176-180

Chapter 176: Careless Itachi, The Situation Changes Instantly 

"Summoning Jutsu!" 

The Wood Dragon approached, its presence immense, stirring up sand and stones from the ground, the wind whipping Nagato's face with a stinging chill. 

Nagato lightly clapped his hands, vanishing like a phantom. This "Summoning Jutsu" wasn't what it seemed. Perhaps it was a Puppet Jutsu instead, and that wouldn't be wrong either. 

A faint mist dispersed, the commotion was significant. But... Nagato's expression immediately changed; there was nothing there! 

Without hesitation, the surging force field erupted, spreading instantly. The Wood Dragon, the first to meet the Almighty Push (Shinra Tensei), couldn't even last a single breath before it was torn into splinters. The already crumbling cave ceiling completely disintegrated. 

Seeing this, Itachi didn't hesitate. This kind of Ninjutsu couldn't be withstood head-on; it would be disastrous. So, he desperately tried to connect with the Flying Thunder God kunai he'd left outside, his thoughts racing as he prepared to teleport. But then, he paused, stunned... 

"Thwack!" Itachi's cool pose was ruined; his "Ten Thousand Wood Dragons" technique was cut short before it could even begin. The Wood Style he was constantly preparing turned to dust as he was blasted away by the fierce repulsive force. Itachi's body was sent flying like a meteor, smashing into the flimsy cave wall, which instantly exploded outwards... 

Itachi lay on the ground, staring blankly at the sky, greedily gulping down air. However, the sky above was now covered by shimmering purple barriers, beautiful yet ominous, like a thin film stretched across. Itachi finally understood why his Flying Thunder God teleportation had failed. It was that annoying barrier array again. 

The wooden wheel's pressure on the sand and rocks made soft creaking sounds, snapping Itachi out of his daze. Itachi plunged a hand into his abdomen, quickly setting his broken ribs back into place as a faint green glow emanated from his hand. This was a healing jutsu, though not particularly potent. His body's natural regenerative abilities were already formidable. This was merely a natural reaction. Still, it would speed up the healing process, if only by a tiny bit. The gruesome blood wound on his abdomen rapidly closed, showcasing Itachi's extraordinary self-healing power. 

Of course, while his recovery looked impressive, it came with a hidden cost. It consumed an enormous amount of Chakra, far more than performing a few regular Ninjutsu. And then there was his mental energy. It also involved Yin-Yang Release Chakra, which Itachi didn't fully comprehend. 

"You've got a tough life, Itachi. To take my Almighty Push (Shinra Tensei) head-on and not die immediately..." Nagato said, seated in his wheelchair, with Konan pushing him from behind, her gaze complex. A victor's smugness was clear on Nagato's face. In a clash of masters, a single blow can be fatal, and it was obvious he now held the advantage... 

However, seeing Itachi's rapid recovery, Nagato couldn't stay seated. Such formidable regenerative power! The taunts he'd been brewing in his mind were swallowed back down, leaving him utterly annoyed. 

"Universal Pull (Bansho Ten'in)!" Nagato curved one hand slightly, and a square rock, easily twenty meters in radius, seemed to answer his call, rapidly hurtling towards him. Seeing this, Nagato curved his other hand as well, activating another pull. Itachi, still lying on the ground, became like a dandelion in the wind, pushed and pulled, soaring towards Nagato. The massive rock, carrying a powerful gust of wind, sped up like a meteor, its momentum immense. If Itachi took this hit, the battle would essentially be over. After all, Itachi was still within the realm of mortals, while Nagato was in the realm of a Sage. The gap between them was immense; one mistake could mean instant defeat. 

After the "Summoning Jutsu" failed, Nagato's Almighty Push (Shinra Tensei) caught Itachi completely off guard. Of course, this was also because he had already arranged for the Six Paths of Pain to set up the sealing barrier. Itachi, instinctively trying to teleport away, found his body stuck. Without his ability to instantly escape, he lost his greatest counter to the Almighty Push (Shinra Tensei). After all, neither his Crow Clone Jutsu nor his Substitution Jutsu could fully evade the damage from Shinra Tensei; at most, they'd only mitigate a small portion. Whether using crows or a substitute, Itachi's true body remained within that space. And Shinra Tensei was a wide-range, 360-degree attack that covered the entire area. Without the Flying Thunder God, no matter how skilled Itachi's movements were, he was bound to take a hit. This was the difference between a man and a god... 

