Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Five-Finger Missiles launched from Asura Path's wrist were intercepted by the Shukaku beast claws that Sōmi had conjured.
However, Sasori's attention was clearly captured by Asura Path's bizarre abilities. Without hesitation, he charged forward with three puppets, engaging in a fierce battle against Asura Path, Preta Path, and Naraka Path.
Among Sasori's puppets, the most unique one was crafted from the corpse of a member of the Kaguya Clan. When infused with Senjutsu Chakra, the puppet entered the Second Stage of the Cursed Seal transformation!
The puppet was surrounded by bone-white Chakra spikes, with a thick, black, spine-like tail extending from its back. Its appearance was neither fully human nor entirely beast-like.
Relying on the Kaguya Clan's Kekkei Genkai, enhanced by Senjutsu Chakra, this puppet was not afraid of Preta Path's Chakra absorption abilities.
Though Preta Path could theoretically sever Sasori's Chakra threads, achieving such a feat against a puppet master of Sasori's caliber—especially one capable of manipulating taijutsu-based puppets—was no easy task.
This was especially true now that Sasori possessed the Kamui ability!
"Hm…"
The cold gleam of the Rinnegan flickered in Deva Path Pain's eyes. As he faced Sōmi directly, a sense of unease crept into his heart.
This man... and that humanoid summoning beast he had conjured...
And even that puppet master...
Their strength far exceeded his expectations. Yet, Deva Path Pain, having already resolved to push his body to its limits, maintained an air of absolute confidence.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
Pain raised his hand, and a sudden, powerful gravitational force materialized, pulling Sōmi toward him.
Even in the form of a small, jade-green Shukaku conjured with Senjutsu Chakra, Sōmi couldn't resist being dragged forward. If not for the golden sand anchoring his feet to the ground, his entire body might have been lifted into the air.
The power of the Rinnegan truly was extraordinary...
No wonder Pain constantly proclaimed himself to have transcended the suffering of mortals and become a god.
Shhh...
Sōmi's feet carved deep grooves into the ground as he was dragged several meters forward before finally coming to a halt.
But before Sōmi could react, Pain raised his hand again, murmuring softly:
"Shinra Tensei!"
A sharp, whistling sound pierced the air, resembling the cry of an arrow in flight.
An even more powerful repulsive force erupted outward from Pain as the epicenter, spreading in all directions.
Whoosh!
The surrounding golden sand, soil, and rubble were violently flung into the air, as if swept away by an invisible, ferocious hurricane.
Shhh...
Sōmi, who had just stabilized himself, was once again forced backward. If not for his beastly feet digging deep into the ground and anchoring him to the golden sand, his entire body might have been flung into the air like a speck of dust.
"Hm?!"
The purple glow in Pain's Rinnegan flickered sharply. Since mastering the Rinnegan's abilities, this simple yet brutal combination of "pull and push" had never failed him.
At full power, his Shinra Tensei could flatten an entire forest within a radius of dozens of meters!
Yet, after pulling and repelling Sōmi, the man had only been forced back a few meters...
"Heh!"
"This weak and feeble attack... is that what you call the power of a god?!"
In his jade-green Shukaku form, Sōmi sneered disdainfully at Pain, his voice laced with mockery.
Of course, Sōmi knew that Shinra Tensei had a cooldown interval of five seconds. As he taunted Pain, his hands were already weaving a series of hand seals at lightning speed.
"Sage Art: Sky Refining Cannon!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The two-meter-tall jade-green Shukaku's belly swelled dramatically before spewing out three millstone-sized white projectiles!
The projectiles, composed of countless interwoven wind blades, streaked through the air with astonishing speed, leaving behind trails of compressed air as they hurtled toward Pain.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Violent explosions erupted from Pain's position. The swirling wind blades coalesced into a tornado, relentlessly shredding everything within its range.
Yet, despite the destructive spectacle, Sōmi's Sage Mode-enhanced senses were focused elsewhere.
His attention shifted toward the Animal Path, which was summoning beasts to battle Shinga. As the Animal Path summoned a chameleon, Deva Path Pain's figure appeared alongside it.
The chameleon swallowed both Deva Path and Animal Path in one gulp. Moments later, the green chameleon turned transparent and vanished from sight.
For someone without Sage Mode...
Such a trick would seem clever.
But to Sōmi, it was laughably naïve.
In his heightened Sage Mode, Pain's attempt to hide was no more effective than draping himself in a white curtain. Sōmi could easily sense Pain's location.
However, Sōmi didn't immediately launch an attack. Instead, he pressed his hands to the ground, preparing to lure his enemies closer.
Meanwhile, the jade-green Shukaku he had conjured began to develop eerie purple patterns across its surface, giving it an otherworldly appearance.
Yet, Sōmi noticed that after the chameleon turned invisible, it didn't charge toward him. Instead, it remained stationary.
Moments later, a series of bangs echoed as the remaining four Paths of Pain vanished from their positions.
"Sōmi, what's that guy up to now...?"
Sasori, who had been locked in an intense fight with Asura Path and Preta Path, approached with a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Probably preparing some big move," Sōmi replied, his hands still pressed to the ground. As he channeled massive amounts of Senjutsu Chakra, the golden sand beneath the earth was being converted at an astonishing rate.
After answering Sasori, Sōmi glanced upward toward the aerial battle between Ichikishimahime and Konan.
Konan, like a bomber, continuously unleashed explosive tags, paper spears, and paper swords through her Dance of the Shikigami.
But Ichikishimahime's movements in the air were exceptionally agile, like a serpent twisting and turning gracefully in water. She evaded Konan's attacks with ease, occasionally countering with Sage Art techniques.
After transforming into a human form, Ichikishimahime had taken the time to learn every type of elemental ninjutsu from Sōmi. As a result, she had earned the title of "Ninjutsu Professor" of Ryūchi Cave.
Realizing that physical attacks were ineffective against Konan's Paper Release, Ichikishimahime switched to Fire Release techniques to counter her.
This led to an unexpectedly steamy scene.
Konan's Akatsuki cloak, licked away by flames, revealed her stunning figure beneath.
Konan's tall, statuesque frame—nearly 170 centimeters—was clad in tight, light-purple pants and a zippered backless top. From certain angles, one could catch glimpses of her ample curves.
Her navel was adorned with a ring, and her right hip bore the Amegakure forehead protector.
Combined with the burn marks and holes in her pants, as well as her violet eye shadow, Konan exuded a perfect blend of allure, wildness, and elegance.
Through one particularly revealing tear, it seemed the truth behind the "Akatsuki's White Tiger" was becoming evident...
As Sōmi raised his head, he couldn't help but wonder:
Spending every day with such a captivating beauty, could Nagato's frail, sickly appearance be the result of being completely drained?
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