To have been chosen as the disciple of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, meant that Shimura Danzō's talent was never far behind that of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage.
Over the years, Danzō had survived multiple shinobi world wars. His strength was unquestionably at the level of an elite jōnin, and he was only half a step away from the power of a Kage. He lacked only a few things, but his vision and experience were sharp, far beyond those of an ordinary ninja.
Thus, when he saw the Deva Path of Pain effortlessly pierce through one of his Root operatives with a single black rod—ignoring all other attacks and moving with seamless precision—Danzō's heart sank.
He knew his Root shinobi were not weak. Each one was carefully selected, highly trained, and far from disposable cannon fodder. Yet in front of this enemy, one of them had been slain instantly, without resistance, in a single smooth motion.
Gritting his teeth, Danzō suppressed the fighting spirit in his chest and instead leapt back, barking an order:
"Attack! Don't give him a chance to rest!"
At once, the Root shinobi continued their assault. Ninjutsu and weapons filled the air—fire release explosions lit the battlefield in blinding light, their heat pushing against the cold rain.
But Deva Path simply turned his head, his cold eyes locking onto Danzō. That killing intent pressed down on him like an executioner's blade. Just from being stared at, Danzō felt a chill run down his spine, as though death itself had glanced his way.
"Damn it… What's going on here?" Danzō cursed inwardly.
"Years ago, Akatsuki was nothing more than a pathetic underground group, not even worth mentioning. I once manipulated them with Hanzō. How could they possibly have grown into something so powerful?"
The face of Deva Path was still that of Yahiko, but Danzō had no memory of him. All he saw was an opponent far too strong—unreasonably strong.
And Deva Path was not alone. There were five others at his side. Together, they were the Six Paths of Pain.
Akatsuki should still have been lurking in the shadows for another decade before drawing the attention of Jiraiya of the Sannin. Yet because Danzō had stepped into Amegakure, he was now forced to witness their true power—far earlier than history intended.
It was an incomprehensible might, divine and terrifying.
Suddenly, Deva Path extended his hand toward one of the Root shinobi. His cold gaze swept like a blade across the man's throat. Then, his fingers curled, and an irresistible force pulled the shinobi forward.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
Gravity itself seemed to obey his command. The Root shinobi struggled but was dragged helplessly through the air, throat seized in Deva Path's hand. With a casual twist, his neck snapped, and the body was discarded like worthless trash.
Danzō's body trembled. As a Konoha elder, a man of high position and authority, he could not allow himself to die here in Amegakure—especially since he had left without Sarutobi Hiruzen's knowledge. Dying here would not only be his end, it would be an unerasable stain of disgrace.
He was old now. His youthful daring had long since been replaced with caution. Instead of thinking of how to defeat Pain, his first thought was of how to survive, how to escape this place alive.
This small Land of Rain… could not become his grave.
Sweeping his eyes across the Six Paths of Pain, all of whom now fixed their attention on him, Danzō's heart clenched. He cursed in frustration.
"Damn it! I should never have come in person. To show goodwill, sending Ryōma would have been enough. And where is Hanzō? A battle this loud—there's no way he wouldn't notice. Which means…"
His pupils shrank.
"No… impossible! Hanzō's strength was praised even by Hiruzen himself. The Five Kage all acknowledged his might by granting him the title of 'Demi-God.' How could such a man possibly have been killed?"
Yet the longer he fought, the more the horrifying truth became undeniable. These bizarre abilities… these overwhelming powers…
It could only mean one thing.
Hanzō the Demi-God—legend of the shinobi world—had already been slain. The Land of Rain's so-called protector was no more. Amegakure was no longer his domain.
It belonged to Akatsuki.
The realization struck him like a hammer. Murderous intent flared in his eyes. Straightening, Danzō finally revealed a glimpse of his former shinobi pride. He charged forward, unleashing a jutsu.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Wind Release was Danzō's specialty. He had mastered its techniques and refined them to a high level. The blast of cutting wind roared toward his enemy.
But the next moment, one of the Paths—a towering, muscular figure—extended a single hand. He seized the rushing gale as though it were nothing and snuffed it out.
Like pinching out a fragile flame between two fingers.
Danzō froze.
"My Wind Release… crushed, just like that?!"
He didn't understand their powers. Without intelligence on the Six Paths of Pain, fighting them could only end one way: death.
Even Jiraiya of the Sannin, famed throughout the shinobi world, had ultimately fallen before them. Perhaps with knowledge, he could have won—but Danzō had neither sufficient strength nor the crucial information.
The result was inevitable.
His Root operatives fought desperately, but one by one they fell, until none were left alive.
Now, only Danzō remained.
Surrounded, his back to the wall, his mind whirled with panic. He had no time left to analyze, no way to retreat. Gritting his teeth, he raised a kunai, aiming it directly at Deva Path's heart. His face twisted with fury as he roared:
"Die!"
In another timeline, this very image would become infamous—Danzō trying to stab Susanoo with a kunai. It was so absurdly defiant that it became a meme: "Kunai vs. Susanoo." A testament both to his desperation and his insane courage.
But here, Deva Path merely cast him a disdainful glance. He didn't even look at the kunai. With a quiet command, he snapped the blade in Danzō's hand and hurled him backward.
"Shinra Tensei!"
The force flung Danzō ten meters through the air. He scrambled to his feet, panic overtaking pride, and immediately turned to flee.
If a kunai couldn't kill him, then what was the point of fighting? Run!
The Six Paths pursued, but none struck the final blow. Instead, they herded him like predators toying with prey—six gods chasing a desperate old man. It was nothing more than a game of cat and mouse.
The mouse ran, exhausting itself, while the cats watched and waited. Only when the mouse had no strength left would the killing strike come.
For half an hour, Danzō fled through the rain-soaked streets. But age and exhaustion betrayed him. At last, his legs failed, and he collapsed, gasping for breath.
As the six figures closed in around him, Danzō forced himself upright one last time. A kunai trembled in his grip.
Deva Path's voice was colder than the rain:
In the name of God, I shall end you.