Beneath a sky blanketed in gray clouds, the wind howled louder.
As Orochimaru's words faded into the storm, a colossal, serpent-like titan made of liquid cement rose into the air—its sinuous body twisting like a dragon or snake, ascending swiftly into the heavens.
Nagato gazed up at the gleaming golden pupils of the beast, its enormous shadow merging with the storm above.
"Do you still want to fight?"
Orochimaru's question echoed in Nagato's mind, sparking a storm of doubt and internal struggle.
In the past, his battles had always been driven by necessity—life, death, vengeance, or a higher goal. But now... now he wasn't sure what this fight was for.
Was this just venting his anger?
Nagato hated to admit it, but the world had changed. Sheer power alone was no longer enough to shape the shinobi world. The age of brute dominance was ending.
He looked again at Orochimaru's terrifying form. It rivaled tailed beasts in scale—possibly even beyond that. A clash at full strength would obliterate everything around them, including nearby Amegakure. And even then… this wasn't Orochimaru's limit.
Their fight wouldn't just be destructive. It would be catastrophic.
And if power wasn't the answer anymore, then what was?
The Akatsuki's goal had always been to dismantle the shinobi villages and rule through an elite order of mercenaries—an order enforced by overwhelming force. But that idea now seemed fragile. There were powers he couldn't destroy. Villages he couldn't threaten. Enemies he couldn't overwhelm.
And most of all—he now feared the cost of defeating Orochimaru.
"Why... why has it come to this?" he whispered.
Has everything I endured—all the pain, all the loss—been for nothing?
"No. Never."
Nagato's eyes flared with light, fierce and unwavering.
Even if the path ahead was uncertain, the goal remained unchanged. Peace was not a mistake. And until he found a new way forward, he would not let Orochimaru rule the world unchecked.
At the very least, he had to take down this monstrous snake before him.
He cast a final glance at the fog-covered steel city below. A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes—but resolve followed quickly after. He raised one hand into the sky.
A massive gravitational force surged outward.
High above, Orochimaru's serpentine form froze mid-air. His elongated body trembled under the weight of the force, unable to advance or retreat.
It wouldn't last long—but Nagato clearly had other plans.
"Hm…" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
This wasn't what he expected. From what Jiraiya had told him, and from Nagato's past behavior, he thought the man would hesitate. Break down. Lose direction in the face of a changed world.
After all, hadn't Nagato lost Yahiko because of that hesitation?
Even if he'd grown stronger, Orochimaru expected Nagato to falter once the stakes became too real. Especially since Orochimaru wasn't even at full strength right now.
But clearly, that wasn't the case.
This battle was going to get ugly—and Amegakure would likely be caught in the crossfire.
"So... I won't be able to wrap this up quickly," Orochimaru murmured, slightly disappointed. "Such a shame. This could've been easier."
If Nagato had backed down now—even with equal power—he'd never be able to stand tall again. It would've opened the door for easier manipulation later. But that window had just slammed shut.
"Well then… if it's a fight you want," he grinned, "let's make it one."
All around, the winds howled louder. The golden pupils in the clouds grew more radiant. Orochimaru, struggling against the invisible pull, lifted his gaze—
And sensed something above him.
Something falling.
"...A meteorite," he muttered.
It made sense. If Nagato wanted a single, overwhelming strike to obliterate him, a massive meteorite pulled by gravity was ideal.
"But it won't matter," Orochimaru sneered. "If it can't hit me, it's useless. Did you really think—"
He stopped.
Nagato was looking down at him—expression cold, bloodshot eyes filled with unshakable will.
Orochimaru fell silent. His own golden eyes flashed. He began preparing to abandon his temporary body. It was powerful, but disposable—not worth risking.
But before he could act, the gravitational pull vanished.
Orochimaru instinctively vanished into the clouds—just as a meteorite the size of a mountain roared from the sky.
BOOM.
It struck the lake with a force that shattered the heavens. A 100-meter-tall geyser of water exploded upward, waves crashing outward like a tsunami.
Orochimaru glanced down at the chaos, then up at Nagato, still suspended mid-air. A flicker of confusion passed through his serpentine eyes.
That wasn't Nagato's limit. He hadn't given everything he had—not even close.
