"Shinra Tensei!"
Facing Hyūga Satoru, who charged straight toward him without hesitation, the Deva Path had no intention of holding back. Just as Satoru closed the distance, the Deva Path raised his hand and unleashed Shinra Tensei.
A terrifying repulsive force slammed into Satoru's body. Yet at the instant the force struck him, a faint smile appeared on Satoru's face. As his body was blown backward, he swiftly pulled a kunai from his pouch and hurled it with all his strength toward the Deva Path.
At the very moment the kunai left his hand, Satoru's body turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished.
"Hm?!"
The Deva Path was momentarily startled. The sudden disappearance revealed that the attacker had been nothing more than a shadow clone. What surprised him even more was the calm counterattack launched during Shinra Tensei itself.
The response was far too composed.
Nagato understood his own strength clearly. Over the years, Akatsuki had served as mercenaries across many nations. He knew better than anyone how rare and terrifying the Rinnegan's abilities were.
Ordinary shinobi wouldn't even understand what had killed them, much less launch a counterattack while being repelled.
Among all the enemies Nagato had faced, Hyūga Satoru stood out instantly.
Still, vigilance aside, the incoming Lightning Release kunai posed no real threat. With five pairs of Rinnegan observing the battlefield, the Deva Path calmly shifted his body and avoided it with ease.
"Zi—"
The kunai sliced past his side.
And in that instant—
Hyūga Satoru appeared out of empty space behind him, catching the kunai midair and slashing straight toward the back of the Deva Path's neck.
Flying Thunder God — Second Step!
Satoru's eyes sharpened. This strike was executed with absolute killing intent.
Against the Six Paths of Pain, Orochimaru had already retreated early, disappearing somewhere unknown. Although Jiraiya had taken down the Animal Path, the battlefield was now a two-versus-five.
However, Satoru possessed something overwhelmingly valuable.
Information.
Pain knew little about Jiraiya. The time Nagato had spent training under him was brief—barely enough to learn foundations.
As for Hyūga Satoru?
In Pain's eyes, he was a complete unknown.
But from Satoru's perspective, Pain was entirely transparent.
He knew every technique.
And that knowledge made assassination possible.
Shinra Tensei appeared invincible—but it wasn't.
After using it, the Deva Path required nearly five seconds before it could be activated again.
Five seconds was an eternity for Satoru.
Even one second was enough.
From the very moment Satoru escaped Banshō Ten'in using Flying Thunder God, this plan had already begun.
The Satoru standing beside Jiraiya earlier had been a shadow clone.
The real Satoru had teleported more than ten kilometers away to a pre-marked location. The violent inertia sent him rolling across the ground before he stabilized himself.
The clone had attacked deliberately, baiting the Deva Path into using Shinra Tensei.
Now—
This was the perfect opening.
Satoru's sudden appearance stunned everyone. Though the other Paths saw it through shared vision, the strike was too fast.
The Deva Path had no time.
He had just used Shinra Tensei.
And the cooldown hadn't ended.
Even as he twisted his head, Hyūga Satoru's calm face was reflected in his eyes. The kunai was already descending.
Then—
"Clang!!!"
Space distorted.
A war fan intercepted the blade.
A man wearing an orange spiral mask emerged beside the Deva Path.
Uchiha Obito.
Only space–time ninjutsu could counter space–time ninjutsu.
Obito had arrived long ago, observing silently. He hadn't expected Konoha shinobi—and certainly hadn't expected the Deva Path to nearly be decapitated.
Although the Deva Path was merely a puppet body, Obito had no intention of letting Pain expose too much.
Mystery was protection.
Once their abilities were fully revealed, defeat would follow sooner or later.
Even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, Obito never underestimated Konoha.
Especially not a youth who wielded the same technique as the Fourth Hokage.
With a cold snort, Obito forced Satoru back with his war fan.
The Deva Path finally regained breathing room as the cooldown ended.
Sensing the moment lost, Satoru immediately teleported back to Jiraiya's side.
"That was brilliant," Jiraiya said regretfully. "Shame it didn't work."
He glanced at Obito.
"That masked man… is he the one Minato mentioned? The attacker from back then?"
"Yes," Satoru nodded. "He's Uchiha—"
Before he could finish, Obito formed seals.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Whirlwind!"
A massive firestorm surged forward, warping through space itself.
Obito would not allow his identity to be exposed.
The name Uchiha Madara was his armor.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Jiraiya reacted instantly. A towering wall of water shielded them as fire and water collided, generating thick steam.
Fog swallowed the sea.
Even Rinnegan and Sharingan vision was restricted.
"Watch underwater," Nagato warned.
But Obito had no intention of lingering.
His body phased out, vanishing into space.
As he disappeared, his voice echoed:
"That kid uses Flying Thunder God. The kunai he throws are marked."
Pain's eyes narrowed.
So that was it.
The battlefield fell silent.
Unbeknownst to them—
Deep beneath the sea, a toad swam calmly among fish.
Inside its belly, Jiraiya sat cross-legged, two elder toads on his shoulders, gathering senjutsu chakra.
Nearby, Hyūga Satoru crouched beside the fallen Animal Path, removing a black chakra receiver.
A treasure.
A fragment of Yin–Yang Release.
While Jiraiya entered Sage Mode, Satoru quietly studied his prize.
This battle was not over.
It had only begun.
…
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