The Performance of a Hundred Puppets, which had once battered Sakura and Chiyo into a desperate state in the original story, was driven steadily back by the jutsu of Konoha's army.
Sasori of the Red Sands looked grim.
Watching Konoha's army unleash its power earlier had not made much of an impression on him. Only after joining the battle himself did he realize how terrifying it was.
Fortunately, Nagato still had others at his disposal.
Deva Path Pain sent Kakuzu out next.
Although Kakuzu was only one man, the might he unleashed immediately surpassed both the army commanded by Chiba Shun and Sasori's Performance of a Hundred Puppets.
The power of his A-rank combination jutsu immediately drew the attention of Konoha's commander.
They promptly abandoned their sustained attacks on the Akatsuki's taijutsu fighters and redirected those jutsu to counter Kakuzu's combination jutsu.
At last, the two sides seemed evenly matched.
Within Konoha's army, Danzo stood beside the commander, his expression dark.
Sasori of the Red Sands, Kakuzu, and the wielder of the Rinnegan-the Akatsuki had already become a force to be reckoned with!
He immediately ordered the Nara Clan member beside him, "Nara Akira, we must wipe out the Akatsuki in this battle!"
Nara Akira felt helpless. He had already done everything he could, but the Akatsuki's strength had exceeded his expectations.
He wanted badly to say, Lord Danzo, it's time for you to act.
But he did not dare.
Danzo showed no intention of joining the fight. He asked a Root subordinate, "Have you requested help from the village?"
"When will the reinforcements arrive?"
The Root member replied, "The village has responded. They're already mobilizing an army, and they've notified Jiraiya as well."
"They want us to hold out for at least two days. Mobilizing the army will take