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461-465

Added 2025-05-22 17:33:39 +0000 UTC

Chapter 461: The Battle of the Heaven and Earth Bridge!

[Attention! Young Nagato (Transcended Form) is attempting to defeat you and prove his own will!]

A sudden notification flashed before his eyes. Shinji took a deep breath.

At this moment—

"The current me..."

"Even if I kill you here, I can still carry your will forward and help Yahiko realize his dream!"

"To bring peace to this world!"

Standing atop the Heaven and Earth Bridge, Nagato suddenly raised both hands, aimed at Shinji, and shouted coldly:

"Universal Pull!"

In an instant, a gravitational point formed between them.

A massive gravitational force distorted the air, and from the bridge’s foundation, hundreds of red steel support beams were violently ripped free. Like a cascading waterfall, they shot toward the gravitational point in a crushing barrage.

Within this field, Shinji instantly felt his body being pulled by an immensely strong force, as if he would be hurled into the oncoming steel beams at any moment.

However, his feet remained firmly planted on the bridge, as if welded to the ground. He didn't move an inch, yet beneath him, the bridge's surface began to crack like a spiderweb.

Then—

"Almighty Push!"

Since Universal Pull failed to move Shinji, who possessed the Eternal Sage Form’s power in his normal state, Nagato immediately followed up with Almighty Push, which carried a repelling force.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The hundreds of sharp steel beams, which had been gathered in front of Nagato, were propelled forward by the repelling force, shooting toward Shinji like a torrential downpour!

Caught between the rapidly shifting forces of attraction and repulsion, even Shinji’s extraordinary speed was momentarily restricted, preventing him from countering effectively. He had no choice but to take the attack head-on!

"Smart move!"

Shinji's gaze sharpened, and he couldn't help but admire Nagato's tactics.

This maneuver was somewhat reminiscent of how Edo Tensei Nagato fought against Edo Itachi, Naruto, and Killer Bee in the original story. However, with Nagato personally executing it now, the technique had clearly advanced to a higher level—more refined and formidable!

But—

Faced with the incoming steel rain and the overwhelming repelling force, Shinji remained still.

Silently, he closed and reopened his eyes.

His pupils turned crimson, and flames engulfed his entire body!

The skeletal structure of Susanoo suddenly materialized around him, and from within it, a massive flaming hand extended outward.

Despite the immense repelling force, it swung forward as if unaffected.

Creak—!!

The Susanoo’s giant hand firmly grasped the incoming steel beams, crushing and distorting them with a sharp, grating screech of metal.

Then, with a powerful flick, he hurled them back!

The massive "senbon rain" reversed course, blanketing the area where Nagato stood!

If this had been Edo Tensei Nagato from the original story, he would have been forced to counter with another ability to avoid being hit.

But—

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The steel barrage pierced through the bridge and plunged into the river below, sending waves several meters high into the air. Yet, it failed to hit its target.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

"Lightning Style: Falling Thunder!"

At that moment, Nagato’s cold voice rang out from above!

Two massive fireballs, propelled by repelling force, shot down at terrifying speeds!

Immediately after, hundreds of thick lightning bolts rained down, covering every inch of Shinji’s landing zone!

Shinji’s eyes widened as he saw this eerily familiar scene.

Damn it, Young Nagato!

This was exactly the same unrelenting combo Young Nagato used in the Naruto mobile game!

As he observed the battlefield, he realized that the version of Nagato he was facing was completely different from the original, where Universal Pull and Almighty Push had a five-second cooldown.

This Nagato was using them as if they had no cooldown at all, constantly shifting the environment’s gravitational conditions.

Shinji’s expression grew serious. Without hesitation, he pressed his hands together and layered his defenses.

The skeletal Susanoo expanded, growing into its fully armored form with 26 vertebrae.

Inside Susanoo’s protection, he activated Lightning Chakra Mode, Half-Tailed Beast Cloak, Earth Style: Earth Spear, and Sage Mark II.

However—

The two repelling force-enhanced Great Fireballs struck his incomplete Susanoo.

The first one cracked it.

The second one shattered it completely!

Before the rain of lightning bolts could even reach Shinji’s strongest Lightning Armor,

"Wind Style: Wind Cutter Barrage!"

Dozens of razor-sharp wind orbs rained down first!

