Hearing Jiraiya's words, Hyūga Kawa lowered his eyelids, seemingly deep in thought.
"I just feel that my sight has become clearer, my sensory range has expanded significantly, and my control over chakra is several times more precise."
He frowned impatiently, pondered for a moment, and shook his head: "But, besides that, there seems to be... nothing else?"
"This..." Jiraiya was practically tearing his hair out in frustration. He scratched his head vigorously. "Haven't you mastered the power of those eyes yet?"
He subconsciously turned to look at Fukasaku and Shima on his shoulders, trying to get an answer from the two knowledgeable Sages.
However, Fukasaku and Shima, looking at Hyūga Kawa's eyes, could sense the power hidden within, yet even they had never heard of such eyes.
The Hyūga Clan's Byakugan can actually evolve like the Sharingan?
And also...
Fukasaku's horizontal pupil stared at the markings on Hyūga Kawa's face, a flicker of uncertain light seeming to shimmer in his eyes.
He didn't know if the human in front of him was the "Child of Prophecy" mentioned by the Great Elder.
But regardless of who the "Child of Prophecy" was, Jiraiya was supposed to bear the responsibility and destiny of guiding the "Child of Prophecy," which was also a way for Mount Myōboku to continue its legacy.
But now...
"How did this Hyūga human master a 'Sage Mode' outside the system of the Three Great Sage Regions?" Fukasaku thought to himself.
He could sense the Senjutsu Chakra within Hyūga Kawa's body, and he could also sense the affinity the other party had with Natural Energy.
Undoubtedly, these were characteristics of "Sage Mode."
However, Fukasaku was certain that he had never seen such a "Sage Mode." This was definitely not the "Sage Mode" of the Three Great Sage Regions.
Could it be...
"The Sage Body?" Fukasaku's white eyebrows furrowed. He stared intently at Hyūga Kawa. "Is it the same Sage Body as Hashirama Senju?"
Could this Hyūga human truly be the Child of Prophecy?
Just as Fukasaku's mind was in turmoil, a scene that surprised everyone unfolded.
Bang!
In the ruins below, a muffled sound, not loud but extremely sudden, erupted from beneath the feet of Pain's Deva Path!
A figure burst out of the earth without warning, having been lurking for a long time, suddenly launching the long-awaited killing blow!
It was a Shadow Clone that Jiraiya had hidden for a long time!
He had used Natural Energy to conceal himself, allowing him to evade the Deva Path's senses and covertly approach to such a close distance.
The timing and angle of the Shadow Clone's appearance were exceptionally shrewd.
It was the very instant the Deva Path was fully concentrating its mind and chakra on maintaining the Chibaku Tensei in the air, making him most vulnerable to self-defense.
"Ōdama Rasengan !"
The moment the Shadow Clone leaped out, a long-condensed Ōdama Rasengan instantly formed and smashed fiercely toward the Deva Path's head!
"When?"
The Deva Path's Rinnegan slightly narrowed. Clearly, this completely unexpected assault caused him a moment of brief surprise.
Was it hidden long before the main body appeared?
He thought, but his reaction speed was rapid. Almost the instant the Shadow Clone broke through the earth, the hand holding a Black Receiver Rod had already thrust out, piercing through the clone's chest!
Pfft!
The pitch-black rod passed through the body without any obstruction!
However, simultaneously with the black rod piercing the Shadow Clone, the Ōdama Rasengan also struck the Deva Path squarely on the head.
Boom!!
The Senjutsu Chakra exploded instantly. A terrifying shockwave swept crazily outwards, immediately clearing the ground of debris and smoke!
Accompanied by a bone-jarring crunch, the Deva Path was sent flying backward completely out of control, slamming into a pile of broken walls in the distance!
The Deva Path lay in the ruins, his limbs twisted, clearly shattered. The black cloak with red clouds he wore was tattered and ruined.
His head was even more of a mess, with half his cheek utterly pulverized by the impact.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya's Shadow Clone dissipated into a plume of white smoke.
"Did it succeed!?"
In the air, Jiraiya stared intently at the Deva Path's "corpse," then abruptly looked up at the Chibaku Tensei, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest!
If the caster is severely injured or destroyed, shouldn't the technique be released?
However, the faint trace of hope that had just appeared on Jiraiya's and the hope-filled faces of the Konoha people instantly froze!
Because the massive sphere of rock in the sky, which had grown so huge it was blotting out the sun, did not collapse, disintegrate, or stop operating as expected.
It continued to frantically devour everything. The ground of the entire Konoha was showing frightening, massive depressions, and the earth trembled as if wailing.
Countless remnants of houses, broken beams, shattered objects, and even entire uprooted trees were irresistibly flying skyward.
Many Konoha ninjas who didn't have time to dodge or whose Chakra was depleted and couldn't resist, as well as vast numbers of men, women, elderly, and children utterly powerless against this act of nature...
They were swept up effortlessly like fallen leaves in a hurricane, emitting shrill cries and terrified screams, mixed with desperate wails, echoing heart-rendingly in the wind!
"Help! I don't want to die!"
"Lord Third! Save us!!"
"Lord Jiraiya!!"
"Mommy!"
"Grab me! Quick, grab me!"
They waved their arms futilely, trying to grasp something, but could only watch helplessly as they drifted further and further from the ground, getting closer and closer to the growing, deathly mass above!
Their eyes pierced through the chaotic dust and smoke, locking onto Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Tsunade in the distance—the life-saving straws they instinctively sought to clutch!
However, their pleas and cries were quickly submerged and covered by more massive rocks and architectural debris being sucked up!
Rumble!
Countless rocks crashed, squeezed, and piled up ruthlessly. Those desperate screams and cries for help suddenly ceased.
In their place was the chilling sound of bones cracking, and a final, weak whimper just before complete burial.
Blood flowed and dripped from the crevices. One life after another was buried alive, becoming part of that massive stone sphere.
"How could this happen?!"
Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the others changed expression, looking down at the Deva Path's "corpse" below.
They saw the overlooked Pain's Preta Path appear next to the mangled, twisted Deva Path "corpse." He formed hand seals, and a massive, hideous head materialized behind him!
It was the "King of Hell" summoned by the Preta Path!
The "King of Hell's" giant mouth opened, and a thick, purplish-black tongue shot out, wrapping around the mangled "corpse" on the ground and dragging it into its massive maw!
Crunch! Crunch!
The "King of Hell" seemed to be chewing something. A clear, rapid sequence of snapping sounds came from the depths of its giant mouth, and then it opened its mouth.
Jiraiya and the others couldn't see the "King of Hell." They only saw the Deva Path's "corpse" suddenly vanish, and then a completely unharmed Deva Path suddenly stepped out of thin air!
He was utterly unscathed, not even his clothes were torn. He raised his Rinnegan, sweeping over the stunned Jiraiya.
There was no expression on his face, only coldness and indifference. Then, he and the Preta Path disappeared from the spot.
Clearly, he wasn't planning on giving the Konoha ninjas another chance to attack the caster.
"You've got to be kidding me?" Kakashi's voice was hoarse. "Is that another Path? Is that Path's ability resurrection?"
The last chance was gone.
Jiraiya could only look away and gaze up at the Chibaku Tensei in the sky.
Now, only one option remained.
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