"Who's there!"
A Kirigakure Ninja suddenly shouted loudly.
This exclamation broke the silence of the night, triggering a chain reaction.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Figures all rushed to the source of the sound; these were the Ninja of Hidden Mist Village tasked with guarding the Three-Tails.
Not just to guard the Three-Tails, but to guard the Three-Tails of Hidden Mist.
Even if they followed Yagura's wishes and released the Three-Tails, it was only into a large lake outside Hidden Mist Village.
Tomoki's existence transformed the Tailed Beast and Jinchuriki, once top-tier combat powers in the Ninja World, into high-end combat powers, making them somewhat dispensable and no longer as crucial.
Hidden Mist placed its hopes on the future, specifically the future after Tomoki's death.
This kind of external environment was not new to the Ninja World; now, with Tomoki alone high above in the clouds, it seemed better than the situation when the two Sengoku heroes once overlooked the Ninja World.
And the Three-Tails was the capital for Hidden Mist's future resurgence; no amount of importance given to it could be considered excessive.
"Ninja of Hidden Mist, I need the Three-Tails' help with something, and I don't wish to cause unnecessary casualties. Everyone, please make way!"
Deva Path Pain looked down from above at the suddenly appearing Konoha Ninja, his tone calm as he advised them.
After a period of 'education,' Nagato no longer acted as if he was second only to heaven, but the chuunibyou aura in his bones still persisted.
Even a well-intentioned reminder carried a strong sense of mockery.
Nagato felt he was being very polite, because he was only stating facts; these Kirigakure Ninja were not Uchiha!
Coincidentally, the Kirigakure Ninja felt pretty much the same.
"Akatsuki Organization?"
Though the tone carried a question, Hidden Mist had almost confirmed it.
These past years, working with Konoha Ninja to form joint pursuit squads, chasing after Obito, coupled with Kisame's previous defection to join the Akatsuki Organization, had given Hidden Mist a considerable understanding of the Akatsuki Organization.
This understanding was tinged with arrogance and prejudice.
An organization whose members are being chased and scattered across the Ninja World—who do you think you are? Do you think you're Konoha Ninja?!
The reason for their delay in attacking was merely to buy time; Pain was currently flying in the sky, and it wouldn't be good if he accidentally escaped.
Those who covet the Three-Tails deserve to die!
"Have you made up your minds?"
Pain's voice came from the sky again, and Hidden Mist's response was:
"Go to hell, attack!"
As the squad leader gave the command, various Ninjutsu assailed Deva Path Pain.
[Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!]
The Great Waterfall Technique from multiple Ninja converged into a massive wave, its height already nearing Pain's position.
Following that were various targeted Water Release techniques.
Water Release: Cutting Rain!
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!
....
One Ninjutsu after another was generated on top of the Great Waterfall, blocking all of Deva Path Pain's escape routes.
With the large lake nearby, the Kirigakure Ninja were able to unleash Water Release Ninjutsu with immense scale.
[Shinra Tensei!]
Deva Path Pain estimated the number and power of the opposing Ninjutsu, using a slightly stronger repulsive force to shatter all the Ninjutsu in the sky.
The Rinnegan's unfair ocular jutsu always left those who witnessed it for the first time in shock.
The Kirigakure Ninja were precisely in this state, staring blankly as their Ninjutsu instantly became ineffective, turning into falling raindrops.
The cold sensation brought many Kirigakure Ninja back to their senses.
"The enemy's jutsu is strange, but not powerful. Don't get distracted, keep attacking!"
The captain's shout restored confidence to all the Kirigakure Ninja.
That's right, the captain's analysis was correct; if the enemy were truly strong, they wouldn't be standing here unharmed right now.
The regrouped Kirigakure Ninja launched another combined Ninjutsu attack; there was no other way, the enemy was flying too high, taijutsu couldn't reach him, and thrown Ninja tools would become light and harmless.
Not everyone was Kisame or Mei Terumī; to attack the enemy, they needed to jointly cast the Great Waterfall Technique.
And so, they tried again and again, with repeated attempts.
On the other side, Konan slowly placed several bodies, meticulously wrapped in paper, onto the water's surface, revealing their faces.
Nagato had said not to kill, so Konan would not kill the enemies; these Kirigakure Ninja were all sleeping soundly.
Small fish, automatically folded from paper, began to spread throughout the lake.
After a long while, a small fish leaped out of the water, transformed into a thousand paper cranes, and flew into Konan's hand. Sensing the aura from it, Konan knew the target had been found.
Following the guidance, Konan stood above a spot on the water, took out a scroll, and opened it, revealing a smaller figure—it was the Animal Path from before.
Konan continuously channeled Chakra into the Animal Path's body. Soon, Nagato, sitting in a wheelchair, appeared at the location, his hands still forming the reverse summoning hand seal.
The Animal Path's abilities had been reclaimed by Nagato, but its body could still serve as a beacon for reverse summoning.
After Nagato arrived, he looked down and quickly discovered a massive Chakra source.
"Konan, leave this place. I'll handle it here."
With that, Nagato clapped his hands, and a crab appeared, taking Nagato to dive to the bottom of the lake.
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