045 Searching for the Truth

Naruto and Konan had been exploring the Realm of Samsara for two hours. 

One by one, Naruto signed contracts with Pain's former Summoning Beasts the giant panda, the strange rhino, the flying bird, and the three-headed hellhound…

A Shadow Clone grabbed the crab's two claws while Naruto, with support from the frog sniper, drove a black chakra rod into its forehead.

"Huff…" Naruto landed and dropped out of Sage Mode, breathing heavily. "That was harder than fighting Danzo…"

Poof!

 The crab vanished—the contract was complete.

Konan said, "We've collected quite a few tonight. That's eighteen so far."

Naruto asked, "Sister Konan, is there a limit to how many I can summon with the Animal Path?"

Konan replied, "There's no limit to how many contracts you can make. But in battle, Summoning with the Rinnegan consumes a lot of chakra, so there's a practical limit. Nagato could summon up to 27 at once."

Naruto muttered, "Twenty-seven… I've got eighteen now, six of them marine types, so there's still room for more…"

Konan asked, "Don't you need to rest?"

Naruto smiled. "This is a dream. Once I wake up, it's all over. Let's make the most of it while we can."

Konan nodded. "Alright. I'll stay with you."

Naruto entered Sage Mode again. After traveling another ten kilometers, he suddenly stopped, eyes wide in surprise as he looked at a familiar creature.

"No way… That's—"

Konan looked puzzled. "What is it? I've never seen it before."

Naruto said, "If I'm not wrong, that's Danzo's Summoning Beast, the Nightmare Tapir!"

Konan looked at him seriously. "Then… Danzo's Summoning Beast is already dead?"

Naruto said, "Ah, Sister Konan, you weren't there at the time—Danzo actually sacrificed the Nightmare Tapir just to block my Sage Art: Fire Style attack."

Konan looked at the Nightmare Tapir again. 

"Summoning beasts that end up in the Realm of Samsara after death are all extraordinary. Do you want to make a contract with it?"

Naruto smiled. "If we've met again, it must be fate. I can't just let it go."

"Ah...!"

The Nightmare Tapir recognized Naruto and, remembering the trauma from their last battle, turned and ran away in fear.

Naruto chuckled. "Looks tough, but sure runs fast..."

Bang!

Realizing Naruto wasn't giving up, the Tapir suddenly stopped and turned around. It opened its huge mouth and began sucking in air, trying to swallow him.

"Oh come on… didn't you learn last time?"

Naruto stayed calm, aimed the black chakra rod in his hand, and threw it straight into the Nightmare Tapir's throat.

"Ahhh!!"

With a loud cry, the Tapir vanished in white smoke it had become Naruto's Summoning Beast.

Naruto landed, muttering, "You're powerful, but not too smart. Just like your old master…"

He then thought to himself, If the Nightmare Tapir is here… then that other one might be here too...

"This is too slow, we need to speed things up!"

—Ninjutsu: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!

He shouted to the clones, "If you can handle the Summoning Beast alone, do it! If not, team up! And if it's still too tough, mark the location and dispel. I'll teleport to you with Flying Thunder God!"

"Got it!!"

"Leave it to me!!!"

"Any more crabs? I want them all!!"

The Shadow Clones scattered in every direction, while Naruto sat down to rest and recover.

First, Naruto used multiple Shadow Clones to break into the Realm of Samsara. Then, once inside, he used even more Shadow Clones again!

Konan was secretly amazed. When he fought Nagato before, his Chakra was strong—but not like this. 

Since gaining the Rinnegan, his Chakra has grown rapidly. The gap between him and Nagato might not be that wide anymore...

The Shadow Clones were locked in fierce battles with Summoning Beasts all across the realm. But there were clearly more clones than beasts.

At times, nearly a hundred Shadow Clones would surround a single Summoning Beast, and things went smoothly.

The number of Summoning Contracts Naruto formed quickly passed one hundred and it kept climbing.

