[Bonus Chapter for Powerstones]
The remnants of the Preta Path and Human Path floated to the surface. Shima-sama and Fukasaku-sama awakened Jiraiya. Hyuga Shin'ichi stood behind the two Sages, his gaze fixed on the Deva Path not far away.
Aside from being somewhat weak from the massive chakra absorbed by the Preta Path, Jiraiya was otherwise fine; at most, he had swallowed a few gulps of seawater, which was nothing for a ninja like him.
Only the Deva Path of the Six Paths of Pain remained, and this remaining enemy was the one that concerned Hyuga Shin'ichi more. All of Nagato's puppets had been destroyed, but this also meant that Nagato's control over the Deva Path had become immensely strong.
The chakra that the Deva Path could utilize would also become infinitely vast. At this point, the Deva Path could no longer be accurately referred to as a "puppet." Describing him as "Nagato's Clone" might be more accurate.
Nagato's thoughts and fighting style would now be reflected in the Deva Path without any delay. If a "2G" network controlled the previous Deva Path, then after the other five Pains lost their mobility, Nagato was controlling the Deva Path via a "5G" network. The difference between them was far more than a simple increase in precision or chakra volume.
"Banshō Ten'in!" (Universal Pull)
Hyuga Shin'ichi did not see any extraneous emotion on the Deva Path's face. The Deva Path showed no surprise or fear about the destruction of his puppets.
Even though the tables had turned and he was four against one at a disadvantage, the Deva Path showed no sign of dejection. In fact, he proactively launched an attack despite being outnumbered.
Nagato keenly sensed that Jiraiya's current physical state was somewhat weak and naturally targeted him as the battle's weak point. He didn't want Jiraiya to recover. He had already experienced the opponent's power.
Furthermore, Nagato realized from Jiraiya's physical change that he was no longer in the previous toad transformation state. Although he didn't know why the opponent had canceled that technique, for the Deva Path, this was undoubtedly a good opportunity.
A powerful, attractive force accurately struck Jiraiya. Fukasaku-sama, who was gently supporting Jiraiya's head, was clearly unprepared for the Deva Path's sudden attack. His hand slipped, and Jiraiya, in his arms, was rapidly pulled toward the Deva Path's location.
"Jiraiya!"
Shima-sama, who had been standing on Jiraiya's body, reacted quickly. The moment Jiraiya was pulled, Shima-sama, sensing the anomaly, leaped off Jiraiya. While landing on the sea surface, Jiraiya rapidly flew past Shima-sama's side. However, Shima-sama reacted instantly, opening her mouth and using her tongue to latch onto Jiraiya firmly.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Fukasaku-sama, having regained his composure, naturally couldn't let the enemy absorb Jiraiya. While leaping toward Jiraiya's shoulder, his toad hands rapidly performed hand seals. Then, spitting out a huge torrent, a surging column of water erupted from his mouth, quickly raising a huge wave on the sea and crashing down toward the Deva Path.
This time, the Deva Path did not choose to stand still and passively defend. Instead, the moment the wave rushed in, the Deva Path suddenly retracted his hand, straightened his body, and charged directly into the Wild Water Wave released by Fukasaku-sama. At the same time, the Deva Path activated Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push), causing a transparent barrier to appear around his body, firmly blocking the incoming water wave.
"Shu—"
A soft sound was heard as a black receiver rod dropped from the Deva Path's sleeve. He firmly grasped it in his hand. The instant he broke through the Wild Water Wave, the black rod in the Deva Path's hand lunged directly at Fukasaku-sama.
Fukasaku-sama's Wild Water Wave was enhanced by Sage Chakra and was executed in an ideal location, like the sea. Not only did it fail to wound the Deva Path, but it allowed the Deva Path to exploit the momentary visual obstruction of the water curtain to launch a killing blow at Fukasaku. For Nagato, eliminating anyone first was acceptable.
Jiraiya was powerful, Hyuga Shin'ichi possessed slippery space-time ninjutsu, and the two old toads also played crucial roles in the battle. In Nagato's view, the threat levels of these individuals were similar; all he could do was reduce the opponent's fighting force.
The Toads, with their relatively simple and less flexible movement, were clearly the best targets for an attack. Even the Toads of Mount Myōboku could only move by jumping, not walking... Small-scale human-like maneuvering was even more impossible.
The sharp black rod was reflected in Fukasaku-sama's pupils. The Deva Path's sudden attack caught him completely off guard, leaving him defenseless. Just as the old toad was about to be impaled by the Deva Path, Hyuga Shin'ichi's figure suddenly appeared beside Fukasaku-sama. He raised his left hand and seemingly pulled a black rod from thin air, using it to parry the Deva Path's thrust.
