A demon materialized, clad in a revealing brown outfit and wearing a surgical mask. Its aura locked onto the Asura Path.
"Am I pretty?" a crisp, bewitching voice echoed through the space.
In the middle of a life-or-death battle, a seductive demon had appeared. But her curvaceous figure did not stir the lecherous Jiraiya's heart; instead, a primal fear bloomed within him. Neither Jiraiya nor Pain knew what Shion's Bankai was capable of.
When the Asura Path didn't answer, the demon pulled down her mask, revealing a mouth grotesquely slit from ear to ear.
"If you won't answer, then you can die." She snipped a pair of scissors in her hand.
Strangely, the Asura Path was completely unable to dodge. The scissors sliced open the corners of its mouth and plunged through its heart. During this, the other Paths of Pain attacked the demon, but their attacks were useless.
"What is this power?" Pain's expression changed. He had always seen himself as a god, believing that with the Rinnegan, he was invincible. But at this moment, a trace of fear crept into Nagato's heart.
Another bewitching woman appeared, this one in a yellow dress, a strange, robotic smile on her face. She slowly turned around.
"Red light... green light... one, two, three."
"You moved. So you die." With a sickening crack, the Human Path's neck was twisted and broken.
Shion looked at Pain indifferently, hovering high in the sky. "Here, you must obey the rules. Otherwise, you die."
In a single exchange, the Asura and Human Paths had been destroyed. It was an unnervingly bizarre ability, impossible to defend against.
"Universal Pull." Pain's face darkened, and a powerful gravitational force erupted.
"Possession." A black shadow merged with Shion's body, and the next moment, she became transparent. The Universal Pull passed through her, having no effect.
"She can merge abilities? But there must be a weakness," Pain thought, his expression grim.
"Almighty Push." A violent force tore apart several of the encroaching black shadows.
"Don't look at the balloon, or he'll go crazy." A frenzied black shadow shot towards the Deva Path and bit off its right arm.
"Almighty Push." The balloon demon was crushed. Nagato, controlling Pain, looked even more grim. The muddy air of the demon world was interfering with his control over the puppets. He could feel his connection to the Six Paths weakening. If this dragged on, he would surely be defeated.
"Damn it, how can the Seireitei have such a powerful person? Wasn't the priestess Shion supposed to be a non-combatant?" Nagato's heart grew anxious.
With the demons' unique abilities, Pain was temporarily at a disadvantage. Although the Naraka Path could revive the other Paths, after a few rounds of fighting, Shion had figured out its ability and was now putting constant pressure on it.
"This is not looking good. Even without Naruto, Pain is already showing signs of defeat. Is even the Rinnegan not enough to stand against the Seireitei? This is just hopeless," Jiraiya swallowed, his eyes flickering. "The current Konoha probably couldn't even stop Pain, let alone the Seireitei. If Pain could win..." A very wicked thought suddenly popped into Jiraiya's head. He turned pale, shocked that he could even think such a thing, and quickly shook his head to banish it. But the thought lingered.
"If Pain can defeat Shion, then Naruto might be forced to act. Then I can get a better understanding of the Seireitei's true strength."
Jiraiya had to admit it. For the sake of Konoha, he might have to become despicable.
On the battlefield, the fight continued. As time wore on, Pain could no longer maintain his composure.
"I didn't expect the Seireitei to have someone like you," he said coldly. He unleashed a barrage of Almighty Pushes, shredding the black shadows. The Naraka Path revived the destroyed Paths, and the six of them hovered in the air, looking down on Shion with contempt. A pillar of chakra erupted, momentarily creating a hole in the demon world.
"But before a god, everything is meaningless."
The immense chakra made Shion's face darken again. It was clear that, having only just mastered her Bankai, she was not yet a match for Pain.
"This guy is terrifying," the Nine-Tails said, having broken free from his restraints. He appeared at Shion's side, a look of lingering fear on his face. In his long life, he had met many formidable opponents, but the Six Paths of Pain were on another level of terrifying. Still, there was a considerable gap between him and the First Hokage.
Nagato knew that his own body was a wreck and his strength had declined significantly. If this became a battle of attrition, he would definitely lose, so he unleashed his full power.
