366-370

*Chapter 366: Hidan the Liability*

Kakuzu ignored the overly excited Hidan, who had worked himself into a frenzy. He didn’t care much for the loud-mouthed brat’s fate. Of course, compared to that scoundrel Orochimaru, Hidan, with his lack of brains, seemed almost endearing.

Perhaps it was because Kakuzu had once partnered with that trash Orochimaru that his tolerance for teammates had improved significantly over time.

Complaints aside, as long as a teammate didn’t drag him down or secretly play underhanded tricks, Kakuzu considered them decent enough. Ideally, they’d be a bit stronger—not someone he could kill with one punch—or like Hidan, who, while hard to kill, was still reckless to a fault.

“No need to rush; they’re already here,” Kakuzu said, stopping Hidan, who was about to charge in with his scythe.

Charging headlong like that would likely get Hidan cut to pieces. Then Kakuzu would have to waste time reassembling him—a tedious job Kakuzu preferred to avoid.

Though technically an adult at nineteen, Hidan was just a brat in the eyes of the ninety-something Kakuzu.

“Stay alert. That Uchiha woman’s attacks are extremely vicious. If you get torn apart, I’m not bothering to stitch you back together.” Kakuzu stood at the edge of the rooftop, gazing at the four figures approaching along the long street below.

He had observed through a shadow clone how Uchiha Chisao had crushed an entire group of Rain ninja.

Those brutal attacks… Kakuzu wasn’t sure he could defend against them. But he was certain Hidan wouldn’t stand a chance. Though Hidan couldn’t die easily, losing mobility would render him utterly useless.

“Oh, come on! Are you scared, Kakuzu?” Hidan smirked with mockery.

“...”

Kakuzu didn’t respond. He merely glared at Hidan coldly, like he was looking at a corpse. When Hidan was about to retort, Kakuzu turned his gaze to the four figures below and said, “Our targets are here. Get ready.”

“Tch! So boring. Offering someone like you to the Jashin-sama feels like a waste…” Hidan muttered under his breath before focusing on the group of four.

His eyes immediately locked onto the lone female in the group.

Bickering with Kakuzu had become a habit, but no matter how disdainful his words were, Hidan never outright ignored Kakuzu’s warnings. For all his faults, Kakuzu never lied. If he said that woman was dangerous, she probably was.

So, Hidan decided to target the weakest-looking one: the guy with glasses.

Among the four, the bespectacled man seemed like the easiest prey. Instead of clashing head-on with the tougher ones, it made more sense to take down the weak link first. Then he could team up with Kakuzu to deal with the more challenging opponents.

---

Meanwhile, in the desolate streets of Amegakure, most shops displayed “Closed” signs, while others had been abandoned in haste, their doors left wide open.

“A battlefield should never be in Konoha!” Sougen said to himself.

Fighting in Konoha would undoubtedly hinder the village’s prosperity and growth. Constantly being attacked would harm Konoha’s reputation. The battlefield had to be kept far away from the village.

“Doesn’t this pace feel slow?” Jiraiya asked, glancing at their surroundings.

“Are you in a hurry, Jiraiya-sensei?”

“Not really. Just curious. Are we moving this slowly to attract Akatsuki’s attention and take the pressure off Shisui and Fugaku?”

“Haha.” Sougen chuckled.

“You’re overthinking it. Shisui has the Flying Thunder God technique. Even if Akatsuki converges on him, I’m not worried. With Fugaku and Itachi teaming up, they’re more than capable of handling Akatsuki. Splitting their attention? That’s unnecessary.”

“Then why walk so leisurely?”

Sougen explained that the slower pace was a calculated choice.

First, it gave their allies time to rescue Naruto and Sasuke. Once the fighting began, the power of the Rinnegan could potentially obliterate Amegakure, complicating the rescue mission.

Second, it allowed Chisao some time to recover. Clearing the rain clouds above Amegakure had consumed a significant amount of her chakra and mental energy, despite the aid of Samehada.

Third, it provided an opportunity to observe their enemies. Beyond Pain and Zetsu, Orochimaru warranted extra caution. Sougen doubted that Orochimaru’s involvement was mere coincidence. That schemer always had an ulterior motive.

Sougen wished he could eliminate Orochimaru now, but he lacked even a 30% chance of success. Beating Orochimaru wasn’t enough—killing the slippery snake was the real challenge.

Their slow advance was deliberate, allowing Sougen to gather intelligence and ensure that no critical details were missed.

“My plans are set,” Sougen said.

Jiraiya didn’t press further. Whether they moved slowly or swiftly, it wouldn’t change much. They were already deep in enemy territory, and the Akatsuki weren’t going to flee.

The main concern was whether there might be traps ahead or the possibility of sudden ambushes.

For instance—

like now.

Swish!

The sound of something slicing through the air came from a dark alley nearby. A crimson, triple-segmented scythe flew toward Kabuto Yakushi. However, the attacker's aim seemed to be a bit off—it didn’t even graze Kabuto, passing harmlessly in front of him.

Then—

The thin cord attached to the scythe's handle snapped taut. The flying scythe adjusted its trajectory and came hurtling back, this time aimed directly at Kabuto's body.

Clang!

The scythe was deflected by a kunai.

Kabuto staggered back a couple of steps. Say what you will, the attacker had some serious strength. But with such a straightforward tactic, they wouldn’t gain any advantage here. Sure, Kabuto wouldn’t dare compare his combat skills to those of Lord Hokage, Jiraiya, or Uchiha Chisao,

but he wasn’t some fragile pushover, either.

Gripping his kunai tightly, Kabuto prepared to counterattack.

“Chisao,”

Sougen called softly.

At the sound of his voice, Uchiha Chisao swung her vacuum blade. Three massive slashes roared forward, demolishing walls, doors, and pillars alike. The house beside the street was instantly reduced to rubble, burying the would-be attacker beneath a pile of debris.

“Lord Hokage, I’m confident I can handle opponents of this level.”

Seeing this, Kabuto put away his kunai and pushed up his glasses, speaking with a touch of regret.

“Now’s not the time for you to step in. Also… don’t underestimate the Akatsuki members. These people aren’t as simple as they might seem, no matter how incompetent they might look.”

As Sougen spoke, a red-and-white fan appeared in his hand. With a gentle wave toward Kabuto,

an earthen spear shot up from the ground, blocking the scythe that had suddenly fallen near Kabuto’s feet.