They aimed to cut through Lightning Style before it could block them—then follow up with Lightning Style to break through Shinji’s Earth Style: Earth Spear defense.

A single Wind Cutter strike could only create ripples in the Lightning Armor due to its sheer power.

But when dozens of them stacked together, their destructive force became undeniable!

This was the most troublesome aspect of Nagato. Having mastered all five chakra natures, he could use the perfect elemental counter to break through any defense.

In terms of pure ninjutsu prowess, he was practically a mini "God of Shinobi," Hiruzen Sarutobi!

And he wasn’t done yet.

Still hovering in the sky, Nagato’s eyes gleamed with a deadly light.

Two extra left arms suddenly sprouted, grabbing onto two extra right arms that emerged from his armpits.

With a sudden pull—

Click!

The arms detached, revealing a mass of mechanical wires and full-metal cannons beneath!

"Asura Path: Asura Attack!"

The mechanical tendrils and Shura Blades shot forward under the influence of Almighty Push, aiming to bind and slice through Shinji!

Meanwhile, the chakra cannon on his right wrist began charging, its power rapidly increasing. A blinding blue energy sphere locked onto Shinji’s right chest!

Seeing this, an intense sense of danger surged within Shinji.

He had a bad feeling—his Sage Mark II’s Snake Scale Guard and the Half-Tailed Beast Cloak wouldn't be able to withstand this blast!

At this moment, his situation was eerily similar to Killer Bee’s during the battle against Edo Nagato.

Without an external ally to interfere, this cannon blast could leave him severely injured!

This attack could pierce through his "Uchiha Flame Formation," which served as the outer defense for his Sage Heart!

And if the Sage Heart was destroyed—

…Well, actually, nothing much would happen.

After all, Shinji had two hearts.

The Sage Heart in his left chest had long since been replaced by the far superior Scorching Flame Heart in his right chest.

The new heart retained all the Sage Heart’s abilities while surpassing it in growth potential.

However—

The next moment, Nagato’s expression shifted slightly.

It was as if he had noticed something.

His aim suddenly changed.

He redirected the cannon’s trajectory—toward Shinji’s right chest!

At that instant, Shinji’s sense of crisis exploded!

He suddenly recalled—Nagato’s covered eye was a high-purity Byakugan!

He could see inside his body.

He could see that the Scorching Flame Heart was the true threat!

Chapter 462: Battle of the Heaven and Earth Bridge! (Part 2)

At this moment,

The entire Heaven and Earth Bridge bent and flipped from the center. Countless steel beams that once supported the structure now formed an inverted "U" shape. The wooden planks of the bridge shattered with a loud crash, continuously falling and plunging into the wide river below.

The remaining half of the broken bridge tilted further downward.

The combined forces of gravity, repulsion, and inertia pulled on Shinji, making it nearly impossible for him to use even the most basic chakra adhesion to stay on the bridge's surface. Left with no other option, he could only fall helplessly.

His defenses were on the verge of being breached!

Above him, in the sky, Nagato's right arm was already charged with a brilliant blue Shura Light Cannon.

At this moment, his gaze was cold and sharp, his face as if coated with a layer of frost. He locked onto Shinji, who was struggling to stay on the bridge by digging his heels into the surface, but still couldn't stop himself from sliding. A cruel smirk appeared at the corner of Nagato's lips.

"As expected, under this kind of force, even you can't unleash that terrifying speed from the Yunming City battle!"

"Meanwhile, I can achieve mobility far beyond yours in this environment!"

At first, he had used the Deva Path to restrain him, followed by a coordinated attack with all five elemental releases and the Asura Path. On the surface, it seemed like he was aiming to break through Shinji's defenses, but in reality, his true intention was to keep him locked down!

It was all to buy time for the Byakugan to pinpoint and lock onto Shinji’s greatest weakness.

And after that—came the final, decisive killing blow!

With this thought in mind, Nagato's brow furrowed, his cold eyes locked onto his target. His main body extended its left hand toward Shinji.

His first right hand also opened its fingers wide toward him.

Meanwhile, the second right hand, charged with a chakra energy cannon, aimed toward the ominous sky behind him.

From the third right hand, several razor-sharp Shura Blades connected by mechanical wires extended outward.

The next moment—

"Banshō Ten'in!" (Universal Pull!)

"Ningendō: Soul Extraction!" (Human Path: Soul Removal!)

