"Well done!"
Konan almost jumped in excitement, if not for the enemy in front of her.
She partially transformed into paper fragments to evade the shuriken attack from behind and couldn't help but cheer for Nagato.
"This is just the beginning—it's not over yet."
Yahiko slit the throat of a Kiri ninja and grinned at Konan.
With Kakuzu taking over Shin Aoki, both he and Konan were now free to engage. The two of them had drawn a significant amount of the Kiri ninja's firepower, effectively bridging the gap in numbers and strength between the Akatsuki and their enemies.
More and more Kiri ninja were falling at their hands, tilting the balance of victory toward the Akatsuki.
As they spoke, Isobu fully emerged from the dissipating smoke and dust. The massive, one-eyed beast glared at Nagato with murderous intent.
"How ugly."
Nagato's face, partially hidden beneath his crimson bangs, practically radiated disdain. His sharp remark only enraged Isobu further.
"Water Release: Great Water Mass Bullet."
Isobu crawled out of the crater, chakra rapidly gathering in its throat.
Moments later, it opened its massive mouth, launching several enormous chakra-infused water bullets toward Nagato like cannon fire.
The water bullets streaked through the air, leaving dazzling trails in their wake. The sheer force compressed the air around them, producing sharp, explosive sounds.
"Is that all you've got?"
Nagato watched the incoming projectiles, his lips curving into a sneer.
His eyes carried an air of superiority as he gazed down at Isobu's massive form—like an insect beneath his notice.
He would make Isobu understand the meaning of power—of absolute despair.
"Shinra Tensei!!"
A furious shout rang out as an overwhelming repulsive force, the complete opposite of Banshō Ten'in, erupted from Nagato like a raging storm.
The massive water bullets were blasted backward with even greater speed than they had been launched.
"What?!"
Isobu's eye widened in disbelief. This was like lifting a rock only to have it smash back down onto himself.
As the creator of this technique, it knew better than anyone how devastating its power was.
Yet now, it had to face the full force of its own attack.
With no time for hesitation, Isobu made a swift decision and retracted its entire body into its hardened shell.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
A series of sharp impacts echoed through the battlefield as the water bullets slammed into its shell, shattering instantly.
The sheer force sent Isobu's massive body skidding backward repeatedly, shaking the ground as if a mountain were trembling.
After barely withstanding the assault, Isobu withdrew into the crater once more.
"Konan was right."
Nagato gave a slight nod, his gaze locked ahead.
"This turtle shell really is tough."
His brows furrowed slightly, a hint of surprise flickering across his face.
He had expected this attack to break through Isobu's defenses.
Yet reality had proven otherwise.
Isobu reemerged from the crater, seemingly unharmed. Its enormous shell, basking in the sunlight, appeared even more solid and unyielding.
"A power that attracts targets and repels ninjutsu?"
Isobu mulled over this realization, wariness creeping into its thoughts.
For now, it dared not launch another reckless attack, wary of falling into the same predicament.
In fact, it was almost relieved—relieved that it had only used the Iron Cannon Burst instead of the far more destructive Tailed Beast Ball.
Had it fired a Tailed Beast Ball instead… it didn't even want to imagine how catastrophic that would have been.
Getting obliterated by its own Tailed Beast Ball?
Just the thought was absurd.
It would go down in history as the most ridiculous "perfect" Jinchūriki.
"What? You're afraid to move?"
Nagato's voice echoed as he slowly approached.
Isobu's massive head lowered, its single eye locking onto Nagato, who had landed just a short distance away. Rage flared within it once again.
How dare he look down on it like this?
In all its years, Isobu had never been treated with such contempt.
"I admit, you're strong," it rumbled. "But the battle isn't over yet."
Despite the defiant words, its tone lacked conviction.
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
Nagato lifted his chin slightly, his eyes filled with disdain.
Then, with an air of complete indifference, he began walking forward, as if merely strolling through his own courtyard.
Though his pace appeared leisurely, each step was steady and forceful, inexorably closing the distance between him and Isobu.
As Nagato drew closer, an invisible pressure settled over Isobu like a heavy shackle, making it difficult to breathe.
Fear seeped into its heart like an inescapable fog, weighing it down.
It instinctively stepped back, unwilling to face the man before it.
It was truly afraid.
At the edge of the crater, Isobu stopped. It could retreat no further.
"This is the extent of your courage?"
Nagato held up his little finger in mock comparison, his tone dripping with ridicule.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall!"
Overwhelming rage and humiliation shattered Isobu's rationality in an instant.
At this point, fear of Nagato's ability to repel jutsu no longer mattered.
A colossal surge of chakra exploded outward, radiating from Isobu as its center, spreading wildly in every direction.
In mere moments, an immense wall of water rose toward the sky, darkening the battlefield like an eclipse.
The looming shadow sent a wave of panic through everyone present.
"Has it lost its mind?"
"Ninjutsu on this scale… even its own allies won't be able to escape!"
Konan's eyes widened in surprise. Just how much had Nagato pushed this thing?
"Relax, Nagato will handle it."
Though Yahiko's expression was serious, his unwavering faith in Nagato was evident.
Taking advantage of the chaos, the two of them cut down several more distracted Kiri ninja.
"You think I'll just let you do as you please?"
Nagato's voice remained steady and resolute as he advanced without hesitation.
To him, the towering wave that threatened to swallow the battlefield was nothing more than an illusion—utterly insignificant.
Crash!
The massive tide surged forward with a deafening roar, like a raging beast intent on consuming everything in its path.
Yet Nagato remained unmoved, his expression calm and unshaken.
"Blocking Technique Absorption Seal."
With a quiet command, a formless circular barrier instantly surrounded him.
The monstrous wave came crashing down, its sheer force resembling mountains collapsing from the heavens—a sight terrifying to behold.
But in front of Nagato, the water stopped, as if an invisible chasm had swallowed it whole.
Then, under everyone's stunned gazes, an unbelievable sight unfolded.
The massive wall of water rapidly shrank at an astonishing speed, vanishing as if erased by an unseen hand.
As the lingering mist dissipated, sunlight once again broke through, bathing the battlefield.
The terrifying wave that had once loomed over them was gone, as though it had never existed.