Indeed, the scythe, seemingly abandoned, sprang to life again. If not for the earthen spear rising to intercept it, Kabuto might have paid a significant price—potentially losing his ability to fight altogether if he’d been unlucky.

Sparks flew as the scythe and spear clashed.

The grating noise revealed just how much force had been pulling the scythe. If that had been Kabuto’s leg instead of the spear—well, Kabuto adjusted his glasses again. He realized he had underestimated the situation. After witnessing the terrifying power of Uchiha Chisao’s slashes, he assumed the attacker was already dead and overlooked the scythe lying at his feet.

However—

After taking such a devastating blow, it should be impossible for anyone to survive unless they were someone like the Third or Fourth Raikage. The faint smell of blood in the air confirmed the attacker hadn’t used any escape techniques to evade the strike.

Kabuto’s assumption, though logical, had been a mistake.

No matter the reasoning, it boiled down to his own carelessness. He had spent too much time in the village living comfortably. In the past, as a spy operating from the shadows, he would never have fallen for such a cheap trick.

As Kabuto reflected on his negligence,

a blood-soaked figure pushed away the rubble, staggering out of the ruins.

Everyone could now see the attacker’s appearance. The man’s silver-gray hair, once neatly kept, was now a chaotic mess. His violet-red eyes burned with murderous intent, and the black robe embroidered with red clouds on his body was in tatters, revealing gruesome wounds through the tears.

“You could’ve just stayed down. But no, you had to get up and ask for more,” Sougen sighed softly.

With a flick of his fan,

five slanted earthen spears shot up. One pierced through the man’s neck, immediately incapacitating him as he tried to dodge. The other four spears impaled his limbs, leaving him suspended in the air in the shape of an "X."

“You bastards!”

“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill all of you!!”

The man, now identified as Hidan, struggled fiercely, but he couldn’t break free from the spears pinning him in place.

Despite his immortal body, Hidan was physically formidable, able to hold his own against most Jonin-level opponents and even trade blows effectively.

Jonin often channel their chakra into punches and kicks, making them devastating. A weaker attack could break through trees; a stronger one could shatter rocks. Tsunade’s famed super strength is an evolved form of this technique—her finger alone can create massive cracks in the ground.

Normally, with Hidan’s strength, breaking free of the spears wouldn’t be difficult.

Unfortunately for him, these weren’t ordinary spears. They were created by Sougen’s mastery of the Banana Palm Fan and were far harder than regular stone. No matter how hard Hidan screamed and struggled, he remained bound, like an improperly mounted specimen on display.

“Is this… immortality?”

Even Jiraiya couldn’t help but glance over. “Pierced through the throat yet still alive, and yelling no less… What kind of monsters are in the Akatsuki?”

Although Hidan seemed unimpressive, Jiraiya didn’t underestimate him.

After all, Sougen—Konoha’s Sixth Hokage and a ninja hailed as the second coming of Uchiha Madara—was the one who subdued him.

Under Sougen’s gaze, anyone could falter. Even Kabuto, an elite among Jonin, had nearly fallen for the ambush.

“This guy’s probably connected to the Jashin Cult,” Sougen said while gently fanning himself, revealing Hidan’s secrets. “They’ve been active in countries like the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Frost. Their techniques revolve around sharing damage with their target through a blood ritual. If you’re not careful and let them draw your blood, it can get tricky.”

“Ah! That’s from the case with the feudal lord’s envoy!” Kabuto suddenly recalled the relevant intel. It was his first major case after joining the police force. The feudal lord’s envoy had colluded with the cult, experimenting on immortality, even daring to abduct people from Konoha.

“So this guy is their one and only successful experiment?”

“If they haven’t made another in recent years, then yes… Hmm.” Sougen’s words were cut off by another sudden attack.

From the other side of the street,

a fiery inferno descended from the rooftops.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 367: A Trail of Sparks and Lightning

The storm clouds, once dispersed, slowly regathered above the Rain Village, casting its streets back into an oppressive gloom. Though the rain had yet to fall again, the brief reprieve of light was already swallowed by darkness. While Sougen's group faced their attackers, Uchiha Shisui and his team of six dashed along a deserted street, their objective clear: rescue the imprisoned Naruto Uzumaki.

Unsurprisingly, their path was anything but smooth.

Just as Sougen's team faced obstacles, Shisui's squad was not spared interruptions. The Rain ninja attacked in waves, their harassment relentless. Yet, this group was far from ordinary. Even the weakest among them, Inuzuka Hana, was a genuine jōnin skilled in taijutsu and sensory techniques. Against her, even Rain ninja adept in stealth and assassination struggled to gain the upper hand.

And then, there was Shisui.

With his mastery of the *Flying Thunder God Technique*, Shisui's efficiency in cutting down enemies rivaled a wide-area jutsu. Numbers meant little to him. The Rain ninja couldn’t even manage to delay him—most fell with their necks slit before they could blink.

Until—

"Captain, enemy attack!"

Hyūga Katen's voice rang out. His Byakugan, with its nearly 360-degree vision, spotted a figure suddenly appearing behind Inuzuka Hana. No movement, no warning—just there, as if conjured. The intruder’s sharp wooden spike aimed directly at Hana’s heart.

“I’ve been waiting for you!”

Shisui’s *Sword of the Void* intercepted the spike, its blade meeting the wood harder than steel. Teleporting to Hana’s side with spatial jutsu, Shisui’s expression turned frigid as his eyes locked onto the masked Uchiha Obito. Frosty killing intent emanated from him.

“With me here, you won’t touch a single hair of my teammates.”

The moment his words fell, both men vanished simultaneously—then reappeared behind Hyūga Katen.

Sweat broke out on Katen’s brow as his Byakugan registered their sudden proximity. He felt as though Death’s scythe had brushed against his neck. Just a hair closer, and his life would’ve ended.

Thankfully, Shisui was there.

Without him, their squad would have stood no chance against this masked man wielding spatial jutsu. The sheer unpredictability of such techniques… It was no wonder the Fourth Hokage became legendary in the Third Shinobi War with similar powers.

“I said it before. You’re not touching my team!”

Once again intercepting Obito, Shisui’s voice was resolute.

Shisui had anticipated Obito's arrival. Though Sougen had split their forces into three groups to spread out, Shisui was certain Obito would prioritize him over targeting Fugaku or Itachi's teams.

The reasoning was simple.

