor opened, and it stepped inside as it closed behind it.
"You are not hurt. What was that?" Hanzo appeared on top of the meteor and was about to ask something, but his pupils shrank when he saw the corridor close.
"Nothing," 'Shadow' replied lightly and stepped forward. His gaze fell on a figure lying on the meteor.
Toneri Otsutsuki's father.
Half of his body was gone, blood flowing across the hot surface of the meteor as red mist rose around him. His life force was fading fast, but he was still alive.
Hearing footsteps, he focused his scattered eyes when he saw 'Shadow' approach. He tried to speak, but only coughed up blood.
"A true descendant of Hamura Otsutsuki does have remarkable vitality," 'Shadow' said with a smile. "But vitality that does not match strength is just a waste."
Under Toneri Father's shocked and furious stare, he lifted his foot and placed it lightly on his neck. He bent down slightly and looked into those hate filled Byakugan eyes.
"Do not worry," he said softly. "I will pull out your soul and turn you into a creation like that woman."
"When your son comes to the Ninja World again, you will have no memories and you will kill him with your own hands."
Fear and rage flashed through Toneri Father's eyes as he tried to speak again. Before he could finish, 'Shadow' twisted his foot, and his neck snapped.
As the soul was forcibly drawn into Box of Ultimate Bliss, a smile appeared beneath the shadowed hood. He would continue to struggle and devour within Box of Ultimate Bliss, driven by hatred, until the day he met Toneri Otsutsuki again.
With that thought, he stored the corpse into Scroll and turned back to Nagato and the others. "I will leave things here to you."
Before Hanzo or Nagato could respond, his figure vanished like erased pencil marks. He was gone without a trace.
At the same time, unaware that most of the Akatsuki front line Ninja had been wiped out, dawn arrived over Konoha in calm silence.
"Haah... haah..."
Naruto Uzumaki climbed a steep slope using both hands and feet, ignoring the way Gravel cut into his palms. At last, he reached the top of Hokage Rock and dropped down onto the head of the Fourth Hokage's massive stone statue.
The morning light dyed all of Konoha Village in warm red and gold. Smoke rose from kitchens, windows glowed softly, and the village moved through its usual rhythm.
People walked the streets, children played together, and the smell of food drifted through the cool air. This was a view Naruto Uzumaki had seen countless times, a Konoha that seemed wrapped in happiness.
Yet none of it belonged to him.
He hugged his knees and rested his chin on them, curling into a small shape. The autumn wind swept across the high rock face, cold enough to cut through his thin clothes.
In the distance, a hawk circled up from the forest and crossed the glowing sky. Naruto Uzumaki followed it without thinking, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Then another bird rose from below the cliff and cried out clearly as it joined the first. They brushed past each other in the light and flew on together, free and full of life.
The smile slowly faded from Naruto Uzumaki's face.
The smell of food drifted in again, and his stomach suddenly growled. He pushed himself up, brushed the dust from his clothes, and headed down toward the streets of Konoha.