The sky over Hidden Rain Village was gloomy, dim, and shrouded in mist. Today, no one would witness what was about to unfold.
Of course, Uchiha Gen didn't care if he was seen, knowing wouldn't change anything.
"So big…"
Konan hovered in mid-air, her expression blank, eyes wide as she murmured to herself.
Her reaction mirrored Tsunade's earlier shock.
"Is this… a god?" Sasori muttered, staring upward. His astonishment mirrored Gaara's. Even across different Villages, such power demanded recognition.
"This is art!" Deidara's voice was filled with obsession.
"No, I must stay firm. Explosion art is the pinnacle!" he continued, shaking his head wildly, repeating his words to himself like a mantra. "One day, my bombs will reach this scale!"
"The Lord's strength has improved again… it's terrifying," Juzo said, admiration etched across his face.
"Only this level of power could unify the Ninja World and bring peace," Kisame added, eyes shining with awe.
"Comparable to the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara," Kakuzu whispered, shock breaking across his face.
Those words stirred long-buried memories. He had once been sent to assassinate the First Hokage, observing the battle between him and Madara from afar. He had lost his nerve, throwing only two shuriken from a distance to fulfill the mission.
The Village hadn't warned him about the Hokage's terrifying power, they had sent him to certain death. It was despicable.
Tendo Pain stared at the sky, muttering to himself, "No wonder he kept saying 'god.' He's mocking me… a frog in a well."
"My power is godlike to ordinary Ninja, yet it's nothing compared to his."
"Unless I can fully control the Outer Path Demonic Statue, victory is impossible…"
"Even after summoning it countless times, I still can't control it freely. Every use drains my Chakra and life force."
From the black crystal platform at the center of Susanoo's brow, Uchiha Gen's eagle-like eyes took in every reaction. With a thought, the Susanoo shrank and dispersed, and Gen landed gracefully in the courtyard.
Konan flapped her wings, returning to the ground, followed by the others.
Tendo Pain's expression remained stoic. "Compared to the Rinnegan, the Sharingan should be called the strongest of the Three Great Dojutsu," he admitted, a subtle concession in his tone.
Gen shook his head. "No. The Rinnegan is indeed the strongest of the Three Great Dojutsu. Eyes are weapons, their power depends on the wielder. Equal power doesn't mean equal skill."
The Rinnegan in Obito and Madara's hands differed greatly from Nagato's. Madara, of course, was the benchmark. Obito's Pain, powered by only one Rinnegan, surpassed Nagato's Pain. Obito could freely control the Outer Path Demonic Statue with a single eye, whereas Nagato struggled even with two.
The difference in raw strength was immense. Obito, hiding his true power, appeared weak but in reality, he was a complete hexagon warrior: perfect in ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, sealing, consciousness, and imprint.
Even in the Fourth Great Ninja War, the protagonists could defeat him only by surprise. Obito's preparedness made almost all techniques useless.
Not everyone with a Rinnegan becomes overpowered. For an ordinary Ninja, awakening it could be fatal, draining Chakra and life force instantly.
Tendo Pain's cold, emotionless face revealed a bitter smile—he knew he was too weak to refute Gen's words.
"However, given your foundation, even though the Rinnegan isn't yours, you've wielded it remarkably," Gen added. "Your true body isn't in the best condition, is it?"
The words reached the others, and expressions shifted. Even Nagato tensed.
"Impossible… the Rinnegan belongs to Nagato!"
"So you're here to take it," someone deduced.
Konan stepped in front of Tendo Pain, muscles tensed, voice sharp and cold like a predator.
Tendo Pain calmed her, pulling her behind him. "You can tell this is a puppet, but… what proof do you have that the Rinnegan doesn't belong to me?"
"The Rinnegan has been mine as long as I can remember," he added.
Nagato, believing himself the Child of Prophecy because of the Rinnegan, bristled. Uchiha Gen's words negated years of effort.
"Heh… With my strength, taking your eyes isn't difficult. Why would I lie?" Gen said. "First, let me show you something."
From his sleeve, he drew a scroll.
Boom!
A puff of white smoke emerged, revealing a black-robed corpse adorned with red clouds.
"It's him!" Konan exclaimed. "So that's what he looked like under his mask!"
The others were shocked but restrained themselves. Uchiha Gen's previous displays of power made rushing to kill him unwise.
"What does this have to do with him?" Tendo Pain asked, voice low and firm.
"That's a long story. Better if you see for yourselves."
Gen first pulled Konan into a Genjutsu with a thought, then traced the connection between Tendo Pain and Nagato, dragging Nagato into the same Genjutsu. His ocular power was overwhelming—so brutal that Nagato could not sever the link.
The moment their consciousnesses entered the Genjutsu space, Nagato's gaunt, shriveled face froze in shock, grotesque and terrifying.
No wonder he was stunned, this meant Gen could kill him from a distance.
They arrived in a gloomy, vast underground cavern. One side held the familiar Outer Path Demonic Statue. Beneath it, a stone throne bore an ancient, frail man. Gray hair framed a deeply wrinkled face. Several root-like tubes protruded from his back. One eye was hidden by his long hair; the other revealed a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
In front of him stood two figures: one half-black and half-white, a green pitcher plant entwined around his neck, and the other a young boy.
The old man slowly issued instructions to them…