Chapter 181: A Strategic Retreat
The sequence of events had unfolded in a single, breathtaking breath. From the teleportation to the point-blank Rasengan, Uchiha Ren's assault was a masterpiece of lethal efficiency. Caught completely off guard, the Tendō Pain could do nothing but endure the devastating impact.
"Uchiha Ren!" Pain's roar was one of pure, unadulterated fury, but it was a futile protest against the inevitable.
The Rasengan's violently rotating chakra tore through the black robes instantly, then ground mercilessly into the flesh beneath. Muscles and bone were twisted into a grotesque spiral pattern by the sheer force. A sickening crunch echoed through the sudden silence.
"Hmph! Begone!" Ren snarled, putting the full force of his body behind the technique. With a final, powerful thrust, he sent Pain's body flying backward like a discarded ragdoll.
The puppet crashed through the rubble of several surrounding buildings before finally coming to a crumpled halt, lying motionless in a cloud of dust and debris.
***
Far from the Sound Village, hidden deep within the forests of the Land of Rain, a gaunt, red-haired man connected to a grotesque mechanical contraption suddenly convulsed. A wracking cough tore from his lungs.
"Nagato! What's wrong?" Konan cried out, her paper features twisting in alarm as she rushed to his side.
There was no doubt—this emaciated figure was the true mastermind, Uzumaki Nagato. The Tendō Pain was merely his most powerful remote-controlled puppet.
"The Tendō Path..." Nagato wheezed, his voice strained and weak. "It has been defeated."
"What? Pain was defeated? By Uchiha Ren?" Konan's voice was barely a whisper, her worldview shaken to its core. In her eyes, Pain was an invincible deity, a harbinger of divine judgment. This failure was unthinkable.
"Uchiha Ren..." Nagato repeated the name, a mixture of rage and newfound respect in his tone. "I underestimated him. Hmph, his reprieve is temporary. He will face a more severe trial, one for which he is utterly unprepared. Konan, we are leaving."
Understanding the implication—that their objective had failed and staying was pointless—Konan simply nodded. "Understood."
Without another word, she helped facilitate their retreat, the two figures vanishing from the area to return to their hidden base in Amegakure. The real Pain had been forced to withdraw.
***
Back in the ruins of the Sound Village, Ren arrived at the spot where Tendō Pain's body had landed, only to find an empty crater. The puppet had vanished.
Tch. Summoning Jutsu reversal... likely the work of the Animal Path, Ren deduced, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. The battle had consumed significant chakra and left part of his village in shambles, yet he had failed to secure a decisive victory.
No matter, he thought, his expression hardening. He won't dare underestimate me again. The next time we meet, it won't be just one Path; it will be all Six Paths of Pain, fully prepared. But I know all their abilities. Their combined strength poses no real threat to me.
Shrugging off his frustration, Ren activated the Body Flicker Technique and reappeared beside his team.
"Boss! What happened? Did you finish off that lunatic?" Suigetsu asked eagerly, still smarting from the earlier humiliation.
"I repelled him," Ren replied calmly. "But I didn't land a killing blow. He retreated. He will be back, and next time, he will come in full force."
"So, that was truly the leader of Akatsuki," Sasuke mused, his Sharingan glinting thoughtfully.
"He actually ran away?" Karin scoffed. "Some leader."
"Do not make the mistake of underestimating him," Ren warned, his tone serious. "It is no small feat to command the monsters in Akatsuki. I repelled him today because he did not bring his full power to bear. Had he done so, and had we not been within the defenses of the Sound, this village might have been flattened." He turned to Karin. "Karin, the village has suffered significant damage. I leave the rebuilding efforts to you."
"Hmph. I know," she replied, already mentally compiling a list of tasks.
"It seems our quiet days are over," Ren continued, addressing the group. "We thought we could rest after capturing the Four-Tails, but trouble has found us sooner than expected. Pain's personal appearance means Akatsuki is now moving openly against us. Having gauged my strength, he will not return unprepared. And we still have the Five Great Shinobi Villages as enemies. We cannot afford to be complacent." He looked at Suigetsu. "Suigetsu, issue the order. Security is to be heightened immediately. Any suspicious individuals entering the Land of Sound are to be investigated thoroughly."
"Understood. I'll see to it."
"Now," Ren said, turning towards the central building, "let's convene in the war room. It's time to discuss our next move."
The members of the Eagle team followed him in silence, the gravity of the situation settling upon them. Once inside the secure conference room, they took their seats, all eyes fixed on their leader.
"Alright, Boss," Suigetsu said, breaking the silence. "What's this big move? It must be serious. Are we hitting another village? Kirigakure? Iwagakure?"
Ren looked at Suigetsu, a cold, predatory smile slowly spreading across his lips. The answer he gave sent a shockwave through the room, stunning even the most battle-hardened among them.
"Our target this time is neither Kirigakure nor Iwagakure," Ren declared, his voice dropping to a deadly calm. "It is... Konoha."
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