The Six Paths of Pain, Reporting In

Sora had lost interest and was about to leave, but Jiraiya, who had wanted to investigate him from the start, clearly had no intention of letting him go just like that.

"Kid, you don't know who I am, do you? I am..."

Uzumaki Sora turned around. After watching the man's awkward performance with an impassive expression, he said, "You trained under Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hanzo beat you into the ground, then gave you the title of Sannin."

"When you were young, you got fed up and randomly Reverse Summoned yourself to Mount Myoboku. After that, the old toad gave you a prophecy about a savior. You spent the rest of your life running around for the sake of that prophecy... and chasing women?"

Uzumaki Sora scoffed. "I know your past inside and out, and I can guess a thing or two about your future. But the cards you hold aren't enough to interest me."

"Whether it's Mount Myoboku's Senjutsu or the many ninjutsu you've learned, your power is insignificant in this world."

Watching Uzumaki Sora turn to leave, Jiraiya's smile faded, and his expression grew serious.

Power, huh?

Whether it was the card he'd gotten from Minato or the First Hokage, who had returned to the Pure Land, Sora's goal seemed to have always been power.

Then, here in the Land of Rain...

Nagato!

The Rinnegan!

In an instant, Jiraiya realized a great many things.

Was his power insignificant in this world?

The Land of Rain lay at the crossroads of the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth. It rained for at least ten months out of every year.

It was strange that the whole country wasn't plagued by mudslides and collapsing slopes.

But the rain in Amegakure, at least, never stopped.

The Rain Tiger at Will Technique?

Outside Amegakure, Sora looked at the village veiled in rain. Was he going to have to force his way in?

He wondered how far Akatsuki had come by now. His old acquaintance Obito's new arm should be finished healing, though it wasn't much use anymore.

Sora took a Flying Thunder God Kunai from his ninja pouch, then looked toward the tallest building in Amegakure: the Tower.

"Whoosh!"

The kunai was hurled into the air with tremendous force, its sharp whistle as it tore through the air drawing everyone's attention.

"Whoosh."

Sora disappeared from outside the village and reappeared in midair, the kunai he'd just thrown clasped in his hand.

"Whoosh!"

He threw the kunai again, and the next instant, Sora vanished once more.

After only two throws, the kunai smashed through a window and entered the Tower, propelled by Sora's tremendous strength.

"Whoosh!"

Sora looked at Nagato, tubes running into his body, and tilted his head with a smile. "Mind if I borrow a little blood? A piece of flesh would work, too."

Nagato's Rinnegan was his only reply.

"Shinra Tensei!"

"Boom!"

A repulsive force erupted, shattering the Tower's stone walls and blasting Sora outside.

He only wanted to borrow something as a medium. Did Nagato really have to get so hostile? They couldn't even talk it out?

Grumbling to himself, Sora glanced at the kunai that had also been flung outside by the repulsive force. It seemed he couldn't just go straight into the Tower and take on Nagato's real body.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

The instant he landed, six figures surrounded him.

The one in front looked almost exactly like Yun, except for the hair. And, of course, there were the little black rods all over their bodies.

"Who are you?! How do you know this face? Undo your Transformation Technique."

Deva Path Pain's voice was cold. Anyone who dared to wear Yahiko's face would face divine punishment.

Sora looked around at the Six Paths of Pain surrounding him. The Six Paths of Pain were indeed different at this point in time; a few of them didn't look like the people he remembered.

"You have the Rinnegan, and you still can't tell? I'm not using the Transformation Technique. As for why you and I look alike apart from our hair, I'm curious about that, too."

"My name is Uzumaki Sora. I came here to borrow something."

Pain gave a slight shake of his head. "There's nothing here you can borrow. Before a god, you can borrow nothing."

Pain's over-the-top words left Sora a little awkward. He thought for a moment, then replied, "Well... could the god grant me what I need?"

Silence fell over the scene.

"You've already shown disrespect to God. You have insulted His dignity. Only death can atone for your sin."

As soon as Pain finished his grandiose declaration, the six figures quickly formed up. Asura Path raised a hand, firing six Homing Missiles.

"So we can't talk this out?"

Sora spoke casually, unbothered by the missiles rushing toward him. Only when they passed within a hair's breadth did he throw a kunai and activate the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.

"Boom!!"

The missiles, unable to turn in time, blasted a deep crater where Sora had been standing. When the smoke cleared, he was nowhere to be seen.

"Whoosh!"

Sora appeared above Asura Path and slammed down with a punch.

"Boom!"

With a Super Strength Fist even more powerful than Tsunade's, one blow smashed Asura Path into pieces, a wisp of smoke rising from the wreckage.

Hm?

The moment Sora landed, he vanished. The Human Path, sneaking up behind him, struck at empty air.

The Human Path, who could rip out souls, was indeed a threat to his current Clone. But unless it was Nagato's real body, the Human Path's grab was simply too slow.

Dodging the Human Path's touch from behind, Sora threw three kunai.

"Whoosh!"

Sora vanished again, suddenly appearing above the Human Path. The strength of his Sage Body surged as he prepared to strike.

"Shinra Tensei!!"

A repulsive force burst forth, instantly sending Sora and the kunai marked with his technique flying.

After steadying himself, Sora gave an exasperated smile. "You figured it out already? It's only been two tries."

Across from him, Deva Path Pain replied coolly, "Uzumaki Sora, the Red Flash. The second person after Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato to possess this kind of speed. Space-Time Ninjutsu. Those specially made kunai must be your space-time coordinates."

Sora shook his head slightly. "You got everything else right, but I'm not the second. I should be the third."

Deva Path Pain replied, "None of that matters now. Against a god, even Space-Time Ninjutsu is no more than a feeble struggle."

Ugh!

That was a little harsh. Sora smiled helplessly. "Maybe I should learn that, too? If we're talking about who's the biggest show-off in the whole Shinobi World, I admit you're the best!"

Pain gave a slight shake of his head. "You're a mortal spouting nonsense. Now you'll experience the might of God. Only by accepting pain can you find release."

"Summoning Technique!"

At the Animal Path's call, the Hellhound and Yatagarasu emerged from the smoke.

The enormous summoned beasts rose into the air, watching from above, ready to dive at any moment.

Sora looked at the drooling Hellhound in front of him. "I originally came here just to try my luck. But even if I was taking a chance, I came because I had something that might turn the tables!!"

He looked at the village, now completely cleared out, and pressed his hands together in the Snake Seal.

Deep Forest Emergence!!