However,
Although the order to deploy was given, the Sunagakure's Shinobi did not simply rush out to engage the enemy in battle.
Because the fighting in the center of the battlefield had caused widespread destruction to the terrain, especially the battles involving the Eight-Tails, Three-Tails, Wood Human, and the Golden Figures... their immense size meant that even pure physical collisions could create large explosions, turning the surrounding area of several kilometers into bare rocky ground.
With the loss of the forest's cover, the war machines on the Mechanical City could exert their power once more. Charging out to fight the enemy now would only negate their own side's weapon advantage.
Although the power of these machines wasn't highly effective against high-level experts like the Raikage and the Sannin leading the charge at the front, due to the Twelve Golden Figures, the entire battlefield was divided into over a dozen sections, stretching for miles. These experts couldn't protect everyone.
Facing the sky-blotting, relentless barrage of arrows, even a Jonin could be turned into a pincushion if careless, let alone an army comprised over 95% of Chunin.
Additionally, due to the use of sealing arrows, even high-level experts resurrected via Impure World Reincarnation, once hit, couldn't regain mobility.
And the sealing arrows... these were weapons based on the same principle as the Allied Forces' sealing kunai. By inscribing Ninjutsu seals of sealing techniques onto the arrows, they exerted a sealing effect upon hitting an enemy's body... Since Ryuji had anticipated the Allied Forces using Impure World Reincarnation as a war tactic, how could he not have prepared countermeasures?
Because of the existence of these weapons, the Allied Forces' plan to use the Impure World Reincarnation army as meat shields leading the charge also fell through.
For a time, battle cries shook the world, agonized screams rose continuously, and the entire sky echoed with the sounds of fierce conflict.
…
To speak of another matter,
While everyone's attention was focused on the battlefield of the Floating Continent, Nagato and the Six Paths of Pain stood on the desolate earth below, silently observing everything.
To wait for the Allied Shinobi Forces and Sunagakure to weaken each other, then seize the opportunity to capture the Tailed Beasts... the plan was perfect. But just as the plan began unfolding, his hometown, Amegakure, was caught in the war's crossfire, completely reduced to dust.
Innocent people caught in war... Nagato, born in war and having grown up in war, was long accustomed to this phenomenon.
But this time, an entire village was affected. Even though he was used to such phenomena and thought his heart would no longer ripple because of them, he felt anger once again.
Strangely, although rage nearly burned away his reason, he became unprecedentedly calm.
Because his ideal was far from something this accident could interfere with, even if his homeland was destroyed.
"Don't be controlled by anger; control the anger. This bone-deep pain will only make my power stronger." Nagato clenched his fist, feeling the increasingly potent chakra. His resolve for this mission grew even firmer.
"Nagato..."
A familiar voice sounded behind him, gentle with a hint of youthfulness.
Nagato's body trembled. Turning around in disbelief, he saw the figure that had haunted his dreams.
Purple hair, purple eye shadow, a purple paper flower... except her physique was that of a ten-year-old, everything was so familiar.
Nagato opened his mouth, eager to call out that name, but when the words reached his lips, he only felt his throat dry and hoarse, unable to utter them.
No, not unable.
Nagato, possessing the Rinnegan, knew his own physical condition perfectly well.
He wasn't incapable of speaking; he was afraid this was all a false, illusory bubble, that once the truth was pierced, the person before him would vanish.
"Nagato, is that you, Nagato?"
The little girl's tone, like meeting an old friend, made Nagato's body tremble unnaturally. Finally, anticipation overcame worry, and the words he hoped for finally escaped his lips.
"Konan, is it really you?"
"It's me!"
"But you... why?"
Nagato's voice trembled like his body and gaze.
Back then, he had witnessed with his own eyes Sunagakure's Shinobi thrust a kunai into Konan's heart, after which all signs of life vanished... his Rinnegan couldn't be wrong.
So...
"It was a reincarnation technique..." Konan seemed to know what Nagato was thinking and explained, "At that time, Senki Ryuji extracted my soul from my corpse and used a reincarnation technique to bring me back."
"Senki Ryuji?"
Hearing this name, Nagato was stunned. The joy of seeing Konan again quickly faded. His eyes widened, staring straight at Konan.
Under the powerful Dojutsu of the Rinnegan, the Human Path's ability manifested. Nagato pierced through Konan's body, striking directly at the soul within... it was identical to her appearance, undoubtedly Konan herself.
Nagato retracted his Dojutsu but still didn't lower his guard.
"Why would Senki Ryuji use a reincarnation technique to bring you back?"
"You came specifically to find me, right? And how does Senki Ryuji know I'm here?"
Back then, as opposing sides in the war, it was logical for the enemy to kill personnel on his side. Why would the enemy specifically resurrect someone from the opposing side?
Furthermore, to the outside world, Nagato had died six years ago. The current leader of Amegakure was Pain.
How did the other party know he was here?
Hearing Konan's answer, Nagato's inner vigilance didn't diminish; instead, it grew.
"He didn't want the mastermind behind the scenes to succeed!"
"This is all Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu's conspiracy. They want to use you..."
"I know all that!"
A calm voice stopped Konan's explanation. She stared blankly at Nagato's calm face, feeling a strange sensation for the first time... this person who was once like a younger brother following behind, always taken care of by her and Yahiko, was displaying a side beyond her understanding.
"Under the circumstances back then, Sunagakure killing you would only enrage me completely, ruining their plan. They had no reason to kill you at that time. And Uchiha Madara appearing later to save me... there were too many suspicious points back then. Just calm down and think a little, and you can see how much underhandedness was hidden in the whole affair."
"If that's the case, then you..."
"Why am I still helping Uchiha Madara, is that it?"
Looking at Nagato's increasingly cold, detached expression, Konan only felt the distance between them growing larger, more alien.
"I actually have to thank Senki Ryuji for that!"
"Hm?"
"Because of what he said to me back then, I was able to see through the essence of the problem!"
"The essence of the problem..."
Konan fell silent.
She already understood. The Nagato who was once like a little brother was dead. What lived in the world now was a Nagato cursed by this cruel world.
"Look at Amegakure!"
Nagato pointed at the desolate land. "Was it destroyed because it was caught in the war between Sunagakure and the Allied Shinobi Forces?"
"No, it died under my wish!"