Itachi's body, like an egg, was slammed hard by the massive rock. Konan turned her face away, unable to watch. Even if she didn't want Itachi to die, she couldn't afford to upset Nagato because of him. She wasn't the naive little girl she once was anymore... 

Through his Mangekyo Sharingan, Obito watched as Itachi's body was utterly crushed by the massive rock, blood splattering everywhere. "Is this all you amount to, Itachi...? It seems..." Obito's voice trailed off, eventually falling silent. His single eye gleamed with a somber light. 

"Is it finally over?" Nagato, his Rinnegan shimmering with purple light, gazed at Itachi, who was brutally pinned beneath the massive rock, his voice tinged with a complex emotion. Yet, his hands didn't stop. A black orb of energy was fiercely compressed into existence. The surrounding winds stirred restlessly, as if drawn by the black sphere in Nagato's hand, eager to obey. It was as if the black sphere held a fatal allure for them. And it wasn't just the wind; the scattered rubble around them also began to rise rapidly... as if lifted by invisible hands, ascending behind Nagato. 

The next second, the black sphere shot from his hand, rapidly ascending. In no time, it soared high into the sky, thousands of meters above the ground. The black sphere subtly vibrated... then space itself seemed to halt. The next moment, fragments of rock were violently pulled, rocketing towards the sky like a swarm of locusts, darkening the heavens. The black sphere rapidly grew in size, accompanied by an infinitely increasing gravitational pull. Except for where Nagato stood, the ground in all other directions quickly cracked. The solid ground, like a shattered mirror, showed countless fissures. In mere moments, it could no longer resist the fatal pull, flying towards the colossal sphere in the sky, as if to form a new planet. 

The giant rock that had been pressing down on Itachi was among them... With the rock gone, Itachi's body naturally became caught in the current, rapidly being sucked up into the sky. Nagato's Rinnegan remained fixed on Itachi, unmoving, not daring to let his guard down. As long as Itachi showed any Chakra fluctuation, he would proceed to the next step. 

"Nagato is clearly a madman," Obito thought, "and Itachi seems to have passed out. If he dies, I won't know how to get back. And if I'm stuck in this meaningless 'Warring States period,' I might lose all my trump cards and be suppressed by Nagato. I could be next..." Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan watched Itachi without blinking, a long-forgotten sense of tension building in his heart. Itachi had been thoroughly outmaneuvered, stunned by the torrent of attacks. The situation had changed so quickly that even Obito struggled to keep up. And Nagato's previous "Summoning Jutsu" failure had heavily impacted him, shattering any lingering hope he might have had. The worst part was, he had entered the fray too early. Nagato had already noticed him, and with his Rinnegan, Nagato had no true rivals in this era. By all accounts, Obito was a step behind. That's why, at this moment, he couldn't sit still. 

"Chapter 177: The Shifting Tides of Battle" 

"Should I save Itachi?" Obito's mind was a whirlwind of questions, lost in a haze of confusion. He hadn't completely fallen out with Nagato yet, but he knew where things stood. And Itachi? He was never an ally. Both of them were obstacles he had to eliminate. So, what was a guy supposed to do in a situation like this? Obito's heart was a tangled mess. 

"Looks like we're too late..." Kakashi muttered to Orochimaru, his eyes fixed on the five Paths of Pain before them. In his hand was the Hell Path, swiftly taken down in a surprise attack. Itachi had a plan, you see. After what Nagato pulled last time, Itachi was naturally wary of that sealing jutsu. That's why Kakashi and Orochimaru, who had been hidden until now, were his backup. It seemed like their timing was a little off, though. After all, Itachi couldn't know if all Six Paths of Pain would be here at this exact moment, or if Nagato had managed to find and create more. And with the shared vision of the Paths of Pain... the timing really depended on Kakashi and Orochimaru's performance. Itachi had gambled that if the Six Paths of Pain were present, they could seize the moment Nagato slipped up and end the fight in an instant. But it looked like they were one step behind. 

