"Shinra Tensei!"
Facing Hyuga Shin'ichi, who charged recklessly towards him, the Deva Path had no intention of holding back. Seeing Shin'ichi rush forward, the Deva Path raised his hand and immediately used Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push).
A powerful repulsive force instantly slammed into Hyuga Shin'ichi. However, the moment the force struck him, a smile suddenly appeared on Shin'ichi's face. As his body was being flung away by Shinra Tensei, he quickly pulled a kunai from his robe and forcefully threw it toward the Deva Path. Simultaneously with the throw, Hyuga Shin'ichi's figure instantly transformed into a puff of white smoke and vanished into thin air.
"Hmm!?"
The sudden disappearance of Hyuga Shin'ichi's Shadow Clone was beyond the Deva Path's expectation. The opponent's counter-attack while being hit by Shinra Tensei was also quite surprising.
His response... was calm and fluid. Although it was the first time facing the Shinra Tensei attack, he did not show the slightest hint of surprise, as if he had known the Deva Path would use it...
Nagato had a clear understanding of himself. He knew his techniques were special—a very rare existence in this world. When ordinary people faced his techniques, let alone counter-attacking like Hyuga Shin'ichi just did, they often failed to even realize what kind of technique had struck them before they died.
Hyuga Shin'ichi's counter-attack... stood out too much among all the opponents Nagato had encountered, causing him to become highly wary of this enemy.
But wariness aside, the Deva Path calmly tilted his body and dodged the incoming kunai. Although the Lightning Release Kunai was fast, the Deva Path's reaction speed was equally quick, making it not difficult to avoid the attack.
"Shiz—"
The Lightning Release Kunai sliced past the Deva Path's side. However, the moment the kunai missed the Deva Path and went behind him, Hyuga Shin'ichi suddenly materialized from the void, grabbed the kunai in mid-air, and slashed directly at the Deva Path's back neck.
Flying Thunder God Technique! Stage Two!
A sharp glint flashed in Hyuga Shin'ichi's eyes. With this strike, he was determined to kill.
Facing the Six Paths of Pain, the tricky snake Orochimaru had long since withdrawn. He was probably hidden somewhere, secretly observing the battle between them and Pain. Although Jiraiya had successfully taken out the Animal Path, Shin'ichi and Jiraiya were still at a disadvantage in a two-on-five situation.
However, while Shin'ichi's side did not have an advantage in numbers, he possessed a massive advantage in intelligence compared to Pain.
Pain might have a slight understanding of Jiraiya, but that knowledge would certainly not be extensive. As for Hyuga Shin'ichi, he was a complete blank slate in Pain's eyes, entirely unknown to them.
Conversely, Pain was completely transparent in Hyuga Shin'ichi's eyes. Shin'ichi knew all the techniques they possessed, and this was the key to Hyuga Shin'ichi's successful assassination attempt on Pain.
Shinra Tensei...
In the eyes of ordinary people, this technique is nearly invincible. However, in reality, the jutsu is far from being "invincible." The user needs almost five seconds of build-up after releasing Shinra Tensei before they can release a new one.
This five-second "interval" is the biggest weakness of the Shinra Tensei technique. For an ordinary ninja, even knowing the weakness does not mean they can exploit this window. However, for Hyuga Shin'ichi, who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, let alone five seconds, even a one-second window was a tactical opportunity he could seize.
Based on the weakness of Shinra Tensei, Hyuga Shin'ichi designed this strategy.
In fact, Hyuga Shin'ichi's plan had already begun when he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade the Deva Path's Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull). The one who returned to Jiraiya's side using the Flying Thunder God was not Hyuga Shin'ichi's main body, but his Shadow Clone.
Shin'ichi's main body, after escaping Banshō Ten'in via Flying Thunder God to a pre-marked spot several kilometers away, was only able to stop after tumbling forward several meters due to the immense inertia.
It was precisely because it was Shin'ichi's Shadow Clone that appeared next to Jiraiya that it immediately attacked the Deva Path. Luring the opponent into using Shinra Tensei was Hyuga Shin'ichi's goal.
As the Shadow Clone was attacked and disappeared, its memories were transmitted back to Shin'ichi's mind. He knew that now was the perfect moment to assassinate the Deva Path!
