Naruto and Konan had been exploring the Realm of Reincarnation for two hours. One by one, Pain's former summoning beasts—the Panda Statue, the Mighty Rhino, the Flying Bird Monster, and the Three-Headed Hellhound—were contracted with Naruto.
A shadow clone grabbed onto the crab's two antennae, while Naruto, coordinating with Frog Kata, forcefully drove a black rod into the creature's forehead.
"Phew." Naruto landed and exited Sage Mode, taking a deep breath. "This is even harder than fighting Danzō."
Boom!
The crab disappeared, marking the successful formation of a contract!
Konan remarked, "Quite the harvest tonight. That's already eighteen."
Naruto asked, "Konan-nee, is there a limit to the number of summoning beasts the Animal Path can summon?"
Konan explained, "There's no upper limit to the number of summoning beasts you can contract with. However, Rinnegan summoning beasts require the user's chakra to function. In actual combat, the number you can summon is limited. Nagato's limit was twenty-seven."
"Twenty-seven, huh?" Naruto murmured. "I've contracted eighteen so far, six of which are aquatic. There's still room for more."
Konan asked, "Aren't you going to rest?"
Naruto chuckled. "Dreams don't last forever. It's not easy to get here, so I have to make every second count!"
Konan nodded. "Alright, I'll stay with you."
Naruto re-entered Sage Mode. After advancing ten kilometers, he suddenly stopped, staring at a familiar beast ahead with a look of astonishment. "I can't believe it..."
Konan was puzzled. "What is that? I've never seen it before."
"If I'm not mistaken," Naruto said, "that's Danzō's summoning beast, the Baku!"
Konan looked at him. "Danzō... Did his summoning beast die?"
Naruto replied, "Yeah, you weren't there at the time, Konan-nee. Danzō sacrificed the Baku to withstand my Sage Art: Fire Release."
Konan turned her gaze back to the Baku. "Summoning beasts that enter the Realm of Reincarnation after death are no ordinary creatures. Do you want to claim it?"
Naruto grinned. "Meeting it here must be fate. How could I let this chance slip by?"
Roar! Recognizing Naruto, the Baku was triggered by its past trauma and turned to flee.
Naruto laughed. "For something so bulky, it sure runs fast."
Clang!
Realizing it couldn't escape, the Baku stopped and turned around, opening its massive mouth to suck Naruto in.
"Oh, this move again? You really haven't learned your lesson."
Naruto remained calm, black rod in hand. He threw it with precision, lodging it straight into the Baku's throat!
Roar!!
With a pained cry, the Baku disappeared in a puff of white smoke, becoming Naruto's possession.
Landing on the ground, Naruto muttered, "It's strong, but it doesn't seem very smart—just like its master."
"If the Baku is here, then that other one should be too," Naruto thought to himself.
"This is too slow. I need to speed up the search!"
"Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Alright, everyone, handle what you can on your own! If you can't, team up! If even that doesn't work, leave a marker and dispel yourselves. I'll use Flying Raijin to get there immediately!"
"Got it!!"
"Leave it to me!!!"
"Are there any other types of crabs? I want to catch them all!!"
The shadow clones dispersed in all directions, while Naruto sat cross-legged.
First, he had used the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu to trigger the Realm of Reincarnation. Now, within the realm, he was using the same technique again!
Konan was secretly astonished. "When he fought Nagato, his chakra was strong but not to this extent. Ever since gaining the Rinnegan, his chakra has grown exponentially. He might not be far off from Nagato now."
The shadow clones engaged in fierce battles with the summoning beasts across the realm. However, there were clearly more beasts than clones. Groups of ten, or even close to a hundred shadow clones, surrounded a single beast. The process was smooth, and the number of contracted summoning beasts quickly surpassed one hundred and continued to rise.
Konan remarked with mixed emotions, "Nagato spent over ten years and entered the Realm of Reincarnation no fewer than ten times. He contracted with about a hundred and fifty summoning beasts in total. At this rate, you'll match that in a single night."
