The confrontation continued, tension thick in the air.
Kabuto Yakushi pondered to himself: Hanzō's abilities could disrupt the others. Naruto's Kotoamatsukami has already been used. This is the perfect opportunity to divide the battlefield.
Swish!
Hanzō of the Salamander darted swiftly into the distance.
Swish!
Konan transformed into paper sheets, chasing after Hanzō.
In the sky, Deidara hovered in circles, while by Nagato's side, only Sasori and Itachi remained.
Kabuto continued his internal analysis: Naruto also possesses the Rinnegan. The Human Path can obliterate Edo Tensei summons. Even with a numerical advantage, I must tread carefully. I suppose I'll use Sasori to test his current strength.
However, Sasori of the Red Sand had no puppets at his disposal. His resurrection through Edo Tensei did not restore him in the form of a human puppet. Kabuto shrugged mentally: No matter. I'll provide him with some pawns to control.
Nagato formed hand seals with both hands.
Summoning Jutsu: Edo Tensei!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ten coffins rose from the ground ahead.
Emerging from them were the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kinkaku, Ginkaku, and the former Kumogakure Magnet Release ninja, Troy.
Swish!
Mangetsu Hōzuki summoned several scrolls, retrieving the swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen: the Blastsword: Shibuki, Splash Blade: Hiramekarei, Executioner's Blade, Blunt Sword: Kabutowari, Longsword: Nuibari, and Lightning Blades: Kiba, returning them to their rightful wielders.
However, the Twin Swords: Kiba, once seized by Tobi, and the Samehada, now wielded by Kisame, were not summoned.
Additionally, while Suigetsu had been brought back by Naruto, the Executioner's Blade had been confiscated by Konoha and remained without a master. Thus, Mangetsu summoned it as well.
For those whose original swords were unavailable, such as Mangetsu himself and Fuguki Suikazan, chakra-forged blades served as substitutes.
Boom! Boom!
Kinkaku and Ginkaku summoned the Six Paths Tools: the Seven Star Sword, Golden Canopy Rope, Crimson Gourd, and Banana Palm Fan.
Meanwhile, Troy used his Magnet Release to manipulate spinning Fūma Shuriken around him.
Zzz!
Once all preparations were complete, their eyes dulled, stripped of consciousness.
Swish!
Chakra threads extended from Sasori's ten fingers, attaching themselves to the napes of these ten resurrected warriors.
Kabuto's sly voice echoed in Sasori's mind: Sasori, I trust your expertise and mastery of puppet techniques will allow these ten to fully unleash their original strength. I've already taken their consciousness. Now, show me your performance.
Sasori's dim eyes betrayed no emotion, as lifeless as the puppets he once controlled.
Kabuto… Once, you were manipulated by my technique, no different from a puppet. Now you control me, while I, in turn, control the dead as puppets. How ironic. So be it. Life will inevitably wither, but art is eternal.
Swish! Sasori's ten fingers danced.
"The ten fingers of Chiyo… Allow me to recreate your masterpiece!"
White Secret Technique: Ten Puppet Collection — Modified!
Naruto's sharp gaze fixed on Sasori. "Sasori of the Red Sand, I understand that for a ninja with your unique beliefs, no amount of raw power can truly subdue you. Only in the realm of art can we resonate. That's why I've prepared this feast of Asura just for you!"
Swish!
Naruto unfurled a long scroll horizontally.
From four summoning arrays, four Asura Path Puppets emerged!
They were modeled after Mecha Naruto: Prototype Unit, Mecha Sasuke: Prototype Unit, Mecha Sakura: Prototype Unit, and Mecha Kakashi: Prototype Unit!
Asura Path Formation: Team 7!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions erupted as dirt and debris rained down.
Hanzō, wielding a scythe and chain, stared at the winged figure of Konan hovering above. With a sigh, he remarked, "Konan, I never expected that in this war-torn shinobi world, a woman like you could survive until now and attain such formidable strength."
Swish! Swish!
Paper folded into spears, which rained down diagonally as Konan raised her hand.
Her voice was icy. "Have you always seen me as weak?"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Hanzō swung his scythe, deflecting the paper spears. Instead of responding to her words, he asked, "Nagato has been resurrected through Edo Tensei. That boy who resembles Yahiko—his name is Naruto Uzumaki, isn't it? Why does he have Nagato's Rinnegan? What is his connection to Pain?"
Hanzō had been killed by Pain. In his final moments, he had seen the deceased Yahiko, bearing Nagato's Rinnegan, deliver judgment with overwhelming power.
He had died without ever understanding the truth about Pain.
Konan's cold gaze hardened. "Pain is no more. Naruto Uzumaki is the inheritor of Nagato and Yahiko's will. He is the one who will lead Amegakure to prosperity and bring peace to this shinobi world!"
Hanzō's aged eyes dimmed with sorrow. "Amegakure… Compared to these rising stars, my era has indeed ended. But I can't accept it. I can't understand why!"
Swish! Hanzō formed hand seals.
Summoning Jutsu!
Boom! Amid a massive cloud of smoke, a giant salamander appeared beneath Hanzō.
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
The salamander spewed a toxic mist, spreading rapidly across the battlefield.
Hanzō's voice echoed from within the poisonous fog: "Konan, as a former enemy, can you tell me? Why did I fail? Why was I cast aside by this era?!"
Konan's icy gaze softened with reflection.
If not for Hanzō, we would never have truly grown, would we?
"Very well."
Whoosh! Her paper wings spread wide as she dove into the poisonous fog.
"Huh?!" Hanzō was stunned. "Why? You aren't wearing a gas mask, yet you're immune to the salamander's poison?!"
Swish!
In Hanzō's bewildered gaze, Konan formed hand seals and pressed her palm to the ground.
Summoning Jutsu: Explosive Flame Array!
Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!
The ground shifted as countless explosive tags surged toward the salamander.
Hanzō was shaken. "This—this is my technique! How can you use it on such a scale?!"
Konan's voice was low and resolute. "You were mired in the glory of your past as a 'demi-god,' paralyzed by fear of death and loss, stagnant and unchanging. We, however, have long surpassed those limits!"
"Hanzō, we once respected you greatly, but you lost the conviction and determination a true warrior must possess. That is why you failed and were replaced by Pain."
"And now, Naruto, who defeated and changed Pain, continues to grow amidst adversity. He knows that stagnation leads only to repeating your mistakes!"
Hanzō trembled. "You mean to say… that Naruto defeated Pain?! That insurmountable existence was overcome by him alone?!"
Konan's tone remained cold. "To us, you were once just as insurmountable. After this explosion, the paper will seal you. Do you have any last words?"
"Perhaps… I finally understand."
Hanzō smiled faintly, closing his eyes. "Please… give Amegakure a bright future."
Konan's voice was firm and unwavering. "We will. Because Amegakure is my home—our home!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions roared, shaking the heavens and earth.
But as the dust settled, Hanzō's figure was nowhere to be seen.
He had not been resurrected again. Thus, there was nothing for Konan's paper to seal.
When an Edo Tensei summon resolves the regrets of their past life, their soul breaks free from the binding of the sacrificial body and returns to the Pure Land.
Konan cast a lingering gaze at the shattered ground before heading toward the battlefield where Naruto awaited.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
"9 amazing fanfics available on my Patreon.
Support for 350 + advance chapters:
patreon.com/DarkGolds"