Before Orochimaru could dwell on it, Nagato's form flashed.
SLAM.
The giant serpent struck out, fangs wide and vicious—but something blue and massive intercepted it.
Orochimaru reeled back, eyes wide in surprise. His tail had been grabbed, then hurled back like a toy.
Hovering before him was a massive, armored warrior—blue and glowing, clad in armor, wielding a long sword, and wearing a tengu mask.
"Susanoo…?" Orochimaru muttered, stunned.
Towering nearly 200 meters tall, this was no ordinary projection. It rivaled any he'd seen from the Uchiha.
"He can use Susanoo?" he whispered, eyes narrowing.
Meanwhile, Nagato hovered calmly within the samurai's forehead, examining the power now wrapped around him.
Susanoo. The legendary power of the Uchiha clan.
Nagato had heard of it. As a fellow dōjutsu user, he was no stranger to its lore. But he never imagined he could wield it himself.
Could there be a connection between the Rinnegan and the Sharingan…?
"No… that's impossible," he muttered to himself. "My mother was from the Uzumaki clan. My father… just a common man. He died so easily…"
But then he remembered—his father's black hair and eyes.
The Sharingan didn't always awaken in every Uchiha. Visually, they were indistinguishable from ordinary shinobi.
"...No. That's not it," he decided. "Maybe any dōjutsu user can awaken Susanoo with strong enough spiritual energy."
It made sense. Susanoo was a manifestation of willpower—and the Rinnegan far surpassed the Sharingan in chakra and mental power.
"Yes. That has to be it."
Even so, he couldn't deny the image before him looked exactly like an Uchiha's.
But Nagato didn't have time to dwell on it. Orochimaru was still in the air, coiled and waiting.
No more distractions.
He dove.
SLASH—
The great blue sword came down like thunder, splitting air and cloud as it aimed for Orochimaru's head.
"Perfect timing," Orochimaru smirked, shrinking his body like a spring. He launched himself forward with explosive speed—
CRASH.
He slammed into Susanoo's face. The massive warrior reeled backward, sliding hundreds of meters—but remained unharmed.
"Physical attacks won't cut it," Orochimaru muttered. "Tch… annoying."
He narrowed his eyes and raised his hands. Golden light surged from his body, and suddenly—
CRACK—
Purple lightning struck from above, hitting Susanoo dead center.
Nagato grunted. Even shielded by the projection, the numbness tore through his body. If this continued, he might lose control.
He flapped his wings and shot downward, sword raised to absorb the next bolt. As lightning flashed again and again, he realized he had to adapt.
He brought Susanoo to the ground, planting the blade like a conductor. Thunder roared around him, but the worst was deflected.
At the same time, he sent out a new gravitational wave—trying to pin Orochimaru down and drag him into a direct clash.
The skies boiled.
Lightning flashed.
Waves surged across the lake.
Two giants—one serpent, one samurai—waged war beneath the storm.
Watching from afar, Obito retreated another 500 meters, landing on a high branch.
The duel reflected in his crimson eyes stirred no emotion—only silent disbelief.
Nagato had awakened Susanoo.
To anyone else, it might not have seemed strange. Susanoo came with every Mangekyō Sharingan. It wasn't the most powerful Rinnegan technique—but it was iconic.
And that was the problem.
No matter how powerful Nagato became, he was never supposed to have that.
Uchiha Madara himself had placed limits on the Rinnegan he gave Nagato. He sealed away Susanoo—ensuring only true Uchiha could access it.
Those eyes weren't just tools—they held fragments of Madara's soul and spirit. Only he should have wielded their full potential.
But now… Nagato had broken through.
If that's true, then—Obito thought—he's unlocked the "Eye of the Moon" potential.
A cold fear coiled in his chest.
All he had over Nagato now was information. The secrets passed down by Madara. But even those… how long could he keep them hidden?
Nagato, cornered by Orochimaru, would stop at nothing to win.
And once he uncovered those truths—
Obito clenched his fists, his vision tinged red.
Just months ago, Nagato had been lost in confusion—weak, passive. Now he was unshackled.
With mastery over the Rinnegan. With Susanoo. With Round Tomb: Border Jail.
How do I beat him now?
How do I take everything back?
He didn't know.
And that terrified him.
_____________________
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