Deva Path slowly stepped forward, his Rinnegan looking down upon the battered group before him like a judgment.
"The struggle of ants is meaningless. Feel the pain."
He raised his hand again, seemingly to end this uninteresting battle.
At that very moment… a sudden change occurred!
On the right hands of Natsuhi, Chino, Shunji, and Hazuki, the seal markings that usually lay hidden under the skin suddenly and without warning erupted with intense dark red light!
A vast, scorching, and brutal yet also brimming with vital Chakra surged forth from the seals like a volcanic eruption, instantly sweeping through their entire bodies!
"This is…?!" Natsuhi stared in shock at the glowing seal on her hand.
Where this powerful Chakra flowed, the intense pain rapidly subsided, bone-deep wounds healed at a visible, frantic pace, exhausted stamina recovered swiftly, and even some old internal injuries were soothed away!
Chino's pale complexion instantly became rosy. She felt the burning pain and backlash from her Ketsuryugan were also calmed by this warm, powerful force.
The wounds on Shunji and Hazuki scabbed over and fell off, revealing new skin.
In just a few seconds, the injuries on the four had miraculously healed!
Their condition was even better than before the battle!
The vast dark red Chakra flickered faintly like solid flames on the surface of their bodies, bringing an unparalleled sense of power.
"Shura-sama…" Natsuhi murmured, immediately understanding that Menma, who is far away in the Star City, had received the intelligence she reported and, through this mysterious [Seal Chakra Network], had transmitted power across the distance.
In the distant dense forest, Nagato's main body, sharing the vision of the Six Paths of Pain, suddenly widened his eyes, coughing violently, "This Chakra…?!"
Konan immediately looked at him with concern.
Nagato's heart was filled with shock.
Through the Pains' senses, he clearly saw the nearly solid, vast Chakra erupting from those four people!
'This power…'
'It was so similar to the method I used to transmit power through Chakra Receivers to control the Six Paths of Pain!'
'But it was more direct, more efficient!'
'And this dark red Chakra-'
'It felt endless, giving a terrifying pressure akin to facing a Tailed Beast!'
'Yet it was somewhat different, seeming more savage and dark?'
On Deva Path's perpetually cold face, a slight fluctuation appeared for the first time. His Rinnegan stared fixedly at the boiling dark red Chakra Flames covering Natsuhi and the others.
"What is this?"
The situation on the battlefield reversed instantly.
Bathed in the dark red Chakra Flames, Natsuhi and the other three were completely healed, their condition restored to peak.
The vast external Chakra not only healed their bodies but also brought an unprecedented sense of power.
Chino, feeling the surging power within her, had her Ketsuryugan glow red again. But this time, the light was more solid, the previous stinging backlash completely soothed.
She let out a sharp cry, forming hand seals. The gravel on the ground around her trembled slightly.
Shunji and Hazuki exchanged a glance, seeing the shock and rekindled fighting spirit in each other's eyes.
They gripped their kunai tightly, adopting combat stances. The dark red Chakra flickering on their bodies made them feel as if they had inexhaustible strength.
Natsuhi, as a Jonin, felt it more clearly.
This Chakra was powerful and brutal, yet it obeyed her guidance with unusual docility, even able to faintly merge with her own Mysterious Peacock Method Chakra.
She took a deep breath. Purple Chakra surged out again, but unlike before, this time it was wrapped in a faint dark red halo, making it appear more eerie and powerful.
Shisui, half-kneeling on the ground, wiped the blood from his lips, staring in shock at the four transformed individuals beside him, then at his own empty hand.
He didn't have that mysterious seal, so he is unable to receive this gift of power.
The earlier Shinra Tensei from Deva Path had given him significant internal injuries, which he could only barely suppress now.
"Shura's power…" Shisui's eyes were complex.
'This method of remotely transmitting vast Chakra was unheard of!'
The fluctuation in Deva Path's eyes slowly calmed. The Rinnegan remained cold, but held a bit more regard.
He spoke slowly, his voice transmitted through Yahiko's body, carrying a hint of inquiry, "An interesting trick. But this Chakra is nauseating. It seems the so-called Shura is not an ordinary person either."
He raised his hand, aiming at the now fierce-looking Natsuhi and her team, "However, before the power of God, it is still futile."
"Whether it's futile or not, we'll know after trying!" Natsuhi retorted coldly, emboldened. She initiated the attack first.
"Mysterious Peacock Method: Thousand Feather Arrows!"
Purple Chakra wrapped in dark red light condensed into countless dense arrows, shooting towards the four Pains like a storm! Their speed and power far surpassed before!
Simultaneously, Chino pressed her hands to the ground, "Blood Secret Technique: Crimson Bind!"
