"So, they're capturing Tailed Beasts to gain the power to rule the world?"Tsunade asked grimly, her eyes fixed on Nagato.
Nagato nodded. "Yes. Gathering the Tailed Beasts is all about strength."
"Then... Naruto must be on their capture list too, right?"Jiraiya's voice was filled with concern.With a group boasting ten Kage-level shinobi, how could he not worry about Naruto?
Nagato nodded again. "Anyone who hosts a Tailed Beast is a target. They need the chakra of every beast to complete their plan."
Tsunade frowned deeper. "If they succeed in gathering all that chakra, just how powerful would they become?"
It was a question that had been weighing on everyone's minds.They all knew it would be dangerous, but no one knew the true extent.
Nagato shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure about the exact scale... but it's safe to say the resulting entity would surpass even the strongest shinobi."
"Stronger than a Super Kage?"Tsunade and Jiraiya echoed the words in disbelief.
Although part of them had already suspected it, hearing it confirmed still sent a chill down their spines.
But thinking it through, it made sense.Each Tailed Beast was already Kage-level or stronger.Merging all nine into one would naturally produce something far beyond normal limits.
Not to mention the Tailed Beasts' immense reserves of chakra.
"More precisely," Ryo interjected at that moment, drawing all eyes to him, "it would become the Ten-Tails. And whoever controls it would reach the Six Paths level."
"Ten-Tails? Six Paths?"Tsunade stared at Ryo in confusion. These were terms she had never heard before.
Ryo nodded. "That's right.The Nine Tailed Beasts, when reunited, reform into the Ten-Tails—a completely new entity.And if someone successfully seals the Ten-Tails into themselves, they become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, reaching the Six Paths level."
He paused briefly before adding,"If it's hard to understand what Six Paths power means, think of the Sage of Six Paths himself.Or just imagine it as reaching the realm of gods."
The room fell utterly silent.
The word 'god' wasn't one they threw around lightly.
Even without fully grasping the concept, the very comparison sent a shiver down everyone's spines.
After the initial shock wore off, Tsunade couldn't help but ask,"Ryo, how do you know all this?"
It was a question everyone else was silently wondering as well.
Ryo simply shrugged. "I came across it by chance."
There was no way he could explain that he knew because he had watched an anime series about this world.
Tsunade didn't press the issue further and instead shifted back to the main concern."Ryo... if they really gather all the Tailed Beasts and create the Ten-Tails, would we even stand a chance?"
Ryo didn't hesitate."No.Not even if every shinobi in the world united together—we would still stand no chance against a Six Paths-level enemy."
His words dropped like a heavy hammer on everyone's hearts.
Even Nagato, who considered himself immensely powerful, felt his heart sink.
He had always known that the Ten-Tails was dangerous—but not to this unimaginable extent.
And now Ryo was telling them plainly: it would be hopeless.
Tsunade clenched her fists tightly."Then we can't sit by and do nothing.We have to find these people before they finish collecting the Tailed Beasts!"
"Exactly!" Jiraiya agreed immediately, his voice fierce. "We have to stop them!"
But Ryo shook his head."That's easier said than done. Right now, they're hidden in the shadows, and we're standing out in the open."
Tsunade and Jiraiya fell silent.
"Is there really no way to find them?" Tsunade asked after a moment, her voice tense.
Ryo nodded slowly."We've known about their existence for a long time... but we haven't been able to locate them.They're cautious—more cautious than before.Finding them now would be like searching for a needle in a haystack."
After all, the ninja world was vast.Even tracking someone like Obito was nearly impossible, especially with him being even warier than he had been in the original timeline.
Tsunade gritted her teeth. "So... we can only wait and defend?"
"No," Ryo said calmly. "There's another way."
Everyone immediately focused their attention on him.
"What way?" Tsunade asked quickly.
Ryo's expression remained steady as he said,"We lure them out."
"Lure them?"Everyone looked confused.
"That's right," Ryo continued."They're after the Tailed Beasts. So we use the Jinchūriki to bait them.We make it clear that if they miss this chance, there won't be another."
Shock flashed across Jiraiya's face."You mean... using Naruto as bait?!"
Tsunade's face darkened as well, shaking her head firmly."No way.That's way too dangerous.There are ten Kage-level enemies out there! If we use Naruto as bait and anything goes wrong—"
"We'll lose him," she said bluntly, her voice grim.
"And if we lose Naruto, we'll be facing the Ten-Tails," she added quietly, her fists clenched.
"If we don't use the Tailed Beasts to bait them, they'll never show themselves," Ryo said evenly."That's the reality."
"But... is there truly no other way?" Tsunade asked hesitantly, her heart unwilling to accept the risk.
"There isn't," Ryo said simply."If it's not a Tailed Beast, they won't move."
"No!"Jiraiya finally lost his temper, glaring at Ryo with barely restrained fury.
"You can't gamble Naruto's life like that!"
He understood the situation.He understood the logic.But emotionally, he simply couldn't accept it.
Naruto wasn't just another pawn to him.
Ryo remained silent under Jiraiya's angry gaze.
There was no need to argue further.
Everyone knew that from here on, every choice would be walking a tightrope over a pit of fire.
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