Emerging from the Kamui dimension, Tobirama, Minato, and Jiraiya—who were waiting outside—had already heard Hashirama's explanation regarding Menma's unification. They all stared at Menma with complex expressions, trying to peer into the darkness swirling within his mind.
It's rustier than iron, more swollen than a herniated disc!
Jiraiya, in particular, beat his chest in shame after hearing Hashirama's account. He had believed Menma was the Child of Prophecy back then, yet he hesitated, wavered, and went against the current. So many people had died, and his three toad summons had perished along with him.
If I had stood against the majority and convinced Konoha to fully support him... none of this tragedy would have happened.
Menma simply nodded at the four gazes, offering a silent acknowledgment to Minato.
"Menma, wait—"
Minato stepped forward, wanting to ask something, but before he could finish, Menma vanished in a flash of speed.
"Menma left just like that?" Jiraiya asked, confused. "Isn't he going to deal with us?"
Tobirama turned his gaze toward the distant Konoha. "He's probably heading to the village. After all, the mastermind went to great lengths to release me and the Fourth Hokage from Shinigami's stomach and resurrect us using Impure World Reincarnation."
"It was all to stall Menma on the Hidden Wind Void Village's side so they could carry out their scheme."
Orochimaru had been the one to release Tobirama and Minato. However, he hadn't immediately performed the Reanimation. Instead, before Obito left, Orochimaru summoned the Reanimation coffin and let Obito take it away. Consequently, the two Hokages didn't know it was the still-alive Orochimaru who had freed them from the Shinigami's grasp.
"Konoha?" Hashirama nodded, stroking his chin. "Let's go too. We can help out. Besides, I need to handle things there. I can't let Tsunade keep causing trouble."
"Okay." Tobirama slung an arm over Hashirama's shoulder, turning to Minato. "Fourth Hokage, you take the Fifth Hokage with you. Your Flying Thunder God Technique is reliable."
Minato scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It's an honor to receive praise from the founder."
In a flash, he appeared beside Jiraiya and draped an arm over his shoulder. "Leave Jiraiya-sensei to me. I don't need to worry about chakra consumption in this body anyway."
Jiraiya looked at Minato with guilt. "Minato, I'm so sorry about Menma's… situation. I…"
He trailed off, shaking his head with a sigh.
"It's not your fault, Jiraiya-sensei." Minato's expression remained unchanged, his gentle voice carrying a hint of detachment.
"Alright, enough chatting," Tobirama's voice came from farther away. "It's time to move."
After informing Minato, Tobirama and Hashirama disappeared from the spot. Minato immediately followed, using Flying Thunder God Technique to take Jiraiya with him.
As shinobi proficient in the Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato and Tobirama, like animals marking territory, had long since left marks throughout the shinobi world for easy travel. They weren't freaks like Menma, whose sensory abilities covered vast distances and whose chakra reserves were immense. They needed someone to carry a Flying Thunder God mark to precisely move to their target's side. Lacking Menma's freakish abilities, they could only leave marks at regular intervals and move using those.
Not long after they left, a distorted ripple appeared in space. Kakashi emerged from the Kamui dimension, looking forlorn. His right eye was now as crimson as his left, clearly indicating he had switched to a different Kamui during this time.
Rin Nohara, seeing Kakashi appear nearby, immediately ran over. Seeing the desolation in his expression, she clutched her clothes tightly and asked worriedly, "Kakashi, where's Obito? Why didn't he come out with you? Could it be that Menma…"
"Obito has received his due punishment," Kakashi interrupted. "He's committed too many mistakes; it's not something that can be forgiven simply by admitting he was wrong and turning back."
Although Kakashi had previously hoped Obito would turn back and be forgiven, that was due to his inner turmoil. Now, calmed down, he felt Obito's greatest sin wasn't atoning with death. All he could do was let Obito watch the changes this world would undergo through his eyes.
"Watch carefully, Obito. This world was never false. It'll only become more beautiful…"
In front of the Konoha gates, a chaotic battle was raging.
The Fourth Raikage, A, transformed into a streak of azure lightning, rushing toward Nagato with lightning speed. His lightning-crackling palm slashed down heavily.
"Damn Akatsuki! Hand over my brother, Killer Bee!"
Lightning Chakra Mode!
Lightning Chakra Mode!
Bang!
A's fist hovered in front of Nagato. A powerful repulsive force formed a gale that spread outward, blowing away the azure lightning. A held out for a few seconds before being pushed away even faster. The ground was instantly plowed into a deep trench by his feet gripping the earth tightly.
Shinra Tensei!
Nagato, having pushed A aside, looked at the Raikage's furious face. He thought for a moment and said calmly, "The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki? I'm sorry, he's already been killed by having his tailed beast extracted."
"Dead?!"
Veins bulged and muscles tense, A charged toward Nagato once more, arriving atop his head. Tears welled in his eyes as he raised his right leg high, unleashing a torrent of lightning that crashed down.
"Just as that guy said!"
When Obito had come to A with evidence earlier, A hadn't fully believed him, still harboring a sliver of hope. Now, hearing Nagato say the same thing, he was instantly consumed by rage.
"You will all pay with your lives! Killer Bee! My brother, I will make the entire Akatsuki pay for this!"
Righteous Thunder Axe, Wrathful Fury!
Facing the powerful kick, Nagato, with four mechanical arms protruding from his back, raised a black rod to block above his head. However, A's furious kick, unstoppable, snapped off the blocking mechanical arms and black rods. Finally, it landed heavily on Nagato's last blocking arm.
Bang!
The ground beneath Nagato's feet caved in, a shockwave spreading outward. Seeing the attack blocked, A immediately tried to retreat, but Nagato preemptively grabbed his feet. His Lightning Chakra Mode rapidly dissipated.
Sealing Technique Absorption Seal!
"You look like you're in great pain," Nagato said. "Try to understand and accept pain."
"Raikage-sama!" The Raikage's guards rushed to his aid, but before they could even get close, they were repelled by Shinra Tensei.
The Kumogakure ninja force brought by A also quickly surrounded Nagato, intending to use their numerical advantage to overwhelm him. However, they were stopped halfway by a group of reanimated puppets connected by chakra threads on their backs, and a battle ensued.
"You dare to be distracted while fighting me?"
The reanimated Second Mizukage, seeing Sasori fighting him and still daring to spare most of his reanimated puppets to support others, immediately raised his hands and unleashed countless water cannons.
Water Gun Technique, Sweep!
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