Itachi's thinking was that a high-power Shinra Tensei would have at least a five-second cooldown. His plan was to instantly teleport away, then use the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to come back and hit Nagato. He was betting on Nagato feeling secure with his barrier and unleashing that long-cooldown Shinra Tensei. 

"You hold them off, I'm going to save Itachi..." Orochimaru sighed, seeing Itachi being pulled into that massive ball in the sky. This mission was definitely a risk. The Six Paths of Pain's senses were just too sharp. Trying to sneak up on them for a surprise attack was never really a reliable move to begin with. 

"Oh, so that's what you were relying on, Itachi..." Nagato, seeing the formidable Kakashi and the rogue Orochimaru swiftly take down his Hell Path through their shared vision, immediately pieced together what happened. It seems Itachi understood him better than he thought. But this battle... it was already over. Because Itachi was about to be trapped by that black sphere, soon to be buried deep within it. Especially with Itachi's condition being so dire right now, even a Sage couldn't save him. 

"Nagato, stop... This fight can't end so quickly..." Just as Nagato was focused on the Chibaku Tensei in the sky, a whoosh came from behind him. Nagato turned, his eyes narrowing. Obito, without a sound, had already subdued Konan. A kunai was pressed against Konan's fair neck, drawing a trace of blood... Even as Konan's paper shuriken split and fell from her face, it was useless. He had been worried about Itachi, completely caught off guard. By the time he sensed the attack and activated his chakra, it was too late. Otherwise, these ordinary attacks wouldn't even be able to harm her. 

Obito's heart was a tangled mess of contradictions right now. Taking Itachi into his Kamui dimension and letting Itachi gather intelligence on him? No way. He'd seen Itachi's recovery abilities. It might be a good option to just take those good eyes of Itachi's out. But... he wasn't entirely confident. So Obito couldn't help himself... he hijacked Nagato's precious Konan. And after grabbing Konan, seeing Nagato's shocked expression, Obito's mind shifted again. He wondered if there was a chance... to take Nagato's Rinnegan. After all, Nagato was clearly uncontrollable now, so why not... 

With the world-destroying Rinnegan... and then collecting the Tailed Beasts... the power of the Rinnegan right now could easily wipe out a small fry like Itachi. That was Obito's feeling. He believed that if he used the Rinnegan, he could far surpass Nagato. 

"Uchiha Madara, do you know what you're doing?!" Nagato's eyes were bloodshot, his fury raging. This annoying pest, he was really pushing his luck! 

"You have two choices: either watch Konan die... or stop your jutsu..." Obito's face, hidden behind his mask, was filled with triumph. He truly was the coolest guy. But he was a villain, and he couldn't escape the villain's definition. The moment things went his way, he started spouting off. He couldn't even hold it back. 

Obito's true goal wasn't this, of course. He was just looking for Nagato's weak spot. His goal had completely changed just a moment ago. A small fry like Itachi wasn't worth saving. He wanted to take the Rinnegan and become a god himself! With the Rinnegan, and if he could also capture those two outside... he didn't believe he couldn't go back. He could accomplish more than Itachi ever could. 

Obito's words made Nagato pause. So this 'Madara' had unknowingly teamed up with Itachi... It made sense, after all, Itachi was brought into this by this 'Madara'. And when Itachi got his bloodline disease... was it also 'Madara's' doing? But if that's the case, why would Itachi try to take 'Madara's' eyes? It was all a riddle, leaving Nagato confused and unable to figure it out. Stop? Or not stop? It was a critical juncture. As long as he took out Itachi, then took out this 'Madara'... he could create a new, peaceful world. And at that point, at most, he'd just revive one more person. 

