The Shōton (Crystal Release) Shield flared to life, intercepting the incoming rockets.
Crack! Crack!
The red crystal barriers shattered under the explosions, fragments scattering as red light dyed the mist like thin threads of blood.
Using that brief moment to breathe, Hyūga Shigeo formed seals—Mokuton Bunshin (Wood Clone). Five clones split off and raced forward in unison.
"Asura Path, huh?" Shigeo roared, voice echoing over the sea.
"Then today, I'll show you what a real Asura looks like!"
With a single Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique), he lunged toward his foe.
His hands flashed through a sequence of seals—Suiton (Water Release), Fūton (Wind Release), Shōton (Crystal Release), Hyōton (Ice Release)—four elements converging from every direction to crush the Asura Path.
A massive Water Dragon descended from above.
Crystal lances pierced toward the opponent's chest.
Blades of wind sliced at his Rinnegan eyes.
Ice erupted upward, aiming to sever his legs.
Then—
BOOM!
An explosion echoed from the direction of Nanmoku City.
Though a secondary barrier protected the city, the distance was too far; even with his sensory skills at full range, Shigeo couldn't sense the details. Reports from his five wood clones came back—four had intercepted the other Pains.
Tendō (Deva Path) was missing.
One clone had already gone after him.
With Tendō's abilities, he could annihilate an entire nation alone.
And Nanmoku was barely a single fortified city.
This had to end quickly.
Abandoning ninjutsu, Shigeo drew a kunai and charged for close combat.
"Bakuton (Explosion Release): Detonation!"
A violent blast surged beneath the waves, heat roaring through the sea, vapor exploding outward in rippling rings.
The fog thickened, and the boiling ocean churned like a cauldron.
Asura Path scanned the haze—but Shigeo was gone.
Where did he go?
Splash.
The sea rippled faintly behind him. He turned—too late.
A flash of light cut across his vision. His Rinnegan eyes split open under Shigeo's kunai.
Black blood streamed from his sockets.
"You like pain, don't you?" Shigeo said coldly. "You think it makes others understand you? Then feel it yourself."
His blade rose and fell twice.
Both eyes burst.
Moments later—BOOM!—the Asura Path's body exploded, torn into pieces.
Alarms rang across Nanmoku City, their sound carrying over the sea.
Shigeo used Shunshin again, appearing high above the city.
There—Tendō Pain stood in the center.
Their intent was unmistakable.
They no longer cared to recruit him.
They wanted Nanmoku destroyed.
With the Asura Path gone, the other four Pains—driven mad—killed the wood clones and rushed toward the city.
Nanmoku Country had existed for only two years.
An island nation, closed off from the world, limited in growth.
After the fall of Wumang City, ruined by the "Sky Ninja" and Akatsuki, little foundation remained.
This wasn't Konoha.
The few ninja here couldn't stand against monsters like these.
They were lambs before the slaughter.
BOOOOM!
The tallest clock tower in the city collapsed.
Shigeo's eyes widened.
"Damn it, Pain! Do you even know how many people it takes to build one of those?! I'll kill you!"
His Byakugan eyes shone blue-white, rippling with concentric rings—the hidden Rinnegan unveiled.
"Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull)!" Tendō extended his hand.
"Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push)!"
Though Shigeo hadn't split the Six Paths' powers like Nagato, he could use all their abilities.
And during his year of seclusion in Nanmoku, he hadn't been idling away fishing—he had healed his eyes and developed unique Rinnegan powers of his own.
Banshō Ten'in drew the target inward; Shinra Tensei repelled outward.
Colliding forces erupted in a deafening boom.
Around him, more than ten new Wood Clones, each bearing Rinnegan eyes, appeared instantly.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique)!"
One clone formed seals, summoning a beast to confront the Animal Path (Chikushōdō).
The Pain's summoned creatures emerged—controlled by black rods—
chameleon, giant bird, ox, rhino, crustacean, even a stone panda.
Huge, powerful, merciless.
But Shigeo's summoning was different.
His was no ordinary beast—
A divine tiger, the mythical Byakko of legend.
It needed no control rods.
It fought of its own will.
Summoned through space–time manipulation using his nine-tomoe Rinnegan, the Byakko had appeared only once before—when Shigeo first signed their contract.
"Oi, Shigeo brat," the tiger's deep voice rumbled, its white fur shimmering with ethereal light. "You again? Do you know how little I enjoy seeing you?"
"Less talking, more fighting! Kill them!" Shigeo barked back, already clashing with Tendō again.
The Animal Path's beasts roared, surging toward the city—
but Byakko leapt in their path, eyes glowing fiercely.
Energy burst from its massive body, white aura crackling like lightning.
Its claws gleamed like blades, cutting through the sea air.
"What are these pests?" Byakko muttered, stretching lazily before swatting forward.
BOOM!
Five of the charging summons vanished instantly, torn apart by a single strike.
The remaining creatures lunged from every direction—some breathing fire, others darting like hawks or slashing with bladed talons.
"Roar—how insolent!"
One of the Four Divine Beasts of legend, Byakko unleashed a roar that split the sky.
Its body expanded, energy waves tearing through the battlefield.
Another swipe of its paw sent enemies flying, dissipating in smoke.
Beast clashed with beast, shaking the heavens.
Meanwhile, Ningendō (Human Path) engaged one of Shigeo's clones in brutal close combat.
Their movements blurred, impossible to follow.
Although he fought a clone, the Human Path aimed to seize its head—hoping to rip secrets from Shigeo's memories.
The clone evaded, vanished, reappeared—only for the Human Path to already know his position.
The shared Rinnegan sight made concealment impossible.
(End of Chapter)
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