146-150

Chapter 146: Heroes Gather 

"Still no sign of Kakashi?" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched as the people he sent to find Kakashi returned after more than half a year, yet Kakashi remained untraceable, which he found quite unbelievable. 

"Reporting, Lord Hokage, I've looked into Lord Kakashi's movements. I only heard that Lord Kakashi met with Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade, and then there was no further news…" 

A Hidden Anbu member reported the situation calmly, with three parts information and seven parts speculation. 

As for the truth, did it really matter? 

Wasn't it much better to spend half a year traveling under the guise of a mission? 

"Alright, you're dismissed." 

Looking at his respectful subordinate, who hadn't gone wild after half a year of wandering, Hiruzen stroked his beard and said softly. 

He was quite satisfied, but Kakashi's disappearance without a single clue still bothered him. 

In his opinion, Kakashi, as Minato's disciple, and Minato being Jiraiya's disciple, was a truly "pure-blooded" shinobi. Although he had some flaws, he was still more trustworthy than other labor. Kakashi's results had also been excellent. 

--- 

### Konoha's Next Generation 

In Konoha, Konohamaru was with his two friends, Udon and Moegi, on their way to pick up Sasuke from school. He was mainly trying to gather information because his older brother Sasuke hadn't been coming home after school lately, off doing who-knows-what. 

Konohamaru was almost seven now, four years younger than Naruto and Sasuke. Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that the school's teaching resources were a bit lacking, so Konohamaru spent most of his time at home, tutored by elite ninja. 

Konohamaru didn't like his cheap teacher. He thought the teacher was only good at talking nonsense and was otherwise completely useless. He even felt his older brother, Sasuke, was more capable. 

Since he could remember, he would often run after Sasuke whenever Sasuke finished school. He'd seen Sasuke practicing ninjutsu, and every time, the jutsu he performed was incredibly powerful. 

--- 

"What?! That happened? Full speed ahead!" 

Konohamaru, acting like a little adult, gave orders, signaling Udon, who was acting as a scout, to rejoin the group. 

The trio marched bravely, like a small squad, quickly moving toward the battlefield. 

"Just let it go, Naruto." 

As more and more people gathered to watch, Sasuke, standing not too far from the battlefield, felt more eyes on him and became uncomfortable. 

In the past, he might have enjoyed such a show-off moment, being the center of attention. 

But now, he felt nothing inside—indifferent and bored. 

"Huh?" 

Naruto, who was scanning the surroundings to check the results of his "killing a chicken to warn the monkeys" tactic, hesitated and looked confused when he heard Sasuke. 

He felt great right now. He loved this feeling. 

Especially the eyes of the bystanders. Compared to the cold, knife-like stares from before, their eyes now were filled with surprise, confusion, doubt, fear, and even terror. 

--- 

"Alright." 

Naruto seemed to notice the increasing crowd and, seeing Sasuke's displeasure, answered softly. 

Hearing Naruto's words and sensing the hidden, hesitant presences in the shadows, Sasuke scoffed, finding it all rather meaningless. 

This school was getting more and more boring, utterly tasteless. 

"So this is your strength?" 

In the shadows, Shikamaru's eyes gleamed with a different kind of light. He seemed to understand why Naruto had ignored Iruka last time. 

He was currently wondering where Naruto's strength came from. 

Back then, he was clearly just a loser whose shuriken relied on brute force and whose Three Basic Jutsu were terrible. 

How long had it been for him to grow to this extent? 

Shikamaru, who had already learned an inherited secret jutsu and had been somewhat proud, now felt a surge of tension. 

--- 

The Deserted Land of Wind

In the Land of Wind, amidst an ancient ruin, four colossal pillars stood upright. Intricate patterns were carved into the stone columns, making them look quite extraordinary. 

It was clear that it was once a prosperous city, thriving for a time, only to vanish for an era… 

"Where is the Dragon Vein?" 

Itachi surveyed the area, finding nothing particularly special, and then asked Orochimaru. 

Kakashi stood with his arms crossed, his right hand gripping a short sword, like a guard ready to act at any moment. 

"The Dragon Vein is underground. Minato's Flying Thunder God sealing formula is within a barrier, a protective measure left by the Land of Uzushio to guard the technique." 

Hearing Itachi, Orochimaru explained softly. 

Itachi understood then why Orochimaru had taken so long to find this thing—the barrier must have been well-hidden. 

It made perfect sense. 

--- 

### The Akatsuki's Presence 

"Leader, they've arrived." 

In a nearby cave, the Six Paths of Pain stood emotionless. The voice belonged to Zetsu, who had emerged from underground. 

They had arrived half a day earlier than Itachi and the others. Because Pain understood Itachi's strength, they had concealed their chakra and even set up some tricks, so Itachi and his team hadn't detected their presence. 

Another reason was that Itachi hadn't expected Pain to bother him at this time, or to know they would come here. 

So, he subconsciously overlooked it. 

"Continue to investigate." 

Pain waved his hand and said faintly. 

He wasn't here to snatch resources from Itachi, but just to cause some trouble and prevent Itachi from gaining any benefits. 

He dared not let Itachi cause more trouble. He was afraid that if he let it continue, the next time they met, he might be flattened by Itachi. 

Not only were the Six Paths of Pain here, but Nagato's main body and Konan were also hidden nearby. 

After all, if the Six Paths of Pain were far from the main body, chakra transmission would be relatively slow when they lacked chakra. When they were close, the process was very smooth. 

The black rods in the bodies of the Six Paths of Pain were like signal receivers. 

--- 

"Understood." 

Seeing Pain's impatient attitude and the presence of several Pains who usually didn't appear, Zetsu felt a bit annoyed, but he still hid his emotions and replied softly. 

He acted like a lackey, with Pain as his leader. 

Who could know the helplessness in his heart? Neither of the two brats were cute. One acted like a lord all day, and the other considered himself a god, like a lunatic. 

Yes, very annoying. 

He finished serving this lord, and then there was another lord to serve. 

That other brat was even more difficult and deep. 

As Zetsu's figure gradually disappeared into the ground, Pain's eyes flickered slightly. 

