"Look over there..."
"What is that?"
"It's coming this way."
"Run for your lives!"
"Go find Konan-sama."
The civilians stayed frozen in fear, not daring to move an inch.
The ninjas within the Country of Rain had already begun organized investigations.
The cave housing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path proved as fragile as glass, shattering with a series of sharp cracks when struck by the statue.
It rose up, towering into the sky, step by step.
Each step left wide indentations on the ground.
Wherever it passed, buildings collapsed in grand fashion, creating tremendous destruction.
Now even more people witnessed the true appearance of this "human-shaped monster," sending them into panic.
"Captain, should we go over there?"
The leading ninja hesitated briefly before replying, "Let's evacuate the people first."
On top of the central tower, Konan wheeled Nagato toward the window.
Watching the Demonic Statue charge straight ahead while standing upright, Nagato lifted his finger and used the communication ring to issue orders to the rest of Akatsuki Organization.
"Everyone, mobilize immediately. Stop the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
Then he turned to Konan and added, "Konan, you also go help."
Konan gave a silent nod and walked away.
Nagato couldn't help sighing.
Meanwhile, members of Akatsuki Organization received the message with various emotions.
"Hidan, what exactly is this Demonic Statue?" Hoshigaki Kisame asked cheerfully.
"You'll see soon enough," Kakuzu replied calmly, directing his gaze toward where the Demonic Statue was.
"That wooden construct... Wait, it isn't actually a Puppet, is it? No, wait—Puppets can't possibly exude such an aura."
Hoshigaki Kisame continued smiling casually, treating it like nothing serious.
Whether they could handle it or not didn't matter much to him anyway—he couldn't die no matter what.
Besides, why work so hard when he was just killing time anyway?
Without further words, Sasori of the Red Sands snorted coldly from a certain distance away.
Traveling together without speaking, Hoshigaki Kisame and Itachi Uchiha remained silent.
"Stop dawdling. Move out immediately."
Konan hovered midair, expression cool and indifferent.
Soon afterward, the Six Paths of Pain appeared one after another.
"This is gonna be a pain," Hidan muttered, standing nonchalantly near the Demonic Statue, showing absolutely no intention of engaging.
He indeed lacked any jutsu strong enough to deal with such a massive creature.
Pain scanned through everyone present, thinking inwardly: Among these people, only Itachi Uchiha might stand a chance against the Demonic Statue head-on.
He promptly gave instructions, "Itachi, use your technique."
Since Obito went missing without a trace, both Hoshigaki Kisame and Itachi Uchiha had been rather quiet.
Taking a deep breath, Itachi's eyes flared with immense power.
[Susano'o]
The orange-red chakra giant erupted into view and stormed toward the Demonic Statue.
Alongside Pain's Deva Path, the other five paths' physical manifestations, plus Kakuzu and other Akatsuki members, positioned themselves around the Demonic Statue in tacit understanding.
"Man, Itachi always has some tricks up his sleeve," Hidan grinned jokingly to lighten the atmosphere, though—as usual—no one paid attention to him.
Hidan couldn't help but grumble inwardly—this half-dead organization was getting more boring by the day...
Kisame Hoshigaki looked upward at Itachi Uchiha, who was inside his Susano'o, and thought to himself: What's his purpose for remaining in the organization? Is he just as confused as I am?
As Itachi Uchiha controlled his Susano'o to engage the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path in close combat, Pain rose into the sky alongside him.
[Planetary Devastation.]
The ground shattered. Rocks floated continuously upward, drawing closer from all directions around the Demonic Statue.
Itachi seized the opportunity and launched an attack on it.
The gathered rocks took on a clearer form, circling both him and the Demonic Statue.
Gathering all his strength, he kicked hard at the statue.
Because of their size difference and the counterforce generated, he broke through the barrier and escaped the trap.
But the Demonic Statue remained tightly wrapped inside.
Despite its continuous furious roars, it could not stop what was happening.
"Roar..."
Already trapped within the giant sphere, the Demonic Statue continued growling wildly from within.
That massive orb, still grounded, began shaking violently, as if it intended to start rolling somewhere.
Pain maintained chakra flow to stabilize it temporarily on the ground.
Inside the sphere, however, the Demonic Statue remained agitated, trying desperately to break free.
His goal had always been to control the statue—not move it—which was why he hadn't lifted it off the ground.
Descending swiftly from high above, he landed steadily atop the spherical Planetary Devastation formation.
Back in the Tall Tower of the Country of Rain, Nagato, hunched over, coughed violently, his face pale beyond belief, lacking even the slightest trace of blood.
After a short while, he wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth and muttered softly:
"I can't wait any longer. I must fill this body with the power of the Demonic Statue and become its Jinchuriki myself."
"The One-Tail has gone missing, the Two-Tails' Jinchuriki belongs to the Land of Lightning's Kage, and there's no news about the Three-Tails either."
"Then I'll begin with the Four-Tails. The eyes of the Demonic Statue have already opened; there's no need to collect chakra in order anymore."
He made his decision immediately and used the Communication Ring to issue orders to others again. "Work in pairs. Initiate the Tailed Beast plan now."
"Kisame and Itachi. Kakuzu and Hidan. Sasori and Konan—you all move out simultaneously."
"Targets: the Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails."
"Received," replied Sasori of the Red Sands and the others in unison.
"Nagato…" Konan, having flown back to the tower, hesitated before speaking.
"Konan, don't worry. I can take care of myself."
A strained smile surfaced on Nagato's face to reassure her everything was fine.
"..." Though she could see through his act, Konan held her silence, pressing her lips together before slipping away quietly.
"If Indra and the others can offer assistance, then I can too."
Within the Origin World, Hiroki immediately detected the flaw hidden within Kaguya Moon's words.
She opened her mouth slightly.
"Besides, I've also obtained this eye. After adapting for a period of time, I'll be able to use it."
She stretched out her right hand. At the center of her palm sat a yellow-colored Rinnegan.
It once belonged to Ushiki—but now she had placed it straight in her palm.
The other two eyes were temporarily left untouched.
To the Otsutsuki Clan, the Rinnegan functioned like a ready-to-use tool, immediately effective upon implantation.
Beyond the dojutsu each Otsutsuki member was born with, those Rinnegan left behind after their owner's death or reincarnation would never be discarded. If the original owner could not be located, these eyes would simply be reassigned to others.
The [Yellow Rinnegan] grants its user unmatched speed and strength.
Ushiki's Rinnegan could switch between the [Blue Rinnegan] and [Red Six-Tomoe Rinnegan].
The unique ability of the [Blue Rinnegan] was [Body Replacement Technique – Thousand Paper Cranes] and [Time Reversal].
As for the [Red Six-Tomoe Rinnegan], beyond swiftly activating [Otsutsuki Teleportation], it also effortlessly handled techniques such as [Outer Path], [Universal Pull], [Shinra Tensei], and absorption of [Ninjutsu].
"Moon, take me outside and show me around."
Understanding he now had a way out, Kaguya Moon gave an internal sigh, conflicted but ultimately agreeing.
"Alright."
Taking his arm, Kaguya Moon led him back to the Ninja World.
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