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Bound by the grasp of Jiraiya's white hair, the Animal Path of Pain gazed down at his former master, his voice calm yet chilling as he spoke of his grand design.
"Since you're going to die here anyway, I'll tell you the truth of our plan."
He paused, eyes gleaming with divine intensity."We intend to use the Tailed Beasts to create a new forbidden technique — a jutsu capable of erasing an entire nation in an instant. It will become the greatest and most powerful weapon ever conceived."
Jiraiya's heart trembled at the sheer audacity of the idea. Shock and disbelief warred within him as he shouted back:
"You think creating something like that will bring peace? That kind of power will only create more conflict!"
Pain's expression didn't waver. His Rinnegan eyes were cold, detached — as though staring down from the heavens.
"You'll never understand, sensei. For nations consumed by war, all it takes is giving them a weapon so terrifying that they fear using it. Once humanity witnesses such devastation… they will tremble. They will restrain themselves."
"What are you talking about?" Jiraiya demanded.
Pain's tone grew fervent, almost fanatical."When millions die in an instant, the terror will echo through generations. The world will remember that pain. That fear will teach people to hold back their hatred. The world will grow stronger — just as I did. Pain is the path to peace. Only through the guidance of a god can this world truly evolve… because humanity is still too immature to find peace on its own."
Jiraiya fell silent.He looked up at the man he once called a student — now a stranger cloaked in madness — and could only wonder what horrors he must have endured to twist his ideals so far.
"No," a calm voice cut through the air."You're the immature one. The world isn't childish — it's simply not yours to control."
The voice echoed across the underground tunnel, drawing both Jiraiya's and Pain's eyes toward the shadows.
A man stepped forward, dressed in a black trench coat, a wide-brimmed hat casting a faint shadow across his white mask.Etched into his forehead — a glowing blue symbol: [Nian].
Both Jiraiya and Pain's eyes widened in unison.
"D-Organization… Nian!"
Jiraiya's gaze hardened. The sudden appearance of this new figure changed everything.Pain, however, merely looked unimpressed.
"This world needs divine correction," he said coldly.
"No," Neji replied, his tone steady. "It doesn't. Even without your so-called divinity, the world continues just fine — perhaps even better."
"Blasphemy," Pain sneered. "A god's will is absolute—"
"You?" Neji's voice sharpened like a blade. "You're no god. You don't even deserve to speak that word. You're just an insect — one that happens to have more power than the rest."
Neji turned briefly to Jiraiya."And you, old man… you're just a stronger insect."
Pain's gaze turned lethal, chakra surging with fury.
Bang!
A wooden log burst apart as Pain escaped the white-haired trap, reappearing atop a massive chameleon — the Animal Path's summoned beast.
"Sensei," he said mockingly, "it seems you won't be dying alone today. Someone will be keeping you company."
Jiraiya smirked. "Then I should thank you for the courtesy."
He bit his thumb, formed the seals, and slammed his hand to the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A cloud of smoke exploded outward — and when it cleared, the mighty Gamaken stood tall, weapon and shield in hand.
Neji watched from above, brow slightly raised behind his mask.
"Summoned beasts, huh? Impressive. Unfortunately, I can only summon my puppets."
His hand moved — and with a thunderous hiss, smoke erupted beside him.
From within the smoke emerged five towering figures, each encased in glimmering armor — crimson, black, gold, green, and white — each shaped like a beast of legend.
"Go," Neji commanded softly. "Take down the Animal Path."
Pain sneered, fading from sight once more.
[Waterfall Pierce]
The black-armored puppet vanished, spear in hand, merging into a surging current of water that swept across the tunnel like a charging rhinoceros.
Boom!
The torrent crashed forward — and from within, a colossal shadow writhed and broke free, pierced clean through by a forty-meter lance.
Pain's eyes widened. His chameleon had been impaled — destroyed in a single strike.
Before he could react, a white-armored puppet appeared silently behind him.
A massive axe gleamed silver as it fell.
Slash!
The Animal Path's body split clean in half, crashing lifelessly to the floor.
Yet the price of that strike was clear — a gaping fissure ran across the puppet's chestplate, water pouring down like a waterfall.
Pain reappeared again, reborn through another vessel, shock flickering across his features.
So fast… so strong…
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three emerald arrows burst through the air, exploding across the tunnel. Wind chakra detonated on impact — the metal walls twisted and shattered.
Blades of air cut deep across Pain's body, shredding his robes.
He barely had time to breathe before the ceiling darkened — a vast shadow looming above.
A boulder the size of a house descended, sealing his escape.
And from below, a crimson puppet rose from the raging waters, sword blazing with fire, its form like a dragon's wrath unleashed.
From above — the stone.From below — the flame.
The two forces collided.
BOOM!
The explosion tore through the underground chamber. Stone shattered, water erupted skyward, and a wave of heat scorched the air.
When the smoke cleared, the giant rock was embedded high in the pipes above, flames flickering around it.Pain stood at the epicenter, expression icy.
Behind him, five shadows appeared — silent, motionless, awaiting command.
But at the center stood another figure — orange-haired, calm, and emotionless.
Jiraiya's pupils shrank."Yahiko…?!"
How… how could this be?Why did Yahiko have Nagato's eyes?Had he been wrong all along?
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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