Sixteen Nights was still wondering where Nagato's real body had gone.
He never expected the other party to come looking for him first—using his own tactics. Nagato had used the Wood Clone Transformation Technique to disguise himself as a large wooden house. If anything had gone wrong, the blame would've just fallen on "that big wooden house."
But what puzzled Sixteen Nights was—he and Nagato had only met once at Orochimaru's underground base. Why was he suddenly being targeted?
Judging from Nagato's actions, it didn't seem like he had uncovered his identity. Otherwise, he wouldn't be trying to trap him here—he would've led the full Akatsuki to attack Konoha.
Regardless of Nagato's reasons, Sixteen Nights was not someone to sit around and be ambushed.
As Nagato descended, Sixteen Nights sneered and said:
"To think the grand leader of the Akatsuki, the so-called ninja god of the new era, would disguise himself as an enemy! Don't tell me… all the incidents involving the Five Great Ninja Villages, and the so-called Immortal Eye duel, were orchestrated by you—the wielder of the Rinnegan?"
"…"
Just as Nagato was about to speak the name of the 'wooden house,' he froze. The embarrassment surged, making his skin crawl.
Looking down at the disdainful Sixteen Nights, Nagato couldn't help but ask, "How did you know?"
"Your disguise is just as clumsy as Uchiha Obito's," Sixteen Nights smirked. "The Wood Clone Transformation was flawless, and your chakra signature was different from last time—but chakra can be altered. What you can't change… is the breath of the soul."
"You can sense soul breath?" Nagato was visibly shaken.
"Oh? Interesting," Sixteen Nights said with a sly smile. "You have the distinctive appearance of the Uzumaki clan, but you've awakened the bloodline limit of Wood Release. You've even mastered the First Hokage's wooden avatar technique, yet you never displayed any of the unique traits of the Uzumaki. So I guessed you did awaken something—like the Kagura Mind's Eye. You probably merged it with your other abilities for specialized sensory."
Nagato was stunned but quickly understood. His own Divine Mind Eye had also merged with his Rinnegan abilities, forming the unique Rain Tiger perception technique.
Now that his identity was exposed, Nagato dismissed the Wood Transformation state and praised Sixteen Nights: "So you're the genius who discovered Uchiha Madara's true identity while still in the Academy. Even I feel pressured by your talent and intellect. If the Akatsuki wants to reshape the world, you and that big wooden house man are the biggest obstacles."
"I'm honored to be regarded as the 'ninja god of the new era,'" Sixteen Nights chuckled. "But I'm curious—why come after me before handling the Ōtsutsuki threat?"
"Because you are the rightful heir to true Wood Release," Nagato raised his hand. "Your sacrifice will hasten world peace. So please… die. Universal Pull!"
The sudden gravitational force yanked Sixteen Nights off the treetop.
"Tch… you really underestimated me. In that case, let me show you… the real Wood Release!"
Without wasting time, Sixteen Nights raised his hand—massive branches shot out like pythons toward Nagato. At the same time, tree roots surged from the forest floor like octopus tentacles, lashing and coiling toward him.
Nagato's eyes flashed in surprise. No hand seals?
Is this true Wood Release?!
He maintained a calm surface but replied with a cold, "Almighty Push!"
The repulsive force surged out like a giant's invisible palm.
The tree roots froze midair. Cracks splintered across their bark, bits falling like debris.
Yet, contrary to Nagato's expectations, the trees weren't shattered or flung away. His expression changed as he increased his chakra output, finally blasting apart the massive branches.
He stared in disbelief at Sixteen Nights, who had returned to the treetop. Scanning the chakra within him, Nagato muttered, "Such overwhelming chakra… how is this possible?"
Back in Orochimaru's base, he had sensed the Sixteen Nights' wood clone and already suspected he might share the Uzumaki and Senju bloodlines. But even then, he thought his chakra would be comparable to a Jinchūriki—maybe even less.
Now?
Sixteen Nights' chakra felt far beyond what he'd sensed from the likes of Killer Bee or even that "wooden house man."
He's just a recent graduate. He's not even in his prime yet… how could he surpass a Jinchūriki?!
It defied all reason.
"Wood Release: All-Encompassing Cloth Sack Technique!"
While Nagato was still stunned, Sixteen Nights moved into action.
No hand seals. Just a raised finger—like a magician.
The surrounding forest rumbled.
Crack—!
With a thunderous bang, a hill-sized wooden fist erupted, wrapped in spiraling wind pressure, hurtling toward Nagato with the force to crush a mountain.
Nagato didn't dare use Almighty Push. Instead, his arms morphed into twin barrels—Shuradō-style—spewing jets of flame as he launched himself skyward to evade.
But the giant wooden fist unclenched mid-air—shooting out a barrage of wooden thorns like green arrows.
Wood Release: Piercing Bullet Technique!
The sheer area and speed were terrifying.
Not daring to take it head-on, Nagato activated another repulsive wave—Almighty Push!—scattering the incoming spikes.
Then he made a massive missile from his mechanical arm and fired it toward Sixteen Nights.
The missile carried immense chakra—and a tracking system that would pursue its target as long as it remained in range.
But Sixteen Nights calmly responded.
