However, just as Madara closed in on Nagato, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
Nagato suddenly raised his right hand and, using all his remaining strength, launched a small black chakra sphere into the sky.
"Chibaku Tensei!"
His voice roared with a mixture of desperation and determination.
In that moment, he fully grasped the insurmountable gap between his strength and Madara's.
This was his last gamble—a desperate all-or-nothing attempt.
Even if the odds were impossibly slim, he had no choice but to stake everything on this final move.
As soon as the black sphere ascended, it unleashed an immense gravitational force.
The pull rapidly expanded, visibly distorting the surroundings.
The seawater, as if caught in an invisible grip, defied logic and surged toward the sky.
In the distance, sand and massive boulders were drawn by the force, rapidly converging toward the forming core of Chibaku Tensei.
The scene was surreal—an apocalyptic force consuming everything in its range.
Even Madara, caught within the gravitational field, found his body gradually being pulled toward the core.
Nagato's eyes flashed with a sliver of hope.
This was his chance!
If he could trap Madara within Chibaku Tensei's gravitational core, then perhaps—just perhaps—he could turn this dire battle around.
Maybe he could even achieve the impossible and secure victory.
But before that fleeting hope could take hold—
A deep, thunderous laugh rang through the battlefield.
Madara's arrogant, booming laughter crashed into Nagato's ears like a violent storm.
"A mere speck of sand—insignificant before me."
"You're just a naive brat."
"It seems you still don't understand the difference between us."
"Let me show you the true power of the Rinnegan."
His voice carried an unshakable dominance, as if he was about to unleash a force capable of shaking the heavens themselves.
Nagato's face instantly turned pale.
A wave of unease surged through him.
Could it be that even Chibaku Tensei—his strongest sealing technique—was powerless against Madara?
Just as dread tightened around his heart—
A colossal, towering blue giant suddenly materialized before his eyes, its sheer size dwarfing even the surrounding mountains.
Its entire body was encased in radiant, armor-like plating, exuding an aura of divine might.
On its back, a pair of massive wings unfurled, and in its grasp, two gleaming swords radiated a deadly chill.
With a single swing of its wings, the giant effortlessly shredded the incoming boulders drawn to Chibaku Tensei's core, slicing through them like paper.
The sight was utterly overwhelming.
Atop the giant's head stood Madara—unshaken, unwavering.
He had fully manifested his Complete Body Susanoo.
Not only did he show no intention of resisting Chibaku Tensei's pull—
He embraced it.
With a powerful flap of his wings, he propelled himself toward the forming sphere, accelerating straight for the core of Nagato's technique.
The massive blade in Susanoo's hands was raised high—
And then, with devastating force, it cleaved downward.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shattered the heavens.
A cataclysmic shockwave erupted from the impact, expanding outward like an unstoppable tsunami.
The sheer force of the blast threatened to erase everything in its wake.
Under the overwhelming power of Madara's strike, the once-indestructible Chibaku Tensei crumbled.
The massive core disintegrated into countless fragments, raining down like a meteor shower.
Each falling boulder struck the ocean's surface with explosive force, sending colossal waves crashing in all directions.
The battlefield had been transformed into a scene of pure devastation—like the end of the world itself.
"How is this possible?"
Nagato's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the unbelievable sight before him.
Never in his wildest imagination had he thought that someone could effortlessly shatter Chibaku Tensei.
Could a human truly wield such overwhelming power?
"Tengai Shinseii."
Yet, even after reducing Chibaku Tensei to rubble, Madara showed no signs of stopping.
He and his Susanoo simultaneously formed three distinct hand seals, executing the sequence with practiced precision.
In an instant, the sky darkened, as if veiled by a thick, oppressive shadow.
Then, a massive form loomed over the sea, casting an all-encompassing darkness upon the battlefield.
A colossal meteor, like the harbinger of death itself, plummeted from the heavens with the force to annihilate everything in its path.
It fell directly toward Nagato's position.
"Do you see it now?"
"This is the gap between us."
"Stop struggling—it's pointless."
Madara's voice echoed under the darkened sky, carrying the same condescending, mocking tone.
As he saw the despair on Nagato's face, a satisfied smirk curled at the edges of his lips.
In his mind, it was clear—only in his hands could the Rinnegan's true power be fully realized.
Nagato stood frozen, his gaze locked onto the descending meteor, which felt like death itself crashing down upon him.
Despair engulfed him completely.
Just watching it left him unable to summon any will to resist.
Rumble—
The meteor struck the ocean with an earth-shattering explosion.
The sheer force of impact was no less devastating than a catastrophic tsunami.
The ocean's surface caved inward, forming an enormous crater as if the sea itself had been violently torn open.
Then, like a triggered chain reaction, the water erupted outward, sending massive waves surging in every direction, blotting out the sky.
Moments later, the ocean retaliated, its raging waves crashing back even more violently.
Wave after wave swelled higher, spreading wildly in an unrelenting onslaught.
As the meteor was swallowed by the sea, Nagato's figure disappeared along with it.
"Go."
At Madara's command, Black Zetsu emerged from his body and plunged into the water.
Moments later, it resurfaced—now fused with Nagato's lifeless body.
Nagato was completely covered by Black Zetsu, his original appearance erased.
His bones had been shattered beyond count, and his internal organs had suffered immense trauma.
Even under Black Zetsu's control, he could no longer stand.
All he could do was lie motionless on the ocean's surface.