Chapter 274: Pain Joins The Fight? Sit At The Kids’ Table
The battle between Menma and Jigen produced chakra fluctuations and deafening explosions, like dropping a massive boulder into the deep waters of Rain Village, with ripples rapidly spreading throughout the entire Rain Village.
Orochimaru, who had just joined Akatsuki and was hiding in the shadows, observing the battle between Jiraiya and Pain with the curiosity and greed of a researcher, was also drawn by this sudden explosion.
His golden snake pupils narrowed slightly, looking toward the intense vibrations continuously coming from the southeast direction, his long tongue subconsciously licking his lips.
“Oh? It seems today’s Rain Village is even livelier than imagined…” he muttered to himself in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.
Meanwhile, Obito, standing in the shadows of another tall tower, turned his Sharingan toward the direction of the explosion, but his brows furrowed tightly under the mask.
He asked Zetsu, who emerged from the wall: “Besides Hanzo and his direct Anbu, does Rain Village internally… still have Jonin of this level?”
“How is that possible!” White Zetsu denied in his signature exaggerated tone: “That old guy Hanzo is so paranoid, if there were disobedient and powerful Jonin, he would’ve found an excuse to eliminate them long ago! Rain Village now, aside from our Akatsuki organization, is basically a barren wasteland!”
Black Zetsu’s hoarse voice also added gravely: “Indeed abnormal. The quality of this chakra and the level of collision… far beyond ordinary Jonin. Even… it feels somewhat familiar.”
A deep doubt flashed in Obito’s only eye: “Then… who exactly caused a battle of this level?”
He faintly felt a trace of unease in his heart, as if things were slipping out of control.
On the battlefield, Konan vibrated her pure white paper wings, slowly descending from the air to the side of Deva Path, and said in a low voice: “Pain, that commotion over there… I’ll go check it out.”
Deva Path remained expressionless, merely nodding slightly, his attention still focused on Jiraiya, who lay in the rubble, breathing weakly yet still refusing to give up struggling.
He slowly raised his hand, the pitch-black chakra black rod lifted again, cold killing intent locking onto his former teacher.
“Jiraiya Teacher… it’s time to end it completely.”
Just as he was about to bring down the black rod and pierce Jiraiya!
Boom!
A human figure shot back like a cannonball from the direction of the explosion, at extreme speed, wrapped in a shrill sound of air breaking, smashing fiercely into the wall of the already crumbling ruined tall tower beside Asura Path!
Bricks and stones flew, smoke and dust filled the air!
Immediately after, under the stunned gazes of everyone, a figure slowly walked out from that cloud of smoke and dust.
He wore a damaged white haori, his face and exposed skin covered in strange black wedge-shaped patterns, a trace of undried blood at the corner of his mouth, his aura somewhat disordered, but those eyes still carried an aloof coldness and arrogance.
It was Jigen, who had been forced to activate “Karma·State One”.
Jigen’s gaze indifferently swept over the Akatsuki members present.
Deva Path, Konan, Obito and Zetsu who had just arrived, finally landing on Jiraiya, who was severely injured on the ground.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, his tone surprisingly carrying a strange politeness: “Sorry, I interrupted your battle. I have some personal matters to handle, and I’ll leave soon.”
This casual attitude, as if he had just strolled into someone else’s backyard, completely enraged Nagato, who was already displeased at his plan being interrupted.
“Arrogant!” Nagato controlled Asura Path, the high-speed rotating saw teeth on its back emitting a piercing buzz, thrusting fiercely toward Jigen’s back!
This strike was swift and ruthless, enough to easily tear through steel.
However, Jigen didn’t even turn his head.
He merely casually raised his left hand, a pitch-black chakra black rod instantly appearing in his grasp, blocking the violent saw teeth with perfect precision!
Clang!!!
Amid the teeth-gritting clash of metal, a shocking scene unfolded before everyone’s eyes.