As two experts in spatial jutsu, they both understood how troublesome these techniques were. If left unchecked, a spatial-jutsu user could regroup scattered forces effortlessly. Furthermore, Fugaku wasn’t an easy target. If Shisui were in Obito’s position, he’d also seek to pin down the most mobile and disruptive threat—himself.

As expected, Obito appeared.

And Shisui welcomed it.

He was more than willing to settle their unfinished fight. Their mission—to rescue Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—didn’t rely on him uniting their forces. His team had the autonomy to adapt after achieving this primary objective.

Ninja battles rarely followed intricate plans; they required flexibility within overarching strategies.

“Wind, Torune, Yamato, Katen, Hana—proceed forward. Completing the mission takes priority. I’ll hold this guy off. Don’t worry about him attacking you; I’ll block him. Just focus on the enemies in hiding.”

Shisui spoke swiftly amidst his clash with Obito, their weapons colliding with sharp, rapid sounds.

The battle was fierce.

Yet, Shisui seemed to hold the upper hand, issuing commands while fighting. Obito, unwilling to risk eye contact with Shisui’s dreaded *Kotoamatsukami*, found himself restrained despite his training to counter such techniques. Shisui hadn’t stagnated since their last encounter; Obito’s progress alone wasn’t enough to tip the scales.

Killing Shisui alone appeared impossible.

Obito’s new plan? Stall Shisui and wait for Pain’s overwhelming *Rinnegan* to shatter the situation entirely.

“Yes, sir!”

The five ninja acknowledged Shisui’s order and advanced, ignoring Obito. They carried kunai inscribed with Shisui’s seals, even attaching them to their ninja dogs. With this setup, Shisui could intercept any attack from Obito at a moment’s notice.

“Use all your tricks now,” Shisui taunted during another exchange of strikes. “You won’t get the chance to regret it later.”

Obito remained silent, continuing to tangle with Shisui while occasionally targeting the others. His determination to eliminate Hyūga Katen and Inuzuka Hana remained steadfast, but Shisui’s relentless interference kept him at bay.

“So you won’t talk?” Shisui muttered.

He abandoned the idea of provoking Obito into conversation. As long as Obito was occupied, the rest of the team could break through and approach Rain Village's core. With their strength, no ordinary obstacles would stop them.

Just then—

White birds swooped down from above.

“Watch out! They’re bombs!”

Hyūga Katen warned, spotting the concentrated chakra within the birds—different from explosive tags yet bearing the same lethal purpose.

“Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Air Palm!”

Katen struck, unleashing a shockwave that detonated the bird midair. But this was only the beginning. More white birds emerged from the smoke, heading their way.

Worse still, small grasshopper-like creatures began hopping toward them from the ground.

*"Looks like it's my turn to put in the effort. Leave these things to me, you all continue moving forward."* Hyuga Homon took a deep breath. Being chosen for this mission wasn't just because of his Byakugan. After all, even children in the Hyuga Clan could activate the Byakugan; it wasn’t a rare skill among his kin.

What set him apart from many of his clan members was his exceptional mastery of Gentle Fist.

Hyuga Hiashi, the clan leader, hadn’t spent his years idly. Watching the Uchiha Clan grow rapidly stronger, witnessing clans like Kurama clawing their way back to prominence, and seeing the village flourish—he couldn’t remain indifferent. His brother Hizashi's death left him deeply resentful of the clan's Main and Branch Family system. Unfortunately, his ability to overturn the archaic institution was limited. All he could do was loosen the reins binding the Branch Family, providing prodigies like Hyuga Homon and Hyuga Iroha with better training conditions and more resources.

Aside from forbidden techniques like Rotation that were restricted from Branch Family members, every other skill was made available for them to learn.

Hyuga Homon, being a natural genius, seized this rare opportunity, absorbing everything he could to make himself stronger. While the Hokage may have chosen them for their "eyes," Hyuga Homon never saw himself as merely a set of eyes.

He was also a capable fighter!

*"Gentle Fist Technique: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm – Consecutive Strikes!"*

It was the same technique, but in Hyuga Homon's hands, it took on an extraordinary flair. Moving at incredible speed, his footwork became a blur, unleashing over a dozen shockwaves. The birds in the sky were intercepted and struck down, while even the small grasshoppers on the ground couldn’t evade the compact shockwaves.

Indeed, Hyuga Homon had refined the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm to the point of effortless precision and control. Not a single ounce of chakra was wasted; the strength of each shockwave was adjusted to the size of the target, dealing with the assault efficiently.

Then—

Hyuga Homon lifted his head to the sky.

Of course, with the Byakugan's near-omnidirectional vision, there was no need to look up. He had already locked onto the enemy riding the giant bird in the air. But he made the gesture deliberately—a silent challenge to show he had his sights set.

Deidara was infuriated.

Unbelievable. He hadn’t taken out a single person.

Such a result was, of course, unacceptable. It wasn’t that he feared failing Pain’s orders; he didn’t care about them to begin with. He was just cooperating with Obito while savoring the fleeting beauty of art.

“Damn it, the Byakugan, huh? Let’s see if you can block everything!”

Deidara noticed Hyuga Homon staring up at him.

He immediately felt provoked.

Anger flared.

Not everyone was like Uchiha Shisui, a terrifying anomaly. Deidara feared Shisui’s Mangekyo Sharingan and wouldn’t dare get close. But this unknown nobody dared to flaunt before him—what an insult!

Reaching into his specially made tool pouch, Deidara fed his palm mouths chunks of white clay. Once stuffed, the mouths began to chew frantically before spitting out flocks of clay birds and grasshoppers.

Tossing them into the air, the clay constructs grew slightly larger as they "came to life."

Deidara refrained from using high-powered explosives.

Not out of mercy or concern for collateral damage, but because he wanted to prove himself against Hyuga Homon. High-powered bombs consumed too much chakra, and he wanted to save his trump cards for bigger targets later—not waste them on small fry.

Hyuga Homon began clashing with Deidara. But unlike the drawn-out battle between Shisui and Obito, their fight didn’t devolve into a single prolonged duel. Deidara, though eccentric for his art, wasn’t foolish. He wasn’t like Hidan, a one-track-minded idiot.

Deidara's clay creations targeted not only Hyuga Homon but also the others in the group. This forced Homon to keep pace with his companions, constantly fending off attacks and protecting them—a significant burden.

Similarly, Obito’s strategy mirrored Deidara’s.

