Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

In the chaos of battle, unknown abilities gradually reveal themselves, often at the cost of lives. This is the nature of combat.

The Taki ninja did not rely solely on mid- and long-range attacks. Confident in their numbers, they launched close-combat strikes from every direction, surrounding the Six Paths of Pain.

"So naive…" Nagato's eyes narrowed.

The cooldown on Shinra Tensei had just ended, making it the perfect counter to the overwhelming offensive. This time, the Deva Path did not extend his hands; instead, the other Paths moved to stand beside him.

"Shinra Tensei!"

The flow of air suddenly stilled as a powerful force surged outward in all directions, hurling hundreds of Taki ninja backward with heavy grunts and crashes. The sight of bodies flying en masse was breathtaking.

Most of the Taki ninja hit the ground hard, while a few managed to stay upright.

"What kind of power is this?"

"It's terrifying! It feels like Wind Style, but there's no wind at all!"

The Taki forces stood warily, shaken by the Deva Path's power. Meanwhile, the Asura Path's body began to shift and change, forming a menacing grin as it unleashed missiles and laser beams that exploded among the Taki ninja, wreaking havoc.

Despite the strange powers and overwhelming force, the Taki ninja did not falter and charged forward once more.

Through shared vision, Nagato coldly observed the battlefield. Extending his hand, he directed the Asura Path to mechanize, transforming into a massive, deadly saw blade that gleamed with chilling energy.

Guiding the transformed Asura Path through the air in a swift, circular motion, Nagato allowed it to slice through the ranks of Taki ninja, cutting down nearly a hundred in one fell swoop. Though damaged, the Asura Path had achieved devastating results.

Undeterred by the increasing casualties, the Taki ninja pressed on, bombarding the Six Paths with all manner of jutsu and weapons. The Preta Path activated a shield, absorbing the incoming ninjutsu, while the Animal Path summoned two more beasts to take the brunt of the attacks.

"His ability can absorb jutsu…"

"The one with the slender build has summoned six different creatures already. If he can keep summoning, he's a priority target."

"The mechanized one has bizarre weapons. It's a strange skill…"

"And the one in the center is the worst. He can repel jutsu and projectiles with some kind of invisible force. It seems like he can't use it continuously, though, which is why the one that absorbs jutsu is there to cover him."

Though they fell one by one, the Taki ninja were gradually understanding Pain's abilities, preparing for a possible counterattack. This scene, too, was carefully observed by the White Zetsu clone.

Meanwhile, the Human Path and Naraka Path moved through the village. Any Taki ninja they encountered was quickly subdued, their memories searched, and their souls extracted.

One by one, the Taki shinobi collapsed, lifeless, after their souls were taken.

"Nothing useful…"

Surveying the fallen bodies, the Human Path continued the search, the scenery before him transmitted to Nagato.

At last, the Human Path extracted a memory revealing the location of the Seven-Tails' seal—a chamber beneath the village's south side.

Nagato's eyes gleamed. "Found it."

"We'll need to hurry," Konan murmured, noticing the Taki ninja's reinforcements.

Nagato nodded. Even if the Deva, Animal, Preta, and Asura Paths were destroyed, he could repair them.

The Human Path and Naraka Path headed for the southern chamber entrance, a rough stone building that led underground.

They had barely stepped inside when six figures leaped out from the shadows, attempting an ambush. Sharing each other's vision, the two Paths dodged with ease and dispatched their attackers.

Even amidst the battle, Taki ninja had been left to guard this place—a good sign they were on the right path.

Inside, a staircase led down. As the two descended, darts laced with poison suddenly shot out from the walls, embedding themselves in their bodies.

Yet the darts and poison were harmless to the Pain bodies, which continued on unaffected.

At the bottom, they found an open chamber lined with intricate sealing symbols that converged on a central altar.

At each corner of the altar, a candle burned, casting a dim glow over a large, gray jar in the middle, marked with three crossed sealing tags.

"A containment barrier…"

Through the shared vision, Nagato studied the barrier. It wasn't meant to keep enemies out but rather to restrict powerful chakra within the room.

It was clear that this room served as the Seven-Tails' holding place and possibly as a chamber for transferring the tailed beast into a jinchūriki.

As the Human Path approached the altar, a part of the seal on the floor suddenly activated, radiating chakra energy in the form of Wind Style, tearing the Human Path's body into pieces.

Nagato winced as the intense pain reached him.

"What happened?" Konan asked, sensing something was wrong.

"Nothing serious," Nagato replied calmly.

It seemed the trap had been cleverly concealed within the barrier itself. Effective as it was, it was a single-use defense.

Back in the chamber, the Naraka Path summoned the King of Hell, a massive, chilling entity that emerged from the ground with its ominous "King" kanji on its forehead and a pair of cold Rinnegan eyes.

Unfazed, the Naraka Path fed the Human Path's remains into the King of Hell's mouth.

After a moment, the Human Path emerged from the mouth of the King of Hell, completely restored.

With the Human Path revived, both Paths turned to the large jar at the altar's center.

The Seven-Tails was sealed inside, and obtaining it would complete their mission.

The Human Path stepped forward and lifted the heavy jar with ease.

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