Chapter 35: Clash in the Rain
On the other side, Uchiha Akira led his temporary team through the sodden landscape of the Rain Country.
For this mission, Sarutobi Hiruzen had provided specific coordinates and areas of focus for their initial investigation. After scouring these priority locations, they were to proceed with a more general reconnaissance.
BOOM!
Thunder rolled across the sky, a constant companion in a land where clear weather was a rarity. A torrential downpour lashed the earth, reducing visibility to a gray curtain. From the moment they'd crossed the border, Akira and his team had been thoroughly drenched.
After a full day of meticulously investigating the Hokage's marked locations, the four of them had found precisely nothing.
"Any results from your insects?" Akira asked, his scarlet Sharingan scanning the area as he turned to Aburame Shiigo.
The Aburame clan's secret insect techniques allowed them to cultivate bugs for a myriad of purposes, some capable of near-miraculous feats of detection.
Aburame Shiigo adjusted his sunglasses slightly. Tiny beetles skittered across his skin and clothing before returning beneath his coat. "No traces detected," he reported tonelessly.
"And you?" Akira shifted his gaze to Hyuga Kaoru. "Did the Byakugan find anything?"
"Captain, we found nothing of significance," Kaoru replied, her cool voice cutting through the rain's drumming. "The combat traces here are at least two months old. There is nothing anomalous in the present."
"Understood," Akira nodded, his expression grim. "We move to the next location marked in the mission scroll."
Shortly after they departed, the ground in the spot they had just vacated quivered. A pale, plant-like figure—a White Zetsu—oozed up from the mud.
"Hehehe..." it giggled softly to itself, watching the direction the team had gone. "As if a mere Byakugan and some bugs could detect the Mayfly Technique..."
"Right, right," it muttered, its voice shifting. "Better notify Nagato. He's been waiting all day." The Zetsu sank back into the earth, its body dissolving as it used its unique technique to travel.
Moments later, it emerged beside Nagato and Konan, who were moving through the rain-swept wilderness.
"Nagato," it announced, "I've found Uchiha Akira's trail. They are in the Kurokawa Mountain region, northern Rain Country."
"Acknowledged," Nagato said with a nod. He looked at Konan. "Kurokawa Mountain is not far. We will intercept them there. This time, the Deva Path will handle it."
Konan, clad in the distinctive black cloak with red clouds, gave a firm nod. She turned to the Zetsu. "Go ahead and establish the relay tower. We will be there shortly."
"On it," the Zetsu chimed before melting back into the ground. The relay tower was necessary; Nagato could not control his Paths over extreme distances without a chakra signal booster.
In the Kurokawa Mountain region, Uchiha Akira led his team through the relentless downpour. This area had been specifically flagged by Hiruzen as a potential Akatsuki cell location, requiring thorough inspection.
Suddenly, Hyuga Kaoru halted, her Byakugan activating. Veins bulged around her eyes as she stared intently into the sheeting rain. "Captain! Three individuals approaching from the nine o'clock direction. Their chakra signatures... are massive!"
"They are moving very fast. They will be upon us in moments," she added urgently.
"Prepare for engagement," Akira ordered, his voice low and steady.
"Understood," the three replied in unison, shifting instantly into defensive stances.
Within a few breaths, three figures materialized from the gray veil of rain. They wore the now-familiar black cloaks adorned with red clouds. The leader had spiky orange hair and wore a forehead protector from the Hidden Rain Village, slashed through with a horizontal line. Three black piercings adorned his nose. His face was utterly devoid of expression, his eyes holding a dead, purple ripple pattern.
The figure behind him was a young woman with orange hair styled in pigtails. She bore a similar slashed Rain headband and a single black stud between her eyebrows.
Bringing up the rear was a burly man, also with orange hair. Sharp black rods protruded from his ears, and more were embedded in his cheeks.
Akira's heart gave a hard thump. The Deva Path, in person. And if his deduction was correct, the other two were the Animal Path and the Naraka Path.
This won't be easy... He thought, but his eyes flickered almost imperceptibly toward the thunder-charged sky overhead. He felt no panic. Given the timeline, Nagato had only recently embraced his darker path and allied with Obito. His mastery of the Six Paths Technique would be nascent, not yet at its peak.
"Those eyes... Three pairs?!" Except for Akira, his three teammates all wore expressions of shock and recognition. The unique ocular pattern was unmistakable.
Yamanaka Shigeyoshi's face was grim. "Captain, what are your orders?"
"If combat is unavoidable, I will engage the central figure," Akira stated calmly. "The three of you handle the remaining two."
They offered no argument. From their sensory perception, the chakra of the orange-haired leader was overwhelmingly potent, marking him as the primary threat.
As Akira finalized their plan, Nagato, operating from a distance, directed his three Paths forward. He had no intention of dialogue.
As soon as they were in range, the Animal Path acted.
"Summoning Technique!"
A plume of smoke erupted in the rain. From within it charged an enormous green chameleon, which immediately shimmered and vanished from sight.
"Summoning Technique!"
Another roar. More smoke, and from it leaped a gigantic, winged three-headed hellhound. It snarled, saliva flying, and lunged toward Akira's team.
"Be alert! The invisible summon is approaching!" Hyuga Kaoru shouted, the veins around her eyes pulsing. To the Byakugan, even invisibility was meaningless.
"Stick to the plan!" Akira's voice was a sharp command over the storm. "If the weather changes dramatically, you three are to disengage from the battlefield immediately!"
The moment his words faded, his form dissolved into a streak of brilliant blue lightning. He reappeared in a flash right beside the Naraka Path, his ninja sword crackling with potent Lightning Release chakra as he aimed a decapitating strike.
Among the Six Paths of Pain, the Naraka Path was the most critical. It held the power to resurrect the other five. Eliminating it first was the key to victory; otherwise, Pain could simply be revived again and again.
"Almighty Push!"
The Deva Path's cold, emotionless voice cut through the air.
Akira, mid-swing, felt an immense, invisible force slam into him. It was colossal, irresistible.
CRASH!
Wreathed in lightning, Akira was hurled backwards like a ragdoll. He smashed through a cluster of rocks dozens of meters away, sending stone fragments flying.
Scrambling to his feet, he skidded to a halt, his ninja sword carving a deep furrow in the mud. His scarlet Sharingan was narrowed, his breathing slightly ragged. Even having dispersed some of the force, he had taken the brunt of the Almighty Push. His chest felt tight, his blood churning.
It's not as powerful as I'd feared, but I still can't afford to take too many of those head-on with my current physique. I have to avoid direct impacts whenever possible.
In the next instant, he was moving again.
A bolt of lightning shot forward, covering the dozens of meters in a fraction of a second. This time, Akira charged straight for the Deva Path itself.
Almighty Push has a five-second interval. If I time it right, there's an opening.
(End of Chapter)
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