He didn’t aim to kill Shisui but continuously targeted Hyuga Homon and Inuzuka Hana’s group instead.

The skirmishes proved grueling. Deidara’s clay bombs burst brilliantly like fireworks, while Shisui and Obito’s flickering figures moved like lightning, too fast for the eye to follow.

Through it all, Danzō’s Root operatives gritted their teeth and pressed forward, heading for their primary target: rescuing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki.

“I’ve caught the scent,” said Inuzuka Hana suddenly. “Naruto Uzumaki is in that building ahead, surrounded by more than ten different scents.”

(To be continued...)

Chapter 368: *Amaterasu*

“They’ve arrived.”

Orochimaru stood on the iron bridge, leaning against the railing. Watching the figures leaping closer in the distance, he asked, “Sasori, aren’t you going to make a move? Fugaku is the material you claimed for your puppet.”

“That’s none of your concern,” Sasori replied coldly.

Squatting in the corner of the bridge with a casual demeanor, Sasori stared at the approaching figures, unmoved and showing no intention of acting.

Indeed, he had made grand claims about turning Uchiha Fugaku into a puppet. But saying it and doing it were two different things. Transforming a Uchiha, especially one with the Mangekyo Sharingan, into a puppet wasn’t so simple. When Uchiha ninja got serious, they were deadly.

And the one who would die would likely be himself.

This was the hard-earned conclusion he had come to during nearly five years of confinement in the Naka Shrine.

Moreover, with Orochimaru, the venomous snake, at his side, Sasori would never expose his back. If he were killed by an Uchiha, he could accept it as a testament to skill. But if Orochimaru betrayed him, Sasori would never rest in peace.

“Well then, since you’re not in a hurry, Sasori…” Orochimaru licked his lips, a twisted grin spreading across his face. “Let me test Fugaku’s skills first. Back in the village, I never imagined he was hiding such talent. Today, I’ll make up for the oversight.”

With that, Orochimaru bit his thumb, quickly forming seals with his hands.

*“Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!”*

Suddenly, a disaster descended upon the battlefield.

A swarm of snakes, summoned from Ryuchi Cave, poured into the Rain Village. Massive serpents coiled around four-story buildings, while smaller ones, as thin as a finger, slithered alongside them. As the larger snakes moved, they crushed many of the smaller ones, yet countless others survived, surging forward to confront Fugaku and his team.

This wasn’t a particularly sophisticated strategy, but it was undeniably effective.

The sheer scale of the snake swarm could only be described as a man-made natural disaster.

“Snakes! So many snakes!”

Hyuga Iroha’s face twitched, his lips trembling. The sheer number of snakes blocked the entire path forward, triggering his latent fear of densely packed creatures. Without clearing this swarm, there was no way forward.

“It’s Orochimaru,” said Yamanaka Santana, his face pale.

Though ninja were used to living on the edge of danger, this was enough to unnerve anyone.

“Let me handle this.”

Aburame Shikuro, running at the front alongside Fugaku, stepped forward.

Itachi opened his mouth to object, but his father signaled him to hold back. Suppressing his impatience, Itachi restrained himself, watching as Shikuro raised his hands and made a subtle motion.

From the wide sleeves of Shikuro’s cloak emerged a black cloud, buzzing ominously. A closer look revealed that this "cloud" consisted of countless microscopic insects.

Even Itachi, with his Sharingan, could sense the lethal threat from these insects.

“Nanoscopic poison insects... as expected of the strongest of the Aburame clan,” Itachi thought to himself, realizing how dangerous the Rain Village had become. Attempting this mission alone would have been reckless.

From afar, the sounds of explosions echoed. It wasn’t hard to imagine that Fugaku and Shisui were also facing formidable enemies, just as deadly as Orochimaru and Sasori.

Faced with the snake swarm, Shikuro remained calm, his cold demeanor unwavering.

With a slight shake of his sleeves, he ordered, “Go.”

The insect cloud surged forward, colliding with the wave of snakes.

The massive serpents, baring their fangs and hissing menacingly, suddenly froze. Their cruel, predatory eyes dulled, and their life force faded away.

In fact, the smaller snakes were the first to succumb, collapsing and rotting in seconds. The larger snakes, while taking longer to succumb due to their size, were ultimately no match for the toxic swarm.

In less than a minute, the majority of the snake swarm was eradicated. Only a handful of snakes at the rear remained untouched. The path forward was no longer blocked.

The group now had a clear view of Orochimaru standing on the iron bridge, with Sasori crouched motionlessly nearby.

The next moment, Itachi’s eyes locked onto Orochimaru and Sasori.

The pattern of his Mangekyo Sharingan spun as he activated his dojutsu.

*Amaterasu.*

A black inferno erupted, consuming everything in its path.

*A Pitch-Black Flame*

A pitch-black flame suddenly materialized out of thin air, coiling itself around Orochimaru and Sasori. The intense heat burned their bodies ferociously. Orochimaru let out a heart-wrenching scream; the agony of being consumed by the fire was unbearable, even for someone like Orochimaru, whose body had long since been grotesquely modified.

Fortunately, Orochimaru reacted quickly. After failing to extinguish the black flames with a water release jutsu, he immediately realized that these flames were far from ordinary. Wasting no more time, Orochimaru opened his mouth wide, dislocating his jaw as a pair of hands emerged from his throat to pry it open further.

In less than a second,

a brand-new Orochimaru appeared on the iron bridge.

Compared to the charred and battered Orochimaru, Sasori was significantly luckier. The black flames had only incinerated the outermost layer of his puppet. Safely hidden inside, his true body remained unscathed. Timing his escape perfectly as the puppet was completely destroyed, Sasori managed to break free.

What was revealed

was a slender, youthful figure—a red-haired, delicate-looking boy.

“Orochimaru, what was that just now?”

Orochimaru, still in his snake-tail form, writhed on the ground, his body glistening like a newborn snake freshly hatched.

“Don’t ask me questions like that, as if I’m some kind of Uchiha expert,” Sasori snapped back irritably. Losing his puppet—both a mode of transportation and a vital tool for hiding—was no small blow. For a puppet master, 70% of their combat strength lies in their puppets, with the remaining 30% depending on their own skills.

The puppet he lost ranked among his finest creations—a top-tier masterpiece. Its sudden loss not only significantly impacted his abilities but also soured his mood. He hadn’t even intended to get involved in this mess, yet he had still ended up losing a puppet for no reason.

“Was that the Mangekyō Sharingan’s ability?”

