The Four Violet Flames Formation was a barrier with sealing properties, strong enough to imprison Kage-level fighters.
In the original timeline, the Sound Four had used this Barrier Ninjutsu to trap the Third Hokage. Even after a battle between two Kage-level fighters, it had shown no signs of damage.
Its upgraded version, the Four Red Yang Formation, could even withstand a direct hit from the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb.
When the four walls of violet flame rose, the Jinchūriki Pain immediately realized they had fallen into Konoha's trap. With only one Rinnegan, breaking through the Four Violet Flames Formation would take some time.
And the Konoha ninja who had laid the trap certainly wouldn't give them enough time to break out.
They looked up toward the sky, where countless snowflakes drifted down through their only exit.
It wasn't winter. If they ruled out the Ice Release kekkei genkai, the only remaining possibility was explosive tags.
Sure enough, the instant the "snowflakes" touched the ground, they bloomed. Explosions rang out one after another, inevitably bringing Amegakure's Angel Konan to mind.
But that familiar precision bombing was the work of the reincarnated Second Hokage.
The relentless blasts of the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags broke through even the Jinchūriki Pain's defenses, damaging them to varying degrees.
The massive explosions naturally drew the Konoha Guard Force's attention. Overwhelmed by the pressure, the chunin didn't dare approach and could only report what was happening.
Jiraiya, who had been heading toward the shelter, noticed the commotion and hurried over with a grave expression.
He used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the Four Violet Flames Formation. The ninja maintaining the barrier recognized him and hastily said, "Lord Jiraiya, we've trapped the enemy inside the barrier. Hurry and deliver the finishing blow!"
Jiraiya glanced at the dust