As Yahiko charged forward, Nagato and Konan moved to attack.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Technique!"
A roaring flame erupted from Nagato's mouth, forming a massive fire dragon that surged past Yahiko and Konan, heading straight for Simu.
At the same time, Konan spread her hands.
Sheets of paper detached from her clothes, forming a pair of wings on her back.
She flapped them once and soared into the sky.
Two-Tails was about to intervene, but Simu raised a hand.
"Stand down. I'll handle this."
Expressionless, he swung his mace once.
With a single blow, the fire dragon was shattered into embers.
From behind the scattered flames, Yahiko suddenly appeared.
"Got him!"
Believing he had created an opening, he took a deep breath—
And unleashed a high-speed water jet, sharp as a blade, aiming straight for Simu's stomach.
Even against an enemy, Yahiko avoided striking vital points.
Simu shook his head slightly.
This kind of hesitation was a fatal flaw on the battlefield.
His palm turned pitch black, coated in Armament Haki.
The incoming water jet struck his hand—only to scatter into harmless droplets.
"Impossible… He blocked it with his bare hand?" Yahiko muttered in disbelief.
After years of training, he had surpassed the average Jōnin.
By ordinary standards, he was already a genius.
But against Simu, his strength was insignificant.
The threat he posed was barely one-fiftieth of Hanzo's.
"Yahiko, be careful. His body isn't normal." Nagato warned.
With no other Water Style jutsu to use, Yahiko rushed forward, planting a foot firmly on the ground.
A kunai appeared in his grip, slashing straight at Simu.
But Simu didn't move.
Two fingers extended—
And effortlessly caught the incoming blade.
"If this is all you've got… then you're far from ready to protect the Land of Rain."
His words struck Yahiko harder than any attack could.
"Damn it!"
Yahiko threw another punch, unwilling to give up.
But Simu had already predicted his move.
With perfect timing, he drove a powerful kick into Yahiko's abdomen.
Yahiko let out a sharp grunt before being sent flying by the impact.
At that moment, a flurry of paper rained down from the sky.
These seemingly fragile sheets were sharp enough to slice through steel.
Simu swung his mace high.
Armament Haki surged from the weapon, forming a powerful shockwave that obliterated the incoming paper attack.
In the distance, Nagato pressed his hands to the ground.
"Earth Style: Earth Prison!"
Massive stone hands erupted from the ground, trying to seize Simu.
But with a single swing, Simu shattered them to pieces.
Under the cover of Nagato and Konan, Yahiko finally staggered to his feet.
Bright red blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"Damn it…" He muttered through clenched teeth.
"Yahiko, I'll cover you!"
Nagato took a deep breath and unleashed a massive fireball.
Immediately after, he exhaled a powerful gust of wind, intensifying the flames.
The fireball swelled, its heat becoming even more destructive—a combination ninjutsu combining Fire and Wind Styles.
Simu's eyes gleamed.
But even against such an attack, he simply swung his mace.
This time, his Armament Haki surged even stronger.
Boom!
The massive fireball burst apart like a fragile balloon.
Flames scattered, unable to withstand the overwhelming force.
At that moment, two hands shot out from the ground—Nagato's!
Behind the collapsing fireball, Yahiko appeared, kunai in hand, aiming straight for Simu!
"Ah…"
Simu let out a sneer.
Then, his muscles suddenly expanded, his presence growing even more overwhelming.
Yahiko's kunai, aimed at Simu's shoulder, barely managed to reach his thigh.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the blade clashed against the hard dragon scales covering Simu's body.
"What… What is this?!"
Yahiko froze in shock.
At this time, the Akatsuki organization had not yet allied with White Zetsu and lacked an intelligence network spanning the ninja world.
Their understanding of Simu was limited to him being the only known Light Release user.
Even Nagato's expression darkened in confusion.
Simu's transformation didn't emit any Chakra flow—it wasn't ninjutsu.
"If this is all you've got…"
Simu suddenly increased the force beneath his feet.
Boom!
The ground beneath him shattered instantly, exposing Nagato, who had been lurking below.
But Simu barely spared him a glance.
"A clone, huh?"
With Observation Haki, Simu could easily distinguish between Nagato's real body and his clone.
The pressure from the surrounding rocks crushed the underground clone, forcing it to disperse.
Yahiko sensed danger and instinctively tried to retreat—
But in a flash of light, Simu appeared right in front of him.
"Have you ever been struck by lightning?"
"Yahiko!"
Konan swooped down from the sky, desperate to help—
But Simu was faster.
His mace, crackling with thunder, swung down with terrifying force.
"Thunder Flash—Raimei Hakke!"
