Chapter – 556 When the Meteor Falls

Rumble…

With a deafening roar, the falling meteorite approached closer and closer to the surface of the Earth.

The intense heat and soaring flames produced due to the friction between air and the meteorite's surface turned the entire messy battlefield hot red and air scorching dry, like a sea of fire.

In this scene akin to 'the end of the world', Yama, whose complete body was wrapped in the Cyan Tenseigan Chakra Cloak rushed towards the members of the Akatsuki Organization completely unhindered and unbothered.

Facing the menacing and godlike Yama coming towards them, whether it was the indifferent Nagato, the Cold Konan, the arrogant 'Madara', the cunning Black Zetsu, the playful White Zetsu, or the innocent Tobi, everyone couldn't help but show a flustered expression like never before.

They never expected that the leader of Amatsukami would be crazy enough to start another round of offensive at such a desperate time when both sides should stop tacitly and prepare their individual or perhaps even combine means to ensure their and the surrounding's safety…!

But no! It's as if Yama doesn't care what happens to him, and just wants to kill them… which clearly shows that he is crazier than they might have assumed!

Yama may be crazy, but they aren't crazy enough to accompany him into a meaningless death without even fulfilling their goals…!

If the environment was normal, the members of Akatsuki wouldn't be afraid to fight Yama to the end, but the falling meteorite put too much pressure on them… At this moment, their minds were completely focused on ensuring their safety, and they had long lost their will to fight, so facing the persecution of Yama, they had zero thought of resisting and immediately choose to run away.

Therefore, all of them, almost at the same time, subconsciously reacted and tried to distance themselves from the crazy Yama…!

Nagato used Body Flicker Jutsu and retreated sharply, Konan unfolded her paper wings behind her and flew away, 'Madara' didn't think too much and immediately activated Kamui to make himself intangible, meanwhile, Zetsu (Black and White), as well as Tobi, submerged themselves into the ground using 'Mayfly Technique' and retreated hundreds of meters below the surface which would make it impossible for Yama to attack them.

Upon seeing the actions of Nagato, 'Madara' and the others, Yama nodded to himself, as their individual reactions proved that his action is right… The presence of the approaching meteorite put too much pressure on them and clouded their judgment skills, causing them to misjudge the situation, which was Yama's very intention for the first step of the plan.

Now that the first step of the plan was a success, Yama proceeded towards the second step.

While still pursuing them, Yama completely ignored the existence of the intangible 'Madara', and the submerged Zetsu and Tobi, instead he focused his attention on Nagato running on the ground and Konan flying in the air, then stretched out both of his hands and used a full-powered Bansho Ten'in on both of them at the same time.

As if pulled by a sudden suction force, Nagato who was running on the ground suddenly slowed down; then was lifted off the ground, and uncontrollably flew towards Yama… At the same time, the Konan's figure that was flying in the air was suddenly smashed into the ground.

Since Konan's speed was quite slow compared to Nagato's, and she couldn't put much resistance because of the strength disparity, her body left a somewhat bloody trail on the ground as she was forcefully dragged all the way towards Yama under the traction force of Bansho Ten'in…! And was then pinned to the ground with Black Receivers piercing through her four limbs.

Of course, Yama kept Konan alive… Hostages are only useful when alive, killing Konan would only make Nagato act berserk, which would be nonconductive to Yama's plan…

Now with Konan taken hostage, Yama looked at Nagato and muttered, "Now then Nagato… will you abandon your comrade, or will you sacrifice yourself to safeguard your comrade?"

Initially, Nagato was about to use Shinra Tensei to resist and fight back against Yama's Bansho Ten'in, but upon seeing that Konan was taken, hostage… Nagato suddenly panicked, he gave up resistance and rushed towards Konan… At the same time, a trace of doubt appeared in his eyes…

Nagato understood that the main reason why Yama targeted Konan and took her hostage is that Yama intends to use Konan as leverage to prevent his escape, although a good plan, it is still quite odd as it will result in both their death at the same time, which is why Nagato can't help but feel puzzled, "Does he really intends to see this through and wants both of us to die with the meteorite? Would it really be worth it?"

