Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 405 Konoha Crisis 14

Pain let out a slight sigh of relief, a look of relief appearing on his face. He stared silently at Naruto Uzumaki lying on the ground before him, his gaze revealing a resolute and determined look.

"It's almost time to take you away!" Pain said calmly, his voice devoid of any emotion. It was as if this was just an ordinary matter, not a decision concerning someone's fate.

After speaking, Pain slowly raised his hand, palm facing Naruto Uzumaki. An invisible force emanated from his hand, as if an invisible giant hand was tightly gripping Naruto.

At this moment, Naruto Uzumaki had lost consciousness, his body lying limply on the ground, utterly powerless to resist. Pain's eyes were cold and resolute, as if he had made full preparations for his next move.

He knew his mission was to bring Naruto Uzumaki back to Akatsuki headquarters and extract the Nine-Tails. It was an arduous battle, but a mission they had to complete.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..." Countless kunai and shuriken rained down on Pain, instantly covering all possible space for him to dodge. Faced with this dense attack, Pain frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. These suddenly thrown shuriken and kunai were not only numerous but also extremely fast, forcing him to stop his movements while carrying Naruto and concentrate on dealing with them.

An invisible repulsive force erupted instantly, deflecting all the kunai and shuriken that were shooting towards Pain, without causing him any harm. However, very quickly, a ninja wearing a standard Konoha vest rushed towards Naruto, who was pinned to the ground, grabbing at the black rods embedded in Naruto's body, trying to restore his mobility.

Just as Naruto's life was hanging by a thread, a figure rushed onto the battlefield. It was none other than Iruka Umino! He was Naruto's first teacher, and now, he stepped forward once again, rushing onto the battlefield without hesitation.

Iruka knew that Naruto was not only his student, but also his friend and family. He understood that although Naruto was mischievous, he was filled with kindness and a sense of justice. Therefore, when he saw Naruto facing a life-or-death situation, he couldn't stand idly by.

Iruka didn't dwell on his own safety, because he knew that if Naruto died here, he would never forgive himself. He believed that even if his power was insignificant, he would do his utmost to protect Naruto.

Although Iruka knew he was far weaker than his enemy, he still resolutely charged towards Naruto. He was determined to use his own body to pull out the black rods binding Naruto, and to give his life to buy Naruto a chance to escape.

Iruka knew this might be his last chance to protect Naruto. But he was fearless, because he was willing to pay any price for his student. No matter the outcome, he would fight to the very end.

Just as Iruka reached out to grab the black rod, his body was suddenly grabbed by an invisible hand and shot out like a cannonball. After arcing through the air, Iruka's body crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Naruto's eyes widened to their limit, bloodshot whites filled with pupils that had shrunk to pinpoints as he stared in disbelief at what was happening before him. Iruka-sensei—the first person to acknowledge him, to give him warmth and hope—was lying on the ground, his fate unknown.

Surprisingly, Iruka slowly and laboriously stood up! His body trembled slightly, as if every movement required immense effort. Blood streamed down his forehead, staining his cheeks red, but he seemed unconcerned. His gaze was firm and resolute, fixed directly on Naruto's direction.

Despite his severe injuries, Iruka rushed towards Naruto without hesitation. Ignoring his excruciating pain and exhaustion, he approached Naruto, who was bound by black rods. When he finally reached Naruto, he tightly grasped one of the black rods embedded in Naruto's body, trying with all his might to pull it out. This black rod was deeply embedded in Naruto's body, causing him endless agony. Iruka knew that only by removing these black rods could Naruto regain his freedom and life.

A tremendous repulsive force, like Mount Tai crushing an egg, once again sent him flying. He tried several times before finally managing to stand up shakily, then moved with difficulty, continuing to walk towards Naruto step by step. Each step felt so heavy, as if carrying the weight of the entire world. At the same time, he shouted loudly, "How can I let my student die before my eyes? I am an elite teacher of Konoha! Naruto is an excellent student I recognize!" These words seemed to be a vow from the depths of his heart, and the driving force that kept him going.

