The Chibaku Tensei that absorbed everything was swallowed by Samehada in one gulp.
The suction dissipated, and the soil that had been sucked into the air fell down, causing dust to fly and the snowfield to collapse.
The fusion of earth and snow crashed to the ground. Seeing this, Hyuga Neji activated Kaiten to avoid being buried, Nara Shikamaru manipulated his shadow to shield himself, and Tendo Pain quickly flew into the air.
Only Uchiha Sasuke, injured and unable to move, had no means of resisting. He was completely buried under the falling debris.
Naruto's clothes fluttered in the cold wind high above. He glanced down at the mound where Sasuke was buried. After sensing that Sasuke was still alive, he looked away, unconcerned.
In truth, he could have saved Sasuke.
But he didn't want to.
It wasn't about loyalty—Naruto simply couldn't tolerate Sasuke calling him a bastard and an idiot. As a father, it was better to let his son experience being buried first.
Still, Naruto didn't blame Sasuke. After all, the boy had grown up without true fatherly love.
Naruto had made up his mind: after they returned to Konoha, he would explain the truth—that Sasuke was his and Mikoto's biological son.
Once the father and son reconciled, Sasuke might still be annoyed, but at least he would acknowledge Naruto as his father.
And Shikamaru? He needed to be acknowledged too.
No real man would let his children carry someone else's surname. That was simply unacceptable.
"Why did Uzumaki Naruto stop moving?" Tiandao Pain muttered. "Was I right? Did he rely on a secret technique that has now worn off?"
Samehada swallowing Chibaku Tensei was shocking. Kisame had never reported such a feature—perhaps he never truly understood how to wield the blade. Such a weapon was wasted on him.
"Swish!"
While Naruto was still thinking about how to make his sons accept him, Tendo made his move. Dozens of black chakra rods were launched toward Naruto.
Tiandao had assumed Naruto would be weakened after using Samehada.
But Naruto deflected the attack with ease, slapping the rods aside without even trying.
Then he rushed forward at high speed.
Nagato's control of the Rinnegan was far inferior to that of Uchiha Madara. If it had been Madara, he might have used Tenkai Shock Star.
If that were the case, Naruto might have retreated with his sons and lover's child.
But right now, it was Tendo Pain who needed to run.
In a flash, Naruto slashed horizontally with Samehada at Tendo Pain's waist.
Samehada's thick, spiked blade struck true. It opened its maw and tore a large chunk of flesh from Tendo's side.
"Boom!"
Before Pain could react, he slammed into the ground.
"Peh!" Samehada spat.
It had bitten into rotten flesh devoid of chakra. The rods transmitting chakra from Nagato held no energy of their own. For a blade that fed on chakra, it was repulsive.
"Haha, good boy," Naruto said, stroking Samehada and transferring some of his own chakra.
Samehada wagged like an excited puppy.
Naruto's chakra was the most delicious energy it had ever tasted. Just a bit made it ecstatic.
But nothing came for free.
"Do me a favor and take a few more bites out of him."
As his words echoed, Naruto landed beside Tendo. He lifted Samehada high and brought it down vertically.
"How is Uzumaki Naruto still this fast?" Tendo was shocked.
But he wasn't powerless. He raised his hands and shouted, "Shinra Tensei!"
Again with the repulsion.
A seemingly powerful ability, but its damage was minimal. It cleared terrain and pushed away fodder, but offered little against a monster like Naruto.
Naruto, strengthening Samehada with chakra, met the repulsive wave head-on.
"Whoosh~!"
Samehada clashed with Shinra Tensei. In two seconds, the force was shattered, and Samehada cleaved through, tearing more flesh and knocking out several chakra rods.
Only now did Tendo Pain believe what Uchiha Sasuke had said:
"Uzumaki Naruto is the mountain I cannot climb."
Even he, Pain, couldn't withstand Naruto now.
Nagato, watching from afar in the Rain Country, panicked. His two most important people—Konan and Yahiko—were in peril.
And now, Yahiko's corpse, used as Tendo, had been severely damaged.
"Don't harm Yahiko's body anymore!"