Hyuga Shin'ichi's sudden appearance behind the Deva Path was clearly beyond everyone's expectations. Although the visual fields of Pain's Rinnegan were all connected, and the other four Paths saw Shin'ichi appear to assassinate the Deva Path, Shin'ichi's emergence was too sudden, and his attack speed was too fast. It was already too late for the others to rescue the Deva Path.
Furthermore, the Deva Path, having just used Shinra Tensei, had his "skill on cooldown." This brief window was precisely seized by Hyuga Shin'ichi. At this moment, it was too late even for the Deva Path to attempt to dodge.
Turning his head hastily, the Deva Path's pupil reflected Hyuga Shin'ichi's handsome, clear-cut face. With the kunai blade about to land on his neck, the Deva Path's eyes were filled with sharpness and murderous intent.
Being a puppet, it was impossible for any look of fear to show in his eyes.
"Clang!!!"
Just as the Deva Path was about to be decapitated by Hyuga Shin'ichi's single strike, a spatial vortex suddenly appeared in the void next to him. Uchiha Obito, wearing an orange spiral mask and holding a gunbai (war fan), abruptly appeared beside the Deva Path, blocking Hyuga Shin'ichi's fatal blow.
Against a user of space-time ninjutsu, only another user of space-time ninjutsu could respond!
Uchiha Obito had already arrived on the battlefield. His original intention was to see who dared to invade the Land of Rain. He didn't expect the enemies to be Konoha ninja, and even more surprisingly, the Deva Path was caught off guard and was about to be decapitated with a single strike.
Although the Deva Path's body was just a puppet, a corpse, which the Jigokudō (Hell Path) could easily repair, the battle had just begun. Obito did not want Pain to reveal too many abilities in front of the Konoha ninja.
If their abilities were thoroughly understood, he, as the leader of the Akatsuki organization, would lose his sense of mystery. This sense of mystery was crucial to both Pain and Uchiha Obito; it was a protective color that could not be easily lifted. The moment this mysterious veil disappeared, the sense of pressure they exerted on others would be greatly reduced, and the moment their abilities were thoroughly studied, they would not be far from defeat.
Although Uchiha Obito had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he still did not dare to underestimate Konoha Village. Otherwise, he wouldn't have to operate under the name of Uchiha Madara, nor would he wear a mask and fear showing his true face.
And facing this young man who used the same space-time ninjutsu as the Fourth Hokage, Obito still raised his utmost guard, not relaxing in the slightest.
Obito, as a ninja, clearly understood that if he underestimated the opponent because of his young age, he might have to pay an unbearable price!
"Hmph!"
Obito let out a soft grunt. Using force with both arms, he directly shoved Hyuga Shin'ichi away with the gunbai.
Blocked by Uchiha Obito, the Deva Path gained time to breathe successfully. The five-second interval for Shinra Tensei easily passed. Realizing the opportunity was lost, Shin'ichi dared not linger in Pain's encirclement. The moment he was deflected by Obito, he immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Jiraiya's side.
Sensing Shin'ichi's appearance, Jiraiya glanced sideways, then turned his head to stare at Uchiha Obito, who was slowly emerging from the spatial rift, regretting slightly: "A brilliant tactic, but a pity it didn't succeed."
"Is that masked man... the one Minato mentioned who attacked Konoha back then?"
Jiraiya did not know much about Uchiha Obito. Minato had not extensively publicized the matter, and the investigation against Obito had always been conducted in secret.
After all... publicly, Uchiha Obito was a Konoha hero who died at Kannabi Bridge. Before capturing Obito, Minato did not want his disciple's reputation to turn into that of a reviled Konoha traitor.
Thus, even Jiraiya, Minato's teacher, did not know Obito's identity deeply.
"Yes, that guy is Uchiha..."
Hyuga Shin'ichi nodded. However, before he could finish his sentence, Uchiha Obito in the distance suddenly formed a hand seal and released a Fire Release jutsu. The flames he released, coupled with the spatial vortex generated by Kamui, immediately turned the flames rushing toward Shin'ichi and Jiraiya into a fiery tornado.
Fire Release: Wild Dance of Explosive Wind!
The fire vortex obscured the gloomy sky, rushing head-on toward Jiraiya and Hyuga Shin'ichi, giving Shin'ichi no chance to finish his sentence.
