"Is that so? You've become a Sage, learning the same ninjutsu as Master Jiraiya."
Pain's Deva Path finally recognized that Naruto was in Sage Mode, his physical abilities greatly enhanced, just like Jiraiya's.
Upon hearing Pain's Deva Path mention Master Jiraiya, Naruto paused, "You said... Jiraiya... Master?"
Pain's Deva Path replied, explaining to Naruto, "I also learned ninjutsu from Jiraiya. I should be your senior brother. We come from the same master, yet we cannot understand each other."
"Everything I've done is to fulfill Master Jiraiya's unfinished will. It's all for the sake of peace."
Hearing that Pain's Deva Path was doing this for peace only fueled Naruto's anger. He immediately summoned two shadow clones, raised his right hand, and formed a giant shuriken in his palm.
"What a joke! Everything you're doing, how can it be called peace!"
Pain's Deva Path snorted coldly, "You see the trees but not the forest. You just don't understand the meaning of peace!"
Naruto didn't want to waste any more words. He raised his hand and threw the shuriken.
"Sage Art: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
Seeing Naruto throw a dangerous ninjutsu, all the Pains dodged. The new Animal Path Pain was a woman, and her muscles weren't as developed as the males, so her speed was inevitably slower.
The Preta Path Pain immediately threw the Animal Path Pain far away, but he himself couldn't dodge the Rasenshuriken.
Immediately after, the Rasenshuriken expanded upon hitting the enemy, generating powerful wind pressure that cut the Preta Path Pain into fragments, leaving only its head on the ground.
A single Rasenshuriken had only eliminated one Pain, and Naruto's chakra was already halved, his Sage Mode about to dissipate.
Both Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima noticed this. After a brief exchange, Sage Shima jumped into the air and took a deep breath.
"Sage Art: Sand Dust!"
Sage Shima blew out a breath, stirring up a fierce sandstorm that obscured everyone's vision.
Then, Sage Fukasaku threw Gamabunta. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bunta swallowed both Naruto and the Animal Path Pain.
Inside Bunta's mouth, there was no light, and the Rinnegan couldn't share vision. Naruto, relying on his Sage Mode sensory abilities, easily dealt with the Animal Path Pain.
"Rasengan Barrage!"
Finally, Naruto held a Rasengan in each hand, striking the Animal Path Pain's chest directly, defeating it. At the same time, all the summoned beasts on the field vanished.
After Naruto and the Animal Path emerged from Bunta's mouth, Naruto's Sage Mode had disappeared. Pain's Deva Path, seeing that Naruto could no longer maintain Sage Mode, immediately charged forward and engaged him in combat.
Naruto threw the scroll on his back to Sage Fukasaku, who immediately used a summoning jutsu to summon the shadow clone Naruto had left in Mount Myōboku to absorb natural energy.
In that instant, the summoned shadow clone vanished into smoke, and so did Naruto, who was fighting Pain's Deva Path.
"What? It's a shadow clone!"
Pain's Deva Path was shocked and looked around, but Naruto was nowhere to be found.
"Rasengan!"
Suddenly, a crack appeared beneath Pain's Hell Path, and Naruto's true body burst out from underground, holding a Rasengan, which he directly slammed into the head of the Hell Path Pain.
"Was it that time? That giant toad was thrown over, and he already went underground, targeting the Hell Path. As expected, the information has been leaked." Pain's Deva Path immediately understood the situation. Without a doubt, Konoha had learned the secrets of Pain, likely through Jiraiya's intelligence.
Witnessing this, Li Xing, who had been lying down and observing from above, sat up. "The plot is a bit different, and I have a feeling this move is familiar. Ah, I remember now, it's the move used against Neji in the Chunin Exams."
"Li Xing, hurry and go help Pain capture the Nine-Tails!"
At this moment, Konan contacted Li Xing through her ring, asking Li Xing to go down and help. The Hell Path was gone, and only the unrecovered Deva Path was left; it was likely insufficient.
However, before Li Xing could reply, Nagato, standing beside Konan, said, "No need. The Deva Path's power has been restored. The current situation is sufficient."
"Alright then, I won't act. You go for it." Saying so, Li Xing took out a bottle of red wine, a small table, and a wine glass.
He poured half a glass of red wine and offered it to Katsuyu, "Miss Slug, would you like a glass as well? Don't worry, it's salt-free."
However, Katsuyu ignored Li Xing, and seeing this, Li Xing didn't bother to embarrass himself further, continuing to lie down and watch.
...
On the battlefield below, Naruto seized the opportunity and conjured another Rasenshuriken, aiming directly at Pain's Deva Path.
Pain's Deva Path made no move, only its eyes narrowed.
"Almighty Push!"
A powerful repulsive force emanated from Pain's Deva Path, repelling Naruto's Rasenshuriken and scattering it.
Seeing that Naruto's attack had failed, Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro, who were waiting, all entered the fray together. They leaped high into the air and stabbed downwards with their weapons.
However, Pain's Deva Path easily dodged the attack from the three giant toads with a slight leap. It then positioned itself between the three toads and spread its hands.
"Almighty Push!"
Another Almighty Push sent the three toads flying out of Konoha Village, dragging for a considerable distance on the ground. The three great toads of Mount Myōboku were instantly heavily injured and lost their combat effectiveness.
Seeing Gamabunta and the others heavily injured, Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima knew they couldn't just watch anymore. This last Pain was likely the strongest.
The two toads began to gather natural energy, preparing to use a genjutsu again.
However, Pain's Deva Path would not give these two toads an opportunity. It extended one hand towards Sage Fukasaku, and a powerful gravitational force pulled.
"Universal Pull!"
Sage Fukasaku was then uncontrollably pulled towards Pain's Deva Path's hand. Pain's Deva Path's other hand produced a black rod and unhesitatingly stabbed it into Sage Fukasaku's body.
Naruto tried to intervene but only managed to retrieve Sage Fukasaku's corpse.
"Grandpa Sage!"
Before Naruto could continue his grief, Pain's Deva Path used Universal Pull again, attempting to draw Naruto in.
However, Naruto already knew Pain's Deva Path's abilities. He concentrated chakra at the soles of his feet, firmly anchoring himself to the ground, but he couldn't withstand the Universal Pull.
Naruto had no choice but to pull out a kunai, stab it into the ground, and use it to fix his posture, but he still left a mark on the ground.
"Oh? It seems you know my abilities quite well! So, what can you do now?"
Pain's Deva Path let out a cold laugh, extending both hands, one with attraction and the other with repulsion.
"Almighty Push, Universal Pull!"
Using both techniques simultaneously, Naruto felt a force compressing his body, his internal organs seeming to swim within him.
Even in Sage Mode, Naruto couldn't hold on for long. His pores began to bleed, and he involuntarily coughed up blood. Eventually, he couldn't even maintain Sage Mode.
Seeing this, Li Xing sat up again. "There's this move too! Wonderful! In that case, Naruto shouldn't be able to defeat Pain's Deva Path."
Pain's Deva Path slowly walked towards the bleeding Naruto lying on the ground. "With this, you'll behave, won't you? Nine-Tails."
Naruto was extremely unwilling and looked up at Pain's Deva Path, questioning, "Who exactly are you! Why are you doing this!"
Pain's Deva Path directly extended a black rod and pinned Naruto to the ground. "I already said, my goal is to foster peace and achieve justice."
"What a joke! You, who have turned my master, my comrades, and my village into this state, have no right to talk about peace and justice!" Naruto raised his head, looking at Pain's Deva Path with hatred in his eyes and roaring.