Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

The unknown, mysterious power sank into the hearts of the Mist Ninja like a shadow.

"Everyone disperse."

To avoid being clustered and easily dealt with again, the Mist Ninja spread out, distancing themselves from one another. Though this might prevent mutual support, it also minimized certain risks.

Their shock or other emotions did not hinder the Mist Ninja's advance. While the scene was indeed astonishing, as shinobi, they would not retreat.

"They've spread out…? What a waste of time." Nagato's expression remained cold. His mechanized wrists split open, revealing a dozen missiles. In the next instant, the missiles on both his arms launched, scattering in the air and flying toward the dispersed Mist Ninjas.

"Be careful!" one of the Mist Ninjas instinctively shouted as they evaded the missiles.

Each Mist Ninja employed different techniques, some dodging with taijutsu and others blocking with ninjutsu.

Boom! Boom!

The missiles struck, resulting in a series of explosions. A fierce wind roared, and smoke and dust filled the air.

A figure pierced through the smoke and, from midair, spat a highly corrosive, viscous liquid toward Nagato— It was Mei.

Even if her ninjutsu was blocked or absorbed, she wouldn't forgo any opportunity to attack.

The viscous liquid sprayed toward Nagato from the side.

From the other side, several other Mist Ninjas launched various projectiles and two giant shuriken, which sliced through the air, spinning rapidly toward him.

Nagato's Rinnegan darted left and right before he turned his gaze back, assessing the impact of the missiles and ignoring Mei's Lava Release and the projectiles.

Pop!

The Lava Release technique stopped just short of Nagato's right side, unable to advance any further, absorbed by an invisible shield.

Seeing this, Mei's eyes trembled violently. This ability… it's nearly invincible!

Meanwhile, the projectiles arrived. A shadow clone standing beside Nagato extended an iron, centipede-like serrated tail from behind and swung it at the projectiles, deflecting them all, including the two giant shuriken, with a series of clanging sounds.

Every long-range attack since the battle began had been swiftly neutralized.

Several Mist Ninjas, who specialized in blade techniques, could no longer hold back. If not for the fact that some of their teammates were unskilled in the Hidden Mist Technique, they would have already used it to launch an assault on Nagato.

Swish, swish!

Four figures approached from different directions, using advanced Body Flicker Techniques to appear behind Nagato and his clone, slashing at vital points.

Neither Nagato nor his clone turned around. Instead, each of their shoulders sprouted an extra pair of hands, and every palm transformed into a blade. As the Mist Ninja's blades descended, Nagato and his clone stabbed into their hearts.

Squish…

Four sounds in quick succession, and the four Mist Ninjas who attempted close-range attacks were killed instantly.

With four more dead, added to the five who were hit by missiles earlier, only about a dozen Mist Ninjas remained. Outside the battle, Kisame continued holding down the three-headed hellhound, playing a mere supporting role.

If he released the hellhound now, the situation would likely worsen.

"Let's end this."

Nagato thought silently, extending both hands toward the remaining Mist Ninjas, sowing despair…

Banshō Ten'in!

Seven Mist Ninjas unfortunate enough to be within the range of his technique were pulled toward him by an immense force. Even attempting to throw kunai was an arduous task, but one of the Mist Ninjas managed to hurl two kunai at Nagato.

Accelerated by the pull, the speed and power of the kunai doubled.

Having witnessed this technique before, the other Mist Ninjas could only throw kunai at Nagato, unable to weave hand seals for ninjutsu in time as their comrades were dragged away.

"This time, there's no need for Shinra Tensei."

Nagato ignored the six kunai speeding toward him, leaving them to his clone.

Clang…

The serrated iron tail swung once, effortlessly deflecting the kunai. As it retracted, it slashed through the seven Mist Ninjas being pulled in.

Shk, shk!

The seven Mist Ninjas were sliced in two across the chest, instantly dead.

Now, only five Mist Ninjas remained in the field: Mei Terumi, Ao, Yukino Aoba, Sora from the Hōzuki Clan, and Kisame, who was restraining the three-headed hellhound.

For the first time since the start, Nagato finally moved.

He and his shadow clone charged toward the four remaining Mist Ninjas from two directions.

Their movements were identical, and each hand extended a sharp black rod.

Swoosh!

Mid-sprint, their figures vanished.

The next second, they reappeared before the four Mist Ninjas.

Nagato's original body reached Mei Terumi and Yukino Aoba, while his shadow clone confronted Ao and Sora Hōzuki. Each wielded the sharp black rods, thrusting toward them.

Mei and Yukino Aoba raised their kunai, blocking Nagato's attack.

With the help of his Byakugan, Ao also managed to block the assault, but Sora from the Hōzuki Clan, unskilled in taijutsu, was struck by the black rod.

"Damn," Ao muttered, clenching his free hand, which emitted a faint green glow as he struck at Nagato's clone.

Before he could make contact, a black shadow, the iron tail, emerged from behind Nagato's clone, blocking Ao's hand and sending a powerful shockwave through his body. Blood spurted from Ao's mouth as he was sent flying.

Nagato's shadow clone glanced coldly and threw the black rod, which caught up to Ao mid-air and pierced his heart.

"Ugh…!"

Ao's expression froze as he fell from the air, his eyes dull.

On the other side, Nagato used Shinra Tensei to blast Mei and Yukino Aoba back. The push sent them flying, rolling across the rough ground, and they landed battered and bruised.

Nagato's cold gaze fixed on them as his hands mechanized once again, revealing missiles.

Whoosh!

The missiles launched, their exhaust trailing flames, flying toward Mei Terumi and Yukino Aoba.

Mei tried to weave seals to block the attack, but her face paled when she realized her arm was broken.

"Lady Mei, I will protect you!"

With her hands intact, Yukino Aoba quickly pressed her hands to the ground, then stood in front of Mei Terumi, forming seals at a rapid pace.

Water Release: Water Wall!

Yukino Aoba spewed a wave of water from her mouth, creating a spherical barrier around herself and Mei.

The missiles struck the water wall, triggering violent explosions in rapid succession.

Yukino Aoba increased her chakra input, her expression tense.

Boom, boom!

There were too many missiles, and at her current strength, the barrier weakened rapidly.

As the water wall shattered, Yukino Aoba threw herself over Mei to shield her.

The final explosion erupted, filling the area with thick smoke.

Nagato turned his gaze to Kisame, who released the water prison technique and fled without hesitation. His retreat was not out of cowardice but to deliver the gathered intelligence from this battle.

Watching Kisame escape, Nagato had no intention of pursuing him.

He stood amid the aftermath, surrounded by a scene of carnage.

Blood stained the ground, and the dead lay strewn around.

In less than a minute, nearly all forty-seven elite Mist Jonin had been annihilated.

Taking one last glance around, Nagato turned and walked away.

On a high ridge, Ye Zi and White Zetsu remained silent.

Was it that the Mist Ninjas were too weak, or was Nagato simply too strong?

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Currently on Chapter 356 - A Clue Gained From Sacrifice