From the memory disc, Ryosuke understood that Yagura was being controlled by the Masked Man.
The conflict between the reformist and loyalist factions was well known, and based on Kirigakure's recent personnel movements, with the Masked Man's intelligence capabilities, it was not difficult to know that turmoil would soon occur in Kirigakure.
Since that's the case, the problem arises.
'Will the Masked Man come?'
Ryosuke believed he would.
A foundation built over several years, a Kage-level puppet, and numerous bound interest groups... No one would want to give it up.
From the very first day he arrived in Kirigakure, Ryosuke had been waiting for the Masked Man to appear.
Unfortunately, his knowledge of the Masked Man's intel was too limited. There was no stable chain of causality linking them.
He couldn't use Hermit Purple to investigate like with Orochimaru. He could only remain in a constant state of vigilance.
"He's here!"
Ryosuke's gaze swept over the two of them.
Obito scattered chains from his palm.
Pain now held a pitch-black short rod in his hand.
Ryosuke recalled their abilities.
The Masked Man, he had seen his abilities before, leading space movement, and he could make his body intangible, untouchable.
Pain, Tendo Pain, Ryosuke had seen in Konan's memory. He was a puppet remotely controlled by Nagato, the corpse of Yahiko. His ability was to control gravity.
Ryosuke made a decision.
He grabbed Yagura and threw him toward Obito like a grenade.
The Tailed Beast Bomb in Yagura's mouth exploded violently.
But whether it was the shockwave or Yagura himself, all passed through Obito's body.
As expected, intangible body.
Ryosuke reached for the chain swinging toward him, and it too passed through his fingers, unable to touch or cause harm.
"As long as the Masked Man enters his intangible state, he can ignore all attacks."
Ryosuke activated a thought, Aerosmith appeared.
Da-da-da-da-da!
A barrage of bullets pierced Obito.
"If he performs any blocking movement, that means the intangibility has been deactivated. Before that happens, don't worry about him. Focus on the one we know."
Ryosuke turned to look at Pain.
"One-on-one."
Star Platinum detached from Ryosuke's body, took one step, and immediately struck out with a fierce punch at Pain.
But Pain was already on guard, he opened his arms almost simultaneously.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A powerful repulsive force erupted, not giving Star Platinum any chance to get close. When the fist was only a few centimeters away from Pain, it was forcibly repelled.
Star Platinum adjusted the direction it was deflected toward, grabbed Ryosuke's extended arm, and forcefully flung him toward Pain at even higher speed.
Seeing Ryosuke charging with a raised sword, Pain felt dazed for a moment.
In the end, which one is the Stand, and which one is the main body?
Tendo Pain's Shinra Tensei had a five-second cooldown, and Ryosuke had already closed the distance. The massive Destruction Blade was raised high, when suddenly, the sound of projectiles came from behind.
Not far away, the cannon on Asura Path's back emitted thick smoke, dozens of missiles trailed fire as they flew through the sky.
Star Platinum had just been blasted away. Ryosuke didn't have time to summon again. He had to give up on pursuing Pain, twist around, and swing his blade through the air, slicing down all the incoming missiles.
The shockwave from the explosions blew both Ryosuke and Pain away again, reopening the distance between them.
Ryosuke landed steadily.
Pain and Obito were also completely unharmed.
The first round of clashes between both sides was like lightning and flint. Many people hadn't even seen it clearly. The only thought in their minds was how terrifying it was,
Ninjutsu without hand seals.
A body beyond reason.
And an inhuman fighting style.
Many ninja who had lived in Kirigakure for years without ever leaving subconsciously muttered, "What kind of monsters are these? During the years Kirigakure was closed off, did the ninjas of other villages develop this far?!"
"Roar! Roar! Roar!!!"
A low, massive roar broke everyone's thoughts.
Buildings and houses collapsed in large sections. Dust filled the sky, only to be shredded by a gigantic turtle covered in spikes, with three tails, and nearly twenty meters tall.
"Ry... Ryosuke..."
Yagura's voice was low, filled with immense anger and hatred.
Pain and Obito landed on Isobu's back. From dozens of meters away, they stared at Ryosuke.
"That's all, right?" Pain asked.
"Yeah."
Obito responded blandly, "Ryosuke's abilities… basically, that's all."
Close-range, Star Platinum, White Snake, Ryosuke's own body.
Mid-to-long-range, Hermit Purple, Aerosmith.
And one special ability, Rainbow Catcher.
Obito and Pain had gathered intel from Ryosuke's battle in Konoha. They knew Ryosuke had a power to control rainwater. That's why they had hidden in the shadows, observing his fighting style.
Now it seemed, without rain, Ryosuke couldn't use the Rainbow Catcher's power.
He hadn't displayed any other strange new ability either.
So, just as Obito said, "Basically, that's all."