"Has Uchiha Madara arrived? Tell him to come over. Let's discuss how to deal with Uchiha Itachi, after all, Uchiha Itachi was brought in by him." 

Pain spoke calmly, also preparing to investigate what Uchiha Madara did last time and why Itachi disappeared. 

If it wasn't serious, it would be good to recruit Itachi back. 

Of course, it was likely to be a stalemate, so learning more would help in discussions. 

Who could say what these things meant? 

Pain thought of many things, including the object in Itachi's giant's hand, which was no ordinary item. 

--- 

"Uchiha Madara hasn't come…" 

Zetsu's figure paused. He didn't know what Nagato was up to. 

After thinking about it, he pretended not to know anything. 

When the two weren't together, he could play both sides… cough, play both ends against the middle… 

If the two were to get together, and started arguing or fighting, it would be very troublesome. 

Especially now that both of them seemed a bit irritable, which worried him endlessly. 

When things were going smoothly, these things weren't obvious, but once they were in an unfavorable, passive situation, they'd start disliking each other. 

Especially since Nagato also had the Rinnegan. 

That brat Obito might even instigate internal strife and try to seize the eyes first… 

And if Obito took the Rinnegan, there was a high chance he would come after him, since he was ostensibly the will left behind by Madara. 

If he acted first, no one would complete his mission, which was very annoying. 

So he needed to control this delicate balance. 

--- 

"He hasn't come…" 

Pain looked deeply at Zetsu, muttering softly, his eyes slightly vacant. The aura around him became more condensed, as if he might act at any second. 

Damn it, wasn't calling him here just for the two of them to compete? Now that he was here, Uchiha Madara was playing so deep. What the hell was he doing? 

These two were getting more and more out of hand. Were they testing Nagato's patience? 

Or did they think they were invaluable, and Nagato couldn't do without them? 

"Yes, Uchiha Madara had some temporary business and might arrive later." 

Nagato's sudden strange tone made Zetsu's heart skip a beat. He answered sincerely. 

At the same time, he admonished himself that these people were just pawns. Just bear with it a little longer, a little longer. He also felt that he needed to find Itachi without delay, as these two were becoming increasingly unreliable. 

The plan hadn't even begun, and they were already on the verge of infighting. 

--- 

"Oh, you continue to observe Itachi's movements then." 

Seeing that Zetsu's attitude had improved and he showed some reverence, Pain said calmly. 

He cared about these things, but also not really. 

However, if Zetsu, as a member of the Akatsuki, had no reverence for him, what good was he? 

Although Zetsu was good at gathering intelligence, the locations of the Tailed Beasts had already been mostly found, so Zetsu's usefulness was no longer as great. 

And a useless Zetsu, possessing intelligence-gathering abilities that drew his attention, combined with an attitude that displeased him and the potential for betrayal at any time, what was the point of keeping him? 

--- 

"Yes, Leader…" 

Hearing Pain relent, Zetsu, though greatly displeased, could only use the respectful title. 

Pain remained expressionless at Zetsu's superficial flattery, showing no intention to speak or any change in his eyes. 

He was now pondering the principle behind Zetsu's jutsu and how to counter it. 

Although Zetsu and Madara had been working together in the past, he hadn't paid too much attention, as they were partners. 

Now that the atmosphere between the two was becoming more hostile, he needed to figure out how to deal with these tricky abilities. 

Unbeknownst to him, Nagato's inner thoughts had changed considerably. In the past, he would never have considered these things, always believing his strength was unrivaled, that he was the only god in this world. 

Whether this was good or bad, everything had indeed become a bit bewildering. 

--- 

### Obito's Worries 

"Have you found Nagato's location?" 

In another cave, Obito sat on a stone step, sensing Zetsu's presence in the cave. 

So, he made no movement and asked calmly. 

"No, I haven't." 

Hearing Obito, Zetsu said exasperatedly. 

Every day, it was just infighting. Why didn't he go confront Itachi, who was so powerful? It seemed like Obito was focused on Nagato, and Nagato, not seeing Uchiha Madara (who was Obito), seemed unwilling to make a move, which was incredibly illogical. 

"Nagato came out with Konan. If you look carefully, you should find something. I have a bad feeling about this. If the situation gets bad, I need to get the Rinnegan immediately, otherwise, things could go terribly wrong." 

Seeming to sense Black Zetsu's unfriendly tone, Obito explained calmly. 

He actually felt a bit uncertain, but if they messed with Itachi's plans, it would likely be a fight to the death. 

And Itachi had something that made him wary: Minato Namikaze's fleeting Flying Thunder God. 

This made his Kamui feel a bit less reliable. 

Plus, Itachi's strength had already become incredibly terrifying. 

--- 

"Alright, I'll go look again." 

Obito's words slightly surprised Zetsu. 

This was the first time he'd felt such emotion from Obito. Had this guy also realized the seriousness of the problem? 

Zetsu looked deeply at Obito. 

He thought that if Obito could always be this reliable and stick to the plan, he would undoubtedly be a pretty good person. 

Unfortunately, this brat didn't seem likely to be reliable. 

Under Obito's gaze, Zetsu gravely disappeared from the spot. 

A moment later, he reappeared on a small path outside, strolling leisurely. 

He had no intention of investigating Itachi, nor of finding Nagato's main body. 

He simply looked like he was fishing in troubled waters. 

In truth, he was slightly curious about Itachi's actions this time. 

After all, he was a curious individual. The reason his knowledge was so profound was because he slowly learned and explored. 

He was more interested in knowing if this Dragon Vein was a native power or a power left behind by his mother. 

And if it was a native power of the ninja world, could this power be used on the Gedo Mazo? 

If it was a power left by his mother, then after reviving his mother, it would undoubtedly greatly enhance her strength. 

Black Zetsu actually had his own conjectures. 

The Dragon Vein was likely a native power of the ninja world. If it were his mother's power, his two cheap brothers wouldn't ignore it. 

--- 

Having inherited Otsutsuki Kaguya's Yin-Yang Release, he could already vaguely sense the surging, boundless energy in the shadows, hidden beneath the surface of the world. 

This power had been brewing in the land for countless years, vast and immeasurable, incredibly immense. 

If this energy could be collected and used, it would be terrifying. 

