Now, these fragments are shattered.
On their respective battlefields, they were one by one crushed and erased by the Allied Shinobi Forces at the cost of blood and lives.
A feeling... named "loss"?
A cold sense of reality that a plan was gradually falling apart?
Or... a deeper, more ancient trace.
Dust named "regret" or "pity," long buried by Nagato beneath the ruins after Yahiko's death?
This dust was so subtle it was almost nonexistent, yet it was enough to cause the perfectly functioning "Heart of God" to momentarily freeze.
However, this stagnation lasted only one ten-thousandth of a second.
"Hmph..."
A low, emotionless voice, as if from the netherworld, resounded directly in the hearts of everyone on the battlefield.
It was more like Tendo Pain, or rather Nagato, giving a cold sneer to himself deep down.
Distractions!
The path to true peace was long destined to be paved with blood and suffering.
Yahiko's blood, Hanzou and Danzo's trap, the suffering of Hidden Rain Village...
And the cycle of conflict that has continued throughout the Shinobi World, all proved this point!
Individual sacrifices, no matter how unique or valuable, are as insignificant as dust before the grand "transformation."
Deidara's explosion? That momentary brilliance was the ultimate art he pursued; he died without regret.
Sasori's eternity? Shattered by the Fifth Kazekage, perhaps it was the end of his Puppeteer's destiny.
Kisame's regret? He failed to see the new world, but this regret itself was proof that the old world needed to be completely overthrown.
Kakuzu's demise? His twisted way of life, pursuing hearts and money, was inherently a product of the old world's corrupt rules, and his demise was an inevitable path.
Their deaths were not in vain.
They were part of the Akatsuki; their power was used to advance the plan, and their very existence created immense "Pain."
And this "Pain" was the necessary medicine to awaken the numb world!
Their deaths were also a component of this potent medicine, the necessary fuel to propel the world towards nirvana!
Sacrifice is necessary.
To make more people understand pain, to end this endless chain of hatred.
For the ultimate arrival of a new world of peace built upon ruins...
All sacrifices are necessary costs!
The ripple in the Rinnegan completely vanished, transforming back into a bottomless, cold, and emotionless purple vortex.
All "distractions" were forcibly suppressed and incinerated, turning into cold ashes that supported the "God's" will.
Tendo Pain's gaze refocused, sweeping over the top powerhouses of the Allied Shinobi Forces who were standing by, finally settling on Minato.
His voice pierced through the wind and sand, carrying an undeniable tone of judgment:
"Foolish struggles... No matter how many ants gather, they cannot shake the will of a god."
"The world you cherish, along with yourselves, will become sacrifices before true pain!"
He slowly raised both hands, and the five Paths of Pain behind him instantly entered combat readiness.
The final death match was about to begin!
Raikage Ay, his body crackling with lightning like frantic electric snakes, was the first to step forward.
He pointed at Tendo Pain, who was floating high in the sky, his voice echoing like thunder in the desert:
"Hey! You puppet with the earrings! Your subordinates are all turned to ash, and you're the only stinky orange-head left!"
"Why don't you come down and surrender? Are you waiting for me to break off your Black Rods one by one and stick them into your Rinnegan like flower arrangements?! You idiot bastard!"
Killer Bee stood beside him, the Eight-Tails' Chakra flickering, its massive octopus tentacles poised to strike.
"Yo! Big bro said it well! Akatsuki scumbags, surrender now is the right way! Otherwise, I'll beat you black and blue, you idiot bastard~!"
However, Tendo Pain, high in the sky, merely swept his cold, purple ripple Rinnegan across the Raikage with indifference, as if looking at a trivial speck of dust.
There was no response, no anger, not even a ripple of emotion.
He slowly spread his arms, the Black Rods on his body reflecting an ominous glint in the sunlight.
"Here it comes!" Minato's pupils contracted, and the Yellow Flash instantly vanished from his spot!
The death match erupted abruptly in silence!
Minato's Flying Thunder God kunai rained down from all directions towards the Six Paths of Pain!
His figure, accompanied by the Yellow Flash, leaped and darted frantically between spatial nodes, each appearance accompanied by the deadly hum of a Rasengan, forcing the Six Paths of Pain to constantly adjust their formation.
"The Naraka Path must be dealt with first!" Minato's voice rang out urgently through the mental link.
He hadn't been without results before, but his achievements were ultimately revived by the Naraka Path.
He hadn't failed to target the Naraka Path, but unfortunately, Nagato protected the Naraka Path too well.
