Chapter 590: Flattened to the Ground

Five Pain bodies gathered, and Konan, who had received the order to retreat, arrived nearby.

"Why suddenly withdraw from Konoha? This is the critical stage of the attack."

Konan felt a faint premonition of doom.

"I'm going to use it."

The Animal Path spoke—this was actually Nagato speaking.

"Huh?"

Konan froze, then realized something and cried out urgently: "No, even though your body has recovered somewhat, using that technique will shorten your life."

"It doesn't matter. The Nine-Tails is in Konoha—this is our chance to capture it. Time is running out; Bai Ye won't hold out much longer."

After the Human Path spoke, all five Pain bodies collapsed forward; Nagato focused entirely on controlling the Deva Path.

"The power of all six…?"

Konan's face grew even paler.

…

Inside Konoha.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Deafening roars echoed endlessly as Nine-Tails Chakra Mode Naruto furiously attacked Su Xiao, ignoring even the Deva Path's Shinra Tensei—he was determined to kill Su Xiao at all costs.

A pale blue blade slash cut through the battlefield, shearing the roof off a house.

Su Xiao's bare torso bore several claw marks; his Xiao uniform had been torn to shreds.

Holding his own against Naruto in Six-Tails form for a short time was manageable, but prolonged combat would break him.

His mana points remained at 735—he had to conserve usage, avoiding energy shields unless absolutely necessary, using them only in dire moments.

Su Xiao's side was a raging battlefield, with blade slashes and miniature Tailed Beast Bombs flying everywhere, while the Deva Path's side entered… show-off mode…

The Deva Path faced off against Tsunade, behind whom stood several ANBU; one female ANBU whispered something into Tsunade's ear.

"Retreating?"

Tsunade was startled, and also frustrated.

"Lady Tsunade, let them withdraw for now—use this time to reinforce the village's defenses."

Tsunade said nothing, tacitly agreeing, though the move felt humiliating.

"Let me ask you one final question."

The Deva Path spoke, his peripheral vision flicking toward Su Xiao's battle; sensing Su Xiao wouldn't fall anytime soon, he continued: "The chakra beneath your feet—is it meant to counter my ability?"

Chakra now clung to the soles of Tsunade and her companions.

Tsunade said nothing, instead watching the battle between Su Xiao and Nine-Tails Mode Naruto.

"It seems you understand my ability—but before overwhelming power, all strategy is meaningless. This has been proven by your great nations. You believe yourselves the protagonists, the masters of this world, capable of controlling its changes, convinced that as protagonists, death is far from you."

The Deva Path's Rinnegan slowly widened—he wasn't idle chatter; he was preparing a technique, though Tsunade and the others hadn't noticed.

"Yet your complacency in this false peace is shallow, foolish. Those who kill will be killed; hatred binds the two together."

Tsunade, seemingly unable to bear it, interrupted: "Enough of this nonsense—"

The Deva Path ignored her and continued: "Every war brings death to both sides, inflicting wounds and pain. No matter how righteous its cause, war is ugly—just as what I am doing now."

"Enough." Tsunade cut him off.

"Our great nations bear pain too—don't casually use excuses to blame us."

Tsunade clenched her fists, preparing to strike.

The Deva Path's Rinnegan fixed on Tsunade; her step halted.

"Pathetic."

The Deva Path wasn't mocking Tsunade's words—he was mocking the fact that the enemy hadn't noticed he was preparing a dōjutsu.

"Bai Ye, it's time to exit the stage."

The Deva Path shouted, his body rising into the sky.

"Wait, Pain!"

Tsunade sensed something wrong, but the Deva Path ignored her.

Boom!

Nine-Tails Mode Naruto slammed a claw into the ground, tilted his head back, and fired a miniature Tailed Beast Bomb straight at Su Xiao.

Su Xiao extended his palm—a 300-point energy shield materialized before him.

Thud! The miniature Tailed Beast Bomb struck the shield; blue light flared, yet not a single crack appeared on its surface.

Su Xiao wiped blood from his chin; Naruto in Six-Tails form was too strong—he'd held on this long partly due to luck.

Naruto in Six-Tails form might not recognize his own father, but he remembered one thing: kill Su Xiao. Around them, many others were present, yet Naruto focused solely on hammering Su Xiao, determined to see him dead.

Su Xiao shifted his energy shield to his side and thrust his long blade toward Naruto's incoming claw.

Though Naruto's body in Nine-Tails form was immensely durable, as long as he didn't strike the exoskeleton, Qinggangyingsuo could pierce through him.

The blade pierced Naruto's claw; Qinggangyin energy surged into Naruto's body.

"ROOOOAR!!"

Nine-Tails Mode Naruto screamed in pain, his chakra beginning to spiral out of control.

In a flash, another chakra tail erupted from Naruto's back—Su Xiao sighed in frustration; every time Qinggangyin energy entered Naruto's body, the Nine-Tails seized the opportunity to intrude.

Naruto in Seven-Tails form was even more dangerous. Su Xiao had bought enough time—he gripped his blade with both hands, muscles in his arms tensing slightly, a crimson energy aura forming over his skin as he activated the ability of his 【Ox Lord Gauntlets】.

Equipment Effect: Ox Lord's Rage (Active): For 10 seconds, Strength +15.

Note: Ox Lord's Rage (Active) has a cooldown of 10 natural days.

Note: Activating Ox Lord's Rage (Active) consumes 30% of current HP.

…

Su Xiao's base Strength was 53; with this +15 bonus, it surged to 68.

Torrents of power surged through him; gripping his blade with both hands, he stomped the ground and hurled Naruto—whose claw was impaled—high into the air.

Whoosh! Nine-Tails Mode Naruto was flung over ten meters high—and it wasn't over. Su Xiao slashed repeatedly at the airborne Naruto, each blade slash tearing through the air, forcing Naruto to roar in agony.

Seizing the moment, Su Xiao leapt onto the back of a monstrous bird—the Animal Path's summon.

The monstrous bird spread its wings and shot skyward; at the same time, the Deva Path floated above Konoha.

Tsunade stared at the Deva Path high above. Su Xiao's retreat unsettled her, and Naruto, now in Seven-Tails form, was a massive threat.

"Let the world feel pain."

The Deva Path took a deep breath.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Terrifying repulsive force erupted from the Deva Path and spread downward; Su Xiao, higher up, remained untouched.

Su Xiao smoked a cigarette—he'd prepared for this exact moment.

From his vantage point, Su Xiao clearly saw a yellow dot appear at Konoha's center—it wasn't a dot at all, but the exposed ground after buildings were blasted away.

The yellow dot rapidly expanded; shattered buildings surged toward Konoha's edges, carrying villagers and ninja within them.

"Why so soon? This isn't even scientific."

A child's voice seemed to echo—its owner buried under rubble, only a pale arm visible.

Five seconds later, Konoha vanished—its buildings reduced to flat earth.

"Flattened" wasn't metaphorical—it was Konoha's literal state.

【Prompt: Konoha's destruction level exceeds 70%. Main Quest: Withered Tree Lv. 23 (Completed).】

【Obtained: Soul Crystal (Medium) ×10.】

【Obtained: 12 Attribute Points.】

Recommendation: "I Have a Stupid Cat Girl at Home"—ahem, written by a girl, so you know why I'm recommending it~. Feiwen is pure~