"Shuradō: Shura Cannon!" (Asura Path: Asura Cannon!)

"Shuradō: Shura Strike!" (Asura Path: Asura Attack!)

A tremor erupted from the ground as an immense gravitational force exploded from Nagato, forcing Shinji to once again adjust his movements. He could no longer rely on his heels to resist the repulsion force. Instead, he stomped through the wooden planks of the bridge, hooking his toes onto the steel beams beneath that had yet to collapse. Using this, he barely managed to stabilize himself and avoid being pulled away.

But at that very instant, Nagato suddenly reversed the direction of his cannon—

He turned his right wrist skyward and unleashed an enormous Shura Light Cannon blast!

"BOOM!!"

A powerful blue beam erupted, generating a shockwave so immense that it distorted the surrounding air. The sheer force propelled Nagato forward, stretching his skin backward as if his face were being pressed against glass.

This tremendous repulsion force counteracted the gravitational pull, allowing him to propel himself straight toward the immobilized Shinji.

At the same time, the Shura Blades from his third right hand shot toward Shinji’s right chest!

His main right hand stretched out, reaching directly for Shinji’s face!

This final movement—

Was the true killing blow hidden within the sequence of attacks!

The Rinnegan’s Human Path possessed the ability to rip a person’s soul from their body. Once extracted, death was instantaneous. The speed of this ability, however, was influenced by the target's chakra strength.

But that didn’t matter.

Nagato also had the Naraka Path to summon the King of Hell. As long as he could destroy Shinji’s heart—his sole remaining source of power—then use the Human Path to extract his soul and the Naraka Path to seal it completely—

It would be as good as sentencing Shinji to death!

Yet, facing this onslaught of techniques—nearly the pinnacle of the Rinnegan’s power—

Shinji did not show a hint of panic. Instead, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

All this time, he had fought under extreme difficulty, with his opponents always possessing intel on him while he had little knowledge of theirs.

But now—due to how quickly his own strength had evolved—he himself had become a complete enigma.

Nagato's Shura Cannon could have directly pierced his right heart, dealing him a serious, potentially fatal wound. In battles between peak-level super Kage-class fighters, even a minor disadvantage could snowball into a loss.

But clearly, Nagato was unaware—

Beneath the Lightning Release Chakra Mode’s protective armor and the Earth Release: Earth Spear’s blackened skin layer,

Shinji still had another layer of defense—his Sage Transformation: Cursed Seal Level 2’s serpent-scaled skin.

Given this crucial information gap,

Rather than dragging the fight into an endurance battle, Nagato had chosen a more aggressive, high-risk strategy—

A direct, decisive kill.

His plan: use the Shura Blade to pierce through the semi-Tailed Beast Cloak, destroy the heart, and cripple Shinji’s ability to counterattack—then finish him off with the Human Path’s soul-ripping ability.

However—

Nagato was wrong again!

At this moment, countless thoughts condensed in Shinji’s mind.

As he stared at the incoming Nagato, who bore a savage expression,

Shinji suddenly grinned, his smile icy and sinister.

The next instant—

As Nagato "descended" toward him, Shinji voluntarily relaxed his toes, releasing his grip on the steel beam—

Then—

He actually let himself be pulled up by the gravitational force!

Like he was willingly embracing death!

His body was yanked upward, accelerating as he was drawn straight toward Nagato!

Seeing this, Nagato's instincts screamed that something was wrong. But at this distance, he had no time to react. He clenched his teeth and committed to the attack!

His right hand slammed into Shinji's chest, while the three Shura Blades stabbed wildly toward his right heart!

However—

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The blades struck something as hard as steel scales.

Even after piercing the semi-Tailed Beast Cloak, they only sparked upon impact with Shinji’s chest!

And at that moment—

Nagato, who had placed his palm against Shinji to extract his soul—

His expression twisted in shock!

"Impossible—! How can the Human Path’s ability fail to extract your soul?!"

Shinji gave him no time to react—nor did he offer any explanation.

Using the gravitational force of Banshō Ten'in to rotate midair, he unleashed a devastating counterattack—

A vicious, earth-shattering whip kick!

"PONG!!"

The sheer force distorted the air within a twenty-meter radius, generating a massive shockwave!

The strike landed squarely on Nagato!

"GAH—!!!"