From the ground beneath Asura Path, Human Path, and Animal Path's feet, countless tentacles formed of blood shot out, swiftly entangling their legs!
This time, the blood was mixed with that dark red Chakra, greatly enhancing the binding force.
Shunji and Hazuki also flanked from both sides, sometimes using Ninjutsu, sometimes throwing kunai with explosive tags, seeking opportunities to disrupt.
After receiving the Black Nine-Tails' Chakra through the seals, even Shunji and Hazuki, who is originally only Chunin-level, briefly erupted with power comparable to Jonin!
Facing this coordinated, enhanced assault, Asura Path was the first to exert force. His mechanical arm slammed into the ground, shattering many of the blood tentacles.
Human Path and Animal Path also evaded or blocked the Chakra Arrows respectively.
Deva Path, about to use Shinra Tensei again to repel everything, found that Natsuhi had already anticipated it. Her attack seemed fierce but was actually laying the groundwork for subsequent changes.
"Shisui-san!" Natsuhi shouted.
Shisui, who had been waiting for an opportunity, suppressed his injuries. The three tomoes in his eyes spun rapidly. Though not the Mangekyo, his dynamic vision and insight were still top-notch!
He pinpointed the extremely subtle pre-movement before Deva Path raised his hand, and the moment the other three Paths were temporarily occupied!
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
A massive fire dragon roared forth from Shisui's mouth, not directly attacking Deva Path, but blocking his possible evasion routes!
And at that very moment, Natsuhi's prepared killing move was unleashed: "Mysterious Peacock Method: Dragon!"
The huge purple Chakra Dragon Head condensed in front of her, its fangs stained with a rich dark red luster, let out an ear-splitting roar, tore through the air, and fiercely bit down towards Deva Path!
Its power far exceeded any previous attack!
Nagato, through Deva Path's Rinnegan, calmly analyzed the situation.
The opponent's coordination, tactics, and sudden power increase had indeed exceeded his expectations.
"Somewhat interesting," Nagato murmured to himself. Under his conscious control, Deva Path did not choose to take the hit head-on, but sidestepped slightly.
The massive Chakra Dragon Head almost grazed Deva Path's clothes as it slammed into the ground, blasting a deep crater and sending dirt flying.
However, the moment Deva Path avoided the main attack, his movement slightly stalled, Shisui, who had been moving at high speed seeking an opportunity, moved!
He pushed the Body Flicker Technique to its limit, like a green lightning bolt, stabbing straight towards Deva Path's back!
His speed was extreme!
But the Six Paths of Pain have shared vision!
Almost the instant Shisui moved, Asura Path on the flank suddenly whipped out a mechanical chain, lashing like a venomous snake towards Shisui's inevitable path!
Human Path also abandoned blocking the arrows, fearlessly pouncing towards Shisui, attempting to block with his body.
Shisui's pupils contracted. He had no choice but to change his stab into a sweep, his short sword severing the chain, while simultaneously kicking away the pouncing Human Path.
But the best opportunity for the assassination had already passed.
Deva Path slowly turned around, his Rinnegan looking indifferently at the now-nearby Shisui.
"Good tactics. A pity." Deva Path slowly raised his hand.
"Bansho Ten'in!"
A powerful attractive force suddenly acted upon Shisui!
Shisui felt his body lighten, uncontrollably pulled by an invisible force towards Deva Path!
He hurriedly stabbed his short sword into the ground, trying to anchor himself, but the ground under the attraction was plowed open like tofu!
Just as he was about to be sucked into Deva Path's hand, Natsuhi urgently manipulated Mysterious Peacock Method's Chakra Tentacles to wrap around Shisui's waist, trying to pull him back.
Chino also controlled blood tentacles to entangle Shisui's ankles.
The two forces struggled violently. Shisui hung in mid-air, seeming about to be torn apart, in agony.
"Struggle! Suffer!" Deva Path commented indifferently, slightly increasing the power of Bansho Ten'in.
Natsuhi's Chakra Tentacles were the first to snap!
Chino's blood tentacles also shattered one after another!
Shisui was once again pulled accelerated towards Deva Path!
"Summoning Technique!"
At that moment, the previously silent Animal Path formed hand seals and slapped the ground!
White smoke exploded. A large, winged chameleon-like summoning creature appeared. Its long tongue shot out like a whip at an astonishing speed, not attacking anyone, but accurately coiling around Shisui, who was being pulled by Bansho Ten'in, and yanking hard in the opposite direction!
Shisui felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. The chameleon's tongue actually had barbs that deeply embedded into his flesh!
Two immense forces used his body as a tug-of-war point, almost tearing him apart!
"Urgh… Ah!" Shisui couldn't help but let out a pained groan, his face instantly turning deathly pale.
