Naruto: Uchiha Survivor Forced to Save the Shinobi World

"Mist Breathing, Seventh Form: Obscuring Clouds!"

The Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, was the first to strike, his stored chakra surging forth alongside his Breathing Technique's sword form!

In an instant, the entire street was shrouded in a thin veil of mist.

"Fifth Form: Sea of Clouds and Haze!"

Immediately after, the Mist Hashira unleashed a flurry of slashes, his sword shadows weaving into a radiant cascade of light that swept through the mist, charging toward the Five Paths of Pain.

Almost simultaneously, the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, leapt into the air, slashing at the giant summoned beast, the Yata Bird, flying overhead. "Love Breathing, First Form: Shivers of First Love!"

The Wind Hashira and Serpent Hashira unleashed their respective Breathing Techniques with full force, following closely behind the Mist Hashira.

Though the mist obscured everyone's vision, the Mist Hashira and Serpent Hashira had both reached the 'Transparent World,' rendering the mist conjured by the Mist Hashira's sword form and chakra completely ineffective against them.

While the Wind Hashira hadn't attained the 'Transparent World,' his 'Wind Breathing' granted him exceptional sensitivity to air currents, making the mist's interference minimal.

Faced with the four Hashiras' onslaught, the Five Paths of Pain immediately responded.

The Preta Path stepped forward first, extending both arms to absorb the mist obstructing their vision.

Though the Rinnegan possessed many extraordinary abilities, it couldn't see through objects like the Byakugan, so vision-obscuring tactics were effective against it.

However, the Preta Path's expression soon tightened, their brow furrowing.

The Rinnegan's 'Blocking Technique Absorption' had failed once again!

Clearly, after becoming demons, the swordsmen's Breathing Techniques had naturally fused with their 'Blood Demon Arts.' Thus, the Mist Hashira's 'Seventh Form: Obscuring Clouds' was a unique 'Blood Demon Art' infused with chakra, somewhat akin to Sage Mode techniques blended with natural energy.

This unexpected twist allowed the Mist Hashira, Serpent Hashira, and Wind Hashira to close in on the Five Paths of Pain under the cover of the mist.

At the same time, the Love Hashira, unleashing her full chakra, successfully dealt a critical blow to the Yata Bird summoned by the Animal Path. The bird vanished in a puff of white smoke, stripping the Five Paths of Pain of their aerial support on the street.

Whoosh!

In that moment, the Mist Hashira's 'Fifth Form: Sea of Clouds and Haze' struck the Preta Path at the forefront, cleaving them in two at the waist!

Immediately after, the Serpent Hashira darted through the gaps in the Mist Hashira's sword form, lunging forward. "Serpent Breathing, Fourth Form: Twin-Headed Reptile!"

Two massive serpents followed the arc of his blade, charging straight at the Human Path, who held the Sound Hashira with their single arm.

The Animal Path flashed forward, attempting to block the Serpent Hashira's strike aimed at the Human Path, but was flung back mid-air by a ferocious gust.

From the gust emerged the scarred Wind Hashira, who pivoted on the ground, instantly changing direction and slashing at the Asura Path restraining the Stone Hashira. "Wind Breathing, Ninth Form: Idaten Typhoon!"

Swish swish.

With the whistling of two blades, the Human Path, holding the Sound Hashira, and the Asura Path, restraining the Stone Hashira, were struck almost simultaneously.

The Human Path's remaining right arm was severed, and the Asura Path was hacked into several pieces, scattering across the ground.

After landing their blows, the demonized swordsmen retreated in unison.

Not only did the attacking Mist Hashira, Serpent Hashira, and Wind Hashira emerge unscathed, but the previously restrained Stone Hashira and Sound Hashira broke free as well.

In an instant, the Mist Hashira, Serpent Hashira, Wind Hashira, Stone Hashira, and Sound Hashira stood with swords drawn at one end of the street, while the Love Hashira perched atop a nearby building's rooftop.

In contrast, the Five Paths of Pain were in disarray: the Preta Path was bisected, the Asura Path was in pieces, the Human Path had lost both arms, and the Animal Path bore sword wounds.

The only one unscathed was the Hell Path.

In this round of combat, the tides had turned, and the roles of attacker and defender had reversed!

Without the Deva Path, the Five Paths of Pain suffered a crushing defeat, seemingly one more assault away from total annihilation.

But at that moment, the Hell Path stepped forward calmly, forming hand seals to summon.

Poof.

In a cloud of white smoke, the 'King of Hell' was summoned.

Then, several tongues extended from the King of Hell's mouth, dragging the broken Preta Path and Asura Path inside.

The armless Human Path and the injured Animal Path also leapt voluntarily into the King of Hell's maw.

Moments later, the four Paths that entered emerged fully restored.

"What!?"

The six Hashiras furrowed their brows in unison.

They hadn't anticipated that their hard-fought gains would be erased in an instant by the enemy's mysterious ability. They also realized that as long as the Hell Path remained, they couldn't truly defeat the Five Paths of Pain.

However, their earlier assault had cost many of the Hashiras significant chakra, and their combat strength was beginning to wane.

The Animal Path stepped forward. "It's over."

As soon as the words left their mouth, a whoosh was heard. The Love Hashira, who had been standing on the rooftop, vanished as if swallowed by something.

The Stone Hashira immediately pointed toward the rooftop. "There's a giant chameleon up there!"

The Five Paths of Pain, along with the giant summoned beasts brought by the Animal Path, gave the five Hashiras on the street no time to rescue the Love Hashira. They charged forward, fully suppressing them.

In the 'Infinity Castle,' atop the roof of a residence far from the battlefield, the mysterious figure gazed at the distant fighting, murmuring, "I understand now. None of these are his true body. His true self is hiding somewhere else!"

The six Hashiras were the stone he had cast to test the waters.

Through their fierce battle with the Five Paths of Pain, he realized that neither the earlier Deva Path nor the subsequent five Paths were the true Akatsuki leader.

The leader's true body was hidden somewhere within the 'Infinity Castle.'

He could sense their presence, but since they too possessed a lamp, he could only vaguely feel their existence, unable to pinpoint their exact location.

Thus, he stopped focusing on the distant battle and leapt from the rooftop.

That battlefield had lost its significance. Whether the six Hashiras lived or died was irrelevant now. His priority was to find the hidden Akatsuki leader—the shinobi world's 'Lampbearer'!

Whoosh.

Soon, the mysterious figure's form flickered like a phantom, darting across several streets—only to come face-to-face with Uchiha Shinji, who was heading toward the battlefield to investigate!

In an instant, the two locked eyes mid-stride.