In an instant, Nagato's face contorted in agony. Blood gushed from his mouth as the overwhelming force completely shattered his momentum, disrupting all his abilities!

He was sent flying skyward!

Meanwhile, Shinji regained his balance midair.

Forming the Serpent Seal, he stomped down, rebounding powerfully from the air—

Then, with a burst of speed—

He launched himself upward, chasing after the airborne Nagato!

The battle had completely flipped!

Nagato couldn’t comprehend what had just happened, but one thing was clear—

If he let Shinji get close again—he was doomed!

With desperation in his eyes, veins bulging on his forehead, he spread his hands wide and roared—

"Shinra Tensei!!" (Almighty Push!)

Blinding white light exploded across the battlefield—

Chapter 463: The Battle of the Heaven and Earth Bridge! (Part Three)

Invisible shockwaves blasted outward for 20 kilometers!

An overwhelming gravitational force clung to his body. Shinji had gained the ability to fly through the Super Light-Heavy Rock Technique, but at the cost of reducing his own mass and strength. In this state, he was completely unable to resist the repelling force of the Super Shinra Tensei.

In an instant, his entire body was sent flying like a tennis ball struck by a powerful serve, propelled into the air by the immense force!

And at that very moment—

Swoosh!

A flash of white light cut through the air!

Everything within sight was pushed away, toppled, crushed, and obliterated!

Centered around the Heaven and Earth Bridge, which had completely collapsed and fallen into the riverbed, the vast forest within a 20-kilometer radius was gradually compressed, uprooted, torn apart, and stripped of its greenery by the shockwave of Shinra Tensei. What remained was nothing but a massive wasteland of dull brown and yellow ruins!

High in the sky, Nagato's body could no longer sustain his chakra. Like a bird with broken wings, he plummeted downward.

However, just before he crashed into the ruined ground below—

Summoning what little strength he had left, he formed a summoning seal and slammed his palm into the air. A towering cloud of smoke erupted from the center of the ruins.

"Naraka Path: King Enma’s Rebirth!"

Nagato had suffered a devastating kick from Shinji, leaving him gravely injured. In his attempt to block the attack, four of his six arms were obliterated, and the flesh around his waist had been completely blown away, exposing his white bones.

From a distance, the already thin and frail Nagato looked as if he had been severed in half, with only a single bone precariously holding his upper and lower body together.

But then—

Thud!

As he crashed into the ground, the enormous gates of the Naraka Path's King Enma emerged from the ruins, opening its massive mouth. A long, purple tongue extended outward, grasping Nagato and pulling him inside!

After a brief moment of chewing—

The mouth opened again.

Nagato stepped out, wearing his signature Akatsuki cloak adorned with red clouds. His body was fully restored, but his breathing was ragged as he leaned against the gate for support.

This was one of the abilities of the Rinnegan—the power of the Naraka Path. By summoning King Enma, the wielder could be devoured and subsequently revived through its mysterious healing process.

Meanwhile, on the other side—

After being sent flying several kilometers by the impact of Shinra Tensei, Shinji immediately dispelled the effects of the Super Light-Heavy Rock Technique. His body plummeted into a barren rocky plain, tumbling several times before finally crashing back-first into a massive boulder, shattering it completely.

Yet—

Brushing the dust off his clothes and pushing himself up with his hands,

Shinji stood back up as if nothing had happened.

And in truth, nothing had.

Nagato's relentless chain of attacks had seemed ferocious, but to Shinji, who had already achieved a permanently sustained Sage Mode, they were nothing more than minor inconveniences.

He hadn't even needed to activate the Forbidden Jutsu: Physical Regeneration Technique. Thanks to the influence of the Scorching Flame Heart fused with Hashirama’s cells, the minor scrapes on his skin had already healed on their own.

Even Nagato's supposed finishing move—the Human Path’s soul extraction technique—was utterly ineffective against someone with an immortal body, which kept his soul permanently anchored to his form.

On the other hand, Nagato himself—

Shinji had clearly seen it.

That single kick of his had nearly killed Nagato.

But with the Naraka Path’s power, as long as he wasn't instantly killed in one blow, Nagato possessed a form of regeneration that, to some extent, mirrored Shinji’s own.

This was the difference between a flashy glass cannon and a heavily armored warrior.

However—

Shinji frowned.

