The moment the black sphere appeared, it was as if the entire area fell into silence.
Even the air distorted in its path.
Nagato kept his hands in the Rinnegan seal, veins bulging at his temples.
Both his ocular power and chakra were being pushed to the absolute limit.
Even in his restored body, activating Planetary Devastation was still a tremendous strain.
Though he didn't want to admit it, he felt some gratitude toward Obito for transplanting him with Hashirama's cells.
That boost had returned him to a peak far beyond his old self.
Without it, the wheelchair-bound version of him really wouldn't be a match for Uzumaki Naruto.
"To fall before this jutsu—you can consider it an honor!"
As he shouted, the black sphere of Planetary Devastation rose rapidly into the sky!
The ground cracked and trembled.
A powerful gravitational pull enveloped Naruto, still in Tenseigan Chakra Mode.
Naruto stood quietly, feeling the increasing suction.
He slowly shook his head, slightly disappointed.
"Is this really all you've got?"
Nagato sneered, thinking Naruto was just bluffing.
He knew full well how powerful Planetary Devastation was.
There were even rumors that the moon itself had been formed by the Sage of Six Paths using this very technique.
How could any ordinary person resist that?
But then, in his line of sight, Naruto—still cloaked in blue-white chakra—moved.
He raised his right hand slowly, palm facing the black sphere above.
"It's pointless. The outcome is already sealed!"
Nagato regained his calm, already picturing Naruto sealed inside the artificial moon.
But the next moment—
A brilliant blue-white energy sphere began forming in Naruto's palm.
This orb was a fusion of ocular power, Tenseigan chakra, and Sage chakra.
Under the control of the system's guidance the energies merged flawlessly.
Shu!
The energy sphere erupted, forming a blinding beam that shot straight upward at the half-formed satellite.
In an instant, the beam engulfed the entire Planetary Devastation.
But it didn't stop.
The beam continued soaring, piercing the clouds, vanishing toward the edge of the sky.
From the ground, it looked like a divine pillar of light connecting heaven and earth.
The entire shinobi world could see that blast.
Every person trembled in awe.
When the light finally faded—
Not even a trace of Planetary Devastation remained.
It had been completely erased.
Nagato's lips parted slightly, his Rinnegan still filled with shock.
Thinking back to how he had just called himself a "god,"
He now felt utterly ashamed.
"So this… this is what true divine power looks like…"
He muttered, throat dry.
"Why… why is he so strong…?"
Just as Nagato stood in stunned silence at Naruto's overwhelming strength—
A shadow silently emerged from the ground behind him.
Not even the Rinnegan detected its presence.
From beneath the earth—Black Zetsu rose.
Without warning, he thrust his hand into Nagato's back—
Straight through his chest.
The pitch-black hand burst from the front of Nagato's torso.
Even Six Paths Madara hadn't escaped this fate.
Nagato got to experience it first.
"Urgh…!"
With a grunt of pain, Nagato coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
He slowly lowered his head, assuming Naruto had struck him.
But when he looked down—
He saw that it was Black Zetsu.
That so-called "intelligence operative" Obito used to scout for Akatsuki.
Nagato had always seen Zetsu as just a messenger with no combat power.
Apparently… he was wrong.
"Nagato!"
Konan cried out in alarm.
She immediately activated her Paper Release—countless white sheets turning into sharp paper shuriken.
They shot toward Zetsu, who still stood behind Nagato.
But Black Zetsu completely ignored the barrage.
His inky body melted like tar and merged into Nagato's form.
Half of Nagato's once-pale, handsome face turned pitch black.
His expression on the white side was filled with horror—
While the black half wore a twisted, victorious grin.
"Kukuku…"
As he laughed, Zetsu began forcefully seizing control of Nagato's body.
Having had his chest pierced, Nagato lacked the strength to resist.
He could only watch as his own arms lifted and began performing hand seals.
"This seal…"
He recognized it.
It was the one for Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.
Realizing what was about to happen, Naruto quickly raised his hand—
Ready to hurl a Rasenshuriken and end this.
But just then—
The system's voice interrupted him:
"Mission Triggered: [Clash of Legends!]
Defeat Peak Uchiha Madara using Wood Release to obtain reward: Wood Release: Ascension!"
Hearing this, Naruto slowly lowered his hands.
Black Zetsu continued sealing, controlling Nagato's body.
Konan didn't understand what was happening—
But possession was never a good thing.
Behind her, two paper wings sprouted from her back.
Her body was surrounded by swirling sheets of paper.
She launched forward, attempting to force Black Zetsu out of Nagato's body!
"Almighty Push!"
With a surge of ocular power, Zetsu unleashed a Shinra Tensei mid-seal.
It was Konan's first time being hit by the technique.
Repulsive force—perfectly countering her lightweight paper jutsu.
All her paper shurikens were blown away.
Her body was sent flying—
Straight toward Naruto's position.
Naruto calmly raised his hand and caught her mid-air.
Even with his intervention, the impact left Konan heavily injured.
Had he not been there—
She would've been far worse off.
She instinctively wanted to thank him,
But remembering they had just been enemies, she hesitated awkwardly.
Then turned away, eyes filled with worry for Nagato.
At that moment, Black Zetsu finished the final hand seal.
A surge of ocular power burst from the Rinnegan—
Just like before, during Planetary Devastation.
"Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!"
A giant swirling purple vortex opened beneath Nagato's feet.
From within it, a monstrous yawning King of Hell began to rise.
It looked like a Judge of the Dead—
With a mouth wide enough to swallow mountains.
This was the combination of Hell Path and Pure Land—
A being summoned from the underworld.
As the king opened its maw—
Black Zetsu laughed sinisterly.
"Reunite—Uchiha Madara!"
Though it disrupted his plans greatly,
Zetsu knew he had no choice.
After witnessing Naruto's ridiculous power underground,
He had to revive Madara now.
If they waited any longer, Naruto might become truly unstoppable.
And if that happened—reviving Kaguya would become impossible.
A thousand years of preparation… I will bring Mother back no matter what!
Unlike Hagoromo and Hamura, Black Zetsu was the very embodiment of filial piety.
He had waited patiently for centuries—for this one goal.
From the gaping mouth of the King of Hell—
A man stepped forth.
He had flowing black hair, wild like a Super Saiyan.
Bare-chested, with perfectly chiseled muscles.
Each step he took—slow, deliberate, and full of power.
Even with his eyes closed—
The arrogant confidence on his face was unmistakable.