"I promised Naruto I would protect the Seireitei until he returned," Shion said, her hands coming together. The hundred demons converged, and her face grew a shade paler. "This will be my final attack. Nine-Tails, support me." Shion's lips were now completely white.
"Don't worry, I'll do my best to hold him off," the Nine-Tails nodded gravely. Red Reiatsu condensed around his body, forming a suit of armor.
"Hmm?" The Nine-Tails suddenly seemed to sense something. He glanced at Jiraiya, a slight smirk on his face. A clone formed behind him and merged into his body.
"Thanks. With your help, I'm more than a little stronger now." The Nine-Tails instantly crossed the distance to the Six Paths of Pain and slammed a Tailed Beast Bomb onto the Naraka Path. A roar echoed as his figure flickered, teleporting around the space. With a piercing sonic boom, several of the Paths were sent flying. The Nine-Tails' legs exploded with power, and he leaped behind the Asura Path, his claws slashing downwards. The Asura Path, with its shared vision, immediately grew a spiky armor. After blocking the claws, several black rods knocked the Nine-Tails back.
"Damn it, this Seireitei is no simple matter," Nagato thought in horror, struggling to control Pain, but to no avail. The demon world was temporarily blocking his control over the Six Paths.
"Almighty Push."
"Ten-Fingered Flying Missiles." Pain ignored the Nine-Tails, his gaze fixed on Shion, who was gathering her power.
The Nine-Tails threw himself in front of her, his Tailed Beast Bomb forming a shield. This action only confirmed Nagato's unease, and he attacked Shion with even greater frenzy.
Finally, as the Nine-Tails collapsed from exhaustion, Shion had finished charging her ultimate attack.
"Annihilation," Shion's cold voice echoed.
A black hole appeared, instantly swallowing the Naraka and Asura Paths, and began to spread towards the remaining Paths.
"What is this ability?!" Nagato was shocked. He had lost his connection to the Naraka and Asura Paths. This meant that two of the Pains had been completely destroyed.
"Damn it, I'm going to lose!" Nagato anxiously channeled his chakra, trying to break free from the restraints, but it was useless. He could only watch as the Paths were devoured one by one.
The Human Path, the Preta Path, the Animal Path...
Finally, only the Deva Path remained.
Just as the black hole was about to swallow the Deva Path, a ninjutsu appeared.
"Toad Oil Flame Bullet." In the end, Jiraiya could no longer stand by. He formed hand seals, and a violent stream of fire shot towards Shion.
Her concentration broken, Shion collapsed weakly to the ground. The spiritual pressure in her body was temporarily sealed due to her last attack. She looked at Jiraiya with hatred. "Very good, Jiraiya of Konoha. You've done very well."
Out of respect for Jiraiya being Naruto's master, Shion hadn't dealt with him during her Bankai. She never expected that this would be the key to her defeat.
"Sorry, but Pain can't die," Jiraiya said with a hint of guilt. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "I'm sure you understand. This is war. We're on different sides."
He looked at Pain in the sky, his expression firm. "Pain, I don't care if you're Yahiko or Nagato. I'm sure you've seen the terror of the Seireitei. Let's cooperate, for now."
After a long internal struggle, Jiraiya had made up his mind. He could no longer be the indecisive, soft-hearted man he used to be. The Seireitei was Konoha's enemy, and the enemy of his enemy was his friend. Just one Shion was enough to display a power that could overwhelm Pain. Naruto was surely even stronger. If Pain, with his Rinnegan, was killed, then the Seireitei would truly be invincible.
Naruto was powerful, but he and Pain together might not necessarily lose. As long as they could obtain intelligence and weaken the Seireitei, it would be a success for Konoha. It was a risk worth taking. Rather than sit and wait to be destroyed, it was better to take the initiative.
"Sensei, you've finally cast aside that foolish mercy," Nagato, having survived the ordeal, breathed a sigh of relief. He controlled the last remaining Deva Path to look at Jiraiya. "It was Konoha that pushed you to do this, wasn't it?" Pain's voice was cold.
"This shinobi world will soon be plunged into conflict. The seeds of war will be sown, and we, the Akatsuki, will control it all. Sensei, I'll give you one chance to join us and fight for the Akatsuki." Nagato felt no gratitude, only threatening Jiraiya.
