[Orochimaru]: Kabuto… so you started the Fourth Great Ninja War, huh?
[Kabuto]: Me? Heh, depends on who you ask.
[Obito]: …
[Boruto]: No matter who it was—using Edo Tensei and desecrating the dead is unforgivable!
[Sarada]: Agreed! That's way too far!
"Success."
Itachi's voice was quiet, measured.
Nagato, realizing what had happened, let out a soft, resigned chuckle. "So that's how it is…"
Itachi's Amaterasu flared to life. Black fire swallowed Nagato's body, forcing the red-haired sage to fall from the bird's back like a burnt comet.
Everyone watching gaped.
He'd used Kotoamatsukami to override the Edo Tensei!
Itachi Uchiha had literally broken the laws of life and death through genjutsu.
[Orochimaru]: Impressive as ever, Itachi…
(Orochimaru's tongue flicked out; that smirk said it all.)
[Kabuto]: Lord Orochimaru, you're not seriously planning to take Itachi's body, right?
[Orochimaru]: Let's… wait for the right moment, Kabuto. The bullet hasn't finished flying.
Itachi landed lightly on a branch, cloak fluttering.
Naruto eyed him warily.
A slow shake of the head. "Relax. I'm no longer under control."
[Itachi]: "Now we finish this—Nagato first. Then the puppeteer behind Edo Tensei. End them, end the war."
[Sasuke]: "So that's why I ran into you later in the forest…?"
[Itachi]: "Yes. Sorry, little brother—I had planned to keep it secret forever."
[Sasuke]: "Then… why didn't you kill me that day?"
[Itachi]: "Because… big bro, don't kill me!"
[Kisame]: "Wait—what?"
In some distant meadow, Kisame blinked at the sky. "Did… Itachi-san just meme himself?"
[Itachi]: "No. That wasn't me. Probably the system trolling again."
[Sasuke]: "…"
Sasuke's lips twitched. Flashbacks of a little boy crying and running for dear life resurfaced.
Man… time really flew.
[Ōnoki]: So you're saying he still had another Kotoamatsukami eye?
[Danzō]: Hmph! Wretched Uchiha! You wouldn't dare use that genjutsu on me!
(Reality check: Danzō was too weak to even qualify for it.)
Itachi explained the principles of Kotoamatsukami—the ultimate genjutsu that could bend reality itself.
To him, a true ninja was one who protected from the shadows, unseen and unsung.
He turned to Naruto. "I see that will in you. The village… my brother… I'm entrusting them to you."
Naruto clenched his fists.
"You've done enough, Itachi. Let me handle the rest! You've carried the whole world alone long enough!"
Itachi smiled faintly. So that's the friend Sasuke found. Good.
But the sky rumbled again.
Ash fell like snow.
Nagato wasn't finished.
"Shinra Tensei."
The black flames around him exploded outward—flung away by divine repulsion. His cracked, greyed body began to mend, strand by strand. Red hair gleamed once more.
He vanished.
"Stay sharp!" Naruto warned. Too late.
A ripple of air—
Nagato reappeared behind Killer B.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
B was yanked backward, but twisted in time—eight tails sprouting, blade slashing.
Hit confirmed.
Except—
[Tobirama]: Something's off.
[Hashirama]: I see it too.
[Shisui]: Off? Looked fine to me!
[Izuna]: Don't tell me Nagato wanted to get hit?
"Preta Path."
Nagato's palm pressed against B's arm.
The tailed beast chakra bled away like mist.
A moment later, the "cripple" of legend looked young again—vital, burning.
Grey to crimson. Wrinkles to vigor.
"Impossible…" Naruto breathed.
Nagato smirked, pointed a palm at the Jinchūriki duo.
"Universal Pull."
Both Naruto and B flew toward him helplessly.
B's blade struck again—but this time, Nagato countered.
"Human Path."
His hand plunged into Naruto's gut—
and pulled.
Naruto's soul flickered like blue smoke between them.
Naruto clutched at it instinctively, face pale.
If that gets ripped out, I'm done…!
The tension was suffocating.
Even the chameleon, Nagato's hidden scout, stilled to watch its master's victory.
[Sarada]: He can use all six paths of Pain? That's cheating!
[Boruto]: How are you supposed to fight that?!
[Naruto]: Uh, future me looks like he's in trouble!
[Itachi]: Focus, Naruto. Breathe. Think.
[Sarada]: I never knew the Seventh was this reckless as a teen…
[Iwabe]: Wait, wasn't he a jōnin at least?
[Naruto (adult)]: Uh… actually, I was a genin.
[Everyone]: "WHAT?!"
Within seconds, Nagato had both Jinchūriki helpless.
Two living vessels of tailed beasts—beaten by one resurrected man.
[Kisame]: Old, weak, and sickly, huh? Sure.
[Ōnoki]: That's not "old." That's apocalyptic.
[Pain]: As expected… of me.
Even Kabuto, watching from the shadows, whistled. "So much for 'limited mobility.'"
The camera lingered on Nagato's eyes—
the Rinnegan glinting like twin storms.
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