"Splurt!"
The reflected laser sliced straight through Asura Path's body, cutting him in two.
"Beautiful! That's one down!"
Everyone was delighted. Wenya sneered, "Tch! The Rinnegan isn't all that impressive!"
Inoichi Yamanaka said, "Let's keep up this momentum and attack together. Cover me. I'll use my secret technique to deal with the one using the Summoning Technique. These Summoning Beasts are too much trouble. We have to deal with them as soon as possible!"
"Understood!"
They exchanged glances, a strategy already forming in each of their minds, their fighting spirit soaring.
They scattered. Tsume Inuzuka and Wenya led the close-range charge, Dodai provided long-range support with Lava Release, and Inoichi fell back, secretly watching for an opening.
Despite losing one of their number, the Five Paths of Pain remained expressionless, simply standing quietly where they were.
Pain's Deva Path half-closed his eyes and raised his hands. As he sensed the exuberant fighting spirit of these ignorant people before him, a trace of mockery involuntarily curved his lips.
Inoichi Yamanaka took it all in. He shifted his technique's target from Animal Path to Deva Path and said under his breath:
"You're about to make a move, are you? Fine, then I'll control you first!"
"Ninja Art: Mind Body Disturbance Technique!"
This technique used the caster's mind to disrupt an opponent's mind and movements, making them do things against their will even while they remained fully conscious.
"Hm?"
Though he had clearly activated the technique, Deva Path did not fall under Inoichi's control.
"What... is going on?"
Inoichi was shocked. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
He could not possibly have made a mistake. There was probably only one explanation.
The Mind Body Disturbance Technique could not control him!
Cold sweat streamed down Inoichi's forehead. Steeling himself, he aimed his technique