This was also why he was so curious about Itachi's actions. After all, he couldn't handle it himself. 

Chapter 147: Nagato's Decisive Move 

"Ah, this is nice and cool..." 

Itachi and the others stepped into the Rōran ruins. Led by Orochimaru, they found themselves in an underground passage. Compared to the scorching heat and sandstorms outside, this passage was a refreshing haven, incredibly comfortable. Itachi swept a hand, and the thick spiderwebs clinging to the passage walls instantly fell to the ground. 

"Heh heh, the seasons are just a part of nature's power. We ninja, we've already largely overcome nature's intimidation. It's the poor souls living out in this desert who truly suffer." Orochimaru watched the spider, now fallen to the ground, seemingly sensing their presence. It looked a bit uneasy, its long legs flattening as if trying to shrink away and hide. It certainly looked a lot smaller. 

Not far off on the ground, a desert ant's tiny antennae twitched left and right like a miniature radar. It seemed to have pinpointed the spider's location, pondering whether to swap out its dinner plans for the night, or perhaps call for some reinforcements to share this rare delicacy. 

"This place looks like it hasn't seen visitors in ages," Orochimaru mused softly a moment later, watching the ant and spider's little standoff. 

Listening to their casual banter, almost like powerful lords surveying their domain, Kakashi subtly weaved a hand sign behind them. At this point, he'd carved out an entirely new path for himself. Before, he had to meticulously control his chakra and carefully weave hand signs to maintain his stamina. Now, with chakra flowing abundantly and his mastery over jutsu sharpened, he could effortlessly flick out a couple of signs. Then, with precise control over his vast chakra, he could unleash his ninjutsu with explosive force, making it even more potent than before. It was like a long-held seal had finally been broken. 

A powerful Wind Release jutsu erupted from Kakashi's mouth. It started subtly, then unleashed a howling gust, sweeping away dust and small creatures like mere mayflies into the distance. 

"Kakashi, your Wind Release has gotten quite impressive." Orochimaru, always a bit of a clean freak, saw Kakashi clear away the grime with Wind Release without being prompted and offered a rare compliment. He thought to himself, 'Huh, never noticed before, but this kid's actually not so bad.' 

Orochimaru's words made Kakashi, who'd been keenly listening, feel a bit odd, but after a moment's consideration, he decided not to respond. Right now, his mind was drifting back to the past. He'd been there when Lord Minato sealed the Ryūmyaku, a mere background character, his strength... well, let's just say it was pretty sad back then. And besides, they hadn't even taken this specific path. At the time, he couldn't sense any of the hidden mysteries. But now, standing here again, feeling this immense, surging energy, his heart was filled with awe at the sheer might of nature. 

"Alright, let's move. Itachi just took a quick read, and the entire passage mapped itself into his mind like a blueprint. After a brief scan, he's already found the connection to that unfamiliar Flying Thunder God mark—the true path is clear." Having pinpointed their objective, Itachi didn't want to waste another moment. He stepped to the front and spoke. 

"Heh heh, yes, let's go, let's go! After searching for the Ryūmyaku for so long, it's finally time to see its true face!" Orochimaru, who was about to say something else, saw Itachi glide past him, his mind already set on the Ryūmyaku. He spoke with a newfound interest. If Itachi hadn't urged him, he felt he could have spent more time examining the murals on the passage walls. Indeed, as the trio delved deeper, the walls became adorned with more curious totems and strange murals. 

"Very impressive." 

As they ventured further, towering pillars stood all around, supporting this vast underground chamber. What greeted their eyes was a narrow, straight pathway leading to a large circular platform in the center. Four stone statues encircled this grand platform. Itachi stared at the countless, tadpole-like jutsu formulas and the Flying Thunder God kunai plunged into the center of the four stone figures, a slight headache beginning to form. He remembered that after that "Centipede" absorbed the Flying Thunder God jutsu, the Ryūmyaku's long-sealed energy instantly engulfed this underground palace, spiraling upwards in a colossal column. 

"Let's go, let's take a closer look." Since the passage was narrow, when Itachi stopped, Orochimaru and Kakashi naturally halted behind him. Orochimaru, eyes gleaming with curiosity, looked around and commented. Kakashi, however, found his gaze drawn to the kunai in the center, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. 

At Orochimaru's words, Itachi slowly advanced, his perception spreading wide. His Mangekyo Sharingan calmly began to spin. He hadn't mastered this particular Flying Thunder God jutsu, but he intended to observe and record it. That way, if the Ryūmyaku were to go berserk again, he could reseal it himself. Seeing Itachi engrossed, the other two moved quietly, looking and touching, making no sound, as if afraid to disturb Itachi's deep concentration. 

"Leader, they've been inside the passage for about half an hour now..." Outside the passage, Zetsu's form slowly materialized. The Six Paths of Pain appeared, one by one, behind him. Zetsu, seeing the Six Paths gathered, softly explained. 

"Has Madara arrived?" Purple light shimmered in Pain's Rinnegan. He didn't look at Zetsu, but instead gazed at an empty spot, his voice flat. He had already pinpointed Itachi's location. Of course, this was through his sensory abilities, not because his eyes could simply see through solid objects. 

"Leader-sama, Madara hasn't shown up yet..." Zetsu watched Pain's immediate inquiry about Madara, feeling a jab of irritation. 'Does Pain just not know how to play unless Madara's around?' At this moment, he even found himself thinking that if Obito could just gouge out Nagato's Rinnegan, that might actually be a decent outcome... As things stood, Obito almost seemed more reliable than Nagato... 

"Oh..." Pain's voice held no emotion in response to Zetsu. At the same time, his body slowly began to float as if pulled by an unseen force, his feet gradually leaving the ground. Faster and faster he ascended. Soon, Pain's Deva Path soared free from the earth, rising into the sky. The Deva Path's eyes were cold and filled with a strange pity. At this very moment, his confidence in victory had reached ninety percent. He'd initially felt only a fifty percent chance, but after using his Rinnegan and sensory skills to lock onto Itachi's position, he realized Itachi was standing as if on the mouth of an erupting volcano, directly above a surging, colossal energy source. If he moved fast enough, there was a high probability that Itachi could be utterly obliterated by the combined energy impact of his technique and this 'grave' Itachi had chosen for himself. 

