[Fukasaku: "Well, it's fusion, but really it's just a light contact on the shoulder or back."][Hearing this, Naruto thought back over the scene.][He relaxed and spread his hands in a shrug: "Oh—so that's how it is!"][Then Naruto immediately frowned in puzzlement and asked, "But why is just light contact enough?"][Fukasaku: "Actually, it's just splitting the stillness and movement duties. When one side is moving, the other stays still to absorb natural energy."][Smack!][Fukasaku and Naruto high-fived.]
Konoha — Chūnin Exam Arena
Both Naruto and Hinata breathed easier.
Hinata: "Naruto-kun, you'll be able to learn Sage Mode in the future."
Naruto: "Yeah! But Hinata, why are you—"
Realizing she'd overstepped, Hinata blushed and ran off, whispering in her heart:
Because—I love Naruto the most!
Sasuke stared at Naruto with cold determination.
Naruto, are you really that strong in the future?You can learn a Sage Mode I've never even heard of?
Then I won't lose either—in the future, I'll be stronger!
The Footage Continues
[Outside Konoha's walls.]
[Pain (Tendo) stood among several dead Konoha shinobi, looking up at the village's outer wall.]
[Whoosh!][Whoosh!][Whoosh!][...]
[Konan and the remaining five Paths of Pain descended!]
[Tendo Pain: "We'll split into a feint and a recon group here."]["Feint will be the Asura, Animal, and Hungry Ghost Paths."]["Recon will be Deva, Human, and Naraka Paths."]["Konan—you're on recon."]
[Konan nodded: "Understood."]
[Tendo's eyes narrowed; he activated the Rinnegan's power!]
[Instantly—]
[Konoha's defensive formation was laid bare to him.]
[Tendo Pain: "Konoha has set up spherical barriers both beneath and above the village."]
[Konan: "A mechanism that immediately detects anyone entering without authorization, I suppose."]
[Tendo Pain: "According to the battle plan, drop the Animal Path through the upper no-man's-sky zone."]["Make the enemy misjudge our numbers, confuse them, and wait for the Animal Path's summoning."]
[Konan: "Itachi and Kisame seem to have slipped inside easily."]
[Tendo Pain: "Itachi used to be ANBU; he knows the barrier code. I have my own method."]
The Shinobi World Reacts
Everywhere, people were in an uproar.
"Apart from that blue-haired woman, the other five—clothing, hair color, piercings—are the same as the one who killed the Konoha shinobi!"
"What's going on? Are these all Akatsuki members? What do those 'Paths' even mean?"
"Isn't this Nagato's footage? Which of these is the real scene!?"
"That woman who's different from the six is clearly Konan—not Nagato. The other six are the different Paths, so none of them are Nagato either."
"So maybe Nagato hasn't appeared yet."
"I think that Animal Path woman is Nagato—earlier the leader said the Animal Path uses summoning jutsu."
"That fits: Nagato's reward was a summoning—'the Menagerie of the Animal Path.' So that blue-haired woman must be the Animal Path."
Konoha
Nearly every Konoha shinobi was thunderstruck.
They had assumed the invasion would feature just one person.
But now six strong figures had already appeared—each looking terrifying.
And Nagato might not even have shown up yet.
Is the future of Konoha doomed?
Konoha Intelligence Division
"This is a future scene of what happens to Konoha. Every detail in this footage is vital—don't miss a thing!"
"Yes!"
Konoha Analysis Team
"Everyone—pay attention to every detail. Assess each enemy's level, main abilities, and weaknesses!"
"Remember: this is crucial to defending Konoha in the future!"
"Yes!"
Konoha Barrier Unit
"What? Itachi and Kisame slipped past our barrier silently?"
"Whether future or present—we must immediately change the barrier codes."
"And! Carefully study how Akatsuki breached the barrier from the footage. Find our current weakness, then strengthen it immediately!"
"Yes!"
Konoha Medical Division
"If Akatsuki attacks Konoha in the future, our current hospital space and medical-nin will be insufficient."
"Immediately expand the hospital and train medical-nin. Prepare for the future!"
"Yes!"
Konoha Logistics
"When Akatsuki attacks, we must secure the civilians—these are our families."
"To minimize casualties, inspect and reinforce existing shelters according to the danger level shown in the footage, and create additional shelters right away."
"Yes!"
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