Naruto smiled. "Quantity doesn't equal quality. My senior liked to be selective, but my mom taught me never to be picky."
Konan shook her head with a helpless smile.
"Oh?"
Suddenly, Naruto's gaze shifted, and he stood up.
"Found something interesting?" Konan asked.
"Sort of."
Naruto placed a hand on Konan's shoulder and teleported to a location using Flying Raijin.
The marker left by a shadow clone before it dispelled was on the ground.
Naruto looked up at the towering purple serpent before him, its body stretching tens of meters high. He said solemnly, "So, you're here too, Manda."
Manda's vertical pupils locked onto Naruto. "The blonde brat who was with that stinky toad... Your presence here is the real surprise!"
Naruto grinned. "We've fought before, so let's skip the pleasantries, shall we?"
Manda's eyes narrowed coldly. "If you want me to cooperate, it's not impossible. But only if you return to the outside world and kill that Uchiha Sasuke for me!"
"Oh?" Naruto's eyes glinted. "Mind telling me why?"
Manda growled, "He used me with that damn Sharingan of his. I'd rather die than let him have his way!"
Naruto's eyes darkened. "Hey, Manda, let me ask you—do you know how to swim?"
Manda: "?"
Naruto replied seriously, "Answer me. It's important."
Manda said, "I can handle anything except flying. I just don't like being around those stinky toads, so I rarely go near water."
Naruto said, "I see. Then I suppose you might still be useful."
Manda: "What did you say?"
Sizzle!
Naruto's right eye activated, revealing the Three Tomoe Sharingan!
"That eye!?"
Manda was stunned, and his vertical pupils immediately reflected the Three Tomoe pattern.
Swoosh! Naruto leapt up, gripping a sharpened black rod with both hands, and stabbed it into Manda's eye!
Crunch!
The intense pain snapped Manda back to reality. He roared, "That damn Sharingan again! I can't believe it!!"
Naruto said, "Do your job well. If you can find Pervy Sage for me, I'll spare your life. Otherwise, I'll send you back to the Realm of Reincarnation, where you'll wander forever."
"I'll never come back here! This place has that monster!!"
Boom!
With a terrified scream, Manda disappeared in a puff of white smoke, becoming Naruto's possession.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shadow clones scattered across the realm completed their battles and dispelled one after another.
Naruto had delved deep into the Realm of Reincarnation. His gaze was heavy as he stared at the dense fog ahead.
"I can feel it. There are many terrifying chakras ahead, even more formidable than the Tailed Beasts."
Konan asked cautiously, "Are you going to keep going?"
Naruto replied, "Since I'm already here, how could I not? But don't worry, Konan-nee, I know my limits."
Konan nodded. "Alright then."
The two of them advanced toward the fog—the forbidden zone of the Realm of Reincarnation.
To proceed cautiously, Naruto asked, "Konan-nee, you mentioned earlier that there are beings here even Nagato at his peak couldn't contract with. Can you tell me more?"
Konan said, "When I ventured into the Realm of Reincarnation with him, we encountered a simian creature with an incredibly tough body. Nagato's black rods couldn't pierce it. That creature's name seemed to be King Enma."
Naruto's eyes gleamed. "King Enma? The Third Hokage's summoning beast is called Enma."
"Nagato speculated that it might be Enma's ancestor."
Konan paused before revealing another startling fact. "Before that, Nagato once entered the realm alone and nearly lost his life. When I asked him what happened, he refused to say a word."
"Afterward, I insisted on accompanying him. Whatever he encountered must have been something even he couldn't handle. If we come across it..."
Tap!
Suddenly, Naruto stopped in his tracks, his expression turning extremely serious.
Konan frowned. "What's wrong?"
Naruto clenched his fists. "I can sense an incredibly sinister and terrifying chakra ahead. And... it carries the same Sage energy as mine."