Shikkotsu Forest.
Under the watchful eyes of Guy, Monkey, and Kyu, Kaze slowly unwrapped the bandages covering his right arm, revealing a glowing purple Rinnegan beneath.
"Pfft! Hahahaha!"
Yahiko burst out laughing at the sight, nudging Nagato beside him with his elbow.
"Man, this cracks me up. Nagato, your eyes look like they're wearing a wristwatch… just like Kaze's arm does!"
Indeed, the former owners of the Rinnegan—Nagato included—and the other two of the "three little ones" had also been invited to the scene.
Nagato didn't respond.
Even though he'd always seen the Rinnegan as a curse, seeing his old eye worn by someone else like a wristwatch...
Well, yeah, it was pretty weird.
"Shut up, Yahiko! If you don't talk, no one will call you mute!" Konan coldly snapped.
"Fine," Yahiko obediently shut his mouth.
It wasn't cowardice—he was just showing respect for the Akatsuki leader (or so he believed).
"So then..."
Kaze clapped his hands together on the ground, emitting a groaning yell, as if straining hard.
[Kokijōsai—Mobile Fortress]!
For some reason, upon hearing Kaze's roar, Nagato felt his DNA stir.
Crash!
Black patterns surged across the earth, cracking the ground apart.
A wooden statue erupted from the earth—an enormous Demonic Statue of the Outer Path made entirely of wood, its face twisted in a silent, fierce snarl toward everyone there.
Unfortunately, those gathered had already seen Katsuyu in her true form.
Now, in front of those who had seen Katsuyu's true form, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path looked less terrifying—and frankly, a bit adorable.
"Now then... Tailed beasts, lend me your power!" Kaze said, turning toward the tailed beasts nearby.
Earlier, he had exchanged words with them.
Convinced through heartfelt pleas and displays of brute strength, the beasts had "willingly" offered half their power for the revival of the Ten-Tails.
They could always regenerate their power later anyway—they had no intention of angering such a terrifying monster as Kaze.
However, there was indeed one defiant soul who refused to yield.
"What? You think I'd hand over my power just because you asked?!"
The Nine-Tails sprang from Kushina's body and stood before the gathered tailed beasts, snarling at Kaze, baring its fangs.
Because it had previously fought alongside humans, the Nine-Tails hadn't yet witnessed Kaze's terrifying power, nor did it understand why the other beasts were so obedient.
Behind it, the rest of the tailed beasts quietly backed away, fearing that blood might soon splatter onto them.
As fellow tailed beasts, all they could do was silently pray for the Nine-Tails and try not to laugh aloud.
"Aww man, the big fox is done for."
Sighing, Kushina nestled her head into Minato's chest, unwilling to watch what came next.
"Oh really? Let me explain why I can take your power."
Dark markings crawled across Kaze's face. With a clap of his hands, he instantly unleashed the ultimate technique upon the Nine-Tails.
[Summit Enlightened Thousand-Armed Cannon]!
A colossal Buddha figure slowly rose, its shadow stretching across the sky, plunging the Nine-Tails into darkness. The beast's proud look froze on its face.
"T-This... What is this thing?!"
Six-armed, yet each slender limb was thicker than the Nine-Tails' entire body!
The Nine-Tails turned around, glaring furiously at the watching tailed beasts, who were barely suppressing smirks of amusement.
"You bastard, you knew this whole time? Why keep me in the dark?!"
Shukaku batted his eyes innocently and shot back with a smug grin.
"You never asked either, old fox. Just sit tight and die like a good boy — kaka."
Nine-Tails slowly turned his head toward Kaze, offering a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"Fine, I admit—I raised my voice a little back there."
"Tsk." Kaze sneered. "I liked you better when you were being your usual arrogant self."
[Yata Mirror Armor Susanoo!]
Black chakra blazed like fire.
The gentle-faced bodhisattva morphed into a wrathful guardian clad in monstrous tengu armor. Six arms wielding long swords, he strode from the flames with a cold sneer.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
It wasn't just the ground that trembled, but the hearts of everyone present.