Asura Path’s indestructible saw teeth, upon colliding with the seemingly ordinary black rod in Jigen’s hand, shattered inch by inch like fragile glass!
Immediately after, Jigen sidestepped, delivering a seemingly ordinary whip kick like lightning, fiercely striking between Asura Path’s waist and abdomen!
Bang!!!
Asura Path’s mechanically reinforced body flew back powerless, as if struck head-on by a siege ram, smashing heavily into distant ruins, momentarily unable to move!
Silence!
Dead silence!
Whether Nagato observing through Deva Path’s perspective, or Obito and Black Zetsu on site, all were deeply shocked by this scene!
The black rod that suddenly appeared in that mysterious person’s hand… that was definitely a chakra black rod!
But in their knowledge, this was a special weapon containing Yin-Yang Release power that only Rinnegan wielders could condense and use!
Why could this person use it too?!
Especially Black Zetsu, his extremely keen perception, when trying to probe this mysterious person, sank like a stone into the sea, sensing nothing, as if no one was there at all!
Yet he was real, standing before them, giving a profound sense of void and an indescribable oppression!
‘This guy… exactly what is he…’ Black Zetsu had never seen such a situation where perception failed in a thousand years!
Jigen shook his hand, as if he had just swatted a fly, his tone still flat: “I said, I have no intention of fighting you.”
His gaze passed over the crowd, looking not far in the direction where Obito was.
Atop that tall tower, unbeknownst when, another figure had quietly appeared standing there.
Short black hair, youthful face, wearing a black-based red-edged miko robe, similarly toying with a pitch-black chakra black rod in hand, watching the chaotic scene below with intrigued eyes.
Menma’s lips curved slightly, mimicking Jigen’s earlier tone, speaking with a hint of teasing:
“Sorry, I interrupted your battle.”
“That guy…” Konan immediately became alert, her paper wings fluttering slightly, whispering to Deva Path, “His eyes!”
Nagato focused through Deva Path’s vision and indeed saw Menma’s unreasonable eye combination: one scarlet Mangekyo Sharingan and one pure white Byakugan!
This eerie combination sent a shock through his heart.
Obito and Zetsu also immediately noticed this mysterious person’s eyes, and the chakra black rod in his hand that originated from the same source as Jigen’s, waves of shock surging in their hearts!
Combination of Sharingan and Byakugan?
Also using chakra black rods?
What exactly is the background of these two guys?!
Since Menma was not wearing his signature black robe or the white three-eyed fox mask at this moment, the Akatsuki members did not connect this mysterious boy before them with the “Shura” they dreaded.
While Jiraiya, slumped in the ruins against a broken wall, breathing heavily with difficulty, looked at the familiar yet strange black-haired boy on the opposite tall tower, and the scene of their previous encounter at the ramen shop and on the street immediately flashed in his mind.
“It’s him… that kid who called himself ‘Ichiraku’…”
His heart was filled with doubt and shock.
Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima on his shoulder were even more gravely serious.
“Little Jiraiya, that kind of black rod…” Sage Fukasaku’s voice was low: “It’s the same thing as the weapon that attacked you earlier! It contains terrifying power that disrupts or even seals chakra! These two people… are extremely dangerous!”
At this moment, Menma’s eyes were only on Jigen; he had no interest in Obito and Nagato, these two defeated subordinates.
Similarly, Jigen paid no heed to the Akatsuki crowd, his full attention focused on Menma, this mysterious boy who called himself “Otsutsuki Rakushiki”, wielded strange power, and could injure him.
In an instant, a strange four-way standoff formed on the battlefield.
Severely injured and dying Jiraiya with the two toad immortals; the uncertain Akatsuki crowd; and Menma and Jigen locked onto each other.
“Warm-up should be over.” Menma rolled his neck, emitting a slight crack, his gaze suddenly sharpening.
