"You... what is this thing?"
Pain stared wide-eyed at Susanoo, clearly shocked.
At this point in time, Pain had never seen Susanoo before.
In the original story, the Akatsuki members might have seen Susanoo during internal battles, especially if Itachi had used it. But now...
Itachi hadn't defected and wasn't a member of Akatsuki.
Obito had only one eye, and who knows if he had Shisui's skill to awaken Susanoo with a single eye. Even if he could, the cost was immense—would Obito even be willing?
It's not like...
Pain: "Show me a demonstration, and you'll be richly rewarded."
Obito would likely remind Pain who was really in charge.
The subordinate should just obediently accept orders and not get any ideas about who was stronger!
Don't think Obito couldn't defeat Pain.
Both Obito and Pain had contingencies planted by Madara, ensuring they couldn't easily lose to one another.
So this was, indeed, the first time the *real* Pain had seen Susanoo.
And it had to be said, from an outward appearance alone, Susanoo was incredibly cool.
The aura of intimidation wasn't lacking either.
At least, when choosing between a giant mecha and some mosquito-repellent eyes, most people would choose the mecha.
Based on appearance alone, the Rinnegan wasn't even as sinister as the three-tomoe Sharingan.
"Your eyes...?"
Pain quickly noticed Itsuki's Mangekyo Sharingan and furrowed his brow, wondering aloud, "Is this another function of the Sharingan?"
"More or less," Itsuki didn't bother hiding it.
If it were one of the great ninja villages seeing Itsuki's eyes and the Susanoo, they would immediately deduce the truth.
Although Mangekyo Sharingan was rare, the Five Great Shinobi Villages had been around since the Warring States period and would definitely have records on such things.
After all!
The era of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had ended not long ago, and many of the old veterans were still alive.
Especially Ōnoki, whose memories of Susanoo were etched deeply into his mind.
Even in his old age, Ōnoki would think of that man, Uchiha Madara, when nearing death.
Amegakure, on the other hand, was still a relatively small and inexperienced village.
Obito might know the truth, but it's not like he'd waste time educating Nagato about the various stages of the Sharingan.
"Nagato!"
Konan approached Nagato and whispered, "Let me help you. This Uchiha is very dangerous."
Even though she was just a paper clone, Konan's power was never dependent on her physical form.
She had detonating tags in the thousands—enough to level entire ninja villages.
Sure, Itsuki was powerful, but could he withstand ten thousand explosive tags?
If ten thousand wasn't enough, then a hundred thousand!
If a hundred thousand wasn't enough, then a billion!
And if that still wasn't enough, how about ten billion?
Eventually, he would be defeated.
"No need," Pain's voice remained cold. "A mere Uchiha is nothing worth worrying about. You don't need to intervene."
He was only momentarily surprised by Itsuki's appearance.
Fear, though? That was out of the question.
Who did he think he was?!
Could he even feel fear?
Konan frowned. "But—"
"In the presence of a god, there's no significant difference between a special Sharingan and an ordinary one," Pain declared, extending his hand toward Itsuki. "The only difference is how much longer you can last."
Itsuki chuckled, "That level of arrogance—I give it a 250 out of 10."
As the second round of combat was about to start, Konan hesitated slightly, flapping her wings as she ascended into the sky.
She had complete faith in Nagato's Rinnegan.
"Universal Pull!"
Pain activated his gravitational powers, aiming to drag Itsuki towards him.
"Oh, crap!"
---
A tree shouted loudly: "Warrior, you are truly brave! I'm so large, and yet you dare to absorb me. I'll let you absorb me!"
He forcefully leaped, like a tiger pouncing, toward Pain.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Seeing the charging tree, Pain used his repulsive force again.
"I'll block it!"
The tree crossed Susanoo's arms in front of its chest, releasing even stronger power as it rushed towards Pain.
The repulsive force was powerful!
But Susanoo was not weak either.
