Jiraiya was gathering intelligence in the village of Amegakure.
He held Tsunade in one hand and a wine cup in the other, having a great time.
Suddenly, a roar like thunder shook the entire village.
Jiraiya hurriedly stood up and looked out the window. A brown demon-like giant stood like a towering tower, radiating extremely powerful destructive force.
"This… what is it?"
Jiraiya immediately focused his gaze.
On top of the demonic statue sat a figure in a wheelchair, with dark red hair, pale skin, and an upper body so thin that only ribs remained.
Jiraiya vaguely recognized that figure: "Nagato!!"
He rushed out of the tavern and formed a hand seal while moving: "Summoning Technique!"
A purple giant toad appeared from white smoke—Gamaken made his grand entrance.
One man and one toad charged toward that enormous demonic shadow.
...
The Forbidden City, the Golden Hall.
Kairen rubbed Wolon and Fenchu's little butts, leisurely listening to the affairs of state below.
Cloud Kairen stepped forward to present a memorial: "Your Majesty, the empire has been founded. We should choose a nation name that can awe the four seas."
"In my humble opinion, the empire lies in the south of the ninja continent. We should call it—Cloud Empire."
Immediately, a shadow clone objected: "No!"
The court erupted into arguments. A nation's name is the foundation of its fate; it must not be taken lightly.
Just like that, everyone argued for an hour, and finally settled on the name: the Kairen Empire.
Next came the era name.
Cloud Kairen suggested Jian'an; a shadow clone suggested Zhenguan; it looked like they were about to fall into another long argument.
Kairen quickly stepped forward: "The world has suffered from war for too long. My heart cannot bear it. I wish peace under heaven, so let this year be called 'Ceasing Warfare'!"
A shadow clone stepped out to flatter him: "Your Majesty is wise. 'Ceasing Warfare' means to cast off warfare. Your Majesty thinks for all—truly the bearing of a sage ruler."
Kairen waved his hand: "You flatter me!"
The era name was quickly written down by the historians. This year of Kairen's accession was called the First Year of Ceasing Warfare, meaning to reduce weapons and war.
Canon saw that it was getting late and came forward to remonstrate: "Your Majesty, the royal house is declining and the population is sparse. This servant suggests widely recruiting beautiful maidens from among the people to increase the prosperity of the royal house."
Kairen was delighted: "Chief Canon has eyes like torches to discover this great national problem. Good—let us widely recruit maidens to fill the harem."
Temari listened silently. The way Kairen and the shadow clones spoke was full of archaic airs; she couldn't quite understand the pile of nonsense before.
But at the end, out of a woman's natural vigilance, she asked: "Moku Kairen, are you trying to snatch women from Sunagakure?"
Kairen was exposed in his little scheme and flew into a rage.
"These are matters of state. Since when is it your place, a woman, to point fingers? The harem must not interfere in politics—this is the rule of every dynasty. Go back!"
Temari was furious and pointed at Kairen: "You—"
Before she could say two more words, there was an uproar in court:
"Everyone, look at the light screen outside!"
Everyone looked outside. A brown demon-like giant was beating up a purple toad.
Beside them, scraps of paper were flying all over the sky, with explosions happening from time to time to block the demonic statue's advance.
Doctor Snake adjusted his glasses and glanced at Kairen.
Kairen stood up and received the information sent by Doctor Snake. The sky's light screen monitored the ninja world and had also captured the abnormal change in Amegakure.
Obito had spilled everything.
Nagato couldn't take it anymore, and coupled with Konan's change of heart dealing him a heavy blow, Nagato directly turned dark and wanted to destroy the entire world.
"Doctor Snake, global live broadcast. Everyone step back—I'm going to show off."
Kairen activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and directly jumped to Amegakure.
...
The fierce battle in Amegakure was instantly broadcast to the entire ninja world. All factions immediately came out of their doors and looked up at the battle.
Konoha.
Tsunade stared straight at the six figures surrounding Nagato, her gaze fixed on their eyes.
"The Rinnegan!"
[Ōnoki: "Rinnegan? Am I seeing things?"]
[Nine-Tails: "That's right. Those are the old man's eyes. I didn't expect descendants to inherit them!"]
