~~
High above the ground~~
Having forcibly unleashed Almighty Push, the Deva Path had exhausted its chakra, and its ability was temporarily disabled.
At that moment, he relied entirely on Konan's paper sheets beneath his feet and inside his clothes to maintain some semblance of dignity as he continued hovering in the sky.
Otherwise, he would have fallen to the ground long ago.
Of course, compared to having exhausted his chakra, the Deva Path was even more shaken and horrified by what had happened.
He never would have imagined it.
Konoha had actually withstood his strongest attack.
Through some unknown jutsu, someone had created a vast forest that surrounded Konoha and blocked his Almighty Push.
But how was that possible?!
Was there still someone in Konoha capable of using Wood Style on such a scale?
The Deva Path furrowed his brow, thinking quickly and running through one guess after another.
This was the second time he had felt that events were slipping beyond his control.
And the first time?
Naturally, it had been when Hao Shuai suddenly appeared and rescued Jiraiya, blinding him in the process.
Just then, a mass of white paper gathered beside Pain and formed into Konan.
"Nagato, someone of unknown strength has appeared. We should retreat for now," Konan said anxiously. "Besides, your body can't take much more fighting."
Having grown up with Nagato, no one understood better than she did just how poor his condition was.
"No. I'm not giving up!" Pain refused. "We only need the Nine-Tails now to realize the dream we've pursued all this time. I don't want to abandon it just like that."
"If we leave now, it'll be even harder to take the Nine-Tails from Konoha once they're on guard."
"But—" Konan tried to persuade him again.
"Don't worry. As