Chapter 384: Desperation
Nagato's face froze as he stared at the lingering smoke before him.
"A shadow clone!?" he exclaimed, stunned.
Though the Shadow Clone Jutsu was known to fool even the Byakugan and Sharingan, Nagato, with his Rinnegan, would have detected the substitution had he paid closer attention. But under the immense pressure of time and distraction, he had overlooked the fact that what he was facing was merely a clone.
Nagato, stifling his anger at the deception, quickly scanned the chakra flows around him.
"Where are you, Konan? Konan… you can't be harmed!"
Desperation showed on his face as he frantically searched. Meanwhile, Konoha's reinforcements were already closing in, giving Nagato no quarter. As they attacked with powerful jutsu, Nagato's attempts to maneuver and defend were soon overwhelmed.
"Damn it!" Nagato muttered, realizing he could no longer counter their relentless attacks. The Human Path, burdened by the barrage, could only falter and fall.
The Six Paths of Pain, with all their formidable abilities, were each vulnerable once their weaknesses were exposed. For this reason, Marusei Kogai had been designated from the start to keep the Human Path in check, as it excelled at close range soul attacks but was susceptible to long range jutsu.
"Target captured: Konan," Inoichi Yamanaka announced from Konoha's command center, a collective sigh of relief echoing through the room.
Although they hadn't fought on the front lines, these intelligence operatives had played a critical role in the operation's success.
Meanwhile, deep underground, Nagato's expression turned dark. Rising from his seat, he pulled his hands from the restraints holding his frail body upright. He glanced down at himself, his gaze blank.
Once again… helpless…
Despite all he had endured to transform into this frail form, was he still doomed to relive the same tragic fate? Rage and resentment flared within his eyes.
"Konoha," he whispered, fury overtaking his calm expression, "you've crossed a line."
In that moment, the Asura Path returned to him, carrying with it the remains of Yahiko's body.
"Yahiko…" Nagato's sorrowful gaze lingered on his friend's lifeless form before his face hardened with resolve.
"I swore, Yahiko no one will ever harm Konan."
Meanwhile, Konan had been taken outside the barrier and secured within the Konoha camp, her body thoroughly restrained with sealing jutsu. As a vital target, the Konoha shinobi took great care not to let her perish, administering basic medical treatment to keep her stable.
As she slowly regained awareness, Konan felt weak, barely able to move a finger. In her dazed state, she overheard the nearby conversation of her captors.
"These guys were monsters. Even with all the intel, they still pushed the Hokage to his limit," one shinobi said.
"No kidding," another replied. "The chakra reading on that guy was massive, practically on par with a tailed beast."
"Enough talking. You're on duty! Remember the Konoha shinobi code," a third voice cut in sternly.
"Yes, Captain!" the two responded in unison.
"Keep a close watch on the prisoner. If anything happens to her, you'll both pay the price. Now focus."
"Yes, Captain!" the guards echoed. Clattering sounds followed as equipment was set into place. Konan felt herself being handled, but her mind was too preoccupied to care.
They have our intel… That means Nagato is in even greater danger! Please, Nagato, don't come here! You've already saved me once…
Bound and voiceless, Konan could only let out muffled sounds of anguish as she weakly writhed on the infirmary bed, enough to startle the med nin on duty, who hurried over to tend to her.
Meanwhile, an unexpected arrival approached the Konoha camp perimeter: Jiraiya, worn and unkempt, his eyes bloodshot. Nara Shikaku, looking at him in surprise, asked, "Jiraiya sama, what brings you here? You weren't summoned for this operation."
Jiraiya hesitated, unwilling to reveal that it was Orochimaru who had tipped him off about the mission. His gaze turned serious as he asked, "How did it go?"
Shikaku paused, holding the mission report, and replied, "Jiraiya sama, you're aware of the shinobi code. This is classified information, and you're not part of this mission."
Embarrassed by the formal rebuff, Jiraiya's face flushed. Times had changed, and he was no longer in charge. He shifted uncomfortably.
"I just wanted to ask…" he stammered.
Shikaku sighed at Jiraiya's reluctance. "This is a capture mission, not an annihilation. That's all I can say. Now, please let me get back to work."
Hearing this, Jiraiya felt a wave of relief. No casualties, then?
He failed to notice Shikaku's conflicted expression. Konoha's shinobi weren't allowed to kill Konan, but many of their comrades had fallen in battle. This conflict was far from over, and Kakashi wasn't the type to forgo the justice they'd fought for so easily.
Just then, a tremendous explosion sounded from afar, causing Shikaku's face to tense.
"High density chakra detected! Target Nagato has left his base. All units, be on high alert!"
With the announcement, the Konoha front line forces prepared themselves. The real battle was just beginning.
Nagato emerged shirtless from the underground, his expression eerily calm yet oppressively intense.
"There are thousands of Konoha shinobi guarding the perimeter. Even for me, a full scale assault would be impossible," he muttered as he assessed the chakra signatures around him. His gaze settled on one particularly formidable presence. "This chakra… Kakashi Hatake?"
Nagato's frail body shook, a dark resolve hardening his gaze. His own legs had been destroyed in the battle with Hanzo, maimed beyond repair. But there was still a way.
"Asura Path: Mechanized Armor," he whispered, his legs shifting and transforming. The next moment, he shot toward Kakashi like a rocket.
Nagato could stand now only due to a temporary modification granted by the Asura Path's mechanical summoning ability. The strain on his body was immense, something Konan had often urged him to avoid. But now, at this critical juncture, Nagato had no choice but to put everything on the line.
(End of Chapter)
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