Sasuke felt the same way as Nagato.
Just observing Nagato wouldn't reveal the extent of his changes. To truly grasp what Nagato had become, a direct confrontation was the best approach. After all, nothing reveals one's true strength more clearly than actual combat.
"Then let me see," Sasuke declared, "how you, enhanced by Scientific Ninja Tools, differ from the Nagato I remember!"
Different? The difference was immense!
Nagato chuckled, raising a hand. Without forming any hand seals, a fierce gust of wind erupted. Instantly, multiple wind blades, invisible to the naked eye, slashed violently towards Sasuke.
Sasuke paused for a fraction of a second. Releasing ninjutsu without hand seals?
While Amado had primarily equipped Nagato with devices to enhance his life force, he had also made minor adjustments considering Nagato possessed chakra affinity for all five basic nature transformations. A special mechanism allowed him to unleash attacks of a corresponding element as long as he had mastered its nature transformation.
The wind blades swept past. Sasuke instantly leaped aside, dodging. He glanced back. Three distinct cracks marred the wall behind him – a testament to the power of those wind blades.
"Impressive power," Sasuke noted. To achieve this level with a casually released attack was indeed startling. In the heat of battle, an opponent unleashing attacks at will without hand seals offered a significant element of surprise. While perhaps not instantly lethal, it could easily create an opening for a decisive strike.
With this thought, Sasuke turned back to face Nagato, who watched him with a calm expression, seemingly unfazed by his own initial attack.
"Speaking of which," Nagato suddenly began, a strange smile touching his lips, "you seem to be proficient in all five basic nature transformations as well, don't you?"
Sasuke frowned, "What are you getting at?"
"Excellent. I too wish to see the true power of a shinobi renowned for mastering all elements!"
A ninjutsu duel? Sasuke suspected Nagato's true objective lay elsewhere, but he was admittedly curious to witness the power Nagato could now wield, augmented by Scientific Ninja Tools.
At this thought, Sasuke swiftly removed his cloak, tossing it carelessly to the side. He stretched slightly, his gaze fixed on Nagato. "Alright then, let's see what you've got!" Sasuke smirked.
The next instant, he raised his hand, unleashing a burst of Lightning Release.
Simultaneously, Nagato's Rinnegan tracked the lightning's formation. He also raised his hands, but this time, he formed hand seals. The seals were formed with incredible speed, his hands moving almost unnaturally fast, less like his own and more like automated limbs executing a pre-set program at the mere thought.
Nagato's Lightning Release erupted as well. Two streams of electrical energy shot through the air, colliding violently. An instant later, the resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling outwards.
Meanwhile, a drone hovering discreetly in the distance recorded the entire exchange.
Inside the Kara base, Amado meticulously analyzed streams of data flowing across a screen, scrutinizing Sasuke's profile.
"Astounding ninjutsu," Amado murmured. "Even remotely, the sheer power of that clash is palpable." He watched the feedback from the data analysis, his surprise evident.
"His Lightning Release… it seems different from the standard form," Jigen observed from nearby.
On the monitor, Sasuke's lightning held its ground against Nagato's for only a few seconds before overwhelming it, suppressing Nagato's jutsu completely. The same technique, yet one was overpowered. It wasn't that Nagato's chakra was weaker, but that Sasuke's Lightning Release possessed inherently greater potency.
"With any elemental jutsu, beyond the amount of chakra used, the true test lies in the mastery of its nature transformation," Amado explained. "And Uchiha Sasuke's control over nature transformation… it seems to have transcended the ordinary scope entirely! He's operating in a whole new domain!"
Amado chuckled softly. "But then again, this is the man who developed his own unique forms of lightning jutsu. His fundamental understanding of Lightning Release is truly incomparable."
Jigen seemed intrigued. "You say his mastery surpasses the ordinary… what does that mean, specifically?"
Amado paused, considering the question. "If we were to compare standard Lightning Release to, say, household electricity… then Sasuke's is akin to natural lightning striking from the heavens. It's not merely a difference in intensity or 'voltage'. One feels artificial, manufactured, while the other… it possesses a quality that rivals natural celestial thunder. It feels… natural, as if not created by human hands at all."
Amado frowned slightly as he spoke, his eyes fixed on the screen where Sasuke was now seamlessly switching between different elemental ninjutsu, yet consistently maintaining overwhelming pressure on Nagato. "Perhaps his mastery of chakra nature transformation operates on a level completely different from our current understanding… almost another dimension entirely."
A smile returned to Amado's face, however. "But… give me enough data, and I am confident I can replicate that power! Recreate it through the means of Scientific Ninja Tools!"
Jigen watched the screen, where Nagato was constantly forced to evade, clearly being suppressed by the sheer force and versatility of Sasuke's ninjutsu. "Then focus on gathering that data," Jigen stated simply. "The Akatsuki serve as our finest test subjects."
At this, Amado gave Jigen a slightly curious look. "Wouldn't it be more efficient to directly control them using Scientific Ninja Tools? We could gather far more comprehensive data that way, no?"
Jigen shook his head slowly. "Do not underestimate these individuals, Amado. Do you truly believe people like them are so easily controlled? Never underestimate the power of will. The Akatsuki… they once nearly brought the entire shinobi world to its knees. Direct control carries too many risks. Observation… this current approach is far more prudent."
Amado nodded in understanding, turning his attention back to the screen, watching the incredible data points flash across it. Each metric represented feats seemingly beyond human limits, yet they appeared almost commonplace for Sasuke. His ninjutsu execution possessed a precision rivaling a machine; the control over each technique was flawless.
If one were to erase the visuals and present Amado only with the combat data, he wouldn't doubt for a second that it originated from a battle between two advanced automatons. Yet, the reality was a clash between a heavily modified human and a living, breathing shinobi.
Nagato's modifications granted him immense life force, dramatically increasing his chakra reserves. Yet even with this boost, coupled with his integrated Scientific Ninja Tools, he was still unable to gain an advantage against Uchiha Sasuke.
Truly worthy of his legendary status, Amado thought. Indeed, a prodigy of his caliber might never appear again in the shinobi world.
As Amado reflected on this, the battle between Sasuke and Nagato was escalating, their ninjutsu exchange reaching a fever pitch.
Sasuke unleashed techniques of five different natures – not quite in a single breath, but in such rapid succession they were practically simultaneous. Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth – five distinct elemental energies merged, surging towards Nagato in a combined assault.
This time, Nagato couldn't simply counter; the devices integrated into his body didn't support the simultaneous release of all five elemental natures.
"Incredible… he's even surpassing the capabilities of machines!" Nagato murmured, yet a distinct smile played on his lips…
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