"How the hell is it always raining here?" Daniel shrugged as he hovered above the Land of Rain. The Hyuga had drastically improved their use of the Byakugan, enabling them to track down the Akatsuki faster than in the original timeline. However, those who were spying on the Akatsuki were no longer responding, prompting Daniel to be sent on a rescue mission.
"Hmm, the power of the tailed beasts, huh," Daniel mused, his gaze fixed downward. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing in what looked like a holding cell. The moment he set foot there, he saw the fallen bodies of the people he was supposed to rescue. Papers with sealing fuinjutsu peeled off the walls and floor, sticking to him. A woman, along with a group of people all with purple eyes, surrounded him.
"It seems the Leaf are posing a bigger threat than anticipated," one of the men said.
"True, but don't worry much," Daniel replied, suddenly standing behind them. The group turned in shock, jumping back in alertness.
"How!" the woman exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Still," Daniel muttered, and the woman collapsed to the ground. "Honestly, I'm not here to pick a fight—not with all of you. I want to see the lengths you'll go to this time around without your little toys," Daniel said.
Suddenly, they were all outside the village in the Land of Rain, except for the woman. The men quickly reacted as the one with the Animal Path summoned all his beasts, and the others advanced, attacking Daniel.
With a swift motion, Daniel dodged the incoming attacks, his eyes focused and determined. He could see the complex coordination of their assaults, but he was undeterred. The beasts lunged at him, teeth and claws bared, but Daniel moved like a blur, evading each strike with ease.
"Your summons are impressive," Daniel commented, his voice calm amidst the chaos. "But they're not enough."
The Animal Path's beasts lunged at him, but Daniel moved like a phantom, evading every attack with ease. "Your summons are impressive," he commented, his voice calm amidst the chaos. "But they're not enough."
The Deva Path raised his hand, attempting to push Daniel away with a powerful repulsion force. But Daniel stood his ground, his own energy countering the attack. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, a smirk playing on his lips.
The Asura Path launched a barrage of missiles, but Daniel vanished, reappearing behind the mechanical body. "Too slow," he whispered, delivering a devastating punch that shattered the Asura Path into pieces.
The Human Path attempted to grab Daniel and extract his soul, but Daniel's energy barrier repelled the touch. "Not today," Daniel said, his eyes gleaming with determination. With a swift kick, he sent the Human Path flying, crashing into the ground with a resounding thud.
The Preta Path tried to absorb Daniel's chakra, but as it reached out, Daniel's chakra burned with such intensity that the Preta Path's hand recoiled in pain. "You can't absorb this," Daniel said, delivering a finishing blow that dismantled the Preta Path.
The Naraka Path attempted to summon the King of Hell to restore the fallen Paths, but Daniel moved swiftly, cutting off the summoning with a precise strike. "No second chances," he declared, neutralizing the Naraka Path.
Only the Deva Path remained, and Daniel could sense the desperation emanating from Nagato, who controlled it from afar. The Deva Path attacked with renewed vigor, but Daniel met each strike with ease, his power unmatched.
With a final, powerful blow, Daniel knocked the Deva Path to the ground. He stood over it, his eyes cold and resolute. "You wanted to know true pain, didn't you?" he said, his voice filled with a chilling calm. "Let me show you what it means to be truly powerless."
As Daniel raised his hand, ready to deliver the final blow, he spoke directly to Nagato. "I know who you are, Nagato. I know your true identity and your hidden location. You thought you could remain in the shadows, pulling the strings. But your time is running out."
Nagato, hidden and controlling the Six Paths from a distance, clenched his fists in a rage-filled fit. The realization that Daniel knew the truth struck him with a sense of fear and desperation he hadn't felt in years.
"Your reign of terror ends now," Daniel declared, striking down the Deva Path with a final, devastating blow. The ground shook with the force of the impact, and the once fearsome Six Paths of Pain lay defeated.
Daniel stood amidst the wreckage, his gaze unwavering. "Remember this day, Nagato."
With that, Daniel vanished into the rain-soaked night, leaving behind a message of defiance and overwhelming power. Nagato, consumed by anger and fear, knew that his next move would determine the fate of his plans.
Konan woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. The memory of the battle replayed in her mind, and worry gripped her. She quickly made her way to where Nagato was. As she entered the room, she saw him slumped over, his hands covered in blood, his face pale and drained of energy.
"What happened?" Konan asked, her voice trembling with concern. But Nagato remained silent, his eyes distant and unfocused.
Konan's face flinched, reflecting her deep worry. She had always been by Nagato's side, supporting him, but seeing him like this made her question everything. She wasn't entirely aligned with the path they were on, but her loyalty to Nagato kept her going.
Suddenly, the room's atmosphere shifted as a masked man entered. His presence was unnerving, and his voice dripped with mockery. "Look at the state you're in, Nagato," he sneered. "You think you can lead the Akatsuki to victory like this? Pathetic."
Nagato looked up, his gaze sharp and filled with a mix of anger and determination. The masked man's words reminded him of something Daniel had whispered during their encounter, something that had struck a chord deep within him.
Daniel's voice echoed in Nagato's mind, before he finished off the last pain he muttered something, something that gave him an idea.
Nagato clenched his fists, the blood from his hands staining the floor. His mind raced with thoughts and possibilities, but he remained reserved, his resolve unshaken. "I will pull through," he said, his voice steady despite his condition. "I have a way."
The masked man laughed, a cold and mocking sound. "We'll see about that. Remember our goal, Nagato. Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment."
Konan's worry deepened as she looked at Nagato. She could see the struggle within him, the conflict between his ambition and the pain that consumed him. She wanted to help, but she felt powerless against the forces that drove him.
Nagato took a deep breath, his eyes focusing once more. "I will find a way... No I know a way" he repeated, more to himself than anyone else. The weight of his mission bore heavily on him, but he was determined to see it through, no matter the cost.
As the masked man left the room, Konan approached Nagato, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'm here, Nagato," she said softly. "Whatever happens, I'm with you."
[Want more exclusive content and early releases? Join me on Patreon at patreon.com/Writing_when_bored]