"Hehehehe..." Thinking this, Nagato smiled. "Konan, go see Yahiko first... I'll revive you both later!" Nagato's mind became incredibly clear at this thought. He was no longer the boy he once was. The old him, he didn't understand anything... He watched Yahiko with his own eyes... His hands didn't stop, his life force rapidly burned, turning into fuel and nourishment, strengthening the Chibaku Tensei's gravitational pull. 

Nagato's actions completely baffled Obito. His head was buzzing. Didn't Nagato care about Konan? What was going on here? And this Nagato, he wasn't even looking at him? How confident was he? Was he looking down on him? He had just been so spirited and the center of attention, and now, he was ignored? How could he stand this?! 

"Nagato, you're looking for death!" Obito slammed his fist into Konan's head, kicking her aside. He then charged at Nagato, who was just a few steps away. Since Nagato didn't care about Konan, killing her was pointless. Why not leave her alive and create a rift between them? If he failed, and hadn't killed her, wouldn't there still be a chance to reconcile? Honestly, Obito's mind was just brilliant. He went straight for Konan with a big punch. 

"Nagato, watch out!" Konan's weak, somewhat powerless voice called out. But Nagato, hearing Obito and Konan, didn't react at all. He just stared at his sworn enemy, Uchiha Itachi. 

But as Obito got within an arm's reach of Nagato, he suddenly understood... He had been too rash again, he still hadn't managed to stay calm. 

Chapter 178: Awakening 

Talk about being careless! Rushing at Nagato like a complete fool. He really got ahead of himself, totally spaced out... Obito thought, utterly speechless. But he didn't stop; he was fearless. A fight had broken out outside, and Nagato was busy maintaining his jutsu, unable to divide his attention. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Otherwise, his chances of taking Nagato's eyes were practically zero. 

From Konan's perspective, coughing up blood with a desperate look in her eyes, Obito's figure rapidly approached Nagato from behind. His body seemed to shimmer, becoming somewhat ethereal. Clearly, Obito was extremely wary of Nagato's ability to control force fields, ready at any moment to become intangible and dodge any fatal attacks. He was still himself, Obito, the one who relied on Kamui and Wood Style to conquer the world. Kamui always gave him an inexplicable courage and confidence. As long as he had Kamui in hand, he was a match for anyone. Of course, that was excluding tough opponents like Nagato and Itachi, whose attacks were ferocious and came with equally tricky defensive capabilities that made them incredibly difficult to break through. 

A thin membrane appeared around Nagato. It wasn't that he underestimated Obito, but the power of his Rinnegan was simply too useful... Apart from Sage Art Chakra, all powerful Ninjutsu were nothing but paper tigers in his eyes. As for Taijutsu, he hadn't yet seen anyone in the shinobi world who could genuinely threaten him. 

"What a brutal sight..." 

The modern-day, running version of Orochimaru arrived on the battlefield, his chest heaving like a bellows. All he saw was utter devastation, the ground shattered, and the nearby mountain reduced to ruins. 

"So this is Nagato? He looks so frail, almost sickly thin..." Orochimaru had never seen him, only heard of him from Itachi, and that was just recently. He scanned the area, spotting the masked man rushing towards Nagato, Konan lying on the ground coughing blood, and Nagato himself, seated in his wheelchair, his gaze fixed on the sky. 

"Nagato!" Orochimaru took in the scene and, without hesitation, grabbed his Kusanagi Sword, extending it directly, attempting to disrupt Nagato's technique. The immense sphere in the sky, with its terrifying suction, was horrifying. It was incredibly difficult even for him to resist that pull with his Chakra. He felt a faint sense of regret, regretting that he had been so narrow-minded, so shortsighted, delaying his own pursuit of strength. Now that Itachi was in danger, what he could do was extremely limited... 

Nagato paid no mind to Orochimaru's arrival or Obito's sneak attack; he simply ignored them... At his level, how many people could truly catch his eye? 

"You must succeed, Itachi... Just peacefully accept the ending I've chosen for you... Don't struggle anymore..." Nagato murmured, his expression complex. Without realizing it, he had reached this point. He used to think Itachi had great potential, that after his death, Itachi could be a companion to Konan and Yahiko... He just never expected things to come to this... 