“Most likely,” Sasori gritted his teeth and replied coldly.

Although he wasn’t aware of Itachi Uchiha awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasori hadn’t spent years beneath the Naka Shrine for nothing. While working on a drug to stabilize the Mangekyō Sharingan under Danzo’s orders, he had studied the secrets of the Uchiha clan extensively. He was well-versed in the capabilities of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The black flames had appeared too abruptly,

and their power was terrifying.

Even water release jutsu couldn’t extinguish them... Thinking it over, there was no other explanation except the Mangekyō Sharingan’s ocular powers.

“However... according to the intel I obtained from Kumogakure, Fugaku’s Mangekyō ability is supposed to be genjutsu-based.”

Orochimaru’s gaze shifted to Itachi Uchiha, who stood behind Fugaku Uchiha and Shibi Aburame. At this moment, there were only two Uchiha present. If it wasn’t Fugaku, then it must be the younger Uchiha boy.

“Another Mangekyō Sharingan... Ahhh!”

This time, Orochimaru saw clearly the black three-bladed pinwheel spinning in Itachi’s crimson eyes. Their gazes locked, and once again, Orochimaru let out an earth-shattering scream.

In an instant, the pitch-black flames burned away his eyeballs. Orochimaru didn’t hesitate for even a fraction of a second. Using his self-developed *Orochimaru-Style Substitution Jutsu*, he shed his already scorched body and emerged anew, unscathed by the black flames.

The moment he freed himself from the fire,

Orochimaru vanished, retreating into hiding.

The idea of testing Fugaku Uchiha in battle disappeared. If circumstances had allowed, he wouldn’t have minded experiencing the power of the Uchiha’s Mangekyō Sharingan firsthand, but this wasn’t the right situation!

Both Fugaku and Itachi had awakened their Mangekyō Sharingan.

Taking on one Uchiha with a Mangekyō was an "experience."

Taking on two at once? That was just asking for trouble.

As for Sasori,

after losing his primary puppet, he promptly fled as well.

“Are you alright?”

Watching Orochimaru retreat and the remaining snakes vanish in puffs of smoke, Fugaku finally turned to his eldest son. With a stiff and awkward tone, he expressed his habitual but concealed concern.

In the past, his role as clan leader had demanded he maintain a dignified and solemn demeanor, preventing him from speaking warmly to his sons. Even now... Well, not much had changed.

This was about as much concern as he could muster.

“I’m fine,” Itachi said, blinking.

Using this power in combat for the first time brought a unique sensation, but now wasn’t the time for reflection. Saving Sasuke was their priority.

“No issues. Let’s keep moving. Time is tight; we can’t delay here.”

“Be careful of the snake corpses on the ground—they’re laced with poison. Avoid touching them with your skin. Fugaku, you’d better clear a safe path forward,” Shibi Aburame advised, uncharacteristically verbose. He warned them not to fall victim to their own side's measures.

As a poison specialist, Shibi had the ability to retrieve his toxins, both to prevent accidental harm to allies and to keep the formula secret from enemies. However, recovering the toxins required physical contact with the target. Given the number of snake corpses, collecting the poison would take far too long, and they didn’t have the luxury of time.

Thus, Shibi decided to forego recovery.

If the enemy obtained samples and developed an antidote, rendering his poison ineffective in future battles, so be it. After the mission, he could return to the village, spend a year or two concocting new toxins, and breed another batch of poisonous insects.

The Aburame clan never rested on their laurels. Each generation improved upon the last, breeding new species of insects. Despite their low profile, the Aburame were easily the third most influential family in Konoha after the Uchiha and Hyuga clans—or fourth if you counted the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance as a single entity.

“I’ll handle it,” Fugaku said, nodding firmly.

As he spoke, he swiftly weaved signs and, within a second, activated a jutsu—*Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide.*

The ground trembled as the street lifted, splitting open to dump the poisonous snake corpses to either side. A clear, safe path now stretched ahead.

*Chapter 369: The Main Event Begins*

Pain stood motionless, perched upon the crimson tongue extended from the mouth of the statue. He had been standing there for quite some time, ever since the demonic wind had scattered the clouds in the sky. From that moment, his feet had not moved an inch.

However—

While his body remained still, it did not mean his perspective was limited.

Pain's surveillance network spanned far and wide. The Yatagarasu soaring through the heavens and the chameleons blending seamlessly into the steel forest served as his watchful eyes. These summoned beasts acted like surveillance cameras, feeding him real-time visuals of various battlefields through the shared vision of the Rinnegan.

He saw the fierce clash between Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Obito, gaining a firsthand understanding of the troublesome nature of space-time techniques.

He also witnessed Orochimaru and Sasori fleeing in disarray, caught off guard by a Mangekyō Sharingan technique that hadn’t appeared in any prior intelligence reports. The jet-black flames radiated a lethal menace, one even Pain could not ignore.

Then there were the defeats of Hidan and Kakuzu—each uniquely revealing.

Hidan's failure was abrupt, his immortality rendered irrelevant by the brutal onslaught. Kakuzu, on the other hand, had exhausted every trick in his arsenal, unveiling his strongest cards. Yet, facing the Sixth Hokage, Jiraiya, and Uchiha Chihaya—opponents of overwhelming caliber—he failed to perform any miracles.

---

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage."

"Fire Release: Flame Bullets."

In an instant, two masked beasts unleashed a seamless combination attack.

A roaring sea of flames, amplified by gale-force winds, surged toward Jiraiya and his allies with devastating momentum.

However—

"Want me to handle it, or should you?"

Jiraiya cast a sideways glance at the Sixth Hokage standing beside him, speaking in a casual, almost playful tone.

"I'll do it. Just a wave of the fan."

With that, Sōgen raised the giant fan in his hand and swung it at the oncoming inferno. Torrential waves burst forth from the fan's base, quelling the flames with a force akin to a tsunami. The surging waters swept away several nearby buildings and a wide swath of the surrounding area.

"This fan is incredible!"

Jiraiya marveled at the banana-leaf-shaped fan in Sōgen's grasp.

"It is, after all, a tool once wielded by the Sage of Six Paths."

"Aren't those just myths?"

"Myths aren’t entirely fabrications of the imagination. As a writer, Jiraiya-sensei, you should understand the difficulty of crafting a story from thin air. Many legends are grounded in reality, distorted over time into new forms. Still, certain truths endure."

