Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 363 The Encounter (End)

Just then, six enormous water dragons rushed towards them at an astonishing speed. They bared their fangs and claws, their imposing presence seemingly intent on devouring the entire world.

"Boom!" A tremendous crash resounded throughout the heavens and earth. At the same time, the massive water dragon collided with the repulsive barrier, creating an incredibly powerful shockwave that directly leveled the surrounding buildings. The once towering towers were reduced to countless fragments, collapsing and forming a huge empty area.

However, when the water dragon collided with the massive repulsive barrier created by Pain, it seemed to have hit an impenetrable wall and came to an instant halt.

The water dragon's once invincible momentum was completely rendered useless at this moment. It struggled desperately to break through the barrier, but all its efforts were in vain. On the contrary, as time passed, the water dragon's body began to be gradually squeezed and deformed by the powerful repulsive force, eventually turning into countless water droplets that scattered away.

At this moment, Hyuga Kanan took in everything that was happening before him, but he showed no surprise whatsoever. Only the corners of his sharply defined lips slightly turned up, forming a barely perceptible curve. However, his movements showed no sign of stopping; instead, they became even more steady and powerful. He continuously increased the energy output of the water elemental rules, as if he were pouring all his strength into it.

"Frozen Castle!"

With his all-out effort, the previously scattered and haphazard water seemed to be summoned by some mysterious force, all converging towards a central point. They intertwined and intertwined at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, the water had converged and rapidly solidified into crystal-clear ice crystals. These ice crystals shimmered with dazzling light, resembling a magnificent castle, radiating endless chill and majesty.

Looking out, the vast battlefield seemed to have been frozen in time within the magnificent castle, as if by magic. This castle, forged from frost, resembled a gigantic iceberg, exuding a chilling aura. Far from halting its expansion, it continued to spread outwards at an astonishing pace, seemingly intent on devouring everything around it.

As time ticked by, the biting cold grew ever stronger. The once scorching air seemed to be suppressed by this endless chill, gradually condensing into a pervasive icy mist. On the earth, vegetation withered, and all was silent; in the sky, the wind and clouds shifted, and snowflakes swirled. The entire world seemed to be engulfed in a deathly, frozen landscape, except for the mysterious, unfathomable ice castle that remained standing, like an eternal monument.

Just moments ago, Pain had successfully withstood the surging, powerful water dragon's attack, and a surge of joy welled up within him. However, before this brief moment of triumphant joy could dissipate, he was astonished to find the surrounding water vapor rapidly condensing into countless crystal-clear ice crystals, enveloping his body at an alarming speed. In the blink of an eye, he was transformed into an ice sculpture, standing frozen in place, unable to move.

Even more terrifying was that these ice crystals did not stop their erosion; instead, they continued to relentlessly spread towards his body. Each ice crystal was like a sharp blade, cutting into his skin; like a cold, venomous snake, devouring his body heat and life force. As time passed, the ice layer on Pain's body grew thicker and thicker, gradually covering his limbs, torso, and even his head, plunging him into a state of extreme cold and helplessness.

At the same time, the other Paynes standing behind him were not spared either, being frozen at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, the once bustling and fierce battlefield seemed to solidify instantly, transforming into a massive castle composed of countless crystal-clear ice blocks. This ice crystal castle was like a fine work of art, each piece of ice shimmering with a cold light, revealing a breathtaking beauty.

However, behind this beauty lurked endless danger and murderous intent. A chilling, bone-chilling cold gushed forth from the ice crystal castle, spreading in all directions like an invisible torrent. Wherever it passed, the air seemed to freeze, forming patches of white mist that sent shivers down one's spine. The dust, pebbles, and corpses of enemies on the ground became stiff and brittle under the terrifying chill, as if they had lost all vitality.

In this frozen world, time seemed to stand still, and everything was shrouded in a deathly silence. Only the towering ice crystal castle remained standing, emanating a chilling aura that reminded people of the fierce battle that had once taken place here.

Hidden in the shadows, both the masked man and Nagato keenly sensed the chilling aura emanating from the battlefield. The masked man, in particular, felt the cold intensely; it was as if the surrounding air itself had instantly frozen, forcing him to swiftly retreat from the area surrounding the battlefield. He knew that if he hesitated even slightly, the unique space created by his powerful Mangekyou Sharingan would likely be completely frozen solid.

At that moment, the masked man inwardly marveled, "What kind of terrifying power is this? How can it affect such a vast area!" He retreated rapidly while cautiously observing the surrounding movements. Nagato, on the other hand, stood at a distance, quietly watching everything unfold before him, a hint of solemnity in his eyes.

As time passed, the chill on the battlefield grew stronger. The once noisy battle gradually faded away, replaced by a deathly silence. The entire world seemed shrouded in this mysterious cold, inspiring fear in everyone. Yet, amidst this silence, Hyuga Kanan remained standing, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the masked man.

In that instant, the masked man's eyes met Hyuga Kanan's. In that brief exchange, he knew perfectly well—he had been completely exposed! Judging from the astonishing abilities Hyuga Kanan had just displayed, if the other party truly intended to deal with him, there was no way he could have remained unscathed, observing from the shadows for so long. Thinking this, the masked man felt a surge of fear, and a fine layer of sweat beaded on his forehead. He thought to himself, "This person's strength is unfathomable. I must be extremely careful; a single misstep could cost me my life!"

However, at this moment, the masked man's heart was like a vast, turbulent sea, filled with endless fear and unease. Every subtle sound seemed to pierce his taut nerves, causing him to tremble involuntarily. Even so, he still forced himself to remain calm, feigning nonchalance. Because not far away, that powerful being named Nagato was staring at him with eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

It's important to understand that the masked man has always collaborated with Nagato under the infamous name of Uchiha Madara. Once Nagato realizes he isn't the real Uchiha Madara, all his meticulously planned schemes will crumble, making it even more difficult to continue using Nagato's power to achieve his ambitions. Therefore, the masked man must remain steadfast and not reveal the slightest weakness. Even if his mind is in turmoil, he must appear calm and composed. Only in this way can he continue to deceive Nagato and allow this extremely dangerous plan to continue.

At that moment, Nagato was completely stunned, as if time had frozen. The scene before him left him speechless, unable to believe his eyes. The terrifying power displayed by this mysterious intruder was like a thunderbolt that ripped through the sky, shattering the pride and confidence deep within him!

Nagato's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. He simply couldn't believe that anyone in the world possessed such power, power strong enough to instantly defeat the Six Paths of Pain, who struck fear into the hearts of countless ninjas! He himself possessed the Rinnegan, a peerless eye technique! Back then, Hanzo of the Salamander, hailed as a demigod, was utterly helpless against him, slaughtered without even a chance to retaliate. And at that time, Nagato had only recently awakened the Rinnegan, able to unleash only a fraction of its power, yet even so, it was enough to easily defeat the renowned demigod Hanzo of the Salamander, a figure who shook the ninja world.

Time flies, and as the years pass, Nagato's control over the Rinnegan becomes increasingly proficient, its awakening deepens daily, and his own strength advances by leaps and bounds. Since successfully creating the Six Paths of Pain, he has never encountered an opponent who can rival him. Even those once-powerful and exceptionally strong S-rank rogue ninjas, when facing Nagato, can only bow their heads in submission, willingly joining the Akatsuki organization and obediently following his commands. Even Madara Uchiha, who once dominated the entire ninja world and was known as the Asura of the Shinobi World, could only cooperate with him and dared not oppose him.

However, at this moment, Nagato had to re-examine the world, because he finally realized that there were many unknown masters hidden on this vast continent, whose strength might far exceed his imagination.