With Nagato and Konan gone, only Sasori and Kakuzu remained on Jigen's side.

Sasori had agreed to join Jigen initially because he wanted his core to be eternal, thus achieving Sasori's eternal puppet art.

Kakuzu, on the other hand, knew nothing at all and was now in a state of confusion, not understanding why the Akatsuki had suddenly become like this.

However, the current consequence was that due to Jigen and Uchiha Madara's battle, Kakuzu and Sasori had to face the White Zetsu Army, as well as Uchiha Shin, Kisame Hoshigaki, Hidan, and Deidara.

Sasori and Kakuzu were now unnerved by the dense White Zetsu Army; how could just the two of them possibly block the White Zetsu Army?

"I don't want to die for nothing. Pain and the others are all gone now. For the two of us to deal with so many people, even the Ninja God Senju Hashirama couldn't do it. It looks like the Akatsuki is already disbanded, so there's no need for me to keep risking my life. I'm leaving first."

Kakuzu chose to flee. Why fight a battle that couldn't be won? He hadn't sold his life to Jigen; he just loved money.

Sasori didn't stop Kakuzu; after all, even Sasori was preparing to run now.

Black Zetsu and the others stood not far from Sasori.

Black Zetsu said to Sasori, "Do you still believe the lies he wove?"

Sasori looked at Black Zetsu expressionlessly, "What do you mean? Do you know what he promised me?"

Black Zetsu replied, "I don't know what he promised you, but whatever it was, it won't come true, because he's not on our side. He just wants to use you to achieve his own goals. Once his goals are achieved, you'll be useless. How could he care about promises? Come to our side."

Sasori looked at Jigen, who was fighting Uchiha Madara, then shifted his gaze back to Black Zetsu.

"Indeed, everything depends on oneself. I won't join you, nor will I risk my life for him anymore. I will find the answer myself."

Sasori turned and left the Hidden Rain Village.

Sasori had no chance of winning against Black Zetsu and his group, and Jigen was currently preoccupied.

The image of omnipotence that Jigen initially created had gradually crumbled in Sasori's mind during Chiba's continuous battles with Jigen.

Could such a Jigen still achieve his eternal puppet art?

Sasori no longer believed, so there was no need to fight for Jigen anymore.

Sasori, who had worked so hard for so long and gained nothing, felt like a joke.

He had transformed himself into a puppet, yet his core would still decay over time. Sasori was now somewhat disheartened.

Perhaps, there is nothing eternal; everything will decay with time.

Black Zetsu originally wanted Uchiha Shin and the others, along with the White Zetsu Army, to launch an attack on Jigen.

However, after Black Zetsu saw Chiba appear and join the battle, he changed his mind.

Especially after seeing Chiba's Rinnegan.

Although he couldn't understand why Chiba could awaken the Rinnegan, if Chiba and Uchiha Madara teamed up to attack Jigen, their joining the battle now would actually hinder the two of them.

Moreover, Black Zetsu had already sensed the Allied Shinobi Forces approaching this location.

Black Zetsu decisively said, "It seems the Ninja from various villages have formed an allied force. We don't need to fight here. We will now help Madara block those troublesome guys and not disturb Madara's plan."

Black Zetsu led Uchiha Shin and the others, along with the White Zetsu Army, to resist the Allied Shinobi Forces.

...

After Uchiha Madara's Limbo ended, Jigen originally wanted to rush forward to get close to Uchiha Madara, trying to find a way to sever the connection between the Ten-Tails and Uchiha Madara.

But he never expected Chiba to join the battle.

"Sage Art! Lightning Release: Thunderclap!

A lightning-fast blue bolt of lightning struck Jigen.

Jigen tried to raise his arm to block with a chakra rod, but his arm was pierced first.

Jigen stared at Chiba's Rinnegan: "Have you gained new power again, Chiba? What exactly are you? Even for us Ōtsutsuki, there's a limit to growth, but your growth has completely surpassed the limits you humans should have."

Chiba snorted, "And then? Since you want to know what I am, I'll tell you: I am the one who is about to cut you down, understand?"

Chiba formed hand seals.

"Wood Style! Deep Forest Emergence!"

Chiba used his Chakra as nourishment, causing the trees dormant in the earth to rapidly grow into a forest, and flowers grew on the trees. After the flowers bloomed, they produced poisonous pollen that permeated the surroundings.

Uchiha Madara looked at Chiba with shocked eyes: "Hashirama's jutsu?"

Immediately, Uchiha Madara thought of a possibility: "That's right, I heard you have half of the Senju Clan's bloodline. I never thought that with just half of the Senju Clan's bloodline, you could awaken Wood Style, and Wood Style of such a degree. This is a jutsu that only those with Hashirama-level power can use, and it is the most powerful jutsu among Wood Style."

Chiba urged, "Stop talking nonsense. Find a way to deal with him first, then mourn your Senju Hashirama."

Chiba and Uchiha Madara's Limbo simultaneously rushed towards Jigen.

Jigen hadn't felt this troublesome in a long time.

Under the interference of Chiba and Uchiha Madara, he could no longer send the Ten-Tails into another dimension.

And these poisonous pollen, Jigen felt a slight numbness in his body; these poisons also had an effect on him.

The current situation was extremely unfavorable to him.

However, Chiba and Uchiha Madara should be enemies, right? Are they temporarily allied because of him?

Jigen decided to retreat first, let Chiba and Uchiha Madara fight each other, and he would hide in the surroundings, waiting for an opportunity.

Jigen used Sukunahikona to shrink himself.

Chiba reminded, "He's shrunk himself! Find him!"

Chiba activated Observation Haki, and Uchiha Madara also carefully sensed Jigen.

"Is he there?"

Chiba sensed a faint spatiotemporal fluctuation in one area.

"Kamui!"

Chiba distorted the location where he sensed the spatiotemporal fluctuation.

"Tch, I've been discovered."

Jigen, hidden under a tree, originally wanted to open a teleportation gate to leave, but he was obstructed by Chiba's Kamui, causing the teleportation gate to fail.

"Sukunahikona!"

Jigen shrunk the pollen permeating the surroundings.

Because the surrounding trees were living organisms, Sukunahikona could not shrink them, but pollen was not a living organism, so Sukunahikona could shrink it.

Uchiha Madara also sensed Jigen's location.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"

Uchiha Madara exhaled a fireball, shaped like a descending meteor, towards the ground where he sensed him.

Jigen used Sukunahikona again, shrinking the fireball to the size of a flame.

Chiba and Uchiha Madara sensed Jigen's location and continuously launched attacks at him.