Boom, boom, boom…
The battle between Aka, Duy, and the First Hokage grew increasingly intense. The entire floating island shook violently, causing hearts to tremble with fear.
Many privately worried whether the island would crash under the collision of such imnse power.
However, this concern was quickly overshadowed by the stalemated situation before their eyes.
Without the power of the First Hokage and the Jinchuriki, the battle situation reverted to its previous state. The Allied Forces' high-tier combatants were being crushed by Sunagakure's forces, barely holding on by relying on nurical superiority in many fights.
…
"How do you know these things!?"
The Nine-Tails' voice, filled with disbelief, ca from Kushina's mouth. The other Tailed Beasts also cried out in shock, making their Jinchuriki intensely curious.
'We had heard of the Sage of Six Paths, but the Ten-Tails, Kaguya, the Otsutsuki Clan... What were these?'
'Kaguya could roughly be understood as referring to soone, but what was the Ten-Tails?'
'Was there another Tailed Beast hidden in the Shinobi World?'
'And the Otsutsuki Clan... Did such a clan exist in the Shinobi World?'
'And what were these enemies from the stars?'
"Master naturally has his sources of information." Yomatsuya replied calmly. "Although you are beings created by the Sage of Six Paths who have survived until now, knowing many ancient secrets, Master knows more than the Sage of Six Paths. He has been preparing for the Otsutsuki who will descend in the not-too-distant future."
"Not-too-distant future..." The Nine-Tails' tone carried heavy breathing, as if even breathing had beco difficult. The other Tailed Beasts were the sa.
They were created by the Sage of Six Paths using the Ten-Tails' Chakra and also knew about the Sage of Six Paths and Kaguya... That Chakra Ancestor, whom the Sage and his brother had to fight for three months to seal, was soone even they feared and worried about. And the Otsutsuki Clan from the stars, whom Kaguya had long been preparing for, were about to descend in the not-too-distant future.
"That's impossible. They haven't co for such a long ti; how could they co now?" Matatabi shouted in disbelief.
The other Tailed Beasts also looked at Yomatsuya.
And Yomatsuya remained as calm as ever.
He sighed. "Precisely because they haven't co for so long, it's possible they co now! You surely don't think Kaguya was afraid of enemies that didn't exist at all!"
He imdiately added, "Moreover, Master has never been wrong in his predictions about the future."
"Even so, this information is too hard to believe. How can we believe you?"
"Believe Master!" Yomatsuya corrected the error in the other party's words, then continued, "I cannot make you believe, but Shukaku believed it."
"That big tanuki..." The Nine-Tails murmured before falling into deep thought.
The other Tailed Beasts did the sa.
Seeing this, the Jinchuriki felt bewildered.
It was the first ti they had seen the Tailed Beasts treat a matter with such gravity. An ominous premonition arose in their hearts, as if sothing more serious than this war was about to happen.
"Hey, what's the situation now?"
Within his ntal space, B asked the Eight-Tails.
The Eight-Tails looked up at B, hesitated for a mont, then sighed. "If what that guy says is true, then this war could beco the event that accelerates the world's destruction."
"World d-destruction!?" Killer B's eyes widened.
"Not just the destruction of existing powers, but literally. By then, the seas will dry up, the land will wither, the entire planet will lose its vitality, becoming a completely dead star!"
"This, this... You're joking, right?"
"When have I ever joked with you?"
Seeing B unusually quiet because of his words, the Eight-Tails' consciousness turned back to Yomatsuya outside.
"I'll assu your words are true for now. So, what is your master's plan?"
"This..."
Just as Yomatsuya was about to answer, the sound of air whistling ca from the distance, rapidly approaching.
Without thinking, Yomatsuya clapped his hands together. "Wood Style: Wooden Locking Wall!"
Thump, thump, thump...
Wooden pillars as thick as large bowls grew from both sides, rapidly curving and closing towards the center, forming a semi-circular protective wall that shielded Yomatsuya and the Jinchuriki behind it.
The next second, eight small missile warheads landed nearby, erupting in violent explosions. Stones and soil struck the protective wall with loud slapping sounds.
After a mont, the commotion ceased.
Yomatsuya cautiously opened a small gap in the wall.
Unexpectedly, as soon as a gap opened, a massive blade as wide as an adult's palm, with sawtooth edges on both sides, thrust in.
Yomatsuya was prepared. His hands transford into wood, clapping together in an 'empty hand catches white blade' technique, clamping the sword edge. Before he could catch his breath, through the gap in the wall, he saw a blinding light shining from outside.
