The heaviness of stone is not only a transformation of Earth Release but also represents the Will of Stone of Iwagakure.
"Combined Ninjutsu: Earth Release – Earth and Stone Dragon!"
Rumble!
The ground cracked open as more than ten Iwa-nin shouted in unison, summoning a massive dragon of earth and stone, over seven meters wide and dozens of meters long.
"Iwagakure's combined techniques are indeed powerful... but even this might not be enough to threaten the leader of Amegakure, Shikaku-senpai."
From a distance, Hyuga Himon, who was observing and gathering intel, tried to steady himself by focusing chakra into his feet. Every clash between Iwa-nin's Earth Release and the Rinnegan created terrifying shockwaves.
Even though they were far away, the tremors were so strong that without chakra anchoring them to the ground, they would've been thrown off balance.
Nara Shikaku shielded his face with his arm to block flying debris and asked, "Himon, what exactly is that short-haired Rinnegan user doing?"
"What's clear is he can generate suction and omnidirectional repulsion. It's probably not just chakra force... repulsion seems more accurate—careful, it's happening again."
Himon's face turned grim as he saw through his Byakugan that the short-haired Rinnegan user raised his hand again.
"Shinra Tensei!"
No hand signs. The orange-haired youth simply raised his hand, and an invisible repulsive force erupted from him like a pressure wall.
A hemispherical crater formed beneath him. The force crashed directly into the Earth and Stone Dragon.
"Damn it! Push it back!"
The Iwa-nin captain shouted, veins bulging, as he and his teammates poured chakra into the technique, trying to maintain the dragon.
Boom!
The dragon quickly crumbled under the force of Shinra Tensei. The repulsion didn't stop there—it swept past the earth wall and hit the Iwa-nin behind it.
"Ahhh!"
Rocks shattered and flew through the air. In that instant, four or five Iwa-nin were killed.
"Dust Release – Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Onoki seized the moment and flew from the side, forming a transparent conical barrier in his hand, which rapidly expanded and shot toward Deva Path Pain.
"Good timing—as expected of the Third Tsuchikage."
Deva Path Pain spoke calmly, but his tone wasn't praise—it was more of a provocation.
Preta Path was thrown forward by Naraka Path to intercept the Dust Release.
Sealing Technique: Chakra Absorption!
The cone was fully absorbed by Preta Path. Even as Onoki increased the chakra output, Dust Release could not overcome the absorbing power of the sealing technique.
"Damn it!"
Onoki cursed in frustration and pulled back mid-air. His angle of attack had been from a blind spot, yet the enemy still reacted.
Seeing Onoki's ambush fail, Kurotsuchi's father Kitsuchi quickly shouted, "Next team, release your jutsu!"
The Will of Stone meant persistence—no matter how many corpses piled up, they could not give up. That's how they wore down the Third Raikage. Even if the Amegakure leader had the Rinnegan, he would be no exception.
"Another failure... just as you predicted, Shikaku-senpai. The one using repulsion didn't look at Onoki, but the other two noticed his actions."
Himon relayed the intel. Shikaku nodded with certainty.
"As expected. That confirms five Rinnegan abilities."
Looking at the Iwa-nin casualties—over a hundred dead—and still lacking full intel on Rinnegan's powers, Shikaku felt grim. Even knowing them wouldn't necessarily help against such repulsion.
"Combined Ninjutsu: Earth Release – Gangai Style!"
BOOM!
CRACK!
This time, they used dozens of shinobi. Even Kitsuchi joined, a savage glint on his face as he poured out chakra.
A thirty-meter-tall stone giant was formed. As long as they kept supplying chakra, it could regenerate even if destroyed.
"You all keep the chakra flowing—I'll control it!"
Kitsuchi shouted and leapt onto the stone giant.
"Roar!!"
Under his control, the massive golem swung a mighty palm at the five Paths of Pain.
The massive air pressure from the blow left no time for Preta Path to absorb the ninjutsu.
Boom!
The stone palm hit the ground where Pain stood. But the giant's speed wasn't high—Pain's bodies had already jumped clear.
Crack!
The stone hand shattered from the impact, but quickly regenerated thanks to the chakra infusion.
