The other battlefield was nearing its end.
It had become something of a solo show for Uchiha Itachi and Nagato, with Naruto and Killer Bee having almost no role.
Even with the power of the Six Paths, Nagato ultimately fell to Itachi.
However, just as Uchiha Itachi, piloting the red-orange giant, was about to deliver the finishing blow to Nagato.
A sudden streak of red-orange light pierced through, striking Nagato's body.
"Hm?"
Uchiha Itachi looked through the dust and smoke, his expression initially startled, then returning to normal.
Naruto and Killer Bee followed his gaze and stood frozen in place.
"Eh?"
"A giant just like the other, tall and amazing, Oh yeah..."
Killer Bee exclaimed, gesturing wildly.
Nagato, his chest pierced, looked back with difficulty and then revealed a smile of relief.
"Naruto, I'm going to follow my master now. Together, we'll watch you from above!"
He looked at Naruto, a genuine smile blossoming on his youthful, yet shattered, face.
At this moment, Nagato seemed to have returned to a time long ago.
He was as young then as he was now.
Friends and master by his side!
They all pursued their dreams together.
If... if he hadn't formed the Akatsuki, but had traveled the world with his master, would the Frog Squad have had a different outcome?
Naruto's eyes became distant, and in the blur, he seemed to see the tall, white-haired figure in the red vest standing behind Nagato.
"Don't worry, senpai!"
Naruto gave a thumbs-up, revealing his signature bright smile.
Nagato closed his eyes, a smile lingering on his lips for a long time.
Nagato's departure under the Edo Tensei marked the definitive end of the once renowned Akatsuki.
As Nagato vanished, a ray of sunlight shone upon Naruto.
It was as if the last ray of hope from the first Akatsuki, built under the sun.
"Such a big sun!"
As the dust settled, Lin Nan appeared in their sight, shielding his eyes with his hand.
"Mr. Lin Nan?" Naruto regarded Lin Nan with some caution.
Lin Nan smiled, "Like Itachi, I've broken free from the control of Edo Tensei. No need to worry!"
Naruto looked at Uchiha Itachi, then at Lin Nan, and smiled, "As expected of Mr. Itachi and Mr. Lin Nan!"
"Edo Tensei turned enemy, then broke free to become friend, this battlefield changes so fast, the situation is truly divine, Oh yeah!"
Killer Bee's peculiar rap followed.
"..."
The three present all looked at Killer Bee speechlessly.
Killer Bee, taking pride, began to gesture wildly.
Sage Mode Naruto covered his forehead, looking as if he didn't know him.
Lin Nan almost burst into laughter.
Uchiha Itachi remained aloof and ignored them, only asking, "Lin Nan, what are your plans?"
"You must be going to..." Lin Nan looked at Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi nodded, "There are things that must be dealt with, otherwise they will bring instability to this war!"
Lin Nan mused, "I'll go with you. It's a good opportunity to interact with the person behind all this."
Uchiha Itachi did not refuse.
The next moment, Lin Nan's body began to distort, and several figures emerged from his body.
"Wood Release: Clone Jutsu?" Uchiha Itachi murmured, "You mean to...?"
Lin Nan smiled at Naruto, "I am but a fractured body now. Whether on the battlefield or in the fight behind the scenes, there is still value for me to contribute."
Uchiha Itachi was moved.
But thinking about it, Lin Nan's abilities meant that accompanying him to the mastermind's lair would be an underutilization of his talent.
He should be on the battlefield, amidst the myriad of ninjutsu and dazzling techniques!
This was also why Lin Nan used the Wood Release: Clone Jutsu.
Compared to Shadow Clones, Wood Clones were tougher, stronger, and more importantly, they could share auditory information in real-time.
This meant that if Wood Clones were sent to countless battlefronts, intelligence would be transmitted twice as effectively.
"Oh boy, mister, just like Naruto, sending clones to the battlefield makes my heart flutter, Oh yeah!"
"..."
Looking at Killer Bee, Lin Nan immediately asked, "Can I hit him?"
Naruto made a dismissive gesture.
"Hey, don't get excited, brother!" Killer Bee finally stopped being a rhyming machine.
After dividing their tasks, they bid farewell.
Uchiha Itachi, accompanied by a Wood Clone of Lin Nan, headed towards Kabuto Yakushi's hidden lair. This was because those under Edo Tensei and the caster had a connection, which didn't break just because they broke free from control.
Naruto and Killer Bee, with another Wood Clone, continued to rendezvous with Kakashi.
The remaining Wood Clones would be dispatched to other battlefields, as Lin Nan had many acquaintances on this war front.
Lin Nan's main body, however, left the area, guided by Naruto, preparing to head to the main battlefield.
"If you run around like this, you might be attacked by the Allied Shinobi Forces unknowingly, as they don't know you!" Naruto expressed his concern to Lin Nan.
In response, Lin Nan's Wood Clone merely smiled slightly, and then a golden light began to flash all over his body.
"Ding! SS-rank forbidden jutsu - Nine-Tails Chakra Mode (Naruto Uzumaki) has been activated!"
This scene made Naruto gasp in admiration.
"As expected of Mr. Lin Nan!"
"Alright, let's go!" The next moment, the Wood Clone vanished.
Naruto couldn't quite tell which was Lin Nan's main body.
But when he looked back, he found only one Lin Nan beside him in his field of vision.
Scratching his head, Naruto didn't ponder further and began to move.
In Lin Nan's memory, most of the current battlefield was merely minor skirmishes. The true main battlefield was with the Five Kage.
The Five Kage, leading the main force of the Allied Shinobi Forces, were advancing steadily. However, the arrival of one individual midway would tip the scales of the war, creating a completely overwhelming situation.
At that point, the main force led by the Five Kage, the pinnacles of the shinobi world, would face utter annihilation.
But with Danzo back, everything would be settled.
Meanwhile, on the main battlefield.
Initially, Kabuto controlled the First Hokage, Second Hokage, Third Hokage, and Fourth Hokage, other than the First Hokage of Konoha, to intercept.
At this moment, facing the powerful and mysterious former Kage, the Allied Shinobi Forces were somewhat helpless.
And right in the center of the divided battlefields, a large pitcher plant suddenly sprouted from the barren sand pillars.
"Another enemy?" The Allied Shinobi Forces froze.
Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, with the kanji for "love" on his forehead, who had just sealed the Second Tsuchikage and was heading to another battlefield, spotted this familiar scene from his floating sand raft. His expression changed slightly.
"Attention, a new enemy has appeared!"
As Gaara shouted, others also turned their gaze towards the pitcher plant that stood out starkly in the desert.
Even their enemies, all the Kage except Gaara's father, were drawn to the pitcher plant.
"Zetsu?" Gaara, having had many encounters with the Akatsuki, naturally knew who wielded this technique.
When the pitcher plant finally opened, countless people held their breath nervously, their hearts tightening.
However, it was not the black and white figure, but a person with black hair wearing a red robe.
As the person slowly looked up, Gaara's pupils contracted sharply.
"Lin-kun!"