"So, how can you tell if a legend is real?"

"The Blaze Fan is another relic said to have belonged to the Sage of Six Paths." Sōgen gestured to the weapon slung across his back.

"The Uchiha Clan’s history is long, with countless records and documents. Besides, you could always consult the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku. If my clan’s records are accurate, that sage lived during the same era as the Sage of Six Paths."

"What?"

Jiraiya's expression shifted to one of shock, which quickly gave way to serious contemplation. "The Great Toad Sage and the Sage of Six Paths... It’s surprising at first, but not entirely implausible upon reflection."

Their casual conversation, entirely unhurried, revealed their complete disregard for Kakuzu.

This dismissive attitude infuriated Kakuzu. Even though he suspected it might be a ploy to provoke him, the possibility that they genuinely underestimated him pierced his pride like a needle.

"Arrogant brats... Even Hashirama Senju back then—"

Kakuzu wanted to boast about how even the First Hokage had respected his strength, but the memory of that towering wooden golem and its earth-shattering power stopped him short. He swallowed his words, instead snapping, "You insolent kids need to learn to respect your elders!"

This "kids" clearly referred to both Sōgen and Jiraiya. Even though Jiraiya was over 40 years younger than Kakuzu, the moniker was not entirely out of place.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness."

With a rumbling roar, a yellow-masked monster atop Kakuzu's shoulder unleashed a bolt of lightning, resembling a divine spear. The thunderous strike, aimed at Jiraiya, was swift and deadly. Having seen Sōgen’s fan extinguish the flames with ease, Kakuzu chose to target Jiraiya, aiming to eliminate the perceived weaker link.

Yet—

Sōgen wasn’t the only formidable presence on the battlefield.

"Uchiha Style: Gale Sword!"

Uchiha Chihaya, moving with lightning speed, unleashed a powerful slash. Enhanced by the *Shinatobe-no-Kami*, her strike collided with the lightning spear. Wind and lightning clashed fiercely, neutralizing each other. The remnants of Chihaya’s attack surged toward Kakuzu.

This head-on exchange of strength made the difference in power abundantly clear.

"Hmph!"

Kakuzu didn’t evade the incoming blow.

Instead, he raised his right hand, which became shrouded in a pitch-black hue. The remaining force of the slash shattered harmlessly against his hardened palm.

"Earth Release: Hardening Technique, huh? A pretty advanced one at that."

Jiraiya’s keen eyes noticed Kakuzu’s transformation in an instant.

"High-level Earth Release, combined with fire and wind ninjutsu… And now lightning too. You really live up to your reputation as the immortal ninja of the underworld."

Though Jiraiya seemed relaxed, even bantering with Sōgen, his mind was calculating. He had the confidence to defeat this veteran shinobi but wanted to avoid revealing his trump cards too soon. Then again, with Orochimaru around, his secrets were probably an open book already.

"Sōgen, let me handle this one…"

“Let’s all strike together and take this guy down quickly.”

Sōgen interrupted Jiraiya’s request.

This wasn’t some kind of exam. There was no need for one-on-one theatrics; it was better to join forces and attack as a group. Sōgen had chosen a steady, progressive tactic without any intention of shackling himself to stage a dramatic showdown. If a group assault would work, why bother with a solo duel?

And so,

Everyone launched a fierce joint attack.

“Ninjutsu: Wild Lion’s Mane Technique!”

Jiraiya whipped his head sharply, and his white hair instantly expanded, growing thicker and longer, resembling the dense mane of a lion. Don’t underestimate this white hair—it was as tough as tempered steel wires. The hair tightly ensnared the black tentacle-like creature with a mask that emerged from Kakuzu’s body, rendering it completely immobile no matter how much it struggled.

Then,

It constricted tighter.

The creature was sliced into fragments.

“Boom!”

At the same time,

Uchiha Chihaya delivered a thunderous slash, shattering the high-pressure wind bullets spat out by the masked creature. The residual force of the slash carried forward, reducing the creature into rubble.

“Hokage-sama, one of them escaped. Should we pursue?”

Kabuto, standing cautiously beside Sōgen, asked in a low voice.

Ahead of them,

two masked tentacle creatures had turned into solid statues of stone, appearing like avant-garde sculptures. They exuded a sinister and almost maddening aesthetic. Staring at them for too long could even evoke a slight sense of nausea.

Kabuto had witnessed these creatures being petrified merely by a glance from the Hokage.

Such a method,

was awe-inspiring.

Compared to illusion techniques that kill subtly, such straightforward and overwhelming power left an indelible impression. After all, unless one experienced it personally, the fearsome nature of genjutsu was often hard to comprehend.

Even Kakuzu had recognized Sōgen and his team's might.

Losing four of his hearts in one go, Kakuzu didn’t even have time for a parting remark before fleeing hastily. He feared that if he delayed even a moment, he’d lose his last heart as well, which would mean a total defeat.

“Maybe another time,”

Sōgen flicked his fingers lightly.

Two gusts of wind flew out, shattering the two stone statues before him.

With this, four of Kakuzu’s five hearts were destroyed, leaving only one for him to escape with. The assault of the so-called “Immortal Duo” had descended like a storm but departed just as quickly. They were dealt with swiftly and effectively, a mere bump in the road.

No matter how formidable Kakuzu was,

surviving an encounter with Sōgen, Jiraiya, and Uchiha Chihaya with even one heart intact was a testament to his skills—at least more so than Hidan, who remained helplessly impaled on a rock spear, unable to free himself.

With the Immortal Duo resolved, Sōgen assessed the battlefield.

Uchiha Obito and Deidara were entangled with Shisui’s group, while Orochimaru and Sasori had been scorched by Itachi’s Amaterasu. Though not killed, the two treacherous individuals took the opportunity to flee, disappearing to some unknown location.

It seemed the core members of the Akatsuki organization, aside from Zetsu, Konan, and Pain, had all made an appearance.

Which meant—

“There’s no one left to use, huh?”

Zetsu, the manipulative figure, wouldn’t step onto the frontlines before the plan officially commenced. Konan, being Nagato’s only trusted ally, wouldn’t be risked in a scenario like this, even though she wasn’t weak.

Considering all this,

The Akatsuki indeed had no usable pieces left on their chessboard.

Sōgen tilted his head back to gaze at the distant tower, sensing a growing, menacing killing intent emanating from its peak. His lips curled into a subtle smile.

“With all the pawns expended, it’s about time for the ‘king’ to take the stage.”