Nagato’s abilities were undeniably troublesome. Had it not been for the initial miscalculation in Nagato’s battle strategy due to incomplete intelligence, Shinji might have been at a disadvantage.

If that Asura Path cannon had pierced his Scorching Flame Heart, and if Nagato had continued his long-range attacks to whittle him down, Shinji could have struggled to find an effective counter while being restrained by Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten’in.

The final outcome would have come down to two possibilities:

Either Shinji’s regenerative abilities would have been exhausted first, or Nagato’s chakra would have run dry, leaving him as nothing more than a shriveled husk.

Shinji knew nearly everything about Nagato, while Nagato only had a vague understanding of him.

Yet despite this knowledge advantage, Shinji still hadn't managed to take an early lead in the battle. Besides the time he wasted trying to talk, which gave Nagato a chance to launch a sneak attack,

There was one thing about Nagato that was the most troublesome—

Why…

Why is there no longer a five-second cooldown between Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten’in?!

This completely deviated from the original settings.

With the ability to seamlessly chain Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten’in together, the sheer versatility of this mechanism alone meant that, aside from Shinji, who could rely on his Eternal Sage Mode to tank through it,

Even Naruto in his perfected Sage Fox Mode—far stronger than he was during the Pain Invasion—would have struggled against it and likely ended up getting completely wrecked.

Thinking about how absurdly broken this ability could become without a cooldown restriction, and recalling those seemingly ordinary yet ridiculously powerful repulsive force Fireballs that had shattered even Susano’o upon impact,

Shinji narrowed his eyes, his expression growing solemn.

But thankfully—

After unleashing the Super Shinra Tensei, even the still-young and relatively strong Nagato wouldn’t be able to execute another one so soon. His chakra simply couldn’t support such reckless and extravagant combat tactics!

With this in mind—

Shinji suddenly lifted his gaze, looking toward the enormous crater several kilometers away—the same kind of crater that had once marked the destruction of Konoha during the Pain Invasion arc.

Taking a deep breath—

He moved.

His entire body shot forward like an arrow!

At his current speed, crossing several kilometers took only a few seconds.

Arriving in a flash, Shinji personally witnessed Nagato emerging from the mouth of King Enma, fully healed.

At that moment,

At the very center of the massive crater,

Just as Nagato stepped out from his summoning—

He suddenly sensed something and, panting heavily, raised his head—

And saw—

Shinji standing before him.

Despite the slight damage to his high-collared black cloak, which bore the Uchiha clan emblem, his body appeared even more energetic than when he had first arrived.

Even after enduring the Super Shinra Tensei, he showed not a single injury, wearing an eager expression as if he could fight all day.

"Damn it!"

Nagato fell silent for a moment before gritting his teeth.

As he looked at Shinji’s concerned "Are you okay?" expression, a deep sense of despair nearly overwhelmed him.

He had given everything he had.

So why the hell was this kid still standing?!

The Human Path couldn’t kill him. Conventional ninjutsu barely scratched his defenses. The Deva Path’s abilities could only restrain him. The Asura Path’s strongest attack hadn’t even been attempted yet. The Naraka, Preta, and Animal Paths were merely support.

And worst of all—

Nagato hadn’t even launched a full offensive yet.

He had merely been on the defensive this whole time, and he was already exhausted!

What the hell do I have to do to kill this kid?!

His face turned from pale to blue, then flushed red. Veins bulged on his forehead as he clenched his fists tightly.

Finally—

His gaze turned fierce.

Beneath his crimson hair, his Rinnegan eyes filled with blood, a single tear streaking down his face.

"I have no choice but to use that!"

Chapter 464: Byakugan Dojutsu! Nagato’s Super Mobility!

Inside the massive crater!

The two stood merely half a kilometer apart. After exchanging a single glance, they moved into action immediately.

For Shinji, he never intended to go all out against Nagato. If things could be resolved through conversation, and if Nagato was willing to temporarily hand over the Rinnegan, allowing him to use it to eliminate the threats of Uchiha Madara and the Otsutsuki clan, then returning the eye afterward wouldn’t be out of the question.

In exchange for the Rinnegan, Shinji would do everything in his power to protect Nagato and his companions.

But,

It was clear this was nothing more than wishful thinking on Shinji’s part.

