Chen Xiaoxi's Growth

After a long while, the countless dust and smoke began to slowly dissipate.

At this moment, excluding a few individuals, all the remaining members of the three Sand Hidden Anbu squads had fallen into a dead faint.

The puppet summoned by the Sand ninja captain had also been completely incinerated.

His pupils were constricted, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he stared at Chen Xiaoxi in front of him in despair, unable to believe what had happened.

What is going on?

Did this guy with the Golden Eyes use his ultimate move right from the start?

Just as he was filled with terror, a sudden change occurred once again.

The Umbrella Boy standing ahead suddenly vanished into the rain.

The very next moment, he appeared directly before him.

"!"

The Sand ninja captain's expression shifted violently as he prepared to rise and attack.

However, before he could even move, Chen Xiaoxi's foot slammed directly onto his chest in an instant.

"Thud!"

"Arghhh!"

The pain radiating from his chest forced an involuntary scream from his throat.

At this moment, Chen Xiaoxi leaned down slightly, stared into his eyes, and chuckled.

"Judging by your attire, you are members of the Sand Hidden Anbu, aren't you?"

"To think that your Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, would dare to set his sights on Amegakure—how unexpected."

"Is he tired of living?"

"--?"

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Atop the tallest gray building in Amegakure, Heavenly Path Pain stared coldly into the dark distance, monitoring all movements within the village through the Rain Tiger Self-Control Technique.

But just then, a dazzling, pale blue light suddenly erupted from the darkness in the distance, staining the entire night sky.

Immediately following it came a deafening, explosive roar—

BOOM!!

Even from such a great distance, the intense, scorching pressure was still clearly palpable.

Heavenly Path Pain's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze flickering.

An unconscious sound of confusion escaped his lips.

"...Hm?"

Hearing this, Konan immediately noticed the anomaly and asked, "What is it, Nagato?"

"..."

Heavenly Path Pain turned his head slightly to look at her, a trace of gravity appearing in his eyes as he said, "Konan, have you noticed..."

"In the time since Chen Xiaoxi joined the Akatsuki, his strength... has actually continued to grow at a rapid pace!"

"--?"

Upon hearing this, Konan's breath hitched.

"Eh?"

"Are you saying... he is still constantly getting stronger?"

"Correct."

Heavenly Path Pain nodded indifferently, then said in a solemn, low voice, "Ever since he first entered Amegakure,"

"My Rain Tiger at Will Technique has touched him multiple times."

"But it wasn't until tonight that I suddenly realized... his aura now, its power has far surpassed what it was before."

"You could even say he's completely changed."

"Even that cerulean fire jutsu he just used... the power amplification was so obviously apparent."

"He--is definitely getting stronger!"

Heavenly Path Pain's eyes flickered, and he stated his conclusion with absolute certainty.

"..."

As soon as he spoke, Konan froze instantly, completely speechless.

She didn't know what to say anymore.

Unbelievable.

A youth whose strength was already enough to instantly kill a Kage-level expert... was still growing rapidly?

If Nagato hadn't said it, Konan would never have believed it.

But, Nagato's senses had never been wrong.

This meant--

Since Chen Xiaoxi joined Akatsuki, he had indeed been getting stronger!

What kind of...

monster was he...

While Konan was lost in thought, Pain, standing beside her, suddenly turned back, looking towards the distant darkness again. Then, with his back to Konan, he spoke indifferently:

"Never mind."

"Perhaps this is a good thing."

"With such a powerful genius supporting Akatsuki's progress, our path can go further."

"The peace of the Ninja World may also be one step closer."

Pain said calmly.

Konan, beside him, slightly lowered her eyes.

But at this moment.

Suddenly, two auras began to approach the building at high speed!

Before Konan and Pain could react, The next moment--

The sound of wind arose, and the sound of rain was cut off!

Chen Xiaoxi, dressed in black, suddenly appeared before Konan and Pain!

In his left hand, he held an open umbrella, and in his right... he carried a man who had already fainted!

That attire was--

A Sand Hidden ANBU ninja from the Land of Wind?

Pain and Konan's pupils contracted instantly, recognizing him at the same time.

At this moment, Chen Xiaoxi casually threw the man onto the ground, then looked at the two of them with a smile.

As he raised the umbrella in his hand, he chuckled and said:

"All twenty-one have been suppressed."

"This man seems to be their leader for this operation. I've locked up the others."

"As for interrogation and such, I'll leave it to you."

"I'm leaving."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xiaoxi didn't wait for their reaction, He simply slung the umbrella over his shoulder and leisurely strode away, departing with a flourish.

From beginning to end, He hadn't even given the two Akatsuki leaders a chance to speak...

"..."

The scene instantly fell into an eerie silence.

Pain and Konan first glanced at the unconscious Sand Hidden ninja on the ground.

Then, they raised their eyes to look at the back of Chen Xiaoxi as he walked away into the distance. Finally... the two exchanged a look, both completely bewildered.

What just happened...

Didn't I tell him about the enemy infiltration only a few dozen seconds ago?

This...

He's already suppressed them all?

He used nothing but a single azure Fire Style to easily take down twenty-one elite Anbu ninja from Sand Hidden?

Just how strong...

Has this guy's ocular power become?

The next day, early morning.

Everything was almost exactly as it usually was.

The sudden infiltration from last night had not caused a single ripple in this small ninja village.

All the civilians and Rain ninja seemed to have long grown accustomed to the sudden outbreaks of combat within the village.

As for the twenty-one Sand Hidden Anbu ninja, they were eventually locked away in the dungeons under Pain's orders.

Afterward, Just as Chen Xiaoxi had expected—

Not long after dawn broke, Pain immediately used his ring to send a message to Chen Xiaoxi.

"There is a mission, Chen Xiaoxi."

"Meet at the base in three minutes. I will explain the details then."

Chen Xiaoxi had already anticipated this summons, so he stood up immediately and headed toward the base.