Pain's cold gaze, as unwavering as steel, fixed on the ninja, as if warning him not to challenge his resolve. The ninja trembled slightly, his steps unsteady, yet he persisted in walking towards Naruto. However, none of this could shake Pain's deep-seated, unwavering belief in peace.

The power of the Nine-Tails is crucial to Pain, as it is one of the key factors in achieving peace. No matter the obstacles and difficulties he faces, he will not easily give up his pursuit of peace. Even if someone tries to stop him from acquiring the Nine-Tails' power, he will not hesitate to take action. He firmly believes that only through immense power can true peace be achieved, and the Nine-Tails is a vital bargaining chip in his hands.

In Pain's eyes, anyone who tries to stand in his way is an enemy, without exception. He will fight them mercilessly until he finally achieves the peaceful world he envisions. This unwavering determination makes Pain a formidable figure and makes people realize that his pursuit of peace is not just empty talk, but a commitment to action.

Payne slowly raised his terrifying hand, his target being the exhausted Iruka, who could no longer stand. Payne's eyes were cold and merciless, as if he were looking at an insignificant ant.

The next moment, Payne suddenly launched an attack, a powerful force erupting from his palm, instantly hurling Iruka's body into the air. Iruka lost his balance in mid-air, his body tumbling and rolling uncontrollably.

However, this was just the beginning. Pain then unleashed his special ability—gravity. A tremendous gravitational force instantly acted on Iruka's body, causing him to plummet back to the ground at an astonishing speed. Dragged by gravity, Iruka's body slammed heavily onto the ground next to Naruto Uzumaki, producing a dull thud.

This attack severely injured Iruka, leaving him lying on the ground, unable to move, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Pain watched coldly, seemingly unmoved by the outcome. He walked to Naruto, another black rod appearing in his hand, and stabbed it viciously into Iruka, who had been smashed into the crater beside him. Blood flowed from the cracks in the rubble, reaching Naruto's eyes.

Naruto Uzumaki stared wide-eyed at the horrifying pool of blood before him. The pungent stench of blood assaulted his senses, relentlessly assaulting his nostrils and nerves. Iruka-sensei lay motionless a short distance away, seemingly devoid of life. An indescribable pain and fear welled up within Naruto. His gaze gradually lost its focus, and his once bright pupils began to contract rapidly, as if losing their luster.

He tried to convince himself it was just a nightmare, but the reality before him left him no escape. He felt his world crumbling, all his hopes shattered in that moment. His mind kept replaying the moments he shared with Teacher Iruka—those warm smiles, those encouraging words—now all distant memories.

Naruto strained to reach out his trembling hand and gently touch Iruka-sensei's face, feeling its cold touch. Tears welled up in his eyes, streaming down his cheeks and dripping to the ground. His heart was filled with self-reproach and regret; if it weren't for his impulsiveness and recklessness, perhaps none of this would have happened.

Pain, observing Naruto's expression, calmly said, "My parents were killed right before my eyes by you Konoha ninjas. It is because of bonds that sacrifice is born, hatred is born, and pain is understood. Yes, pain is understood."

Naruto's eyes widened, his gaze blank and unfocused. His expression was utterly blank, his eyes fixed on Iruka's body not far away. Anger surged within him like a volcano; his fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, blood dripping from his fingertips. His body trembled, as if about to explode. He couldn't accept this fact, couldn't accept that Iruka-sensei had fallen before him like this.

“No…impossible!” Naruto muttered to himself, his voice low and hoarse, like a demon from hell. His eyes burned with rage as he stared directly at the Deva Path of Pain. “You dared to hurt my teacher! I will not let you get away with this!”

Naruto's chakra began to fluctuate violently, and the Nine-Tails' chakra surged wildly from his body, creating an incredibly powerful shockwave. His hair billowed, and the surrounding air distorted due to his rage. At that moment, his figure appeared incredibly tall, like an unshakeable mountain.

Black and red chakra enveloped Naruto's entire body, continuously radiating waves of energy in all directions.