“Kabuto, stay sharp. The main event... is about to begin.”

“Hokage-sama, what—”

Kabuto’s question trailed off as he noticed Sōgen gazing upward. Following his line of sight, Kabuto saw a man hurtling through the air like a cannonball from the direction of the tower. The figure landed lightly on an iron bridge spanning the street, his long orange ponytail swaying behind him. The man’s expressionless face was adorned with several black piercings.

“Outside the range of my ocular jutsu... Did he deduce my maximum range from the previous exchange?”

Sōgen observed the man standing on the bridge and immediately activated *Ishikami*, his petrification jutsu. However, the man stood just outside its effective range, preventing Sōgen from resolving the threat instantly.

Then,

The man swiftly formed seals, performing a summoning jutsu.

Two more figures appeared, dressed in the same black robes with red clouds. Both bore black piercings, but their appearances differed. One was bald with a chilling smile, and the other had slicked-back hair and an icy, indifferent expression.

“No way... That’s...”

Jiraiya’s face suddenly paled, confusion and disbelief written across it.

He had come to the Hidden Rain Village for two purposes: to rescue Naruto and to meet Nagato, seeking to uncover the truth of the past and see if he could save the child he once believed was destined to change the world.

But he hadn’t expected to see the Rinnegan—

not on Nagato, but on these unfamiliar figures. Not one, but three pairs. Even if Nagato had lost his Rinnegan, how could there suddenly be three wielders?

Countless thoughts raced through Jiraiya’s mind as he struggled to piece together the mystery.

But—

“Finally, you’ve arrived.”

Sōgen twisted his neck, his joints cracking loudly.

A mere Kakuzu wasn’t enough to excite him. Before he could truly exert himself, Kakuzu was already down. It was underwhelming, not even worth the chase.

Looking at the three figures on the bridge, his lips curved upwards.

“If it’s you, maybe I’ll finally get to enjoy myself. Pain.”

A chilling killing intent filled the air.

Around Sōgen, the crimson skeletal form of the first stage Susano’o materialized. The massive skeletal hand swung down toward the bridge, smashing it apart. Yet the three figures standing there remained unharmed.

A black-and-white panda statue had risen in the bridge’s ruins, its arms stretched upward in a protective pose, shielding the trio beneath it from Susano’o’s devastating blow.

(Chapter End)

*Chapter 370: Uchiha's Counterattack*

"Statue?"

The stone statue, resembling a panda, that Pain summoned from who-knows-where was incredibly durable. Even the full-strength strike of Susanoo's first form couldn't shatter it. Sōgen narrowed his eyes slightly. Manipulating Susanoo with precision, he curled its fingers, attempting to grasp the panda statue along with the three figures hidden beneath it.

At that moment—

One of the three figures, a bald one, suddenly leaped into action.

Swinging his fist,

he struck Susanoo's phalange bone with tremendous force. A crisp sound of cracking bones echoed as Susanoo's gripping motion was interrupted. The deep crimson-flaming bone of the ring finger fractured, exposing a vulnerability.

Although the damage was quickly repaired as the ocular power surged and the broken bone regenerated,

Pain’s team had already slipped through the fleeting gap.

"That must be Asura Path, right?"

Sōgen murmured.

Among Pain's Six Paths, only the Asura Path, focused on offense, could land a punch that shatters Susanoo's bones. While the other paths might possess equivalent taijutsu prowess, their specializations varied, and not all could achieve such feats of raw power.

If it weren’t for his training in Tsunade’s Strength of a Hundred Seal technique,

even the Six Paths’ constructs created by the Rinnegan would struggle to achieve such brute force.

"Animal Path, Asura Path, and the third... which one could it be? Preta Path? Human Path?" Sōgen speculated about the identity of Pain’s third avatar. He ruled out Deva Path since it was made from Yahiko's corpse and stood apart from the others, leaving a lasting impression—there was no way Sōgen wouldn’t recognize it.

Next, he eliminated Naraka Path.

Of the Six Paths, Naraka Path had the weakest combat abilities but was uniquely essential due to its special powers. As a fellow Rinnegan user, Sōgen was confident that deploying Naraka Path at the frontlines was a nonsensical move that only an idiot would make.

Although Nagato was effectively a puppet,

he wasn’t foolish—his strategic decisions were constrained only by incomplete information. His battle intelligence was sharp. After all, in the original timeline, he single-handedly devastated Konoha. If not for Naruto’s persuasive abilities (Talk no Jutsu), Konoha would have been doomed.

Thus,

Sōgen concluded that Nagato wouldn’t send Naraka Path to the frontlines at this moment.

With this process of elimination,

only Preta Path and Human Path remained.

As for which one,

the answer was revealed in the next moment.

The third, unidentified Pain stepped forward, grasping Susanoo’s fingers. Then, Sōgen distinctly felt Susanoo's power being siphoned away—as if a massive container had been punctured, and water was gushing out.

"Preta Path, huh?"

Feeling his chakra being drained, Sōgen raised an eyebrow. With a single thought,

Susanoo's form dispersed like a mirage. Preta Path, now falling to the ground, barely absorbed any chakra. However, its interference had achieved its purpose. The moment Susanoo vanished, the Asura Path launched an attack.

Missiles trailing long fiery tails

rained down like a sudden summer storm.

The timing was precise, exploiting the moment Sōgen withdrew Susanoo. The missiles' speed suggested they aimed to strike before Susanoo could be resummoned to defend.

Meanwhile, Preta Path repositioned itself. If Sōgen attempted to summon Susanoo again for protection before the explosions, Preta Path would immediately pounce to drain his chakra further.

"Animal Path, Asura Path, Preta Path... a well-coordinated offense-defense combo, huh? Do they really think just three clones are enough to defeat our team? How underwhelming..."

"They’ve underestimated us!"

Standing still amidst the onslaught, Sōgen showed no signs of panic. He wasn’t alone in this infiltration of Amegakure.

Even with their forces split up,

he still had Jiraiya and Uchiha Chihaya by his side. As for Kabuto, he wasn’t relevant yet—his time to shine would come later.

This time,

it wasn’t Uchiha Chihaya who acted first.

The initiative belonged to Jiraiya.

"Ninjutsu: Needle Jizo!"

With preparations complete, Jiraiya moved faster than Chihaya, forming hand seals at lightning speed. His white hair shot into the air like needles, intercepting the incoming missiles mid-flight. The explosions that followed painted the sky with bursts of fire and sparks.