But he also felt a slight relief. His power was still intact now. If Itachi had changed his mind after Nagato's death, wouldn't Konan and Yahiko be in danger? That would be true helplessness. But even if Itachi wasn't his enemy, could he truly trust someone like Itachi? 

"Clink!" 

A ripple appeared on the thin membrane in front of Nagato, then it undulated like water. After that, it returned to its calm state, completely unchanged... Although he had known this internally, Nagato still let out a sigh of relief when he saw it. He certainly didn't want any mistakes at this moment. If something went wrong now, with the Six Paths of Pain already incomplete, and if Itachi got a chance to catch his breath, there would be no way he could kill Itachi. 

Obito looked at the membrane, a wave of powerlessness washing over him... He had used his Wood Style just now, but it was useless... His hopes were high, but reality was harsh; he couldn't get close. He couldn't unleash a massive burst of energy to tear through that membrane instantly. He had researched Nagato's Ninjutsu. Techniques applied slowly had no effect; only by releasing the absolute maximum amount of energy the membrane could withstand in an instant could one tear it open. In the past, when he saw Nagato, or rather Pain, use this ability, he simply thought the enemies were too weak. He believed that if it were him, it would be no problem at all. After all, it was just a thin membrane, a paper tiger that could be easily pierced. But now... he couldn't even budge it. This was utterly ridiculous... 

Orochimaru watched as both of their attacks merely caused a slight ripple on the membrane, then the disturbance vanished without further effect, and his heart sank. The disparity in power instantly became clear in his mind. At this moment, only one technique came to mind that might be worth trying... the Reaper Death Seal (Shiki Fujin)... That was a jutsu that could decide everything, a jutsu of mutual destruction, a jutsu with infinite possibilities... Of course, against someone like Nagato, the success rate would be incredibly low. But it might just be enough to shake Nagato, and with a bit of luck, perhaps even stop him... 

But alas... he had only copied the Reaper Death Seal scroll; he had never thoroughly examined or researched it... After all, when he stole the scrolls back then, he wanted to research immortality Ninjutsu... Why would he research a mutual destruction technique? That would be like an old man trying to hang himself. If it weren't for the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei), he might have studied the Reaper Death Seal for inspiration. But with Edo Tensei, the Reaper Death Seal was merely a record, a somewhat interesting jutsu. A technique he planned to give his subordinates so they could be of maximum use. However, he wasn't confident he could withstand that jutsu himself, which was why he had hesitated to research it or have his subordinates learn it... His knowledge of the Reaper Death Seal was limited to its basic description; he wasn't entirely clear on its specifics. Minato seemed to have used this technique back then, but he had never seen it himself. 

"Bang!" 

The colossal rock on Itachi's body finally slammed into the massive sphere, letting out an enormous crash. Immediately after, Itachi, who was beneath the rock, violently collided with it. 

"Thwack!" 

Itachi coughed up blood, which instantly splattered across his face, drawn by the gravity to impact him. Itachi's fingers twitched slightly, and the long lashes of his tightly closed eyes trembled. The next instant, eyes like stars broke the seal of his eyelids. But in a flash, that clear gaze vanished, his pupils reflecting the dense, massive rocks and earth hurtling towards him, making his head buzz as he understood his dire situation. 

"You're awake, huh... but it's already too late... My eyes see that your light is fading, like a lamp running out of oil..." Nagato's cold voice rang out, and he increased his power even further... The gravity intensified again... 

Chapter 179: Nagato 

Itachi stirred slightly, feeling an overwhelming exhaustion. It was like his body was crushed under ten thousand pounds of rock, every movement a painful struggle. His physical condition was terrible, as if he'd been flattened, his insides riddled with shattered bones, causing him agonizing pain. His chakra reserves were greatly diminished, and his head throbbed intensely. This meant his body had been automatically repairing itself many times while he was unconscious... which was why he hadn't kicked the bucket yet. 