Konan said in a complicated tone, "Nagato spent over ten years and entered the Realm of Samsara more than ten times. In total, he signed around 150 contracts. You might catch up in just one night…"

Naruto smiled. "Quantity doesn't always mean quality. My senior brother was picky. My mom told me not to be."

Konan shook her head with a small, helpless smile. "Oh?"

Suddenly, Naruto's eyes narrowed. He stood up.

Konan asked, "Something special?"

"I think so."

He placed his hand on Konan's shoulder and teleported using Flying Thunder God.

Before a Shadow Clone disappeared, it had left a marker behind.

When they arrived, Naruto looked at the massive purple serpent towering several dozen meters high. His voice was low and steady:

"Just as I thought... You're here too, Manda!"

Manda's slit pupils narrowed as he glared at the figure before him.

"You're that blond brat who was with the stinking toad back then… I'm surprised to see you here!"

Naruto smiled calmly.

"We've already fought once, so let's skip the usual formalities."

Manda stared coldly at him.

"If you want me to cooperate, it's not impossible, just go back and kill Uchiha Sasuke for me!"

"Oh?" Naruto's eyes glinted. "Mind telling me why?"

Manda snarled, "He used me, manipulated me with his Sharingan! I'd rather die than let him get what he wants!"

Naruto's eyes darkened slightly.

"Hey, Manda… let me ask you something. Can you swim?"

Manda blinked. "What?"

Naruto said seriously, "Answer me. It's important."

Manda scoffed, "I can do anything except fly. I just hate water because of those toads, so I avoid it!"

Naruto smirked. "Good… Then I guess you're still useful."

Manda growled, "What did you just say?" Sizzle…

Naruto's right eye began to glow, three tomoe spinning in the Sharingan.

Manda's expression shifted.

"That eye…!?"

As all the snakes recoiled in fear, three magatama spun within their slit-like pupils.

Swish!

Naruto leapt into the air, gripping the sharpened black stick with both hands, and drove it straight into Manda's eye!

Snap!

The pain snapped Manda back to his senses. He let out a furious roar.

"Damn it! I've been tricked by the Sharingan again!!"

Naruto said coldly, "Do your job properly. If you help me find Pervy Sage, I'll spare you. If not, I'll send you back to roam this realm forever…"

"I don't want to come back here! There's a monster in this place!!"

Bang!

With a terrified scream, Manda vanished in a puff of white smoke—now officially Naruto's Summoning Beast.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

One by one, Naruto's Shadow Clones completed their missions and dispersed.

Now deep within the realm of reincarnation, Naruto stared seriously into the thick mist ahead.

"I can sense some terrifying chakra up ahead… it's as strong as a Tailed Beast's."

Konan asked, "Are you sure you want to keep going?"

Naruto nodded.

"We've come this far, of course I have to find out what's ahead. But don't worry, Sister Konan… I know my limits."

Konan gave a small nod. "Alright."

Together, they stepped into the fog-shrouded forbidden zone of the Samsara Realm.

To be careful, Naruto asked, "Sister Konan, earlier you mentioned there was a Summoning beast even Nagato at his peak couldn't contract with. Can you tell me more about it?"

Konan nodded. "When we were in the Samsara Realm, we encountered a giant ape. Its body was incredibly tough and Nagato's black stick couldn't pierce it. I think it was called the 'Ape Demon King.'"

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Ape Demon King? The Third Hokage's Summoning beast was called Enma the Ape Demon…"

Konan added, "Nagato guessed it might be the ancestor of the Sarutobi Clan's Summoning beasts."

She paused, then revealed something shocking.

 "Before that, Nagato entered the Samsara Realm alone once, and almost died. I asked him what happened, but he never spoke of it."

"I was so worried I decided to come with him the next time. I'm certain whatever he faced, it was something even Nagato couldn't handle. If we meet that thing…"

Clatter!

Suddenly, Naruto froze. His expression turned deadly serious.

Konan frowned. "What is it…?"

Naruto clenched his fists tightly. "I'm sensing something terrifying, dark and evil and it's filled with the same kind of senjutsu chakra as mine..."

.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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