"War? You want to start a war?" Jiraiya's expression changed. So, the Akatsuki's goal was similar to the Seireitei's! This was definitely not Yahiko's ideal! Who was this person?
"Why? Yahiko, Nagato, isn't your goal world peace? Haven't you always been working towards that goal?"
Looking at Jiraiya's incredulous face, Pain was impassive. "World peace? What a distant concept."
"Humans think they are the protagonists of the world, indulging in slaughter and war. War brings death and pain, untold suffering, yet the great nations are still constantly finding excuses to start them."
"Humans are ugly. The fundamental reason this world cannot have peace is that humans have not experienced true, bone-deep pain."
"Only when they feel pain, experience pain, and understand pain will they understand the value of peace and yearn for it."
"I'll give you one last chance. Join the Akatsuki, or die." A Planetary Devastation enveloped the Nine-Tails, lifting him into the sky.
Pain flew higher and higher, a blinding white light appearing in his hands as a torrent of chakra rained down. The air warped, and the earth trembled. The aura of death enveloped everything below.
The ominous feeling made Jiraiya cry out in horror, "What are you doing? Are you going to destroy all of this?"
The chakra brewing in Pain's hands made Jiraiya's heart pound with fear. At that moment, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He had offended the Seireitei and sided with Pain. But Pain was so ruthless.
"It seems you have made your choice."
"Then accept pain, and understand pain!"
"Those who do not know pain can never understand true peace!"
"I will not forget Yahiko's pain!"
"From now on, let the world know pain!"
"Catastrophic Heavenly Repulsion!"
"It's been a long time, Mr. Aizen."
"It's been a long time, Naruto."
In the Soul Society.
Naruto and Aizen looked at each other, complex emotions visible in their eyes.
Aizen sighed. When they met again, the weak boy from before now possessed the ability to defy fate, to the point that even he felt a trace of fear.
Naruto sighed. When they met again, the charismatic, confident, and refined Aizen was still the same as in his memory, unchanged.
"Naruto, it seems you have found your true philosophy," Aizen said, looking at the Naruto who was so similar, yet so different from himself, a look of gratification in his eyes.
The Naruto in his memory had been a boy who had admired and imitated him. Under his guidance, he had learned to think. He had also shown his talent. In less than ten years, his strength had grown by leaps and bounds. Now, he possessed abilities comparable to his own. From this, it was clear that Naruto had already broken free from that cage and was moving towards his own goal.
Aizen wouldn't ask about Naruto's future plans, because he now saw him as an equal.
"Seeing you now, I am very happy, Naruto," Aizen said with a gentle, refined smile. "How have you been?" he asked, in the tone of an old friend.
Seeing Aizen after so long, countless hidden emotions rose in Naruto's heart. Gratitude, appreciation, nostalgia, and respect. Without Aizen, he might still be the Uzumaki Naruto controlled by Konoha. Without Aizen, he would still be a frog in a well.
Although Aizen's purpose in teaching him was more for research and curiosity, hoping to glimpse a chance to transcend life through him, for Naruto, Aizen's kindness was tantamount to saving his life. Before, he had admired and looked up to him. Now, he and Aizen were like old friends.
"Just... trying my best to be better," Naruto shrugged, a similarly gentle smile on his face.
After defecting, he had almost completely sealed off his emotions, becoming cold and ruthless. Because he had to plan for everything, and his enemy was the entire shinobi world. Naruto was confident, but not so arrogant as to see all the powerhouses of the shinobi world as trash. After establishing the Seireitei, the pressure on his shoulders was not small.
"Is that so? You've grown, Naruto. I see the qualities of a leader in you. You will definitely achieve your goal," Aizen nodded in satisfaction.
"Mr. Aizen, you will succeed too. After all, you are my teacher," Naruto replied with a smile.
"Teacher?" Aizen's gaze became distant, then he chuckled. "In a way, you have already surpassed me. But soon, I too will cast everything aside. I will stand in the heavens, invincible."
"Don't be arrogant, Naruto."
"Because being surpassed and surpassing others happens in the blink of an eye."