Chapter 272: Ōtsutsuki Troublemaker
The sound of rain poured down.
Jiraiya in Sage Mode slowly emerged from the shadows.
At this moment, he had entered an imperfect Sage Mode.
Red eyeshadow extended from the corners of his eyes, and the shape of his nose bridge had slightly changed, showing toad characteristics.
Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima on his shoulders gazed solemnly, scanning the battlefield.
Not far away, Gamaken was swinging his already damaged steel fork, struggling to fend off the frenzied bites of two hellhounds. New wounds had appeared on his body, but he still stubbornly guarded the rear.
Seeing the two sages on Jiraiya’s shoulders, Gamaken greeted in his slow, drawling tone: “Lord Fukasaku, Lady Shima, you’ve arrived.”
“Mm, you’ve worked hard, Gamaken.” Sage Fukasaku nodded slightly.
Animal Path Pain, hidden inside the chameleon and observing the battle through the shared Rinnegan vision, immediately noticed Jiraiya’s changes.
His gaze first fell on the two small-bodied yet aura-emitting elderly toads on Jiraiya’s shoulders, sensing the energy fluctuations within them, distinctly different from ordinary summoned beasts.
But what concerned him more was Jiraiya’s own changes.
That aura… was no longer pure chakra, but mixed with a more primal and massive energy that resonated with the surrounding natural environment.
This energy felt unfamiliar to him, yet carried an undeniable majesty.
“As expected of Teacher Jiraiya…” Nagato thought to himself, manipulating Animal Path Pain to emit a silent murmur: “To possess such a unique and powerful power… This is the first time I’ve seen it.”
At this time, Sage Fukasaku carefully surveyed the surroundings, his white long eyebrows twitching slightly. He saw Konan floating in the air with parts of her body turned into paper, but did not spot the Rinnegan wielder Jiraiya had mentioned, and asked puzzledly: “Little Jiraiya, where is that Rinnegan wielder you spoke of? This old man only sees that paper girl.”
Sage Shima also narrowed her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of self-mockery: “Could it be that we’ve grown old and our eyesight is failing? How come we don’t see those legendary eyes?”
Jiraiya’s gaze locked on a spot ahead that appeared empty, and he explained in a deep voice: “Two sages, the opponent is hiding inside a summoned beast, concealing his form.”
“An invisible summoned beast?” The knowledgeable Sage Shima immediately reacted, her head resembling a bun shaking slightly: “A chameleon or something like that! Since he’s hiding his head but showing his tail, let me drag him out!”
Before her words finished, Sage Shima quickly formed hand seals, her unique frog-like mouth suddenly opening wide!
An unusually flexible long tongue covered in small fleshy bumps shot out from her mouth!
The tip of this tongue even grew a pair of sharp eyes and a mouth filled with tiny fangs!
This bizarre “creature” twisted rapidly in the air, as if possessing independent life. The eyes at its tip scanned around, its nose twitching constantly, capturing the lingering chakra and scents in the air.
“Found it!” Sage Shima snorted coldly, her senses locking onto the target.
The next moment, her long tongue shot forward like a striking spirit serpent at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye!
The tongue extended continuously in the air, its speed astonishing!
Animal Path Pain hidden in the chameleon was also startled: “Such fast speed!”
Before his chameleon could dodge, the tongue covered in mucus and sensory pods wrapped around the invisible chameleon’s massive body like a tough rope!
The powerful restraint force made the chameleon emit a muffled hiss, its form involuntarily dragged out from invisibility, revealing its massive outline constantly shifting colors!
“Got it bound!” Sage Shima shouted lowly, the small fleshy bumps on the tongue suddenly opening, spraying out large amounts of viscous, foul-smelling pale yellow toad oil!
This oil quickly covered the chameleon’s body surface, not only further restricting its movements but completely destroying its invisibility.
“Good job, child’s mom!” Sage Fukasaku praised, seizing this fleeting opportunity, clasping his hands together, his chest swelling!
“Sage Jutsu: Water Severing Wave!”
