Chapter 118: Rinnegan + Heavenly Sending Technique, Izayoi's True Form Appears

Chapter 118: Rinnegan + Heavenly Sending Technique, Izayoi’s True Form Appears

The high-level battle had no room for words—every second was a dazzling clash of strategy and combat.

With five thousand White Zetsu Clones drawing fire, Akatsuki opened with overwhelming force, leaving the Cloud ninja and hidden spies from various nations reeling at the sheer numerical disparity.

But such an advantage was fleeting.

As always, ninja battles were ultimately intelligence wars. Unless one’s power reached a dimension where even hordes couldn’t resist, all ninja shared two weaknesses—fragile bodies and limited chakra.

A kunai to a vital organ meant death. A blast from an explosive tag meant death. Once chakra ran dry, they became ordinary humans.

Only chunin-ranked ninja or higher wore flak vests, marking them as minor elites within the shinobi ranks. Normally, these elites could lead missions independently. During war, under the command of versatile jonin, their effectiveness multiplied.

Beyond combatants, ninja villages also fielded specialized support units.

Two thousand elite troops weren’t just a power boost—they enhanced every battlefield dimension.

Akatsuki’s initial numerical edge quickly eroded as the Cloud ninja gathered intelligence, gradually turning the tide.

Take Deidara, for instance. After hurling Sasori of the Red Sand onto the battlefield, he soared on his white clay bird like a bomber, indiscriminately dropping animal-shaped explosive clay of varying sizes.

But before he could wreak havoc, a Cloud ninja unleashed Lightning Release to detonate the clay mid-air—only to discover the explosives failed to ignite, becoming duds upon impact.

“That guy’s jutsu is earth-based! Use Lightning Release on him!” the Cloud ninja quickly relayed.

“He can fly, so you’ll struggle. Leave him to me.”

Darui stepped forward, clapped his hands, and fired multiple powerful laser beams at Deidara.

“Storm Release!”

Combining Lightning Release’s destructive force with Water Release’s control, the laser beams pursued Deidara’s erratic bird like Asura Path’s homing missiles.

“Damn it, did they figure me out already?”

Deidara hurled explosive clay at the incoming laser barrage, but it was neutralized before he could detonate it. Cursing, he muttered, “If I didn’t have to worry about friendly fire, I’d show you C4’s true power!”

Unable to evade the lasers, Deidara abandoned his clay bird, diving down to land beside Sasori of the Red Sand.

The latter had summoned the Third Kazekage’s puppet, deploying his Human Puppet Legion and Magnet Release techniques against over a hundred Cloud ninja—but was gaining no ground.

Deidara quipped, “Big brother Sasori, you look a bit swamped.”

“Save the jokes. Help me,” Sasori growled.

Puppet masters struggled most against opponents skilled in swordsmanship and taijutsu with blinding speed.

Sasori’s parents had died to the Leaf’s White Fang. Most Cloud ninja excelled in taijutsu—miniature White Fangs all around.

“Watch for his poison needles! Retreat immediately for medical aid if hit!”

Shi and Samui led their squad against Sasori, already destroying nearly a hundred of his puppets.

Observing these puppets—clearly inferior to those in the Cloud’s past encounters—neither Shi nor Samui felt triumphant. Instead, unease grew.

These puppets were clearly weaker. Unlike the superior models, these required chakra threads, used inferior materials, and lacked the Five Chakra Natures.

Seeing Sasori’s struggle and his protective stance toward the Third Kazekage puppet, it was clear he wasn’t faking.

This meant he wasn’t the mastermind who’d manipulated Danzō Shimura and even stalemated the Fourth Raikage.

The Fifth Hokage’s intelligence about the puppeteer behind Akatsuki was likely true!

They were merely pawns in this war against Akatsuki!

Realizing this, Shi, Samui, and countless Cloud ninja who’d uncovered the truth paled.

But the Raikage hadn’t ordered retreat, so they fought on, trusting his judgment.

The art duo faltered, and the immortal duo fared no better.

After Kakuzu reattached his head with Earth Grudge Fear, Hidan slashed a few Cloud ninja, drawing blood.

Before stunned enemies, he disemboweled himself, spilled blood, drew a ritual circle, and killed his target.

This public curse terrified—but also exposed his weakness.

As Hidan targeted a second victim, his flaw was uncovered. Without Kakuzu’s timely rescue, Hidan would’ve been torn apart.

Like the original story, the immortal duo—easily defeating Matatabi’s jinchuriki in one-on-one fights—quickly faltered once their secrets were exposed.

In contrast, Kisame and Itachi Uchiha, who’d hidden their strength, still dominated.

Whenever enemies thought they’d deciphered their tactics, the pair revealed even greater power. Their silent synergy left Cloud ninja—chunin, jonin, or elite—feeling hopeless, as if battling the Five Kage themselves.

Obito Uchiha toyed with the Cloud ninja, revealing no abilities or killing anyone.

His Sharingan behind the mask observed everything, analyzing Akatsuki’s performance.

