Chapter 119: Enhanced Peak Nagato
"Madara, what are you doing here?"
At this moment, Nagato's vigilance towards Uchiha Obito far surpassed even that of the Tenseigan-wielding 'Otsutsuki Toneri'.
At least Izayoi had stated his purpose: to retrieve the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
But regarding Uchiha Obito, disguised as Uchiha Madara, Nagato still didn't know his intentions.
Especially the abilities like Yin-Yang Release: Black Rods and the Six Paths Techniques, all given to him by 'Uchiha Madara', even the free assistance in capturing Tailed Beasts, it was all too bizarre.
Nagato couldn't believe that the legendary harbinger of chaos in the ninja world would be such a kind person.
Now that Konan wasn't by his side and only Deva Path Pain and Asura Path remained of the Six Paths of Pain, Obito suddenly appearing before him made it hard for Nagato not to suspect that the other party was about to make a move.
Uchiha Obito didn't care about Nagato's vigilance. Having just emerged from the Kamui dimension, he adopted the persona of 'Uchiha Madara', his tone somewhat deep. "Nagato, you should be able to see that Pain is no match for that brat."
"So?" Nagato said expressionlessly. "Do you want me to retreat, or are you finally going to stop hiding your identity and prepare to act yourself?"
"My injuries haven't healed yet, and I can't exert much of my ocular power," Obito replied with the same answer, but his voice carried a deeper meaning. "However... I can restore you to your prime."
Nagato countered, "If there's such a method, why don't you use it on yourself?"
"It is precisely because of this method that I, a relic of the old era, am able to stand before you," Obito chuckled.
"...What method?"
Nagato mentally calculated Uchiha Madara's age, believing Obito's words.
Among the Five Kage, the oldest, Onoki, was already seventy-six this year, but before Uchiha Madara, he was merely a junior.
Kakuzu, from the same era as the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara, was also eighty-eight this year.
If not for Earth Grudge Fear, he might have died long ago.
But the 'Uchiha Madara' before him looked like a young man. Under the Rinnegan's chakra perception, the left half of his body contained powerful Yang Release chakra, and his right eye contained powerful Yin Release chakra.
Without a doubt, he possessed a secret technique similar to Earth Grudge Fear to prolong his life.
"Tobi."
Obito suddenly uttered his alias. Before Nagato could show confusion, Obito's body began to writhe, white substance extending from his body, eventually forming a White Zetsu clone beside him.
However, unlike other White Zetsu clones, this one had no face. Its features were a swirl and an eye socket, but no eye was visible.
"Hello, I'm Tobi!"
Tobi, having just emerged from Obito's body, gave Nagato a salute and asked a bizarre question, "Leader, nice to meet you. What does the feeling of needing to defecate feel like?"
Both his tone and voice were exactly the same as the Tobi Obito played.
At this moment, Nagato instantly understood why the harbinger of chaos in the ninja world was sometimes so out of tune and often did things without any bottom line.
It turned out that Tobi wasn't him at all, but this special White Zetsu clone.
Staring at Tobi, who seemed to be the materialized form of Yang Release chakra, Nagato's eyes narrowed slightly, then he looked at Obito and asked, "Tobi... is that the method you're talking about?"
"Tobi is just one part of it. You also need this thing..." Obito took out a test tube from the Kamui dimension, filled with a green liquid.
Looking at the test tube, Nagato asked doubtfully, "What is this?"
Obito's next answer instantly made his expression change drastically.
"The cells of Senju Hashirama, or you could say, White Zetsu cells."
"...I see."
Nagato looked at Tobi beside Obito again, finally understanding why this non-human creature possessed such astonishing Yang Release chakra.
They were all products of Senju Hashirama's cells!
"You want me to inject Hashirama's cells?"
Nagato's expression was wary. "As far as I know, Konoha once conducted Wood Release experiments, and all those who injected Hashirama's cells exploded and died. How can you be sure that I won't have problems after injecting them?"
"Because you possess the Rinnegan, and you have Tobi and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, as well as your bloodline," Obito raised his hand and created a sapling, speaking half-truths. "The Sharingan and Wood Release possess the power to balance each other. This is the answer I derived after the battle at the Valley of the End, when I transplanted Senju Hashirama's cells. It is also because of his cells that I have been able to live until now, and awakened Wood Release, creating Tobi."