A highly condensed, high-pressure water blade-like thin water column shot out from his mouth!
This water column contained sage jutsu chakra, sharp beyond compare, its speed as fast as lightning!
Sizzle——！！！
The water column precisely hit the toad oil-covered, movement-restricted chameleon!
No earth-shattering explosion, only a teeth-grinding cutting sound!
The water column sliced through the massive chameleon and the sturdy steel building behind it as easily as a hot knife through butter!
“Awooo——!” The chameleon let out an extremely shrill scream, blood gushing out like a waterfall from its severed body, even splashing a few drops onto Jiraiya’s pant leg nearby.
However, with the chameleon’s life ending, its body rapidly turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished, along with the splashed blood and massive corpse, as if it had never existed.
Only the lingering blood scent in the air and the building neatly sliced open with a mirror-smooth cross-section proved the reality of that fatal strike.
The white smoke slowly dissipated, and Animal Path Pain’s figure emerged from it. Expressionless, with some un-dissipated toad oil on his body, those Rinnegan eyes with rippling circles coldly stared at Jiraiya and the two toad sages opposite.
Only then did Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima truly see those legendary eyes.
Sage Fukasaku’s white long eyebrows furrowed tightly, and he said gravely: “Ominous eyes… filled with power of pain and obsession… Is this the Child of Prophecy from the Great Lord’s prophecy, who might guide world change or bring destruction…”
Jiraiya looking at Animal Path Pain’s cold Rinnegan, involuntarily recalled in his mind the scene from years ago when he met the Great Toad Sage.
That future-seeing Great Toad Sage not only prophesied the Child of Prophecy who would bring change to the world, but also foretold that he would be forced to make a choice, one that would determine the direction of world change.
And a few years ago, the Great Toad Sage suddenly summoned him, mentioning a “Child of Darkness” who might bring destruction to the world…
“Could it be… that Nagato has become the ‘Child of Darkness’ prophesied by the Great Toad Sage?” Jiraiya’s heart shook violently, a heavy sense of responsibility weighing on him.
If Nagato had truly taken the path of world destruction, then as his teacher, he must stop him here!
At that moment, two figures descended from the sky, steadily landing beside Animal Path Pain.
They were Deva Path Pain and Asura Path Pain, who had previously fought Hanzo of the Salamander.
The three Pains stood side by side, with Deva Path Pain at the forefront, looking down condescendingly at Jiraiya below, their Rinnegan devoid of any emotion, only deity-like indifference.
Jiraiya took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his complex emotions, meeting Deva Path Pain’s cold Rinnegan with his gaze, his voice resounding:
“Nagato! If you are that ‘Child of Darkness’ who will bring destruction to the world! Then defeating you here is my duty as a teacher… an inescapable mission!”
Boom——！！！
As if echoing this fateful declaration, a pale lightning bolt suddenly streaked across the night sky, followed by a deafening thunderclap!
The rain grew heavier, dense raindrops madly pounding this battered land, as if to wash away all the blood and sins.
…
Meanwhile, in another relatively intact area of Rain Village, on the top floor of a modern building with a “Zhibang Technology Company” sign.
In a luxuriously decorated office with a broad view, Jigen dressed in a white miko robe elegantly sat in a large leather swivel chair, facing the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside the window was the thunderous, battle-ravaged scene of Rain Village’s northern urban area.
He held a crystal-clear wine glass, filled with gem-like rich red wine.
Though he had no Byakugan, with his superhuman perception and the sporadic footage from cleverly disguised surveillance cameras placed throughout Rain Village, he clearly captured those striking Rinnegan eyes on the distant battlefield, as well as the massive chaotic chakra fluctuations.
“Heh…” Jigen gently swirled the wine glass, a meaningful smile curling his lips, tinged with amusement and disdain: “I didn’t expect that after a millennium on this barren planet, among these natives, someone could still awaken the Rinnegan… Though it seems to be the product of some conspiracy.”
