Among all the abilities of the Six Paths of Pain (Rinnegan), Shinra Tensei (Shinra Heavenly Push) is considered the most powerful and capable of devastating large areas.
This is one of the techniques that showcases the power of the Rinnegan. Its strength is manifested through the ability to manipulate gravitational forces by creating a powerful repulsive force that no physical attack can resist. Depending on the magnitude of the force that the user employs, this technique can affect large objects, structures, metals, and even the atmosphere itself. When used in a battle, it can easily annihilate any target regardless of size, power, or status.
Moreover, this technique can be employed on a large scale with the potential to wipe out entire armies. The force generated is compounded with the user’s chakra, creating a vast area of impact that can destroy everything in its wake, leaving behind a tremor in the earth.
As seen in the “Invasion of Pain” arc, at its peak, Shinra Tensei has the capability to completely obliterate the Hidden Leaf Village. However, this technique consumes a significant amount of chakra, which means that to execute it, Nagato needs to connect with all the Pain bodies to concentrate the chakra into it. Unfortunately, after this technique is used, due to Nagato’s age and depletion of chakra, he cannot utilize the Heavenly Push for several minutes.
However, the determination to annihilate Konoha stems from Nagato’s deep-seated desire, as his initial mission was to capture the Nine-Tails. Therefore, when Naruto returns from Mount Myoboku, the initial conflict is primarily a battle with the Six Paths of Pain (without the Heavenly Push since they need time to recover).
Thus, if we consider a scenario where Pain does not utilize Shinra Tensei, which requires a significant amount of chakra to destroy Konoha, and instead uses all its power against Naruto, would the outcome be different?
First, we must note that when Naruto fights alone against the Six Paths of Pain, he is at a disadvantage, being struck by chakra blasts and unable to counter. Naruto can only escape when the power of the Nine-Tails is not suppressed; after witnessing Hinata’s injury, he becomes motivated. Therefore, had the Six Paths of Pain launched an attack early, there’s a likelihood that the transformation into the Nine-Tails state of Naruto would have occurred much sooner in the battle.
However, to ensure that the battle unfolds as it did in the anime, Nagato still needed to employ Chibaku Tensei (Planetary Devastation) to capture Naruto. Yet Naruto, in his Nine-Tails chakra form, was able to escape from this gravitational confinement.
It’s crucial to remember that to execute Chibaku Tensei also requires a considerable amount of chakra, so other bodies would similarly become incapacitated, and the final outcome of the battle would remain unchanged.
