In Metal Knight's fortress, Metal Knight himself had lost consciousness, knocked out by four intruders.
Dr. Gero, using Metal Knight's lab, analyzed the acquired Saitama cells.
Setsuna asked calmly, "How long until the new embryo is ready?"
Dr. Gero replied, "Master, when I initially cultivated the Cell embryo, it took over twenty years."
"Now, with experience, I could replicate a Cell embryo in just two months."
"But the new materials you've added, Master, require extensive testing and fine-tuning to ensure the embryo's stability and controllability."
He gave his final estimate: "I anticipate needing at least ten months to cultivate a stable initial embryo with the predetermined potential."
"Ten months..." Setsuna mused. That wasn't long.
"However," Dr. Gero added, "From embryo to full form requires immense energy. If you wish to skip the development phase quickly..."
"Given the energy level of your [God Tree Fruit], at least one more would be needed to ensure rapid growth."
"Another God Tree Fruit..." Setsuna nodded slightly.
This requirement was within his expectations.
After all, he was creating an ultimate life form fusing top-tier 'materials' from multiple worlds. Naturally, the energy demand would be enormous.
Setsuna thought, 'Looks like I need to return to the Naruto World. Head to the Otsutsuki Clan's home planet, capture some Otsutsuki for 'refining'.'
With a thought, he communicated with the All-World Pearl within him.
The white space rippled intensely, engulfing Setsuna and the others.
After the familiar sensation of traversing time and space, Setsuna was back in the Naruto world.
Upon returning, Setsuna immediately sensed a difference.
He had now reached the second level of the Eighth Sense, his perception incomparable to before.
Moreover, having devoured 'God' in the One-Punch Man World, he was sensitive to the aura of Gaia Consciousness.
'This world's Earth seems to have also given birth to a Gaia Consciousness, but it's now vacant...'
A look of understanding flashed in Setsuna's eyes. 'A thousand years ago, Earth had likely just nurtured its initial, complete 'Gaia Consciousness'.'
'The God Tree absorbed the planet's life energy and Natural Energy. Naturally, it absorbed this newborn Gaia Consciousness.'
'Kaguya devoured this Chakra Fruit containing Gaia Consciousness, so the power she gained far exceeded other Otsutsuki...'
Setsuna pondered. If that were the case, it would explain why Kaguya, who had only eaten one Chakra Fruit, was so much stronger than other Otsutsuki.
Other Otsutsuki could open spatial portals for teleportation, but Kaguya could create world embryos like her Dimensions.
Thinking this, a slight smile curved Setsuna's lips. 'If that's so, I don't seem to need to go to the Otsutsuki home planet. The target is right before me.'
...
Meanwhile, above Konoha.
"Feel pain."
"Contemplate pain."
"Accept pain."
"Understand pain."
"Those who do not know pain will never understand true peace."
"Shinra Tensei!"
An indescribable repulsive force, centered on the Deva Path Pain, like an invisible world-ending millstone, ruthlessly crushed everything in all directions.
The air was compressed to its limit, emitting sharp, ear-splitting cracks.
The earth shattered layer by layer like a fragile sandcastle. The majestic Hokage Rock crumbled in an instant. All before this absolute power was completely leveled like paper.
With a single strike, the once prosperous Konoha was reduced to ruins.
At the ruins' edge, Sakura, protected from serious injury by Katsuyu, scrambled up, covered in dirt. Looking at the hellish scene before her, her eyes were filled with shock and despair.
"Konoha... gone... Is this truly the power of a Ninja?"
Just as the Deva Path was coldly surveying the area below, preparing his next move,
An angry voice came from the settling dust.
"Pain!"
The dust cleared. It was Naruto, returned from his training.
"Naruto!"
"It's Naruto!"
Seeing Naruto's return, the Konoha survivors felt a sense of calm.
Somehow, the once troublesome demon fox had become their most trusted presence.
"Good. You finally appear." Pain's expression was cold as he raised his hands slightly, about to initiate Bansho Ten'in.
On the other side of Konoha's ruins, several figures appeared abruptly.
The lead figure, in a pure white kimono with a Kusanagi Sword at his waist, was Uchiha Sasuke.
Behind him were his subordinates: Orochimaru, Kimimaro, Suigetsu, Jugo, and the others.
Their auras varied but all carried a killing intent, clearly with Sasuke as their leader.
"S-Sasuke?" Naruto was first stunned, then overjoyed. "What are you doing here?"
Sasuke's cold gaze swept over Naruto, over the ruined Konoha below, and finally settled on the Deva Path in the air.
"I'm here to destroy Akatsuki. Uchiha Itachi was once a member. Now that he's dead, there's no need for the organization he belonged to to continue existing."
Pain's pupils contracted slightly, recalling the scene he had witnessed two years ago.
Sasuke tearing through space above the Land of Rain, that dominating presence was unforgettable.
He was a bit puzzled. The Sasuke before him now didn't feel as terrifying.
Naruto, however, was filled with the joy of reunion and the excitement of fighting alongside his friend.
"Great, Sasuke! We can finally fight together again! Like when we fought Zabuza! Together, we can take down the guy who destroyed the village!"
Sasuke said calmly, "Think what you want. Just don't hold me back."
With that, ignoring Naruto, he refocused on Pain. He lightly tapped his foot.
Boom!
The ground trembled slightly. Sasuke's figure appeared before Pain as if by teleportation.
"So fast!" Shikamaru and others, recovering under Katsuyu's healing, were shocked.
Even more astonishing, Sasuke didn't use any Ninjutsu, nor his trademark Sharingan.
Instead, he threw a punch, carrying a terrifying sonic boom and air pressure, directly at the Deva Path's face.
Purely physical strength, extreme speed.
"What?" Pain was inwardly shocked. His Rinnegan's kinetic vision caught the punch, but his body couldn't quite react.
He raised his hand to block.
Bang!
Pain was sent flying like a cannonball, struck by a high-speed train.
"Taijutsu? Sasuke used Taijutsu?"
"One punch sent Pain flying?"
The Konoha survivors, from Elite Jonin like Choza Akimichi to ordinary Chunin and Genin, stared in disbelief. Their worldview seemed momentarily shattered.
'When did the Uchiha prodigy start letting his fists do the talking?'