"Did it work?"
"Looks like it."
Everyone exchanged glances. They had never expected the Six Paths of Pain to rush toward Konoha so readily. They had thought Pain would at least suspect a mole among them. Those brainwashed by Kotoamatsukami had even prepared themselves to sacrifice their lives for the plan.
Unfortunately, they had underestimated Deva Path Pain... or rather, Nagato Uzumaki's assessment of his own strength. In Nagato Uzumaki's eyes, his Six Paths of Pain were invincible. No one in the world could possibly be his match.
On the outskirts of Konoha.
The Six Paths of Pain flew swiftly toward Konoha. Deva Path Pain had planned to fly straight above the village and open with a super-tier... no, a "Super Shinra Tensei," razing half of Konoha to the ground.
But that fantasy remained just a fantasy. Before he could act-before he had even reached Konoha's airspace-an old man wielding a staff suddenly charged out and swung straight at Deva Path Pain's head. Unfortunately, just before the staff connected, "Shinra Tensei" blasted him away.
But he did not give up. He flipped through the air, landed, and immediately attacked again.
"Five Release: Great Combo Technique!"
The old man rapidly formed hand seals, and four shadow clones split off from him. They drew deep breaths, then forcefully spat their attacks at Pain and the others.
Projectile attacks of five chakra natures hurtled toward them. Shinra Tensei had a five-second cooldown, so Deva Path Pain stayed still. Preta Path Pain strode forward, using his ability to turn the Five Release Great Combo Technique's attacks into pure chakra and absorb them into his body.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi? Looks like my movements were exposed. That confirms there's a mole in the organization."
Surprise crossed Deva Path Pain's face as he recognized the old man who