"So fast?"
Kitagawa Gen looked at the figures rapidly closing in and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
He had originally wanted to take a look at his rewards—after all, Sasuke's Yin Release was a pretty nice thing.
Even for his current self, it was still a bit too little, but once your strength reached his level, unless it was a Devil Fruit or something else that could make him "get rich overnight"—
Otherwise, he had to keep relying on accumulation. This kind of energy was extremely compatible with him to begin with, so naturally he was happy to get it.
"It's just that being interrupted by a bunch of idiots is kind of annoying."
Kitagawa Gen shook his head. Then he simply dispelled the "True Several Thousand Hands." He really wasn't that good at using Wood Release.
Besides, the few "idiots" coming now were a good deal stronger than those from Kumogakure, so he needed to take things a bit more seriously.
...
"Someone else is coming?"
In the distance, at the Allied Shinobi Forces' position, they were still a bit dazed right now.
And while they were dazed, they were also extremely excited—because a battle like this was really rare.
However, quite a few of them were still clear-headed sensory ninja, and they realized something was wrong immediately.
Jiraiya and Tsunade also sensed something at once. They looked out, and Jiraiya's expression immediately turned a bit ugly.
"It's them—Uchiha Obito, and… Nagato!"
"And there's another one: Kimimaro."
Tsunade also looked into the distance and quickly recognized the child Orochimaru had brought when he came to find her back then, which made her feel annoyed.
"What a pain. These guys really don't know how to stop."
"What do we do now?"
"Stick to the plan. Quickly search in the direction the fleeing White Zetsu units went, and have the main force prepare to relocate to reinforce other areas."
"No problem. Then do we stay behind to support Gen?"
"…Just don't cause that kid any trouble."
Tsunade really didn't want to discuss this topic. It was the first time she had ever felt excluded from a battle, and that feeling really wasn't good.
But the times were changing a bit too fast; no matter how unwilling she was, that was still the reality.
...
"Kitagawa Gen—"
At the center of the battlefield, the True Several Thousand Hands had only just fallen when Nagato, Kimimaro, and Obito had already arrived on the battlefield.
The three of them all stared at Kitagawa Gen, and their gazes were somewhat complicated.
There was no doubt: they hated the guy in front of them to the bone!
Over nine years, even they themselves could barely remember how many times this guy had beaten them to a pulp.
That kind of pain was not something an ordinary person could put into words; being able to endure it really meant their will was steadfast!
But at the same time, in Obito's and Nagato's eyes, Kitagawa Gen was also their "pioneer," the first person to move toward "evolution."
Moreover, in what followed, when facing Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, they would also need Kitagawa Gen's power—and right now, they needed Kitagawa Gen's power as well!
"This time, we also need to settle some scores properly."
All of a sudden, Kimimaro said in a low voice, his Byakugan openly giving off killing intent.
"You're the one who's been making things difficult for Lord Orochimaru all this time, and I still haven't forgotten what happened when we first met!"
"Hm?"
Both Nagato and Obito were a bit puzzled. They really didn't know what had happened the first time those two met— even Kitagawa Gen froze for a moment.
"The first time we met? You mean when I used Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall to carve Lord Orochimaru's statue?"
"…"
Nagato was still somewhat baffled, but Obito's fists clenched. He would never forget what Kitagawa Gen did in Takigakure!
"So you did it early on? As expected of that useless Kakashi's student— even if you're an 'evolver,' you're still a shameless person!"
"…"
Kitagawa Gen tilted his head. He didn't know what Obito was getting triggered about again.
He had done far too many things to these people—basically, he was the one throwing heavy punches the whole time. How could he remember all of it?
"You insane lunatics—you started a war, yet you're spouting a bunch of irrelevant nonsense. So what is it that you actually want?"
"Kitagawa Gen, I've said it before. From beginning to end, my goal has always been the peace of this world."
Nagato couldn't really stand the two people beside him. He spoke directly, his tone flat.
"This world has long been terminally ill. No matter how strong you are now, war will never stop. Why can't you understand that?"
"Understand?"
Kitagawa Gen looked at Nagato oddly. After a moment, he shook his head.
"Why should I understand you? And haven't I already said it—people are the key to this world. Wherever there are people, there will be conflict. What can you even change?"
"That's still better than doing nothing and letting this world rot away!"
Nagato clenched his fists and spoke in a low voice.
"I've witnessed too many wars, too many massacres. Jiraiya taught me that this world shouldn't be like this. I once believed that as well—but what was the result?"
"This world is hell!"
"I admit that Hanzō of the Salamander did devote himself wholeheartedly to the Land of Rain, but what did he end up doing?"
As Nagato reached this point, his emotions were already rising. That scene was still his nightmare to this day—a memory he didn't want to recall yet could never move past.
"We went to see him with sincerity and peace, but he joined forces with Danzō to try to kill us. It was him—this world itself—that personally destroyed my illusions!"
"Do you also want to wait until your own illusion is shattered before you finally wake up?"
"…"
Kitagawa Gen looked at Nagato in silence. He didn't know why, but he kept having the feeling that Nagato was trying to convince himself to understand him.
Could it be because of "Ōtsutsuki Genshiki"?
Although the guess sounded a bit absurd, thinking about it carefully, it didn't seem impossible—and that made things a little awkward for him.