He raised a hand and condensed a super hurricane sphere. Merging water and lightning nature transformations, he shaped the sphere into a brilliant beam and launched it at the missile.
BOOM—!
The sky exploded into flames. Shockwaves tore through the forest.
Sixteen Nights cocooned himself in protective wooden vines to weather the blast.
Nagato appeared, wrapped in a translucent light barrier, and pressed a hand to the cocoon wall. He injected Wood Release chakra to grow a tree around it—hoping to engulf Sixteen Nights.
But a spear burst out of the wooden wall, stabbing toward him.
Just before it could pierce his head, the tip trembled and stopped—repelled by a localized distortion in the air.
Then came a massive force—smashing through the wooden spear and barrier, flinging Sixteen Nights into the open.
"Planetary Devastation!"
Nagato slammed his palm down. A black sphere of gravity formed above Sixteen Nights.
The earth split. Trees were uprooted. Rocks shot skyward.
In response, Sixteen Nights raised another hurricane ball—this time integrating three chakra natures—and fired a transparent beam.
BOOM—!
The sphere detonated mid-air. The beam distorted but held.
"Incredible ninjutsu talent…" Nagato whispered in awe.
He had mastered the five elemental releases by age ten—but even now, he couldn't casually combine two or three nature transformations like Sixteen Nights.
If this were passed down as a bloodline… their descendants would be monsters.
What's more, Sixteen Nights never used his Dust Release or Storm Release against him—clearly aware of the Hungry Ghost Path's chakra absorption.
As Nagato admired his foe, he suddenly lunged—his mechanical Shuradō arm rocketing toward Sixteen Nights' chest.
But Sixteen Nights countered instantly. A black rod formed in his palm—Yin-Yang Release: Black Receiver—neutralizing the chakra flow.
BANG!
Their fists collided—Nagato's robotic arm shattered, and his body flew back.
Is this the explosive chakra of the Senju clan?! Nagato marveled.
Not giving up, he charged again—his other arm coated in Earth Style: Earth Spear, ready to trade blows.
BOOM!
Another clash. Another broken robotic arm.
This time, Nagato wasn't blasted back—the Earth Spear helped him tank the hit.
The forest shook with each punch they exchanged—like bombshells in human form.
Eventually, both realized they couldn't overpower the other in taijutsu.
Nagato's head opened, revealing a laser cannon.
Sixteen Nights' shoulder sprouted a giant wooden fist.
The laser and fist collided—neither winning. Both were flung backward.
"Is this true Wood Release…?"
Nagato now understood what Sixteen Nights meant.
Compared to this, his and Obito's Wood Release—gained through cell transplants—was weak. They needed seals. Their chakra wasn't potent enough for Tree World Birth.
They weren't even worthy of lifting Sixteen Nights' shoes.
This was like comparing a normal Sharingan to a Mangekyō Sharingan.
And yes—Wood Release could indeed counter Almighty Push.
To shatter one of these trees would cost dozens of times the chakra needed for a normal one.
No wonder they couldn't stop that first attack in Amegakure.
Nagato couldn't even use Super Almighty Push on a single target now!
Realizing he couldn't win with taijutsu, Nagato activated another trump card—sending intel to his Wood Clone in Amegakure.
"Sage Mode—Activate!"
Red eye-shadow appeared around his eyes, and his aura changed dramatically.
"Sage Mode?" Sixteen Nights raised a brow. "Red eye shadow, huh? So… you also mastered Sage Mode?"
"You too?" Nagato's heart sank.
Sure enough…
Sixteen Nights clapped his hands—his eyes turned golden, framed in red.
"It's not just you who has Sage Mode."
"Even without your Rinnegan's gravity powers… you're still no match for me!"
"This is a battle of true Wood Release!"
"Sage Art: Wood Release – True Tree World Emergence!"
RUMBLE—!
Countless massive tree trunks erupted from the ground like mountain ranges—thicker than ever before—instantly swallowing Nagato's surroundings.
The forest was transformed into an ancient, chakra-rich jungle.
These trees could not be burned by fire, drowned by water, moved by earth, pierced by lightning, or blown down by wind.
Once ensnared, they would suck you dry.
This was the legendary Wood Release that once brought peace to the chaotic world—a large-scale ninjutsu unmatched in power.
Only while wearing Tobi's suit could Nagato simulate this power. And even then—it wasn't real.
Now, he was facing the real deal—and he was being overwhelmed.
Vines and branches chased Nagato from all directions. Trapped in a cage of his own limitations, he tried to fly out—only to find himself sealed by four walls of chakra wood, and one above.
Four Wood Clones of Sixteen Nights activated Wood Release: Four-Pillar Barrier!
Nagato tried to use the Hungry Ghost Path to absorb it—but the trees regenerated faster than he could break them.
Mu Dun can be used like this too? Incredible…
He had no choice.
Arms wide, he converted his chakra into a spherical repulsion field.
A glowing green shield surrounded him.
As the vines closed in—
BOOM—!
He turned into a radiant white light, blasting everything away inside the boundary.
Hurricane winds and shockwaves roared.
The towering trees—tougher than mountains—were bent or broken by the blast.