In the silent night, a slightly cold wind blew.
Snowflakes in the sky drifted as mist or melted into droplets, falling down or floating upward.
Dark clouds had gathered, blocking the moonlight and extinguishing what little light remained on the snowy ground.
Swinging a kunai, Sasuke deflected a black nail that had been shot at his face. He leapt into the air, spat a mouthful of blood, wiped his mouth with his hand, and glared coldly at Tendo Pain below.
Then he formed hand seals and unleashed a giant fireball into the sky. As it struck the dark clouds, lightning erupted—revealing a dragon-headed bolt of lightning.
Tendo Pain's eyes widened. "Even after all those injuries, he can still use this level of ninjutsu... I underestimated you, Uchiha Sasuke."
"You look only fourteen or fifteen, yet you're this strong... You're better than I was at that age. Among every opponent I've met, I name you the greatest genius."
Sasuke clicked his tongue and suddenly laughed toward the sky.
Pain frowned. "What are you laughing at? Are my words too flattering for you to handle? No matter. You're about to die anyway, and I'll soon claim your eyes."
Looking down from the sky, Sasuke's expression twisted into disdain.
"You speak of genius? There is only one true genius. Compared to him, I am nothing but dust."
Admiration flickered in Sasuke's eyes.
Nagato, controlling Pain from afar, was shaken. He had once killed Hanzo the Salamander, a man who had defeated the legendary Sannin. Yet Sasuke claimed there was someone greater than himself?
"Who is this person?" Pain asked.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Sasuke replied calmly. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki your Akatsuki is hunting."
"He is the only one truly worthy of being called a genius. Compared to him, you're not even worthy to carry his shoes."
As he spoke, Sasuke raised his hand and summoned the thunderous technique "Kirin" from the sky.
"Originally, this move was meant for Naruto. Consider yourself honored to experience it in his place."
Pain sneered. "Uzumaki Naruto's reputation precedes him. They say he took down the Fourth Raikage. But he's still just a genius—and I will kill him myself."
Sasuke didn't flinch. "Anyone who opposes Naruto dies. You are no exception. Dissipate with the thunder!"
Thunder crashed down from the clouds. Pain braced himself.
"Let's see this move meant for Uzumaki Naruto! Shinra Tensei!"
Pain unleashed a massive repulsion, scattering the lightning and reshaping the snowy landscape into scorched earth.
Hyuga Neji and Nara Shikamaru watched in awe.
"Is this even a human battle?" Shikamaru muttered.
Neji, fighting three Pains at once, gritted his teeth. "Sasuke... please win. I don't want to die. My mother still needs me."
As the storm cleared, Sasuke was still standing, while Tendo Pain lay on the ground.
Neji and Shikamaru exhaled in relief—but it was premature.
Sasuke suddenly collapsed.
Tendo Pain slowly rose, unharmed, and brushed dust off his cloak.
"That was it? Just flashy thunder and nothing more," he mocked.
He approached Sasuke, preparing to extract the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Shikamaru held his breath. His life flashed before his eyes.
"Dad... why did you never love me? Mom... who were you always waiting for in the stars?"
"Ino, Chouji... I guess Ino-Shika-Chou ends with me. And Naruto... you changed so much, I couldn't even recognize you."
"Well... time to die, I suppose."
Both Neji and Shikamaru steeled themselves.
"Just the struggle of the weak," Pain muttered, ignoring them.
He raised the black spike.
But then—
A fierce wind blew across the battlefield.
A golden light erupted from the ground, piercing the darkness.
Floating in midair, glowing with divine brilliance, stood a young man with long golden hair and a stern expression.
It was Uzumaki Naruto.
"Naruto, save me!" Sasuke shouted instinctively.
Naruto's face twisted in fury. "You beast! Don't touch my son!"
Everyone froze.
Sasuke's face turned from hope to horror.
"What the hell are you saying?! Are you mocking me even now?! You idiot!"
"Heh. So this is the Naruto you admire? Seems he doesn't think much of you," Pain smirked.
"You dare show your face, brat? Today I'll take the Eternal Mangekyō, the Nine-Tails, and a pair of Byakugan too!"
Pain thrust the spike toward Sasuke.
But in the blink of an eye, he was sent flying by a violent shockwave.
Naruto, still hovering, extended a dozen golden chakra arms, each forming a Rasenshuriken.
"BOOM!!!"
The attacks exploded in every direction.
Pain's Animal Path was the first to fall, obliterated.
Next, the Human, Asura, and Hell Paths were erased by the storm.
Even the Hungry Ghost Path, trying to absorb the chakra, overloaded and exploded.
Only Tendo Pain barely survived, using Shinra Tensei to repel the destruction.
Nagato, watching from the Rain Village, trembled.
His Rinnegan had conquered demigods.
Yet Uzumaki Naruto—in one instant—destroyed everything.
"Impossible! He must have used a suicidal technique... he can't do this twice!"
"Chibaku Tensei!" Pain shouted, forming a dense black sphere.
It became a gravitational core, pulling everything skyward—including Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, and Shikamaru.
Far away, Nagato coughed blood. The jutsu drained him dry, but he believed the trap was set.
Naruto appeared powerless, drawn helplessly into the black hole.
Nagato chuckled. "So much for Uzumaki Naruto."
But then Naruto smirked.
He summoned a grotesque, massive sword—Samehada.
With one leap, he lunged toward the black sphere.
Samehada opened its mouth and devoured the black core of Chibaku Tensei.
"WHAT?!" Nagato screamed in disbelief.