'Not good!'
Yomatsuya inwardly cried out, quickly retreating.
Boom!
Accompanied by a fierce explosion, a violent shockwave erupted. The protective wall was blown to pieces, wood splinters flying everywhere.
Through the hole, Yomatsuya saw the assailant… a red-haired young man wearing a black robe with red clouds.
"Nagato!"
Yomatsuya's pupils contracted sharply. Clapping his hands together, black patterns appeared around his eyes. "Sage Art: Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
"Rumble..."
As if a Buddhist guardian deity descended, a majestic body imbued with boundless power rose from the ground, throwing a massive fist towards the red-haired youth, shockwaves rolling in its wake.
Nagato's expression remained indifferent. As the fist was about to land, he raised his right hand high above his head, then forcefully pressed it towards the ground. "Summoning Technique: Outer Path Statue!"
"Roar!"
A roar that made souls tremble, as if from hell itself, echoed through the sky. A statue, taller than the Wood Human, with shackled hands, erupted from the earth. With a cry that sounded both like a wail and a roar, it raised a fist to et the attack.
Bam!
Shockwaves burst forth from the point of collision, spreading hundreds of ters before gradually dissipating.
The ground beneath the two colossal figures collapsed with a thunderous crash.
The violent collision of forces caused the entire floating island to shake violently once more, making everyone pause and look over, unsure of what had happened.
Only Ryuji's expression darkened.
Thump, thump, thump...
The Wood Human stumbled backward step by step, finally falling onto its rear.
Nagato did not pursue. Instead, he turned to look at the Jinchuriki bound by wooden vines to the side.
Instantly, dark chains shot from the Outer Path Statue's mouth, piercing into their abdons.
No, not piercing, but rging.
Although the chains entered the Jinchuriki's abdons, they did not harm them, rging like water flowing into another container of water.
"This is!?"
The Jinchuriki were shocked.
Though they hadn't fully grasped what was happening, they realized this was targeting them or the Tailed Beasts.
"Your deaths will beco the cornerstone for peace in the Shinobi World. Everyone will rember you." Nagato calmly stated, then ford a hand seal with his right hand against his chest.
"Pull!"
Imdiately, the chains rattled as they retracted. The Tailed Beasts, bound, were slowly pulled out from the Jinchuriki's bodies.
"No way I'll let you succeed!" Yomatsuya roared in fury. Under his control, the Wood Human charged towards the Outer Path Statue.
Nagato casually glanced at him. His free left hand extended, palm open. A pitch-black sphere the size of a ping-pong ball flew out.
"Chibaku Tensei!"
As Nagato uttered the technique's na, imnse gravitational force erupted.
Instantly, tree branches snapped, the earth crumbled. Countless people, rocks, and branches were pulled upwards into the sky.
Yomatsuya controlled the Wood Human to grasp him in its hand, desperately resisting the gravity. But without a solid foothold, his feet eventually left the ground, being slowly sucked upwards.
"If I can't resist, then I'll destroy it." Seeing the situation as hopeless, Yomatsuya simply gave up resistance, letting the Wood Human follow the gravity towards the black sphere. Its right fist clenched, gathering power, ready to smash it the mont they were pulled close.
But Nagato didn't care.
Seeing no one else would disturb him, he increased Chakra Injection. The chains' power surged, yanking the Tailed Beasts completely out of the Jinchuriki and swiftly pulling them towards the statue's mouth.
"Don't even think about it!"
With those words, Ryuji had already arrived beside the Outer Path Statue. His right hand transford into a claw, grabbing the already distorted Tailed Beasts.
"Senki Ryuji!"
Nagato's eyes widened fiercely. A terrifying aura erupted. An irresistible repulsive force gathered at a single point, then shot out explosively.
Ryuji chuckled lightly. His free left hand aid at the concentrated repulsive force, absorbing it into his palm.
After doing this, Ryuji looked at Nagato. "It seems you've made your decision."
"That's right!" Nagato said. "My plan might not be perfect, but compared to yours, it's much better. At least the power is in my own hands. Everyone has the capital to pursue happiness, unlike your plan, which can only place hope on the administrators being sufficiently enlightened and righteous!"
"Then there's nothing more to discuss!"
As he spoke, seven-colored patterns appeared around Ryuji's eyes, and pinprick-sized black dots appeared within his pupils.
"Co here!"
