The other Konoha ninjas felt relieved seeing Naruto return, but at the same time, they stared curiously at the giant golden scroll that had opened above Naruto's head.
Was this the extraordinary reward from the fourth-ranked Hidden Expert List: the Grand Kotodama Grimoire?
Truly terrifying. From a certain perspective, Naruto's disappearance and reappearance just now already fell into the category of space-time displacement, similar to the Second Hokage's Hiraishin no Jutsu, but with differences. He didn't need to mark specific objects.
What I think of, there I arrive instantly!
If it were just ordinary Body Flicker Technique, it wouldn't be able to achieve that effect. Because Body Flicker Technique, fundamentally, was just high-speed movement ninjutsu. The reason Naruto almost fainted and became weak was because he escaped from Deva Path's hands, whose power far exceeded his own.
Fortunately Naruto didn't utter words intending to hurt Deva Path—otherwise, his life wouldn't have been saved because he wouldn't be able to pay such a large "price." Even so, his chakra was almost completely drained, and even the Kyuubi inside his body had to provide some of its chakra for it.
"Interesting..."
Twelve eyes from the Six Paths Pain stared simultaneously, and other Akatsuki members also showed greedy expressions.
"Truly a great treasure. Such a pity that thing is in your hands, boy!" Kakuzu licked his lips, feeling very interested in the Grand Kotodama Grimoire floating above Naruto's head.
However, everyone's faces looked displeased. The prey already in hand had managed to escape.
"Looking at your condition, you can only use it once. I want to see if you can run again this time!" Deva Path snorted coldly with an expressionless face: "Jiraiya-sensei, you must protect him well..."
Jiraiya-sensei?
Jiraiya furrowed his brow. Do I know you?
However, before he could think further, Deva Path quickly formed hand seals. Between both his palms, a black energy sphere shot into the air and was thrown toward Jiraiya.
"Chibaku Tensei!"
The black energy sphere emitted very great and unmatched gravitational force, sucking all objects around it toward the center.
"What!"
People around were shocked and tried with all their might to stabilize their bodies from being sucked in. However, that extraordinary gravitational force caused the ground to crack, and countless rock chunks peeled off and flew toward that black energy sphere.
Deva Path clenched his fist tightly. Those countless rocks imprisoned Jiraiya and several people around him—the massive gravitational force prevented them from breaking free instantly.
"I caught you again..."
A shadow appeared again behind Naruto, a large hand gripping Naruto's shoulder. Naruto's body stiffened as he turned and forced a smile: "Uncle, long time no see!"
Animal Pain wasn't interested in small talk with him. He gripped Naruto and dashed backward quickly as other Konoha ninjas had already started to surround them.
"Should I open the Eighth Gate..." Guy felt reckless, his finger already pressing the Death Gate pulse point on his chest.
Meanwhile, Kakashi's eyes spun rapidly—a skeletal energy giant emerged from the ground, swinging a large energy sword at the Akatsuki members.
"Retreat!"
After capturing Naruto again, they didn't dare linger. Being here one more minute meant one more minute of danger. They had already begun to sense large energy fluctuations and battle sounds from the distance.
"Don't you dare leave!"
With a loud boom, the rocks from Chibaku Tensei exploded. Jiraiya's figure burst out quickly, chasing toward the Six Paths Pain. His eyes reddened and his face looked fierce; he wouldn't let Naruto be taken away!
"Katon: Gamayu Endan!"
Large puffs of white smoke appeared—the giant figure of Gamabunta manifested, and Jiraiya stood on his head. Both had known each other for years and had very coordinated cooperation. Though just arriving at the battlefield, Gamabunta immediately understood the ally and enemy situation. As Jiraiya chanted his technique, Gamabunta puffed up his cheeks and spewed out large amounts of oil.
Combined with the fire Jiraiya spewed, blazing flames enveloped the fleeing Akatsuki members. The vast forest was immediately engulfed in fire—small trees turned to charcoal and ash in just a few breaths.
Not finished yet, Jiraiya chanted another technique and formed seals rapidly.
"Gamaguchi Shibari (Toad Mouth Trap Technique)!"
The fleeing people suddenly felt the sky above them turn pitch black. The next second, they were all inside a tunnel completely formed from flesh walls.
"Want to run?" Jiraiya stood not far away while smiling coldly.
He knew his task wasn't to kill these people; he just needed to hold them. Akatsuki members wanted the Kyuubi inside Naruto's body, so they wouldn't hurt him. Moreover, Naruto was currently still in the Gold List protection period—opponents couldn't kill him either, so he didn't need to worry about Naruto's safety.
Jiraiya didn't know what method the opponents used to hold back the First, Second, and Third Hokage, but he was certain that with the power of those three, they would soon be free and come to provide assistance. He just needed to hold these people here.
Gamaguchi Shibari could not only be used for defense but also to imprison enemies. This place was the stomach wall of a giant fire-breathing toad from Mount Myoboku. Anyone trapped inside would find it almost impossible to escape and would only be slowly digested by the gastric acid on the stomach walls.
However, these people weren't ordinary people; they were experts listed on the Strongest List. Stomach walls alone certainly couldn't hurt them, but this was enough to imprison them until the First and Second Hokage returned.
"What cursed place is this?" Hidan swung his scythe, slashing at that stomach wall.
The blood-red flesh wall split, but in an instant it pulsed and returned to normal. Though only for a moment, the Akatsuki members' faces became gloomy. The thickness of this flesh wall was quite troublesome, and its regeneration ability was too strong; it would be difficult to break through.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Deva Path raised his hand again—the transparent shield expanded, making that flesh-colored stomach wall repel far and bulge. However, this stomach wall tunnel clearly had extraordinary elasticity; even with Shinra Tensei's ability, he couldn't make it burst from pressure.
"Hand over Naruto to me, and I'll let you go!" Jiraiya had already seen these people's strange abilities and didn't want to deal with them too long.
As long as he could bring Naruto back, he didn't mind letting them go. Grudges could be settled later. Naruto was most important to them.
"Jiraiya-sensei, you must be joking..." Deva Path with his pair of Rinnegan stared strangely, then said slowly.