"The Rinnegan is the head of the legendary Three Great Dojutsu, possessing even greater ocular power than the Sharingan. The Preta Path can absorb all energy, suppressing Hashirama's cells with ease. Even if there's a real accident and the Preta Path can't absorb them, you still have the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
"And you are a descendant of the Uzumaki clan. The Uzumaki and Senju clans are distant relatives and were the most steadfast allies during the Warring States Period, often intermarrying. Therefore, almost every member of the Senju and Uzumaki clans has the bloodline of both clans within them. Some descendants even show signs of ancestral reversion, for example... you!"
Obito pointed at Nagato and continued, "You, chosen by the Sage's Eyes, your chakra far surpasses that of any member of the Uzumaki or Senju clans. The Senju bloodline within you must have reverted to an extremely high degree, making your compatibility with Hashirama's cells extremely high."
"With the help of the Rinnegan and Tobi, who is also a product of Hashirama's cells, you will not only be able to perfectly absorb the abilities of Hashirama's cells but also awaken Wood Release even more powerful than mine!"
Hearing this, Nagato finally felt a stirring in his heart.
Normally, even if Obito painted a rosy picture, Nagato would be wary and refuse.
Moreover, his dream was to make Yahiko a god and create a 'new world' in Pain's name.
Without Izayoi, with his strength, he could indeed achieve this.
He disdained to rely on such external forces and didn't want to accept help from an 'enemy'.
But the appearance of 'Otsutsuki Toneri' made Nagato feel pressure for the first time.
The opponent's Tenseigan was on the same level as his Rinnegan, but unlike him, the opponent wasn't crippled.
The Six Paths of Pain, with their Six Paths Techniques separated, were no match for him at all.
Once the opponent dealt with the Six Paths of Pain, he would definitely come looking for him, the Outer Path.
At that time, how would he face a 'Outer Path' in his prime?
So Obito's offer of help came at just the right time.
But Nagato instinctively felt that Obito wouldn't be so kind as to help him become stronger. He was worried that the other party might leave a hidden hand in Hashirama's cells, or even want to take the opportunity to harm him.
After all, from beginning to end, he and Konan didn't trust Obito and Black and White Zetsu and had always been on guard against them.
Seeing Nagato still hesitating, Obito's next words completely sealed his fate.
"Don't you want to protect Yahiko and Konan?"
This one sentence made the conflicted Nagato instantly make a decision, his eyes firm. "Alright, how do we transplant it?"
"Tobi..."
"Understood."
Obito handed the test tube to Tobi, who took it and skipped over to Nagato, smiling. "Leader, I'll attach myself to you in a moment. Don't resist, okay?"
"Let's do it," Nagato nodded.
Immediately, Tobi's body opened up like a Venus flytrap, enveloping Nagato's body.
However, his face didn't close, leaving Nagato's head exposed.
Then, Nagato's hands lifted uncontrollably, opening the test tube. A vine grew from his fingers, extending like a tentacle into the test tube, absorbing all the liquid inside.
Thump—
The next second, a violent heartbeat echoed in the dimly lit chamber filled with barrier seals. It was incredibly loud.
Nagato's eyes widened even further.
Because a sharp object had pierced his left chest.
The aggressive liquid felt as if it was about to inject itself into his heart.
His heart, which had been weakening and beating slower, suddenly began to pound violently, but it wasn't a feeling of palpitation. Instead, it was a resurgence of life, a powerful throbbing.
"Leader, use the Preta Path to absorb my Wood Release chakra."
Tobi's voice echoed in Nagato's ears.
Nagato immediately used the Preta Path's ability to absorb Tobi's Yang Release chakra.
A transparent white barrier appeared, like a clear glass sphere, enveloping Nagato.
The next second, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
Within the barrier, Nagato's emaciated body, with its skin stretched over bones, sunken eye sockets, pale skin, and dry hair, was changing at a visible speed.
It was as if an elderly person's body was suddenly reversing time, returning to its youthful state.
Nagato, who was only thirty-two this year, his prime age, yet looked like a paralyzed old man, transformed in less than a moment into a handsome young man with fair skin, a rosy complexion, and smooth, lustrous red hair.
Both were unlike a thirty-two-year-old, but the former Nagato was a paralyzed old man, while the latter was a young boy.
Seeing this Nagato, the look in Obito's eyes under his mask was filled with shock and apprehension.
He had underestimated Nagato's compatibility with Hashirama's cells, having simultaneously awakened both the Uzumaki and Senju bloodlines.
He didn't need the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path at all, or rather, the help of the White Zetsu cells within the Demonic Statue. Just a tube of Hashirama's cells with extremely high concentration and purity, along with the assistance of Tobi, the strongest White Zetsu, had allowed Nagato to undergo a complete transformation, returning to his prime at this age!
Even the previous Nagato had brought immense pressure to Obito.
