Sealing the Preta Path

"Move!"

After Deva Path Pain was restrained by Nara Shikaku’s Shadow Imitation Technique, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately gave the order and simultaneously used the Shadow Clone Technique.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet."

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet."

Sarutobi Hiruzen and his Shadow Clone respectively used Ninjutsu of two different elements, then combined them into a Compound Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Flame Stream.

"Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu."

Ōnoki also seized the chance to unleash Dust Release. A cone-shaped barrier of white light appeared in his hands, and the next second, it fired a white beam at Pain. Anything touched by that beam would be broken down to the atomic level. This was the Ninja World’s only Kekkei Tōta.

However, the Preta Path directly leaped in front of all the Pains, spread his arms, and used Sealing Technique Absorption All to absorb every incoming Ninjutsu into his palms, including the Dust Release Kekkei Tōta.

"Just as the intelligence said, it can even absorb Kekkei Tōta. But this technique is too troublesome. Kurenai, cover me." After throwing a Kunai at the Naraka Path, Yuhi Kurenai quickly formed hand seals, preparing to cast a Genjutsu Barrier.

Using an Illusion Technique so openly this time was risky, but without intelligence on the Naraka Path’s abilities, all Yuhi Kurenai could do was buy some time. Furthermore, her clan’s inherited Illusion Technique was, in some ways, even more suited for use at a distance than the Sharingan. As long as the opponent touched the Kunai, there was a chance she could pull them into the Genjutsu Barrier.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Kiyomi and Hyuga Keita charged in from another direction. Their target was the Asura Path. While Deva Path Pain was being restrained, the other Paths of Pain had not displayed any techniques with excessive destructive power, so Hyuga Kiyomi and Hyuga Keita were safe.

Moreover, they had Revolving Heaven. During their time at the Rain Country battlefield, Hyuga Kiyomi had practiced Revolving Heaven whenever she had free time, completely unconcerned with the Branch Family members from the faction opposing her watching nearby. Even if they learned it, she would not hold them accountable. If they practiced it incorrectly, Hyuga Kiyomi would even point out their mistakes.

The Byakugan’s penetrating vision was the best choice for dealing with the Asura Path, which could grow all kinds of weapons from its body.

"Earth Style: Earth Core Movement."

The Iwa-nin Ninja in the rear jointly cast an Earth Style Ninjutsu, shaking and shifting the ground beneath the Six Paths of Pain, directly dividing them among three battlefields to assist the Konoha Ninja’s attack.

All of this happened in an instant. Nara Shikaku had run through countless simulations before settling on this plan. He had even considered multiple ways Pain might attack, yet Pain unexpectedly chose the simplest method and walked straight into the encirclement. That surprised Shikaku somewhat.

"Hurry up, Shido."

Nara Shikaku’s face was drenched in sweat as he shouted the reminder. He had taken Soldier Pills before using his Ninjutsu, and he was an elite among Konoha’s Jonin, yet after restraining his target with the Shadow Imitation Technique for only a short while, he was already close to his limit.

The opponent’s Chakra was simply too powerful. Nara Shikaku felt as though he were controlling a Tailed Beast. He had originally wanted to use the Shadow Strangulation Technique against Deva Path Pain, but now, being able to hold on a little longer was already good enough.

"Got it, Shikaku! Multi-Size Technique, Super Push Hand!"

Akimichi Shido shouted, and his right hand rapidly expanded to three or four meters in size before shooting forward, ready to slap Deva Path Pain to death.

This move was pure Taijutsu. The Preta Path’s Sealing Technique Absorption All could not defend against it at all.

"As expected of Konoha’s elite Ninja."

Nagato spoke through Deva Path Pain. He directly erupted with Chakra, but Nara Shikaku seemed ready to risk his life, desperately maintaining the Shadow Imitation Technique and refusing to let Deva Path Pain make even the slightest movement.

It was too late.

Nagato immediately controlled the Preta Path Pain to leap up and block Akimichi Shido’s Super Push Hand. Black Receivers extended from the Preta Path’s hands and stabbed toward Akimichi Shido’s giant hand. The Black Receivers’ Chakra-disrupting effect nearly made Akimichi Shido lose control of the Multi-Size Technique.

I miscalculated. Then I’ll crush this Pain first!

