"It wasn't me who spoke!"
The Edo Tensei versions of Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Minato Namikaze, and two versions of Obito Uchiha all emerged together from Kamui's Dimension.
Before them lay the devastated village of Konohagakure.
Smoke billowed everywhere, buildings lay in ruins, and Konoha ninjas were dead or wounded. Slugs crawled over the despondent ninjas, administering emergency treatment.
"Where is this...?"
The Edo Tensei Minato asked, surveying the tragic scene.
Even the First and Second Hokage, the founders of the village, wore grim expressions in the face of such devastation.
Young Obito Uchiha looked at the Hokage Rock in the distance. "It's the Fifth Hokage's statue! This is the future!!" He turned to his future self, waiting for confirmation.
"This is it! The era I came to last time! The one attacking the village is Pain!!"
Hashirama Senju gazed at the distant Hokage Rock. "That portrait is... Tsunade?!"
"Is she using slugs to desperately save the wounded?" Tobirama Senju stood with his arms crossed. "But then, no one should be able to handle this Pain you speak of."
Obito nodded. "The true form of Pain is Nagato, who possesses the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan—distant relatives of the Senju. Plus, he has Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan. His power is truly formidable."
He scanned the surroundings. The location seemed to be a bit farther than the ruins where Kakashi had been found earlier."Regardless, let's head to the Hokage Tower first. I need to return Kakashi's body from this era to them."
He couldn't afford any more mishaps.
...
At that very moment, a prominent vein throbbed on the forehead of the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.
After relaying intelligence about 'Pain' and the 'Masked Man,' Obito Uchiha suddenly vanished with Kakashi's body, claiming he'd resolve a major problem for them. Shortly after, Sai reported that the Curse Seal on his tongue had vanished.
Upon investigation, she discovered—entire Root had been silently annihilated!?
Even though she had always disliked Danzō's methods, those Root members were still comrades of Konoha...
Furthermore, it was reported that Danzō had died a gruesome death: his right eye gouged out, eleven Sharingan—like the restless souls of Uchiha unable to find peace—still wide open on his right arm even after death!!
Who had killed Danzō and annihilated Root was almost self-evident.
Nine times out of ten, it was that Obito Uchiha who claimed to solve their troubles!
Yet where Obito was now, and what had become of Kakashi's body in his possession—she knew nothing of these things.
But she couldn't spare a single ounce of energy for Obito now, because...
—Pain had already appeared before her!
"Long time no see, Tsunade-sama."
That the Missing-nin leader, who had nearly crushed all the villages of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, would address Tsunade as 'sama' left the few ANBU surrounding the Fifth Hokage utterly perplexed.
"You are... that kid from back then?!"
Seeing Deva Path Pain, Tsunade's mind flashed back to the three youths they had encountered in Amegakure years ago.
Wasn't that orange-haired boy right before her now?
Back then, they could never have imagined those children would grow into this, much less that they would kill their own mentor, Jiraiya.
"Seems you remember me. I have something to discuss with you."
Tsunade glared at him fiercely. "Wreaking havoc on Konoha doesn't exactly sound like you want to talk."
"Naruto Uzumaki. Where is the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails now?"
Of course, Tsunade wouldn't tell him.
Pain's appearance here meant he had attacked the ninja villages searching for Naruto's whereabouts to no avail, and now he had come directly for her, the Hokage.
Though she wasn't entirely sure what Obito Uchiha meant by 'Infinite Tsukuyomi,' Tsunade could see from Pain's approach…
He was growing impatient.
She didn't know what was causing Pain's agitation, but she was certain he was racing against time to complete that plan.
"I want to know why you need the Jinchūriki."
Pain closed his eyes briefly. "War will soon erupt across this Ninja World. Those who control this war will undoubtedly be us—those who possess all the Tailed Beasts. If you assist us, Akatsuki may show mercy and spare you."
These words struck directly at Tsunade's raw nerve.
True to form, her immediate retort—"Are you kidding me?!"—signaled the collapse of negotiations before they had even truly begun.
"How dare you underestimate the Fifth Hokage! To attempt to destroy the peace and tranquility our ancestors fought so hard to secure! Do you truly believe I, as Hokage, would ever consent to such an act?!!"
"Foolish!!"
The overwhelming pressure emanating from the Rinnegan, combined with the immense chakra reserves of the Uzumaki Clan, flooded the area as Pain spoke the word "foolish," sending a clear message to Tsunade and the ANBU surrounding her.
"Such overwhelming chakra!!"
The ANBU and Tsunade, having learned of Six Paths Pain's full abilities from Obito Uchiha, anchored themselves to the floor with chakra to avoid being sent flying by the sheer force of the chakra's impact.
"! ! ! !"
