A terrifying pressure filled the air, sending warning signals through everyone's minds. Instinctively, they tensed, preparing for impact.
But with the sheer speed and scale of this incoming attack—
There was no time to escape.
In the next instant, a fireball like a miniature sun appeared before them.
Too fast!
The distance was closing rapidly. Kisame barely had time to raise his hands before the fireball was already upon them.
At the last possible second, Nagato stepped forward, positioning himself in front of the group. His hands shot up, eyes focused on the incoming blast.
Absorption? No—it's too much chakra! It can't be absorbed instantly!
That left only one option.
Nagato's eyes widened as he activated his ability.
"Almighty Push!!"
A massive wave of repulsive force surged outward, colliding with the fireball midair.
For a moment, the two forces clashed—a deadly balance of destruction and resistance.
Then—
BOOM!
The fireball erupted into an earth-shaking explosion.
A shockwave of flames and energy rippled outward, distorting the very air around them. The collision of forces was so intense that space itself seemed to twist.
From behind Nagato, the rest of Akatsuki could only see blinding white light. The overwhelming pressure made it impossible to hear or move.
Nagato gritted his teeth. The force of the explosion refused to disperse—it wasn't just an ordinary attack!
And then—
BOOOOM!!
The blast engulfed their entire position.
From Jiraiya's perspective, it was like watching a second sun ignite in the distance.
A towering column of fire shot into the sky, its shockwave spreading rapidly. The sea beneath it was thrown into chaos, massive waves surging outward.
The sheer scale of destruction left Jiraiya frozen in place.
This… this is insane!
The explosion's roar was deafening, the ground trembling beneath his feet. Within moments, a wall of sea spray and fire raced toward them.
Jiraiya's instincts kicked in. His hands blurred into seals.
"Sakiya, come here!"
Sakiya reappeared at his side, her blindfold back in place. She landed lightly, a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
Jiraiya groaned inwardly.
Not now.
Arms crossed, Sakiya tilted her chin up smugly.
"Hmm? Are you impressed by my power? Of course you are. That was merely a glimpse of my full strength—"
Jiraiya cut her off, focusing his chakra.
"We don't have time for this, Sakiya!"
"Toad Mouth Bind!"
In an instant, the environment around them shifted. They were no longer on open water but inside the fleshy walls of a living cavern—the stomach of the Giant Rock Toad from Mount Myoboku.
This technique, normally used to trap enemies, was now their best means of defense.
Sakiya frowned, arms still crossed. She eyed the pulsing walls with distaste.
"Ugh. This place looks disgusting."
Jiraiya let out a nervous chuckle.
"It might not be pretty, but it'll keep us alive."
Jiraiya sighed. It was natural for a young girl to find this place disgusting.
After a while, he released the jutsu, and they reappeared outside.
The air was noticeably hotter. The towering cloud of fire and smoke in the distance still swirled at the center of the explosion, rising slowly.
Jiraiya stared at the massive mushroom cloud, his heart heavy with shock.
If this had happened in Konoha… the village would've been wiped out in an instant.
No—an entire country could be destroyed with a single attack like that.
The sheer scale of destruction sent a chill down his spine. He recalled Nagato mentioning a forbidden technique, and now, he understood.
For a long moment, Jiraiya muttered, almost as if asking himself—
"Are Nagato and the others still alive?"
Sakiya, standing beside him, answered immediately.
"Yes, they survived. I knew that wouldn't be enough to finish them. I should've just used the Death Eye instead."
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"They're still alive?"
He turned to the smoke-filled horizon, disbelief evident in his expression.
"Even after an attack of that scale?"
Sakiya nodded, rubbing her chin as she studied the explosion's aftermath.
"Yeah, that guy with the lesser demon eye blocked my fireball directly. Even though it's a lower-level demon eye, it's still incredibly strong."
Jiraiya's shock deepened.
"Blocked it? Without a scratch?"
Sakiya glanced at him, nodding.
"Yeah. I should've just increased the energy output."
Jiraiya's face grew serious.
"So, it really is the Rinnegan… The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths have this much power?"
He clenched his fists.
"We can't stay here any longer."
Jiraiya glanced at Sakiya.
"Let's go!"
Without hesitation, he turned and ran.
Sakiya took one last look in Nagato's direction.
"Regained his strength already… The Rinnegan really is powerful. See you next time, Rinnegan!"
With that, she turned and sprinted after Jiraiya.
—
Not far from the center of the explosion, Nagato stood drenched in sweat. His face was pale, his hands trembling from exertion.
Konan and the rest of Akatsuki stood behind him—completely unharmed but shaken.
Nagato took a deep breath before speaking.
"We're leaving."
No one objected. They silently nodded, still processing what had just happened.
Most of them had never seen Nagato's full power before. Konan had explained that Nagato was their true leader, but until now, some had doubts.
After witnessing this battle, those doubts vanished.
With that, Nagato led them away from the scorching remains of the battlefield.
—
Nagato had managed to repel the fireball's explosion with Shinra Tensei, but the impact had nearly drained him. The blast had been redirected, leaving behind a visible divide in the destruction—one side untouched, the other a scorched wasteland.
As they walked, Nagato's mind raced.
"I need to reassess Jiraiya. But… I still don't believe that attack was his."
—
Among Akatsuki, emotions were mixed.
The only one who seemed excited was Deidara.
Even as they retreated, his mind was still replaying the explosion.
"That was a perfect detonation! Too bad I couldn't see it in full!"
He knew Nagato had absorbed much of the impact, but even then, the scale was staggering.
His blood was practically humming with excitement.
"There's so much more I can do with my art!"
—
Meanwhile, another figure watched in silence—thinking, analyzing.
Zetsu.
Unlike the others, he wasn't excited. He was wary.
That chakra—the caster of that attack—it was beyond anything he had anticipated.
Even compared to the Nine-Tails, this was on another level entirely.
Yet, there was no prior intel on this person.
Zetsu narrowed his eyes.
"An unknown enemy… Could they be connected to the Holy Land?"
This wasn't just an anomaly.
It was a threat.
And Zetsu needed answers.
__________
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