In Konoha's Forest of Death, seven figures appeared together.
It was Nagato's Six Paths of Pain and Konan, who was using a paper clone.
"Now, split into the distraction and search teams,"
Deva Path said expressionlessly. "Asura Path, Animal Path, and Preta Path will act as the distraction. The rest of you, find the tailed beasts."
"Understood,"
Konan responded calmly, her voice cold.
The other five Pains remained silent.
Since all six were controlled by Nagato, there was no need for unnecessary conversation. This explanation was meant solely for Konan.
Deva Path's Rinnegan pulsed.
The barrier surrounding the outskirts of Konoha came into view.
"A sensory-type barrier."
Deva Path's voice was emotionless. "Throw Animal Path inside to make Konoha misjudge our numbers. We'll wait for the summoning to bring us in."
The bald Asura Path stepped forward in front of Animal Path.
In the original timeline, the Animal Path controlled by Nagato was destroyed by Jiraiya and replaced with a female host with purple hair.
But now, the host was still a young man.
"Wait."
Deva Path suddenly raised his hand to stop him.
"What is it?"
Konan's heart tightened, and she couldn't help but ask.
"Just now, a faint reddish barrier appeared over Konoha."
Deva Path extended his hand.
A massive gravitational force erupted from him.
Amidst the swirling dust and leaves, more than a dozen white snakes flew out.
In midair, they abruptly exploded into clouds of blood mist.
"It's Orochimaru's snakes,"
Konan's expression tensed as she spoke. "We've been discovered."
"The new barrier is defensive in nature."
Deva Path said indifferently. "In that case, we'll launch a direct assault."
He leaped into the air and flew toward Konoha.
Konan and the others followed closely behind.
…
In the Hokage's Office.
Shinho waved his hand, and the Ichikishima-hime returned to his arm as a tattoo.
Since he knew the Six Paths of Pain would come, Shinho wasn't going to sit idly by and let them wreak havoc in Konoha.
In the original story, the Six Paths of Pain inflicted great destruction on the village, especially the enormous summoning beasts from Animal Path.
After painstakingly rebuilding Konoha, Shinho wasn't about to let it be reduced to ruins again.
The only solution was to intercept them outside the village.
But that required knowing their precise location in advance.
Sending regular shinobi to scout would only be sending them to their deaths.
After some thought, Shinho decided to use Ichikishima-hime.
As the Serpent Princess, she could command all snakes, just like how the toads obeyed orders in Mount Myōboku.
Moreover, the Six Paths of Pain were so confident in their strength that they wouldn't bother to hide their tracks.
Once they entered the Forest of Death, they were immediately detected.
Shinho then activated the Blood Curtain Skyflower Gu.
…
"Shinho!"
Shizune rushed in anxiously. "A new barrier just appeared outside!"
"I placed it."
Shinho replied casually, "Tell the ANBU to inform the villagers; there's no need to panic."
"You placed it?"
Shizune sighed in relief. She had nearly thought an enemy had invaded but quickly realized something was off. "What's happening?"
"The guests have arrived, so it's only natural that we greet them appropriately."
Shinho smiled slightly.
"The Akatsuki?"
Shizune's face paled as she blurted out.
"It's them."
Shinho stood up. "I'll go meet them. I leave the village's safety to you in the meantime, Shizune-nee."
Golden light shimmered around him as he flew out of the window.
"Spread the word, the barrier was set by the Hokage."
Shizune withdrew her gaze and turned around, standing at the entrance of the Hokage's office.
"Yes!"
Yūgao Uzuki responded promptly.
"Wait!"
Shizune hesitated for a few seconds and added, "Tell all the jōnin currently in the village to gather at the village gates."
Although Shinho's strength was undeniable, she still couldn't help but worry.
Facing such powerful enemies, letting the Hokage fight alone seemed unreasonable.
"Understood!"
Yūgao's heart tightened.
A new barrier alone wasn't enough to raise alarms, but summoning all the jōnin? That meant something major was happening.
The entire village began to mobilize.
…
Shinho had already reached Konoha's main gate.
Unlike in the original timeline, this time, the Six Paths of Pain approached the front entrance openly.
Since they had been discovered, Nagato decided to stop hiding altogether and make an overt entrance.
Such was the confidence of overwhelming power.
"Hokage-sama?!"
Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki saw him and quickly approached.
They had been inspecting the sudden blood-colored barrier.
"The barrier was set up by me. You two don't need to worry about it."
Shinho glanced at them briefly before stepping outside the barrier.
In the distance, the sound of the wind grew louder.
Seven figures descended before him.
At the forefront stood Deva Path, flanked by the other five Paths and Konan.
Shinho's gaze fell on Konan.
This was clearly not her real body.
"Welcome, esteemed guests from afar."
A faint smile appeared on Shinho's face as he spoke.
"He's the Hokage, Shinho Aburame,"
Konan introduced calmly.
"Such courage is indeed commendable."
Deva Path's eyes were cold as he spoke, "Where are the Three-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails?"
"That question will be answered depending on your abilities."
Shinho responded nonchalantly.
At that moment, several figures approached rapidly from the distance.
But due to the barrier, they could only gather at Konoha's front gate.
Jiraiya, Might Guy, Yamato, Tsunade, Shizune, and the elder Ino-Shika-Chō trio had arrived.
Kakashi, unfortunately, was away on a mission rebuilding a road and was not in the village.
