"Who goes there!"
A Kirigakure Ninja suddenly shouted.
The exclamation shattered the silence of the night, triggering a chain reaction.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
One by one, figures arrived at the source of the sound; these were the ninjas from Kirigakure who guarded the Three-Tails.
It wasn't to protect the Three-Tails, but to protect the Three-Tails of Kirigakure.
Even though Kirigakure followed Yagura's wishes and released the Three-Tails, they only placed it in a large lake outside Kirigakure.
Ren's existence has rendered the Tailed Beast and Jinchūriki, who were originally top-tier combatants in the Shinobi World, dispensable and no longer as important.
Kirigakure placed their hopes on the future, on the future after Ren's death.
This isn't the first time the Shinobi World has experienced such an external environment. Now, Ren is high above the clouds, which seems much better than the situation when the two warlords of the Warring States period looked down on the Shinobi World.
The Three-Tails is the foundation for Kirigakure's future resurgence, and it cannot be overemphasized how much importance it deserves.
"Ninja from Kirigakure, I need the Three-Tails' help with something, and I don't want unnecessary casualties. Please make way!"
Deva Path Pain looked down at the suddenly appearing Konoha Ninja from his high vantage point, offering his advice in a very calm tone.
After being Nagato, Nagato no longer acts like he's the most important person in the world, but his inherent adolescent chuunibyou (delusional) tendencies remain.
Even well-intentioned reminders are laced with sarcasm.
Nagato felt he had been very polite, because what he said was true; these Kirigakure Ninja didn't belong to the Uchiha Clan!
Coincidentally, the Kirigakure Ninja seem to have a similar feeling.
"Akatsuki?"
Although his tone was questioning, Kirigakure was almost certain.
Over the years, they formed a joint Joint Pursuit Force with the ninjas of Konoha, following closely behind Obito. In addition, Kisame's defection to join Akatsuki gave Kirigakure a considerable understanding of Akatsuki.
This understanding is tainted with arrogance and prejudice.
An organization whose members are chased around the Shinobi World, do you think you're something special? Do you think you're Konoha Ninja?
The reason they haven't acted yet is simply to buy time; Pain is currently flying in the sky, and it wouldn't be good if he accidentally escaped.
Those who covet the Three-Tails deserve to die!
Have you thought it through?
Pain's voice came from the sky again, and Kirigakure's reply was...
"Die! Do it!"
As the team leader spoke, one Ninjutsu after another was unleashed upon Deva Path Pain.
[Water Release: Water Style: Waterfall Technique!]
The waterfall of ninjas from multiple streams merged into a massive wave, its height approaching that of Pain.
Then came various targeted Water Release.
Water Release: Water Style: Cutting Rain!
Water Release: Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!
Water Release: Water Style: Water Fang Bullet!
One after another, Ninjutsu were generated directly from the waterfall, completely blocking all of Deva Path Pain's hiding places.
The large lake was right next to them, making it a spectacular sight for the Kirigakure ninjas to use their Water Release Ninjutsu.
Shinra Tensei!
Deva Path Pain estimated the number and power of the opponent's Ninjutsu, and used a slightly stronger repulsive force to shatter all the Ninjutsu flying everywhere.
The Rinnegan's underhanded Dōjutsu will terrify anyone who sees it for the first time.
The Kirigakure ninja were in the same predicament, staring blankly as their Ninjutsu instantly failed, turning into raindrops that fell to the ground.
The cool touch brought many of the Kirigakure Ninja back to their senses.
"The enemy's technique is strange, but not powerful. Don't get distracted, keep attacking!"
The captain's shout restored the confidence of all the Kirigakure Ninja.
That's right, the captain's analysis is correct. If the enemy were really strong, he wouldn't be standing here unharmed right now.
The regrouped Kirigakure Ninja launched another combined Ninjutsu attack. There was no way to stop them; the enemy was flying too high, and Taijutsu couldn't even touch them. Ninja tools thrown at them would become light and ineffective.
Not everyone is Kisame or Mei Terumi; to attack the enemy, they need to combine their skills and unleash the Water Style: Waterfall Technique.
And so it went, with repeated attempts and restarts.
On the other side, Konan slowly placed several bodies, which were wrapped tightly in paper, onto the surface of the water, revealing their faces.
Nagato said not to kill, Konan wouldn't kill the enemy. At this moment, these Kirigakure Ninja were all sleeping soundly.
Small fish, formed automatically from folded paper, began to spread throughout the lake.
After a long while, a small fish leaped out of the water, transformed into a paper crane, and flew into Konan's hand. Sensing the aura emanating from it, Konan knew that she had found her target.
Following the instructions, Konan took out a scroll above the water and opened it, revealing a smaller figure, which was none other than the Animal Path from before.
Konan continuously channeled Chakra into the Animal Path, and soon Nagato, sitting in a Nagato, appeared there, his hands forming the hand seals for Reverse Summoning.
Although Nagato reclaimed the Animal Path ability, his body can still serve as a beacon for Reverse Summoning.
After Nagato arrived at this place, he looked down and quickly discovered a huge source of Chakra.
"Konan, leave this place to me."
After saying that, Nagato clapped his hands, and a crab appeared, carrying Nagato as he dived to the bottom of the lake.