"They came so quickly?"
Takemi raised an eyebrow, watching the figures rapidly approaching.
He had initially wanted to check his rewards, as Sasuke's Yin Release was quite good. For him now, it was a bit little, but at his current level of strength, unless he got a Chakra fruit or something else of similar calibre, he would have to constantly rely on accumulation. This kind of energy was incredibly suitable for him, so he was naturally very happy to get it.
"It's just a bit unpleasant to be disturbed by a bunch of idiots."
Takemi shook his head. He then simply deactivated True Several Thousand Hands. He wasn't particularly skilled at using Wood Release. Moreover, these 'idiots' who were coming now were much stronger than those Kumogakure ninjas, so he had to be a little more serious.
...
"Someone else is here?"
In the distance, at the Allied Shinobi Forces' position, they were still dazed. And while dazed, they were also incredibly excited, as battles like this were rare.
However, many of them were clear-headed sensory ninjas , and they immediately noticed something was wrong.
Jiraiya and Tsunade also instantly sensed something. Looking into the distance, Jiraiya's expression immediately turned grim.
"It's them, Obito, and… Nagato!"
"And one more, Kimimaro."
Tsunade also looked into the distance and quickly recognized the child Orochimaru had brought when he came to see her. This made her a bit annoyed.
"What a hassle, these guys really can't stay quiet."
"What do we do now?"
"Stick to the plan, quickly search for the direction of the escaped White Zetsu troops, and have the main force prepare to transfer to reinforce other areas."
"No problem. So we stay here to reinforce Takemi?"
"...Just don't cause trouble for that kid."
Tsunade actually didn't really want to discuss this topic. It was the first time she felt excluded from a battle, and that feeling wasn't very good. However, times were developing somewhat quickly, and no matter how unwilling she was, it was a fact.
...
"Takemi—"
In the center of the battlefield, True Several Thousand Hands had just fallen, and Nagato, Kimimaro, and Obito had already arrived on the battlefield.
The three of them stared at Takemi, and their gazes were somewhat complex. Without a doubt, they utterly hated this guy. Over nine years, they themselves could barely remember how many times they had been beaten by him.
That kind of pain was beyond what ordinary people could describe. Their ability to persevere was a testament to their strong will.
But at the same time, in Obito and Nagato's eyes, Takemi was also their pioneer, the first to walk towards evolution. What's more, they would need Takemi's power later when facing Takeshiki, and they needed Takemi's power now.
"This time, we need to settle some scores."
Suddenly, Kimimaro said in a low voice, his Byakugan openly releasing killing intent.
"It's you who has always made things difficult for Orochimaru-sama, and I've never forgotten what happened when we first met."
"Hmm?"
Nagato and Obito were both a bit confused. They really didn't know what had happened when these two first met, and even Takemi was stunned for a moment.
"First meeting? Are you talking about that time I carved a statue of Orochimaru using Earth Style Wall?"
"…"
Nagato was somewhat baffled, and Obito's fists clenched. He would never forget what Takemi had done in Takigakure.
"So you already did it? As expected of Kakashi's student. Even if you are an evolutionist, you are a shameless person!"
"…"
Takemi tilted his head. He didn't know what Obito was reacting to now.
He had done too many things to these people, mostly him delivering heavy blows, so how could he remember so much?
"Nonsensical lunatics, you started a war yet you're talking about some inexplicable, irrelevant things. So what exactly do you want to do?"
"Takemi, I've said it, my goal has always been peace for this world."
Nagato couldn't stand the two people next to him anymore. He spoke directly and calmly.
"This world is already terminally ill. No matter how strong you are now, war will never stop. Why can't you understand all of this?"
"Understand?"
Takemi looked at Nagato strangely, and after a moment, he shook his head.
"Why should I understand you? And haven't I already said it, people are the key to this world. Where there are people, there will be conflict. What can you change?"
"It's better than doing nothing and letting this world rot away." Nagato clenched his fists and spoke in a deep voice.
"I've witnessed too many wars, too many tragedies. Jiraiya-sensei taught me this world shouldn't be like this, and I once believed it, but what was the result?"
"This world is hell!"
"I admit, Hanzo did indeed exhaust himself for the Land of Rain, but what did he do?"
As Nagato spoke, he became somewhat agitated. That scene was still his nightmare, a memory he didn't want to recall but could never move past.
"We went to see him with sincerity and peace, but he teamed up with Danzo to kill us. It was him, it was this world that personally destroyed my illusion."
"Are you also waiting for your illusion to be shattered before you wake up?"
"…"
Takemi looked at Nagato in silence. He didn't know why he always had a feeling that Nagato himself was trying to persuade him to understand him?
Could it be because of Takeshiki?
Although this guess was a bit outlandish, upon closer thought, it didn't seem impossible, and that made him a bit awkward. Because he was Takeshiki.
"Hmph, he will never understand that kind of pain. Even if he does, he will destroy everything in his own way."
Obito saw that Takemi was unmoved, and he didn't want to waste any more words.
For him, as long as the Ten-Tails was released and Takeshiki descended, Takemi had to act, and that was enough. And now, it was crucial for them to use Takemi to unleash their own power. He didn't care about anything else.
"This world is hell, it has already become hollow. Such a world must be changed, whether you like it or not."
As soon as he finished speaking, his body was already covered in a blue Susanoo, and the raging flames around them flickered constantly due to the violent power.
"This battle is inevitable, and this world must be changed." Nagato murmured in a low voice.
In an instant, a series of white smoke appeared, followed by several mountain-like figures vaguely appearing within the smoke.
Roar—
Accompanied by roars, in the next moment, three-headed dogs, rhinos, Yatagarasu, as well as centipedes, chameleons, and other summoned beasts, all embedded with black receivers, appeared. These mountain-like giant beasts instantly made the originally empty battlefield incredibly crowded, and their violent power made the already collapsing ground even more fragmented. The ferocious aura could be clearly felt even from a distance, and Takemi was already surrounded by it.
"The chitchat is over, it's time to act."
Kimimaro drew a section of his spine, the sharp bone spikes looking particularly grim under the flames.
"Somewhat interesting, but I'm curious about one thing."
However, Takemi merely smiled lightly at the trio's stance. He raised the short blade condensed from Yin-Yang Release in his hand, pointing it directly at the three of them.
"Have you never noticed that there's something wrong with your bodies?"