Nagato knows that dying in such a manner is completely meaningless for both of them, so he can't help but feel that there is something more to Yama's actions…

While Nagato was racking his brain to figure out what exactly is Yama trying to do by pitting them both to death, he suddenly sensed a familiar Chakra wave emitting from the meteorite that was getting closer and closer with each passing second and suddenly realized, "Don't tell me that this meteorite was actually summoned by him!?"

Making a meteorite fall on the battlefield is not that big of a deal as Nagato can do so too by creating a planetary sphere in the sky using Chibaku Tensei or summoning large pieces of rocks mid-air using the summoning Jutsu, but to be able to summon meteors literally from the outer space is still shocking for him… So, he can't help but feel shocked at the fact that Yama is capable of doing such a thing.

And what made him more shocked are Yama's intentions of summoning the meteorite...!

Nagato knew that it was impossible for Yama to commit a double suicide for no reason, so after sensing traces of familiar Chakra from the meteorite, Nagato immediately connected all the dots after concluding that this meteorite must have been summoned by Yama…

"Damn it! Yama is not trying to commit a double suicide to kill both of us! He is actually dragging me here using Konan as a hostage to kill me using the meteorite he summoned!" After understanding this, Nagato realized that he had fallen into Yama's trap…

He understood that Yama who has summoned the meteorite has used Konan as leverage/hostage against him to drag him down in order to put him to death by the meteorite as it collides with the surface of the earth.

In this way, Nagato will most certainly die, while Yama himself must have prepared some kind of space-time Jutsu that he will be able to use to escape at the last second, that is just before the collision…

Of course, this situation can be avoided as long as Konan is rescued, but Konan herself won't be able to escape from Yama, and the Black Receivers piercing her four limbs are making it impossible for Nagato to directly send her away by the means of Reverse Summoning Jutsu.

Moreover, as long as Yama is present here, he would definitely prevent Nagato from rescuing Konan, so it would be impossible for him to be able to rescue Konan before the meteor collision!

This means Nagato has no means of saving Konan and escaping from here before the meteorite falls…!

Yama must have known that Nagato won't abandon Konan even if it means death… this is why he prepared such a trap!

Konan also realized Yama's intentions, and because of this her heart felt more painful… this is the second time she is facing such a situation… the last time resulted in the death of her friend Yahiko, and this time might result in the death of Nagato… If Nagato were to die because of her, she won't ever be able to forgive herself!

As such, Konan shouted at the top of her lungs… "Don't Nagato… never mind me, you need to escape!" urging Nagato to retreat…

But her words fell on deaf ears, Nagato had no intention of abandoning her!

Therefore, Nagato is left with no other option but to deal with the falling meteorite alone, because if he doesn't and escape alone then Konan will undoubtedly die, which he won't allow… no matter what!

"Then there is only one thing I can do… and it is also something I must do!" Nagato muttered and a resolute expression appeared on his face… then he brought both of his hands together.

Snap!

A clear sound of applause resounded as Nagato clasped his together and erupted his Chakra Reserves without holding back even a single drop… even if his face was distorted and painful, he continued to squeeze out more and more Chakra!

The current him, if he gives it all without holding back anything, then it may not be impossible for him to stop a falling meteorite… and now that he is forced into a desperate situation, Nagato has no choice but to just do that!

Booom!!!!!

A clear explosion rang as Nagato's Chakra erupted unreservedly, immediately after that, with a Poof… sound, the Gedo Statue that had gone missing some time ago appeared behind him and attached several black rods to Nagato's back.

Now under Gedo Mazo's protection and being able to extract life force from the statue, Nagato, who had amassed enough Chakra stretched out both of his hands towards the sky and shouted at the top of his lungs, 'SHINRA TENSEI!'

As soon as he used the Shinra Tensei, his red hair started to pale at a speed visible to the naked eyes and soon turned sickly white, his eye sockets started to bleed bloody tears, and, his nourished body, as if squished out of all of its juice, suddenly became thinner and haggard, just like it used to be a few months ago before the transplantation of Hashirama Cells when he still relied on the Wooden Cart.

