"Earth Shadow!!"
Rasa's face twisted with urgency as he turned toward Onoki's position. His control over the golden sand intensified, and the swirling metallic storm faintly suppressed Saitama's Wood Release, forming a wall in midair to block the attack.
Whoosh—
Before Rasa's voice could even fade, a figure dropped from the sky—but it wasn't Onoki. It was a rock-shaped clone resembling him.
The body of the clone had been pierced through, leaving a large smoking black hole.
Clearly, it had been a Tsuchi Bunshin (Earth Clone).
As the smoke from the explosion finally cleared, the elderly Onoki at last appeared.
He hovered several meters away from his original spot, one hand still holding the hand seal, panting heavily.
Despite his advanced age, Onoki's strength was not to be underestimated. He had maintained peak condition for years and remained formidable even now in his old age.
Though he often complained about his aging body in front of his subordinates, his true form was revealed when he instantly took down opponents with a single move.
Moreover, having served longer than any other among the Five Kages, his battle experience exceeded anyone's imagination.
Knowing full well that retaliation would come the moment he intervened on Nagato's side, he had prepared an escape strategy in advance.
"I'm fine, Kazekage Rasa!"
Onoki raised one hand to signal Rasa before maneuvering his body closer for cover.
"He almost got away. So close… I nearly had him."
Nagato stomped one foot on the ground and used the reaction force to leap onto Saitama's side, whispering softly.
If not for the use of Dust Release, Namikaze Minato would have definitely died by his hands.
Of course, his real goal was collecting the tailed beasts rather than killing an irrelevant Hokage.
And just now, after pushing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to the brink of death, an ally of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had arrived nearby, meaning his mission was essentially complete.
Although the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki himself had yet to reveal his presence, the overwhelming aura of the Nine-Tails suffused the space around them, sending Nagato—possessor of the Rinnegan—into a state of exhilaration.
"He won't get away. I'll find them. But for now, we must deal with our enemies here."
Saitama slightly furrowed his brow as he replied to Nagato, watching the Wood Release gradually being suppressed under Rasa's storm of gold dust.
At this moment, the two stood side by side. Their matching trench coats flared with chakra energy, their small figures radiating immense pressure against thousands of enemies ahead.
"Right. Securing the Nine-Tails is our top priority."
Nagato extended his arm forward. An invisible force formed in the space before him, halting the incoming sand particles launched by the Wood Release attack.
Boom—
His palm snapped shut. The Rinnegan's immense power erupted, shattering the gold dust into fragments that scattered across the sky.
...
"Just in time, I hope."
As the two conversed, a Zetsu emerged from underground, speaking in a pale, ghostly tone.
Green hair and shark-like fangs—exactly as remembered.
"My White Zetsu units couldn't stop them, so I had no choice but to let them pass."
White Zetsu continued, staring at Onoki and the others.
"Have you found the Nine-Tails yet?" Saitama asked, ignoring the enemies before him.
Though they could sense the Nine-Tails' presence, its exact location remained elusive for now.
That's exactly what White Zetsu was made for. He could cut down on wasted time considerably.
"They're in the valley to the east," White Zetsu answered. "Minato Namikaze, who was rescued earlier, is there as well. Also, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has developed significantly—she has reached a pact with the Nine-Tails, greatly enhancing her power."
White Zetsu glanced between the two men, reporting the most crucial intelligence he had gathered recently.
"I see."
Nagato nodded in understanding.
"You keep monitoring Yugito. We'll head over immediately."
Saitama lazily waved his right hand dismissively before speaking to White Zetsu, since there was no reason to keep him here.
"Oh, what about the situation behind Konoha?"
As if suddenly remembering something, Saitama quickly followed up.
Although that battlefield wasn't as critical as this one, it involved the largest number of combatants, so it still warranted attention.
"I left Tobi there, so there shouldn't be any issues. I'll also keep an eye on things personally. As for the other fronts, part of the White Zetsu Army has been deployed to slow enemy advances."
White Zetsu responded swiftly, as if he had anticipated the question.
Tobi already possessed peak strength among White Zetsus, not to mention tens of thousands of White Zetsu clones. It would be nearly impossible for Konoha or any other Hidden Villages to break through and claim victory.
"That's good."
Saitama murmured thoughtfully.
The other fronts only needed to stall. Once the Nine-Tails was secured here, nothing else would matter.
White Zetsu glanced around with a knowing smile, then sank into the ground and vanished under the wary gazes of others.
"I'll handle this."
Before Saitama could attack again, Nagato stepped forward to block him, saying solemnly.
Saitama hesitated, then shifted aside.
Nagato's expression was serious.
Vzz—
Under Saitama's Sharingan gaze, Nagato's body pulsed with thick chakra, radiating waves of searing heat.
[Planetary Devastation]!!
Mentally reciting the jutsu's name, Nagato's feet slowly lifted off the ground as his entire body stretched freely.
In his palms formed a small black energy sphere exuding a force that made one's heart pound with dread.
Once the abilities once exclusive to the Pains became standard techniques for Nagato's true form, numbers lost all meaning.
So when Nagato pressed his hands together, Onoki and Rasa of Suna's expressions drastically changed as a chilling premonition surged within them.
"Retreat! Fall back now!"
Rasa shouted loudly to the thousand-strong force behind him while rapidly propelling himself backward using his Gold Dust.
But their movements were simply too slow.
Swish—
The earth core ascended into the sky, gravity wreaking havoc.
Boom! Boom!!
Controlled by Nagato's will, the land ahead instantly collapsed and disintegrated.
The [Petrification Ninjutsu] engulfed all the arriving ninja without exception.
"Oh God!"
"Help me!"
"..."
Panic-stricken ninja were lifted into the sky, crushed mercilessly alongside the rising slabs of stone.
Blood oozed from the crevices in the floating stone mass, dripping between the cracks—but before the crimson droplets could even fall, another wave of rocks—and ninja beneath—were whipped violently upward.
"Ah, nothing beats the Rinnegan!"
Seeing the brutal spectacle unfold, Saitama mumbled to himself, then shut his eyes tightly.
Meanwhile, Rasa used his Gold Dust to pull a group of ninja out of the [Petrification Ninjutsu]'s range and land safely on the ground.
He stared pale-faced at where they had just been standing.
"Lord Kazekage, looks like we've got a huge problem on our hands!"
Onoki floated over, his expression complex.
BOOM—
Before either could finish speaking, the nearly formed stone sphere in the sky suddenly cracked apart. Countless rocks shattered into fragments and rained down toward them.
[Gold Dust Barrier]!
Rasa squatted on the ground, planting both hands and activating his ninjutsu.
The flowing Gold Dust transformed again, surging from underground like ocean waves, then solidifying midair to form an enormous wall.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—
The falling debris struck the golden barrier, creating countless dull thuds and causing violent tremors.
"Fall back!"
Maintaining his stance with both hands planted, Rasa shouted, his face flushed red.
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