Just like Pain's puppet bodies... the name Uchiha Madara was the protective color Uchiha Obito used to maintain his mystery. How could he allow himself to be "exposed" in front of Nagato? The reason he could so easily command Nagato and Kisame to do his bidding was largely due to the name "Uchiha Madara" he carried.
"Water Release: Water Encampment Wall!"
Facing the Uchiha clan's Fire Release attack, Jiraiya also responded quickly. Although Water Release was not the attribute most compatible with his chakra nature, on the sea surface, his Water Release could still exert a powerful effect.
Jiraiya raised a giant water wall, firmly protecting both himself and Shin'ichi within it from all sides.
In the distance, the Deva Path and the others quietly watched the scene before them, their eyes flickering between the distant water wall and Obito.
Hmm... even Nagato had rarely seen Uchiha Obito use a Nature Release attack against an enemy.
To be able to unleash a Fire Release of the intensity of Wild Dance of Explosive Wind... he was worthy of the Uchiha name! In the Shinobi World, the Uchiha were always famous for their Sharingan and Fire Release ninjutsu.
"Hiss—"
The moment water and fire mixed, a large amount of hot steam instantly billowed up. A vast expanse of white mist immediately spread across the sea's surface. Under the continuous light rain, the rising mist lingered and did not dissipate for a long time.
At the same time, the field of vision for both Pain's Rinnegan and Uchiha Obito's Sharingan was greatly reduced in this dense fog.
Obito and the Deva Path stood side by side on the sea surface, the group looking around, seemingly searching for the traces of Jiraiya and Hyuga Shin'ichi.
"Be careful of the water below."
Nagato, having suffered a loss once, naturally did not want to suffer a second one. While being vigilant about movement underwater, he did not forget to remind his partner, "Uchiha Madara."
However, Uchiha Obito clearly did not want to be put in such a passive situation. His figure dematerialized. Under the Deva Path's side glance, he slowly turned into a small spatial vortex and then vanished without a trace, leaving the five Pains to deal with any potential attacks from the enemy.
Nagato clearly had not expected his well-intentioned reminder to cause "Uchiha Madara" to silently leave. After a brief moment of surprise, his mind settled down.
Pain... after all, they were corpses, puppets. Using them as targets when facing unknown enemy attacks was naturally more suitable, so "Uchiha Madara's" action was not wrong.
And just as Obito's figure gradually disappeared, his voice was transmitted into Pain's ears:
"That kid's technique is the Flying Thunder God Technique. He can instantly teleport to the location of a marker."
"The kunai he just threw had his marker on it. You need to be careful."
As Obito's figure vanished, a look of realization appeared in Pain's eyes.
Flying Thunder God Technique, huh...
This technique had long been famous throughout the Shinobi World along with the Fourth Hokage. Even he knew this technique. Now that he knew the ninjutsu the opponent was using, he could naturally plan how to "capture" him.
The sea surface enveloped by the dense fog was quiet. The Pains in the fog vigilantly scanned their surroundings, but after waiting for a long time, the enemy did not show up. The long wait made Pain suspect that the opponent had retreated. However, with the fog still thick and their vision restricted, they did not act rashly. After all, the enemy's strength was also very high, and carelessly falling into another ambush would make the situation even harder to handle.
...
In the deep sea, a toad slowly drifted among the fish, disguising itself as a fish...
Inside the toad's stomach.
Jiraiya sat cross-legged on the "ground," and on his shoulders stood two elderly toads. The three of them had their hands clasped together, gathering Sennin Chakra (Sage Chakra).
Hyuga Shin'ichi squatted beside Jiraiya, examining the Animal Path that Jiraiya had "killed." He then suddenly reached out, pulled a black receiver rod from the body, and carefully inspected it.
This was a black rod created by Nagato using Yin-Yang Release to transmit chakra, a byproduct of the Six Paths Orb. For Hyuga Shin'ichi, it could be considered a "treasure" that would guide him in using Yin-Yang Release.
He decided to conduct a brief study while Jiraiya was entering Sage Mode. The two of them had already agreed to seize this opportunity to weaken Akatsuki's power as much as possible. At the very least... they needed to gather intelligence on the enemy's ninjutsu so the village could prepare in advance.
And now, Jiraiya needed to give his all!
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