On the Tenkai, Naruto's battle with the Deva Path of Pain had become more than a clash of strength—it was a collision between two utterly opposing convictions.
As he fought, Naruto shouted in fury, demanding to know why Pain had created such devastation.
Pain responded with his cold, meticulously structured doctrine of "pain as deterrence," describing Konoha's destruction as karmic retribution for a great nation—an unavoidable price for achieving "true peace."
"People can understand each other! We don't need to use pain like this!" Naruto roared.
His belief was simple and burning—born from Jiraiya's teachings, from Iruka, from Kakashi, from the bonds of Team 7, and from the warmth he had received throughout his life.
"Mutual understanding?" Pain let out a faint scoff. The Rinnegan swirled with disdain for such naïveté.
"Your teacher. My teacher—Jiraiya. He foolishly believed the same thing."
"He wandered the world searching for answers, writing his stories… but he was a failure. He could not stop war. He could not end hatred. He could not even protect his own students."
"What?!" Naruto's movements faltered in shock. "You were Pervy Sage's student too?!"
He could not reconcile it—the demon who had brought endless destruction shared a bond with the white-haired man who had taught him his most important lessons.
"Yes," Pain replied without warmth. "I killed him. I personally ended the life of the teacher who believed in 'mutual understanding.'"
Seeing the disbelief and rising fury on Naruto's face, Pain continued:
"You claim people can understand each other. Then tell me—right now, in this moment—can you understand me?"
"Can you understand why I killed our teacher? Why I destroyed your home? Why I chose this path paved in pain?"
"Shut up!!! I'll kill you!!!"
Naruto could not process "understanding." Rage and grief drowned everything else as he charged again.
Watching Naruto consumed by anger, reduced to instinct and attack, Pain showed a cold, almost satisfied expression.
He effortlessly repelled Naruto's assault and sent him crashing to the ground. Then, as if preordained, several black receivers shot forward, piercing Naruto's body at vital chakra points.
"Gah—!"
Naruto cried out as the black rods pinned him to the earth, violently disrupting his chakra flow. Immobilized, he could only glare at Pain with fury and unwilling defiance.
Pain stepped forward and looked down at the restrained boy.
For a fleeting moment, something complicated flickered in his gaze—almost remembrance.
"You're very much like him."
It was unclear whether he meant Jiraiya… or Yahiko.
Naruto struggled uselessly against the receivers. "What are you even saying…?!"
Pain did not answer directly. Instead, his voice rose, resonant like a tolling bell across the ruined remains of Konoha:
"Do you know why you can accomplish nothing? Why your ideals—your anger—are so powerless before reality?"
Naruto glared up at him—anger, confusion, and stubborn defiance burning in his eyes.
Meeting that gaze, Pain poured the weight of his life's suffering into a single declaration that echoed across the devastated village:
"Because my pain… is greater than yours!!!"
This was not merely a statement about the battle.
It was Nagato's summary of his life—
His parents slain by Konoha shinobi.
Yahiko dying in betrayal and conspiracy.
The Rinnegan awakening amid agony.
The endless war that consumed the Land of Rain.
In Pain's view, the depth and continuity of his suffering granted him the authority to judge the world.
Naruto, chakra sealed and body impaled, had reached his lowest point.
And at that critical moment—
The Tenkai's perspective shifted once more, catching movement in the shadows.
Karin trembled with excitement, whispering rapidly to Kabuto:
"Look, look! Sasuke moved! Is he going to save Naruto? Or take advantage and ambush Pain? Doesn't matter—this just got interesting!"
Kabuto's eyes tracked the black receivers and Pain's posture.
"Those rods disrupt chakra… If Sasuke interferes recklessly, the risk is enormous. But perhaps… this is the 'opportunity' we've been waiting for."
Then—
"Dobe… you look pathetic."
The familiar, arrogant voice cut through the wasteland.
Naruto turned his head with difficulty.
There, standing atop a fractured wall, white clothing rippling in the residual air pressure, crimson Sharingan scanning the battlefield—
Sasuke Uchiha.
"Sa—Sasuke!!!"
Naruto's eyes widened in shock—then relief flooded his expression.
At the brink of despair, seeing that familiar figure brought an unexpected sense of reassurance, tangled with complicated emotion.
The Deva Path slowly turned.
The Rinnegan settled upon the newcomer.
"Itachi Uchiha's… younger brother."
The words were delivered without emotion—yet they struck directly at Sasuke's deepest wound.
At the name "Itachi," Sasuke's expression darkened instantly. Killing intent thickened around him like frost.
Pain paid it no mind.
"So. You appear here… to continue your vengeance against Konoha?"
"Or to play the role of protector?"
Sasuke's gaze was razor-sharp, unyielding.
"What I choose to do… isn't yours to define."
His reply was pure provocation.
Pain had no interest in verbal sparring—and even less patience for Uchiha pride.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789