The Deva Path silently observed the seemingly languid kunoichi opposite him, yet the thought of retreat had already begun to form in his mind. He called himself a god because he believed he could bring peace to this world, hence the self-proclaimed title. But he didn't truly believe his own strength could be called divine.
Though blinded by his ideals, Nagato was very clear about his own limitations. The young woman he now faced instilled a sense of powerlessness in him, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. The last time he'd felt this way was... with Yahiko...
"I have no intention of being your enemy. I invited you for the sake of peace. On the path to peace, I need your help..." the Deva Path began.
"Is that so." A trace of mockery touched Sakura's lips. "What a coincidence. I, too, am pursuing peace..."
"Then, have you agreed to join us?" the Deva Path asked.
Sakura shook her head. "I have my own way."
With that, Sakura clenched her fists, her legs tensing. A powerful force surged through her feet, and the earth beneath her instantly shattered. Propelled by this force, Sakura shot forward, her beast-like aura rushing towards the Deva Path, as if intending to tear him to shreds.
"This is the last time. If it doesn't work, I'll retreat." Sakura, concealed underground, nervously watched the Deva Path's reaction. If she couldn't succeed this time, getting further entangled would only expose the flaw in her technique.
Ninjutsu was ever-changing, but a single repulsive force could counter most of it. This was why Sakura hadn't used ninjutsu up to this point. No matter what kind of ninjutsu, it couldn't avoid being repelled. Only this little trick of hers still had some effect.
Moreover, she couldn't reveal her trump card yet. Otherwise, if she failed to take him down this time, she would be targeted when they faced each other again. Sakura wasn't sure if she could completely eliminate him even after revealing her trump card.
Although the information asymmetry gave Sakura an advantage, this advantage wasn't enough to completely defeat Pain. Either retreat, or find an opportunity to get a black rod and determine Pain's main body's location. There was no other choice.
"Shinra Tensei!" The Deva Path raised his hand and unleashed the repulsive force at the approaching figure. Unsurprisingly, the repulsion once again had no effect on Sakura. Just as her thunderous fist was about to smash into the Deva Path, he didn't dodge in the slightest.
"Not good!" Sakura thought, her heart sinking. She had expected the Deva Path to dodge, allowing her to predict his evasion and launch a surprise attack. But now...
With a soft thud, the kunoichi's fist made intimate contact with the Deva Path's body. The punch, which should have been earth-shattering, felt like hitting cotton.
The Deva Path stood firm, his Rinnegan eyes looking down at the pink-haired ninja whose head barely reached his chest. Then, without a hint of compassion, he seized her by the neck and lifted her up.
"So that's how it is!" The Deva Path stared at her. "A very strange clone technique. Can the main body and the clone switch at will? You attacked me with such initial momentum to force me to evade, but in reality, you switched to a clone with no offensive power while dodging my attack. A good idea."
Although Pain hadn't fully grasped the principle behind Sakura's technique, the basic operation was indeed as he described. Sakura felt a twinge of regret; she hadn't expected him to see through her ruse so quickly. When the Deva Path had used Chibaku Tensei, she had already sensed that this technique had been seen through. Now, it seemed her premonition was correct.
Just as the Deva Path was about to apply force, his fingers suddenly passed through the girl's neck. Sakura then fell to the ground, performed several backflips to create distance from the Deva Path. It was at this moment that the Sakura hidden underground quickly switched places with "her."
Both sides warily stared at each other. Sakura was now looking for an opportunity to retreat. Although she wanted to take him down, she also had to consider the actual situation. If she couldn't win but still insisted on fighting, that would be foolish. She still had unfinished business and wasn't suited for a life-or-death struggle at this time.
Although Nagato had seen through the kunoichi's trick, the thought of retreating grew even stronger in his mind. That clone... he hadn't seen the slightest flaw in it. That clone was undoubtedly a real person. Even under the gaze of five pairs of eyes, he hadn't noticed how she had switched with the tangible body.
Especially when she finally broke free from the Deva Path's grasp, his hand had passed right through her body, just like... Uchiha Madara. When he was gripping her neck, it was a solid body, yet it had turned intangible in an instant. The only other person he knew who could switch between tangible and intangible states was Uchiha Madara...
As this thought arose, Nagato vaguely began to understand why Madara was interested in her. Heh, the same ability as Madara? Indeed, she warrants attention.
Little did he know that the one paying attention to Sakura Haruno was Black Zetsu. Nagato, however, assumed that Madara was interested in Sakura because she possessed the same ability as him. How this twist of fate would ultimately unfold, no one could say.
"Sakura Haruno, my invitation is always open. If you've thought it through, you can find me. I'll be waiting for you in Amegakure. I can feel your pain. We... are the same kind of people..." the Deva Path said.
After speaking, the Deva Path was the first to leave, and the other Paths of Pain followed.
Sakura narrowed her eyes, watching the spot where Pain had departed, not letting her guard down in the slightest. Who knew, they might think a frontal attack was too troublesome and resort to a sneak attack. Her biological perception couldn't detect the movements of the dead.
She remained on high alert for a quarter of an hour. Apart from the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, there were no other unusual noises.
"They really left?" Sakura, still somewhat suspicious, scanned her surroundings once more. Finally confirming that no one was there, she plopped down on the ground.
Fortunately, Pain wasn't too determined to capture her. If the fight had continued, it would only have forced changes to her plans. This outcome was quite good. She could weave her grand web in secret, waiting for the final moment to reel it in.
As for the secrets of Junko's era, Sakura felt she had been overthinking things. If he knew anything, would he have asked her how she was resurrected? It was precisely because he knew nothing that he had asked.
Sakura didn't want to dwell on the reasons for Pain's recruitment offer. Whatever the reason, it would all be meaningless once her ultimate plan succeeded.
She had originally planned to eat and then continue her journey, but she hadn't expected to be delayed by Pain for so long. However, Sakura couldn't be bothered to play cat and mouse with Yamato anymore. If he caught up, he caught up. If there were any major developments on Red Shoal Island, he would find out sooner or later.
She caught some more game nearby. After eating and drinking her fill, she saw that Yamato still hadn't caught up. It's not that I didn't give you a chance; you just didn't seize it. Patting the dust off her clothes, Sakura continued towards Red Shoal Island.
... ...
"You just let her go like that?" Konan asked, puzzled, on their way back.
"She... might be the key to confronting Madara," Nagato said after a few seconds of contemplation, his gaunt face pensive.
"Confronting Madara?" Konan turned her head in surprise, glancing at Nagato. "I thought... you..."
"Now... is not the best time..." Nagato quietly interrupted Konan. "Akatsuki... will always belong to us, belong to Yahiko..."
Konan opened her mouth but made no sound. She had always thought Nagato was being deceived by Uchiha Madara. She hadn't expected Nagato to have never been fooled by Madara's honeyed words at all. I'm sorry, Nagato. I shouldn't have doubted you.
"I will always be by your side, for our ideals..."