Nagato, his Edo Tensei body pulsating with crimson chakra, raised his hands. His scarlet hair billowed in the wind. Without a word, he formed a seal.
"Kuchiyose: Gedō Mazō!" A guttural roar shook Konoha as the demonic statue emerged, the ground trembling. Its chains shot forth, targeting Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi.
Simultaneously, he summoned his Six Paths of Pain. Their mechanical bodies materialized in a cloud of smoke: Tendō, Chikushōdō, Ningendō, Shuradō, Gakidō, and Jigokudō.
Itachi, standing beside him, activated his Sharingan. His crimson eyes blazed, his katana drawn.
Naruto, cloaked in golden chakra, clenched his teeth. His slit-like eyes gleamed. "These two aren't messing around! Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke, we need to split them up!"
Sasuke, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan shimmering, nodded. His Chidori-infused katana crackled. "Nagato's the bigger threat. I'll handle Itachi."
Kakashi assessed the scene. "Naruto, take out the summons. I'll cover your backs. Go!"
The battle erupted into tactical taijutsu. Nagato launched Tendō, who extended his hands.
"Shinra Tensei!" A repulsive wave swept the central plaza, shattering stalls in a cacophony of wood and stone.
Naruto dodged, unleashing Fūton: Rasenshuriken! A spinning disc sliced through Chikushōdō, but the summon reformed, its black eyes intact.
Sasuke charged Itachi, their katanas clashing. Itachi feinted, aiming for Sasuke's ribs, but Sasuke parried, countering with a spinning kick that sent his brother reeling.
Kakashi, agile despite lacking Sharingan, dove at Shuradō.
"Raiton: Lightning Blade!" His chakra blade severed a mechanical arm, but Shuradō retaliated, firing missiles. Kakashi dodged, rolling, and threw a trap kunai, distracting the summon. "Naruto, the chains!" he shouted, spotting the Gedō Mazō's binds targeting Naruto.
Naruto leaped, Kurama Mode! His golden chakra formed massive arms that shattered the chains. "Take this, Nagato!" he roared, charging Tendō.
Nagato, unmoving, controlled his Paths with surgical precision. Gakidō absorbed Sasuke's Katon: Fireball, while Ningendō tried to seize Kakashi's soul.
Kakashi feinted, summoning a Raiton: Lightning Clone! It exploded on contact, repelling Ningendō. "They're synchronized!" Kakashi growled, leaping to avoid Shuradō's laser. "Naruto, target Nagato directly!"
Naruto clashed with Tendō. His golden fists slammed into its chest. Tendō countered, "Banshō Ten'in!" pulling Naruto toward it.
Naruto anticipated, forming a Giant Rasengan! He hurled it, shattering Tendō in a blast, but the Edo Tensei reformed. "They tank everything!" Naruto shouted, frustrated.
Sasuke, locked with Itachi, unleashed Chidori Nagashi! An electric current surged, forcing Itachi back. Itachi countered, "Katon: Great Fireball!" A wave of flames roared, but Sasuke sliced through it with Amaterasu, the black flames consuming the attack.
Nagato's summons intensified the chaos. Chikushōdō summoned a giant rhino, which charged, demolishing houses.
Naruto leaped, Kurama Avatar! His chakra formed a titanic fox that crushed the rhino.
Kakashi, supporting, unleashed Doton: Mud Wall!, blocking Jigokudō's assault, but Shuradō fired rockets, cracking the barrier. "They're overwhelming us!" Kakashi shouted, dodging a Gedō Mazō chain.
Sasuke alternated feints and strikes. He clashed with Itachi, faking a katana swing before kneeing him in the gut.
Itachi parried, his Sharingan predicting, and countered with an elbow to Sasuke's temple. Sasuke dodged, launching Chidori Senbon! Electric needles shot forth, forcing Itachi to summon Susanoo. A crimson ribcage appeared, blocking the needles.
Sasuke growled, "Still annoying, aniki!" and activated his own Susanoo, a purple armor wielding a blade.
Naruto, facing Nagato, combined taijutsu and strategy. He feinted a Rasengan, drawing Tendō in, then leaped, his chakra claws slicing Gakidō.
Nagato countered, "Chibaku Tensei!" A gravitational core appeared, sucking in debris and ninjas. Naruto roared, Kurama Blast! A chakra beam obliterated the core. "Makima, I'll settle this!" he shouted, charging in taijutsu, his fists pounding Tendō.
Kakashi, tactically supporting, analyzed Nagato's movements. "He's controlling everything from the rear! Naruto, Sasuke, target him directly!"
He dove at Jigokudō, "Raiton: Lightning Wolf!" An electric wolf leaped, distracting the summon.
Sasuke, in sync, unleashed Amaterasu on Chikushōdō, temporarily incinerating it, while Naruto leaped at Nagato, "Tajuu Kage Bunshin!" Clones surged, attacking the Paths.
Itachi, facing Sasuke, intensified his Susanoo, the armor wielding Yata Mirror. Sasuke countered, his Susanoo launching an arrow, blocked by the shield.
The brothers exchanged Susanoo-enhanced taijutsu, each impact shaking the ground. Sasuke feinted, launching Chidori Eisō! An electric spear pierced Itachi's Susanoo, fracturing it.
Itachi, unfazed, summoned Totsuka Blade, but Sasuke dodged, his Sharingan predicting.
Nagato, under pressure, recalled his Paths, forming a defensive circle.
"Massive Shinra Tensei!" A devastating wave swept Konoha, pulverizing buildings.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi held firm—Naruto anchoring clones with Kurama's chakra, Sasuke using Susanoo as a shield, and Kakashi summoning Doton: Trench! for cover. "We need to tire him out!" Kakashi shouted, throwing smoke bombs to obscure vision.
Naruto and Sasuke, in perfect synergy, combined attacks. Naruto formed a Rasenshuriken, Sasuke infusing it with Amaterasu, creating a swirling black flame disc. "Go, Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, launching the attack.
The projectile struck Nagato, incinerating Tendō and Gakidō in a hiss. Nagato, unharmed thanks to Edo Tensei, summoned the Gedō Mazō, its chains targeting Naruto.
Sasuke sliced the binds, while Kakashi unleashed Raiton: Lightning Chain!, electrocuting Shuradō.
The battle culminated in a final assault. Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi feinted, drawing Nagato and Itachi to the plaza's center.
Naruto formed Chō Ōdama Rasengan!, Sasuke a Chidori!, and Kakashi Raiton: Lightning Falcon! The three attacks converged, striking Nagato and Itachi in a cataclysmic explosion.
The Edo Tensei were obliterated, their bodies slowly reforming, weakened. Naruto roared, Kurama Roar! A chakra blast repelled the remaining summons.
Konoha, though devastated, stood firm. Nagato and Itachi, exhausted, retreated, their Edo Tensei bodies faltering.
Kakashi, panting, whispered, "We pushed them back… for now."
Sasuke regretted not being able to use the power of his rinnegan in such a crucial moment because of this fight with Makima.
The Edo Tensei vanished, recalled by Orochimaru.