"It's your move, Deidara!" Deva Path commanded.
Deidara, the explosives prodigy from the Land of Earth behind him, immediately took control of his giant clay bird and flew forward.
"Your opponent is me!" Before Deidara could even open his mouth, Sasuke sprang up from below. Utilizing the characteristics of Lightning Release, he controlled countless shuriken, launching them toward Deidara.
Charged with Lightning Release, the shuriken didn't scatter aimlessly — under Sasuke's precise control, they struck in perfect formation!
"A fine brat! What kind of jutsu is this!" Deidara was stunned as his explosive bird was instantly destroyed by Sasuke's attack. Surprised, he leapt down midair, quickly molding new Explosive Clay in his hands.
From afar, Deva Path frowned.
Even a fool could tell something had changed with them!
These so-called genin from Team 7 seemed to have undergone astonishing transformations!
Could it all be because of that guy?
Deva Path thought of Ye Liang. Previously during the battle in the Land of Rivers, Obito had suffered defeat at Ye Liang's hands. Nagato, who stood behind Deva Path, had also been present at that scene.
"Someone capable of turning these genin into elite jonin within such a short time—it must be him!"
Deva Path mused silently.
Meanwhile, Hoshigaki Kisame, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally grew impatient. He was known for his quick temper. Watching his partner fight for so long had already made him eager to join in!
"Itachi, don't worry—I won't hurt your little brother!" He reported to Itachi Uchiha before enthusiastically charging toward Sasuke.
Things weren't going well at all for Deidara. His Explosive Clay was more effective in aerial attacks, but with his opponent countering his techniques using shuriken, he lost the initiative.
Moreover, Deidara's taijutsu skills were extremely weak. He couldn't match a Sasuke who had trained rigorously—momentarily finding himself overwhelmed!
"Deidara, I'm coming to help!"
Swinging Samehada, Kisame Hoshigaki smashed away every shuriken heading toward Deidara, scattering them completely. Seizing the opportunity, Deidara quickly took control of another giant clay bird, rising back into the air.
"So they sent backup after all," Sasuke mused.
It was clear Kisame was powerful—not just because of his speed, but obvious from his arms alone.
This man was clearly a powerhouse — his arms were packed with muscles like steel plates, utterly intimidating.
Startled, Sakura hurried over to assist!
That left only Hinata now.
The small group became alert toward Hinata, since the final opponent generally proved to be the strongest!
Hinata blushed slightly. Naturally, she had undergone rigorous training too, her Byakugan having activated right from the beginning.
Itachi and Deva Path shared a glance before charging at Hinata Hyuga together!
Two grown men ready to strike a woman!
[Hakkō no Kaiten!]
Boom!
A milky-white whirlwind burst outward from all directions around Hinata, forcing Itachi and Deva Path to retreat even before they approached her.
[Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!] Hinata shouted fiercely!
With multiple rapid body flickers, she pursued Deva Path, landing successive counterattacks right under his very nose.
Four palm strikes!
Eight palm strikes!
Sixteen palm strikes!
Thirty-two palm strikes!
Blow after blow crashed into Deva Path's body!
Hinata's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms had been modified by Ye Liang, making it different from the original version. After being refined by the System, it was no longer just the standard sixty-four palms—it now included an additional one hundred and twenty-eight strikes!
That extra hundred-plus blows instantly left Deva Path completely stunned!
Deva Path wasn't a real person, but a construct crafted by Nagato. His techniques were all remotely controlled via receiver rods linked directly to Nagato's commands. So when struck by Gentle Fist, all the receiver rods throughout his body instantly ceased functioning!
He actually got knocked unconscious temporarily by Hinata's assault!
"How could this be? She's just an ordinary girl! How could she be so strong?" Itachi Uchiha exclaimed in shock.
Having defected from Konoha himself, he naturally recognized that Hinata's techniques belonged to the Hyuga clan.
Could the simple Hyuga Gentle Fist really defeat Deva Path?
That was impossible!
Itachi quickly used the Body Flicker Technique to rescue Deva Path, but the latter was already on the verge of death.
At this moment, Akatsuki held absolutely nothing back anymore!
Seeing their leader defeated, they unleashed their full strength immediately!
Hidan ignited his ritual blood technique, Kisame unleashed his Merman Jutsu, and Deidara began shaping explosive clay at full capacity.
As for Itachi, he silently carried Deva Path away from the battlefield…
The other five Paths all took hidden positions around the area. Originally planning to ambush Ye Liang secretly, they now had no choice but to reveal themselves!
Clank!
A mechanical sound echoed.
The Asura Path puppet swiftly retrieved Deva Path and transported him backward. None among the Six Paths were truly alive—if they died, they could simply be repaired and revived!
Itachi returned to the battlefield once again.
By this time, the outcome had practically been decided. Could Team 7 possibly withstand Akatsuki's full-force assault? Initially, they'd merely been overwhelmed unexpectedly.
"Spill it! Where exactly is this man called Ye Liang?!" Itachi stood before Hinata.
The others had already been driven back in the counterattack, leaving Hinata extremely anxious.
[Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!]
She attempted her previous tactic again, yet Itachi trapped her with [Tsukuyomi], forcing her onto her knees.
"I'll ask one more time—where the hell is Ye Liang?!" He continued pressing forward, his expression turning increasingly serious now.
"I don't know — and I won't tell you!"
Hinata gritted her teeth.
Though deep down, she knew Ye Liang would never fear them. After all, she was not only his devoted disciple, but perhaps even his lover…
She!
Hinata Hyuga would absolutely never disclose Ye Liang's whereabouts to these people!
"Hmph. Then don't blame me!"
Itachi intensified the power of [Tsukuyomi].
Hinata suddenly went dark before her eyes. Moments later, she found herself within a mysterious space, wrists and ankles bound tightly to a pitch-black stone pillar.
This was the illusionary world created by [Tsukuyomi].
In the original storyline, Kakashi had been defeated by this very technique.
Itachi's spectral image approached, twirling a small knife before plunging it directly into Hinata's stomach amidst her shock.
A slight twist!
Excruciating pain!
Hinata writhed helplessly, cold sweat pouring from her forehead. This agony was at least one-and-a-half times worse than menstrual cramps!
"I won't say anything!"
She gritted her teeth.
"This is only the first cut. There are still three thousand six hundred more to go! If you don't talk, I'll keep cutting until you do!" Itachi coldly said, plunging the knife downward once again.
Outside,
Naruto's battle had come to an end.
Kisame Hoshigaki, Hidan, and Deidara were all firmly pinned to the ground!
That's right.
They had all been defeated!
A handsome and charismatic man smiled as he watched his students, while Hinata tightly embraced him with a flushed face.
"Ye Liang, you've finally arrived!"
Was Hinata safe?
Naruto and Sasuke tied up all the Akatsuki members against tree trunks before walking over.
"Hmm, all of you have improved quite a lot."
Ye Liang smiled.
In reality, he had already arrived during Naruto's fight with Itachi's team, but he wanted to see how much Team 7 had improved, so he didn't intervene directly.
Until Itachi moved against Hinata!
Ye Liang gently set Hinata down and calmly walked in front of Itachi.
He had fallen into [Tsukuyomi]!
Not Itachi's Tsukuyomi—this was Ye Liang's!
Since Ye Liang also possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, naturally he could use [Tsukuyomi] as well. Moreover, Ye Liang's Mangekyou was Eternal, its ocular power far surpassing Itachi's!
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