So, once airborne, he didn't hesitate. His chakra exploded, with no intention of trying to 'reason' with Itachi. After all, Itachi would certainly sense his chakra surge, so it would simply be a race of speed... As the Deva Path moved, the other five Paths also vanished from their spots. Soon, a colossal barrier of light rose into the sky. This was a sealing array Nagato had developed, designed to block spatial ninjutsu to a great extent. Whether it could truly lock down space—well, this was its first trial run... Its very first clinical test... 

As the four-sided light barrier ascended, the Deva Path molded a black sphere in his hand. Without a moment's hesitation, the black sphere shot from his grasp, soaring towards the sky above Itachi's underground location. In an instant, wind raged and thunder roared... The earth itself, summoned by the black sphere in the sky, suddenly lost its gravitational stability. The ground shook violently, splitting apart, and was drawn towards the black sphere in mid-air... The initially small black sphere, fueled by the earth it absorbed, rapidly expanded. Soon, the land directly above Itachi and the others was ripped into the sky, as if by a superhuman demolition crew, ending the 'battle' below in an instant. All at once, the pressure was squarely on Itachi. 

When the Deva Path's chakra flared, the three underground instantly knew. Itachi, however, seemed to have it all figured out. Kakashi's dead-fish eyes, on the other hand, were slightly unfocused. This chakra fluctuation was incredibly potent, subtly even a hair stronger than his own. Alarm bells blared in his mind. He hadn't imagined such a being existed in the ninja world, and his instincts screamed warnings. His body already felt the crushing weight of this threat. 

Compared to the stunned Kakashi, Orochimaru gazed at the ceiling of the underground palace, then turned his eyes to Itachi. "Is that Pain?" Orochimaru asked softly. But a moment later, his expression shifted drastically, for after that initial burst of super-strong chakra, five more powerful presences and chakra signatures erupted, almost as formidable as the first. 

"Pain is here, but it seems all Six Paths have arrived. I didn't expect Nagato to choose this moment to confront me..." Itachi spoke calmly, observing the slightly unsettled Orochimaru. Before his words even finished, loose debris began to rain down from the underground palace ceiling. Then, the entire roof was ripped open and sucked into the sky, accompanied by an incredibly powerful gravitational pull. This suction instantly yanked the three off the ground. The force was far beyond Itachi's expectations; for a moment, he felt a flicker of panic. 

Just as Itachi's feet left the ground and he was being pulled straight upwards, streaks of blood-red and silver chakra erupted from his body. In the next instant, a towering red and silver giant, nearly one hundred and fifty meters tall, manifested. This was the third stage of Susano'o, but due to Itachi's overwhelming chakra, its form was exceptionally massive. After all, its size was directly tied to Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan power and his chakra reserves. 

"So big..." A giant tree erupted beside Kakashi, coiling around his and Orochimaru's waists. Just as it prepared to wrap around Itachi, he noticed Itachi's sheer size... Itachi's eyes, a swirling mix of silver and red, spun endlessly as he stared deeply at the black sphere in the sky. Then, hearing Kakashi's soft murmur, he shook his head with a touch of helplessness. Susano'o's colossal wings gave a slight flap, and the scattered debris that had been soaring upwards instantly froze, suspended in mid-air. It was as if Susano'o's wings had momentarily severed the very fabric of space-time. In reality, Itachi's sudden movement was simply too immense, subtly interrupting the powerful gravitational pull for a mere instant. 

Before the suspended debris could even think of falling, it began to rise again, its speed increasing by several notches. Even the very earth beneath Susano'o's feet was subtly being pulled into the air. From the shadows, Nagato, observing through his shared visual field, saw that Itachi hadn't escaped, which likely meant his sealing array was working, filling him with satisfaction. Furthermore, the chakra the Deva Path was unleashing this time was simply colossal compared to his last use. Although his face was terribly pale, almost devoid of blood, he was still quite pleased with the technique's destructive power. 

"Can't find him... This Nagato sure knows how to hide..." As the Six Paths of Pain launched their attack, Obito subtly emerged from the shadows, activating his Mangekyo Sharingan and scanning his surroundings. Then he grumbled, utterly helpless. However, compared to the Rinnegan, his Mangekyo Sharingan was simply too low-tier to penetrate the effortless illusionary barriers Pain's Rinnegan could put up. He couldn't see through them at all. This was a true 'dimensionality reduction' attack. What's more, Nagato didn't exactly trust Obito much right now, so Obito had no way of tracking this defensive move. Nagato himself possessed the Uzumaki clan's bloodline, and he'd developed his abilities to an incredibly high degree. Plus, when Madara transplanted the Rinnegan into him, he subtly enhanced Nagato's physique, ensuring he had plenty of resources. Add to that the power Madara left within the Rinnegan itself. Before Itachi appeared, before Naruto matured, Nagato calling himself a god wasn't too far-fetched. After all, even the "Lesser Hanzo" dared to call himself a demi-god... 

"Nagato..." Konan whispered softly, watching Nagato's increasingly pale complexion. She didn't know who Nagato was fighting right now; she only knew that after this, it would be another immense strain on Nagato's body. It all stemmed from when Nagato's legs were injured, and he awakened the Rinnegan. Nagato was too young then; his chakra simply couldn't sustain the Rinnegan's immense consumption. So, he had always been malnourished, sometimes even trading his very life force for immense power, like making a dark pact with a devil. 

All of this, perhaps even Madara hadn't truly foreseen. While he didn't want Nagato to become too strong, he certainly hadn't expected Nagato to become so frail... 

"Now, feel the pain..." In mid-air, Pain's Deva Path gazed at the increasingly massive Chibaku Tensei, which was now beyond his control, and murmured. His profound Rinnegan, shimmering with purple light, slowly shifted its gaze to Itachi below. At this moment, Itachi's expression was utterly calm. Susano'o's wings had already secured Kakashi and Orochimaru, and the flow of chakra brought their bodies to his position. In his hand, a colossal Yasaka Magatama spun rapidly. He realized that compared to the original timeline, the moment for Itachi to decisively hurl the Yasaka Magatama at the Chibaku Tensei's core was already past. But he had no intention of stopping. His own strength had, without him even fully realizing it, far surpassed that of the original Itachi's... Even if his tactical mind on the battlefield wasn't as sharp as his past self, his powerful, explosive strength was more than enough to make up for any shortcomings. 