Nagato coughed blood and grew weaker.
"Super Shinra Tensei!" Tendo screamed, palms pressed together.
This enhanced repulsion actually managed to knock Naruto back.
"Uzumaki Naruto, see you next time!" Tendo declared, retreating immediately.
Now he fully believed Sasuke's warning—whoever opposes Naruto dies.
Naruto smirked. "You're not going anywhere."
With Samehada in hand, Naruto followed casually, slashing at Tendo every so often, peeling flesh like a cat playing with a mouse.
"Naruto... is he really that strong?"
Shikamaru was stunned. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
This was the same Naruto who used to finish dead last?
It felt like everyone else had been climbing a hill, while Naruto had strapped into a rocket.
Neji sighed. "I thought I was a genius. Now I realize... I'm nothing."
Shikamaru nodded. The gap was beyond envy.
"Oh~!"
They both sighed.
Then came a muffled voice from underground.
"Someone save me, I can't breathe!"
...
Snowflakes fell silently. The ground was covered in white. In the distance, faint lights flickered.
The world slept, but Naruto pursued Tendo to a small town.
Tendo Pain's body was battered, flesh missing from his arms and abdomen.
"I can't let Yahiko's body fall apart. I must protect him."
Had he known this would happen, Nagato would've brought all of Akatsuki.
Now, all he could do was flee.
Just when despair set in, Nagato sensed Konan's ring near Tendo.
"Konan's in that town!"
If he could reach her, she could take him into the air—literally flying out of Snow Country.
Nagato controlled Tendo to leap into a small inn. Inside, he saw a crawling figure.
Konan.
Tears welled in her eyes. She clutched the Akatsuki ring.
"Konan, what happened to you?"
Before he could finish, Naruto's voice rang out.
"You can't hide."
Damn it. How is he still chasing me?
"Konan, hide in the bed! I'll hide somewhere else. That guy's too strong."
Tendo searched quickly and hid in the closet, ceasing all chakra output.
"He won't find me like this. No ninja can sense an inert corpse in a closet."
All that mattered was Konan not revealing him.
Nagato trusted her absolutely.
He thought Naruto might not even enter the room.
But Naruto did.
"Boom-"
The door opened. Konan began to cry silently.
When she raised a finger toward the closet, Naruto raised his own finger to hush her.
"Did anyone come here?" Naruto asked coldly.
Konan nodded rapidly, pointing at the closet.
Naruto walked to the closet and snorted, "So, you didn't see anyone. You're not lying, right?"
He placed several seals on the door.
Nagato could only hear.
"I knew Konan would never betray me. But why is she here? Did he catch her? Her legs were broken... Damn beast!"
He was livid.
He didn't know Konan had been afraid Naruto had abandoned her.
But Naruto had returned.
"Why are you crying?" Naruto asked gently.
He bent down, picked her up, and whispered: "Wife, let's play along. Just follow my lead."
Konan looked stunned, but fearing abandonment, she obeyed.
"Don't touch me! I didn't see anyone!" she shouted.
Her acting was terrible.
But in Nagato's eyes, she was perfect. He was moved.
Then came a loud noise. Naruto pushed her onto the bed, tearing at her clothes.
"You act so high and mighty, but we both know the truth."
Konan blushed deeply.
"Let me go! Please! Help!"
Her cries, the rustling cloth—Nagato heard everything.
His mind shattered.
"Brute! Monster! Let her go!"
He channeled chakra into Tendo's body, but couldn't push the wardrobe open.
He began to pound against it.
Naruto laughed loudly. "So you were hiding here all along!"
"Listen, Uzumaki Nagato! This is how Konan likes it!"
Konan caressed Naruto and cried on cue.
Only Nagato was suffering.
Back in the Rain Country, in a tree hole, Nagato screamed: "Uzumaki Naruto! I will never forgive you!"
"I want you to feel the pain! Experience it! Accept it! Understand it!"
"I will grind you to dust!!!"
At this moment, even Naruto admitted—Nagato's pain might truly be greater than his.
"Hahaha," Naruto chuckled, leaning in to kiss Konan's lips.
It was her reward.