"Yahiko? Konan?"
Jiraiya froze when he saw the Six Paths of Pain.
He had always believed Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan had died in the Land of Rain.
But now, they were standing before him, alive and well.
"Jiraiya-sensei, it's been a long time."
Konan let out a silent sigh in her heart.
At last, the day had come.
She hadn't forgotten the kindness Jiraiya showed them when he trained them.
But time had changed everything.
In the current situation, that old debt of gratitude wasn't enough to stop what was coming.
"They're your students from Amegakure?"
Tsunade suddenly recalled.
She remembered that Jiraiya had stayed in Amegakure for three years, teaching three students.
Shizune and the others exchanged glances.
What was going on?
Could these invaders really be acquaintances?
"What exactly happened?" Jiraiya took a deep breath and asked, "Where is Nagato? And why are there so many pairs of Rinnegan?"
Konan stayed silent, unsure of how to answer.
"It doesn't matter anymore,"
Deva Path shook his head.
"How can it not matter?!"
Jiraiya's face was filled with disbelief. "I refuse to believe you've joined the Akatsuki! The three of you back then..."
"That version of us no longer exists."
Deva Path's tone grew cold again. "Now, you all shall feel the pain!"
Seeing Jiraiya had made him waver for a moment, but the mention of the past only reminded him of Yahiko's death.
With his words, Animal Path slammed its hand onto the ground.
Plumes of smoke erupted and quickly dissipated.
Everyone's expressions grew tense.
A massive three-headed dog trampled over fallen trees, its enormous body causing the ground to sink and sending up clouds of dust.
It was Animal Path's summoning beast, the Giant Multi-Headed Dog.
When attacked, it would split into more heads, making it nearly impossible to kill.
In addition to the Giant Multi-Headed Dog, two other massive creatures appeared, a pitch-black bull and a giant bird with a sharp beak, Giant Drill-Beaked Bird.
"Break the barrier,"
Deva Path ordered as his Rinnegan stared at Shinho.
Everyone, including Jiraiya, was within the barrier.
Shinho was the only one who could stop the incoming assault.
But Deva Path was confident that he could prevent that.
To his surprise, Shinho stood still, unmoving.
A deafening rumble echoed.
The Giant Multi-Headed Dog and the bull charged simultaneously, shaking the ground.
They rushed toward the barrier, one from the left and one from the right.
Meanwhile, the Giant Drill-Beaked Bird swooped down from above.
"Wait!"
Jiraiya shouted instinctively, "Yahiko!"
"Prepare your jutsu!"
Tsunade's voice was steady and commanding as she ordered.
Everyone raised their hands, ready to form seals as soon as the barrier was breached.
The next moment, the massive summons collided with the barrier.
A deafening crash resounded as white shockwaves spread outward.
Trees and debris mixed in the air, distorting the light around them.
But to everyone's astonishment, the barrier didn't budge an inch.
"Did it hold?"
Konan's eyes widened slightly.
Deva Path's brows furrowed.
The barrier's defense was far stronger than he had expected as not even the faintest crack had formed after the assult.
Since acquiring the Rinnegan, this was a first time something like this had happened.
"It seems I'll have to take care of you first,"
Deva Path muttered, shifting his strategy.
He raised his hand, staring at Shinho, who remained calm and collected.
Banshō Ten'in!
The Rinnegan pulsed with power.
The air around Deva Path twisted violently as a powerful gravitational force erupted.
Konan instinctively took a step back.
She knew the power of Banshō Ten'in all too well.
Until now, no shinobi had ever escaped its pull.
A tearing sensation filled the air.
Shinho's body was lifted off the ground.
"Shinho!"
Shizune cried out involuntarily.
"He'll be fine,"
Tsunade said, her eyes locked on him.
In midair, Shinho clenched his fist.
Deva Path narrowed his eyes.
He recalled that Shinho was known for his exceptional taijutsu.
But... it wouldn't matter.
Deva Path raised his right hand and grasped a black chakra rod.
This rod was a weapon crafted by Nagato using his Rinnegan.
Once embedded in an opponent's body, it would seal their chakra points and disrupt their chakra flow.
In simple terms, it rendered the enemy incapable of using chakra.
Deva Path thrust the black rod like a spear as Shinho's body rapidly approached.
Under the influence of Banshō Ten'in, Shinho's movements appeared sluggish and clumsy.
But…
"Hmm?"
Deva Path's eyes widened in surprise.
The supposedly unstoppable chakra rod had been blocked by Shinho's skin.
It was the Turtle jade wolfskin Gu.
The scene Deva Path expected, Shinho being impaled, never happened.
The sound of rushing wind filled the air.
Golden light radiated from Shinho's body as his figure accelerated sharply.
Wind Overlord Gu!
Dragon Elephant Strength Gu!
The howling wind carried an immense power.
Shinho swung his fist.
The sheer force and speed defied the gravitational pull of Banshō Ten'in.
Behind him, a phantom of the Dragon Elephant loomed.
Deva Path's gaze sharpened.
He felt an overwhelming pressure pressing in from all directions.
This power was troublesome.
Shinra Tensei!
Deva Path pushed his hand forward.
An invisible shockwave surged toward Shinho.
Banshō Ten'in was gravitational pull.
While Shinra Tensei was repulsive force. It could repel any attack
In the original story, even techniques like Chidori and Wind Release: Rasenshuriken had been deflected by this jutsu.
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