In the sky, a small planet, with a radius of over a thousand meters, had formed. The gravitational pull grew stronger and stronger, making even the 100-meter-plus Susano'o seem incredibly tiny in comparison to this sphere. The Yasaka Magatama in Susano'o's hand spun faster and faster, its rotation stirring the surrounding air, creating sonic booms and flashes of sparks as it ignited the air. Susano'o's hand slowly began to rise. The Yasaka Magatama rested obediently in Susano'o's palm, like a simple stress-relief toy. 

"Itachi, wait a second..." Just as Itachi was about to launch the Yasaka Magatama in his hand... Orochimaru's voice cut through the air, filled with alarm... 

"Wha—" Just as Itachi's Susano'o's gigantic hand paused, and Itachi turned his head towards Orochimaru beside him... A blinding white light erupted, like a flashbang... Upon closer inspection, various small colors flickered continuously within it. 

Chapter 148: A Dream Back to the Warring States Period, Uchiha Izuna 

Itachi was just thinking how beautiful that light pillar was when Susano'o was instantly torn apart by an unending surge of energy. That’s when he realized they were in deep trouble... 

The light pillar rapidly expanded, stretching further and further. The Chibaku Tensei, which had looked like a small planet in the sky, was instantly obliterated. Compared to the Ryūmyaku's power, which had been accumulating for countless years, that "seal" was incredibly fragile. This was the true depth of the legendary infinite energy. 

Itachi felt himself being hurled through the air, completely disoriented and uncomfortable. But he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay conscious. He grabbed Orochimaru with one hand and Kakashi with the other. He had a bad feeling about this—he’d messed up big time... That Nagato, he didn't play fair. He just attacked without any warning, and Itachi wasn't even ready. Usually, he'd use the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade Pain's attacks. But his Flying Thunder God wasn't strong enough to take others with him. Of course, he also figured there wasn't too much danger here; he knew that if things went south, they'd likely be pulled into the Ryūmyaku and sent through time. 

After extending several thousand meters, the light pillar eerily began to contract. A moment later, all that remained was a wasteland of destruction, pitted and scarred, as if nothing had happened at all. 

Who knows if it was minutes or tens of minutes later, but Zetsu's form slowly emerged from the ground. 

"That Ryūmyaku is terrifying! It actually exploded. I wonder if that incredibly powerful energy blast managed to finish off that kid..." Zetsu's vision still hadn't returned; all he could see was white. His senses were dulled, too. If he hadn't escaped by tunneling far, far away, even he might have been swallowed by that massive light pillar. 

"Wait, swallowed?" Zetsu's expression suddenly turned to horror... because he could finally make out his surroundings... The Six Paths of Pain were gone... 

"Damn it! Did Nagato and Obito... What the hell is going on?! If they're gone, how are we supposed to carry out the plan?!" Zetsu was furious. After uttering a few words, his voice became a low growl. Then, casting aside all attempts at subtlety, he unleashed his perception frantically, scanning the area. He was searching for Obito and Nagato. 

Searching for Itachi, who was at the epicenter of the explosion, would be less reliable than finding the other two. Zetsu had fled quickly, so he didn't know if that light pillar was an explosion, a diffusion, or a reaction from an energy release. At this moment, he felt a profound sense of loss, his emotions incredibly complicated, like he'd seriously miscalculated... 

Itachi, in a daze, felt like he was swimming in a river... The scenery around him shifted endlessly, incredibly fast. But the changing images consistently stayed within that same space... At some point, human figures gradually began to appear around him... These blurry scenes were like watching a fast-forwarded or rewound video, moving at an insane speed... 

Finally, Itachi completely lost consciousness... 

When he next awoke, he found himself in a desolate wasteland, utterly alone... All the pillars and structures he remembered were gone... 

"There was some commotion over here just now. Check carefully! Could it be those old sneaky Senju trying to flank us for a surprise attack?" A chorus of voices and footsteps drew nearer and nearer... 

Itachi's expression was blank, his eyes unfocused. He couldn't quite grasp what had happened. Why was it that when Naruto traveled through time, there were bustling crowds and even princesses...? When he time-traveled, all he got was a barren wasteland and a bunch of rowdy guys. Itachi didn't move, just lay flat on the ground, quietly staring at the sky... 

"Second Young Master, it looks like a man, lying in a crater. Could it be a trap? Should a subordinate use a few Great Fireball Jutsu to crisp him up?" A rough voice, its tone softening slightly with deference, as if speaking to someone important. 

"Hey." Itachi remained motionless, staring blankly at the sky. A moment later, a clear, handsome face appeared before him... And he greeted Itachi with a playful "Hey." 

"Sasuke?" The person who appeared before him made Itachi's eyes narrow slightly, then he mumbled, half-delirious, "Sasuke?" For a moment, he wondered if he was dreaming. Shouldn't Sasuke still be much younger? Had he traveled into the future? 

"Insolent!" 

"Enough, hold your tongue..." The burly man beside the youth who resembled Sasuke roared at Itachi's words. The youth gently waved his hand, signaling for the burly man to be quiet... 

"You've got the wrong person. I'm not Sasuke. My name is Izuna, Uchiha Izuna. I'm... one of those Uchiha you despise..." As the burly man stepped aside, the youth seemed pleased, a faint smile playing on his lips, but as he spoke, it turned a bit bitter... Yet, even with the bitterness and a hint of sadness, he didn't try to hide it, speaking it openly. He looked at Itachi, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if they had known each other forever, though he didn't know why... 

"Izuna, Uchiha Izuna... Huh? This joke is a bit much, isn't it?" Hearing the youth's words, Itachi snapped back to reality. 'Did I just get sent straight back to the Warring States Period?! This is insane! What the hell is going on...?' Itachi first mumbled in shock, then said with a bitter laugh. This wasn't at all what he'd imagined; what kind of ridiculous situation was this...? 

