Hidden Power - Blade

The flames inside the cave began to gradually die out.

Konan and Pain returned to the surface, and even Zetsu, who had just burrowed into the wall, emerged back onto the ground.

"Yaya... how terrifying!"

"Who would have thought that both newcomers would possess such horrifying strength..."

A strange voice emanated from Zetsu's mouth.

Konan looked toward Kakuzu with a calm expression and spoke indifferently:

"Kakuzu, things have reached this point; there is no need to continue fighting. You likely believe in his strength now, don't you?"

As soon as she finished speaking, A soft "tch" sound escaped Kakuzu's lips.

He then slowly stood up and, without a word, walked straight toward the cave entrance.

He only had three hearts left now, and to maintain his immortality and peak strength, he naturally had to find a way to acquire two more.

As for Chen Xiaoxi?

He had no desire to fight a guy like that again anytime soon.

As Kakuzu walked away, Pain slowly turned his head to look at Chen Xiaoxi, his gaze indifferent as he spoke coldly:

"Not bad."

"I acknowledge your strength, person named Chen Xiaoxi."

"The goal of Akatsuki is [true peace] for the ninja world, with Akatsuki replacing the Five Great Nations to rule the world."

"To that end, we recruit exceptional ninjas, regardless of their background or history."

"So now,"

"Wanderer, welcome to Akatsuki."

As his voice fell, a purple ring suddenly appeared in Pain's hand, bearing an ink-colored character for "Jade."

He flicked his wrist, tossing the ring over, and said flatly:

"From today on, this is your ring, representing your status as an official member of Akatsuki."

"Next, Zetsu will take you to our residential area, where you may freely choose your own dwelling within Amegakure."

"Clap."

Chen Xiaoxi raised his hand and caught it firmly.

As expected, it was indeed the Jade ring, just like Sasori's in the original story.

At this moment, Zetsu walked over from the side, letting out a strange laugh as he said:

"Let's go, newcomer."

However, Just as Chen Xiaoxi was about to turn and leave, Pain suddenly spoke up once more from behind him.

"Wait."

"Hm?"

Chen Xiaoxi turned his head, asking in surprise: "Any further instructions?"

"No."

Pain shook his head slightly and said indifferently:

"I am merely curious about your power."

"Why is it that in the battle just now, every jutsu you displayed could be performed with a single seal, or even no seals at all..."

As his voice trailed off, Chen Xiaoxi raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled:

"What serious ninja uses hand seals?

Do you guys use them?"

"Jutsu that can only be released by using hand seals—can those even hit anyone?"

Chen Xiaoxi scoffed.

Then, regardless of their reactions, he turned around and walked away at his own pace.

He left the two of them standing stunned in the cave.

Pain and Konan exchanged a glance.

"Konan, when you use Paper Release in battle, do you use hand seals?"

"Uh, no, I don't."

"Do you... do you usually weave hand signs when you use the Rinnegan?"

"...I don't either."

Why did that sound... somewhat reasonable?

Inside the cave.

The two remained silent for a long time.

It wasn't until a moment later that Pain slowly spoke:

"Konan."

"This person named Chen Xiaoxi."

"You've spent the most time in contact with him; do you have any useful intelligence?"

For anyone who joins the Akatsuki, as their leader, Pain naturally needs to understand them thoroughly.

Therefore, the moment Chen Xiaoxi left, he immediately began to inquire about intelligence.

After all, in the battle just now, the power Chen Xiaoxi displayed was far too mysterious; even he, a man who had experienced a hundred battles, had never heard of such things.

First, there was the azure-blue Fire Release, then the levitation technique that allowed him to walk on air as if it were flat ground, and finally, a bizarre substitution technique that felt like an illusion, along with a golden Lightning Release of astonishing destructive power.

Any one of these, taken individually, might be considered a very mysterious existence.

Yet now, these four mysterious things were all concentrated in one person.

No matter how one thought about it, it was shocking.

However, hearing Pain's words, Konan shook her head and said calmly:

"There is very little intelligence regarding him."

"But for now, I can basically confirm that... his [eyes] must be peculiar."

"Hm?"

Pain's expression shifted slightly as he repeated, "...Eyes?"

"That's right."

Konan nodded, looked at Pain, and said calmly:

"I observed him carefully."

"Every time he used those strange techniques, some peculiar brilliance seemed to flash within his golden pupils."

"Therefore, I suspect that the reason he controls so many vastly different powers is very likely related to these golden eyes."

"In other words—"

"He likely possesses some kind of mysterious ocular jutsu that we have never encountered before!"

"Just like—your eyes, Nagato."

When she finished, Konan stared almost directly into Pain's eyes, speaking each word clearly and with great seriousness.

As her voice fell, Nagato, who was controlling Pain from behind the scenes, was stunned.

Similar to my eyes?

Nagato couldn't help but recall the past.

His Rinnegan had awakened during the Second Shinobi World War.

At that time, it was the height of the conflict, and two ninjas from Konoha in the Land of Fire had broken into his home and killed his parents.

Terrified, Nagato had awakened his eyes unconsciously, thereby killing the two intruders.

Years later, Nagato slowly discovered that his eyes possessed various peculiar abilities, each corresponding to the Six Paths of the Rinnegan.

This led to the creation of the current Six Paths of Pain.

Could it be that the youth named Chen Xiaoxi had also awakened some kind of ocular jutsu similar to the Rinnegan after experiencing some kind of tragedy?

Thinking of this, Nagato couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

If one were to interpret the recent battle in terms of ocular jutsu, then Chen Xiaoxi's various signless techniques could be easily explained.

After all, using an ocular jutsu itself does not require hand signs...

Just as Nagato was halfway through his thoughts, Konan spoke again.

"Nagato."

"Actually, I think what we should be most concerned about is not his mysterious ocular jutsu."

"But the power he has kept hidden—that sword."

"A sword?"

Nagato snapped back to his senses.

Konan nodded and continued, "Perhaps you overlooked it unconsciously."

"In truth, throughout his battle with Kakuzu just now, he never once drew his blade."

"Yet, in the Land of Wind, I witnessed with my own eyes how he instantly killed Sasori of the Red Sand—who was controlling the Third Kazekage puppet—the moment he drew that sword..."

"From this, it is evident that this power, with its terrifying speed and destructive force, is likely his true trump card."

"And the reason he did not draw his blade this time was perhaps because he did not wish to kill Kakuzu."

Konan spoke with a calm expression.

"..."

After her words faded, Pain fell into silence.

Only then did he fully understand why Konan had told Chen Xiaoxi to be mindful of his limits before the fight began...

This man, who wielded mysterious ninja tools and a mysterious ocular technique, was far more terrifying than he appeared!

After a long while, Pain finally spoke slowly, "Let us continue to observe for now."

"We will discuss the details further once [that man] returns."

"...Very well."

Konan nodded gently.

She knew, of course, that the man Pain referred to was none other than the one pulling the strings behind the Akatsuki—

The mysterious Masked Man.