Nagato looked down at Teizawa from above, his Rinnegan filled with cold indifference.
"Mortal, do you even know whom you have chosen as your enemy?"
His voice was quiet, yet it carried an unquestionable authority that echoed through the open space before the tower.
The invisible pressure surrounding him forced the rain away, creating a strange vacuum around his body.
Not even the raindrops dared approach.
Teizawa stood in the rain, his dark golden robe soaked through and clinging to his body.
He did not answer.
He merely raised one hand.
Countless black Iron Sand needles surged from his sleeve and shot toward Nagato.
The needles carved innumerable black trails through the curtain of rain, producing a piercing shriek as they tore through the air.
"Almighty Push."
An invisible repulsive force erupted from Nagato's body once again, hurling the Iron Sand needles away.
The corner of Teizawa's mouth curved upward.
He had clearly expected this.
Even more Iron Sand needles poured from his sleeve, filling the sky in an endless black swarm.
Nagato frowned slightly.
He unleashed Almighty Push again.
The repulsive force collided with the Iron Sand needles in midair, producing an ear-splitting screech.
Sparks scattered in every direction before falling through the rain.
"It's useless," Nagato's voice came from beyond the smoke, carrying a hint of mockery. "Your attacks cannot harm me. A mortal will always remain a mortal. You will never reach the realm of a god."
Teizawa said nothing.
He simply continued releasing Iron Sand needles.
Wave after wave surged forward without end.
His chakra seemed inexhaustible. The number of needles did not diminish in the slightest. Instead, they only grew more numerous and densely packed.
Nagato's frown deepened.
Of course he knew what Teizawa was doing.
A battle of attrition.
Teizawa was waiting for Nagato's chakra to run dry. He was exploiting Almighty Push's five-second cooldown, waiting for the slightest opening to appear.
It was a straightforward strategy, executed openly and without deception.
That was precisely why Nagato could do nothing about it.
"You think this is enough to defeat me?"
Nagato's voice remained contemptuous, but a faint trace of irritation had begun to seep through.
Those Iron Sand needles were like an endless plague of locusts.
No sooner had he repelled one wave than another arrived.
Almighty Push could knock them away, but every use consumed chakra.
Nagato's body was already in poor condition.
He could not endure a prolonged battle of attrition.
If this continued, even if Teizawa did not kill him, he would eventually be exhausted to death.
"Mortal, you should consider yourself honored. To die before a god will be the greatest honor of your miserable life!"
Nagato pressed his palms together, and the light within his Rinnegan intensified.
"Almighty Push…"
The repulsive force this time was several times stronger than before.
The Iron Sand needles were blasted away along with the stone pavement, shattered rubble, and even the falling rain.
Teizawa's body swayed.
Even so, he did not retreat.
As though guided by an invisible hand, the scattered Iron Sand needles curved through the air, circled around Nagato, and attacked him from behind.
"Universal Pull."
Without even turning around, Nagato raised one hand.
The force of attraction dragged every needle into his palm, compressing them into an enormous black sphere.
He hurled it at Teizawa.
Teizawa twisted aside.
The black sphere smashed into the ground, leaving behind a crater several meters wide.
"God."
Teizawa's quiet voice drifted faintly through the rain.
"Have you ever seen one?"
Nagato's pupils contracted slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I've met many people who called themselves gods."
Teizawa raised his head. Rainwater streamed down his cheeks, while the faintest smile played across his lips.
"Madara called himself a god. Kaguya called herself a god. Isshiki called himself a god. Momoshiki called himself a god. Every single one of them was stronger than you and far closer to deserving the title of 'god.'"
"But in the end, they all died. They weren't killed by stronger gods. They died at the hands of mortals."
Nagato's expression darkened.
"You… What nonsense are you spouting?"
Those names were completely unfamiliar to him.
All except Madara.
He had never even heard of the others.
Teizawa had no intention of explaining.
He merely continued launching Iron Sand needles.
By now, he had completely mastered the cooldown of Nagato's Almighty Push.
