Konan nodded. With a casual lift of her hand, countless sheets of paper burst forth from her body. She looked like a paper doll herself, an endless source of paper.
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
Paper filled the sky, sweeping down to engulf Yahiko.
Yahiko used Suiton (Water Release) to defend, but water could not stop paper.
And Yahiko had only been fifteen when he died. His strength had never reached a truly high level, so there was no way he could be Konan's opponent.
Before long, Yahiko was completely wrapped in paper, unable to move at all.
Konan, unable to hold back any longer, rushed forward and pulled him into her arms. Her grief had long since overflowed.
"Konan… you and Nagato have worked hard."
Yahiko could only comfort her gently. He couldn't even raise a hand to pat her hair, but being held in her embrace like this was already enough. For him, it made this forced resurrection feel worth it.
Nearby, Nagato watched the scene, and felt a moment of solace as well.
But he couldn't control his own body. He had to act.
He used Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull) again, dragging Jiraiya straight toward him. But even as he was being pulled in, Jiraiya cast Katon: Endan (Fire Release: Flame Bullet), and the fireball rushed straight into Nagato's face.
Nagato had no choice but to use Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) to blast the flames away—yet Jiraiya used that opening to close the distance.
"Ranjishigami no Jutsu (Wild Lion's Mane Technique)!"
Jiraiya's hair suddenly extended, instantly winding around Nagato's entire body. The binding force was so intense it looked like it could slice Nagato apart. Nagato immediately couldn't move.
Just as Jiraiya was about to seal him as quickly as possible, Nagato's "cooldown" ended and he launched Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) again, blowing Jiraiya away.
Jiraiya was thoroughly irritated. "Nagato, can't you restrain yourself a little? Wouldn't it be easier if you just let me seal you?"
Nagato smiled helplessly. "Jiraiya-sensei, if I could control myself, I wouldn't be here at all. You'll have to find another way. Honestly, I feel like I'm stronger now than even the Deva Path. If I truly go all-out, you'll take catastrophic casualties."
And he was right. At this moment, Nagato's only inconvenience was his legs. He wasn't affected by illness anymore, and he wasn't afraid of chakra depletion.
More importantly, he didn't have to fear losing his lifespan when using high-level techniques.
So yes—right now, he really was stronger than the Deva Path. He could spam Chō Shinra Tensei (Super Almighty Push) and Chibaku Tensei (Planetary Devastation) whenever he pleased. Even if Natsuki showed up, it wasn't certain he could resolve it cleanly.
Now it was truly troublesome.
From the rear, Temari offered a suggestion. "Jiraiya-dono, why not contact the main camp and have them notify Tenten to come? At this point, maybe only Tenten can seal Nagato!"
"That's right. This might be the only way!"
Jiraiya brightened with delight. "Quick! Temari, contact the main camp and have Tenten come help for a bit!"
Jiraiya knew perfectly well that the situation on Natsuki's side was urgent against Uchiha Madara, but he believed that with Natsuki present, Tenten wouldn't need to step in. So she should have time.
Besides, given how Natsuki doted on his girlfriend, there was no way he'd let Tenten take reckless risks.
Rather than sending Tenten to fight Uchiha Madara, it was safer to have her come here.
At the same time, Natsuki's battle with Uchiha Madara continued without pause.
Natsuki was currently in Sage Mode. His gigantic Water Circle Slash was avoided by Uchiha Madara—only for Natsuki to form seals and make the Water Circle Slash pivot ninety degrees, slicing toward Madara's lower body.
"Mokuton Bunshin (Wood Release Clone)!"
Uchiha Madara immediately substituted a clone in his place, and the Wood Release clone was split cleanly in two by the Water Circle Slash.
The slash was so sharp that it cut easily into the ground, even sinking underground, as though nothing in the world could impede its cutting.
Seeing that, Uchiha Madara raised an eyebrow. "With that cutting power… it might even slice the Gedō Mazō in half. I can't afford not to guard against this."
At this point, Uchiha Madara no longer dared to underestimate Natsuki in the slightest.
If the Gedō Mazō emerged and Natsuki cleaved it in half—or worse, into multiple pieces—with a single Water Circle Slash, wouldn't everything be ruined?
Could a broken Gedō Mazō really endure absorbing the Nine-Tails and the other tailed beasts to form the Jūbi?
Uchiha Madara had doubts.
Since the Gedō Mazō was the Ten-Tails' husk, assume it was a cup. The nine tailed beasts, as condensed chakra, were the water. If the cup was damaged, how could it possibly hold the water?
So he absolutely had to be careful of Natsuki. He could not allow him to destroy the Gedō Mazō.
Also, he had to retrieve the Gedō Mazō's severed leg. Its arms had already been erased into nothingness by Ōnoki and could not be recovered—but that leg had to be reclaimed.
Otherwise, whether a crippled Gedō Mazō could absorb all the tailed beasts was still uncertain.
After all, if the "cup" became smaller—or even leaked—how much "water" could it really hold?
While Uchiha Madara was thinking, Natsuki's attacks never stopped. He exploded forward with Ranshinshunshin (Storm Flicker), faster than usual by a wide margin, and whipped out a Light-Speed Kick that swept toward Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara reflexively raised his guard. But the repulsive barrier on his body felt like it was on the verge of collapse.
In Sage Mode, Natsuki's strength had surged dramatically. And with Ranton (Storm Release) enhancing his strikes, even the Rinnegan's repulsion defense was struggling to hold.
But Uchiha Madara wasn't about to fear Natsuki. He immediately used Uchiha-ryū: Ryūten (Uchiha Style: Flowing Heaven).
In an instant, he moved as if he were dancing—smooth, flowing, almost beautiful to watch. His speed and power spiked, and Natsuki was forced back again and again.
"Uchiha Body Slam!"
Uchiha Madara suddenly seized Natsuki and drove him hard toward the ground.
But Natsuki braced both hands against Madara's abdomen, and a Ranton (Storm Release) laser burst from his palms, punching straight through Madara's stomach.
For an Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) body, that kind of injury wasn't worth noticing.
Uchiha Madara didn't let go. He rammed a knee into Natsuki's abdomen, then swung a heavy punch at Natsuki's head.
With a loud crack, Natsuki's face split open—only it was a layer of solid stone. Clearly, he had used Doton (Earth Release) at the last instant to form a stone hide to protect his face.
"You old bastard, don't you know you're not supposed to hit the face? I have a girlfriend, you know. Not like you, pining after Hashirama!"
Natsuki barked out the insult and reached to plant a Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God) formula on him.
Uchiha Madara hurriedly evaded, his face darkening to an extreme. "You're talking nonsense! Hashi— I mean… that's not the kind of relationship! He and I are eternal rivals, and also friends bound by shared bonds. Not that kind of relationship! What filth is in your head all day long?!"
Natsuki didn't answer, but the look on his face said everything.
He absolutely suspected their relationship was not normal.
From behind, Tenten had heard it too, and couldn't help laughing. She knew Natsuki was doing it on purpose—trying to provoke Uchiha Madara. If Madara's emotions spiked, he might forget about the kotodama curse and slip up.
But Uchiha Madara was still sharp. "Hashi—" was already on his lips, and he forcibly stopped himself.
What a shame.
(End of Chapter)
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