Next 55: The Will of the Sage

The Naraka Path knelt over the shattered remains of the Asura Path, placing its hands on its mangled body. The grotesque king-like statue, a specter of its ability manifested behind it, glowing ominously. In seconds, the destroyed Path was repaired, its puppet-like limbs snapping back into place as though the earlier damage had been an illusion. With a simple nod, the Animal Path re-summoned its brethren into the heart of the ruined village.

The Six Paths of Pain stood together, their glowing Rinnegan eyes locking onto Naruto. Their identical forms created an aura of inevitability, as though they were fate itself made manifest.

Tsunade, already battered and drained from healing the village through Katsuyu, stood defiantly before them. Her voice carried across the wreckage with a mixture of anger and unyielding resolve. "I will end this now, as Hokage!"

She surged forward, her chakra-enhanced strength causing the earth to crack beneath her feet. The Asura Path moved faster, its body splitting open to reveal countless blades and projectiles, all aimed directly at her.

In a flash, Naruto appeared between them, his Rasengan spinning in his hand with the brilliance of the sun. "Sage Art: Rasengan!" he shouted, slamming the attack downward into the Asura Path with devastating precision. The puppet-like body shattered, parts flying in all directions before crumbling to the ground, motionless.

Naruto turned to face Pain, his golden toad-like eyes glowing with an ethereal intensity. "It's me you want," he said, his voice calm but filled with unshakable determination.

From a nearby rooftop, Hinata, Ino, Sakura, Choji and Shikamaru watched in awe.

"Incredible," Hinata whispered, her Byakugan focused entirely on Naruto. "He defeated one of the Paths with a single strike."

"They don't stand a chance against him now," Ino added, a mixture of pride and relief in her voice.

Shikamaru, always the realist, frowned. "He's strong, but this isn't over yet. We need to make sure he knows what he's up against."

Naruto glanced back as Gamakichi appeared beside him. He turned to Tsunade, who was trembling slightly, the strain of her earlier efforts evident. "Gamakichi," Naruto said, his voice steady, "take Tsunade-sama somewhere safe. She's done enough."

Tsunade's face twisted in frustration, but she didn't argue. She knew she was spent, and the future of the village now rested on Naruto's shoulders. As Gamakichi leaped away with her, Naruto hesitated for a moment.

"I probably shouldn't bring this up right now," he said, his voice soft. "But is Kakashi-sensei away? Is he out of the village?"

Tsunade froze, her silence speaking volumes. Naruto's heart sank, but he didn't press further. "I see," he whispered, turning back to the Paths of Pain.

In an instant, his heightened perception detected the massive, three-horned Rhinoceros summon, charging toward him with deadly speed. Naruto leapt forward, catching the beast by its horn mid-charge. With a roar of effort, he twisted and hurled the creature away, sending it crashing into the rubble of the village.

Ino's voice echoed in his mind, the result of her growth in using her telepathic abilities. "Naruto! Listen carefully. Each Path has a specific ability: the Deva Path uses gravity but has a cooldown between attacks—it's the one that destroyed the village. The cool down is five seconds. The Animal Path summons creatures. You've already taken out the Asura Path. Don't let the Human Path touch you, or it'll steal your soul. The Preta Path absorbs any chakra attack, and the Naraka Path can revive the others and read your mind."

Naruto smirked. "Kinda like you're doing right now?"

He could feel Ino's annoyance through the link. "Focus, Naruto. Good luck."

The connection faded as Naruto returned his attention to the battle. Two massive clones appeared beside him in a puff of smoke, both entering Sage Mode instantly. Working in tandem, they unleashed Wood Release: Great Forest Technique, creating a host of massive redwood-sized trees that erupted from the ground, ensnaring the summoned creatures. The clones moved swiftly, each targeting one of the summons with a Sage Art: Rasengan. The impact caused the creatures to vanish in a cloud of smoke.

Naruto's gaze locked onto the Preta Path. "You're the one that absorbs chakra," he muttered, his golden eyes narrowing. "Ninjutsu's useless against you."

The Preta Path lunged forward, its hands raised defensively. Naruto ducked under its kick, his movements almost playful. "But taijutsu works just fine," he said, smirking. His fist missed the Path entirely, but the Frog Kumite technique extended his natural energy outward, striking the Path with invisible force. The Preta Path flew backward, slamming into the ruins of a building.

Naruto straightened, brushing some dust off his sage robe. "One down. Who's next?"

The remaining Paths of Pain turned to face him, their Rinnegan glowing ominously. This was far from over, but Naruto's confidence burned as brightly as the flames around them. This was his village, and he wasn't going to let Pain take another life.

