Pain ignored the commotion on the other side and prepared to make his move.
The Six Paths of Pain split into their respective roles: the Animal Path, Asura Path, and Preta Path took the front line, ready for combat; the Deva Path and Naraka Path remained in the middle; while the Human Path retreated to the rear, both observing everything and searching for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's location.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
The Animal Path swiftly formed hand seals and let out a low growl. In an instant, a giant green Yatagarasu bird was summoned.
"Damn it! That's a massive summoning beast!"
The colossal creature before them made the group frown deeply, realizing the battle would not be easy.
Tsuchidai commanded, "Monya! Your jutsu has the strongest destructive power and widest range. You take on the bird while the rest of us deal with the summoner!"
"Yes!"
Tsuchidai's plan, backed by his extensive combat experience, was the most reasonable approach in the current situation, and the others quickly agreed.
But what they hadn't anticipated was that the bird was just the beginning.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Summoning...!!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Large plumes of white smoke billowed out. Within the smoke emerged a giant Hell Crab, a massive Chameleon, a colossal Ox and Rhino, and an enormous Centipede. These summoning beasts roared as they spread out, surrounding the group.
"This… this can't be real!"
Everyone was dumbfounded. They had never seen anything like this before—one person summoning such a diverse array of giant beasts simultaneously.
"I can't believe there's someone in this world capable of this."
The pale faces of Tsuchidai's group betrayed their growing realization: Akatsuki's success in capturing eight Tailed Beasts wasn't just due to surprise attacks—their strength was truly monstrous.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
From behind them, Jiraiya's voice rang out.
Gamabunta appeared.
"Bunta, handle those summoning beasts with them. I'll take care of the six with the Rinnegan myself!"
"Huh?"
Gamabunta had barely gotten his bearings when Jiraiya gave him the order. Without waiting for a response, Jiraiya leapt straight toward the Six Paths of Pain.
Staring at the expressionless Deva Path, Jiraiya pointed at him and demanded,
"Yahiko, answer me! Where's Nagato? Where's Konan? Where are they? Why do you have Nagato's eyes? And who are these people around you?"
"I already told you, I'm not Yahiko..." The Deva Path's voice carried an icy tone. "I'm not Nagato either. I am... a god."
"A god?" Jiraiya frowned in confusion. This strange claim made no sense to him. Judging by his appearance, there was no doubt in Jiraiya's mind that the person before him was Yahiko.
"Wait…!"
After a few seconds of observation, Jiraiya's pupils suddenly widened, as if he had noticed something.
"These… these people's appearances…"
Jiraiya's gaze shifted between the Animal Path, Human Path, Preta Path, Naraka Path, Asura Path, and the central Deva Path. One by one, memories flashed in his mind like icy daggers.
These people… he had seen them all before!
A ninja from the Fūma clan.
A puppeteer beneath a pavilion.
A Takigakure teacher from a small hut.
A Kusagakure ninja from a tavern.
A religious leader at the village gate…
One by one, these faces from his past, once lost to death, resurfaced in Jiraiya's mind like a raging storm.
These people… they were all dead!
How could this be possible?
Unless…
A bold hypothesis struck Jiraiya like lightning, sending a shiver down his spine.
...