Nagato and Konan's hiding place.
Suddenly, white, mud-like substances began to grow on their bodies, absorbing their chakra while expanding in size.
"Zetsu!" Konan, as a woman, instinctively showed a look of disgust toward these grotesque things.
She attempted to transform into paper, but the sticky, parasitic Spore Technique of White Zetsu clung to her like a leech, making it impossible to shake off.
"How does it feel? Surprised?" A head of White Zetsu sprouted from Konan's left shoulder, speaking in an exaggeratedly cheerful tone.
Nagato, unfazed, extended his right hand and placed it on Konan's shoulder.
"Almighty Push!"
The spores of White Zetsu were immediately repelled, falling to the ground before regrouping into two White Zetsu clones.
"Nagato, I didn't expect you to regain mobility," Obito emerged from the shadows, but his steps abruptly halted as he approached.
"I see now. You've transplanted the cells of the First Hokage. No wonder your withered body has been revitalized."
Obito was all too familiar with the cells of the First Hokage—half of his own body was reconstructed using White Zetsu, which was itself a product of those cells.
Fortunately, he had come well-prepared this time. Otherwise, this critical plan might have been derailed.
"Uchiha Madara, how dare you show yourself before me again?"
"Today, I will rid the world of a cowardly schemer like you once and for all," Nagato said coldly. From the beginning, he had harbored no goodwill toward this mysterious man.
"Big words are easy to say, but today, you've walked into a trap of my design. It is you who will die," Obito replied, holding a kunai as he strode toward Nagato.
Swoosh!
Countless paper shuriken shot out from Konan, but they all passed harmlessly through Obito's form, having no effect.
"It's useless." Obito didn't even glance at Konan, continuing his advance with the kunai in hand.
Despite Obito's oppressive approach, Nagato remained unshaken.
"Indeed, your ability can nullify any attack. But to strike me, you must materialize."
"My Almighty Push is faster than your physical manifestation."
"But I have allies."
Roar!
The roar of the Four-Tails echoed from outside. With a single punch, it snapped the giant tree Nagato was hiding in, and then spewed a massive stream of lava into the area.
"What will you do now?"
"If you use Almighty Push to repel the Four-Tails' attack, you won't be able to counter mine."
"If you don't use it, you'll be hit by the Four-Tails, while I remain untouched," Obito said, accelerating his approach.
"Almighty Push!"
Without hesitation, Nagato repelled the Four-Tails' lava.
"A foolish choice," Obito sneered as his kunai aimed for Nagato's heart.
Clang!
A sturdy tree branch sprouted from Nagato's right hand, effortlessly blocking Obito's attack.
"You can even use Wood Release now," Obito remarked, quickly retreating, his voice tinged with shock. This indicated that Nagato's transplanted First Hokage cells were of high quality, unlike Danzo's incomplete version, which couldn't use Wood Release.
"Whose handiwork is this?"
"Orochimaru, perhaps?" Obito speculated aloud, naming the first person that came to mind.
"The dead don't need to know such things."
"Universal Pull!"
Nagato pulled Obito toward him, but Obito used Kamui to escape the gravitational force. At the same time, he commanded the Four-Tails to attack again.
The surrounding trees began to grow rapidly, soon entangling the Four-Tails. Konan also used her Paper Release to attack White Zetsu.
"This woman is troublesome too!" White Zetsu complained as he burrowed into the ground to escape.
"Wood Release: Thorn Killing Technique!"
Vines covered in sharp thorns sprouted, but their target was Nagato. This wasn't Nagato's Wood Release—it was Black Zetsu's.
"Almighty Push!"
The vines were shattered by the powerful repulsive force. Obito charged at Nagato again, but as Nagato countered with Wood Release, Obito phased through his body.
Turning back, Obito's Sharingan glinted with mockery beneath his mask. "Nagato, your Six Paths are fighting elsewhere. You can't exert much strength here, can you?"
"The Four-Tails is preparing a Tailed Beast Ball. How will you handle that?"
As Obito spoke, the Four-Tails, which had stopped struggling against the Wood Release restraints, had already formed a massive Tailed Beast Ball and launched it toward Nagato.
"Nagato, we need to retreat!" Konan, her lower body transformed into wings, grabbed Nagato and attempted to fly away.
"You're not going anywhere!"
Black Zetsu's Wood Release reappeared, enveloping Nagato, Konan, and Obito.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Konan's explosive tags detonated on the Wood Release, but it was far sturdier than expected—not something that could be destroyed quickly.
"What now? Will you recall the power from your Six Paths to deal with this trouble at your main body?" Obito taunted.
The answer was obvious.
No matter what, the main body was the most important.
Nagato clapped his hands together, releasing a powerful wave of repulsive force.
"Almighty Push!"
This time, the intensity far surpassed the previous uses. The Tailed Beast Ball was sent hurtling back, slamming into the Four-Tails and heavily injuring it.
After all, the Four-Tails was not in its complete form but rather in a rampaging Jinchūriki state, limited by its host.
However, diverting so much power to the main body caused the Deva Path's Planetary Devastation to collapse. The Eight-Tails and the Fourth Raikage broke free.
"I've won!"
Obito turned swiftly. In his Kamui state, he was unaffected by the Almighty Push. Despite the series of battles, everything had happened in mere moments.
Obito's body had just phased through Nagato, leaving him very close.
The kunai once again aimed for Nagato's heart, and Nagato once again used Wood Release for defense. Obito phased through the Wood Release, his Sharingan meeting Nagato's eyes with a mocking gaze.
Nagato sensed danger and tried to retreat, but he was too slow.
Obito's left hand, which had been hidden behind his back, shot forward. With only his index and middle fingers extended, he reached for Nagato's Rinnegan.
Indeed, half of Obito's body was still phasing through Nagato's Wood Release. If he materialized, he would undoubtedly suffer severe injuries. But as long as he could retrieve the Rinnegan, what did injuries matter?
After all, with White Zetsu, even the most severe wounds could be healed.
"Nagato!" Konan screamed, clearly realizing Obito's intent and determination.
Paper shuriken shot toward Obito's vital points, but Black Zetsu's Wood Release intercepted them.
In that instant, Nagato remained exceptionally calm.
In truth, his current strength exceeded Obito's expectations. The earlier Almighty Push, which had repelled the Tailed Beast Ball, had not been overly taxing. His cooldown time was now significantly shorter.
Although Obito's fingers were nearly touching his eyes, Nagato was still retreating, and Almighty Push would soon be ready again.
But...
If he used Almighty Push here, the Deva Path would undoubtedly fall to the Fourth Raikage's assault.
If the Deva Path was defeated, the remaining Preta Path, Human Path, and Asura Path would stand no chance.
The Deva Path's resilience depended on a continuous supply of chakra and Rinnegan input. Overusing abilities at the main body would disrupt this flow, and the Raikage's attacks were no trivial matter.
This meant Yahiko would be captured by the Cloud Village forces. Considering the allure of the Rinnegan, he would likely be dissected and studied immediately.
Even if Nagato defeated the mysterious man here and rushed to rescue Yahiko, it would be too late.
This cannot happen! This must not happen!
I cannot let Yahiko endure such suffering again!
Thus, Nagato made his decision.
"Almighty Push!"
The Raikage, striking like lightning, was once again blasted away by the powerful repulsive force.
Meanwhile, Obito, clutching the Rinnegan, let out a maniacal laugh.
It was a foolish choice, but that was Nagato!
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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