Compared to the noise outside, the interior of the barrier was an entirely different world.
Since Nagato was focusing most of his energy on dealing with Seiki, the Third Raikage and others—who had previously entered the barrier and been split into two separate locations—were practically about to sit down and chat.
"Good job!" The Third Raikage nodded appreciatively as he threw an uncontrollable punch. "Separating us from the others makes it much easier to activate the Seal!"
"Haha, Seiki would never make a mistake like that. Only fools like Akatsuki would fall for it. If it were me, I wouldn't even need to think twice—I'd know it's a trap right away!" A said disdainfully.
The Third Raikage's lips twitched. "That's because you fell for too many traps during the Third War!"
A wasn't angry at all—instead, he replied somewhat proudly, "Surviving so many traps, traps that even Seiki never fell for, without suffering major losses—doesn't that actually prove how impressive I am? Even Madara Uchiha and the First Hokage never received such treatment!"
The Third Raikage wasn't quite sure how to evaluate his optimism, but he had to admit this kind of attitude might actually suit the current shinobi world better.
Meanwhile, Tobirama Senju was dashing through the crowd, with no one able to stop him.
"Troublesome. Only space-time ninjutsu can counter space-time ninjutsu!"
As he muttered to himself, Tobirama suddenly realized someone had caught his thrown kunai.
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed ninja with a gentle smile appeared before him.
"I heard from members of Akatsuki that there are two ninja in Konoha who use the Flying Thunder God Technique—one is Seiki Shimaseki, the other is Minato Namikaze. You must be Minato Namikaze, right?"
After all, this was a former Kage who was also the Second and the inventor of the Flying Thunder God Technique, so Minato formally introduced himself. "Respected Second, your insight is truly sharp. I am indeed Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage."
"The Fourth Hokage?!" Tobirama looked somewhat surprised—this detail wasn't mentioned by Akatsuki.
However, he didn't doubt Minato's words, since there were other Konoha ninja around too.
"To have become Hokage at such a young age..." Tobirama praised, then suddenly paused. "Wait... does that mean Seiki Shimaseki isn't the Hokage?"
His implication was clear: surely this young man hadn't resigned from the Hokage position already?
"Seiki is naturally more qualified to be Hokage than I am, but..." Minato looked at him carefully before continuing, "I stepped down from the Hokage position because Danzo conspired with Akatsuki to frame me. His goal was to become Hokage himself!"
Tobirama's eyes widened—wasn't Danzo his own disciple? What did he mean by conspiring with Akatsuki to frame Minato?
"Didn't the Monkey and Homura try to stop him?"
Minato apologized with a regretful expression. "The Third Lord did try to intervene, but failed. As for advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, they actually supported Danzo becoming Hokage. They've already been removed from their advisory positions due to suspicion of collusion with the enemy!"
Tobirama's face darkened. He had only six disciples in total—one confirmed traitor, and two former advisors who had been removed from their positions due to suspicion of collusion with the enemy. What exactly had he been teaching all these years?
In another direction...
Looking at the now dramatically changed Kakashi—his Sharingan lost—White Fang hesitated, wanting to say something, but finally let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry..."
Kakashi's gaze was complex as he dodged his father's attacks, saying, "Although I don't approve of your actions, you did that... to protect me, right?"
White Fang's expression flickered with surprise and gratification. "You've really matured, Kakashi!"
"It wasn't growing up that taught me that!" Kakashi shook his head slightly. "After you died, for a time I thought you were a coward, a spineless man, and desperately tried to prove myself until Seiki came to comfort me, telling me about the many possibilities hidden beneath your passing—I finally realized that what we see isn't necessarily the truth!"
At first, White Fang looked confused when Kakashi mentioned "Seiki," but he quickly figured it out. "You're talking about Seiki, right?"
Kakashi nodded, filled with gratitude. "I've gone through so much hardship, but meeting Seiki was the best thing that ever happened to me!"
White Fang felt shocked. It was understandable that Kakashi, still a child back then, couldn't comprehend things, but Seiki was only a year older than Kakashi, yet already possessed such insight!
Compared to the other, he—hailed as a genius—seemed to have insulted the title itself!
"Indeed, I should thank Seiki!" After expressing his appreciation, White Fang's spirit surged with confidence. "Come on, let's have a real father-and-son fight and let me see how good your Hatake Blade Techniques have become!"
"I haven't used the Hatake Blade Techniques for a long time!" Kakashi shook his head, pushing up the forehead protector covering his left eye. A crimson eye with a large windmill pattern was revealed.
[Sharingan? And even Mangekyo Sharingan!] White Fang looked completely stunned. Could it be that his family had Uchiha bloodline?
...
Outside the barrier.
Looking at Seiki, Nagato expressed with emotion, "We've finally reached this point. Let's decide the outcome of this war!"
However, Seiki shook his head slightly. "Nagato, you've already lost!"
Nagato was taken aback and thoughtfully replied, "You mean the power of Madara I used?"
"That's not what I meant," Seiki sighed. "Although we've never met, Sister Kushina always cared about your safety as a fellow clansman, but you actually sent people to capture her. Also, Master Jiraiya diligently taught you all, but never intended to be cursed as the mentor of a great villain. Not to mention the former members of the Akatsuki—how would they look at your current self now? Letting those who care about and admire you feel disappointed and pained, isn't that already a failure?"
Nagato froze, instinctively glancing at his teacher, clansmen, and followers within the battlefield, then fell silent.
If Seiki had tried to convince him with hatred or pain, he'd have had arguments ready to counter—but this wasn't the case.
Jiraiya stepped forward, filled with self-reproach. "I'm sorry, Nagato. I shouldn't have let my personal emotions interfere when I was teaching you all. I shouldn't have imposed my own will onto you, nor forced your future to be tied to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy... Don't live for my dreams—live for your own!"
Nagato's eyes betrayed inner struggle. "I..."
As Nagato was about to be swayed by words, Madara slightly frowned. "This guy's willpower is just too weak!"
"Still, it doesn't matter anymore. In my current state, I can finally exert some influence!" Madara said, his eyes cold and unfeeling. He hadn't granted Nagato full access to the Rinnegan purely out of kindness.
The chakra and power of the Rinnegan were too overwhelming; they could cause one to lose their sense of self. When Nagato was a child, Madara had sealed part of the Rinnegan's abilities during the transplantation process to prevent him from being influenced.
That's why Nagato had never been overwhelmingly powerful before!
Now, while the [Release] of the Rinnegan brought powerful ocular abilities, Nagato would also gradually be influenced and eroded by the Rinnegan!
He could already begin to influence Nagato's will!
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