Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 412 Konoha Crisis (End)

At this breathtaking moment, Pain, like a phantom, swiftly closed in, and the sparks of battle reignited! Meanwhile, Naruto Uzumaki was in Sage Mode, his power greatly enhanced. In this close-quarters combat, he displayed unparalleled superiority, quickly forcing Pain back. Not only that, he skillfully seized the black rod from Pain's hand, sending him flying with a powerful blow.

At this moment, Naruto's face was filled with determination and resolve. He gripped the black rod tightly in his hand, his eyes revealing an indomitable spirit. Facing the powerful Pain, he showed no sign of backing down, but instead resolutely plunged the black rod into his shoulder.

As the black rod was inserted, he felt a sharp pain spread throughout his body, but he gritted his teeth and endured the agony. At the same time, he began to mobilize the Sage Chakra within his body, concentrating it all. This powerful force surged within his body, converging like a torrent.

Immediately afterward, Naruto began to trace the direction in which Nagato had transmitted his chakra. His gaze sharpened, seemingly able to pierce through any obstacle and lock onto his target. In this process, he displayed extraordinary insight and judgment.

Pain, the Deva Path, showed a surprised expression, clearly not expecting Naruto's actions. However, Naruto wore an expression of certainty, as he had successfully located Pain's true form through reverse tracing of Sage Chakra.

Hidden in the shadows, Nagato also sensed Naruto's chakra being transmitted into his body. He showed a surprised expression and said, "So you're using Sage Chakra to track him back? That's quite impressive!" Then he closed his eyes again and continued to transmit chakra to Pain, hoping that Pain would completely eliminate the opponent. He didn't believe that the opponent could reach him.

Naruto Uzumaki finally located Pain's main body, igniting a fighting spirit within him. He knew that only by defeating the Deva Path Pain before him could he have a chance to confront Pain's true form directly. This decision was crucial for Naruto, as he had to face a powerful enemy and demonstrate his strength and resolve. And now, Naruto was ready; he was going to confirm something with Pain.

The battle resumed, and Pain, the Deva Path, wore a confident smile, absolutely certain of his strength. As a being adept at both offense and defense, even facing Naruto Uzumaki in Sage Mode, he remained confident he could easily defeat his opponent.

While Naruto's Sage Mode is powerful, he knows its duration is limited, undoubtedly one of his opponent's greatest weaknesses. Furthermore, his opponent's strongest attack—the Chakra Shuriken—can only be used twice at most. If he successfully defends against this attack, Naruto will be forced out of Sage Mode, becoming a sitting duck at his mercy.

Pain, the Deva Path, flashed into view of Naruto Uzumaki, his black rod striking with tremendous force. However, Naruto reacted swiftly, dodging the attack and simultaneously unleashing his Shadow Clone Technique, creating multiple clones that surrounded Pain. Pain remained unfazed, manipulating gravity and repulsion to easily destroy the shadow clones one by one.

Just then, Naruto Uzumaki seized the opportunity to unleash Sage Art: Wind Release - Rasenshuriken, a massive energy ball hurtling towards Pain. Pain crossed his arms and used Shinra Tensei, the powerful repulsive force colliding with the Rasengan and causing a violent explosion.

The two sides exchanged blows fiercely, plunging the entire battlefield into chaos. However, Pain remained calm, relentlessly searching for Naruto's weaknesses. As time passed, Naruto's Sage Mode gradually weakened, and he began to feel exhausted. Pain seized the opportunity, launching an even more ferocious attack.

Both Pain and Naruto had to admit that they were temporarily locked in a stalemate in this fierce battle. But neither gave up, secretly vowing to defeat the other. The battle had become a contest of will and belief.

After a fierce battle, Naruto Uzumaki finally defeated Pain with his indomitable willpower. He stood there, panting, his gaze fixed on the fallen Pain, his heart filled with turbulent emotions and countless thoughts.

Naruto's mind was filled with images of familiar faces—Jiraiya, Kakashi, Iruka, and many others—all of whom were now deceased. These memories flooded his mind like a tidal wave, filling him with immense grief and anger. He also thought of the ninjas in the village who had fought alongside him, who had also lost their lives in this war.

