At daybreak, a tremendous crash shook Konoha.
Boom-!
The eastern wall exploded, sending rubble flying over a hundred meters into the residential district.
Shuo sprang out of bed.
Outside the window, chakra was in utter chaos. Fighting had broken out in at least thirty places at once.
"They're here."
Sai was already on his feet.
The two rushed out of the dormitory into streets filled with chaos-people running, shouting, crying, and charging forward with weapons in hand.
Flames towered into the sky to the east.
Explosions rang out one after another to the west, south, and north.
All four directions were under attack at once.
"Pain..." Shuo gritted his teeth. "He really doesn't hold back."
He ran toward the Hokage Building, with Sai close behind.
Halfway there, Minato flashed down from a rooftop and landed in front of them.
"All of the Akatsuki's main force is here," Minato said rapidly. "The Six Paths of Pain are at the east gate, Konan in the west, Sasori in the south, and Kakuzu and Hidan in the north."
He looked at Shuo. "Which way are you going?"
"East." Shuo didn't even think about it. "I'm familiar with that Deva Path."
Minato nodded. "Be careful."
His figure flickered, and he vanished.
The east gate was already unrecognizable. Half the wall had collapsed, and Konoha Ninja lay scattered across the ground.
The Six Paths of Pain stood atop the ruins.
Deva Path stood at the front, his Rinnegan fixed coldly on Shuo.
"You're here."
Shuo stopped, took out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and tossed it into his mouth.
Sweet.
"I'm here."
Deva Path raised his hand.
Shinra Tensei.
A violent repulsive force swept out, scraping away a layer of earth, but Shuo stood unmoving.
Golden light burst from his body, holding firm against