Chihaya, a step slower, frowned in frustration, sheathing her blade reluctantly.

"Jiraiya-senpai, Chihaya, stay alert. That big-haired one can absorb chakra. Be cautious not to get caught off guard," Sōgen said, pointing at the chubby Preta Path avatar with the slicked-back hair.

"Absorb chakra?"

Jiraiya, having just blocked the wave of missiles, grew even more serious. "Is that why you dispelled Susanoo?"

"Exactly."

"That’s quite a troublesome ability."

"Well, it is the Rinnegan. It wouldn’t be so legendary if it wasn’t formidable," Sōgen replied with a smile.

"Chakra absorption... Does it require physical contact, or can it even absorb the energy from jutsu? And if it can absorb jutsu, does the efficiency vary depending on the chakra nature?" Jiraiya quickly analyzed, pinpointing the critical aspects of the ability.

As expected from a veteran of the Second and Third Shinobi Wars,

Jiraiya’s strength wasn’t just in his combat ability. His extensive experience honed an ability to pierce through to the heart of problems and quickly evaluate information. Even with limited intel, he deduced multiple possibilities and identified potential weaknesses.

Sōgen didn’t answer directly. For one, he didn’t want to reveal his own Rinnegan powers just yet. And second, Pain’s next wave of attacks had already begun, their intensity demanding full attention.

As the first wave of missile attacks proved ineffective, Asura Path abandoned long-range tactics and charged directly toward the group.

Then—

The smooth, hairless head opened like the petals of a carnivorous plant, revealing the "alien turret" within.

It was called a turret because the core housed a massive amount of high-density chakra compressed into a terrifyingly destructive "projectile."

Without needing the Sharingan or Byakugan for observation, any normal person with sight could see the brilliant, high-density chakra orb. Through the enhanced vision of the Sharingan or Byakugan, one could vividly assess the catastrophic scale of destruction it could unleash upon detonation.

To be fair, this technique bore similarities to the Tsuchigumo Clan's forbidden jutsu, Fury of Heaven.

However, unlike Fury of Heaven, which absorbed natural energy to grow stronger the longer it was prepared, Asura Path's move was powered solely by its own chakra. While its upper limit could not match the forbidden technique, its destructive baseline was formidable—especially given that this was a full-power attack.

"Boom!"

The devastating beam of light surged toward Sōgen and his group.

But—

Unfortunately, standing in its path was none other than Konoha's Sixth Hokage.

What should have been an unstoppable attack failed to achieve its intended effect.

"Let me show you! This move is called—"

Sōgen stowed away the banana leaf-shaped fan in his hand and drew the Flame Fan strapped to his back. With a forceful motion, he swung the fan at the destructive beam emanating from Asura Path's head.

Crafted from the branches of the Divine Tree, the Flame Fan flawlessly deflected an attack capable of obliterating a steel-and-concrete building. Not only that, it absorbed the vast chakra within, converting it into a boundless storm that, guided by Sōgen's swing, rebounded upon Asura Path. In an instant, the path was consumed, unable to evade.

The storm's power was so overwhelming that it shattered Asura Path into a mangled heap.

"…Uchiha Reflection."

After Asura Path was pulverized, Sōgen finally announced the move's name.

Meanwhile, Animal Path had attempted to summon Asura Path back with its summoning technique, but it was a moment too late. The obliterated Asura Path lay inert on the ground, unable to respond, its fragments exuding a faint, not overly intense, scent of blood.

"…It doesn't seem alive."

Uchiha Chihaya observed the mangled remains and remarked earnestly.

"Though it has traces of life, it lacks the vitality of a living being. Moreover, the blood… there’s not much of it. It seems to be some kind of puppet."

"A puppet… Is this another power of the Rinnegan?" Jiraiya furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "If they’re puppets, that might explain why there are so many Rinnegan users. Could all of them be puppets?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward the regrouping Preta Path and Animal Path, now taking a few steps back. A faint sense of déjà vu flickered in his mind, growing stronger at that moment. Had he… seen this scene before?

No, that wasn't right.

It wasn’t a similar scene he recalled—it was their faces.

"Why does it feel like… I've seen them somewhere before?"

Jiraiya’s brows knit tighter, metaphorically crushing a fly, as his memories danced tantalizingly beyond reach. Decades of experiences crowded his mind, a vast ocean of recollections too daunting to navigate without a clearer lead.

---

"That fan… Is it the Uchiha Fan?"

Standing atop the vivid crimson tongue of the demonic statue, Pain’s usually stoic face betrayed a flicker of surprise. Delving into his memory, he recalled a conversation with Uchiha Obito about the fan’s true name, Flame Fan, though many habitually referred to it as the Uchiha Fan.

This gourd-shaped fan was the weapon of Uchiha clan leaders for generations and a symbol of their authority.

Originally owned by Uchiha Madara, the fan was lost to the clan after his defection from Konoha.

"Uchiha Obito, that incompetent fool, even managed to lose this."

Pain couldn't help but mock. As Madara’s chosen proxy, Obito had once flaunted the fan before Pain, posturing.

Yet, ultimately, Obito proved himself unworthy, repeatedly defeated by Uchiha Sōgen and even losing the fan. If not for his spatial ninjutsu, he’d have been entirely useless.

"Pain, are you planning to act personally?"

Beside Pain, Konan finally spoke.

"This Sixth Hokage is indeed a formidable opponent. Asura Path has been destroyed; relying on Animal Path and Preta Path won't suffice. Moreover… don’t forget Jiraiya-sensei is here too. Along with the Wind of Death, this scale of battle… requires serious effort."

Pain nodded slowly.

Behind him, the sound of footsteps echoed.

The remaining two paths emerged—one a long-haired young man, the other an elderly figure with a deeply wrinkled face, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties.

"Do you need me to…"

"No need to worry."

Pain interrupted Konan, turning to her with unwavering seriousness. "The Rinnegan is invincible. No one can match its power. I’ll end this quickly." His voice carried an unshakable confidence, like bedrock.

"I understand."

Konan replied softly.

She said no more, her belief in the Rinnegan’s power as firm as Pain’s.

And then—

Pain and his two paths vanished from her sight.

The crimson tongue of the demonic statue lay barren, the god’s presence replaced by Konan, the angel, her white wings unfurling as she silently overlooked the war-torn village below.

(End of Chapter)