From afar, Shikaku's expression grew serious. "So this joint technique can regenerate... With Earth Release's defense, it won't be easy to destroy something this size. With enough chakra... they might wear him down."
After missing, Kitsuchi aimed at Deva Path in the air. He and Onoki launched a joint assault.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Repulsive force shattered one of the giant's arms. But Kitsuchi quickly protected Onoki with the other and hid inside the golem.
Rumble!
The golem was shoved back dozens of meters. Its arm, head, and parts of its body shattered—but with more chakra, it quickly reformed.
"Yes! It held!"
The Iwa-nin shouted in joy. With this, they could potentially grind down their opponent.
Seeing this, the other Iwa-nin felt hope. The heavy price might finally be paying off.
"I'll help too!"
"Me as well—I can use Gangai Style!"
More teams formed quickly under the captains. They rallied around the Will of Stone to face their enemy.
"Earth Release – Gangai Style!"
Rumble!
Another slightly smaller stone giant formed and marched to Deva Path's other side.
Luckily, this was mostly flat land—enough room for two such giants.
"When ants gather, they gain confidence. But once you witness the power of a god, you'll understand true pain."
Deva Path spoke coldly as he ascended into the sky.
At the same time, the other five Paths of Pain vanished in puffs of smoke—Nagato had summoned them back.
Konan frowned. "Nagato, are you going to use that technique?"
"Don't worry. In my current state, it won't cost me my life. I just need a short rest afterward."
Nagato said calmly, "Unless the great nations feel the same pain, true understanding between people can't be achieved."
Deva Path rose higher—beyond the reach of normal ninjutsu. Onoki could pursue with Light-Weight Rock Technique, but without the golem's support, he couldn't breach Rinnegan defenses alone.
"Father, what's that guy doing?"
Kitsuchi frowned. Five vanished, one flew high. Was he retreating?
Onoki shook his head. "I'm not sure... but be on alert."
From afar, Shikaku saw the ascent and asked, "Himon, what's he doing?"
"I can't tell, Shikaku-senpai. He's beyond my Byakugan's range now."
Himon turned with Shikaku to look at Aburame Shikai.
"Don't look at me—my bugs can't fly that high."
Shikai adjusted his sunglasses. "But... he's likely preparing a powerful jutsu. My insects are restless."
Chakra surged around Deva Path, his hands spread wide, Rinnegan glowing with a blinding light.
"Shinra Tensei!"
An invisible repulsive wave burst forth, sweeping away air, dust, and clouds.
From afar, it looked like a massive unseen sphere expanding in all directions from Deva Path.
"It's coming!"
Onoki's eyes widened. He started forming a Dust Release cube—but this attack felt different. Huge. Terrifying.
Like humans facing a natural disaster. No resistance could stop it.
"Father, watch out!"
Kitsuchi noticed the difference and shielded Onoki with the golem—just in time.
Boom!
A circular crater, four to five meters deep, formed instantly. It expanded outward. Trees, rocks, everything was flung away by the repulsion.
"Watch out—ugh!"
Shikaku didn't even finish warning before he, Himon, and Shikai were swept away like debris in a mudslide.
The earth shook. In just seconds, the area became a wasteland spanning several kilometers.
No one had time to react, much less defend. Kitsuchi managed one move. The rest were helpless.
Seven or eight minutes passed before injured survivors began crawling out from under rubble and corpses.
They looked around, dazed.
Where was the ninja army?
Where were the Tsuchikage and Kitsuchi?
What had just happened?
"Ugh... my arm's broken..."
Shikaku gritted his teeth and forced himself up, pushing aside fallen branches.
He was stunned at the scene. "What just happened...?"
"Shikaku-senpai..."
Himon's weak voice came from nearby. Shikaku ignored the pain and rushed over, pulling him from the debris.
"Shikaku-senpai... where's Shikai? I remember he was..."
Himon trailed off as he saw Shikai's bisected corpse.
"This isn't the time to grieve—the enemy is still here!"
Shikaku said darkly. He looked up at the lone figure in the sky, anger and fear in his heart.
That kind of power... that technique... Konoha couldn't handle it alone. Luckily, Amegakure had targeted Iwagakure first. Otherwise, Konoha would've had to ally with them.
"Himon, use your Byakugan—find the Tsuchikage!"
(End of Chapter)