Upon meeting Nagato, the atrocities Orochimaru had committed against the Akatsuki trio had completely destroyed any chance of negotiation. Nagato wasn’t even willing to hear him out. With trust already at rock bottom after Orochimaru’s surprise attack, Nagato lashed out mid-conversation, launching a sudden assault!

Now, seeing Nagato in a fatigued state, panting heavily, Shinji lost interest in further discussion.

His gaze sharpened.

If reason won’t work,

Then fists will have to do the talking!

In the next instant,

Both figures sprang into action!

Shinji pressed his palms together and suddenly drew forth an eighteen-meter-long lightning sword from between them. Wielding it effortlessly, he swung it with tremendous force.

His foot stomped against the ground, cracking it apart, his body twisting as he took a powerful stance—one foot lunging forward, arms pulling back.

A deafening roar echoed as the earth within a fifty-meter radius caved in.

Then—

With an explosive burst, Shinji leaped high into the air, spinning as he shot forward!

"Lightning Style: Hell Piercing Strike—Hundred Step Flying Sword!"

In an instant, the eighteen-meter lightning sword transformed into a blinding streak of electricity and vanished!

Like a bolt of lightning striking from the clear sky, the sword tore through the air at lightning speed—reaching Nagato’s face in a mere fraction of a millisecond!

But that wasn’t all!

As Shinji’s Sharingan gleamed with a crimson flash—

A massive, thirty-meter-tall half-body Susanoo erupted from the ground beneath him!

With its left hand extended forward, it provided Shinji a foothold mid-air, allowing him to launch off once more. The force created a powerful shockwave, sending dust and debris flying as he shot toward Nagato like an arrow—his trajectory perfectly aligned with the lightning sword!

Meanwhile, the Susanoo’s right hand drew back, summoning nine blazing Yasaka Magatama beads and hurling them forward with immense force!

"Susanoo: Yasaka Magatama!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In an instant, the darkened sky was streaked with countless crimson arcs of light, dyeing everything in blood-red hues!

However, Nagato was prepared for this.

The moment Shinji unsheathed his blade, an intense surge of chakra erupted from Nagato’s body. His face was cold as ice, his eyes burning with fury as he let out a fierce roar—

"HRAAAAH!!!"

His palms suddenly clapped together before stretching outward.

"Open!"

An invisible repulsive force exploded outward, whipping up a violent storm of dust and debris, overturning everything in its path!

At first glance, this appeared to be an ordinary Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push), but in reality, it was far stronger and more violent than any Nagato had used before!

The overlapping repulsive forces caused the very air caught between them to screech and howl under immense pressure!

It was the resonance of two legendary bloodlines—

The Uzumaki clan’s lineage from the Sage of Six Paths and the Hyuga clan’s Byakugan, inherited from Otsutsuki Hamura!

This fusion had granted Nagato a new evolved form of the Byakugan, similar to an advanced version of the Sharingan!

More importantly, it had awakened a special gravitational dojutsu, akin to the Rinnegan’s Deva Path—an ability eerily similar to the Tenseigan’s power over attraction and repulsion!

Dojutsu: Moon’s Gravitational Explosion!

By consuming ocular energy, Nagato could control gravity and repulsion, much like the Rinnegan’s Deva Path. His power was so immense that he could even pull meteors from outer space!

The downside? Like the Rinnegan’s Shinra Tensei, it had a five-second cooldown and consumed enormous amounts of ocular energy. Much like the Mangekyou Sharingan, repeated usage would gradually deteriorate his eyesight—eventually leading to total blindness.

But this Byakugan dojutsu had filled the flaws of Shinra Tensei, allowing Nagato to use the Deva Path’s abilities without any gaps between cooldowns!

And now—

Nagato abandoned the alternating usage method, instead overlapping the Rinnegan’s Shinra Tensei with the Byakugan’s Moon’s Gravitational Explosion, sacrificing cooldown time in exchange for exponentially greater repulsion!

Thus—

"Double Shinra Tensei!"

In that moment,

Shinji’s fastest attack—the lightning sword, moving at speeds nearly identical to natural lightning—was just about to pierce Nagato’s nose when—

It halted in mid-air!

Nagato’s dynamic vision and battle instincts weren’t fast enough to track the sword’s trajectory.

But he didn’t need to fight like a Uchiha.

He only needed his Byakugan to clearly see Shinji’s movement, allowing him to prepare his counter at the exact same moment!

In high-level battles like these, even the slightest hesitation could spell defeat.