BZZT!
The moment the attack landed, electricity surged through Yahiko's body, paralyzing him instantly.
The shockwave blasted him backward, sending him crashing into the ground.
Simu looked up—
He was surrounded.
Countless white paper sheets floated around him, seemingly harmless—
Until black symbols appeared across their surfaces.
Explosive tags!
Konan had already mastered their use.
The detonators ignited in an instant, engulfing Simu in a violent explosion.
After finishing her attack, Konan flapped her wings, rushing toward Yahiko.
"Be careful! He's not fall yet!" Nagato shouted anxiously.
Sure enough—
A flash of light burst from within the explosion's smoke.
Before Konan could react, a thick arm shot out and grabbed her mid-flight.
"Got you."
Simu tightened his grip around Konan's ankle and slammed her into the ground with tremendous force.
BOOM!
A massive boulder came crashing down from above—
But without hesitation, Simu shattered it with a single punch.
From behind the debris, Nagato suddenly leaped out—
"Lightning Style—Thunderbolt!"
CRACKLE!
Bright arcs of lightning surged around Simu's body, wrapping him in an electric net.
Taking advantage of the momentary paralysis, Nagato grabbed Konan, trying to pull her away from the battlefield.
But—
This level of Lightning Style was meaningless against someone who had mastered the power of thunder.
"Nagato… you underestimate me."
Simu raised his clawed hand, and in an instant—
A burning laser shot out, piercing straight through Konan's shoulder.
Drip. Drip.
Nagato's eyes widened in horror as his companion's blood splattered into the air.
In the distance, Yahiko struggled to stand—but his fate was the same as Konan's.
The moment he got up—
SHIING!
A blazing laser shot through his abdomen.
His body went limp, collapsing to the ground.
As his vision blurred, regret filled his heart…
He finally understood—
In front of true strength, his power was meaningless.
Everything he fought to protect could be erased in an instant.
Forget creating a peaceful world—
He couldn't even protect himself.
With that bitter realization, his eyes slowly closed.
Meanwhile, Nagato stood frozen, feeling Konan's warm blood drip down his face.
That gentle warmth…
It sent a frenzied storm through his mind and heart.
He wasn't like Yahiko.
Yahiko believed in a world of understanding—
A world where people could finally see eye to eye.
But Nagato?
He only wanted one thing—
To protect the people he loved.
The thing I cherished most... was destroyed right before my eyes.
Simu gripped his mace and spoke calmly,
"Nagato, if you don't use the power of your eyes, you won't stand a chance against me."
The moment he finished speaking—
BOOM!
A huge surge of power erupted from Nagato.
Far away—
A white-haired old man's scarlet eyes snapped open.
Behind him, a colossal statue suddenly vanished into white smoke.
Seeing this, a young boy jumped up in a panic.
"The statue is gone!"
That boy—
Was none other than Uchiha Obito, missing for months.
And the old man?
Uchiha Madara.
Hearing Obito's frantic voice, Madara closed his eyes again and muttered,
"I'm old, not blind."
"Oh."
Obito pouted.
Obito was curious about this old man calling himself Uchiha Madara.
But—there was no way to verify his identity.
Still, with Sharingan and such an overwhelming dojutsu, he was definitely a Uchiha.
Sitting cross-legged, he pondered curiously—
"I wonder if Rin and Kakashi miss me... and that annoying teacher..."
...…
Rain Country Battlefield—
A white pillar of smoke engulfed Nagato.
Simu narrowed his eyes, his voice cold and firm—
"Everyone, fall back."
At his command, the Konoha shinobi hurriedly retreated.
Even the three Tailed Beasts flinched.
A terrifying presence filled the air—
A natural, primal fear forced them to take several steps back.
Then—
A gray hand tore through the smoke.
A colossal figure emerged—
Its ashen body was covered in closed nine eyes.
And behind it—
Ten massive tails, swaying like ancient branches.
But the creature was incomplete—
Its body abruptly cut off, as if someone had severed it.
Nagato stood at its base, countless black rods extending from his body,
linked directly to the summoned monster.
"Is this… the Ten Tails?"
The three Tailed Beasts reacted immediately—
Their expressions darkened, their instincts screaming danger.
As the vessel of the Ten Tails, the Gedo Statue carried its ominous presence.
The Tailed Beasts recognized it instantly.
Nagato panted heavily.
His Rinnegan glowed, its purple patterns spiraling as the Gedo Statue drained his chakra at a terrifying rate.
Even with the Uzumaki Clan's resilience, such a massive chakra drain was unbearable for long.
But—
For his friends…
"I have to do this!"
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED
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