"Hmm?" Itachi's expression turned strange, making Izuna pause slightly. He didn't understand why this person seemed so sad. He couldn't grasp why. All he did was state his name, and this person... 

While Izuna was still pondering the questions in his mind, Itachi had, at some point, gotten to his feet. Itachi gazed at Izuna, clad in plate armor and resembling Sasuke, lost in thought... 

"Izuna, how old are you...?" As if remembering Sasuke, Itachi seemed to be speaking to Izuna himself... 

"How dare you! Address the Second Young Master by his given name!" Before Izuna could reply, the burly man beside him drew his sword a few inches and roared. 

"I'm not telling you..." Seeing Itachi's earnest gaze and profound emotion, Izuna was momentarily speechless... He waved his hand, signaling his subordinate not to act rashly, then spoke with a playful tone... His tone was much like how he spoke to his older brother. As for why he acted this way, perhaps even Izuna himself didn't know. 

"My foolish little brother..." Izuna's playful words caused Itachi, who was still a bit disoriented, to cross his index and middle fingers. He instinctively tapped Izuna's forehead, muttering something nonsensical... Itachi, snapping fully awake, already anticipated the burly man beside Izuna shouting again. At the same time, a sense of utter absurdity washed over him. Izuna simply looked too much like Sasuke, which had completely flustered him. With his mind still hazy, he'd unconsciously started treating Izuna as Sasuke. 

Chapter 149: Special Chapter, Wandering Warring States Period 

Unlike what Itachi expected, the big man seemed stunned, completely frozen, and didn't use his "golden voice" at all. 

Izuna was bewildered by Itachi's action, freezing in place as if in a daze. 

He was the second young master of the top clan, the Uchiha! Someone actually dared to flick his forehead… 

A moment later, Izuna instantly exploded, roaring, "Kill him! Kill him for me!" 

He was like a bullied child, his youthful mindset completely exposed. 

Just a moment ago, he had seemed gentle and refined. Now, it was as if Itachi had poked a sleeping tiger, turning him into a furious kitten. 

Itachi's Conundrum 

Itachi looked at the "second pillar" (Sasuke's lookalike) in front of him, feeling a mix of emotions. This… 

Logically, people from the Warring States period shouldn't be this childish and irritable. 

So Itachi wondered, "Did I accidentally hurt this kid Izuna's tender young heart…?" 

Thinking this, Itachi suddenly paused. 

He realized that Izuna's angry shout was to kill him alone… 

So, where were Orochimaru and Kakashi, who should have been by his side…? 

Compared to the dazed Itachi and the enraged Izuna, the Uchiha clan members rushed forward, each with their three or two tomoe Sharingan activated, looking incredibly cool. 

Just as the Uchiha clan members approached, Itachi flashed to Izuna's side. 

"Kid, tell your people to get busy and help me find two individuals." 

Itachi's finger playfully poked Izuna's forehead again, like a sharp sword. 

"This…" 

Itachi's words slightly startled the enraged Izuna. 

"Did I just get taken hostage?" Izuna grumbled inwardly. When did the ninja world get someone so fast? Even his guards didn't react, which was ridiculous. 

Could this young man be a Kage-level master? Thinking this, Izuna suddenly felt his anger quickly dissipate, which was incredibly strange. 

Seeing that he had subdued Izuna, and the Uchiha stopped their attack, Itachi felt a wave of satisfaction. 

If he had to knock them all out himself, wouldn't he be the one exhausted? 

Moreover, he vaguely recalled seeing the Six Paths of Pain also getting sucked in by a pillar of light… 

Itachi wondered strangely if the Six Paths of Pain could still be used without Nagato's control. 

What he didn't know was that not only the Six Paths of Pain, but also Nagato and Konan, and even Obito, had arrived on this grand stage of the Warring States period. 

Thanks to Itachi's butterfly effect, this Warring States period was destined to be a chaotic battlefield of demons. 

"Go help him find them." 

Sensing the surging and immense chakra between Itachi's two fingers, Izuna said calmly. 

He was no longer exasperated. Itachi could easily control him in front of so many skilled individuals without any pressure; being flicked on the forehead by such an existence was nothing to complain about. 

Seeing Izuna's cooperativeness, Itachi briefly explained Kakashi and Orochimaru's appearances, then found a tree, leaned against it, and sat down. Izuna squatted nearby, with two Uchiha clan members watching them eagerly from a distance. 

They wanted to move against Itachi and rescue Izuna, but Izuna saw the gap in their strength and told them to keep their distance. 

"How old is Madara?" 

Itachi watched Izuna listlessly drawing on the ground with a stick and asked softly. 

Hearing Itachi, Izuna looked up, then said nothing. He swallowed whatever he was about to say. 

Itachi paused slightly, stroked Izuna's hair, and gazed intently at the face that remarkably resembled Sasuke. 

"Am I very much like the Sasuke you mentioned?" 

Seeming to sense something, Izuna asked calmly, his eyes filled with curiosity, with no intention of avoiding the question. 

"Yes, you can't say very much alike, only remarkably similar…" Itachi thought for a moment and explained casually. 

"When I woke up, I think I heard you were going to ambush the Senju clan. What's the situation now?" 

The air became a little quiet. Itachi didn't know how to be a good older brother, so he practiced with Izuna, as if talking to Sasuke. 

Otherwise, with Itachi's laziness, he'd probably be too lazy to talk and would drift off again. 

He hoped that the next time he met Sasuke, he wouldn't knock Sasuke out and seal his memories because he was awkward and didn't know what to say. 

"Sorry, this is a clan secret. I can't tell you." 

Hearing the curiosity in Itachi's tone, Izuna apologized. 

No matter how thoughtless he was, he couldn't tell clan secrets to someone he had just met. 

"Alright." Hearing Izuna's words, Itachi didn't insist on asking further. 

"Where are you from? And why did you and your companions get separated?" 

Sensing Itachi's slight gloom, and remembering that he was still the fish on the chopping board, Izuna proactively asked, trying to build rapport. 

Although he hadn't seen any malice from Itachi yet, one shouldn't judge a person entirely by instinct or impulsive judgment. 

"That's a long story. I don't want to talk about it…" 

Izuna's question made Itachi want to answer. 