As expected, Itachi and Kisame outclassed the rest.

Itachi’s Tomoe Sharingan and genjutsu alone—without frequent Fire Release or Mangekyō—manipulated enemies effortlessly. He either Body Flickered away from jutsu or relied on Kisame’s aid.

Good thing Kisame was on his side.

Otherwise, this duo could’ve shattered Akatsuki’s balance.

As the main forces clashed, the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, the AB combo, and Yugito Nii seamlessly shifted the battle to a rocky wasteland to avoid collateral damage.

Konan soared, hurling explosive-tagged shuriken like Yatagarasu’s explosive eggs, bombarding Matatabi’s Two-Tails below.

Behind the Two-Tails, massive summons—bull, chimera, and chameleon—leaped across the rocks.

On the barren battlefield, the Six Paths and AB combo engaged in the ultimate team fight.

“Raikō Ken: Raijin no Ken!”

The Fourth Raikage, cloaked in lightning, materialized like a teleport, targeting Preta Path—the chakra-absorber that countered Killer B.

“Shinra Tensei!”

Deva Path raised a hand without turning, repelling the Raikage with an invisible repulsive force.

Human Path and Hell Path flicked their sleeves, launching Black Rods like arrows at the airborne Raikage.

As the rods neared him, a giant octopus arm intercepted them.

Expecting a simple block, Killer B’s expression shifted. Unable to sever the tentacle like before, he drew his blades, hacking it off.

“Dumb bro! Don’t let those rods hit you—they disrupt chakra!”

“Shinra Tensei!”

Killer B’s warning sent him flying toward Deva Path.

Preta Path charged Killer B, Asura Path launching missiles after disassembling its arms.

Human Path and Hell Path provided visual coverage for Nagato, guarding against the Raikage’s near-instantaneous speed while protecting Deva Path during its five-second cooldown.

Their caution proved justified.

Using the tentacle as cover, the Raikage vanished, reappearing behind Deva Path with a lightning blade aimed at his neck.

Human Path and Hell Path Body Flickered away—not to block, but because the cooldown had ended.

“Shinra Tensei!”

The gravitational repulsive force erupted as a white gale, halting the Raikage’s strike and sending him flying backward, churning up dust.

Freed from Gravity Release’s grip, Killer B erupted in dark red chakra, sprouting eight tails.

Entering semi-Tailed Beast Mode, he vanished like a beast, leaving afterimages as he blitzed through Preta Path and Asura Path toward Deva Path at unimaginable speed.

The Raikage reappeared atop Preta Path, raising his lightning-charged leg for a crushing kick.

“Shinra Tensei!”

Deva Path’s voice rang again. The invisible godly hand didn’t seize the Raikage this time—it yanked Preta Path away.

A thunderous Boom erupted as Fourth Raikage’s foot shattered the earth, sending a colossal plume of dust spiraling into the air.

Whizz! A crimson laser beam pierced the murky haze.

Asura Path’s head snapped open, unleashing a concentrated laser blast while its hands fired ten missiles in rapid succession, obliterating the battlefield.

Human Path and Hell Path materialized before Pain (Deva Path). The former launched a barrage of black rods from its sleeves at Killer B, who darted like a panther, while the latter spat a torrent of searing flames through hand seals.

Just like Izayoi’s Rinnegan Human Puppet, Nagato’s Rinnegan granted his Human Puppets the ability to wield not only the Six Paths’ powers but also the Five Chakra Natures. The transplanted Rinnegan even allowed Nagato to manipulate six chakra natures.

Kaboom!

Killer B didn’t evade the incoming flames or the black rods hidden within them. Instead, he opened his maw and fired a tangerine-red beam—a souped-up laser that instantly vaporized the firestorm, blasting through the gap between Human Path and Hell Path to strike Pain (Deva Path) directly.

“Shinra Tensei!”

Unflinching, Pain (Deva Path) raised his hand, unleashing a repulsive force that shattered the beam like glass. A shimmering white barrier—the Preta Path’s White Gale—flared around him.

Yet as the barrier faded, a sharp whoosh sliced through the air.

Lowering his gaze slightly, Pain (Deva Path) backflipped to dodge Fourth Raikage’s fist and retaliated with a black rod.

But Fourth Raikage’s speed was unmatched. He vanished in a flash, reappearing behind the recoiling Pain (Deva Path) to deliver another thunderous punch.

Deva Path’s expression remained icy. His palm met the attack—but sprouting from his hand was a sharpened black rod.

As the fist and rod neared collision, Fourth Raikage blinked away again, reappearing behind Deva Path with a blade-like hand strike.

This time, the familiar White Gale barrier erupted, deflecting the blow and sending Fourth Raikage hurtling backward.

Black rods, flames, missiles, and lasers rained down.

Killer B flickered into view, catching Fourth Raikage mid-air. His eight dark-red tails swatted away nearby rods as his body absorbed the rest, morphing into his full Tailed Beast form.

“Roar!”

The battlefield trembled as Gyūki emerged.

Pain (Deva Path)’s expression shifted—not from the beast, but from a sudden loss of vision.