His power greatly increased upon entering Sage Mode. He began pulling the Tailed Beasts bit by bit from the Outer Path Statue's mouth.
"No way I'll let you succeed!"
Nagato charged forward fiercely. Mid-charge, he grew three heads and six arms, each holding different weapons.
"Don't bother !"
Ryuji opened his left hand towards him. Endless sand surged forth like a tidal wave, swallowing him.
Bam!
The sea of sand exploded. Nagato burst out, wielding a blade to slash. Simultaneously, a laser beam shot from another chanized arm.
Ryuji was about to counter when suddenly a figure shimring with lightning appeared beside Nagato. Seven short blades were held in various parts of his body as he spun like a top, slashing wildly.
"Give Gyuki back!"
Because of Chibaku Tensei's gravity, the vines binding them had also snapped. B was the first to erge to rescue Gyuki.
However,
He was no match for Nagato to begin with. Now, having just had his Tailed Beast extracted and his Chakra absorbed earlier by Wood Release, he was extrely weak.
If not for the bond with Gyuki fueling his resolve to save him, forcing his body to move, he would have collapsed like the other Jinchuriki.
Though he charged forward now, he only made Nagato pause for a second before being blasted away by Shinra Tensei.
But, one second was enough.
"Thank you, Killer B!"
While expressing gratitude, Ryuji completely yanked the Tailed Beasts free.
Seeing the Tailed Beasts about to completely escape his grasp and fall into Ryuji's hands, Nagato's eyes were wide with fury, but he was helpless.
Thud!
The sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh rang out. Ryuji's pulling motion halted.
He looked down blankly at the blade tip protruding from his chest, then turned his head in disbelief... A red-eyed middle-aged man with a spiky hairstyle ca into view.
— Uchiha Madara!
Madara leaned his head close to Ryuji's ear, whispering softly, "I said we'd et again."
Boom!
A violent explosion sounded from the sky; nurous rocks fell.
Likely, soone had dealt with the Chibaku Tensei.
But none of the three people present paid attention to the events above, their eyes scanning each other back and forth.
Suddenly, the chains rattled and vibrated, rapidly retracting, snatching the Tailed Beasts from Ryuji's grasp and swallowing them into the statue's belly.
Nagato had acted first.
"And yours too!"
Black Zetsu peeked out from behind Madara.
Hearing this, Nagato imdiately ford a hand seal. The Outer Path Statue spat out another chain, shooting towards Ryuji.
Clang!
The chain was, as expected, repelled.
Uchiha Madara's eyes narrowed. He twisted the blade, trying to slice Ryuji in half, but found the blade stuck inside the body, immovable.
"You..."
Madara was about to say sothing when endless yellow sand gushed forth like a tidal wave, washing him away.
Whoosh~
A gust of wind blew; the sand stopped surging.
Ryuji pulled the blade from his body, then turned nonchalantly to look at Madara, Nagato standing atop the Outer Statue's head, and Black Zetsu hiding to the side. The pierced wound healed visibly before their eyes.
"Recovery ability rivaling Hashirama's?" Madara crossed his arms over his chest, looking down arrogantly, which was particularly irritating.
But Ryuji remained very calm.
He ignored Madara completely, staring at Black Zetsu beside him. "Zetsu, you've finally shown yourself."
"Oh, you seem very eager to kill ." Zetsu's face showed curiosity.
"If not to kill you, I wouldn't have acted until now."
Zetsu's stealth ability was too strong; no known sensory ability could detect him. And he acted extrely cautiously, making it impossible to trace him.
Ryuji had considered killing him during his actions allying with various villages, but couldn't find his traces. He always received news a step too late, after Zetsu had completed etings with others.
But now it was fine.
They were tens of thousands of ters in the air, on a floating island, and he was within Ryuji's sight.
Ryuji absolutely would not let him escape again.
"Are you angry because I united the Shinobi World against you?" Zetsu said with a smile.
"No." Ryuji shook his head slightly. "Only because your actions make you a target I must eliminate."
"My actions?"
Black Zetsu was taken aback, his eyes flickering slightly.
'What exactly was this guy referring to?'
'It didn't sound like it was because I united the Shinobi World.'
"You're still as arrogant as ever." Madara said calmly. "Last ti I saw you, you were just a kid. Now you've grown up, but your nature hasn't changed at all."
"Arrogant?" Ryuji chuckled lightly. "Takes one to know one."
"Takes one to know one?"
Madara snorted disdainfully, charging down fiercely. "This isn't arrogance; it's confidence!"
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