He kicked off from the ground, cracking the concrete at the top of the tall tower, his figure diving like a hunting eagle, charging toward Jigen on the ground with unstoppable momentum once more!
Jigen’s eyes turned cold, charging forward without fear!
The two clashed again!
This time, they seemed to abandon flashy ninjutsu, relying purely on taijutsu and the black rods in their hands to exchange blows!
The clash of black rod against black rod resounded like rapid drumbeats in the rain curtain and ruins, each strike sparking blinding sparks and heart-palpitating energy ripples.
Their movements were so fast that even Konan struggled to keep up, while Obito needed to activate his Mangekyo to see clearly.
Their power was astonishingly great; wherever the black rods passed, the ground cracked, walls collapsed, like two humanoid demolition machines.
This feeling of being completely ignored made Nagato, who saw himself as a “god”, feel unprecedented humiliation.
He controlled Asura Path, which had just struggled out from the ruins, targeting the center of the fray!
“Five-Finger Missiles!”
Asura Path’s arm and shoulder armor suddenly opened, dozens of small tracking missiles swarmed out like a bee hive, with piercing whistles, indiscriminately covering the area where Menma and Jigen were without regard for friend or foe!
Menma, in fierce combat, shuttled and flickered like a ghost through the gaps between missiles, dodging explosions by millimeters.
Jigen appeared even more composed; he didn’t even halt his assault on Menma, merely raising his free left hand, space in front of his palm rippling slightly.
Countless pitch-black particles, miniaturized to the extreme and invisible to the naked eye, were scattered into the air by him, perfectly intercepting the incoming missile swarm.
Then, with a thought:
‘Sukuna Hikona!’
Those tiny black particles instantly expanded, transforming into countless sharp chakra black rods, colliding with the incoming missiles!
Boooom——!!!
Intense explosions rang out in chain reaction, firelight and smoke instantly engulfing a large area.
Under the cover of this explosive smoke, Jigen’s figure suddenly accelerated, delivering a powerful side kick, fiercely striking the black rod that Menma hastily blocked with!
Bang!
Menma was sent flying backward by this immense force.
And just as his body was mid-air with no leverage, Asura Path, having just unleashed a barrage, suddenly opened its head like eerie petals, revealing a complex energy gathering device within!
A terrifying laser beam, thick and brimming with destructive energy, shot out like the Shinigami’s gaze, straight at Menma in the air!
“This kid’s in danger!” Sage Shima couldn’t help crying out.
Facing this sudden sneak attack, Menma twisted his body forcibly in mid-air, showing no panic in his eyes.
He directly hurled the black rod he had been using against Jigen, like throwing a javelin, straight at the laser beam!
Whoosh—
Pfft!
The black rod, infused with Menma’s powerful chakra and special power, pierced through the seemingly indestructible laser beam like a hot knife through butter, shattering and annihilating it from the middle!
And without losing momentum, at the tail end of the black rod, three thinner black rods split out like forked lightning!
“What?!” Nagato was horrified.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
The three split black rods struck Asura Path’s head, chest, and core joints with speed beyond visual capture, with perfect precision!
Asura Path’s movements froze instantly, the light in those Rinnegan eyes rapidly dimming, its massive body nailed firmly to the wall behind, completely losing mobility, turning into a pile of true scrap metal.
The second Pain, destroyed!
Obito and Zetsu’s figures instantly appeared beside Deva Path and Konan, the atmosphere extremely tense.
“That’s… definitely a chakra black rod…” Black Zetsu’s hoarse voice carried unprecedented gravity: “Normally, this should be something only those who mastered Six Paths Power, especially Rinnegan power, can condense… but they…”
He didn’t finish, but Nagato and Konan understood the implication.
Chakra black rods were one of the Rinnegan abilities Nagato gradually mastered after summoning the Outer Path Demonic Statue; these Six Paths of Pain were controlled using chakra black rods as link points.
