Under the Six-Tails' uniquely potent corrosion, the summoned rhinoceros, too grievously wounded, directly transformed into a puff of white smoke and returned to its summoning place.
Just as Utakata landed on the ground, the yellow-haired Human Path appeared before him, wielding a sharp black rod.
Thud! Thud!
Utakata formed his right hand into a cone shape. Augmented by the dark red chakra cloak, his palm struck with the force of a sharp, steel-forged weapon.
In a few short breaths, the two figures continuously interwove, unleashing one killing blow after another.
Their taijutsu was comparable; for a time, neither could gain the upper hand.
But a ninja battle was never just about direct confrontation. Seizing an opening in the Human Path's attack, the tails behind Utakata suddenly lashed out.
Squelch!
Several gashes abruptly appeared on the Human Path's body.
Just as Utakata was about to press his advantage, his body, like a radish being pulled from the earth, was suddenly lifted upwards.
Looking down, a transparent tongue slowly revealed its original form.
The Animal Path, which had been concealed around the battlefield from the very beginning, had made its move.
Utakata, his movements restrained, did not panic. He immediately sought a countermeasure, his body once again turning purple.
The powerful corrosive liquid displayed its might again. The moment the feeling of restraint vanished, Utakata formed his left hand into a sword, slithering up the crimson tongue like a snake, and thrust viciously towards the Animal Path hidden within the chameleon's mouth.
Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!
The corroded flesh on its tongue brought endless pain to the chameleon, its body trembling uncontrollably.
Facing the enemy's incoming attack, the Animal Path's expression remained unchanged. A black rod appeared from its sleeve, thrusting towards the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
Utakata tilted his head back slightly and, as if spitting, shot a highly corrosive liquid from his mouth.
Tsss!
Like lava dripping onto ice cream, the Animal Path's fair face directly melted away.
"Now that's more like it." Witnessing this scene, the Deva Path Pain leaped down from a tree.
Utakata's figure burst out from the chameleon's abdomen.
"ROAR!"
The chameleon let out a miserable shriek and, transforming into a puff of white smoke, vanished from the spot.
Utakata's gaze immediately locked onto the Deva Path Pain. Dust kicked up from beneath his feet as he shot forward at high speed.
The Asura Path and Preta Path seized the opportunity, rushing into the battlefield from the side. They picked up the damaged bodies of the Animal Path and Human Path and ran towards the Naraka Path, who had remained at the rear without making a move.
The six tails behind Utakata arched slightly, like six sharp swords, looking as if they were about to pierce countless holes in the Deva Path Pain's body in the next instant.
Gazing at the enemy, now close at hand, the Deva Path Pain's expression remained unchanged as he slowly raised his right hand.
VMMMM!
A terrifying repulsive force erupted from his palm.
Utakata's face contorted in alarm. His body flew backward uncontrollably, smashing a path straight through the forest.
A few breaths later!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Six tree trunks, as thick as thighs, flew out from the cleared path.
Just as the trees were about to crash down upon him, a massive repulsive force erupted once more.
Amidst countless splinters, the Deva Path Pain's figure leaped up. With a wave of his hands, six black rods shot out from his sleeves.
Utakata's pupils constricted violently. He wanted to dodge, but found himself completely powerless.
Thwack! Thwack!
The six black rods accurately pierced the six tails behind him.
Seeing that his vital points hadn't been hit, Utakata had just breathed a sigh of relief when a powerful sealing force suddenly surged from the black rods embedded in his tails.
His strength instantly diminished by a large margin, and immediately after, his perception of chakra also vanished.
Gazing at the incoming missiles, despair flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sky-high explosions centered on him, spreading outwards in all directions. The dense forest was instantly transformed into a rugged, stony wasteland.
Beside the Naraka Path, a spiritual head, invisible to the ordinary naked eye, slowly opened its abyss-like mouth. The intact forms of the Animal Path and Human Path emerged from within.
"I… I'm sorry…" Utakata's fading consciousness mumbled, to whom he was speaking, he did not know.
"The Six-Tails, I'll be taking it!" The Deva Path Pain stood before him and stated flatly.
Land of Hot Water.
"In you go!" Naruto kicked out, and Gaara's figure stumbled, falling into the hot spring pool.
"You can soak in a sand bath; how could a hot spring possibly kill you?"
Gazing at Gaara, who looked utterly helpless in the hot spring pool, Naruto nodded in satisfaction.
"Soaking in a hot spring helps with injury recovery. I was worried you'd be shy, so I even spent a fortune to book a private room, and you, you bastard, tell me you don't want to soak!"
"Are you kidding me?"
"There are no hot springs in the Land of Wind. I'm not used to it." Gaara felt somewhat uncomfortable with the constant moist sensation from the hot spring water.
For the Land of Wind, which was mostly yellow sand, even taking a bath was a luxury.
"Then you'd better get used to it now," Naruto said, annoyed.
Hearing this, Gaara said no more and silently experienced the so-called therapeutic benefits of a hot spring.
"The Six-Tails has been captured." "The Four-Tails has also been captured." Kurama's and Shukaku's voices sounded one after the other.
Both Naruto and Gaara paused in their actions.
"When did this happen?" Naruto asked.
"The Four-Tails was captured yesterday. The Six-Tails was just captured now," Kurama said.
"Is that so." Naruto nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He had already given the warnings he could.
"Naruto, is there anything we should do?" Gaara asked.
"Focus on increasing your strength." Naruto waved his hand. "The ones who should be worrying are Kirigakure and Iwagakure. It's their Jinchuriki who were captured, not ours."
"You've witnessed Akatsuki's strength. What can you, I, and Isobu possibly do?"
"It's already good enough if we can protect ourselves."
He hadn't forgotten that Akatsuki possessed the Rinnegan.
Compared to Uchiha Itachi and the other S-rank missing-nin, that was what worried Naruto the most.
"I understand." Gaara wasn't a saint; he naturally understood the stakes involved.
Their relationship with the other Jinchuriki wasn't yet at the point where they would risk their lives for each other.
Border of the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire.
A middle-aged man with a full beard was fleeing frantically, frequently looking back as if something terrifying were chasing him.
"Damn you, Orochimaru!" Shinno gritted his teeth silently.
"How long do you plan to run?" a calm voice came from ahead.
Shinno focused his gaze and saw a young man in an open-chested white kimono, arms crossed, standing there as if he had been waiting for some time.
"It's you again." Shinno's expression darkened, the muscles on his body suddenly bulging. He refused to believe that a mere lackey of Orochimaru could keep chasing him down.
Zzzzt!
A piercing sound.
Shinno's figure vanished in a puff of smoke.
"A shadow clone?" Uchiha Sasuke's brow furrowed slightly. Just how many ninjutsu has this fellow stolen from Konoha?
First, the Eight Gates, and now shadow clones.
For the dignified number one village in the ninja world to have so many advanced ninjutsu stolen by a remnant of the Sky Ninja Village… it was truly laughable when he thought about it.
Bang!
Just then, a firework exploded in the distant sky.
"Over there, huh…"
Uchiha Sasuke sheathed his Kusanagi Sword and, with a few leaps, disappeared into the jungle.