The Deva Path stood still, surveying Naruto with calm detachment. Its Rinnegan eyes were unreadable. "I see now," Pain said in his measured tone, "you've become a Sage, mastering the Senjutsu Jiraiya-sensei taught you. Impressive."

Naruto's golden eyes flared with fury. "Shut the hell up!" he growled, raising his hand high above his head. Chakra coalesced in his palm, humming with violent intensity. An enormous Rasengan formed, infused with both Earth and Water chakra, swirling with enough power to distort the air around it.

Sakura's heart leapt into her throat as she watched from the rubble-strewn outskirts of the battlefield. "The Water and Earth Release: Rasengan Whirlpool?" she gasped. "What is he thinking?"

Nearby, Fukasaku's eyes widened in alarm. "Did you teach him that, Shima?"

"Not me, Pa," Shima replied, her voice laced with concern. "That boy's improvisin'."

Then Naruto did the unexpected—the formerly impossible. He hurled the Rasengan like a projectile, the immense orb spinning faster and faster as it tore through the air with a high-pitched whine. Pain's remaining Paths scattered instinctively, but it was futile. The Rasengan expanded mid-flight, erupting into a spiraling monsoon of abrasive, microscopic rocks and water. The deadly vortex caught the Human Path in its grasp, dissolving its body instantly into nothingness.

Ino, watching from a rooftop with Hinata and Shikamaru, pressed a hand to her chest. "He's incredible," she whispered, her voice filled with awe and worry.

Meanwhile, Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro squared off against Pain's towering summons. Gamaken leapt forward, his agility belying his massive size, and managed to swallow the Animal Path whole. Within the toad's oral pharynx, a dozen clones of Naruto darted forward and unleashed a furious barrage of Sage Art: Rasengan strikes that ripped the Animal Path apart from within.

Deva Path's head tilted slightly as it observed Naruto's movements. "Your tenacity is remarkable," Pain said, "but it changes nothing. The cycle of pain will consume you as it has consumed all others."

Naruto ignored the words, weaving between the Deva Path's relentless assault. As he dodged, he tossed a summoning scroll to Fukasaku. Fukasaku caught it and, with Shima's help, summoned a shadow clone of Naruto that had already gathered Sage Chakra in preparation. The clone dispelled immediately, reinvigorating Naruto's power and allowing him to knock the Deva Path backward with a single devastating blow.

Naruto formed another Rasengan Whirlpool and hurled it with deadly precision, but his eyes widened in shock as the newly revived Preta Path absorbed the attack. "Impossible!" Naruto muttered, realizing the Naraka Path had already restored the Preta Path. Without processing this fact fully, Naruto spawned an enormous wall of twisting trees that moved in an almost peristaltic pattern, attempting to devour all the Paths at once.

Deva Path stepped forward, its gaze fixed on the horizon. It raised a single hand. "All Mighty Push."

The sheer force of the gravitational wave sent the three massive toads flying to the far edges of the crater that had once been Konoha. The earth itself groaned in protest under the assault. Naruto staggered under the shockwave, gritting his teeth as he struggled to keep his balance.

"Ino!" Shikamaru called sharply, "Tell him now."

Ino's telepathic voice echoed in Naruto's mind. "Naruto, listen carefully. Remember, The cooldown for All Mighty Push is five seconds. That's your opening."

Naruto gritted his teeth, forcing himself back into the fray. He fought valiantly, dodging and countering the remaining Paths' attacks, but his movements became slower as his chakra reserves began to dwindle. Then, in a moment of inattention, the Deva Path activated All Mighty Pull.

Naruto was yanked toward it, unable to resist the gravitational force. The Preta Path caught him mid-air, its cold hands locking around his arms. Naruto grimaced as he felt his Sage Chakra being drained rapidly.

Pain stared down at him, his voice devoid of emotion. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has now been captured. The cycle of hatred will end with your sacrifice."

But Naruto wasn't finished. Summoning the last remnants of his Sage Chakra, he channeled it directly into the Preta Path. Its body began to petrify, its skin turning to stone. In seconds, it was transformed into an immobile toad statue, its grip on Naruto loosening.

Naruto dropped to the ground, gasping for air, but before he could move, the Deva Path thrust its chakra rods into his shoulders, pinning him to the ground. His vision blurred as his Sage Mode flickered and faded. He looked around, helpless, as Pain loomed over him.

"This is the will of God," Pain declared, his voice echoing in the eerie silence. "You will know true pain, Naruto Uzumaki."