Meeting Pain at Last: An Inevitable Battle

What?

What?!

As Shisui Uchiha summoned a Wood Dragon covered in sharp spikes, Konan, who was fighting him, was not the only one shocked.

Even Nagato, who had initially regarded him as just an ordinary prospective member, now wore a look of utter astonishment.

Wood Release?

This Bounty Hunter, Forsaken, could actually use Wood Release!

Could someone from Konoha have come...

Wait, no!

There didn't seem to be anyone in Konoha right now who could use Wood Release.

Even one of Konoha's hidden fighters couldn't possibly have mastered Wood Release at this level.

After all, this was the ninjutsu of the God of the Shinobi World, Konoha's First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!

In that case, who exactly was this man standing before them...?

"Hey, hey, why did you space out just because you saw me use Wood Release? Why does everyone do that? It makes fighting you pretty boring."

"I'm telling you, if I didn't have a rule against killing women, you'd already be dead. You know that?"

Shisui Uchiha stood atop the Wood Dragon's head, the Kusanagi Sword resting on his shoulder, and spoke impatiently.

"If you've got any other tricks, hurry up and use them. If you lose, you become my partner. Then have your leader come out for some tea and a chat, and let me make a record while I'm at it so I can go collect my bounty."

"..."

"..."

Hearing Shisui Uchiha's words, as defiant as ever, the two who had been wondering whether someone else was impersonating Forsaken...

Now reached a preliminary conclusion.

Forsaken already possessed formidable swordsmanship and speed, but the reason he could complete bounty after bounty without a single target getting away alive...

Was probably that he had killed them all!

As long as he killed everyone who knew, what did it matter if he revealed his trump cards?

"Hey, hey, why aren't you saying anything? If you stay quiet, I'll take that as you agreeing to be my partner."

Whoosh!

When Konan failed to respond for a long while, Shisui Uchiha guided the Wood Dragon straight over to her.

Taking advantage of her distraction, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"Mmm, you really do smell nice. We're partners from now on. You..."

Before Shisui Uchiha could finish, Konan immediately scattered into sheets of paper, escaping his hold and reforming beside the Wood Dragon.

Her expression was extremely grave.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong? Are you going back on your word? In that case, does that mean I can wipe your Amegakure off the map?"

As he spoke, Shisui Uchiha rapidly formed hand seals again and pressed his palms together.

"Wood Release..."

"Wait!"

Just as Shisui Uchiha was about to attack again, the Animal Path Pain of the Six Paths of Pain suddenly entered the area.

Then the Animal Path Pain quietly said a few words beside Konan.

A moment later, Konan finally turned to Shisui Uchiha and spoke.

"If you want to meet our leader, you can. Come on. We'll take you to him now."

"That's more like it, our Lady Angel. Oh, right, what about you becoming my partner?"

"We'll discuss that once our leader decides you're qualified to become a full member!"

Without wasting any more words on Shisui Uchiha, Konan turned and left with the Animal Path Pain.

At this, Shisui Uchiha shrugged and used the Body Flicker Technique to follow them.

Tap, tap.

A short while later, with Konan and the Animal Path Pain leading the way, Shisui Uchiha finally arrived where Deva Path Pain was waiting.

As soon as Konan and the Animal Path Pain landed, they stepped back to Deva Path Pain's side without a word.

"Forsaken, you've arrived?"

"..."

Shisui Uchiha showed no intention of acknowledging Pain's greeting.

Because the instant he entered this area, the system's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

Ding! Congratulations, host. Check-in complete!

Check-in location: the Akatsuki's headquarters in Amegakure.

Ding! Congratulations, host. Check-in reward obtained: mastery of the Wood Release ninjutsu, Wood Human Technique!

Wood Release: Wood Human Technique?

The ninjutsu that rivaled Susanoo in size, could take a Tailed Beast Bomb head-on, and combined offense and defense!

This check-in reward was great. His long journey from Konoha to Amegakure hadn't been wasted.

"..."

Meanwhile, seeing how completely Shisui Uchiha disregarded them, Deva Path Pain and the other two narrowed their eyes.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense.

But the very next instant, Shisui Uchiha used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Deva Path Pain as though they were old friends.

In full view of everyone, he draped a hand over Pain's shoulder and laughed heartily.

"You look about my age, so I'll take the liberty of calling you little bro. Hahaha! The architecture here is really nice. Who designed it? They've got good taste."

"..."

Hearing Shisui Uchiha's words, Nagato and Konan reached the same conclusion.

Forsaken was a powerful idiot with practically zero emotional intelligence!

They had all Six Paths of Pain here, plus Konan-seven in total.

Although Forsaken could use Wood Release, he was alone.

One against seven, with no knowledge of their secrets or any other intelligence-he had absolutely no chance of winning this fight!

And yet, under these circumstances, this man had actually come so close to them...

Still, they needed to observe him further to determine the truth.

Of course, there was no reason they couldn't recruit him first and observe him afterward.

"Kid, who are you calling little bro?"

At that thought, Deva Path Pain reached up and knocked Shisui Uchiha's hand away.

"I'm the leader of this organization. If you want to join, you must obey my orders."

But the instant he did so, Shisui Uchiha's aura changed dramatically.

With one hand, he drew the Kusanagi Sword and pressed it against Deva Path Pain's neck.

With the other, he pointed at Konan and shouted.

"Knocking my hand away in front of my future partner? Kid, you're making me lose face!"

"..."

Once again rendered speechless by Shisui Uchiha's priorities, Nagato made Deva Path Pain shake his head.

"As I said, I'm currently the leader of this organization. Whether you want to join or become her partner, both require my approval."

"Of course, you can also choose to defeat me."

"If you can defeat me, you can naturally become the organization's leader and take my place in bringing peace to the entire Shinobi World. Then..."

Whoosh!

Before Deva Path Pain could finish, Shisui Uchiha swung his sword.

"You talk too much!"

But the instant he attacked, Deva Path Pain, whose neck was about to be cut, suddenly raised both hands.

A powerful surge of chakra forcibly repelled Shisui Uchiha's Kusanagi Sword.

And that was not all. Deva Path Pain's body...

Actually began to rise slowly into the air.

At the sight, Shisui Uchiha seemed to realize something and rapidly formed hand seals before pressing his palms together.

"How many floors can a bag of rice be carried up? How many floors can a bag of rice be carried up..."

"Shinra Tensei!"

"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!"