"Has this disobedient brat grown so strong already..." Tanzō wore a complicated expression.
Looks like he was destined to be left far behind by this bastard.
"My Konoha shall have peace for a hundred years!" Hiruzen felt exhilarated.
"Susanoo combined with Daibutsu? So that's how it's done..."
Hashirama glanced at Madara beside him, apparently thinking about something as his face reddened.
[Six Nagare Long Swords - Great World!]
With a furious roar from Kaze, the giant Buddha brandishing six blades entered slashing mode.
Don't be impressed by Kaze's flashy moves—it was basically just him swinging wildly at nothing.
After all, the blades were long enough, and the blade aura plentiful; even blindfolded, he could swing carelessly. It's esports, after all.
In moments, Nine-Tails was gone.
Replacing him were clusters of orange-red chakra scattered on the ground, still wriggling.
"Heh, if you won't go out nicely, then I'll help you do it properly," Kaze sneered.
He had sealing techniques rivaling those of the Six Paths, backed by pure brute strength—shattering the Nine-Tails into pieces.
The Nine-Tails' mind reeled: "What… am I… broken?"
The other eight tailed beasts trembled in fear, quickly offering their own chakra portions, fearing they might follow Nine-Tails' fate.
There was no escaping Kaze anyway—they might as well keep their pride.
...
Sealing the chakra of nine tailed beasts took considerable time.
One by one, eyes on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path opened. Its wooden body kept trembling, its aura growing increasingly terrifying.
Finally—
CRASH!
The ten tumors behind the Demonic Statue burst open, transforming into ten slender tails lashing against the ground.
Ten eyes fused into a single glowing red eye, brimming with ancient wisdom.
The Ten-Tails before them was gaunt and unstable, clearly an incomplete form—at best, a pale imitation.
But this was exactly what Kaze wanted.
A complete Ten-Tails—he might not even be able to control it, let alone the fact that it would carry Kaguya's will within. Too risky.
Better to take control of the incomplete form first, steadily becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki while eliminating every unstable factor.
Then he could steadily increase both his own and the Ten-Tails' power.
"Father, this eyeball's yours."
Kaze plucked out his right eye without hesitation, tossing it to Tanzō beside him, then slotted the Rinnegan into the empty socket.
Once I become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, this "Land of Purity" will serve no purpose anymore. There's no point in keeping it around—it's just taking up space.
"The opposite, actually... my dear boy, why did you give me another right eye again? Are you just trying to inconvenience me?!"
Tanzō caught the eyeball Kaze tossed at him and carefully tucked it away, grumbling the whole time.
Of course, deep down, he was extremely pleased.
As a die-hard fan of the Sharingan, Tanzō held the Mangekyō Sharingan in higher esteem than even the Rinnegan.
"Heh, final step now..."
Kaze ignored his father's remarks, letting out a long breath instead. He then performed an intricate hand seal using both hands.
[Six Paths • Ten-Tails Coffin Seal!]
The Rinnegan radiated an indescribable luster, and the massive Ten-Tails twisted and coiled around Kaze, encasing him within a grayish-white cocoon.
"What terrifying chakra fluctuations," Tobirama muttered, his expression grim as he stared at the cocoon floating in the sky.
So this is the power of the Ten-Tails... Truly terrifying!
Crack.
A sound like breaking glass rang out.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, spiderweb-like cracks spread across the surface of the cocoon before suddenly shattering apart!
Shimmering fragments flew in all directions, scattering through the air amid a flurry of gray feathers, as a figure emerged from the shattered cocoon.
Floating weightlessly, detached from the mortal world, ascending like a celestial deity.
Clutching the Six Paths Shakujō in one hand, wearing a cloak of gray feathers, silver hair cascading over his shoulders, pale complexion cold and stern, surrounded by floating black jewels.
At this moment, Kaze stood like a mighty deity above them all, radiating unquestionable awe and reverence.
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