"Clang—"
A dull collision sound rang out. The Deva Path's arm was flung to the side by Hyuga Shin'ichi's immense force, causing him to stagger and lose his footing. Hyuga Shin'ichi's moves were seamlessly chained.
While blocking the Deva Path's thrust, he immediately turned his body, and the next second, he delivered a high kick, fiercely sweeping it toward the Deva Path's head. The series of attacks was swift and fluid.
The Deva Path, whose Shinra Tensei had just been used to break through the Wild Water Wave, had his "skill" on cooldown and could only helplessly raise his arm to guard.
"Boom!!!!"
Hyuga Shin'ichi's power in the Fifth Gate state (of the Eight Inner Gates) was terrifyingly immense. With a loud thud, the Deva Path was sent flying by Shin'ichi's kick. The rapidly retreating Deva Path slammed into the sea several times, but the terrifying force caused a huge recoil upon contact with the water. His body skipped across the sea like a small stone skimming water, being kicked over a hundred meters away after several bounces.
"Puff!"
The Deva Path plunged headfirst into the water, splashing a wave. Although the Deva Path's plunge into the sea looked like a heavy blow, in reality, only the arms he used to block Shin'ichi's kick suffered comminuted fractures.
This would not affect the puppet's mobility or fighting capacity. Even after suffering Shin'ichi's fierce attack, he didn't hesitate at all. As soon as he regained control of his body, he swiftly swam out of the sea and leaped up.
The Deva Path, emerging from the water, glanced at Hyuga Shin'ichi and Jiraiya, and then, without looking back, quickly fled in the direction of Amegakure.
"Huh!?"
"The Deva Path is running away?"
Hyuga Shin'ichi was stunned by the Deva Path's action. He had not expected the Deva Path, controlled by Nagato, to abandon their pursuit and instead retreat toward the village. Was he... seeking reinforcements? Or... Hyuga Shin'ichi didn't believe Pain, the nominal leader of the Akatsuki organization, would choose to flee at such a moment.
If he wasn't seeking cover/reinforcements... then there was only one answer for this bizarre action!
"He wants to cast Chibaku Tensei (Planetary Devastation)."
"I can't let you succeed."
Hyuga Shin'ichi's expression hardened, and he immediately chased after the Deva Path. Fukasaku-sama and Shima-sama clearly hadn't fully grasped what was happening. Seeing the Deva Path move away and Hyuga Shin'ichi pursue, they chose to stay put and look after Jiraiya.
Although Jiraiya was gradually recovering from his recent state of weakness, the time the Preta Path restrained him wasn't long, and it was far from enough to render him completely incapacitated.
"Quick, follow Shin'ichi!"
"That young man is too hot-headed; chasing like that will surely lead him into an ambush!"
By the time Jiraiya stood up, the Deva Path and Hyuga Shin'ichi had already disappeared from their sight.
...
"You won't get away!"
The Deva Path's escape speed was fast, but Hyuga Shin'ichi, with the Eight Inner Gates open, was faster. After the Deva Path had run only a thousand meters, Shin'ichi's voice came from behind him. The Deva Path hastily looked back, only to see Hyuga Shin'ichi descending from the sky, already above his head.
As Shin'ichi swung his fist down toward the Deva Path's head, his fist was wrapped in a deep blue lion-shaped chakra. Even if the opponent's punch didn't land, the Deva Path knew that taking that blow would absolutely shatter the puppet's head.
"Shinra Tensei!"
The Deva Path had no intention of stopping. The moment Hyuga Shin'ichi caught up and attacked, the Deva Path leaped forward and immediately turned back to launch Shinra Tensei at Shin'ichi.
The repulsive force of Shinra Tensei abruptly halted the charging Hyuga Shin'ichi in mid-air, preventing him from descending. The Deva Path, who had leaped forward and activated Shinra Tensei, used the repulsive force to glide rapidly along the sea surface.
His speed was now even faster than before. Due to this trade-off, the Deva Path and Shin'ichi instantly put a hundred meters between them.
"Shu—"
Just as the Deva Path thought he could successfully escape Hyuga Shin'ichi's pursuit, a breaking sound suddenly came from behind. A kunai surrounded by lightning-style chakra shot toward the Deva Path's rear end.
The Deva Path, who had just used Shinra Tensei, had no way to dodge while gliding. Turning his head and seeing the kunai, his face darkened. He clearly felt the immense pressure Shin'ichi was putting on him.
