Konan anxiously supported Pain beside her, her eyes filled with worry. Pain was her comrade-in-arms and someone important to her. She could never let him fall here.
"Pain, are you all right?" Konan asked softly, concern evident in her voice.
Pain gave a slight shake of his head. His face was somewhat pale, but his gaze remained resolute. "I'm all right, Konan."
He answered quietly. Though his body was trembling, his voice held an undeniable firmness.
Konan had thought that Pain was dead when he faced Liuli's berserk Kirin ninjutsu.
Kisame Hoshigaki walked over, his face unnaturally pale, his eyes filled with an indescribable heaviness.
Unlike the others, however, even under such strain, his steps remained steady, and he carried an imposing air that could not be underestimated.
Just moments ago, he had watched his longtime comrade-in-arms, Juzo, get killed in a single strike by Liuli before anyone could react.
The sight had undoubtedly dealt him a tremendous blow, but years of combat experience and his cold-blooded nature had helped him quickly regain his composure.
He stopped in front of Pain and Konan, took a deep breath, and said calmly in his distinctive hoarse voice, "Pain, Konan, it seems our opponent this time is incredibly powerful."
Pain nodded slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "That's right, Kisame. This enemy is far stronger than we imagined."
"How can someone this powerful exist in the Ninja World?" Konan's voice was filled with disbelief and deep shock.
During the battle just now, she had witnessed Liuli effortlessly defeat Pain's strongest technique all by herself.
That overwhelming strength and speed had made it impossible for her to even see Liuli's movements.
She had once thought herself strong enough, but facing Liuli now, she realized just how insignificant and powerless she was.
"When a powerful enemy appears, you should discuss it with me instead of foolishly fighting them head-on. Pain, you were an idiot."
Obito Uchiha's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence around them.
He appeared then, emerging slowly from the void as if he had crossed through time and space.
Pain and Konan froze at the sound of Obito's voice. They turned to look and saw him dressed in a black robe, the iconic Orange Mask covering his face, his eyes radiating a cold, resolute light.
His appearance seemed to bring a glimmer of hope to this desperate battlefield.
Looking at Pain and Konan, Obito continued, "I know you want to avenge Juzo, and I know you're shocked and helpless in the face of that unfamiliar enemy's strength. But impulsiveness and recklessness will only plunge us into even greater danger. When facing an enemy like this, we need composure and strategy, not a headlong charge."
Hearing Obito's words, Pain couldn't help but feel conflicted.
He knew Obito was right. He really had been too impulsive and reckless.
But he also understood that Uchiha "Madara" hadn't come to blame them. He had come to help them face this powerful enemy together.
Konan, too, sensed the formidable presence and resolve emanating from "Madara." The unfathomable power inspired awe in her. She knew very well—
"Madara" was a shinobi of extraordinary intelligence and strength, and each of his appearances heralded great change.
His joining them now would undoubtedly greatly strengthen their combat power and bring about a whole new battle situation.
"Madara, you're right." Pain took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "We do need to stay calm and come up with a strategy. We can't act blindly like we did before."
Obito nodded slightly in agreement. "Good, Pain. Let's come up with a new plan now."
As he spoke, he turned to Konan. "Konan, what do you know about that enemy's ninjutsu? We need to gather as much information about him as possible to come up with an effective battle strategy."
Konan considered this briefly before answering, "There's a Mangekyō Sharingan in his right eye, and a Rinnegan with six tomoe in his left."
The description sent a shock through everyone present, especially Obito.
Obito frowned slightly, a strange feeling stirring in his heart.
The Mangekyō Sharingan was an exceptionally rare and powerful Kekkei Genkai within the Uchiha Clan, while the Rinnegan was said to be the eye possessed only by the Sage of Six Paths, granting the ultimate power over life and death.
For both eyes to exist in the same person was an unprecedented miracle, and it also meant that the unfamiliar enemy possessed unimaginable power.
"The Rinnegan? Besides Madara, who else has the Rinnegan? Who could it be?" A question lingered in Obito's mind. A variable had appeared in the Eye of the Moon Plan, leaving him utterly surprised.
He took a deep breath, struggling to calm his shock. He knew he had to adapt to the new situation as quickly as possible and reassess the unfamiliar enemy's strength and the level of threat he posed.
At the same time, he realized that this battle would be even more difficult and dangerous than they had imagined.
"It seems we'll need to make some adjustments to our plan," Obito said slowly. "Someone who possesses both the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Rinnegan is undoubtedly an extremely powerful opponent. We'll have to devise our battle strategy with even greater care and thoroughness if we hope to defeat him."
Pain and Konan nodded silently. They knew Obito was right. They could no longer act blindly when facing such a powerful enemy.
Just as the Akatsuki members were immersed in their serious discussion, a Kusanagi Sword gleaming with a cold light suddenly shot through the air at astonishing speed and force, its tip aimed at the center of the group.
The black flames on the blade seemed alive, leaping and roaring as they gave off a terrifying aura that made their hearts tremble.
The group jolted in alarm and leaped aside to evade it, afraid of being wounded by the weapon.
"I could've sworn I heard someone arrogantly say they were going to make a plan to fight me?"
A cool, imposing voice rang out among the Akatsuki, sounding like mockery from another world.
The group looked up in alarm and saw Uchiha Ruri appear in an instant before Obito, Pain, and the others.
She radiated an oppressive force that made it hard to breathe, as if the entire space lay under her control.
Her eyes were deep and cold, as if she were looking at a group of ants. Obito, Pain, and the others felt her overwhelming presence, and their hearts sank. They knew this sudden opponent was no ordinary foe.
"Do you need some foolish plan to defeat me when I'm at Six Paths Level?" Ruri continued to taunt them, her tone full of disdain and contempt.
In her eyes, these so-called Akatsuki members were no match for her, and their plan was laughable.
Obito, Pain, and the others exchanged glances, seeing determination and grim resolve in one another's eyes.
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