Naruto held no hatred or personal grudge against Nagato.
The only thing that tempted him…
Was that pair of Rinnegan.
Faced with Nagato's repeated invitations, Naruto finally gave his answer.
"If you want me to join the Akatsuki—fine.
Beat me first."
As he spoke, his deep blue Tenseigan flared with intense fighting spirit.
His strength had been growing explosively recently,
But the enemies he'd met had all been too weak.
Kumogakure, Iwagakure, even the just-defeated Obito—
All nothing but side-road distractions.
Such fights couldn't truly test Naruto's full power.
But now, standing before him—
A healthy Nagato, bearer of the Rinnegan and Uzumaki bloodline…
Maybe this time, he could finally go all out.
"Nagato, be careful," Konan whispered with deep concern.
She had done her homework on Obito over the years.
He was definitely strong—
But had just been toyed with like a monkey by Naruto.
That shook her deeply.
Nagato, however, didn't seem to care.
He didn't believe there was anyone left in this world who could match him at full power.
"Very well…
Then let me show you—the true power of a god."
With dramatic flair, he slowly raised his right hand toward Naruto.
"Asura Path!"
His pale arm was transformed by the Asura Path's power—
Turning into a tech-heavy mechanical arm bristling with weaponry.
Missiles, laser cannons, energy bolts—
All launched with thunderous booms toward Naruto!
Faced with the barrage, Naruto casually flicked his hand—
And released a pulse of repulsive force.
The supposed high-tech arsenal instantly crumbled midair, exploding harmlessly in the distance.
"Don't embarrass yourself with cheap tricks like these."
Nagato's eyes narrowed—his fighting spirit now ignited.
For years, he had hidden behind a crippled body,
Controlling Pain's Six Paths to crush weaklings.
Those who opposed Amegakure had all been like ants before his puppets.
It was no wonder he had developed such godlike arrogance.
Now, with his body restored—stronger than ever—
And an opponent like Naruto before him—
That long-buried heat in his blood was rising again.
"Your eyes…
They're unusual."
Rinnegan vs Tenseigan.
Nagato speculated that Naruto's eyes were likely a "lower-tier" bloodline limit—
Possibly containing a fragment of Rinnegan-like power.
"But it's still not enough."
Suddenly—
A massive invisible lizard appeared beside Naruto, summoned via the Animal Path.
It opened its gaping maw—
Its enormous tongue shooting toward Naruto at high speed!
Its stealth ability was impressive—
But it was nothing against Naruto's ocular perception.
Naruto calmly raised his hand and grabbed the tongue mid-air.
With brute strength, he lifted the massive multi-meter beast into the air.
Holding the tongue like a whip—
He swung the entire lizard like a giant club toward Nagato!
This fighting style—was a first for Nagato.
"Almighty Push!"
A pulse of repulsive force sent the beast flying—
Crashing through the forest and toppling trees in its path.
It was just a test move,
But Nagato had already formed a basic judgment of Naruto's strength.
Very strong.
Stronger than any ninja he'd faced before.
But if that was all he had—
Still not enough.
"Haah!!"
With a roar, Nagato powered up a stronger Almighty Push—
Somewhere between the regular and Super Almighty Push.
Repulsive energy surged outward in a shockwave—
Centered around him and Konan.
The blast ripped the earth apart,
Thick trees were uprooted and reduced to splinters.
Calling it a natural disaster wouldn't be an exaggeration.
And at the epicenter of it all—Naruto stood.
The shock hit him dead-on—
Yet his body didn't move an inch.
Not even a wobble.
Nagato and Konan's expressions changed as they stared through the smoke.
"Impossible!" Konan gasped.
Even a Tailed Beast would've been blasted away by this.
How was a mere human body withstanding it?
And yet, Naruto was still walking forward—
Through the Almighty Push—
As if it were a gentle breeze brushing against his cheek.
Even behind him, Six-Tails Utakata was shaken.
'How could anyone fight against this man?'
"This is godhood?
No… it's barely a cold wind."
Naruto's calm murmur echoed into Nagato and Konan's ears.
His composure—his control—his power—
Especially that one line—"barely a cold wind"—
It lit a fire in Nagato's pride.
Compared to Naruto…
Was he the mortal?
Driven by emotion, Nagato poured more power into his Rinnegan.
With Hashirama Cells supporting him, he didn't need to worry about chakra anymore.
"Nagato! Wait—are you really going to use that?!"
Konan cried out in alarm.
But Nagato had no time to answer.
With a flood of ocular power, the Almighty Push underwent a qualitative transformation.
The repulsion force became so dense it was nearly physical!
The entire forest, the earth itself—was obliterated in an instant.
"Ultra Almighty Push!!"
When the shockwave cleared—
The forest looked like it had been hit by a meteor.
All that remained was a barren crater.
"Pity. Looks like he won't be joining Akatsuki after all."
Nagato exhaled heavily.
He didn't believe anyone could have survived that.
Konan remained silent.
Even she feared Naruto might be dead after that.
But then—
As the dust faded—
A glowing blue figure hovered where Naruto once stood.
Nagato frowned. He squinted—
And his Rinnegan widened in shock.
Because the Naruto he now saw—
Was completely different.
Naruto was now wearing a flowing blue-and-white chakra cloak, billowing around him.
His body was wrapped in a glowing chakra field,
With nine Truth-Seeking Orbs floating behind him.
He had entered a new form.
The chakra radiating from him…
Made even Nagato's heart tremble.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes—
His Tenseigan now bore the ripple pattern of a Rinnegan overlay.
For the first time, he had activated Tenseigan Chakra Mode and Sage Modetogether.
The sheer energy surging inside him made him feel omnipotent.
"What… what is this power?"
Konan muttered with clenched brows, her voice trembling.
Even Nagato…
Started to doubt.
Ultra Almighty Push hadn't left a scratch.
"If that's how it is—
Then I have no choice but to use that!"
Nagato forcefully pulled on his ocular power—
Clapped his hands together.
"Planetary Devastation!"
A basketball-sized black sphere floated upward—
Suspended above Naruto's head.