Because he was that very "Ōtsutsuki Genshiki."
"Hmph. He'll never understand that kind of pain. Even if he did, he'd still use his own way to destroy everything."
Seeing that Kitagawa Gen remained unmoved, Obito didn't want to waste any more words.
For him, as long as the Ten-Tails was released and the moment of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's descent arrived, it would be enough for Kitagawa Gen to take action.
And now, this was the crucial moment for them to use Kitagawa Gen to unleash their own power. Nothing else mattered to him anymore.
"This world is hell. It has long since become hollow. A world like this must be changed—whether you are willing or not!"
As his words fell, his body was already enveloped by a blue Susanoo. That berserk power made the surrounding flames sway violently.
"This battle is inevitable, and this world is destined to be changed!"
Nagato also murmured in a low voice. In an instant, successive bursts of white smoke appeared, and immediately after, several figures like small mountains emerged indistinctly within the smoke.
Roar—
Accompanied by waves of deafening roars, the next moment a three-headed dog embedded with black rods, a rhinoceros, the Yata Garasu, as well as a centipede, a chameleon, and other summoned beasts had already appeared.
These mountain-like giants instantly made the originally empty battlefield incomparably crowded, and their berserk power further shattered the already collapsing ground.
That violent aura could be clearly sensed even from far away, and Kitagawa Gen was already surrounded within it.
"Enough nonsense. It's time to make a move!"
Kimimaro pulled a section of his spine free. The sharp bone spikes looked especially grim under the flames.
"Interesting. But I'm very curious about one thing."
However, facing the three of them, Kitagawa Gen merely smiled lightly. The short blade condensed from Yin-Yang Release in his hand lifted and pointed straight at the trio.
"Have you never noticed that there's something wrong with your bodies?"
"Hmph. This is nothing but 'evolution.'"
Obito let out a disdainful snort, but in the next instant his expression changed drastically.
"Watch out!"
In a flash, a gale of chakra had already swept over the three of them. Kitagawa Gen appeared in front of them like a phantom.
The short blade condensed from Yin-Yang Release carried a vast surge of energy as it slashed down in a single strike toward their position!
Boom—
The explosion was deafening. Amid the massive cloud of dust and smoke, the three were instantly sent flying backward.
"Damn it—still as despicable as ever."
Obito cursed under his breath. Kimimaro's Byakugan swept the surroundings once before he shouted in a low voice.
"Careful—he's coming!"
"Hmph!"
Nagato did not hesitate in the slightest. A black rod of Yin-Yang Release appeared in his hand, and at the same time he immediately directed those giant beasts toward Kitagawa Gen.
"Roar—"
The giant beasts let out earth-shaking roars, their movements rumbling like thunder. Yet Kitagawa Gen's "tiny" figure had already leapt onto the tops of their heads.
"Sometimes, bigger isn't necessarily better."
Boom—
With a swing of the short blade in his hand, the Hell Crab was split cleanly into two in an instant.
He immediately leapt upward, stepping off half of the crab's corpse, and at the same time fired out a mass of black chakra.
Buzz—
His chakra erupted at that moment, and the black chakra instantly transformed into one black rod after another, shooting straight down toward the centipede, the rhinoceros, and the wild boar below!
The three giant beasts had no time to react at all. They were practically nailed in place, and the short blade in midair swung once more.
The blade edge, visible to the naked eye, instantly swept across the Yata Garasu that was charging toward him. The Yata Garasu did not even get the chance to let out a cry before it was split apart.
"Besides—"
Kitagawa Gen lightly stepped on the Yata Garasu's corpse. His figure twisted in midair, and in the next moment he once again charged straight at the three of them!
"Do you really think you're the same as me—some so-called 'evolution'?"
"Die!"
Obito roared in fury and rushed forward at once, with Nagato and Kimimaro following immediately after.
Boom—
Boom—
Boom—
In the blink of an eye, the entire battlefield erupted once more.
Deafening explosions and the roars of the massive summoned beasts rose and fell in waves. Shockwaves with tangible force carried clouds of dust as they violently blasted outward in all directions.
In an instant, the ground shook without pause, as if struck by an unending series of earthquakes.
Beneath the flames that had yet to die out, the entire battlefield looked utterly terrifying.
In the rear, the Allied Shinobi Forces were left dizzy and disoriented amid the massive dust clouds and shockwaves.
Many ninja who had already been unable to get up after being shaken by the True Several Thousand Hands were now so badly rattled that they had completely lost their sense of direction.
Even Jiraiya and Tsunade could only retreat while dodging the surging airwaves and flying debris.
This was the kind of battle they truly couldn't intervene in. And at this moment, Jiraiya finally seemed to understand what Tsunade had said.
"Staying here really is just causing trouble for Gen…"
...
Jiraiya couldn't help but give a bitter smile inwardly. At the center of the battlefield, Kitagawa Gen's voice rang out once again.
"You know absolutely nothing about your own condition. You really are a bunch of pitiful wretches."
"And even if there really is such a thing as 'evolution'…"
"Do you think you're worthy of it?"
Along with his voice, the piercing roar of battle grew even more intense.
And as Kitagawa Gen continued to beat them down, the fighting around Konohagakure only grew more and more fierce.
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