The next day, the group packed up again and resumed their journey.
Jiraiya-sensei seemed to have recovered from last night's blow as well.
He kept comforting himself. Two little brats... so what if they've got talent? Their emotional experience can't compare to this great literary master!
Just then, rumbling sounds suddenly came from not far away.
Everyone's gaze simultaneously focused in one direction.
"So huge..."
"It's floating in the sky—what is that?"
"An enemy?"
Karin, Jiraiya, and Sasuke couldn't believe their eyes at the massive island floating in the sky.
No, calling it an island was somewhat inappropriate. Looking carefully, it should be described as a giant fortress built from stone blocks.
Naruto's expression was subtle.
Had the Golden Lion come here too?
That was naturally impossible.
Actually, this fortress-like flying object was the "Angkor Fortress" created by the Land of the Sky.
Its essence was a weapon of destruction that could move freely.
Originally, this fortress should've officially taken flight years later. The reason the timeline had moved up so much was still connected to the Akatsuki organization.
Let's go back in time a bit.
Two uninvited guests wearing black robes with red clouds had arrived at the Sky Ninjas' disguised village.
That was still during the Second Great Ninja War.
At that time, the Land of the Sky had developed ninja tools that could grant individual soldiers flight capabilities, so they became overconfident and wanted to grab a share of the spoils in this chaotic world.
Their final fate was being kicked half to death by Konoha ninjas from the Land of Fire like roadside trash.
Subsequently, the Land of the Sky's leader wasn't reconciled to this outcome and began recuperating in secret, planning a counterattack on Konoha for revenge.
If today's events hadn't happened, perhaps everything would've developed as they imagined.
The Sky leader's real name was unknown. To hide his identity, he called himself "Shinnō" and usually presented himself as a traveling doctor.
In reality, he was constantly collecting information about the rumored "Zero-Tails," wanting to obtain power sufficient to destroy Konoha by unsealing the Zero-Tails.
Because of this plan, he'd also adopted a war orphan named "Amaru."
Today, Shinnō had originally planned to leave the village with Amaru to treat others, but before they could even leave the village entrance, their path was blocked by two individuals who were obviously not ordinary people.
"You're Shinnō, right?"
The speaker was Konan, while the Asura Path Pain standing behind her said nothing, just examining the two with those overwhelmingly oppressive Rinnegan eyes.
Amaru shrank behind Shinnō in fear, but with her master's protection, she wasn't too frightened.
"I am Shinnō. May I ask... do you need something from me? Does someone need my treatment?"
Shinnō had perhaps read books like "An Actor's Self-Cultivation." When playing a doctor, he perfectly displayed that image of being powerless but containing compassion.
Even the most vicious rogue ninjas wouldn't bother targeting such a doctor for no reason.
Did they expect to seize gold, silver, or jewels from such a person?
Unfortunately, his disguise was useless before Zetsu, who possessed the ninja world's greatest infiltration abilities.
Konan and her companion had already learned information about Shinnō. At the same time, they'd also taken interest in the so-called "Zero-Tails."
After all, their original plan was to capture nine tailed beasts and seal them into the Demonic Statue to create an "ultimate weapon" that could threaten all great nations.
If they couldn't recruit Shinnō, they didn't mind killing him and taking the "beast."
"There's no need to pretend in front of us, Shinnō. I want you to join us."
Konan's words were very direct.
"As compensation, we're willing to help you destroy Konoha together."
This was originally one of their plans too.
But unexpectedly, facing Konan's almost card-revealing words, Shinnō still maintained that "I don't know what you're talking about" expression.
"It seems negotiations have failed."
The Asura Path Pain stepped forward.
Shinnō and Amaru also looked at this man with black spikes "growing" from his bald head.
In terms of appearance, though everyone had facial piercings, Konan was obviously much better looking than him.
This guy was clearly not normal.
The Asura Path directly extended his right hand toward the two, then his arm's skin split open, revealing several small missiles beneath.
Immediately after, those missiles launched from his wrist with trails of fire. Shinnō and Amaru had no time to dodge and were hit by the tracking missiles.
Fire almost instantly surrounded both of them.
"Is this all there is?"
Seeing this, Konan just coldly said this sentence.
"It's not over yet."
The Asura Path with Rinnegan shook his head.
After the fire and smoke dispersed, Shinnō's body, still emitting black smoke and "covered in wounds," collapsed heavily.
But Amaru, whom he'd protected with his body, was just slightly dizzy from the shock.
Shinnō seemed to want to say something to Amaru, but in the end could only open his mouth before completely losing his voice.
In an instant, Amaru felt like the sky had fallen.
"No!! Sensei!!"
Her tears flowed freely, falling in streams onto Shinnō's charred wounds. Her entire being also emanated an aura of dark despair.
The Asura Path Pain's Rinnegan turned slightly, seeming to sense through this girl's aura that something even more deeply hidden existed underground.
Bang!
Suddenly, two black tentacles quickly struck Konan and the Asura Path Pain.
Following the tentacles' direction, there was a creature that appeared to be built from chaotic flesh and blood.
It wore a mask carved with the character "Zero," shaped like a great serpent but with countless arms growing from it.
Unfortunately, the Zero-Tails' sudden attack didn't seem to achieve much effect.
The Konan bound by it directly dissolved into paper clones and scattered, while though the Asura Path Pain was the real body, he showed no fear.
Many saw blades and cutting tools extended from his body, instead tearing the Zero-Tails' tentacles into a pile of meat chunks flowing with indescribable liquid.
These things were essentially twisted creations made by Shinnō using so-called "Dark Chakra" combined with human malice.
But if you insisted on calling it an artificial tailed beast, it fell far short.
This Zero-Tail's chakra volume indeed far exceeded ordinary people, but compared to real tailed beasts—even the One-Tail Shukaku—it wasn't enough.
"This counts as a tailed beast?"
Konan's figure reappeared nearby, ruthlessly mocking that rapidly recovering mass of flesh.
"This shouldn't be the main body."
The Asura Path Pain's eyes looked toward the underground hiding the Zero-Tails' true body, saying flatly.
"They're useless now. Finish them off."
After saying this, the Asura Path Pain's Rinnegan attempted to suppress the Zero-Tails.
But the Zero-Tails, as an artificial product, didn't seem affected by the Rinnegan's restraint, further proving Konan's thoughts.
Countless explosive tags flew out like snowflakes with Konan's wave, all sticking to the Zero-Tails' surface.
One explosive tag might not have much effect, but Konan's seemingly wasteful usage was completely different.
Just as the Zero-Tails prepared to attack again, the explosive tags attached to its body began flashing with fire.
Then came a series of continuous explosions like firecrackers.
No matter how fast the Zero-Tails' self-recovery speed was, it couldn't keep up with the destruction from the explosions.
Soon, only an unrecognizable puddle of minced meat remained on the ground, along with the completely unconscious Amaru.