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Above the great tree where the Leaf Village ninjas were positioned, the atmosphere was extremely tense.
"Guy-sensei... what is that..." Rock Lee's voice was hoarse, "That kind of power... that kind of enemy... how can we possibly fight it..."
The rest of the genin also had blank expressions, their faces filled with despair, as if they had completely lost their faith.
Kurenai looked at her students and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Unlike these genin who were still at the beginning of their paths, she clearly knew just how terrifying the powerhouses within the ninja world could be, and how she, as a so-called jonin, was no match for those monsters.
However, because she had long accepted the reality that she could only reach this level, she did not lose her own faith.
But these seedlings...
They were all young and at an age full of drive and ambition, and such a blow might destroy their confidence.
"Have you lost confidence in yourself, Lee?" Might Guy's stern voice rang out, "What a foolish disciple. Don't forget everything you've gone through on your journey. You've grown from nothing to where you are now!"
"Guy-sensei!!"
Lee's eyes lit up, and tears uncontrollably streamed down his face.
Yes, even if I was once worthless, I've grown to this point under Guy-sensei's tutelage.
I just need to keep moving forward with unwavering determination.
Next, I will become even stronger!
"Sorry, Guy-sensei! I understand now, my efforts haven't been in vain! I won't be confused anymore; I will continue to strive and become stronger!"
As if inspired, the expressions of the other genin also returned to normal.
"Well said, Lee!" Might Guy, with tears in his eyes, gave Lee a thumbs up, "That's youth!"
The two of them, regardless of the situation, stood on the tree branch and embraced, weeping together.
The members of Team 8 all looked at a somewhat embarrassed Neji and Tenten with curious eyes.
As if asking, what's wrong with these two people in your team?
...
Inside the Ōyama Tsu Mi, Kaito watched the Outer Path Statue roaring towards him, feeling somewhat excited.
Am I finally facing the Divine Tree? Even though it's a weakened version.
It's like taking advantage of someone's crisis, he thought.
The Outer Path Statue, because it had no energy of its own, could only barely maintain itself with Nagato's chakra and life force.
One can imagine how much it paled in comparison to the fully realized Ten-Tails Divine Tree.
And when Nagato could no longer hold on, the summoning would disappear.
Time was of the essence.
He maneuvered the Ōyama Tsu Mi to charge forward again, the naginata in his hands powerfully slicing towards the neck of the Outer Path Statue.
The Outer Path Statue dodged sideways, raising its fist to strike fiercely at the head of the Ōyama Tsu Mi.
Ōyama Tsu Mi retracted the naginata, blocking the fist of the Outer Path Statue, and then raised a foot to kick at its abdomen.
The Outer Path Statue staggered back a few steps, roaring before charging forward again.
The two giants, towering over a hundred meters tall, engaged in a back-and-forth battle on the plain. The ear-splitting sounds of their collisions constantly echoed, causing the entire area to be shrouded in flying sand and shaking grounds.
However, due to Nagato's prolonged manipulation of the Six Paths of Pain and their continuous use of various jutsus, which were now being siphoned by the Outer Path Statue, even Nagato, with the Uzumaki clan's unique constitution, was at the end of his chakra reserves.
Moreover, under the influence of gravity, the movements of the Outer Path Statue had become increasingly sluggish, occasionally being wounded by the naginata wielded by Ōyama Tsu Mi.
Kaito frowned as he looked at the wounds on the Outer Path Statue.
Though the Divine Tree's shell had lost its powerful chakra, its inherent vitality was still astonishing, and those wounds were continuously healing themselves.
This way, gathering materials would be impossible.
Not to mention how much longer Nagato could hold on, even Kaito himself, as it was his first time using Ōyama Tsu Mi, was unable to control it in battle for an extended period.
This couldn't go on!
Kaito and Nagato's thoughts aligned at that moment.
"Ha!!!!"
Nagato roared, his veins bulging as he exerted all his strength to extract every bit of chakra from his body.
"Dragon Vein's Blessing!"
Kaito formed hand seals, and a continuous stream of power was drawn from the earth beneath his feet, causing the gold covering Ōyama Tsu Mi's entire body to become even more dazzling.
"Roar!!!!"
The Outer Path Statue roared skyward, spewing numerous wooden spikes like a rain of arrows.
At the same time, its arms suddenly elongated, extending numerous large branches that agilely wrapped around Ōyama Tsu Mi.
Ōyama Tsu Mi crouched slightly, then sprang up powerfully, using its armor to fend off the wooden spikes and leaped over the encroaching branches to reach the top of the Outer Path Statue's head.
Boom!
Simultaneously, the earth and rocks beneath the feet of the Outer Path Statue churned again, wrapping around it like giant pythons.
Crack! A breaking sound echoed.
As Ōyama Tsu Mi's naginata, carrying tremendous gravity, descended from the sky, several thick tree trunks on the back of the Outer Path Statue were cleanly severed.
Success!
Kaito's lips curled up, and he controlled Ōyama Tsu Mi to leap again, dodging the winding branches and landing farther away.
"Cough... cough, cough..."
Nagato continuously coughed up blood, the branches rushing toward Ōyama Tsu Mi withered and fell off, and the Outer Path Statue finally quieted down.
"It seems I have won in the end," Kaito said with a smile in his voice. "It's a pity, you couldn't kill me, and instead, you're going to die here."
"Cough, cough... cough..." Nagato had now completely turned into a skeleton wrapped in a thin layer of skin, blood constantly spewing from his mouth as he still looked at Kaito with cold eyes, shouting with all his strength: "Obito!!!"
...
"Obito?!"
In the distance, as former classmates of Obito at the Ninja Academy, Might Guy and Kurenai, hearing Nagato's shout, stared dumbfounded at the masked man lying on the ground.
"How is this possible..." Kurenai muttered, "Obito was clearly already sacrificed..."
"Damn! I can't understand this at all!" Might Guy clenched his fist, "If... Obito has truly become an enemy, what about Kakashi?"
"Whether or not to tell Kakashi, this should be left to the Hokage to decide..." Kurenai recalled Kakashi's usual demeanor and also furrowed her brows with worry.
"That's all we can do now." Might Guy couldn't help but worry for his good friend.
...
Following Nagato's shout, the ground stirred again, several branches extending from the feet of the Outer Path Statue emerged from the soil, hanging numerous tattered paper talismans.
The five giant pillars of light extinguished, and the large formation surrounding the plains slowly dissipated.
Simultaneously, the gravity in the area also significantly lightened.
"I've said it before, I am Uchiha Madara!"
A spiral of spatial fluctuation arose, and Obito's figure slowly emerged beside Nagato, still insisting on his identity.
However, Nagato no longer had the strength to deal with
him.
Bang!
Dust filled the air, the Outer Path Statue disappeared, and Nagato began to fall powerlessly towards the ground.
"Tsk."
Obito's figure flashed, appearing beneath Nagato to catch him.
At this time, Kaito also dispelled the Ōyama Tsu Mi technique, gracefully landing next to Izuna and Chiri.