The alarm bells of Konoha rang out in waves, their sharp buzzing drowning out the cries and shouts of civilians flooding the streets.
It was chaos—yet it had order.
Thanks to drills conducted in advance, the village was well-prepared. Chunin and genin worked quickly and calmly, ushering villagers into shelters along predetermined routes.
The jōnin, however, didn't join the crowd. They fanned out from the Hokage Building in a defensive formation, shielding the evacuation while hunting down enemies appearing from the shadows.
In this battle, they were the frontline.
Atop the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood, his Hokage cloak discarded to reveal his battle gear. He gripped the adamantine staff tightly, eyes scanning the horizon.
Behind him, elite shinobi of every clan stood ready.
"Lord Hokage," a Hyūga ninja from the security team reported, "a massive chakra signature—northeast quadrant!"
Hiruzen turned his gaze skyward. Against the blue canvas of the heavens, a black speck bloomed—growing larger with every heartbeat.
Not a bird. Not a cloud. Something far worse.
It grew into the outline of a beast. Not drawn in ink, but shaped in malice.
He recognized it immediately, no dōjutsu required.
"The Third Anbu Squad—intercept and engage. Do not let it reach the evacuation route!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Anbu shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow. Hiruzen turned back to the Hyūga.
"Any other chakra sources? Above, below, underground?"
"None, sir… wait—" The Hyūga froze, pupils contracting. "There's something up there."
"Above?" Hiruzen's face changed instantly. "Everyone—scatter from the Hokage Building! Now!"
---
High above the village, Pain hovered—looking down on Konoha from the sky's edge.
At this height, even with the Rinnegan, humans looked like specks.
And yet, those specks dared challenge the will of a god.
"Orochimaru," Pain murmured, "I'll destroy everything you've built."
He raised his palms. "Shinra Tensei."
A tremor—then devastation.
Centered on the Hokage Building, a colossal shockwave exploded outward. Buildings, trees, people—flattened in an instant. The world blurred into a storm of dust and broken stone.
And that was just the beginning.
Elsewhere, in the Konoha Hospital and the underground vaults, hidden behind layers of sealing arrays—more shockwaves detonated. Important strongholds fell in seconds.
Pain hovered silently, his breath slightly ragged. Even for him, unleashing such power in succession taxed his body.
But he still had more to give.
Destroying all of Konoha in one shot—like he did to Hanzo and Amegakure—was tempting. But it would cost too much. Not in chakra, but in opportunity.
"No... not this time."
He dropped like a thunderbolt, descending toward the shattered Hokage Building.
---
In the wreckage, Tsunade burst out from a collapsed wall, coughing blood.
"Damn it… this guy's no joke."
Though she had seen photos of Hanzo's annihilated stronghold and heard Orochimaru's detailed descriptions of the Rinnegan's powers, the real thing—this overwhelming force—was on another level.
Only her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, might have withstood it.
The screams of the injured rang out across the ruins. There was no time to hesitate.
Tsunade clenched her teeth and bit her thumb.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Boom!
A massive cloud of smoke erupted. From it emerged Katsuyu, the slug sage, her towering form looming over the destruction.
"Konoha… what happened?" Katsuya murmured, blinking at the carnage.
"Katsuya-sama," Tsunade said, already unlocking her Yin Seal, chakra surging across her body in thick black lines, "spread and begin emergency medical support. Prioritize the shelters."
"As you command."
With a soft whisper, Katsuya split into thousands of clones, dispersing through the rubble like a healing tide.
---
Back at the remnants of the Hokage Building, the elite of every clan had regrouped.
Dust-covered, injured, but unbroken.
Sarutobi's face was grim. "Report."
"Mostly minor injuries, Hokage-sama," said the Shadow Guard captain. "Four fatal casualties—head trauma."
Had it not been for the physical enhancement surgeries they'd undergone, the number might have been far worse.
Hiruzen exhaled in relief. Then—
"Enemy approaching!" the Hyūga shouted. "He's coming… straight at us!"
The shadow of Pain descended from the clouds, hovering like judgment itself.
"Third Hokage," Pain said coldly, "is Orochimaru still running?"
"You'll meet him soon," Hiruzen replied, gripping his staff.
"You intend to fight me?" Pain raised an eyebrow. "Do you wish to die?"
"If it ends you monsters—then yes. I'll gladly pay that price."
"…Kill his teacher," Pain said to no one in particular. "Orochimaru will reveal himself then."
"Not on our watch!"
Konoha's shinobi unleashed their fury—fire, wind, lightning, and stone howling toward Pain like a vengeful storm.
But Pain merely lifted a hand—and everything was repelled in an instant.
The crowd gasped.
"This can't be…"
Even Susanoo had limits. But this man—this thing—shrugged off their best like it was nothing.
Then, Hiruzen struck.
From beneath Pain's feet, an Earth Dragon roared up, launching mud bombs from point-blank range. For the first time, Pain didn't absorb the attack.
He dodged.
The mud bombs grazed him, leaving marks on his cloak.
"It has a cooldown," Hiruzen barked. "Roughly five seconds between uses!"
The realization hit the elite shinobi like thunder.
"We'll attack in waves!"
"No matter how strong—he's only one man!"
"Take him down!"
"You know quite a bit about me," Pain said, forming a hand sign. "Orochimaru's mouth must've run again…"
Puff!
Six figures materialized from white smoke. Five more Pains.
Men. Women. Giants. Monsters.
All bore the Rinnegan.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Six invincible enemies. One reality-warping jutsu.
"Don't falter!" Hiruzen shouted. "They're sharing one body. Split abilities means they're weaker now!"
Morale flickered, then rose.
But still—how do you fight gods?
Pain's smile faded. "Let's test your resolve."
With a snap, Animal Path Pain summoned beasts—four titanic summons exploded into the battlefield:
A bird with blades for feathers, a multi-headed hound, a hulking ox, and a crab the size of a temple.
The ground shook.
"Everyone, split up into squads!" Hiruzen ordered. "Surround and take them down!"
Konoha had protocols for this. They had trained for this.
But they lacked firepower.
No Jiraiya. No Shisui. No tailed beasts.
Then—salvation.
"Super Expansion Jutsu!"
With a thunderous crack, three mountains appeared—Akimichi giants!
"NOW," bellowed Choza Akimichi. "MEAT TANK FORMATION!"
Three giant spinning orbs barreled toward the summons, crushing everything in their path. Dust exploded on impact as the beasts tumbled back.
Tendo Pain raised his hand again—but paused.
He felt it.
A deep rumbling beneath the earth.
A monstrous chakra, rising fast.
The ground erupted.
From below, a purple-scaled serpent tore through stone, rising high into the air.
And on its head—
A voice.
"Sorry for the delay, old man. I had to prepare a proper welcome."
Orochimaru had arrived.
_____________________
The story is Finished on patreon (394 Chapters)
Join my patreon
patreon.com/Silver757
Or Tip me on
coff.ee/silver7959
http://buymeacoffee.com/silver7959