His crimson-cloud cloak hid half of the Deva Path's face as he led the advance, the Rinnegan in his eyes gleaming with an ominous light.
Clak. Clak.
As he advanced, the Asura Path's shoulder muscles writhed behind him. Two extra heads sprouted from its left and right, tearing off its cloak to reveal a fully mechanized torso bristling with weapons.
"Hn?" Sasuke's brow furrowed, his guard heightening instantly.
The Deva Path stretched out its palm.
— Universal Pull!
WHOOSH—!!
A powerful gravitational force yanked Sasuke off his feet, pulling him forward!
Shhk—!
A chain shot from the seal on his left arm, lashing around a broken stone pillar from the earlier fight with a CRUNCH!
The chain went taut, arresting Sasuke's flight mid-air.
"Impressive adaptability," the Deva Path intoned. "But you cannot resist this technique."
WHOOSH!
The gravitational pull from its palm intensified violently. Sasuke's grip failed. He was ripped forward.
'The Deva Path's ability is troublesome, as expected. Even knowing its nature, it's hard to defend against…'
The Asura Path stepped in front of the Deva Path. Its saw-toothed tail curved forward, poised to impale the helplessly flying Sasuke.
In that split second, Sasuke had a daring thought.
'But… if I can't defend against it… I'll use it!'
BOOM!
At the moment of impact, the skeletal frame of a Susano'o erupted. Its bony fist followed the momentum, hammering straight into the Asura Path.
CRUNCH—!!!
The counter was impossibly fast. The Asura Path had no time to dodge. It shattered under the fist, shards of its mechanical body scattering in all directions.
The Deva Path's face showed shock. 'This level of improvisation… Is he joking!?'
Having instantly destroyed the Asura Path, the Susano'o's fist drew back for another strike—aiming to crush the Deva Path next.
— Shinra Tensei!
BOOM—!!!
Gravitational pull became explosive repulsion. The Susano'o's skeleton fractured. Sasuke was sent tumbling away like a ragdoll.
The Deva Path's outstretched hand clenched tightly, then slowly lowered. It was beginning to understand.
'Being calm against three Paths was one thing. But the three he defeated are standing right behind me, alive, and he shows not a hint of surprise? When facing unknown abilities, anyone's reactions would become strained. Yet against the combined assault of my Deva and Asura Paths just now, his response was unnaturally swift and precise…'
'Could it be… he truly has prior intelligence on the Rinnegan and this Six Paths of Pain technique? No, that alone isn't conclusive. But I must be wary. Adjust the formation.'
Under the Deva Path's suspicious gaze, Sasuke stood up.
He looked at the Naraka Path, which was already reviving the Asura Path, his eyes darkening.
'If I don't take out the Naraka Path, Pain can be revived indefinitely. But with six pairs of eyes sharing vision, I'll need a diversion to get a clean shot…'
The Paths adjusted their positions as they moved: Deva in front; Asura, Animal, and Preta Paths behind it; with the Naraka Path at the very rear.
'He's starting to suspect I might know the Rinnegan's secrets. But my strategy won't change.'
Clap!
Sasuke brought his hands together in a seal.
— Wood Style: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Inside the underground structure, a riot of giant trees erupted from the ground. Strange flowers bloomed, releasing vast clouds of soporific, yellow pollen.
"Ah…" the Deva Path mused. "The First Hokage's legendary technique? It releases toxic pollen to eliminate foes. As corpses, the Paths have no fear of poison. But our vision is blocked. That is likely his true objective."
RUMBLE…!
Behind the pollen curtain, the surging forest rushed forward.
The Preta Path knelt, pressing both hands to the ground.
'Wood Style's essence is simply chakra released as a 'jutsu.' And any jutsu can be absorbed by the Preta Path. I'll cut you off at the source!'
— Preta Path: Absorption Seal!
WHOOSH…!!
The advancing forest visibly withered, crumbling to dust at a terrifying rate.
But using the pollen to block the Rinnegan's shared vision and the forest as a distraction, Sasuke charged into the Paths' formation atop his Susano'o, its massive sword sweeping in a furious arc.
The Deva Path was prepared. Sensing the disturbance, it immediately spread its arms.
— Shinra Tensei!!!
BOOM—!!!
The omnidirectional repulsive force blasted the incoming sword aside, shattered the Susano'o's skeleton, and sent Sasuke flying back. As the pollen dispersed, clearing the view, the Deva Path saw Sasuke's body transform into a lump of 'wood'.
"A Wood Clone! Protect the Naraka Path!!!"
WHOOSH!
Sasuke's true body had used the pollen as cover to leap to the ceiling. Now, he descended from above, lightning chakra gathering in his palm, thrusting down in a killing blow aimed straight for the Naraka Path.
'The Deva Path's ability has a cooldown! The Naraka Path is unprotected!!'
This scene perfectly mirrored the strategy Naruto had used in a past life to defeat the Naraka Path.
But… there was one new variable: the freshly revived Asura Path.
CRACK!
The Asura Path's skull opened like flower petals. A laser cannon fired point-blank.
"What…!?"
No matter how quick Sasuke's reflexes were, he could not have predicted the Asura Path's mechanized construction. All he could do was attempt a desperate, mid-air dodge.
ZAP!
The laser beam grazed his cheek, blasting a massive hole clean through the ceiling above.
He forced his posture to correct, landing and immediately thrusting his lightning-charged hand at the Naraka Path.
But that tiny delay was all the Deva Path needed for its ability to cool down.
— Shinra Tensei!
BOOM—!!!
The ground exploded. Sasuke, lightning still crackling around his hand, was flung back, landing unsteadily.
The sneak attack on the Naraka Path… had failed.
Now, Pain was completely certain.
'Uchiha Sasuke… he truly knows about the Rinnegan and the Six Paths of Pain! Did 'Madara' tell him? It must be!'
'Why would he do this?'
The Deva Path clenched its fist.
'I see. Madara knows our ideals differ. To control the situation, he leaked my secrets to Uchiha Sasuke, hoping to use Sasuke's hand to eliminate me… That is the only motive that makes sense!'
'You won't succeed, Madara. I will make you understand who the true, indispensable pillar of the Akatsuki is!'
"The ambush failed…"
Sasuke stood up from the rubble he'd crashed into.
He saw the Six Paths of Pain had changed formation again.
The Deva, Preta, Human, and Asura Paths now formed a tight square, surrounding the Naraka Path in the center. The Animal Path rode its giant bird, guarding directly above.
It was a near-impenetrable, iron-clad defense.
Even with Sasuke's composure, a wry, helpless smile tugged at his lips. "Seriously? All this?"
But if that was how it was going to be… then holding back was no longer an option.
Sasuke ripped off his white kimono top and cloak. On the back of his neck, the White Cursed Seal erupted. White, fleshy growths morphed, spreading to form a skintight 'white cursed robe' connected to his skin.
BZZZT! On the robe's back, the dark, forest-green emblem of the Senju clan manifested. Beneath it lay the Uchiha clan's fan crest.
On the collar were fox-fire shaped tomoe in the same monochrome palette.
He had activated the form he'd only revealed at the climax of his battle with Jiraiya.
— White Cursed Seal: State Three!
Sasuke formed a seal with four fingers on each hand.
— Multiple Wood Clones Technique!
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!…
Twelve Wood Clones rose, encircling the Paths from all sides.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Around each clone, the skeletal frames of Susano'o ignited and surged upward.
"If subtlety won't work… I'll break through with sheer force!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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