[Ōnoki: "Nine-Tails? (⊙_☉)"]
[Nine-Tails: "Hmph! Can't I speak?"]
[Fourth Raikage: "Hey! Hey! Didn't you notice the point? The Rinnegan are wearing Akatsuki uniforms. That means Amegakure is Akatsuki's main base."]
[Mei Terumī: "Raikage really is as the rumors say—ugly but meticulous. Amegakure indeed hides a lot of problems."]
[Tsunade: "Hey! Why is he attacking Amegakure? Jiraiya is protecting Amegakure, and that Akatsuki member beside him is also holding back the demonic statue. What's going on?"]
[Ōnoki: "Looks like Akatsuki's having internal strife?"]
Deidara was attacking Sasuke together with Obito. Suddenly Obito stopped acting crazy and stared blankly at the sky's light screen.
"Amegakure is being monitored."
Deidara turned his head and was also stunned: "Who's that skinny guy in the middle? Why is the Deva Path protecting him?"
Sasuke was also puzzled—why were the enemies above his head spacing out?
Are we fighting or not!
...
Jiraiya controlled Gamaken as the main attacker, with Konan assisting. The two coordinated extremely well, but they still couldn't hold back the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path forcefully pushed Gamaken back.
Standing on Gamaken's forehead, Jiraiya shouted at Nagato: "Nagato, what are you doing?"
Nagato said nothing, still staring coldly at the world.
Konan explained from the side: "Jiraiya-sensei, Nagato has gone mad. He wants to destroy the world."
Jiraiya asked: "What happened? You two—"
Konan felt guilty: "It's all my fault. I betrayed him."
Konan gave up defense and flew up alone, placing her body in front of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
"Nagato, if you want to kill someone, kill me. Don't joke with the village!"
Nagato showed not a shred of attachment. The giant hand of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path swung down mercilessly.
Jiraiya's eyes widened as he shouted: "Konan, dodge!!"
Konan closed her eyes, recalling the friendship of the trio in the first half of her life, and then recalling her encounter with Kairen.
"Kairen…"
In the dark, a voice sounded.
"I will fight in the form of Diga!"
The BGM intro began. A beam of light enveloped the entire world.
Konan opened her eyes and saw a huge giant's face. At this moment, she was in the giant's palm.
"Kairen… it's you!"
Diga nodded, placed Konan on the ground, and stood up. His hundred-meter-tall figure stood level with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
The scene in Amegakure spread across the world. One brown demonic statue representing darkness; one purple-and-red giant representing justice.
Across the entire ninja world—whether daimyō or commoners, whether eating or squatting in the toilet—everyone stared straight at the sky's light screen.
Especially the children, staring at Diga with drool about to pour out.
[Ōnoki: "Who's this one in a suit?"]
[Nine-Tails: "The demonic statue is the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path from the era of the Sage of Six Paths, but this giant—I don't know."]
[Doctor Snake: "Let me explain. This is the ultra-ancient warrior from thirty million years ago—Ultraman Diga. He is a warrior who fights for justice."]
[Tsunade: "Ultra-ancient warrior? Thirty million years ago? Ultraman Diga? Why do I feel he's just a human in a suit made bigger?"]
[Doctor Snake: "Damn it, you actually don't believe in light, you evil person."]
...
"Roar—"
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path kicked away Gamaken and Jiraiya and roared at Diga.
One demon and one Ultra began to face off.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had gathered the power of the seven tailed beasts. That earth-shaking chakra made people extremely uncomfortable—an ordinary person would get dizzy just staying nearby for a second.
Diga was essentially still the outfit Kairen was wearing, but his chakra had also caught up to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
"Ha!"
Diga shouted, pulled out a shadow, and charged at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. A heavy punch with the sound of wind smashed toward the statue's head.
Nagato's Six Paths of Pain didn't just watch. The Deva Path extended his hand and coldly intoned: "Shinra Tensei!"
A powerful repulsive force slammed into Diga's fist, making him pause for a moment.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path seized the chance and threw a punch. Diga did a somersault and dodged the statue's attack.
The Animal Path clapped his hands: "Summoning Technique!"