A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of My "Wandering Reader":
-[ ]
-Cain
-Goha21
-Jacob Mooe
-Varun Madhu
-Mp Gaming
-Paul Panzer
-Austin Levy
-Aziz Makda
-TylerD
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
On a distant mountaintop far from the battlefield, an origami clone of Kaito stared speechlessly at the bowed head of Sasuke before him.
"Really… I don't even know what to say to you." He reached out and smacked the top of Sasuke's head hard. "If you're going to show off, at least do it properly!!"
What could Sasuke do? He was just as helpless.
All he could do was lower his head further and remain silent.
"Elder Izuna said he wouldn't interfere at all," the origami clone scoffed. "If I hadn't used Ryūmyaku's power to teleport you out in time, you'd have ended up as one of my shikigami too!"
Sasuke's head drooped even lower.
"Alright, enough." The clone gave him a shove. "Go on, let everyone know you're still alive."
"Yes."
Sasuke turned and looked down at the chaotic battlefield on the desolate plains below. Once again, his body was enveloped by the violet chakra of Susanoo.
"Be careful," the clone grumbled irritably. "From here on out, you're really on your own. You know how it is—for an onmyōji, the line between life and death is… blurry."
"I know."
Sasuke didn't dare talk back.
...
When the colossal tengu warrior once again soared into the sky above the battlefield, cheers erupted from the ground below.
"Sasuke's okay!!" Sakura's vision blurred with tears, her heart overflowing with overwhelming joy.
"Sasuke!" Karin, sprawled on the ground, laughed even as tears streamed down her face. "That jerk who made me cry for nothing!"
Sensing something, Sasuke glanced down and immediately spotted Karin's unmistakable fiery red hair.
Their eyes met.
Susanoo dissipated. In one fluid motion, Sasuke drew his sword, lightning crackling along the blade. Using the momentum of his descent, he landed with a sweeping slash that annihilated all the clone monsters surrounding Karin and Suigetsu in an instant.
"Get up."
Sasuke shot a disgusted look at the snot and tears on Karin's face before seamlessly falling into sync with Suigetsu, continuing their relentless purge of the enemy.
"Yeah, yeah!"
Karin glared at him, wiping her face with her sleeve before rising to her feet. Chains of crimson chakra shot out from her back.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
What had been a two-person team became three, and their efficiency in clearing the battlefield skyrocketed.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
Before long, Neji naturally integrated himself into their formation.
...
"Neji…"
Lee and Tenten panted heavily, their expressions complicated as they watched Sasuke's team from afar.
"They… work well together," Tenten admitted grudgingly.
"What kind of teamwork is this?!" Lee's round eyes widened further, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
Far away, Sakura also witnessed the scene, her nose stinging as she fought back another wave of tears.
"Sakura, we need your help over here!"
The calls of other medical ninja snapped her out of it.
'Sasuke… Naruto…'
Even if I'm the only one left from Team 7 now, I won't back down!
Biting back her tears, Sakura turned and strode resolutely toward the wounded.
Fists surged with force; lightning split the air.
Kakashi and Might Guy cleared the monsters around them before standing back-to-back to catch their breath.
"Looks like he's found new teammates."
"Yeah. That's good."
They both turned their gazes toward Sasuke's group, their expressions identical—a mix of relief and reluctant resignation.
...
At the heart of the battlefield, Hashirama smiled faintly in relief as Sasuke reappeared, then reopened the barrier's exit.
"Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!"
He clasped his hands together once more, summoning massive torii gates that crashed down onto the blooming bud emerging from the Ten-Tails' maw.
"Seal!"
Outside the barrier.
"This is endless!!" Jiraiya shouted.
The four Kage and he were once again swamped by the infinite tide of clone monsters.
"The First Hokage has completely immobilized the Ten-Tails," Ōnoki said, levitating into the air before charging toward the barrier. "We have to take this chance to defeat Nagato."
"Follow him!"
Gaara manipulated his sand, carrying the other four Kage after Ōnoki.
"Coming for me, are you?" Nagato's body slowly emerged from the Ten-Tails' flesh atop its head.
I really have Obito to thank for this.
He pressed a hand to his chest.
"Thanks to Obito merging White Zetsu's cells with me, my body's compatibility with the Ten-Tails grows stronger by the minute. Soon…"
He watched calmly as the Kage and Jiraiya closed in, his cold violet eyes utterly indifferent.
"But until then…" He raised his right hand. "Let's pass the time with something trivial."
"Nagato!!"
Jiraiya leapt from the floating sand platform first, lashing out with a kick.
"Have you fallen so low as to resort to taijutsu, Jiraiya-sensei?"
Nagato blocked the strike effortlessly.
"Is it because your chakra's running dry?"
"You saw right through me."
Jiraiya panted heavily, continuing his relentless assault with fists and feet.
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
Streams of sand surged from beneath Nagato's feet, crawling upward.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiraiya flipped back.
"Ninja Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
His wild white hair elongated rapidly, shooting forward like tendrils to ensnare Nagato.
"Lava Release: Dissolving Jutsu!"
"Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
Mei and Ōnoki's attacks followed in quick succession.
"Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"
A dual-colored glow enveloped Nagato as he absorbed the chakra from every incoming technique.
Whoosh!
A streak of lightning flashed past him from behind.
"Lightning Lariat!"
A's hand, hardened like a blade, severed the vine connecting Nagato's nape to the Ten-Tails.
"Got him!!"
"Ha!"
With Gaara's sand aiding their movement, Jiraiya and A instantly reversed direction, their fists shooting toward Nagato simultaneously.
"Almighty Push!"
Nagato didn't even flinch, repelling both attackers with a precise burst of repulsive force.
"Earth Style: Rock Fist Technique!"
Ōnoki's right fist encased itself in solid stone.
The moment the repulsion faded, he leapt from the floating sand platform.
"Earth Style: Ultra-Added Weight Rock Technique!"
His stone fist slammed into Nagato's chest, sending him flying.
"Now!"
Gaara raised both hands.
The sand whirled through the air, crashing into Nagato's body and carrying him even farther from the Ten-Tails.
"They've separated Nagato from the Ten-Tails!!"
Tsunade, still maintaining the barrier, nearly cheered at the sight.
"Now all that's left is to take down the one controlling it."
Tobirama smirked.
"Seems I won't be needed this time."
Hiruzen watched Jiraiya's fighting form with pride.
"Hahahaha… Not bad at all, you youngsters!!"
Hashirama grinned broadly.
"You've all worked very hard."
Nagato, having absorbed yet another wave of jutsu, hovered in the air, his expression unchanging.
"As a reward…"
His left arm morphed into a massive mechanical construct, while his right hand gripped a black rod.
"...I'll grant you all release from this world before true despair arrives." He tilted his head toward Jiraiya. "Especially you, Jiraiya-senseor."
The cannon on his mechanical arm began charging, its barrel aimed squarely at Jiraiya.
"To repay your kindness, I'll give you… special treatment."