Now, Nagato, who had regained his youthful appearance and donned Tobi's armor, gave Obito an overwhelming sense of suffocation.
If not for the invincible Kamui, Obito felt that even with Wood Release, he would be mercilessly killed by Nagato in an instant.
He wondered if nurturing such a monster was ultimately the right or wrong decision.
"Incredible..."
Nagato at this moment was naturally unaware that he had shocked Obito.
In fact, not only was Obito shocked, but Nagato himself was also stunned by his current state.
Before being drained by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Nagato could only unleash the power of Almighty Push when he lost control.
When his emotions were stable, the Rinnegan's function was only the six nature transformations that even Nagato didn't fully understand.
After being drained into skin and bones by the Demonic Statue and obtaining the Six Paths Techniques and Yin-Yang Release from Obito, Nagato gradually grasped the power of the Rinnegan.
But at that time, he had become disabled and could only divide the power of the Rinnegan into six, creating the Six Paths of Pain.
He never truly had a so-called prime.
But now, Nagato felt the vast, sea-like chakra and vitality within his body, as well as a new nature transformation and the surging ocular power in his eyes...
At this moment, he was so strong that even he himself felt fear!
"I... I'm about to be drained dry, leader."
Tobi's weak voice pulled Nagato back to reality.
A long-lost smile appeared on Nagato's handsome face, his voice gentle. "Thank you for your hard work, Tobi."
Cracking and whooshing sounds rang out as the wheels of Nagato's wheelchair, which was also the control panel for the Six Paths of Pain, shattered.
The black rods inserted into his back, which were also the signal receivers for the Six Paths of Pain, shot out of his body.
Nagato only felt a slight pain before the wounds healed.
Stepping out of the shattered wheelchair, his feet touching the ground again after many years, Nagato felt no discomfort whatsoever.
It was as if... he had never been paralyzed.
It wasn't that he had been constantly controlling the Six Paths of Pain and still remembered the feeling of walking.
His self-healing ability wasn't strong enough to force out the black rods and dismantle the control panel and immediately recover.
All of this... was thanks to Tobi.
"Summoning Technique!"
Nagato suddenly wove hand signs and slammed his hands on the ground.
With a poof of smoke, Deva Path Pain, who hadn't returned to the battlefield after being blasted away by Izayoi's Almighty Push, instantly appeared in the dark chamber.
Having lost the control panel and signal receivers, Deva Path Pain had lost consciousness, reverting to a corpse lying on the cold ground.
Even the Rinnegan in his eyes had returned to their original state.
Nagato looked at Yahiko's eyes, as if talking to a close friend, and said softly, "Yahiko, I can finally protect you and Konan again. Once I deal with that threat, you will still be Pain, still... the god of the new world!"
After closing Yahiko's eyes, Nagato stood up. His entire aura instantly changed.
A super-standard combat power that surpassed the Five Kage and was in a league of its own in this era—exploded into being!
Three words could describe such a powerful individual: Super Kage Level!
Looking at Nagato before him, Obito asked, "Shall I see you off?"
"No need. I want to familiarize myself with my current body and this power."
Nagato shook his head and refused, his figure turning into an afterimage and disappearing.
Obito also used Kamui, his figure distorting as he flew into the fist-sized black hole.
"Something like this happened?"
On the battlefield, Izayoi, who had also easily dealt with the Asura Path and was now surrounded by the Fourth Raikage and Killer B, suddenly turned his head towards Amegakure, a look of surprise similar to Fire Cloud Cthulhu's appearing on his face.
Because the chamber where Nagato was located was too dimly lit, and the Tenseigan didn't have the ability to eavesdrop, plus the main body and Wood Clone's attention had been on the battlefield,
Izayoi didn't know about the conversation between Nagato and Obito, only noticing that Nagato's chakra had suddenly become stronger.
But now, Izayoi saw Nagato leaving the chamber, wearing Tobi's armor.
Looking at the handsome young man with red hair, Izayoi was surprised but delighted, allowing the Fourth Raikage and Killer B to instantly seize the opening, teleporting and striking with their elbows.
"Lightning Release: Absolute Ox Lightning Lariat!"
Facing the combined attack of the AB Combo, Izayoi seemed to not have reacted, still looking towards Amegakure.
But the next second, the figures of the two brothers flew backward like arrows shot from a bowstring.
"I originally wanted to take advantage of this rare gathering to see if the system had any new mechanisms, but unexpectedly triggered such a butterfly effect," Izayoi's lips curled up slightly, thinking to himself, "Truly... it's getting more and more interesting!"
(End of this chapter)
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