Boom.
A puff of smoke drifted across the battlefield.
Just as the Konoha Ninja believed Nagato was about to be torn to shreds by the Nine-tail and they needed to find a way to seal it next, they saw a towering figure.
Gedo Statue!
This hideous and colossal creature's shell appeared in front of Nagato, not only blocking an attack from the Nine-tail but also swatting it away with a single palm!
At this moment, everyone involuntarily stared at the Gedo Statue that had suddenly appeared!
It had to be said, compared to the Gedo Statue, the body of the Nine-tail seemed quite small.
However, the Nine-tail didn't care about being swatted away. Instead, it raised its head and fixated on the suddenly appearing Gedo Statue and the seven eyes that had lit up on its head, along with the familiar Chakra inside it!
Inside the Gedo Statue...
It already contained the Chakra of seven Tailed Beasts!
The Nine-tail's gaze slowly changed as it stared at Nagato's Rinnegan, finally realizing what Nagato intended to do!
"You really are bold..."
The Nine-tail's gaze gradually returned to rationality.
At this moment, it fully understood Nagato's intent: to gather all the Chakra of the Tailed Beasts to revive the Gedo Statue before them!
At that time, the Gedo Statue would transform into the Ten-tail!
Nagato floated onto the head of the Gedo Statue, overlooking the Nine-tail, and slowly opened his palm, speaking softly, "What a god wants to do is naturally different from mortals."
At this moment, with the arrival of the Gedo Statue, confidence returned to Nagato because in his understanding, the Gedo Statue could not fail!
In the past, when the Gedo Statue was merely an empty husk, it drew upon his life energy and Chakra to unleash unimaginable power.
Now the Gedo Statue contains the Chakra of seven Tailed Beasts. It no longer needs to rely on Nagato's Chakra. Even the sheer size and strength of the Gedo Statue itself can suppress the Nine-tail!
The only troublesome part is...
Each time Nagato uses the abilities of the Gedo Statue and Rinnegan, he actually consumes his own life energy.
Upon hearing Nagato's words, the Nine-tail seemed to find it amusing, baring its teeth, "Hmph, fool, do you really think that by having the eyes of the Six Paths Sage, you can stand shoulder to shoulder with him?"
The Nine-tail's gaze once again became dangerous, staring fixedly at Nagato high above the Gedo Statue, its brow slightly furrowing, "How amusing... humans, such creatures, have become increasingly ignorant!"
The next moment, the Nine-tail lunged at Nagato!
However, the Gedo Statue firmly held its head down, and a fierce battle unfolded between the massive Gedo Statue and the ferocious Nine-tail!
Though the Gedo Statue was massive, its actions were somewhat rigid; though the Nine-tail was smaller in size, its body was extremely agile, leaping several times to break free from the Gedo Statue's grip, opening its mouth to form a Tailed Beast Ball!
"Almighty Push!"
Nagato stood atop the Gedo Statue, raising his hand and releasing an Almighty Push toward the Tailed Beast Ball, the immense repulsive force pushing the Tailed Beast Ball far away to detonate.
Boom!
A vast forest was instantly engulfed by the explosion!
This fierce battle was one that others could not intervene in, as the Tailed Beast Ball and Almighty Push could erupt at any moment, and nobody knew when a Tailed Beast Ball might suddenly descend. The Konoha Ninja responsible for reconnaissance were risking their lives to watch.
Teams of Konoha Ninja began to retreat one after another under their captain's command, forming several layers of encirclement after reaching the perimeter to prevent the enemy from escaping after the battle ended.
It felt a bit like self-deception.
Unfortunately, the source of this command was the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.
Within Konoha Village.
Inside the Hokage Office.
After Tsunade listened to all the battle reports from the battlefield, which included Hatake Kakashi's death, Might Guy's sacrifice, and Jiraiya's death, she gave a few orders before dismissing everyone else to return to their posts.
Now, the Hokage Office was empty.
Tsunade stood in front of her desk, her gaze calm as she watched the last ninja leave and close the door from outside. Then, exhausted, she collapsed to the ground, leaning her back tightly against the desk.
This Fifth Hokage, who had issued commands with unyielding resolve in front of others, slowly reached out with her hand, covering her eyes.
Tears began to trickle down her face through the gaps...
Upon receiving the confirmed news of Jiraiya's death from the Intelligence Ninja, Tsunade's emotions could no longer bear the weight.
Her body trembled slightly, and even in her grief, she dared not make a sound, instead opening her mouth to take deep breaths, as though trying to vent her sadness like exhaling air from her chest!
Tsunade gripped her chest tightly, suppressing the heaviness and pain within, once more experiencing the feeling of profound sorrow after so many years.
From this day on, only she remained of the Konoha Sannin.
"Jiraiya..."
After a long while.
Tsunade took a few deep breaths, quickly wiped the tear stains from her eyes with her hand, stood up slowly, and walked out the door of the Hokage Office.
