This was Hikari's first time seeing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. How should he put it?
In a way, it felt like fulfilling a long-held wish.
Even though it was merely the husk of the Ten-Tails, the Demonic Statue still possessed power beyond imagination. Its skin could repel ordinary jutsu, and even Hikari's Yin-Yang Release attacks had little effect.
After all, the Ten-Tails was a being on the level of the Sage of Six Paths. Even as an empty shell, it retained that same divine-level defense. Unless one used something like Kakashi's Kamui or Maito Gai's Eight Gates, any other attack would simply be ignored.
And that—was what allowed Nagato to stand against Hikari.
"How about we make a deal?" Hikari said lightly. "Give me three years—just three—and I'll hand you the chakra of both the Three-Tails and the Nine-Tails. How does that sound?"
Nagato's eyes widened slightly. "You're planning to kill them?"
Hikari shook his head. "Of course not. If a Tailed Beast can be sealed, then it can naturally be separated as well. It's just that most people don't have the power to do it."
Right now, even Hikari didn't have that ability. But in three years, when he reached the level of the Six Paths, his strength would increase dramatically—terrifyingly so.
The difference between pre-Six Paths and post-Six Paths was as vast as heaven and earth.
With such power, Hikari could allow Nagato to gather all nine Tailed Beasts... and when the time was right, defeat him in one blow.
Cruel, yes—but effective.
"A tempting offer," Nagato said coldly, "but I refuse!"
He might not know what Hikari was plotting, but he understood one thing:
If Kamizuki Hikari was willing to let them collect the Tailed Beasts, it meant he had a way to counter them—through sheer strength or some secret art. To Nagato, that was unacceptable.
The Three-Tails... he would have it.
And Kamizuki Hikari wouldn't stop him.
"Die!"
Nagato's hands flashed through hand seals, and the six Paths of Pain collapsed to the ground.
The Rinnegan's power returned fully to his true body. His strength surged to a level far beyond before—and with the Demonic Statue behind him, Nagato felt he could finally match Kamizuki Hikari... perhaps even defeat him.
*Whoosh!*
A massive hand tore through the air, sweeping toward Hikari.
It was the Demonic Statue's palm. Figuring he'd test it out, Hikari extended the black staff condensed in his right hand to meet it.
*Bang!*
The staff clashed against the statue's palm—and the staff shattered instantly.
The enormous hand blotted out the sky as it pressed down upon Hikari.
Powerful—
Far too powerful for him to resist right now.
Thinking this, Hikari lightly tapped the ground, and his figure blurred like a gust of wind, vanishing dozens of meters away in an instant.
*Boom!*
The Demonic Statue's hand struck the ground. The entire island trembled violently, and deep cracks spread from the impact.
"Now," Nagato said, his voice filled with satisfaction as he watched Hikari retreat, "do you still think you have the strength to stop me?"
So what if Kamizuki Hikari was strong? With the Demonic Statue on his side, what did he have to fear?
"Don't speak too soon, Nagato."
Hikari shook his head, speaking calmly but firmly. "It's true that with the Demonic Statue's help, you're troublesome to deal with... but what about Konan?"
"What did you say?!" Nagato's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Hikari to stoop so low.
He was threatening Konan.
"I made myself very clear," Hikari continued, his gaze sharp. "You might survive this—but controlling the Demonic Statue puts immense strain on you, doesn't it?" His eyes ran over Nagato's frail, skeletal frame. "I can drag this out as long as I need to. But can your body's life force sustain the Statue for that long?"
"And what about Konan? You can't protect her forever."
"Kamizuki Hikari, don't underestimate me," Konan said coldly, stepping forward. "If you think I'm weak, you'll regret it."
She wasn't bluffing. With billions of explosive tags at her disposal, she refused to believe Hikari was unafraid.
Of course, Hikari had already considered that.
A shinobi's body was always their greatest weakness—no matter how powerful their techniques. Even at the Six Paths level, one couldn't be completely unharmed.
Explosive tags could still cause damage. But Hikari wasn't foolish enough to simply stand there and take them. With his Yin–Yang Release, he could easily form a defensive barrier to nullify her attacks.
Compared to Konan's indignation, Nagato had fallen silent.
As he looked at the resolute Hikari before him, unease welled up inside.
Konan...
The person he cared about most in this world. If she were to die... he would truly have nothing left.
The peace he sought in the shinobi world was to fulfill Yahiko's dream. If Konan died, Yahiko would never forgive him.
"In that case," Nagato said after a moment, "I'll leave Terumi Mei alone. But Orochimaru—you can't stop me from dealing with him."
Terumi Mei was the Mizukage of Kirigakure. For the sake of peace, Nagato was willing to back off.
But Orochimaru—Konoha's traitor—Kamizuki Hikari had no reason to protect him.
Hikari frowned, clearly reluctant to agree. But before he could reply, Konan stepped forward.
"If you don't agree," she said coldly, "then kill me now. Let's see if you truly want to drive Nagato into madness."
Konan knew she was Nagato's final tether. If she died, he would collapse completely—and no one could predict what he might do next.
She couldn't die. She had to live—to remain Nagato's anchor, to keep him from being consumed by loneliness.
Even if Nagato held the world's strongest power, in her heart he was still that same companion who once needed her care.
That was Konan's resolve.
Seeing this, Hikari realized he couldn't protect Orochimaru this time.
"Fine," he said at last. "I'll safeguard Terumi Mei. Orochimaru is yours to deal with—I won't interfere. But you must also promise this: until Orochimaru is captured, Akatsuki is forbidden from targeting any other Jinchūriki."
Nagato looked at Konan before glancing back at Hikari, his eyes full of helplessness.
He had only wanted to change this cruel, sorrowful world... so why did everyone keep standing in his way?
He wanted peace for the shinobi world... but why was it always out of reach?
Hikari couldn't read Nagato's thoughts. But if he could, he would have told him this:
Humans are human precisely because their desires have no end.
Even if Nagato used the Ten-Tails' power to become the strongest in the shinobi world and enforce peace through fear—it would only last for a moment. And when he died, everything would revert to chaos.
Those who had lived under his oppression would seek revenge against everything he loved, against every village he touched.
In short, as long as human greed remained, true peace in the shinobi world would never exist.
"Enough," Nagato said quietly.
The Demonic Statue's massive hand reached out, seizing him and Konan. Its form shifted, transforming into a great vessel that carried the two away into the distance.