"Banshō Ten'in!" (Universal Pull)
The Deva Path reached his hand toward the sea behind him, and suddenly, waves surged up from the calm surface. However, the incoming kunai's speed was undiminished. It broke through the waves and quickly arrived behind the Deva Path, though the kunai, originally aimed at the Deva Path's spine, was slightly deflected due to the waves. Seeing this, the Deva Path felt a slight relief.
However, the Deva Path, just about to relax his guard, suddenly recalled the information Uchiha Madara had given him about Hyuga Shin'ichi. The opponent seemed to be... a user of the Flying Thunder God Technique?
Looking back again, an extra figure had appeared behind the Deva Path.
Hyuga Shin'ichi jumped out of the dimension, grabbed the kunai, and immediately stepped on the Deva Path's back with both feet.
"Puff—"
The Deva Path fell onto the sea surface, now being used as a surfboard beneath Shin'ichi's feet. Hyuga Shin'ichi, holding the kunai, did not hesitate, stabbing it directly into the Deva Path's spine. Simultaneously, Shin'ichi injected his chakra into the Deva Path's body, blocking the acupuncture points and chakra pathways in his back.
Although the Deva Path was a puppet, its body required the transmission of chakra and action signals from the black receiver rods to move. Hyuga Shin'ichi's Gentle Fist was specifically designed to target these areas and locations.
Even if Nagato's chakra was transmitted through the black rods, the blocked pathways would cause the chakra to pool around the rods, preventing it from being transmitted to the surrounding muscle groups.
However, to be safe, while severing the Deva Path's spine and blocking the chakra points and pathways, Hyuga Shin'ichi continued to form hand seals, intending to use the Four Symbols Seal to seal Yahiko's body.
"Whoosh—"
Hyuga Shin'ichi slid forward for a hundred meters while stepping on the Deva Path. Just as his hand seals for the Four Symbols Seal were about to be completed, a spatial distortion suddenly appeared behind him—a black spatial vortex appeared silently.
A black hand silently reached out from the interdimensional black hole, reaching directly for Hyuga Shin'ichi's shoulder.
"!!!"
"Who!"
Before the Four Symbols Seal could be activated, Hyuga Shin'ichi's Byakugan noticed the anomaly behind him. The opponent's space-time ninjutsu was indeed silent, so much so that even Hyuga Shin'ichi's sensory ninjutsu failed to detect the unusual movement. Unfortunately, the Hyuga clan's Byakugan provided Shin'ichi with 360° field of vision, meaning even a phantom-like enemy could not sneak past Hyuga Shin'ichi.
As Hyuga Shin'ichi let out a low shout, he quickly spun around, stabbing the kunai in his hand toward the head of Uchiha Obito, who was revealing his form from the black hole behind him.
The instant Obito's palm touched Shin'ichi's shoulder, the tip of Shin'ichi's kunai also touched Obito's temple.
Obito, who was being simultaneously attacked, did not emerge from his intangible state. His palm passed through Hyuga Shin'ichi's body. At the same time, Hyuga Shin'ichi's kunai also flew completely through Obito's head.
"Byakugan!"
"This is truly troublesome!"
Uchiha Obito's whereabouts were detected. Staring at Hyuga Shin'ichi's deep blue eyes, Obito's tone was inevitably irritated and impatient. It was this Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline Limit) that had thwarted his sneak attacks multiple times.
Years ago, when he invaded Konoha and released the Nine-Tails, he was blocked by a Hyuga ninja, and now, his sneak attack on a Hyuga ninja had been discovered again. Despite possessing the terrifying space-time Dōjutsu (Eye Technique), he had failed repeatedly.
Uchiha Obito's figure passed through Hyuga Shin'ichi's body. After his kunai missed, Hyuga Shin'ichi also leaped away, putting distance between himself and Obito.
However, Uchiha Obito's target was not entirely Shin'ichi. Seeing Shin'ichi leave, he smoothly placed one hand on the Deva Path's corpse, then instantly absorbed Yahiko's body into the Kamui dimension.
Having completed this, Uchiha Obito stood on the sea surface, turning back to look at Hyuga Shin'ichi not far away. After gazing for a moment, a short sickle dropped from his wide sleeve. He grasped it in his hand. A long chain was attached to the back of the sickle, and the other end of the chain, which held an iron cone, was also held by Obito.
"Byakugan... Flying Thunder God!"
"You brat are too troublesome; I must eliminate you here and now!"
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