Nagato did not hesitate—he unleashed his strongest defensive measure without holding anything back!

And then—

Within a one-kilometer radius, everything seemed to freeze as a terrifying force repelled any incoming attacks!

The lightning sword,

The nine Yasaka Magatama,

The thirty-meter-tall Susanoo—

All were instantly obliterated into pure chakra and dispersed!

"BOOM!!!"

However—

Amidst the dazzling flashes of light and deafening shockwaves—

A lone figure remained unmoved, maintaining a ninja running posture.

With clenched teeth and glowing with vibrant, multicolored light, he slowly but steadily advanced through the overwhelming gravitational forces!

One step… Two steps…

Until he fully adapted to the extreme conditions—

Then, he began to sprint!

"Majestic Armor: Susanoo!"

Now clad in blazing dragon-bone armor, Shinji, at full power, was withstanding the Double Shinra Tensei with sheer physical strength alone—steadily closing the gap toward Nagato!

"T-This is impossible?!"

"Even a double-layered Shinra Tensei can’t push him back?! His body… it’s like a humanoid monster…!"

Nagato’s eyes twitched wildly as he watched Shinji approach.

His last shred of hope shattered. His teeth chattered, and he muttered in horror—

"If he gets any closer… he’ll kill me!"

Without wasting a millisecond,

Nagato’s Byakugan flared wide open, blood tears streaming down his face!

"I have no choice—I have to risk everything!"

In a desperate gambit, he altered the repulsion point, shifting it forward.

As the tremendous force crushed his ribs and shredded his organs, Nagato’s face twisted in agony—yet he managed a sinister grin.

"You didn’t see this coming, did you, Shinji? THIS is my escape route!"

With a thunderous explosion—

Nagato was blasted away at blinding speed, flying toward the right rear!

By using Shinra Tensei as propulsion, he had achieved mobility on par with Shinji—

Though at a devastating cost.

Seeing this, Shinji’s eye twitched.

His expression darkened.

"Damn it… Not this again!"

"Trying to run?!"

Chapter 465: The Path of the Hungry Ghost! The Barrage of the Gedo Statue!

Seeing Nagato attempting to escape, Shinji immediately hardened his expression. His muscles swelled across his entire body, abruptly expanding as he forcefully resisted the repelling force. He pushed his humanoid Susanoo to its limit, unleashing its terrifying power in a brief burst.

For a fleeting moment, despite the infinite repulsion surrounding him, he regained complete control over his body. Then, in an almost reckless display of force, he violently broke free from the repelling influence and charged forward!

At that moment—

Nagato, flung through the air, felt his heart sink further.

The moment Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) wore off, Shinji would regain his monstrous speed, while Nagato himself would be trapped in a five-second cooldown where he couldn’t use the technique again.

Five seconds—though short—was more than enough for Shinji. If left unchecked, he wouldn’t even need a full second to reach Nagato and cut him down. With his chakra nearly depleted, Nagato would have no way to push him back.

This was his only chance.

Nagato’s gaze locked onto a small mound of dirt in the ruins below. A glint of icy determination flashed in his eyes.

Still coughing up blood mid-air, he forcibly stabilized himself, flipping backward before landing roughly beside the mound.

Without hesitation, his hands formed a rapid sequence of hand seals. Biting his finger, he pressed his bloodied palm against the ground.

"Earth Release: Rock Prison! Release!"

Rock Prison—an Earth Release technique that forms a cage of stone pillars around an enemy to trap them. In certain cases, it could also serve as a temporary holding cell for prisoners.

Clearly, this location was a prison Nagato had prepared in advance. And the one imprisoned within—

As the stone pillars retracted, a frail, unconscious man was revealed—Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure!

Nagato’s face twisted into a fierce expression. Gritting his teeth, he staggered into the rocky prison, his body battered from the repelling force of Shinra Tensei.

He stretched out his hand, fingers splayed wide, as his Rinnegan in his right eye flared open.

With a powerful strike, he slammed his palm onto Roshi’s abdomen.

"Path of the Hungry Ghost—Chakra Absorption!"

The Hungry Ghost Path—one of the Six Paths abilities granted by the Rinnegan. Upon direct physical contact, it could forcibly drain the opponent’s chakra into the user's body. In the original story, Edo Tensei Nagato used this ability to absorb the dark red Tailed Beast Chakra covering Killer Bee, restoring his body to a youthful state.