Standing on Isobu's back, Obito's rotating Sharingan carried no emotion. He spoke softly, "Ryosuke, you're a troublesome guy. For people like you, I prefer to cut the knot with a sharp blade and resolve it in one go. So, if you have no new ability, I'm sorry..."
"You have to die here."
Isobu opened its mouth, once again gathering a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Asura Path's body opened, its cannons all fired their full payload.
Obito formed hand seals.
"Fire Style, Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
All three attacks were aimed at the same spot,
A deserted clearing.
Just as no one could understand what the three of them were doing, Pain raised a hand toward Ryosuke.
"Bansho Ten'in!"
Ryosuke was pulled into the air, uncontrollably flying toward Pain.
He tried to dodge, but there was no footing. Star Platinum had just pushed Ryosuke aside, but a stronger gravitational pull immediately attached to him.
Anyone who had fought Pain feared his Shinra Tensei, thinking it was an unbreakable barrier that could repel and crush all ninjutsu and enemies.
But Bansho Ten'in was even scarier, a skill of absolute control.
As long as Pain maintained the technique, Ryosuke had only two options.
Rush toward Pain.
Or remain trapped in one area.
But both options led to the same result, being struck by the massive-range Tailed Beast Bomb, missile bombardment, and Majestic Destroyer Flame all at once.
This level of attack, even if Ryosuke had a body stronger in regeneration than Orochimaru, would reduce him in an instant to fragments of meat and splattered tissue, and under high heat, he would be scattered ash in the wind.
Every part of this was within Obito's calculation.
"Ryosuke, I admit you're strong."
Obito said coldly, "But I've seen countless strong people. And in the end, the one who survived, was me. Humans ultimately have limits and weaknesses. They can be..."
"Killed."
Pain's powerful control.
Isobu's large-scale firepower.
And the situation set up by Obito, driving every enemy into total despair,
"This is the answer to your death that I prepared."
Terumi Mei released defensive Water Style ninjutsu.
Zabuza gritted his teeth, tucked a loyalist corpse under each arm, and rushed forward, intending to use them as human shields to protect Ryosuke.
Mayuri released Ice Style, countless ice spikes stabbed toward Obito, trying to force him to retreat.
But, it was too late.
The three attacks had already launched. In the next second, they would land.
Whoosh~
A blast of wind surged. The power of nature between heaven and earth merged into Ryosuke's body, then flowed into the Destruction Blade. The massive blade extended again, now wrapped in a layer of golden thunder.
Obito sneered.
He had planned for this moment.
Ryosuke's slash, certainly strong, but before the slash fell, he would already be blown to bits...
Snap!
A nearly inaudible sound, as if a strand of hair had snapped, resounded in everyone's ears.
And at the exact moment that sound occurred, they disappeared.
The Tailed Beast Bomb, the bombardment missiles, and the Majestic Destroyer Flame, all three entirely different techniques vanished as if erased by a rubber.
"What?!"
Obito's expression changed drastically.
Not just him, even Pain lost control of Bansho Ten'in, and in the distance, Nagato nearly lost connection with Tendo and Asura Paths.
Ryosuke truly didn't have any new abilities.
But that didn't mean his teammates didn't.
Sasuke's ninjutsu nullification.
Ever since leaving Konoha, Sasuke had been experimenting. Gradually, he discovered something, with extreme mental focus, once Ripple, chakra, and natural energy flowed into his body, Sasuke could once again hear the "strange uncle's" voice.
After that, he could erase ninjutsu within his field of vision.
But only for an instant.
After one moment, the effect would vanish.
If the enemy cast ninjutsu again, Sasuke couldn't do anything, he would need to rest a while before he could use it again.
But even so, it was powerful enough to become the trump card that could reverse the situation at a critical moment.
"A trump card... is for moments like this."
Sasuke held his forehead, face pale, "Brother Ryosuke... now's your moment!"
Ryosuke nodded at him.
That child who once could only cry helplessly in the face of slaughter, had now grown into a reliable teammate.
Star Platinum threw Ryosuke into the air. The giant sword nearly 100 meters long was raised straight up. Golden light pierced through the mist that had lingered above Kirigakure for decades.
Isobu trembled slightly.
Ryosuke didn't say a single word, he slashed down.
Isobu's shell split open with a crack. After holding for just one second, the crack was completely torn apart, revealing the flesh and bone underneath.
The blade showed no mercy and continued falling.
Until...
One slash, two halves.
[Killed Jinchūriki, Yagura. Gained 1,500 soul fragments.]
Ryosuke landed lightly. The Destruction Blade released billowing heat from its tail. Isobu's corpse, split left and right, crashed to the ground.
"Wouldn't being a human be better? Why insist on being a turtle?"
Ryosuke shook his head slightly, stabbed the blade into the ground, letting it release steam.
Then he turned toward Obito and Pain.
"Next, it's your turn."
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