Without an attack that the opponent couldn't react to, it was almost impossible to directly damage the Naraka Path.
But with the cooperation of the others, that might not be the case.
Minato feinted, luring the Asura Path to fire missile laser beams.
But at the moment the attack was about to hit, he instantly teleported above the Naraka Path's head, slamming down a Rasengan!
"Shinra Tensei!"
Deva Path's cold repulsive force erupted just in time, forcibly repelling Minato, and the Rasengan narrowly grazed the Naraka Path's shoulder, leaving a scorched mark.
But Minato's attack was just a cover!
Almost at the same instant he was repelled, Killer Bee, in his full Tailed Beast form, roared, a massive octopus tentacle, imbued with destructive power, tore through the air and slammed into the Naraka Path like a siege hammer!
The Animal Path instantly summoned several huge summoned beasts to try and block it, but they were all sent flying along with the beast by the tentacle!
The Naraka Path tumbled awkwardly, caught by Raikage Ay, who had transformed into a blue lightning bolt.
"Lariat!"
The furious hand blade, with a shriek that tore through space, forcibly sliced the Naraka Path, along with its regeneration ability, into two!
Black Rods scattered, and the light in the Naraka Path's eyes completely extinguished.
"First one!"
The Raikage roared.
"The Animal Path is mine!"
Gaara's voice was calm and powerful.
Overwhelming golden sand, like a living, raging tide, precisely captured the Animal Path, which was attempting to summon again.
The golden sand instantly condensed into a giant pyramid-shaped cage.
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
It firmly trapped the Animal Path along with the splitting dog it had just summoned.
No matter how the splitting dog bit and regenerated, the gold sand seal was unbreakable, tightening layer by layer!
The Preta Path tried to approach to absorb chakra, but was forced back by Kakashi's tricky Chidori.
Gaara clasped his hands together fiercely.
"Seal!"
The sand cage suddenly collapsed inward, squeezing!
Accompanied by chilling sounds of bones shattering and the wailing of the summoned beast, the Animal Path, along with its summoned beast, was completely crushed within the gold sand!
"Second one!"
The sand dispersed, leaving behind only a mess.
"It's my turn for the third one! Burn, youth!"
Might Guy's entire body steamed, and he directly activated the Sixth Gate: Gate of View!
Green energy steam billowed like raging flames!
"Morning Peacock!"
He transformed into a green meteor, instantly plunging into the Pain formation, a dense rain of air fists carrying scorching heat.
Forming a sweeping flame storm, he engulfed the Asura Path, which was trying to engage in taijutsu!
The Asura Path frantically blocked with its mechanical arms, sparks flying, but Guy's speed and strength, boosted by the Sixth Gate, reached terrifying levels!
Kakashi's Sharingan precisely captured the opening exposed by the Asura Path while it was defending against Guy, and lightning surged from his hands.
"Chidori: Double Lightning Quake!"
Two dazzling lightning bolts, like venomous snakes, bypassed the Asura Path's sturdy frontal defense and instantly pierced through its double rib joints!
The mechanical structure was destroyed by the violent Lightning Release, and the Asura Path's movements abruptly halted.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Guy seized this momentary gap, delivering a powerful spinning kick, carrying the full force of the Sixth Gate, like a battle-axe, brutally striking the Asura Path's already damaged chest!
Boom! Metal bones shattered, parts flew everywhere!
The light in the Asura Path's eyes dimmed, and it crashed heavily to the ground, losing its ability to move.
"Third one!"
Guy landed, breathing heavily, steam billowing.
"Watch out for the Preta Path!" Minato's voice rang out.
The Preta Path appeared like a phantom behind Minato, who was trying to support Guy, hands spread open, activating a terrifying suction force, Absorption Seal!
However, Minato's figure instantly vanished into a golden flash before contact, leaving only a spinning Flying Thunder God kunai in his place.
The Preta Path was stunned.
"Magnet Release: Gold World Method!"
Gaara's gold sand, like countless golden chains, instantly wrapped around the Preta Path's limbs and torso, and powerful magnetic force firmly fixed it in mid-air!
The black symbols on the Preta Path's body flickered violently, attempting to absorb the gold sand chakra that bound it, but gold sand was a physical substance.
It contained Gaara's Magnet Release force field, not a pure chakra flow!
"Magnet Release! It's not a type he can easily absorb!" Minato instantly seized the opportunity, "Rasengan Flash Super Round Dance Howl Triple Style!"
Dazzling golden light erupted, and countless specialized Kunai, entwined with Flying Thunder God Jutsu Formulas, shot towards the immobilized Preta Path at speeds beyond visual limits!