Itachi saw the enormous ground fragments getting closer and calmly assessed the situation. He expanded his sensory perception, thinking that Kakashi and the others should have made their move by now. It was understandable if they hadn't acted before, since they hadn't sensed anything, but with all this commotion now, if they were still doing nothing, they were truly useless. What a waste of his efforts for them... 

--- 

But as he released his sensory perception, a sharp pain shot through his brain, like a nail being instantly driven into his skull. Itachi couldn't help but let out a muffled groan. This kind of pain, striking deep into his soul, caught him off guard, and Itachi almost passed out again. It was just too damn much! After the pain subsided slightly, Itachi felt a pang of panic. The serene look on his face vanished, replaced by a contorted grimace of despair, pain, and unwillingness. If he couldn't use the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, this battle was already lost... There was no doubt about it... even Itachi himself thought so. 

--- 

The massive rocks drew nearer. Itachi pushed aside the complicated emotions in his mind. At this moment, he needed to be calm. In this situation, only calmness could lead to a method of self-preservation; otherwise, it would only hasten his demise. 

"Itachi, how are you?! Get out of there! You'll be buried!" Hearing Nagato's words, Orochimaru shouted urgently, his voice filled with worry. Orochimaru saw an even larger mass of earth and rock being rapidly pulled and flying towards Itachi. Under such gravity and impact, a normal Jonin, even a Kage-level strongman, would be crippled with a single hit. 

"Heh..." Hearing Orochimaru's frantic tone, Nagato chuckled. He suddenly realized he didn't really know Orochimaru at all. He had always thought Orochimaru was indifferent to everything, but this was the first time he'd seen such a change in Orochimaru's expression and tone. 

--- 

Obito sensed Nagato's dismissive attitude, which irritated him immensely. Although he no longer craved the spotlight as much as before, being ignored like this really stung. He felt like a mayfly trying to shake a tree. Without realizing it, he had gone from being the one playing the game to being a mere pawn. And the kind of pawn for whom everything was an uphill battle. These youngsters, their power shocked him; it truly was a single misstep that leads to eternal regret. He regretted his weakness, he regretted not being steady enough. 

--- 

One by one, wooden stakes appeared behind him, incredibly sharp and immensely heavy. These were wooden stakes as hard as steel, and they were continuously accumulating. But the next second, he calmed down. He stopped this act of frustrated rage born from being outmaneuvered, and his body turned into nothingness. The wooden stakes that had gathered in the air began to fall... and dissolve. He realized his mindset was unstable, and he was being led by the nose by these youngsters. He had also been a bit overconfident, always thinking of gaining absolute power in an instant. His power wasn't weak to begin with, and Kamui was incredibly convenient. He could easily kill ordinary skilled ninja, but true masters, he couldn't budge. He could only rely on his wits. 

--- 

Suppressing her pain and injuries, Konan floated in mid-air, her face pale, her beautiful eyes holding a hint of unwillingness. That annoying guy had disappeared again. It truly infuriated her that he dared to hit her face! That's right, Obito had sensed Konan recovering her fighting ability and preparing to ambush him, and he finally understood. He suppressed his impatience and returned to the shadows. His mindset had elevated; when he reappeared next, perhaps he would be able to accomplish something. Even the younger generation was so strong now; he also had to strive to become stronger. 

--- 

Kakashi, currently fighting three Paths of Pain, froze. His Mangekyo Sharingan spun rapidly. "Come in. Weren't you looking for me?" A voice spoke from behind him just as Kakashi was about to retaliate. This voice stunned Kakashi. Even though the world had changed and the voice had aged, it was still unmistakably familiar, a voice Obito had not altered again. He silently stepped into the vortex that appeared before him, without the slightest hesitation. Because it was Obito... he couldn't refuse. 

--- 

The Paths of Pain watched their formidable opponent vanish, standing still in bewilderment. Then, they glanced at the three crippled Paths of Pain, saying nothing. 