Every time Nagato used it, Teizawa launched the next wave precisely five seconds later.
Nagato's chakra was nearly depleted.
The burden on his body grew heavier with every passing moment.
The mechanical apparatus beneath him creaked beneath the strain.
"Who… are you?"
Nagato's voice was as rough as though his throat were full of sand.
"A mortal."
Teizawa smiled.
"A mortal who wants to kill a god."
Not far away, Konan and Mei faced each other.
Konan wanted to help Nagato, but Mei stood in her path.
A smile danced within Mei's green eyes.
"I'm your opponent."
Her voice was quiet.
"Move!"
Konan was growing desperate.
Countless sheets of paper poured from her body, transforming into shuriken, kunai, and senbon before shooting toward Mei in an overwhelming barrage.
Mei did not dodge.
Lava Release chakra gathered in her palm and transformed into a mass of searing molten rock.
The instant the paper touched the lava, it ignited and burned to ash.
"I told you…"
The corner of Mei's mouth lifted.
"I'm your opponent."
She was more than a little displeased.
How dare that man underestimate her?
Did he really think she was no match for this woman?
The thought infuriated her.
Mei felt an irresistible urge to prove herself.
Of course, she had no idea that Teizawa was merely worried Konan might use her six hundred billion explosive tags against her.
When Konan saw Nagato begin coughing in the distance, she clenched her teeth, furious and frantic.
Nagato's body could not hold out much longer.
If Teizawa continued wearing him down like this, he would eventually collapse.
"Move…"
Konan's voice became sharp and urgent.
Sheets of paper gathered in the air and formed an enormous sword, which came crashing down toward Mei.
Mei twisted aside.
Boil Release chakra gathered in her palm and transformed into a cloud of scalding vapor that surged toward Konan.
Konan's body scattered into sheets of paper.
The vapor passed through them and struck the metal building behind her.
The entire wall melted beneath its heat.
Molten metal streamed down the surface, releasing clouds of white smoke.
"I said…"
Mei's smile disappeared, and a cold glint flashed through her green eyes.
"I'm your opponent."
Konan's face turned livid.
She realized she truly could not defeat this woman quickly.
Lava Release and Boil Release were both wide-range attacks, making them natural counters to her paper abilities.
Worse still, Mei was extremely fast and possessed equally sharp reflexes.
Every time Konan attempted to slip past and help Nagato, Mei intercepted her with perfect accuracy.
She was like an insurmountable wall.
There was no way through.
The battle continued for an unknown length of time.
Nagato's face grew increasingly pale, and beads of sweat covered his forehead.
The tubes of his mechanical apparatus dug into his body, leaving angry red marks across his skin.
Teizawa continued launching Iron Sand needles at a steady pace.
He was like a machine that would never stop.
Sweat had appeared on his forehead as well, but his eyes remained perfectly calm.
There was not the slightest trace of exhaustion in them.
"What… do you truly want?"
Nagato's voice was hoarse.
Teizawa fell silent for a moment.
"Peace for the shinobi world."
Nagato froze briefly.
Then he laughed, his expression filled with mockery.
"Peace? Someone like you dares speak of peace?"
"I'm not worthy."
Teizawa shook his head, his gaze profound.
"But you're even less worthy. Your peace means using violence to force everyone into submission, fear to silence every voice, and death to make sure no one dares speak again. That isn't peace. It's enslavement."
Nagato's smile froze.
His lips moved as he tried to argue, but no words came out.
Yahiko's face flashed through his mind.
Then Konan's.
Then the faces of everyone who had died in war.
Finally came the faces of those he had personally killed.
"You…"
Nagato's voice sounded like sand grinding in his throat.
"What do you know?"
"I don't know anything."
Teizawa shook his head and raised one hand.
Countless Iron Sand needles gathered in the air.
They fused into a pitch-black blade, its point aimed directly at Nagato.
"But I do know one thing. True peace isn't bestowed upon us by gods. It's something mortals must win for themselves."
(End of Chapter)
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