But now—

Under the immense pressure from Shinji, Nagato pushed this ability to its extreme, completely extracting the entirety of the Four-Tails' chakra from Roshi’s body.

At that moment, he absorbed it all into himself.

The effect was visible to the naked eye—

Nagato's emaciated frame swelled like an inflating balloon. His skin regained its luster, his wounds from Shinra Tensei healed before their eyes, and his complexion became noticeably healthier.

Witnessing this, Shinji's heart clenched. A deep sense of unease welled up within him.

He instinctively accelerated, rushing toward Nagato to interrupt the process.

However—

At that exact moment—

Nagato, now filled with the Four-Tails' chakra, suddenly lifted his head. His cold, piercing gaze locked onto Shinji, and a mocking smirk crept onto his lips.

Then—

He raised his hands abruptly. His left hand gripped his right wrist.

The skin on his right palm peeled away, revealing a highly intricate, mechanical cannon hidden beneath.

A blinding blue energy blast rapidly formed, shifting, distorting, and condensing into a massive blue beam that surged forward!

"BOOM!!"

But this attack wasn’t aimed at Shinji.

Nagato knew that with Shinji’s regeneration and defensive power, a single Asura Path cannon wouldn’t do much damage—especially without the added force of the Five Elements Jutsu. It wouldn’t even pierce the chakra armor of his colossal 120-meter Susanoo.

Instead, he aimed at the ground!

The tremendous recoil force propelled Nagato skyward once more, widening the distance between him and Shinji by nearly a kilometer—just as Shinji was on the verge of breaking through the repelling force of Double Shinra Tensei to reach him!

At that moment—

Suspended midair, Nagato clasped his hands together, his eyes widening in fury as he gazed skyward.

"HAAAAAHHHH!!!"

As his palms parted and stretched toward the sky, his voice thundered:

"Planetary Devastation!!"

A dark, abyss-like sphere shot high into the sky—ascending past the azure sky torn open by Super Shinra Tensei—until it hovered directly above Shinji’s head.

And in that instant—

It aligned perfectly with the blazing sun above!

A brilliant white radiance burst forth!

"RUMBLE!!!"

The earth shuddered violently—

The already devastated landscape, reduced to a massive crater by Super Shinra Tensei, trembled and collapsed further.

Countless massive boulders tore from the ground, rising uncontrollably into the sky—dragging Shinji with them!

An endless avalanche of stone surged toward the gravitational core, encasing Shinji completely, sealing him at the center with no room to move!

Eventually—

Above the Land of Grass, a colossal sphere of stone with a radius exceeding 100 meters formed in the sky!

But this wasn’t the end!

Nagato knew that a Planetary Devastation of this scale alone could never restrain a monster like Shinji.

This was merely a delay—a prelude to his true finishing move!

As soon as he sealed Shinji within, Nagato landed, taking a deep breath. He had no time to hesitate.

Swiftly forming the hand seals for Summoning Jutsu, he moved in rapid succession:

Boar → Dog → Rooster → Monkey → Ram!

Biting his finger, he spread his five fingers wide and slammed his palm into the ground!

With a savage expression, Nagato roared:

"Summoning Jutsu—Gedo Statue!!"

The instant the seal activated, an enormous black summoning pattern spread across the ground!

Two giant, skeletal hands burst forth, clawing at the earth—

"ROOOOAAAAARRR!!!"

A monstrous humanoid statue with nine sealed eyes and ten jagged protrusions on its back erupted from the ground, letting out a deafening bellow!

Standing against its back, Nagato clenched his teeth, staring fiercely at the Planetary Devastation sphere above.

Determination blazed in his eyes—

As if he had made an irreversible decision.

Suddenly, he let out a thunderous battle cry!

"HRAAAAHHHH!!!"

SHUNK! SHUNK! SHUNK!

Black chakra rods violently erupted from the Gedo Statue’s abdomen—impaling Nagato’s back, piercing through flesh and bone!

A torrent of chakra and life force surged from his body into the Gedo Statue—

In response, four of the statue’s sealed eyes snapped open!

And then—

With a thunderous roar, the Gedo Statue leaped high into the air, its skeletal hands seizing the Planetary Devastation sphere!

With terrifying force, it spun mid-air, violently slamming the massive rock downward—