From afar, the Edo Tensei Hokage and the two Obitos also sensed the chakra coming from the direction of the Hokage Tower.
Adult Obito: "It's Pain!"
"He's actually attacking the Hokage Tower directly?" Edo Tensei Minato's eyes widened in surprise.
Tobirama Senju seethed with fury. "The brat is insolent!" His chakra flared dangerously, on the verge of erupting.
Hashirama placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Calm down, Tobirama. We'll head there first."
The three Edo Tensei Hokage immediately transformed into shadowy figures, darting through the smoke-filled ruins of Konoha toward the Hokage Tower...
Meanwhile, atop the Hokage Tower—
"You've already discovered my ability? Seems you traded the life of that ninja, Kakashi Hatake, for this intelligence."
Unaware he had been betrayed in such a ruthless manner, Pain fixed his gaze on Tsunade.
"The peace you speak of was built upon violence inflicted upon us. Isn't it laughable to talk about peace in the ninja world, Fifth Hokage?"
Tsunade shifted uncomfortably, her expression hardening.
"The war back then certainly caused harm to Amegakure. The actions of Konohagakure and the other ninja villages weren't without fault, but…"
She paused, allowing the words to hang in the air before continuing, her voice steady.
"The actions of the Akatsuki organization will never be forgiven by the Five Great Shinobi Villages! And is your plan truly the right one? It's possible you've been deceived and manipulated by someone!!"
Based on intelligence provided by Obito Uchiha, Tsunade pressed Pain with her questions.
Having spent over a decade pushing his plan forward, Pain remained resolute in his belief that his vision would bring peace to the ninja world. He believed Pain himself was this world's god. A god who, after making the entire world taste pain, would restore order and keep humanity in true peace.
"Further discussion is pointless. I'll ask once more: where is Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Do you really think I'd tell you?"
At that moment, Pain faltered. One of his clones had already discovered Naruto's whereabouts…
"Mount Myōboku? I see."
"What?!"
Tsunade and the others froze for a moment, but then quickly recalled that Obito Uchiha had once mentioned one of Pain's abilities was to read the memories of souls!!
Pain turned away.
"Then there's no point in staying here. Remember this: the killer will eventually be killed. Hatred binds the killer and the avenger together, entangling them forever. War brings death and suffering to all sides. You're merely patients who think death is still far away."
"Stop clinging to delusions!" Tsunade snapped at him. "Your plan can never succeed! It's nothing but a web of lies and conspiracy!"
Pain shot her a cold, piercing stare in response.
Pain: "Ridiculous."
Undeniably, Tsunade's words had struck a nerve and enraged him.
Withdrawing the other Pain's powers, Deva Path Pain slowly rose into the sky...
Following behind the three Hokage, the young Obito Uchiha pointed skyward and shouted, "Wait! What is that?!!"
The others halted and also saw the orange-haired man silhouetted against the light. He appeared clad in black robes adorned with crimson cloud patterns.
"It's Pain!" declared the adult Obito Uchiha.
They watched as Pain raised both hands high.
"Those who have never known pain cannot understand true peace!"
Hashirama turned around. "What did you say, Tobirama?" Only my brother could utter such profound logic.
"I didn't say anything!" Tobirama Senju was speechless. "Even if the voice sounds the same, do you really think I'd say something like that? Big brother! I'm not an Obito Uchiha!"
The adult Obito and the Young Obito trailing behind them: awkward.
Minato: "I have a bad feeling about this. Let's hurry to the Hokage Tower!"
"Yeah!"
The five sped up again! The Hokage Tower wasn't too far away now. They were practically racing against Pain in the sky...
"In the face of overwhelming power, everything becomes meaningless."
For some reason, the atmosphere grew intensely tense, as if a heavy weight pressed down on everyone's hearts.
["Feel the pain."]
["Contemplate the pain."]
Pain's voice wasn't loud, yet it reached every ear.
["Accept the pain."]
["Understand the pain."]
The unease in Adult Obito's mind intensified!
"Could he be planning to use that technique?!"
Reincarnated Fourth Hokage Minato: "Which one?"
"Shinra Tensei." Adult Obito: "The Shinra Tensei that gathers all his chakra for a single, all-out release... If he really unleashes it..."
"What would happen?!" The Second Hokage listened to Pain's words from the sky. It wasn't just that the voice sounded similar—it was practically identical to his own!!
The others felt the same tension as the Second Hokage. They all had a terrible premonition.
["Those who have never known pain cannot understand true peace!"]
"....."
Adult Obito: "If he unleashes that technique, Konoha will be utterly destroyed!"
["From this moment onward,"]
["let the world..."]
"BOOM- - - -!!"
Chakra countless times more powerful than Pain's surged forth from the body of the God of Ninja at that very instant!!