Moreover, the tree's Susanoo had already reached the Tengu Crow stage.
This was the third stage of Susanoo.
The first stage: Skeleton.
The second stage: Growing flesh, equipped with clothing and weapons.
The third stage: Along with flesh, it evolves into the Tengu Crow armor, possessing fully developed weapons.
The fourth stage: Complete Form!
The complete form is a super entity that can only be achieved with the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, reaching a height of over 100 meters.
In other words, the Tengu Crow form is the strongest form for a normal Mangekyou.
In the original work, Itachi was considered an exceptional genius but still stopped at this stage. Only Sasuke and Madara evolved into the complete form.
Under the impact of the repulsive force, cracks appeared in the Tengu Crow's armor, and the cracks continued to spread.
"As expected of the Rinnegan, it can even break the Tengu Crow's armor," the tree murmured, "But as a man, I'm confident—I'm definitely more enduring than you."
"Crack, crack!"
Withstanding the immense impact, Susanoo burst out with even greater power.
It even grew legs and began charging forward!
It was getting closer to Pain.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a low shout, Animal Path Pain acted.
The Hellhound and Yata Crow were summoned, their massive bodies crashing into Susanoo.
Susanoo, already under immense pressure from the repulsive force, finally couldn't hold on and was sent flying.
Asura Path's head suddenly opened a switch, and a laser cannon fired from its head, hitting Susanoo.
"Boom!"
In an instant, Susanoo was engulfed by the attack.
The last scene showed the shattered image of the Tengu Crow.
After successive blows, even the Tengu Crow couldn't withstand it.
Tendo Pain withdrew his hand, his expression calm as he murmured, "I've already told you, in the presence of a god... Huh!"
His vision suddenly distorted.
Because a spear emerged from the ground, piercing through his body.
It was Susanoo!
"How... could this be?"
Tendo's eyes were filled with shock.
"Nagato!"
Floating in mid-air, Konan gasped in horror and rushed downwards.
Itsuki slowly walked out from the dust, looked at Pain, and lazily said, "You dared to act all high and mighty, so I'll turn you to ash!"
"Clap!"
He clapped his hands together, completing the hand seals.
"Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku!" (Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!)
Blazing flames surged towards Tendo Pain.
Whoosh!
Another Pain appeared, attempting to absorb the flames.
It was Preta Path!
He was going to absorb the tree's ninjutsu attack again.
"You think too much!"
Itsuki figure blurred, and when it reappeared, it was right in front of Preta Path.
"Boom!"
The first-stage Susanoo appeared and smashed Preta Path with a single punch.
Immediately after, Itsuki turned its gaze towards Naraka Path.
This one had to be taken out.
He had just dealt with Asura Path, but his opponent had appeared again without a scratch—clearly the work of Naraka Path.
The Samsara of Heavenly Life Jutsu!
"I won't give you the chance."
A sharp shout rang out.
Konan!
With a wave of her hand, countless explosive tags flew toward the tree.
Crack, crack!
Susanoo quickly regenerated flesh, shielding Itsuki from the explosions. At the same time, several magatamas appeared in its palm.
"Yasaka Magatama!"
With a fierce throw, the magatamas swiftly approached Naraka Path.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
A series of violent explosions, far stronger than before, erupted.
Yet Itsuki frowned deeply.
It missed!
Human Path had appeared, using its body to shield the magatamas.
Though he was destroyed, he successfully protected Naraka Path, who could revive them all.
"Hmph, not bad. But does this really matter?"
Itsuki sneered.
Tendo was pierced.
Preta Path was smashed.
Human Path was destroyed by the magatamas.
Only Asura Path, Naraka Path, and Animal Path remained in the fight.
Itsuki didn't consider them a threat.
Moreover!
Itsuki turned its head and looked at Konan, softly saying, "Hello, Konan."
This single sentence made Konan's body freeze.
Because the same voice echoed in her ears.
In the ears of her true body!
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(The chapter ends here)
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