Itachi, I've Got Some Good Stuff Here!

Through the dust, the smoke cleared. Pain stood there expressionlessly, his right hand supporting the severed stump of his left arm.

His gaze was deep and resolute, as if no amount of pain or setbacks could shake his faith.

Behind Pain lay a field of ruins. The once-prosperous village had been reduced to a shambles.

His left hand was gone, and excruciating pain coursed through his body, but he didn't make a sound.

Pain slowly raised his head and looked toward the Perfect Susanoo in the distance. Its enormous figure stood like a mountain, radiating a suffocating pressure.

On the Susanoo's forehead, the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, like polished lapis, trembled faintly. It glittered like the stars of a boundless universe, brimming with mystery and power. A hint of surprise was like a ripple across a calm lake, instantly breaking the stillness around them.

He summoned the Naraka Path, Asura Path, and Animal Path to withstand Kirin. He really is one tough cockroach. Liuli couldn't help feeling speechless.

He'd personally used a bit of Six Paths Power to cast the Kirin Ninjutsu. The breathtaking scene still seemed to linger before his eyes.

The Naraka Path's bizarre abilities, the Asura Path's powerful Taijutsu, and the Animal Path's strange Ninjutsu had combined to withstand Kirin's frenzied assault.

Liuli had to admit that the Six Paths of Pain were far stronger than he'd expected.

He'd thought Kirin, Sasuke's ultimate Lightning Release Ninjutsu, was powerful enough to destroy anything.

Yet against the Six Paths of Pain, Kirin no longer seemed so terrifying.

In the original story, the Six Paths of Pain had been beaten badly by Naruto in his Six-Tails form, yet they hadn't suffered any real damage.

That was proof enough that the Six Paths of Pain had astonishing defensive and regenerative abilities.

Thinking of this, Liuli became even more interested in the Six Paths of Pain.

Still, those three puppets are dead. That leaves only three of the Six Paths of Pain. The remaining puppets aren't all that strong.

Pain gasped for breath, struggling to replenish the chakra in his body. Just then, a figure rushed over: his teammate, Konan.

"Pain, are you all right?" Konan asked with concern, her eyes full of worry.

Pain nodded, his voice hoarse. "I'm fine. I just need some time to recover my chakra."

All three puppets are dead. This guy's incredibly strong. I've already used all my techniques. I can't beat him. Nagato, controlling Pain from behind the scenes, coughed up a mouthful of blood and slumped weakly against the wall.

The whole place seemed to fall silent, with only Nagato's labored breathing and the slow drip of blood breaking the quiet.

His face was as pale as paper, and his eyes showed deep exhaustion and helplessness.

He stared ahead, filled with helplessness and despair.

Pain stood there without a word, but his eyes held a chilling glint.

He knew this battle had gone far beyond their expectations. Their enemy was far stronger than they'd imagined.

And his three puppets had been among their strongest fighters. Now, all of them had been destroyed.

Who is this man? How can he be so strong? Nagato was filled with confusion and resentment.

He'd always been invincible, able to defeat any opponent he faced with ease.

But this time, he'd met an enemy he was powerless against.

Nagato spat out another mouthful of blood. His body was on the verge of giving out.

He knew he'd made a fatal mistake: underestimating his enemy. If they'd been more cautious, perhaps they wouldn't have ended up like this.

Pain drew a deep breath. He knew he couldn't panic now, or things would only get worse.

Konan's here. Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki are still over there, and Juzo's there too, though he's a minor character. I haven't seen Obito or Zetsu. Liuli used his Rinnegan to sense every change around him, but he couldn't locate Zetsu or Obito, making him furrow his brow slightly.

Liuli knew that Zetsu and Obito were both exceptionally elusive. Zetsu could merge his body with the earth,

allowing him to appear and disappear almost anywhere, while Obito had a mysterious Sharingan and Space-Time Ninjutsu that let him travel easily between different dimensions.

Their movements were difficult to track, which made the entire battle even more unpredictable.

I can't kill Nagato. The Akatsuki still needs to exist. Hidan, Deidara, and the others aren't involved. Otherwise, they'd all get wiped out. How would I enjoy the Fourth Shinobi World War later? Liuli weighed the thought over and over.

Liuli knew that he was facing more than just a battle; he also had to consider the future of the Akatsuki.

As one of the Akatsuki's core members, Nagato was crucial to the organization's stability and strength.

If Nagato died here, the Akatsuki would lose a powerful leader and strategist—a devastating blow with the Fourth Shinobi World War approaching.

He looked up at the battlefield, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Hidan, Deidara, and the others' absence left him a little frustrated. It meant less fun.

He knew that if those powerful ninja joined the battle, things would become even more complicated and interesting.

As for Pain, I can't kill him either. In the end, Six Paths Sasuke is just too strong, powerful enough to crush heaven and earth.

The existence of the Six Paths was like an insurmountable chasm that left ordinary ninja in awe. Just look at how easily he could kill Pain, the boss of the Konoha instance.

Liuli's Rinnegan turned slightly as he fixed his gaze on Juzo Biwa in the distance.

His eyes shone with determination, as if he were fully prepared.

Juzo Biwa was a name that resounded throughout the ninja world.

He'd once been one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from Kirigakure, and his strength had been formidable. But in Liuli's eyes, he was simply a target who had to be eliminated.

Liuli suddenly dismissed his Susanoo. Konan and Pain looked confused; they had no idea what new trick he was up to this time.

Why did he dismiss his Susanoo again? What's he going to do now? Nagato was just as baffled. Frowning, he kept his eyes fixed on Liuli, trying to find some clue in his expression or movements.