Tsunade glanced at the Anbu stationed there and said softly, "Immediately summon Nara Shikaku. Have him take charge of guarding the village against Uchiha Obito's attack!"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
The Anbu Ninja swiftly departed from the scene.
Just as Tsunade was about to leave, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura suddenly appeared to block her path. "Tsunade, where are you going?"
"I'm going to take over Jiraiya's battle!"
Tsunade looked at the two elders, speaking in a deep voice, "Now the village is at its most dangerous point. There's no need for me to stay here waiting for a possible attack by Uchiha Obito any longer!"
This was their original manpower distribution.
Tsunade would stay in the village to prevent an ambush by Uchiha Obito or others; Jiraiya would lead the strongest ninjas to confront the Pain of Six Paths and Nagato.
The battle has now reached its most critical phase.
All the Pain of Six Paths have been eliminated, at the cost of the deaths of Hatake Kakashi, Might Guy, and Jiraiya; the Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei and Fifth Kazekage Gaara still remain engaged in battle with Konan on the battlefield.
On the most important battlefield, the released Nine-tail and Nagato, who has summoned the Gedo Statue, are still fiercely fighting, and their fight has reached a fever pitch.
Except for those of Kage-level strength, no other ninja even has the qualifications to interfere.
Utatane Koharu slowly stepped aside, looking at Tsunade's back as she walked down from the Hokage Tower, unable to resist saying, "Tsunade, make sure you come back alive."
"Annoying."
Tsunade frowned and waved her hand.
After a moment, Tsunade suddenly stopped, facing away from Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, and said in a soft voice, "If anything unexpected happens, I nominate Nara Shikaku to become the Sixth Hokage of Konoha."
"Tsunade!"
Mitokado Homura's face changed drastically.
But Utatane Koharu looked at Tsunade's back and, in silence, nodded in agreement.
As Tsunade was leaving Konoha to head towards the frontline battlefield, Uehara Naraku was observing all of this, stretching lazily.
"Alright, Mr. Obito."
Uehara Naraku turned to Uchiha Obito beside him and softly instructed, "It seems Konoha has sent all its ninjas to deal with Lord Nagato! So, while these Konoha ninjas are fiercely battling at the front, turn Konoha into ashes from the rear!"
"What?"
Uchiha Obito and Namikaze Minato looked at Uehara Naraku in disbelief.
What on earth is this guy thinking? Just now, he was talking about having Yakushi Kabuto help Konoha resist Nagato during the most dangerous time, and now he suddenly wants to destroy Konoha!
"Don't look at me like that."
Uehara Naraku folded his hands, his voice gradually taking on a more somber tone, "Now, carry out the orders I have given you immediately!"
After saying this, Uehara Naraku fixed his gaze on Uchiha Obito and spoke gruffly, "You should know where we are! The Memorial Stele of Konoha is not far from here!"
"Yes, I understand."
Uchiha Obito's hand brushed over his mask.
Every time he showed a slight hesitation, this bastard would use Nohara Rin to threaten him. Is there any pleasure in this?
"Very good."
Uehara Naraku nodded in satisfaction at Uchiha Obito and said in a deep voice, "Then go, go burn down this place filled with the so-called Will of Fire!"
"...Yes."
Uchiha Obito's figure turned into a space-time vortex and disappeared.
Just as Uchiha Obito left, Namikaze Minato furrowed his brow and asked, "I don't understand; what exactly is it that you want to do..."
"I just want to destroy Konoha, that's all!"
Uehara Naraku absentmindedly explained and whispered, "And now, all of Konoha's Kage-level strong people have gone to deal with Lord Nagato, so I don't have to worry about losing Konoha's forces when destroying it..."
"I don't understand..."
Namikaze Minato furrowed his brows tightly.
To be honest, Namikaze Minato really found it hard to grasp.
Uehara Naraku on one hand hopes all the Konoha Kage-level strong people go to face Nagato, and possibly even defeat him; on the other hand, he sends someone to destroy all of Konoha after all the Kage-level strong have left!
What exactly does he want to achieve?
Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses and spoke coldly, "Lord Naraku's orders have never been for the protection of Konoha, Fourth Hokage! How could you have such a misconception? Lord Naraku merely needs to use Konoha to make Lord Nagato retreat!"
"..."
Uehara Naraku nodded gloomily.
Originally, his plan included the destruction of Konoha because this time, the opportunity to destroy Konoha is too rare, and destroying Konoha could bring him the ultimate transformation of the mainstream Chakra, the power of fire.
Uehara Naraku slowly raised his finger, manipulating Uchiha Obito to appear on Hokage Rock, his face gradually becoming serious, his eyes increasingly focused.
"Tell them of the Will of Fire's outcome!"
Uehara Naraku's eyes slightly narrowed and he said coldly, "Go, tell them, where the leaves dance, the fire is ever ablaze; the flames will illuminate the village until it burns the entire village to ashes!"