From the churned battlefield, coffins emerged one by one, rising out of the mud with a grinding creak. Their wooden lids trembled and slowly opened, revealing the dust-stained faces of the dead within.
A sinister chakra surged into their bodies, and the earth-formed coffins shuddered violently.
Guts's eyes narrowed.
Everyone around him tensed.
Because these weren't just any dead shinobi.
Akatsuki's fallen members—Nagato, Kakuzu, Uchiha Itachi!
Many elite Jōnin of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku and others!
Almost all of them were former Konoha shinobi, their foreheads still bearing the leaf symbol.
If White Fang's body hadn't been completely erased by Ōnoki's Particle Style, Guts was sure he'd be here too.
Konan's voice cracked. She had prepared herself for this moment, but the sight of him, dirt-stained and lifeless, almost dropped her to her knees.
Nagato blinked in surprise, his gaze catching her new forehead protector engraved with the kanji for Shinobi. His eyes flicked to Guts and the others beside her.
It didn't take long for him to understand.
After a brief pause, he smiled softly.
"...Good. At least you're alive. Then I can go see Yahiko in the next world… without regrets."
For someone who had already died, some things became very clear.
Seeing Konan safe was the greatest comfort he could ask for.
"Itachi… Itachi?! You've grown so much… and… you too…?"
Uchiha Fugaku's voice trembled as he saw his eldest son rise from the coffin. Joy and grief collided in his chest.
Itachi gave a faint, peaceful smile.
"Father… when I chose that path, I was ready for this. Please, don't grieve for me."
Fugaku's heart ached but then a sharp thought struck him.
"Sasuke! Where is Sasuke? How is he?!"
Deep underground, Kabuto smirked, watching through his surveillance jutsu.
"Touching reunions… but that's enough sentimentality. I didn't bring you back to cry about the past."
He pressed his palms together, and the chakra threads tightened.
The resurrected shinobi lurched forward, their bodies moving against their will.
Guts stepped in front of his squad, voice calm but commanding:
"Listen up. Nagato has the full power of the Six Paths of Pain. He's the biggest threat here Super Kage level. Hinata, Hanabi, he's yours. Konan, take the sky and support them."
There was no hesitation.
The Hyūga sisters surged forward, one in a flash of white, the other in orange. Konan spread her paper wings, rising into the air with a heavy, conflicted heart.
Then Itachi and Fugaku came for Guts.
Because Shisui was still alive, Itachi couldn't use Kotoamatsukami to free himself from Kabuto's control.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
Flames erupted, engulfing Guts's position.
"Lord Guts!" Itachi shouted between the jutsu's roar. "How is Sasuke now?!"
The explosion tore the ground apart, dust and smoke swallowing the battlefield.
Itachi and Fugaku activated their Sharingan to pierce the haze
A shockwave like a meteor striking the earth ripped the air apart.
In the next instant, the third form of Susanoo shattered like glass.
Even at Peak Kage level, they were nothing in front of this power.
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