However, Naruto couldn't help but recall the words Pain had spoken to him. These words, like a sharp sword, pierced his heart deeply. He began to ponder whether peace was truly achieved through bloodshed. This question troubled him, plunging him into a profound internal conflict.

At this moment, Naruto was in turmoil, unsure how to face everything. He thought of the dream Jiraiya had entrusted to him: to find the true answer, he must delve into his inner world, exploring his beliefs and values. Only then could he escape this fog of confusion and find his own path.

Naruto Uzumaki stood up again and headed towards Pain's main body. He wanted to see Pain, confirm his own feelings, and then make a decision.

Nagato, hidden in the shadows, exhaled a deep breath and said calmly, "Pain has been completely defeated by him, and now he is heading this way."

Konan was also incredibly surprised. This was the second time Pain had been completely defeated. The last time, she was acutely aware of the vast difference in their strength, feeling utterly powerless against his opponent. However, this time, he had managed to defeat Pain even against Naruto, leaving Konan utterly astonished. Had the Nine-Tails become powerful enough to defeat Pain? Despite this, Konan showed no sign of backing down. She was determined to protect Nagato until he achieved his goal of peace.

Konan knew that Nagato had always been dedicated to creating a world without war and suffering. As his companion, Konan was willing to do anything for it. Even when facing a powerful enemy like the Nine-Tails, she was fearless, firmly believing that as long as she held fast to her beliefs, she could overcome any obstacle. She believed in Nagato's ideals and that the peace they sought would eventually come.

In this world filled with war and suffering, Konan longs to see the day when people are free from pain and live happy lives. For this, she is willing to dedicate her strength to Nagato and tirelessly strive for the ideal of peace. No matter how rugged the road ahead, Konan will steadfastly continue, protecting Nagato and their shared dream.

Naruto Uzumaki didn't keep Nagato and the others waiting long, and soon arrived in front of Nagato. Looking at the emaciated and haggard Nagato before him, Naruto realized for the first time that he might need to have a serious talk with the man to confirm his own feelings.

The moment Naruto entered, Konan rushed to Nagato's side, assuming a fighting stance. She would never allow anyone to harm Nagato; that was her final conviction.

"Konan, step back, it's alright!" Nagato's tone remained calm, and Konan stepped aside, but was still prepared to act at any moment.

"Are you Pain's true form?" Naruto stared intently at Nagato, needing confirmation from the other.

"Peace has truly arrived unexpectedly! Do you hate me? Your enemy is right in front of you, and you're eager for revenge, aren't you?" Nagato's tone remained calm, showing no sign of weakness despite her physical frailty.

Naruto's expression twisted and contorted into a grotesque grimace, as if possessed by a demon. His eyes widened, bloodshot, veins bulged on his forehead, his lips pressed into a thin line, and his teeth clenched together, making a grinding sound. His body trembled slightly, as if he were desperately suppressing his inner rage.

His mind was filled with images of his comrades who had fought alongside him, all of whom had perished at the hands of this enemy. His beloved teacher had also sacrificed himself to protect the village. These images pierced his heart like thorns.

However, just as he was about to lose his mind, he remembered what his father and Jiraiya-sensei had told him. They had given him the answer to resolving hatred, hoping he could find the true answer.

Naruto Uzumaki took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He knew that if he only vented his anger, he would only fall into an endless cycle of hatred. He had to transcend hatred and find the true path to peace.

So, suppressing his inner pain and anger, he began to think about how to resolve this hatred. He realized that only through understanding and forgiveness could the chain of hatred be broken and true reconciliation achieved.

Despite the lingering anger within him, Naruto Uzumaki has made up his mind to use his own power to find the answer and end all this suffering. He will become the one who ends hatred, for the sake of those he cherishes, and for the future of the entire world.

Nagato looked at Naruto's contorted face, his expression complex. He sighed deeply, then slowly spoke, "Naruto, look at yourself now, so pained and desperate. You can't answer these questions, can you? So, you can't do anything. And your mission is to fulfill my wish—to create peace! To become a sacrifice, that's the right path. Only through sacrifice can true peace be achieved." Nagato's voice was filled with determination and helplessness, as if he had seen through everything.