Kakuzu found himself utterly helpless.
Akihara Kagura's Woodman Jutsu was like a monster; no ninjutsu could break it, and even the hearts he painstakingly collected with Earth Grudge Fear were crushed.
If Kakuzu's own body were to be killed, it would mean complete death. At least being alive, he still had the chance to use Earth Grudge Fear to collect hearts and survive!
This brat Akihara Kagura has quite the sharp tongue; not only does he control the Woodman to chase him down, but he also opens his mouth to ask how he broke the First Hokage's Wood Release!
How could he ask that?
Would the First Hokage Senju Hashirama have to fight him using Woodman Jutsu?
Kakuzu scrambled desperately to dodge the Woodman's attacks, looking for openings in between, hoping to survive just like many years ago!
"This is a completely different level of battle…"
Red Sand Sasori watched the desperate fleeing of Kakuzu and snorted, "Really losing face for the Akatsuki Organization… That guy is only good for collecting funds, nothing else."
"You want to save him?"
Orochimaru asked with a sly smile.
"Might as well save him."
Red Sand Sasori glanced towards Pain far away and whispered, "Letting Kakuzu die here wouldn't be easy to explain to Pain. Besides, with just the two of us, do you really think that fearing snakes will stop him?"
After speaking, Hiruko of the Red Sand Sasori suddenly unleashed several Chakra Threads, binding Orochimaru's body directly!
"You bastard!"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed sharply!
However, Hiruko grabbed Orochimaru's body and hurled him towards the Woodman. The massive Woodman immediately abandoned its pursuit of Kakuzu, instantly drawn to the flying Orochimaru!
The Woodman's hand grabbed Orochimaru's body!
Akihara Kagura stood atop the Woodman's head, looking at Orochimaru in its grasp, furrowing his brow slightly, and softly asked, "If I make the Woodman clench its fist now, can you survive?"
"Yes."
Orochimaru nodded.
At that moment, Orochimaru seemed to understand Akihara Kagura's intent, smiling brightly as if unaware of impending danger, signaling, "Go ahead, Kagura. You are my most perfect creation..."
Crack!
The huge Woodman abruptly clenched its fist!
Orochimaru's body was instantly crushed into mush by the Woodman!
Yet, from the mush emerged a long snake, which fell to the ground, opening its big mouth and spitting out Orochimaru's body!
"..."
Akihara Kagura's eyes narrowed slightly.
"All together now!"
Red Sand Sasori controlled a puppet to fly over while shouting to Orochimaru and Kakuzu, "This kid isn't someone any of us can handle alone!"
"You bastard…"
A flash of anger flickered in Orochimaru's eyes.
Because that bastard Red Sand Sasori had ambushed him with Chakra Threads, forcing him to save Kakuzu; otherwise, he wouldn't have been caught by Akihara Kagura's Woodman.
Fortunately, his life was resilient enough…
Otherwise, wouldn't he have been killed by Red Sand Sasori?
However, Red Sand Sasori, who had almost caused his death, acted as if nothing had happened, calling for his help to deal with Akihara Kagura!
But…
Orochimaru really couldn't refute him.
Because the real battle's outcome was over with Pain.
Orochimaru, Red Sand Sasori, and Kakuzu kept attacking the Woodman; the first two had intricate connections with Akihara Kagura, making them mere token participants, leaving only Kakuzu, who struggled even with just Earth Grudge Fear assisting.
The commotion here was intense.
Jiraiya and Pain's side remained motionless.
Pain was initially relaxed, believing the three from the Akatsuki Organization could easily take down Akihara Kagura…
But the result…
The trio from the Akatsuki Organization was being suppressed by Akihara Kagura.
"Jiraiya-sensei, is that your new disciple?"
Pain glanced at the rampaging Woodman, speaking in a deep voice, "You always excel at teaching students who turn out exceptionally well."
"Does that include you?"
Jiraiya stared intently at Pain, focusing on the face identical to Yahiko's, "Pain, are you Yahiko?"
"What on earth happened? Salamander Hanzo told me Yahiko was dead, but I see Yahiko alive, even using Nagato's eyes!"
"So you knew…"
Pain seemed unmoved, speaking with the detachment of a dead man, "Hanzo wasn't wrong; that guy called Yahiko is indeed dead… The one alive now is but a Pain feeling the world's anguish."
"..."
Jiraiya continued to scrutinize Pain, hoping to see the truth beyond his form, trying to discern any differences.
The Rinnegan is singular…
Pain has the Rinnegan, but what about Nagato's eyes?
Even though Jiraiya had traveled widely, witnessing various unique abilities of the Ninja World, he still couldn't fathom the power of the Rinnegan.
Yet…
No matter what…
This person was certainly his disciple.
"Whether you are Yahiko or not…"
Jiraiya ceased pondering, opened his palm, and tried persuading his disciple, "In any case, I know everything now. It's all Shimura Danzo's fault; we can't let someone else's mistakes lead us astray…"