"Shisui-san!" Natsuhi cried out, unable to assist again.
Deva Path watched Shisui suffering in the struggle between forces, his Rinnegan showing no pity.
Instead, as if conducting some kind of experiment, he spoke again, his voice coming through the hum of Bansho Ten'in, striking directly at Shisui's heart:
"Konoha's [Shisui of the Body Flicker], why have you betrayed the village that raised you, throwing in your lot with this hypocritical nation built by Missing-Nin?"
"What has the Shura you serve given you? Power? Authority? Or… an illusory, so-called fantasy of peace?"
"Look at this land. This so-called 'rebirth' is nothing but a sandcastle built upon conquest and bloodshed. The old nobles were slaughtered, a new order established by violence. The seeds of hatred were sown long ago, just waiting to sprout. How is this any different from the cycle that has persisted in the ninja world for millennia?"
"Is this the peace you seek? Betraying your own past, attaching yourself to another, more powerful machine of violence?"
Deva Path's speech was measured, yet each word struck at the heart, attempting to disrupt Shisui's will.
Shisui gritted his teeth, enduring the intense pain, but his mind involuntarily recalled what he had seen these past few days in the Darkness County and Swamps County.
The unprecedented light of hope on those commoners' faces, the homes being rapidly rebuilt, the fair land distribution policies… Everyone living and working in peace, helping each other, filled with hope for the future, yearning for a better life!
It was completely different from the Konoha's leadership's suspicion of the Uchiha Clan, Danzo's schemes, and the pure destruction brought by this self-proclaimed 'God' before him.
"You… what do you… know?!" Shisui squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, "What Shura gives the commoners is… hope to break their chains!"
"Hope?" Deva Path's voice held a trace of mockery. "Hope is precisely the breeding ground for greater pain. When this false hope is shattered, the pain will be even more profound. Only by experiencing extreme pain can one truly understand peace."
His Rinnegan seemed to flash with a hint of pity, yet it was piercingly cold, "Just like the pain you are feeling now. This is the shortcut to understanding."
"Nonsense!" Natsuhi angrily rebuked, gathering Chakra once more.
"Mysterious Peacock Method: Twin Wings!"
Huge purple Chakra Wings took form, edged with dark red flowing light, slashing fiercely towards the chameleon's tongue!
Simultaneously, Chino used another blood secret technique. New blood tentacles burst from the earth, entangling Deva Path's feet, attempting to disrupt his technique.
And the huge chameleon's body blurred. Its tail actually split off a small snake head!
The newly split small snake head lashed out, accurately shattering Chino's blood tentacles, then tightly coiled around Shisui.
Deva Path ignored Natsuhi's attack. Bansho Ten'in exerted force again!
A sound grating to the ears rang out!
Shisui let out a suppressed scream. Blood spurted wildly from his left shoulder!
The chameleon's barbed tongue had torn off a large piece of flesh, even revealing white bone!
And due to this sudden intense pain and loss of balance, he was abruptly accelerated towards Deva Path by Bansho Ten'in!
Deva Path's cold hand reached out, aimed directly at Shisui's head.
"Feel the pain."
"Contemplate the pain."
"Accept the pain."
"Understand the pain-"
Just as Shisui was about to be grabbed by the head by Deva Path, another anomaly occurred!
On Shisui's right hand, originally empty, a dark red seal marking suddenly and without warning appeared!
This newly appeared seal glowed with a blinding light, like a red-hot brand!
Immediately after, a dark red Chakra far vaster, more refined, and more savage than that given to the other four erupted with a roar!
Dark red flames, substantial as reality, instantly enveloped Shisui's entire body!
"What?!" Nagato, through Deva Path's perspective, let out a truly shocked exclamation for the first time!
'This power-'
'Far exceeded the total given to the other four!'
Moreover, the nature of this Chakra was filled with ultimate darkness, destruction, yet carried a vast, imposing pressure!
The powerful dark red Chakra violently dispersed the binding force of Bansho Ten'in!
It even instantly shattered the approaching chameleon's tongue!
Shisui hovered in mid-air, wrapped in blazing dark red Chakra flames. The horrific wound on his left shoulder healed at a visible, frantic pace within the light.
He slowly raised his head. His Sharingan had temporarily turned an eerie dark red, and a complex pattern seemed to flash within his pupils.
Shisui felt the surging, never-before-experienced power within him. A cold, brutal killing intent uncontrollably rose in his heart. His gaze locked onto Deva Path below.
A cold, authoritative voice, as if traversing space, transmitted through this dense dark red Chakra, faintly reverberated over the battlefield, clearly reaching everyone's ears, especially Deva Path's:
"Who allowed you… to touch my people?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a pressure that made souls tremble.