But after organizing his words for a long time, he still felt there was something wrong, so he was just too lazy to say it. 

Kakashi and Orochimaru's Predicament 

"Kakashi, where's Itachi?" 

While Itachi and Izuna were chatting, in a cave, Orochimaru slowly woke up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Kakashi tending to a fire, appearing to have been awake for quite a while. 

"I don't know either. When I woke up, I only found you unconscious next to me. This place felt very strange, so I brought you to this cave to wait for you to wake up. Then we can go look together." 

Seeing Orochimaru ask about Itachi as soon as he opened his eyes, Kakashi replied helplessly. 

What could he do? He was quite helpless too. 

"So we got separated…" Orochimaru muttered after hearing Kakashi. 

He didn't understand what was going on. He only remembered a vast light, and then he passed out. 

"Yes, we got separated, and the place we're in is very strange. It doesn't seem like we're in the same place anymore." 

Kakashi said softly, recalling everything he saw while carrying Orochimaru to find the cave. 

Although it was still a desert, this desert felt somehow different. 

He couldn't quite put his finger on it. 

"We're not in the Land of Wind anymore? Then where are we?" 

Orochimaru instinctively asked after hearing Kakashi. 

"That enemy was too strong. Without Itachi, I didn't dare to use my sensory abilities, fearing that such an existence would discover me and cause trouble for Itachi…" 

Kakashi honestly stated his concerns and thoughts. 

Kakashi's words made Orochimaru understand their current predicament. 

Meaning, sensory abilities couldn't be used; they could only rely on their eyesight. 

Kakashi's words also reminded him of Pain's appearance. 

He hadn't expected Pain's strength to be so immense. 

He felt a cold sweat on his back, feeling as if he had been walking on a path of swords and fire all his life. 

Chapter 150: Special Chapter – Warring States Period 

"So, what do we do now?" Kakashi asked, giving Orochimaru the courtesy of taking the lead as Orochimaru pondered their situation. 

"Let's wait it out. We'll head out and try to keep a low profile." Seeing Kakashi being so sensible, Orochimaru felt a surge of appreciation. 'Kakashi, he's a good man to have around.' 

After a while, the two left the cave and walked through the desert, choosing a direction and slowly making their way. About half an hour later, they spotted a small village. 

"Did you hear? In the Land of Fire, the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan are at it again! Who knows how far this fight will spread or how long it'll last..." Two old men were playing shogi under a tree, one with white hair and whiskers speaking first. 

"News travels that far out here?" The old man opposite him, his chess partner, looked worried. 

"It's no secret. When those two big clans make a move, it's like thunder rolling across the land; they make quite the impression." The old man dismissed his friend's worries. Living in the Warring States Period, this meat grinder of an era, you lived one day at a time. What was the point of worrying so much? What good would it do? 

"So, what's the reason for their fight this time?" the slightly younger old man asked his companion. 

"They say a rare ore deposit was found near the border between our Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. And our Land of Wind's Daimyō hired the Senju clan for help. Once the Senju step in, the Uchiha clan, heh heh..." The old man chuckled as he spoke. 

Everyone knew the Senju and Uchiha clans had been feuding since ancient times. The big battles virtually never stopped. They'd been fighting for thousands of years, and neither side's foundation had crumbled. Whenever an opportunity arose, the two clans would surely go on a killing spree, like some kind of twisted ritual. 

These days, the major clans were basically like mercenaries, hired for money. If one side hired the Senju, the other would almost certainly hire the Uchiha. It was an unspoken rule, born from a history soaked in blood and tears... Some thought hiring the Senju or Uchiha was a bad idea, so they hired other clans to do the dirty work. But then that clan would be utterly crushed by the Senju, and the hiring lord's own territory would be wiped out by the Uchiha, their wealth plundered as payment to launch another attack on the Senju... And even the Senju, who prided themselves on their "love," would completely lose their minds when facing the Uchiha. 

The two, who were about to enter the village to find something to eat, froze, their next steps suspended as they overheard the old men's casual chat. 'What the hell?! Senju clan, Uchiha clan?! Isn't this the Warring States Period from decades ago?! What kind of nonsense is this...?' 

"This could be trouble... The battlefield is right on our Land of Wind's border..." After hearing the old man, his companion looked with concern at the few sparse trees, the small path paved with rubble, the yellowish sand hanging in the air, and the roofs covered in grit... Though it seemed a harsh, desolate environment, it was still their home. If they left here, they truly didn't know where else they could go. Plus, all the able-bodied men from their village had been conscripted into the war. If these old men and their families left, and their children somehow returned, they wouldn't find their home. 

Kakashi and Orochimaru exchanged a look. "Could this be a genjutsu?" Kakashi whispered a moment later, sounding unsure. His head still felt a bit fuzzy, and if it was a genjutsu, everything would make sense. But if they'd actually traveled to the Warring States Period, that would be absurd! How would they ever get back? It was just ridiculous. 

"Perhaps I understand what Itachi meant by 'strange' now..." Orochimaru shook his head at Kakashi's words, then spoke with a peculiar tone. Even with a heart as strong as his, he felt a profound sense of bewilderment. 'Is this supposed to be a pleasant surprise? This is a nightmare!' This involved time itself; it was utterly beyond belief. 

Orochimaru's words left Kakashi in silence. He didn't want to talk anymore; he was exhausted. He stared blankly at the sky... That was his only hope... But then, his eyes lit up, shining with a golden glow. He thought, 'If I could survive from the Warring States period back to the present, that would be amazing...' Then he'd have a chance to save Rin, to shatter that boulder... Kakashi's thoughts raced, and his eyes suddenly became vibrant. In an instant, his mood shifted from despair to a carefree resolve. 

Meanwhile, elsewhere... 

Obito awoke and paced around a few times, finally muttering a frustrated curse. But he understood what had happened. He never thought such a fantastical thing could happen to him. Then he suddenly remembered that Kakashi seemed to be in this time period too... He instantly felt a wave of despondency. To be thrown back decades in time like this—who could accept that right away? All he wanted to know now was how to get back. He felt a desire to find Itachi, or see if Zetsu had come along. First, they needed to figure out how to return. Facing something like this, his mind just wasn't quite up to the task... Obito's heart was filled with melancholy... His usually active mind suddenly felt dull and uninspired... The Warring States Period... The era of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama... 