Yet these two mysterious people opposite had no Rinnegan, yet used them so proficiently, even more powerfully!
Obito’s face under the mask was extremely ugly, his heart filled with shock and doubt.
Rain Village actually hid such powerful and mysterious ninja, and he and Zetsu had operated here for years without knowing!
This completely disrupted his plans.
While Nagato, who proclaimed himself “god”, had just slain Hanzo and was preparing to rule the Land of Rain, collect Tails, with the ultimate goal of even defeating that “Shura”, now felt unprecedented anger and offense!
First Jiraiya, now these two guys who popped up from nowhere, daring to act recklessly in his “divine domain” one after another!
Deva Path stepped forward, Rinnegan filled with icy killing intent, voice like eternal cold ice resounding through the rain curtain:
“No matter who you are… committing such crimes in the god’s domain leads only to death!”
Jigen, preparing to continue pursuing Menma, paused slightly upon hearing this.
He first looked down at the faint crack that appeared on the rune at his abdomen, like a black hole.
“Reached some limit?” This was the strain from forcibly using power on this body, even causing physiological tears to seep from the corner of his eye due to the body’s pain.
“What a useless body…”
Jigen slowly raised his head, looking at the orange-haired puppet calling itself “god”, his face showing undisguised, ant-like extreme contempt and arrogance for the first time.
“Little bug… dares to call itself a deity?” Jigen’s voice wasn’t loud, yet carried an absolute superiority from bloodline and soul level: “Then let you frogs at the bottom of the well witness… what true ‘god’ power is.”
Before the words finished, he didn’t even make any obvious hand seal or movement, merely raising his right hand toward Deva Path, gently clenching.
Sukuna Hikona!
The chakra black rods he had scattered earlier while defending against missiles and quietly deployed across the battlefield, in their microscopic state, were instantly enlarged at this moment!
Restoring their lethal form!
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Several pitch-black chakra black rods appeared out of thin air, piercing Deva Path’s limbs and torso at speeds impossible to react to!
One even grazed his cheek, carrying away a strand of orange hair!
Deva Path’s body stiffened violently, those Rinnegan eyes filled with incredulous shock!
He didn’t even have time to activate Almighty Push!
Deva Path’s body staggered back a few steps from the power in the black rods, nailed dead in place, its chakra flow instantly becoming chaotic!
“Pain!” Konan let out a horrified cry.
Obito and Zetsu also widened their eyes!
They didn’t even see how those black rods appeared!
This attack method completely exceeded their understanding!
“Paper Dance!”
Konan, both shocked and angry, unleashed countless sharp paper pieces like a blizzard sweeping toward Jigen!
“Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!”
Obito also immediately formed hand seals, spewing a blazing fireball for covering attack!
However, facing the joint attack of the two, Jigen merely indifferently raised both hands, palms respectively aimed at the paper and fireball.
Karma·Absorption!
The violent paper and massive fireball, upon touching Jigen’s palms, vanished like clay oxen into the sea, all chakra rapidly devoured and absorbed, disappearing without a trace!
Not even a ripple was stirred!
“How is that possible?! Absorbing ninjutsu?!” Konan and Obito’s pupils contracted sharply; this scene was so similar to the Naraka Path’s ability they knew!
No, even more effortless than Naraka Path’s absorption!
The mysterious enemy’s consecutively displayed powers completely suppressing Rinnegan abilities sank the Akatsuki crowd’s hearts to the bottom.
And Jigen, after casually resolving Akatsuki’s attack, seemed to regain some of the confidence and superiority of the mighty Otsutsuki Clan from these “natives'” shock and fear.
He slowly turned his head, casting his gaze once more toward Menma, who stood on the tall tower wall, quietly watching all this.
Rainwater slid down the patterns on his cheeks, mixing with that physiological tear, making his expression at this moment particularly eerie.
“Now, it’s your turn.” Jigen’s voice carried an icy arrogant killing intent, locking onto Menma.