"The annoying rats have left the stage, one by one... Itachi, it seems no one can protect you today," Nagato suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with emotion. Itachi seemed to have been abandoned; those who were just fighting desperately for him had given up on him. Seeing such a formidable opponent, someone he respected, in this situation, his mood was far from pleasant. Indeed, when disaster strikes, everyone fends for themselves. This world had long become sick. No one would protect anyone forever, no one would stay by anyone's side forever. Just now, he himself had been prepared to abandon Konan. He had unknowingly become one of those people, hadn't he? The dragon-slaying youth, in the end, became the evil dragon. 

--- 

If he were to fall into such a predicament, who would stay by his side? Perhaps only Konan, whom he had just prepared to abandon, and Yahiko, who was already dead. Nagato felt a sense of hollowness, a black mist of confusion engulfing his heart. The unwavering resolve within him developed several cracks. Suddenly, a feeling of drawing his sword and looking around in bewilderment washed over him. If the path he had always chosen was wrong, then what was the point of all his persistence? If it was a mistake from the very beginning, then what was he? For years, he had felt an invisible hand pushing him in this direction, making him feel a sense of oppression. But his surging power also told him that he was the god of this world, and he should make this world experience the cycle of pain, so they would never dare to start wars again. 

However, he had made countless enemies. When he died, could Konan and Yahiko truly escape the backlash he left behind? Could peace truly last forever? To contemplate such questions during a battle, when his mind was active and calm, was truly terrifying to consider in detail. At some point, peace had become his obsession, and he had long lost his true self. 

--- 

Looking back on his life, it truly was a terrible one. 

Chapter 180: Orochimaru's Calamity 

Watching Itachi about to be swallowed by the earth, Nagato's eyes showed a flicker of bewilderment and loss. Memories of Itachi surfaced in his mind, as if reviewing Itachi's entire life. He saw that Itachi had awakened, and the spatial barrier was gone, yet Itachi hadn't used his Flying Thunder God to escape. Nagato realized Itachi was in even worse shape than he appeared. 

Konan's paper wings fluttered continuously behind her, keeping her suspended in mid-air. Like Nagato, her gaze was fixed, blankly watching the huge chunks of earth and scattered debris hurtling rapidly towards Itachi. This man, perhaps, was truly going to die. She had seen Itachi appear on the verge of death before, too... It was quite something how she seemed to be present both times Itachi faced near-fatal situations... This man, not yet eighteen, had already achieved such immense feats. In Konan's eyes, that was a tremendous honor. 

"Itachi!" Orochimaru roared. 

Snakes constantly erupted from his sleeves, but their speed was, well, disappointing, and they were utterly useless, like trying to put out a bonfire with a teacup. 

"Bang!" 

The shattered ground slammed heavily into the spherical mass high in the sky, creating a tremendous roar and tremor... 

"Too late... Orochimaru. I recognize you as a genius. I'll give you a choice: survival or death..." The massive sphere in the sky continued to shrink. Nagato's gaze slowly returned, fixing on Orochimaru in the distance. His eyes were even colder, the shimmering purple light more sinister, and the oppressive aura around him grew thicker. Having dealt with Itachi, the one who had shaken his unwavering resolve, his path to invincibility felt even stronger. He, Nagato... was invincible... 

Konan suppressed the sorrow in her eyes and quietly landed behind Nagato's wheelchair, gently gripping the handles. Even if she didn't want Itachi to die, what could she do...? She was powerless... She couldn't change Itachi's or Nagato's minds, couldn't stop them from hating each other. This battle was destined to have only one survivor... 

"Heh heh... Nagato, Nagato, still just a greenhorn..." Orochimaru, seeing the dust settle high in the air, and the celestial body rapidly ascending, drawing more shattered earth to expand itself, calmly turned his head after hearing Nagato's words. His golden, slitted eyes gazed coldly at Nagato. If he survived this, Nagato... heh. He would make Nagato pay... and wish he were dead. Nagato had just been placed on Orochimaru's hit list, the kind that required no expense spared. 