With the overdraft of Chakra, and condensation of Rinnegan's Visual Prowess, the Shinra Tensei used by Nagato broke out just before the meteorite was about a few hundred meters away from the earth's surface, and suddenly slowed down its fall as if two big invisible hands were stopping its further descent.

And while trying to slow down the meteor's descent, Nagato muttered with gritted teeth, "Damn, it's too heavy… At this rate, I won't be able to stop it completely, I can only slow its speed and delay the fall for a few seconds!"

After realizing this, Nagato glanced at Yama from the corner of his eyes, as if waiting for Yama to leave the battlefield by the means of Space-time Jutsu, so that he can have the chance of saving Konan… At the same time, he swore in his heart, "I lost this time… but the next time… I will… definitely kill you!"

Nagato had to admit that he really lost this time, and his loss was much worse than their last battle at Amegakure and so thorough that he can't even give any excuse… But he is not discouraged… and believes that he will definitely be able to win next time.

As long as Yama leaves the battlefield, Nagato will be able to rescue Konan and escape… of course, before the meteorite falls.

.......... A Few Seconds Later......….

In this manner, a few seconds passed, and something that Nagato hadn't expected happened. The meteorite he had slowed down with everything he got was now only about 100 meters away, but there were no signs of Yama leaving the battlefield… as if, Yama didn't really plan to leave the battlefield in the first place.

"This…?!" Nagato was surprised, and his heart shuddered in realization, 'No, don't tell me he even expected this…? Just what is he planning to do now?'

Yama obviously didn't know Nagato's complex and absurd thoughts and seeing Nagato looking towards him with an inexplicable expression, he muttered inwardly, 'Don't get distracted while looking at me, you have a meteorite to slow down!'

Up until now, everything has gone basically as per Yama's plans, and Nagato was forced to use everything he had to stop the meteorite's descent.

Although, Nagato's action slowed down the speed and momentum of the meteorite by more than 60 per cent, which was expected… But Yama's heart was still not at ease because Nagato really couldn't completely stop it completely, as expected… so, the meteorite which is only about 50 meters away will eventually fall, as expected.

Even if with only 40 per cent speed and momentum, it will still set off large-scale destruction.

"Damn it why doesn't he leave already!?" "Damn it, why didn't you surpass my expectations this time?!"

Both Nagato and Yama cursed at the other party… but neither had any time to think too much…

In Nagato's panic and struggle, and Yama's helplessness and disappointment, the meteorite eventually fell!

Nagato's all-out Shinra Tensei was shattered as if a piece of a fragile piece of glass, and the meteorite whose speed and momentum were greatly slowed down smashed on the thick and rigid head of Gedo Mazo.

BOOOOOM!!!!!

As the core of Juubi, Gedo Mazo's skin can be said to be one of the hardest substances in the existence, as can be proven by the fact that even Yama's 'Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!' can't cut through it…

But even if it's extremely hard, when the meteor directly smashed on its head, it let out a heartbreaking wailing roar…

ROOOAAARRRRRR!!!!!

Amidst the painful wailing and roar of Gedo Mazo, the meteorite that was still unstoppable finally smashed to the Earth's surface…

At the moment of collision, the entire horizon glowed in firelight, and a mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke that could be seen from hundreds of miles away rose into the sky.

The entire mainland shook, hundreds of thousands of deep cracks spread out in all directions and reached up to several dozens of miles.

The earth-shaking shock waves engulfed the sky with dust that spread in all directions like a tsunami.

In the face of such a calamity, the shinobi of the five great villages that have already fled dozens of miles away from the battle were not spared either and were unbiasedly swept away one by one…

Whether it was a medic-nin, a Sannin, a Hokage, or a flying Tsuchikage, every single one of them was like a grain of sand washed away during a sandstorm.

.

.

Read up to Chapter - 812 on P.a.t.r.e.o.n Page: p-atreon.com/Milta_translations