At that thought, Obito's eyes suddenly gleamed... 'What if... what if... I could kill Uchiha Madara in this era...?' Then Madara wouldn't be able to use him, wouldn't create his personal tragedy... Then Rin wouldn't die, right...? And he wouldn't turn into this... In that instant, Obito's long-dead heart actually began to stir with anticipation... It was as if he'd discovered another possibility. If Rin hadn't died, he just wanted to be a lazy bum, helping old ladies cross the street... Living a simple, peaceful life... Although it was different from his naive dream of becoming Hokage, it was still his original pure intention... Swirling vortexes twisted space. Obito's expression flickered between dark and light. He was going to kill Uchiha Madara, who hadn't yet become the "Devil of the Shinobi World," in his cradle... That was his goal! 

"The Warring States Period, huh..." Nagato sat in a chair, Konan quietly pushing him from behind. Before them stood the Six Paths of Pain, and a dead soldier. This soldier had been captured, and through a peculiar secret jutsu, Nagato had searched his memories, leading to his conclusion. 

"The Warring States? How can this be?" Konan gasped, covering her mouth in surprise, her eyes wide with panic. She never expected such a situation. 

"Nothing is impossible," Nagato said calmly in response to Konan. His Rinnegan, glowing with purple light, gazed deeply at the sky. Compared to the astonished Konan, Nagato's ability to accept the situation was far greater. 

"Have we come to the past?" Nagato's composure affected Konan. She suppressed her panic; with Nagato by her side, what did she have to fear? 

"Perhaps it's the future, or perhaps time and space were warped, and we've landed in another world entirely," Nagato said casually to Konan. What he said wasn't unfounded speculation. For someone who could create small planets, resurrect the dead, and wield various other incredible abilities, his capacity to accept such situations was quite high. 

"Other than Yahiko, do you have any regrets?" As Konan fell silent, Nagato's mind became active... 'If this truly is the past, perhaps I can achieve many things...' He could prevent everyone from suffering so much... eliminate the power disparities between nations. Stop those who ignited wars everywhere. His strength might even be enough to unite the Warring States period, combined with his foresight regarding the Tailed Beasts' power. He could gather all the Tailed Beasts in this era, achieving his ultimate goal in one swift stroke! Nagato's mind conjured all sorts of impossible maneuvers, things he wouldn't have dared to dream of before, seemingly outlandish ideas... But in this place, the possibility of achieving them was very strong... 

Hearing Nagato's words, Konan remained silent, her face simply reflecting sorrow, pity, and bitterness. 

"Perhaps we can change everything, prevent our tragedy from ever happening again..." Nagato continued, not waiting for Konan's response. His voice held a strange excitement, like a fanatical scientist, or a performance artist... As Nagato spoke, he unleashed his perception. His sensory abilities were incredibly powerful, instantly reaching over a hundred kilometers away, immense in scope. He wanted to seek out the 'stars' of this era: Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama. He wanted to see the true level of these two men. After all, they were considered gods of the shinobi world, gods acknowledged by the entire shinobi world... He wanted to see the difference in power... 

"This chakra signature...?" In the cave, a dark shadow let out a raspy sound. He stared intently in the direction of Nagato's chakra. This chakra signature felt peculiar. Part of it strongly resembled his "cheap brother's" chakra, while the other bloodline felt very faint. At this moment, he didn't quite understand what was happening. He was still assessing the current reincarnations of Indra and Asura, hoping to find some potential. Over thousands of years, he had seen too many reincarnations of Asura and Indra. Each time, they had left him utterly disappointed. He hoped this time would bring a pleasant surprise, allowing him to finally rescue his mother... Indeed, this was none other than the main character, Otsutsuki Kaguya herself... However, this was Kaguya from this period, not someone who had traveled back from the future. 

"Nagato made it too?" On a tree branch, Obito's figure gradually appeared; he, too, had sensed Nagato's chakra. After a moment of silent thought on the branch, he cast all caution aside. Right now, all he wanted was to kill Uchiha Madara and change the future. He didn't care what the future became; he just wanted to kill Madara. Even if he knew killing Madara might cause many changes in the future, he didn't care. He was going to kill him... He was in a peculiar state of mind right now... Which was: 'I don't care... I don't care... I'm going to do it anyway...' 

"What is Nagato planning?" Itachi gazed at the sky. He had already released Izuna. Now he was alone here. He was puzzled by Nagato's intentions, utterly bewildered. After pondering for a while and failing to grasp Nagato's thoughts, Itachi gave up trying to figure it out. Instead, he started thinking about how to get back. Since he'd accidentally landed in the Warring States Period, he figured he might as well do something interesting... Itachi's thoughts were quite practical. 

"Right, I should go see Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara," Itachi mused, stroking his chin and lightly tapping his palm, making a soft sound. "I wonder what they were like when they were kids? Would they cry if I gave them a good beating...?" Itachi thought of Izuna's age, letting his mind wander. In his past life, when he watched the anime, he'd call Madara "Madara-sama" with admiration. Even as a villain, Madara was incredibly impressive, with his radiating aura of dominance, his unparalleled strength, his constant mention of "Hashirama," and being the only one Madara ever truly lost to as a child. The man who could be fooled by Hashirama pretending to commit suicide with a kunai. Sometimes he was incredibly clever and calm, but other times he was truly foolish. Fooled by Hashirama... fooled by Black Zetsu. If possible, he also wanted to observe how Madara acted as an older brother... Then, when he got back, he could practice on Sasuke... learning seriously. 

"Madara, Izuna left two hours ago. It's time for us to apply direct pressure to the Senju clan." Uchiha Tajima quietly spoke to Uchiha Madara beside him. As Madara grew older, Tajima needed to teach him strategies, so he could eventually entrust the Uchiha clan to Madara's hands. He hoped that the two brothers would complement each other and strengthen the Uchiha clan. As for wiping out the Senju clan in his own generation, he no longer held much hope. He could only cultivate excellent successors, to ensure a brighter future for the Uchiha clan. Perhaps in Madara's generation, they could finally crush the Senju clan and dominate the shinobi world...