From the dust, Preta Path had crept forward to siphon the Tailed Beast’s chakra. But now, lightning flashed before him, and darkness swallowed his sight.

A colossal fist, brimming with raw power, smashed into Preta Path’s face, sending him flying.

No one knew how far he soared before crashing into a distant cliff, kicking up another cloud of dust.

Nagato severed the connection instantly.

One strike. One kill. Fourth Raikage had erased a Pain.

“The Five Kage… truly aren’t to be underestimated,” Nagato murmured from Amegakure.

Hell Path silently retreated, rushing toward Preta Path’s wreckage.

“Amazing. They took down a Pain so quickly,” Izayoi mused, his Wood Clone relaying the scene from the Land of Fire, where he’d disguised himself as a mysterious figure using Wood Release.

He praised the AB combo openly, acknowledging their strength.

Then he chuckled. “But the other Pains are just shackles to Deva Path. You’re only hastening your defeat.”

Fourth Raikage had endured countless Shinra Tensei blasts without injury—not just because the terrain was barren, but because Deva Path had held back.

If Deva Path unleashed his full power, the other Pains would be swept away too.

The remaining five Pains were mere constraints. When Deva Path fought alone, his only weakness was a five-second cooldown.

“Carry on like this, and you’ll surely lose.”

Izayoi unslung his massive scroll, smirking. “Since you’ve entertained me, let me lend a hand.”

“You… who are you?!”

A weak voice called out.

The scene zoomed into a massive meteor crater where Izayoi sat atop a battered figure covered in tadpole-shaped seals. Despite the grime, the man’s refined features shone through—Yagura, the Mist’s rogue ninja and Six-Tails Jinchuriki.

Izayoi straddled him casually.

“Sorry. That’s classified.”

With one hand gripping Yagura’s throat, Izayoi opened the scroll. His masked face echoed with a chilling, distorted laugh. “No worries. I just need your chakra.”

Yagura’s eyes widened as his chakra—and the Six-Tails’—drained rapidly.

If he could sense chakra, he’d realize Izayoi’s signature was morphing to mirror his own.

Before them, the scroll erupted in white smoke.

A crimson-clouded Human Puppet emerged—Danzō Shimura.

Danzō slung the scroll onto his back, forgoing his Flying Thunder God Technique. Instead, he stood before Izayoi, who rose, placed a hand on Danzō’s shoulder, and formed a hand seal. “Ninjutsu… Heavenly Sending Technique!”

In an instant, Danzō vanished.

Reappearing in the Rain Country—the battlefield where the Cloud and Akatsuki clashed—he stood at the continent’s heart.

This was the power of Wood Clone + Rinnegan + Heavenly Sending Technique.

Whether due to the Rinnegan or the Ōtsutsuki’s innate spatial talent, Izayoi found space-time jutsu as effortless as breathing.

Tsunade had been horrified that he’d mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique in four months—a feat that took only the Second Hokage and Minato Namikaze 61 years to achieve.

In truth, Izayoi had learned it in three days: sensing space-time on day one, condensing chakra into permanent flying thunder needles on day two, and teleporting on day three.

Excluding the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Flying Thunder God was the first forbidden technique Izayoi learned from the Scroll.

After stealing Kumogakure’s Forbidden Scroll from the Raikage’s tower, Izayoi’s first technique had been Heavenly Sending.

The Rinnegan and this jutsu were a perfect match.

With boundless chakra and vision spanning continents, Izayoi could teleport not just his Human Puppet Legion anywhere in the ninja world—but even beyond it.

The puppets, being lifeless, sustained no damage during transit.

Now, he’d done exactly that.

After sending Danzō, Izayoi glanced at Yagura. “Your seal will lift in a minute. Thanks for the help. I’ll be back if I need more.”

Then he vanished.

Reappearing not on the battlefield, but atop a cliff overlooking it.

Beside him stood Ranmaru, whose Rinnegan could pierce invisibility, and two Wood Clones—still cloaked in invisibility, remotely controlling the Human Puppet Legion to attack the Cloud forces, White Zetsu Army, and Akatsuki indiscriminately.

Izayoi ascended, his radiant chakra blazing like a full moon, shocking every fighter—and hidden spy—into glancing skyward.

Many lost their lives in that momentary distraction.

“It’s that bastard!”

The Six Paths of Pain and AB combo halted their clash, staring at the distant speck in the sky. Fourth Raikage gritted his teeth. “Finally showing your face, you coward?!”

For the first time, Deva Path’s undead face burned with battle-lust. “Such chakra… truly my equal.”

The Six Paths, now repaired by Hell Path, surged toward the battlefield. AB combo followed.

Konan and Yugito Nii, fighting on another front, did the same.

Without Izayoi’s arrival, their feud would’ve consumed them all. Now, a common enemy united them.

Watching the Akatsuki, AB combo, Six Paths, and even Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga below, Izayoi mused, “I wonder if my real body can handle this lineup?”

Indeed, the Izayoi in the sky was his true self.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end