"Your eyes are as annoying as ever. This world is just like this. The weak should find a strong one to cling to. I see potential in you; join me." Nagato suppressed his displeasure and spoke coldly. The chill in his heart intensified. He had figured out many key points, understanding Orochimaru's potential. After all, Orochimaru was a researcher, and with some intel, and seeing Itachi and Kakashi grow so strong around him, it was a secret that, with a little thought, could be understood. Though it sounded like science fiction, it was the truth... Absolutely... 

Orochimaru's response to Nagato was a look of disdain and a sneer. This somewhat hurt Nagato's sensitive and fragile heart; he hated that kind of look. Just as Nagato was about to speak again... Orochimaru moved. From his mouth and hands, dense swarms of snakes crawled out, rushing towards Nagato... Seeing this, Nagato subtly shook his head. He didn't understand what was so special about Itachi that made Orochimaru so stubbornly devoted. It took great courage for the weak to draw their sword against the strong... And Orochimaru's courage was indeed commendable... But his power couldn't be simply summarized as "strong"... He could easily kill regular Kage-level ninja, or even these seasoned S-rank rogue ninja. 

The snake swarm raged, and explosions rang out. This irritated Nagato. After all, if anyone could just... move against a god, how could the rules of this world be established? So... such disobedient citizens were cuter dead... People with extraordinary talent, if they couldn't be used, then they should be destroyed... Nagato's thoughts solidified. He slowly raised his hand... 

"Almighty Push (Shinra Tensei)!" 

After Nagato shouted, surging Chakra erupted. Centered on him and Konan, a powerful repulsive force surged outwards, impacting the exploding snake swarm and Orochimaru, who was performing Ninjutsu. The surrounding earth shook violently, as if hit by a magnitude ten earthquake. The precarious mountain behind them finally collapsed... A few stubborn Amaterasu flames that were still burning finally extinguished. After all, without a continuous supply of Chakra, though these flames fed on everything, they couldn't generate enough energy to grow themselves. 

"Your actual strength isn't that impressive, but your ability to escape is decent... To take a Shinra Tensei from me and come out unscathed?" Nagato's Rinnegan narrowed slightly as he looked at Orochimaru, who was preparing to flee, remarking with a hint of admiration. "However, can you keep escaping? The fate of a traitor is death... It's time to clean house..." 

Nagato, his Rinnegan shimmering with purple light, spoke to himself as he watched Orochimaru slip away through the dust. Apart from Konan, no one could hear him. As Nagato finished speaking, Orochimaru, running frantically through the swirling dust, flew backward with a look of shock, rapidly hurtling towards Nagato... Nagato watched this scene without a ripple of emotion. A black receiver solidified in his hand. He hadn't paid much attention to how Orochimaru had evaded his attack without harm just now. But... there wouldn wouldn't be a second time. The black receiver in his hand was specifically designed to counter these flashy tricks... As long as this black... sharp, smooth... rod... was inserted into the enemy's body, their entire Chakra system would be instantly suppressed. It was far more potent than the Gentle Fist's Tenketsu strike. If the enemy was formidable... then he'd just insert a few more. 

"Splat..." 

A soft sound. Orochimaru's body was pierced through. Then Nagato casually threw him to the ground. 

"Too bad... it missed... Well then, prepare to endure pain once more... Consider this your punishment for being a traitor..." Seeing that he hadn't killed Orochimaru, having been slightly off target just now, Nagato spoke calmly. After dealing with Itachi, that troublesome individual, he felt no pressure anymore... 

Nagato condensed another black receiver in his hand, not even looking at Orochimaru. With an unwavering motion, he thrust it again. It pierced through Orochimaru's palm. "Aren't you confused as to why you can't mold Chakra anymore?" Nagato spoke as another black receiver appeared in his hand, stabbing into Orochimaru's other palm. His tone was icy, the high stance of a victor plainly evident. 

"I won't tell you..." Nagato continued speaking to himself... A black receiver was plunged into Orochimaru's thigh, firmly pinning him to the ground like a porcupine... Nagato's foot, with nowhere else to settle, stomped down on Orochimaru's dignified head... fiercely grinding Orochimaru's pain-distorted yet stubbornly suppressed face into the dirt. Orochimaru remained silent, enduring it without a single groan.