However, Takigakure was a small Shinobi Village after all, and their combined strength couldn't stop Nagato and Konan.
Their Village had three great treasures. First was the Forbidden Jutsu Earth Grudge Fear, which was lost after Kakuzu stole it, and no one else could use it.
Second was the Seven-Tails. In the original work, the Seven-Tails was sealed within Fuu, who was around the same age as Naruto, but at this point, Fuu was likely still in the womb.
Therefore, the Seven-Tails currently had no Jinchuriki. To contain it, Takigakure had specially crafted a ceramic jar artifact.
Like Shukaku, the Seven-Tails was imprisoned within an artifact.
Because of this, Takigakure couldn't use the power of the Seven-Tails to resist the invaders.
The final treasure was the Hero Water, which was the trump card Takigakure could currently produce.
The Takigakure Leader took out a small wooden bottle, removed the cork, and drank the clear water flowing from it.
Nagato and Konan were somewhat confused, wondering what kind of drug the Takigakure Leader was taking.
But the guide, Mizukage, grew anxious on the spot. Regardless of exposing his identity, he jumped out to reveal information to Kusagakure.
"This is bad, Lord Shirakawa! That's the Hero Water, a special liquid produced by Takigakure's ancient tree. After drinking it, one's chakra will increase tenfold."
"What?!"
The people from Kusagakure panicked slightly upon hearing this; an Elite Jonin's strength increasing tenfold would put them at the level of a Kage.
"Damn it, Mizukage! So it was you, you big-eyed traitor, who led the enemies into the Village."
The Takigakure Shinobi looked at Mizukage with fury.
The strongest fortresses are often breached from within. This is why they say it's easier to guard against outside enemies than a thief within the house.
Mizukage jumped to Shirakawa's side and mocked his former compatriots: "Face reality! My fellow villagers, times have changed. We can't hide forever."
"Damn it—"
The Takigakure Shinobi wished they could tear Mizukage into a thousand pieces.
"Mizukage, you will pay the price for your betrayal!"
The Takigakure Leader roared at Mizukage. After drinking the Hero Water, a layer of blue chakra flames appeared on his body, and his entire chakra erupted like a wild wind.
In the original work, after Mizukage drank the Hero Water, his power exploded tenfold, easily suppressing Naruto and Sasuke.
"Father..."
From a thicket behind the Takigakure Shinobi, a child watched with tears in his eyes as the Takigakure Leader drank the Hero Water, his life force burning away.
He was Shibuki, the leader of Takigakure in the Naruto original filler arc.
The current Takigakure Leader was his father.
The Hero Water had massive side effects; an ordinary person's body simply couldn't withstand such an enormous amount of chakra.
Even if one could withstand it, drinking it would shorten their lifespan.
The current Takigakure Leader, Shibuki's father, eventually died because he drank the Hero Water to protect the Village.
Though only in his thirties, the Takigakure Leader already looked old, likely because he had drunk the Hero Water many times to protect the Village.
Drinking the Hero Water again now, his body would very likely not survive past today.
But a so-called hero is someone who thinks of others before themselves in times of crisis.
"Invaders, die!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The Takigakure Leader formed hand seals, and water surged from the pool behind him. Three deep blue water dragons were released by the Takigakure Leader.
Their heads were held high, mouths wide open, eyes cold as ice beads, and whiskers dancing wildly with the current.
Carrying the momentum to crush mountains and split seas, the three water dragons lunged toward Nagato amidst the roar and mist.
The Takigakure Leader's original power level was that of an Elite Jonin, but after the tenfold explosion, his stats reached the Kage level.
Elite Jonin like Zabuza and Kakashi could only manifest one water dragon with such a Ninjutsu, but the Takigakure Leader, with his boosted stats, could release three.
However, he was facing Nagato, whose stats were terrifying.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Nagato quickly formed hand seals, gathering chakra in his throat before spitting out a vast expanse of flames like a sea. The majestic flames directly engulfed the Takigakure Leader's three water dragons.
Was Nagato nerfed? Was he nerfed heavily?
Without the Rinnegan, Nagato could no longer 'carry rice.'
But against ordinary Shinobi, Nagato's stats could still overpower them.
Nagato was the Uzumaki clansman chosen by Madara because his chakra could suppress the Rinnegan.
Although a mixed-blood Uzumaki, after adapting to the Rinnegan for so many years, his lineage had surpassed that of ordinary Uzumaki Clan members.
Furthermore, when Yahiko died a while ago, Nagato had an awakening, fully unleashing all the Rinnegan's abilities at that time.
Although he was later drained by the Rinnegan, that explosion was restored by Ryou, which also expanded his threshold.
While his current chakra couldn't compare to Madara or Ryou, it was still off the charts for an ordinary Shinobi.
Moreover, with the support of Ryou's spore in his body, his stats were even more broken.
Proficient in all five elements and possessing chakra near that of a Tailed Beast, Nagato was like a lite version of the Third Hokage, just missing a Power Pole for a cosplay.
As soon as the raging flames were released, the Takigakure Shinobi were collectively shocked by Nagato's sky-high flames.
"Who is this person? How can he have such massive chakra?"
"This guy must be a Jinchuriki! Or a Tailed Beast disguised as a human!"
The Takigakure Leader's water dragons were instantly evaporated by Nagato's flames. He performed a large-scale Water Formation Wall to block the flames from hitting him.
After unleashing the shocking flames, Nagato released a high-level Wind Release.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
A heavy storm cannon was spat from Nagato's mouth, blowing away the mist where the water and fire met on the battlefield, heading straight for the Takigakure Leader's Water Formation Wall.
Seeing this, two of the Takigakure Leader's personal Jonin immediately pulled out Hero Water from their chests, drinking it to release a powerful burst of chakra.
The two released Water Release Ninjutsu together to block Nagato's heavy wind cannon.
The clash between the Ninjutsu was dazzling. The surrounding Shinobi retreated one after another; this was a battle between top-tier Shinobi.
Taking this opportunity, Konan spread her wings and led the people from Kusagakure and Amegakure toward the artifact sealing the Seven-Tails.
"Not good, they want to steal the Seven-Tails!"
The Takigakure Shinobi realized something was wrong. Several Shinobi carrying the sealing jar containing the Seven-Tails turned and ran, with Konan flying after them.
Flight was faster than running, and Konan soon caught up to them.
At the critical moment, the Takigakure Leader shouted to the Shinobi carrying the Seven-Tails' sealing artifact: "Undo the seal! Release the Seven-Tails!"
"But..."
The Seven-Tails was a Tailed Beast, after all, naturally opposed to humans. Takigakure had sealed the Seven-Tails for so many years; it was bound to be full of resentment.
Releasing it would make Takigakure feel pain.
It was in this moment of hesitation.
Konan had already rushed in front of the Shinobi holding the sealing jar. She threw out her Paper Release, and sheets of paper bound the Shinobi like scrolls.
Assisted by Ryou's spore, Konan's Shikigami paper had the property of absorbing chakra. As soon as the paper bound the Takigakure Shinobi, it absorbed his chakra.
The Takigakure Shinobi became as listless as if he'd been drained for days and nights. He couldn't hold the sealing jar containing the Seven-Tails, and it slipped from his grasp, falling.
The paper in Konan's hand, like a white dragon, tethered the artifact sealing the Seven-Tails.
Success. The Seven-Tails had been seized by Konan.