The Rinnegan in Liuli's eyes slowly revolved. He took a deep breath and quietly uttered the name of the jutsu that struck fear into people's hearts: "Amenotejikara."

From Pain's vantage point, Kisame and Liuli's figures crossed, their positions instantly switching under the power of the Rinnegan.

It was an extraordinarily powerful Space-Time Ninjutsu that could instantly swap the positions of two targets, catching an enemy off guard.

Kisame had been standing in front of Juzo, but suddenly found himself where Liuli had been, while Liuli now stood in front of Juzo.

The sudden change left Kisame momentarily stunned, but he quickly realized what had happened and thought, This is bad.

Juzo was also stunned. He hadn't expected Liuli to use such powerful Space-Time Ninjutsu to switch places with Kisame.

He realized he was in trouble and immediately channeled chakra through his body to assume a defensive stance. Unfortunately, before the Six Paths Rinnegan, all defensive strategies were useless.

Liuli didn't give his enemy much time to react. He seized the opportunity and launched an attack.

"Among all the Akatsuki's members, you're basically a useless minor character. So you're the one who has to die."

Liuli spoke coldly, without a trace of emotion. His gaze was as sharp as an icy blade, piercing straight into Juzo's heart.

Juzo froze at Liuli's words, as though he'd been struck over the head.

He stared at Liuli in confusion, trying to find some sign that he was joking. But Liuli's expression was cold and resolute, sending a chill through him.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Juzo finally snapped out of it and demanded loudly. "What the hell is a minor character? I'm a member of the Akatsuki. How could I be some useless minor character?"

Liuli didn't answer. He only smiled coldly and said, "You'll find out in hell."

At those words, an inexplicable fear welled up inside Juzo. If Pain couldn't beat him, Juzo stood no chance.

Juzo was filled with confusion and resentment. He didn't want to die like this, let alone be dismissed as a useless minor character.

He gripped his weapon tightly, preparing to counterattack Liuli.

But Liuli gave him no such chance. He vanished in an instant and reappeared behind Juzo.

He reached out and gently placed a hand on Juzo's head, then pressed down hard.

Thud! Juzo's body crumpled helplessly to the ground.

Six Paths: Amaterasu—the ultimate secret technique Liuli unleashed was like a blazing sun suddenly blooming in the pitch-black night sky. Its boundless light and heat swallowed everything around it.

"Ah!" Juzo cried out, his voice full of terror and despair.

He looked at his body and saw the black flames, which had started as mere pinpricks, spreading at an astonishing speed, as if they would devour him whole.

The black flames seemed alive. They crept along the contours of his skin, slowly eating their way inside.

He could clearly feel their searing yet icy touch coursing through his body, destroying every cell. It was a pain unlike anything he'd ever experienced.

Juzo tried to use chakra to hold back the black flames, but their power seemed to come from the depths of hell. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't extinguish them.

His chakra slowly dissipated as the black flames consumed him. His strength and will crumbled under their scorching heat. Then Juzo died.

Itachi Uchiha watched the scene, his face filled with shock. His eyes were fixed on Juzo as the black flames consumed him, and an inexplicable emotion welled up inside him.

Itachi Uchiha was used to death. He'd witnessed lives end in countless battles and had personally killed countless enemies. Yet this time, he felt a shock unlike anything he'd experienced before.

He wasn't shocked by Juzo's death. In the Akatsuki, death was nothing unusual.

What shocked him was the power Liuli had shown: the black flames that could devour a life with ease, a unique ability of the Uchiha Clan.

Itachi Uchiha's gaze was as sharp as a blade as he stared at Liuli, as if trying to see through his soul. His voice held a hint of suspicion and wariness as he asked, "I've never seen you among the Uchiha Clan. Who are you? Even Madara Uchiha didn't have eyes as unusual as yours."

Liuli smiled faintly, his smile mysterious and profound. He didn't hurry to answer, instead slowly closing his eyes as if recalling something.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and looked at Itachi Uchiha, speaking calmly. "My identity can't be summed up as that of a simple Uchiha. Nor is the power I wield limited to the Uchiha Clan."

He paused, then continued. "Madara Uchiha, whom you mentioned, was indeed an extraordinary figure. But compared to me, his power still falls short. My eyes aren't like the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. They contain a power that is far more profound and far greater."

"And is the Madara Uchiha you're talking about really Madara Uchiha?" Liuli asked with a teasing note in his voice, as if he were deliberately provoking Itachi Uchiha.

His words were like a fuse, instantly igniting the anger deep within Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha's gaze turned sharp. He stared at Liuli as if trying to see right through him.

His heart was filled with confusion and anger. He couldn't understand why Liuli would say such a thing.

Still, he didn't lash out immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

Seeing Itachi Uchiha's reaction, Liuli couldn't help feeling a flicker of satisfaction.

He knew he'd successfully hit a sore spot.

But that wasn't enough for him. He continued, "Itachi Uchiha, you killed your own clan with your own hands. What's most interesting is that the memories in this body of mine hold a special affection for you."

"But I won't waste time discussing pointless things with you. Just come with me."

Liuli used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Itachi Uchiha. His movements were light and swift, like a gust of wind, impossible to follow.

Itachi Uchiha's eyes narrowed slightly. He sensed the powerful aura emanating from Liuli, a force that made even him uneasy.

Liuli stood beside Itachi Uchiha, his eyes gleaming with profound light as if he were gazing into the endless void.

"I'm not your enemy. Don't be nervous," Liuli said, trying to put him at ease.

Itachi Uchiha was only half-convinced. Liuli was now barely a step away from him.

"I've got some good stuff over at my place, Big Bro Itachi. Come play!" Liuli put a hand on his shoulder, and the two of them vanished together.