Chapter 328 - 328
Hanzo was the leader of Amegakure, also known as the "Demigod" of the ninja world.
However, since his defeat at the hands of the Sannin during the Second Great Ninja War, his reputation had taken a steep decline.
Though it was his only defeat, it was a devastating blow. This singular failure had nearly driven him into isolation.
A once-revered demigod, now seen as a defeated man of little relevance? The contrast was unimaginable.
Fortunately, Amegakure remained the largest ninja village outside of the Five Great Nations.
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Hanzo still had a mission, to protect his village. With a strong will, he managed to regain his composure.
But he hadn't anticipated the emergence of an organization advocating peace within his borders.
This organization, while seemingly harmless, had grown rapidly.
Not only did it threaten his authority, but it had also begun targeting his subordinates.
This was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
Looking down at the leader of the Akatsuki organization from atop the rocky cliff, Hanzo felt confident in his position.
But he never expected that Orochimaru had laid a trap for him once again.
---
Below, in the open space of the battlefield, the tension was palpable.
Faced with Hanzo's threat, the red-haired man, Nagato, did not pick up the kunai thrown at him. Instead, he stopped Yahiko from moving forward and raised his hand toward Hanzo.
Hanzo narrowed his eyes, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.
"All things are drawn to me!"
Buzz!
A powerful gravitational force erupted from Nagato's hand.
But the target wasn't Hanzo—it was Konan, whose hands were still bound.
"Damn it!"
Hanzo's expression darkened as he quickly barked an order: "Stop him!"
However, the moment the words left his mouth, Konan had already been pulled by Nagato's technique.
Almost simultaneously, countless kunai were hurled toward Konan midair.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
Yahiko's ninjutsu activated just in time.
A thick wall of water rose between Konan and the attacking Rain ninjas, intercepting the kunai.
Taking advantage of the moment, Nagato caught Konan, who had been drawn back to him by his Universal Pull.
"Nagato, watch out!"
"Ninjutsu: Thousand Rain and Dew!"
Several specialized umbrellas were launched into the air, releasing a rain of steel needles as dense as bullets, all speeding toward Nagato.
Raising his hand, Nagato activated another technique. An invisible energy field instantly enveloped him and the others.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The dense barrage of needles struck the barrier but were deflected, scattering harmlessly.
"This guy..."
"What kind of power is this?"
Hanzo's eyes focused on Nagato. Noticing his unique eyes for the first time, his pupils contracted in shock.
"The Rinnegan... So you're the true leader of the Akatsuki organization?"
Hanzo waved his hand, signaling his subordinates. "Don't let them escape!"
At his command, the Rain ninjas surged forward in two groups.
One group attacked Yahiko's team directly, while the other intercepted the Akatsuki's reinforcements.
At this point, Hanzo had no intention of showing mercy.
---
"Damn it!"
Yahiko cursed under his breath. He wanted to reason with Hanzo, to explain that the Akatsuki sought only peace and had no desire to harm his interests.
But Hanzo gave him no such opportunity.
Yahiko, who had the potential to be a great leader, already understood the reason behind Hanzo's actions.
Still, he felt unwilling to accept it.
In his heart, Hanzo had been a symbol of justice and strength.
He didn't want to kill Rain ninjas.
But while Yahiko held such ideals, the Rain ninjas didn't feel the same way.
To them, the Akatsuki organization was a disruptive and dangerous force.
As the battle continued, members of the Akatsuki began to fall.
Seeing his comrades die, Yahiko finally realized that their conflict with Hanzo was irreconcilable.
The Akatsuki's growing influence threatened Hanzo's authority, and Hanzo was determined to eradicate them.
---
"Yahiko!"
After her ropes were untied, Konan moved to Yahiko's side.
Nagato also joined them, using his Rinnegan to protect the two from incoming attacks.
"Yahiko, you have to decide!"
The heavy rain poured down on Yahiko's face, masking his despair.
Clenching his fists, he struggled internally.
To kill, or not to kill?
The decision rested on his shoulders.
---
"People who are too kind will only be abandoned by this era."
Orochimaru's hoarse voice drifted faintly through the rain.
"I'll be taking my leave. I'll leave the rest to you."
With those words, Orochimaru turned and walked away, ignoring the reactions of Obito and Zetsu.
But before he could get far:
"Summoning Jutsu."
Boom!
A loud crash echoed across the battlefield, shaking the ground.
Orochimaru smiled slightly, disappearing into the rain as chaos erupted behind him.
At the center of the battlefield, several massive summoned beasts appeared one after another.
Giant centipedes, lobsters, rhinoceroses, and even Yatagarasu.
Each was an overwhelmingly powerful creature.
The moment they appeared, they charged into the battlefield without hesitation, creating havoc among the Rain ninjas.
In addition to the summoned beasts, occasional rockets flew out from the chaos, striking groups of Rain ninjas with devastating force.
Seeing this, Obito narrowed his eyes.
"So, this is the power of the Rinnegan?"
In the original timeline, the true awakening of the Rinnegan had occurred when Yahiko died, prompting Nagato to summon the Gedo Statue.
But now, Orochimaru had manipulated events to activate Nagato's power early.
Though not fully awakened, Nagato had spent years honing his abilities. He was now proficient in using the Rinnegan's techniques.
Under these circumstances, the Gedo Statue was unnecessary.
How strong was Nagato without the black rods implanted in his back?
Perhaps only Hanzo could answer that question now.
---
Some might wonder: why did Nagato use the Six Paths of Pain in the original story?
Were the six bodies stronger than his own?
Of course not!
The Six Paths were far weaker in combat than Nagato himself.
In the original timeline, Nagato had lost his legs and had been severely weakened due to the black rods embedded in his body.
He had no choice but to rely on controlling corpses.
Moreover, since the Six Paths bodies couldn't withstand the full power of the Rinnegan, Nagato had to divide its abilities among them.
In truth, Nagato's strongest state was his current, fully intact self.
---
With Orochimaru gone, the battle quickly reached its conclusion.
Hanzo used the Body Flicker Technique to flee, while the remaining Rain ninjas also retreated.
The summoned beasts dispersed into white smoke, vanishing from the battlefield.
The remnants of the Akatsuki organization stared at Nagato in shock.
They had been with him for years and had always believed Yahiko to be the strongest among them.
But now, seeing Nagato's overwhelming power left them stunned.
---
"Who's there?"
A sudden voice rang out.
The air rippled as Obito and Zetsu appeared before the Akatsuki members.
Nagato stepped forward, his Rinnegan glowing faintly as he fixed his gaze on the two newcomers.
"Who are you?"
"Nagato," Obito said, his tone calm, "let's find a place to talk."
***
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