Ch.473 Don’t Even Think About Escaping!

Nagato and Konan, watching from a distance, were equally shocked.

According to their intelligence, Akatsuki only had four mysterious members: 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and the later-appearing 'D.'

Now, seeing seven members, including 'A,' they were stunned.

If all seven were on the same level as 'A,' this was a terrifying force.

Konan's anger flared. "That guy hid so many cards!"

The 'guy' she referred to was, of course, Obito.

Nagato's eyes flickered, as if weighing something.

On the battlefield.

Uchiha Shinji kept his eyes on the mysterious person.

If earlier he hadn't used the lamp's power because he was a novice 'Lampbearer,' unskilled in its use and suppressed by the opponent's lamp, now he was deliberately holding back.

He had noticed that the mysterious person seemed genuinely unable to identify the true 'Lampbearer' of the ninja world.

If so, Shinji had every reason to keep his true role hidden!

After all, no one who faced the mysterious person had come out unscathed.

Moryo and Shennong were controlled almost instantly by the mysterious person's special tool, their chakra drained.

The 'Heavenly Path' was still bound by a silver spear crackling with lightning.

Even Nagato, with his Rinnegan, had emerged from the 'Kamui Dimension' in a battered state.

These were no weaklings!

Even Shinji likely wouldn't fare much better. If he hadn't fabricated an identity to mislead the mysterious person from the start, he, as the ninja world's 'Lampbearer,' would probably already be dead.

Even now, surrounded by Shinji's group, the mysterious person's attention remained partially fixed on Nagato in the distance.

"His target is still Nagato. This is my best chance to kill him!"

With that thought, Shinji didn't hesitate, issuing the attack order to his subordinates.

The first to act was, as expected, Ido.

With a piercing shriek, she unleashed her Koryugan ability. Since they were facing a Demon King, she also tapped into Yakumo's dojutsu through the 'Wazunagi' channel Shinji had created, using the strongest form of her Koryugan blood-control technique.

In an instant, the mysterious person froze, as if bound by a stasis jutsu.

"She can control my blood?!"

The mysterious person's heart sank.

Blood was the source of a demon's power, making blood-control abilities a natural counter to demons!

Boom!

Seizing the moment of the mysterious person's immobility, Shinji urged his 'Susanoo' into action, smashing a sword down and reducing the mysterious person to pulp once more.

Then, Shinji, Karin, and Sasuke unleashed 'Amaterasu' in unison. Instantly, towering black flames engulfed the entire street, incinerating the mysterious person's scattered flesh.

'Amaterasu' wasn't entirely ineffective against the mysterious person, but as a Demon King, his flesh was extraordinarily resilient. Even 'Amaterasu' couldn't kill him quickly.

As before, the mysterious person activated his ability, his burning flesh rapidly converging.

But just as the scattered flesh gathered, about to reform, a piercing shriek rang out.

Ido used her Koryugan again, interrupting the mysterious person's reformation.

Swish!

Shinji's 'Susanoo' longsword slashed out, as before, scattering the just-gathered flesh once more!

Whoosh!

The 'Amaterasu' black flames continued to burn fiercely!

Clearly.

Ido's Koryugan, Shinji's 'Susanoo,' and the unquenchable 'Amaterasu' black flames formed a strange cycle, preventing the mysterious person from reforming and keeping him in a state of constant depletion.

Even a Demon King, even a 'Lampbearer' of a world, couldn't withstand such prolonged attrition.

Zheng!

Suddenly, a high-pitched biwa note echoed around them!

The world flipped, and the surrounding space began to shift. When it stabilized, Shinji realized they were surrounded by a large number of shinobi from the five great ninja villages.

Even the Third Hokage and Fourth Mizukage were among them.

Undoubtedly, this was Narutaka's doing.

Since this space was anchored by the mysterious person's lamp, she couldn't displace him directly. So, she opted for the next best thing, shifting all the shinobi from the five great ninja villages in the 'Infinite Castle' who were at odds with Akatsuki to this location.

At the same time, she displaced Nagato and Konan away.

"It's Akatsuki?!"

"It's 'A'!"

"'B,' 'C,' and 'D' are here too!"

"And some we haven't seen before!"

"Damn it, how are there so many Akatsuki members!"

The sudden shift caught the shinobi of the five great villages off guard. Even the seasoned Third Hokage looked shocked and uncertain.

Akatsuki's 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D' were already formidable.

Now, three more had appeared!

And it was reasonable to assume these three were on par with 'A' and the others, likely at least elite jonin level.

Even with their numbers, facing this Akatsuki group made the outcome uncertain.

Moreover.

The battle unfolding before them was perplexing.

Undoubtedly, 'A' and his group were fighting someone, and the intensity suggested a fierce struggle.

The Third Hokage was deeply curious about who could warrant Akatsuki deploying such a formidable lineup for a siege!

The spatial shift gave the mysterious person an opening!

He immediately changed tactics. Instead of trying to reform, his scattered flesh dispersed, fleeing in all directions.

"He's trying to escape?"

Shinji's expression darkened, but his hands didn't slow. He urged his 'Susanoo' to attack the flesh fleeing toward him.

The others also acted, targeting the scattering flesh.

Haku, in particular, unleashed a wide-range Ice Release, instantly freezing a large swath of flesh attempting to break through his direction.

But there was simply too much flesh, and some managed to slip through the gaps.

At another end of the 'Infinite Castle.'

After a dizzying spatial shift, Nagato and Konan landed in a mansion.

Konan frowned. "Nagato, we've been displaced again…"

"Hm!"

Nagato nodded slightly.

Such a formidable opponent, in such a complex environment—this was indeed the most challenging battle he'd ever faced!

At that moment, a clump of flesh appeared in the mansion, swiftly taking the shape of the mysterious person, who shouted at Nagato, "Don't even think about escaping!"