"Is this the power of the Rinnegan?"

The scene before him left Utakata very shocked. Although he had heard of the Rinnegan’s strength before, he was still surprised to be fighting it himself.

A twisting tongue extended from the mouth of Hell Path, reaching out to Utakata. Although this was Utakata’s first time dealing with such a monster, he knew that being caught by this thing would bring him no good.

Utakata dodged Hell Path’s attacks by twisting and turning. During this, he also continuously attacked the four individuals where the Deva Path was located. However, it was ineffective.

But with the cover of smoke, Utakata got close to the Human Path and intended to heavily injure him. However, the Human Path seemed to see his movement and easily dodged it. He then grabbed Utakata’s wrist, intending to rip out his soul.

Utakata felt something was wrong and immediately transformed into his Tailed Beast form.

His massive body enveloped the Human Path. After fully transforming, Utakata flung the Human Path out of his body.

However, the Six-Tails’ slime had already corroded him completely.

"Now there are four left."

Just as Utakata thought he had dealt with the Human Path, the tongue of Hell Path, which had attacked him earlier, extended towards the heavily injured Human Path. It swallowed him and began to chew.

A moment later, the Human Path walked out of Hell Path’s mouth again, completely unharmed.

"This is really troublesome. It seems I need to deal with the one summoned by Hell Path first."

Utakata had no time to be surprised by this. He intended to strike first. The Six-Tails spat a large amount of highly acidic and corrosive slime from the air towards the five Pains.

Among them, the Preta Path, which had remained still beside the Deva Path, stood at the forefront and opened its hands, absorbing all the slime.

"Bansho Tenin."

Nagato had no intention of giving the Six-Tails time to be surprised and immediately used Bansho Tenin to restrain its movements. The attack from the Asura Path followed immediately. At this time, the Asura Path had taken off its fire cloud robe, and a giant missile appeared on its back, which was fired towards Utakata.

After the non-stop attacks from the Asura Path, Utakata was clearly having trouble coping.

He couldn’t die here. He had just resolved the trouble of the forbidden jutsu in Hotaru’s body. He hadn’t gone to train with her yet.

Thinking this, Utakata decided not to continue fighting this troublesome opponent and turned to run in the opposite direction.

He was no match for the people in front of him. His attacks would be neutralized by the ninja who could absorb chakra. Continuing to stay here would only mean being passively beaten until he could no longer move. The Tailed Beast within him would be extracted, and he would die.

...

Utakata clearly understood his current situation, but the moment he was targeted by Pain, his fate was already sealed.

The giant Tailed Beast hadn’t escaped very far when the Bansho Tenin’s ability cooled down. It once again restrained his movements.

Utakata was forced to dispel his Tailed Beast transformation. However, this played right into Pain’s trap.

Utakata once again released bubbles and moved rapidly through the forest. Just as he was about to reach the edge, a giant tongue lunging out from the side directly blocked Utakata’s escape.

The bubbles used for protection and movement were instantly broken, and Utakata was gripped by the neck by the tongue.

"Feel the pain, and you will become part of the new world I reshape."

Utakata once again activated his Tailed Beast Cloak. This was his last bit of strength.

Even if I die, Hotaru, you must live on alone.

Utakata broke free from the tongue of the Hell Path and ran out again.

"It seems you still don’t understand true pain."

"Bansho Tenin."

Pain gave him no more chances to escape. He dragged him high into the sky and slammed him heavily onto the ground. The Asura Path’s missile was already prepared and fired at him.

When the smoke cleared, a large crater had formed in the ground of the forest. Utakata was buried under rubble, and he struggled to push the stones off himself.

Utakata was on the verge of death, with only a sliver of consciousness remaining. He still had something unfinished. Even though he couldn’t return alive, he had to somehow convey the news of his death and his last words to her.

"Hotaru, you... you must... live on..."

Utakata used his last bit of chakra to send his final message to Hotaru, who was waiting for him in the distance. Then, he lost consciousness.

Hotaru stood in a field of flowers, awaiting Utakata’s return. Not only for Utakata, but Hotaru was also looking forward to this new journey.

However, it might be the same as before.

Utakata’s message quickly reached Hotaru. Hotaru learned of Utakata’s death. No sadness was visible on her face. Perhaps she had already decided to follow Utakata to death.

Hotaru walked into the distance, it was unclear whether she was starting a new journey or ending her life.

Even after losing the most important person by their side, the living should not drown in their sorrow. We who inherit the will of the deceased should move forward even more.

Not long after the battle ended, Hatake Kuraso and his two companions arrived at the battlefield.

"Judging by the look of things, the Six-Tails has likely been defeated."

Shisui observed the deep crater in the distance and the scent pervading the air. Both confirmed his words.

Hatake Kuraso looked around and then walked directly towards a cave.

The Animal Path next to him noticed Hatake Kuraso and immediately prepared to summon back the other paths that had finished capturing the Six-Tails.

"Summoning..."

"Oh dear, if there are more helpers in this situation, it will be difficult to handle."

Hatake Kuraso, reacting extremely quickly, used his ability to twist all four limbs of the Animal Path before it could finish its hand seals.

"Shisui, Mangetsu. You two stay here. We might need to fight again shortly."

"If this negotiation doesn’t go well."

Hatake Kuraso, bringing his tools, was not acting unreasonably. He couldn’t expose too much of his abilities.

Hatake Kuraso walked directly into the cave. Deep within the cave, Nagato was waiting for his arrival.

"It seems the power of the Rinnegan is not so easy to control. Your body can barely withstand it."

Seeing the scene before him, Hatake Kuraso remembered the students from the prefectural school, Ultimate Mechamaru. With his Heavenly Curse, he was exactly like Nagato before him.

It seems that things that do not belong to oneself always come with a corresponding price.

"It seems you are the Hatake Kuraso that Tobi spoke of."

"Yes. I have no intention of hiding my identity. Even if you didn’t know, I would tell you, and not just my name."

"And the purpose of my visit."

"If it’s about stopping the collection of Tailed Beasts, then there’s no need to talk further."

Nagato said, pulling his hand away from the controller of the Six Paths in front of him. At such close range, he wouldn’t be able to get the other five paths back in time if they started fighting.

It seems I can only fight him in my true form.

....

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