Chapter 381: Intelligence Superiority, Final Act
In the ninja world, of the three primary battle skills ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu taijutsu was often dismissed as the least useful, perceived as the last resort of those lacking talent. But with the appearance of Might Guy, this belief was shattered.
Faced with Guy, who had decimated two of his Paths in seconds, Nagato grew cautious. He activated the Asura Path's ultimate transformation, morphing it into a six armed, mechanized monstrosity. Although it resembled a product of physical modification, it was actually a special summoning technique that utilized the Rinnegan as a medium.
With his Seventh Gate unlocked, Guy's strength ranked among the elite Kage level. His Leaf Strong Whirlwind carried enough force to split a mountain, yet Asura Path endured, rooted in place with cracks spiderwebbing beneath its feet.
"What?!"
Staring in disbelief as Asura Path absorbed his attack, Guy quickly jumped back, not daring to underestimate this new foe. In the face of the Six Paths' eerie abilities, even Guy knew he couldn't afford carelessness.
Nagato, however, wouldn't let such an opportunity slip away.
An arm extended from Asura Path, chains flying toward Guy's right leg. But Guy, a master of physical reflexes, lashed out with a kick, batting away the limb. Even so, with six arms firing in rapid succession, the Asura Path finally seized an opening, ensnaring him.
"Damn it!"
Realizing the Path intended to entangle him, Guy gave up on distancing himself. His burning resolve surged.
"Don't underestimate me! I am Konoha's Proud Blue Beast! Ignite, my youth!"
The Eight Gates might grant immense strength, but they also demanded a price. Even for Guy, prolonged use of attacks like the Daytime Tiger would exhaust him. But in this empowered state, even his basic strikes packed a terrifying punch.
Moreover, Guy's resolve stemmed from a sense of duty to his comrades. His mission was to keep the Paths at bay until backup arrived. With unyielding determination, he engaged Asura Path in a fierce hand to hand clash.
Nagato observed this tenacious fighter with interest. He could sense that despite Guy's rough exterior, he harbored an unwavering dedication. However, he felt compelled to retort, "Don't underestimate me either!"
With fewer Paths to control, Nagato's focus and precision increased. He wasn't called a "god" in Amegakure for nothing he had defeated the infamous Hanzo the Salamander.
Though Guy's strikes were no longer as grand as his previous attacks, they still left Asura Path reeling. Nagato realized that close range combat was no longer viable; a few more hits, and the Path would be irreparably damaged.
The Asura Path was, after all, a master of ranged assault.
Moving fluidly, Asura Path wrapped Guy with more chains, restricting his movements further. Just as Guy grappled to break free, Asura Path's arm transformed into a blaster, emitting an ominous glow as it charged.
"Such a troublesome weapon," Kakashi noted, watching from the sidelines as he fended off Human Path. Despite his words, his eyes held a glint of confidence he knew Guy could hold his ground.
The ninja way was never about fighting alone.
"Shadow Imitation Technique!"
Asura Path's arm suddenly jerked, its aim thrown off. The shot missed Guy, instead piercing through a row of buildings. The Nara Clan's shadow techniques, born of yin release, were some of the most enigmatic in the ninja world, nearly as formidable as the Mangekyo Sharingan. Though the clan itself preferred staying in the background, they were undoubtedly one of the sharpest minds in Konoha.
Nagato clicked his tongue in irritation. He had underestimated these Konoha shinobi.
Glancing at the two Paths he had set against Guy and Kakashi, Nagato's eyes grew sharp. "It's time you paid the price, Konoha."
The Deva Path, which had vanished earlier, suddenly reappeared among Konoha's supporting jōnin.
"Danger!"
Years of battlefield experience sharpened the jōnin's instincts. In an instant, they unleashed their most powerful jutsu toward Deva Path.
"Pointless Shinra Tensei!"
An explosive shockwave rivaling a missile spread outwards, sending Konoha's jōnin hurtling back. The jutsu's sheer power would have merely flung them backward if it weren't for Amegakure's densely packed buildings. Crashing into these unyielding structures, groans filled the air as some jōnin fell, their injuries severe.
"Retreat! We can't handle this monster. Give the elite jōnin space to fight!"
A battered jōnin called out, rallying his comrades to fall back. Though they honored the value of sacrifice, Konoha didn't endorse needless losses. They knew that the Deva Path's strength demanded more than they could handle alone.
Their retreat also set up an opportunity to target Deva Path's known weakness.
"Now! Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A massive water dragon roared forth, colliding with Deva Path and sending it sprawling backward. In that moment, a single thought crossed Nagato's mind: "Five seconds…"
Through careful analysis, Konoha had identified a critical vulnerability in Deva Path's abilities: the five second cooldown of Shinra Tensei. A short window, but enough to turn the tide.
The jōnin known as Maruzumi Kosuke, who had been shadowing the battlefield, emerged from below.
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