After completing the summoning and bringing the other four Paths over, the Animal Path slowly rose to his feet and asked the mysterious man in a detached tone, "Are you the mastermind lurking behind the Upper Ranks?"
After sweeping his gaze over the Six Paths of Pain, the mysterious man shook his head with a bitter smile. "I really did underestimate you!"
The Human Path stepped forward. "You don't want to talk? Then I'll make you."
The mysterious man drew the long sword hanging on the other side of his waist and said calmly, "There's nothing left to say. We'll settle this in battle!"
The fight was about to begin!
Sensing the oppressive atmosphere, many shinobi in the Sunagakure Ninja Army began to waver.
Even Chiyo felt a twinge of regret.
She had naively thought that the Akatsuki Organization's clash with the Upper Ranks would give the Five Great Shinobi Villages the perfect opportunity to eliminate both forces at once.
But now it seemed the Akatsuki Organization and the Upper Ranks were far more powerful than she had imagined. Sunagakure might suffer enormous losses because of her decision.
Plink.
Just then, a high, piercing note rang out from a biwa string. The surroundings abruptly changed. The endless grassland became an unfamiliar city!
"This is bad!"
Chiyo's face turned ashen. Memories of Upper Rank Two, Kokushibo, slaughtering people in the Infinite Castle resurfaced in her mind.
The Sunagakure Ninja Army, scattered across different parts of the Infinite Castle, fell into a panic.
Itachi and Juzo Biwa's group had also been drawn into the Infinite Castle.
Juzo Biwa looked around. "Itachi, is this a genjutsu?"
Itachi shook his head. "This isn't a genjutsu! I suspect it's some kind of Space-Time Ninjutsu. We've been trapped!"
Juzo Biwa looked exasperated. "I've never even heard