Akimichi Shido’s expression turned ruthless. He clenched down hard, enduring the agonizing pain of his palm being pierced as he directly crushed the Preta Path to death in his hand.

"I can’t hold him anymore!"

After saying this with a flushed face, Nara Shikaku’s Shadow Imitation Technique was directly broken by Deva Path Pain’s eruption of Chakra. Nara Shikaku collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

He had taken Soldier Pills in advance and continuously forced out Chakra, yet he had lasted less than ten seconds.

Even against a Ninja at the level of the Five Kage, his Shadow Imitation Technique should have been able to hold them for nearly thirty seconds. When Ino-Shika-Cho dominated the battlefield, if Nara Shikaku had performed this poorly, their team would have been killed by the enemy long ago.

"Sorry, Shikaku. That Black Receiver… has the ability to disrupt Chakra. Once I was stabbed, I couldn’t control my Ninjutsu at all…"

Akimichi Shido spoke with a guilty expression. Nara Shikaku’s strategy had been perfect, but in the end, he had failed to kill Deva Path Pain.

"It’s fine. This isn’t your fault. Besides, getting rid of the Rinnegan that absorbs Ninjutsu is already enough." Nara Shikaku spoke while panting, tossing several Soldier Pills into his mouth. This method of forcibly draining Chakra would cause serious damage to his body, but the enemy was too powerful, and Nara Shikaku could not afford to worry about that now.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Deva Path Pain noticed that the other Paths of Pain had all fallen into trouble, so he decisively used the Rinnegan’s Eye Technique.

An invisible repulsive force spread outward from Deva Path Pain in all directions. It blasted a circular crater into the ground and indiscriminately attacked everyone within its range.

Even the Asura Path and Human Path were not spared. In any case, they were merely corpses controlled by Nagato. Once Shinra Tensei sent them flying, they could escape their current predicaments.

"It’s that technique, Keita."

"Understood, Miss Kiyomi!"

Hyuga Kiyomi and Hyuga Keita directly used Revolving Heaven. The enormous rotating Chakra collided with Shinra Tensei’s repulsive force, producing a thunderous roar.

Then, the spinning Revolving Heaven was gradually forced back by Shinra Tensei’s repulsive force, but unlike other Ninjutsu, it was not directly shattered.

"Earth Style: Earth Style Wall!"

From afar, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Ōnoki jointly used an Earth Style Ninjutsu to block this not-too-powerful Shinra Tensei. After all, they were two Ninja at the level of the Five Kage, and Nagato had restrained Shinra Tensei’s power to avoid hurting the other Paths of Pain.

Furthermore, after the Naraka Path was blasted away, he was released from Yuhi Kurenai’s Illusion Technique. However, even without Deva Path Pain’s Shinra Tensei, as long as Nagato controlled the Naraka Path to erupt with Chakra, he could still break Yuhi Kurenai’s Illusion Technique.

"As expected of Konoha’s elite Ninja. Only a few days after obtaining my intelligence, you devised such a targeted strategy."

As Nagato spoke through Pain, he suddenly noticed something very bad.

After Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei, he had blasted the Preta Path in front of him over to the enemy. Now, right before his eyes, the Konoha Ninja sealed the Preta Path’s corpse inside a Sealing Scroll.

Even if Nagato used the Animal Path now, he could no longer summon the Preta Path back. This was his mistake.

Nara Shikaku’s entire strategy had been aimed at Deva Path Pain. This made Nagato devote more attention to the Deva Path, causing him to neglect the Preta Path’s protection.

"Phew… phew… We finally captured the most troublesome one. Next, Lord of Earth and Hokage-sama can fight without holding back!"

When Nara Shikaku saw the Preta Path’s corpse being sealed away, he knew that although the strategy had not gone perfectly, freeing up Ōnoki’s Dust Release Kekkei Tōta meant victory in this battle was gradually tilting in their favor.

"Leave the rest to us, Shikaku. Summoning Technique."

After speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen directly used the Summoning Technique to summon Enma, the Monkey King, then had Enma transform into the Adamantine Staff.

Shinra Tensei’s repulsive force was, in essence, a physical attack. The Adamantine Staff transformed from Enma, the Monkey King, possessed extremely powerful physical defense.