He took a sip of the red wine, savoring its complex astringency with sweetness: “This is… getting more and more interesting. This planet always manages to bring me some ‘surprises.'”
The Rinnegan was not rare in the Otsutsuki Clan.
Both Otsutsuki Momoshiki and Otsutsuki Urashiki possessed the Rinnegan, merely with different awakened abilities and focuses.
Nagato’s Rinnegan, in Jigen’s view, had the form but was far from unleashing its true power.
Just then, urgent knocking came from outside the office door, followed by his subordinate’s slightly panicked report: “Lord Jigen! Rain Village Anbu has suffered heavy casualties, Hanzo of the Salamander… is suspected to have fallen in battle!”
No surprise appeared on Jigen’s face, as if this was all within his expectations.
He maintained his composed elegance, responding indifferently: “Understood. Continue surveillance, report any new developments immediately.”
“Yes!” The subordinate outside the door retreated.
However, at that moment—
Boom！！！
The office’s thick solid wooden door, along with the surrounding walls, suddenly exploded!
Wood chips and gravel flew everywhere, the subordinate who had just retreated flung like a rag doll by the blast wave, crashing into the corridor wall, vomiting blood and dying.
Amid the billowing smoke, a figure slowly entered the office.
Jigen still faced away from the door, as if the explosion behind him had nothing to do with him.
He didn’t even turn his head, merely elegantly swiveling the chair to face the intruder.
Jigen raised his wine glass, his tone terrifyingly calm, carrying a hint of reproach, yet more like condescending mockery:
“Entering uninvited and breaking the host’s door, that’s very rude behavior.”
The smoke gradually cleared, revealing the intruder’s true appearance.
Jet-black short hair, youthful handsome features, dressed in a black-based red-edged miko robe—it was Menma in his fifteen-year-old boy form.
Without wearing the white three-eyed fox mask, he calmly walked to face Jigen with his true face.
Looking at this mysterious intruder, a boy with an aura as deep as an abyss, Jigen showed no panic, his innate confident ease unshaken.
He even snapped his fingers leisurely.
With the snap, a sturdy antique solid wood square table and two high-backed chairs appeared between them out of thin air, as if they had always been there.
On the table were even two sizzling hot premium steaks emitting steam, and a freshly poured glass of red wine matching Jigen’s.
“Far-traveled guest,” Jigen gestured “please” with impeccable elegance: “Though your entrance was crude… care to sit and have a drink?”
Menma glanced at Jigen, didn’t refuse, and calmly sat in the high-backed chair opposite.
He picked up the wine glass, sniffed it lightly under his nose, took a shallow sip, frowned slightly, and commented: “The taste… a bit astringent. I prefer sweeter red wine.”
Hearing this, Jigen’s perfect gentlemanly smile faltered slightly, then he shook his head, saying with a sense of superiority: “It seems your taste is still… lacking. This is authentic aged brew from the most renowned winery in the Land of Fire; its astringency is proof of its years of sedimentation.”
He set down the glass, crossed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, his seemingly ordinary eyes sharply fixing on Menma: “So, can you tell me your name now? If I’m not mistaken, you tracked here via clues related to Amado’s company, right?”
Menma didn’t answer immediately. He swirled the glass, watching the blood-like viscous wine leave trails on the walls, suddenly as if recalling something extremely amusing, his lips curving in a mischievous arc.
He raised his head, meeting Jigen’s probing gaze, and said slowly in a clear, steady tone:
“You can call me Isshiki.”
Menma paused, eyebrow arched, looking at the still elegant, nonchalant, even disdainful Jigen, his lips quirking as he added leisurely:
“Or, of course—”
“Otsutsuki Rakushiki.”
Crack!
A crisp cracking sound rang out abruptly.
The crystal-clear stemware in Jigen’s hand was crushed by his unconsciously tightening fingers!
Crimson wine splashed like blood, staining his fingers and the table, and his previously composed, everything-under-control elegant demeanor vanished in that instant!
He slowly raised his head, his eyes showing shock for the first time!
