I didn't bother hiding my disappointment.
"Is that all?" I muttered as another one of Black Mask's armed thugs fired at me point‑blank. The bullets screamed toward my face—and I didn't even move.
Shinra Tensei.
Gravity folded around me in a perfect sphere. The rounds bent, twisted, and curved away as if even metal understood who the superior force was. I stepped forward, Black Chakra Rod already forming in my hand.
My Deva Path moved like a phantom.
My main body remained safely in the base, watching through the Rinnegan link while the clone‑corpse did the dirty work for me. But with Madara's taijutsu mastery, the Deva Path fought with far more elegance—and brutality—than Nagato ever had.
A thug swung a bat.I sidestepped.The rod pierced his throat without hesitation.
Another tried to flee.I extended my hand.
Banshō Ten'in.He flew backward into my grip, impaled like the rest.
Black Mask's hideout was a slaughterhouse, and I moved through it without emotion—only a creeping sense of boredom. Criminal after criminal fell, none offering even a glimmer of challenge.
By the time I reached Black Mask himself—pathetic, trembling behind his desk—I sighed.
"Your organization disappoints me," I said flatly.
I thrust the black rod forward—
—and the window behind me exploded.
Glass burst inward as Robin flipped through first, staff ready.A heartbeat later, Batman landed with that heavy, predatory silence he was famous for.
The Dark Knight's voice was ice."Step away from him."
I tilted my head.
Perfect.
The Clash
Robin moved first, fast and precise.Batman followed, fists like iron hammers.
My Deva Path met them both.
Taijutsu against the Bat's mastery.Gravity‑enhanced palm strikes against Robin's acrobatics.
For the first time tonight… I felt alive.
Their blows actually carried weight.Their reactions pushed me to move faster, sharper.
But even they couldn't fight what they couldn't understand.
Robin lunged—I redirected him with a black rod flick.
Batman came in with a devastating right hook—I absorbed the momentum, twisted, and sent him crashing into a wall with a pulse of gravity.
He rose again, of course.He always does.That's why he's Batman.
But this fight wasn't my goal.
Not yet.
So the moment they prepared their next coordinated attack, I pressed my hand to the floor.
"This has been enlightening," I said."But we're not ready to meet properly… not yet."
Reverse Summoning Jutsu.
The Deva Path vanished in a swirl of chakra—
and my laugh echoed through the collapsing hideout.
The Rewards of Fear
Back in the safety of my base, sitting comfortably with my true body, the notifications began pouring in.
[You have gained +500 points: Criminal Fear Influence][You have gained +250 points: Gotham Media Attention][You have gained +750 points: Robin's Direct Encounter][You have gained +800 points: Batman's Direct Encounter]
Almost 1500 points from the heroes alone.Another 500 from the criminals I slaughtered.
Over 2000 points for a test run.
Not bad.
Orochimaru glanced at my monitor and smiled that serpent‑smooth smile of his.
"It seems Gotham has begun whispering your name."
I leaned back, closing the system window, feeling the hunger for more power pulse through me.
"No," I corrected him."They're whispering the Akatsuki's name."
My Rinnegan glowed.
"And soon… they'll learn to scream it."