Tendo Pain's expression changed.
"Bansho Tenin!"
A powerful gravitational pull tried to pull the Preta Path back.
But Raikage Ay roared, his entire Lightning Release Armor pushed to its limit, transforming into a human lightning barrier that bravely blocked the path of gravity!
"Don't even think about saving him!"
The violent Lightning Release and gravitational field fiercely collided, distorting space itself!
Puff puff puff puff puff!
In this flash of lightning, most of the Flying Thunder God kunai had been deflected by Bansho Tenin.
But a few still penetrated the edge of the gravitational field, precisely impaling the Preta Path's head, chest, and joints!
The Flying Thunder God Jutsu Formula instantly activated!
"Flying Thunder God: Guided Thunder!"
Minato's figure flashed before the Preta Path!
The Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan, condensed to its extreme in his hand, with a destructive hum, slammed onto its chest in the Preta Path's dazed eyes!
The Absorption Seal was instantly torn apart by the violent Rasengan power!
Boom!!!
The Preta Path's body, like fragile pottery, was completely burst and torn apart from within by the power of the Rasengan!
Turning into scattered black fragments and broken Black Rods flying everywhere!
"Fourth one!"
Minato retreated instantly, his chest slightly heaving.
In a short period, Five Paths of Pain were destroyed! Only Tendo Pain remained, floating high in the sky, facing the strongest spearhead of the Allied Shinobi Forces alone.
This was the biggest flaw of the Six Paths of Pain; although the Six Paths of Pain could exhibit strength close to Super Kage level with mutual cooperation.
The problem was that the Six Paths of Pain could only control one at a time.
At this time, the other five paths could also act, but their flexibility was far inferior to the main controlled one.
This fatal flaw would not be prominent when facing a single person.
But now, when the Six Paths of Pain encountered this group of Kage-level fighters in a group battle, it was instantly exposed.
"Only you are left! Nagato!"
The Raikage roared, the lightning on his body slightly dim due to the continuous intense battle, but his killing intent was even stronger.
Tendo Pain's gray Akatsuki Robe was torn in several places, revealing the Black Rod interfaces underneath.
His Rinnegan remained cold, but the face of Yahiko below seemed even paler and stiffer from constantly drawing chakra to manipulate the puppets and resist attacks.
He no longer defended, suddenly clasping his hands together!
Tendo Pain floated beneath the shattered sky, his gray Akatsuki Robe flapping in the fierce wind.
Below, the Raikage's thunderous roar, Killer Bee's Tailed Beast chakra agitation, Gaara's surging gold sand, Kakashi and Guy's sharp gazes.
And Minato's golden flash, like the eye of a storm, together formed the ultimate death trap.
The remnants of the Five Paths of Pain were scattered everywhere, declaring that his proud "Divine Power" had been torn apart by the top-tier coordinated combat of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
"Divine majesty... shall not be desecrated."
Tendo Pain's voice was like grinding ice, hoarse and hollow, yet carrying a destructive resolve.
He no longer attempted to defend, no longer sought tactics; in his purple ripple Rinnegan, only the madness of mutual destruction remained.
He suddenly clasped his hands together in front of his chest! A chilling chakra fluctuation, surpassing all previous Rinnegan Dōjutsu, suddenly erupted!
"Feel... this pain that pierces the world!"
"Chibaku Tensei!!!"
Buzz!!!
Not a loud bang, but a dull hum that shook the soul, acting upon space itself.
Between Tendo Pain's palms, a "black dot" so profound it swallowed all light suddenly appeared!
This was not a simple black sphere; it was a point of spatial collapse, a gravitational singularity!
The moment it appeared, the entire desert battlefield seemed to be fiercely clenched by an invisible giant hand covering the sky!
Rumble rumble rumble!!!
The earth let out a dying wail.
Countless massive rock formations, sand dunes, broken Shinobi weapons, and even collapsed summoned beast corpses...
All objects with mass could not resist this terrifying suction force originating from space itself!
They were whipped by an invisible giant whip, suddenly detaching from the ground, engulfed in a turbulent torrent of sand and dust.
Madly converging towards the "black dot" floating before Tendo Pain's palm!
The sky was twisting!
Light was stretched into bizarre arcs, a dim halo rotating around the rapidly expanding "black dot."
The Allied Shinobi Forces watched in horror as their bodies uncontrollably floated upwards, the ground beneath their feet seemingly turning into a sloping slide!
Powerful air currents whistled, tearing at everything.