The white clay, infused with Explosion Release Chakra, traveled along the meridians near Deidara's heart to every corner of his body. However, instead of whitening Deidara's skin, the white Explosive Clay turned him into an extreme black.
Deidara sensed every subtle change in his body. Instead of panicking as his body turned black, he became even more excited, which proved that his ultimate art was correct!
As the Explosive Clay reacted within his body, Deidara's body temperature rose higher and higher, and cracks appeared on his skin. This was because the internal temperature of his body had begun to scorch his flesh and blood.
This also signifies that Deidara's ultimate art is only one step away from completion.
Naoki Senju and Pain's Deva Path tacitly abandoned the fight and began to flee as fast as they could, hoping to get away from the center of the explosion.
A madman is still a madman. The death of his companion will not succumb to their madness, but will only lead them to a deeper understanding from the extreme pain, even to the point of being willing to die for it.
Deidara witnessed Sasori of the Red Sands being engulfed by the explosion of the Tailed Beast Bomb, finally completing the ultimate art he had been pursuing, but this timing was not suitable for Naoki Senju and Pain's Deva Path.
The two were only a step away from Deidara. If it weren't for the explosion and Pain's Deva Path's intervention, Deidara would have already gone down to reunite with Sasori of the Red Sands. But it was this one step that put Naoki Senju in a dangerous situation.
Pain's Deva Path wasn't much better off, and it was somewhat a case of reaping what he sowed. The fastest of the Six Paths of Pain Pain's Deva Path might have had a chance to avoid the epicenter of the explosion, but the others would have a much harder time escaping.
In other words, Deidara's self-destruction may not have caused much damage to the enemy, but the Six Paths of Pain would certainly have suffered heavy losses.
"These incompetent fools are more likely to ruin everything!" Pain's Deva Path cursed inwardly, wishing he had two more legs.
Even with Deidara's all-out, self-destructive explosion, Pain's Deva Path had no confidence in protecting himself. Shinra Tensei might be able to hold out for a while, but the duration of the explosion was unpredictable, so Pain's Deva Path had no intention of enduring it head-on.
Naoki Senju was faster Pain's Deva Path, and although he maintained Partial Tailed Beast Transformation form, he also had no intention of resisting.
Even the thick- Manda were fried until they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Senju Naoki Senju didn't want to experience being roasted alive. Although the result wasn't entirely what he wanted, seeing the Six Paths of Pain fleeing in a sorry state, Naoki Senju felt that this was worthwhile.
Having already driven Six Paths of Pain to such a desperate situation, Naoki Senju didn't believe Nagato could still hold back. A mere Akatsuki, a pack of missing-nin like wild dogs, wasn't worth him risking his life to lure them out as bait.
However, Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan was quite significant. It could be said that all of Madara Uchiha's or Black Zetsu's plans were based on the Rinnegan. Without these Rinnegan, they would not have been able to control the Ten-Tails ' body— the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Therefore, it would be impossible to revive the God Tree and initiate the Eye of the Moon Plan... Naoki Senju may not necessarily be trying to stop the Eye of the Moon Plan, but it is ultimately unsettling to have such power in the hands of others.
Naoki Senju wants both the Rinnegan and the God Tree!
" Wood Release: Cutting Technique ".
Naoki Senju was running ahead, didn't forget to turn back and check on Pain's Deva Path. Several sharp wooden spikes attacked Pain's Deva Path from tricky angles.
Pain's Deva Path, expressionless, flicked away the wooden spikes. These petty tricks posed no threat to him. No, it didn't matter; Naoki Senju's goal was merely to slow him down.
" Naoki Senju, these petty tricks won't work."
If it weren't for Naoki Senju's Space-Time Ninjutsu, Pain's Deva Path would definitely have retaliated with his Chakra rods, but in the end, he probably ended up hurting himself.
"Heh, then you'll have to see my little tricks for yourself."
Before Pain's Deva Path, a vast forest rose from the ground, its branches and trunks nimbly coiling towards Pain's Deva Path, who was rushing away from the center of the explosion. Pain's Deva Path's face darkened completely.
Time is already incredibly precious, yet he's being held back by Naoki Senju's petty tricks. Even if he were to summon the Preta Path, it would be too late.
Because the ultimate art that Deidara created with his life has already begun.
"Explode! Drink!"
Deidara's charred body began to swell, his limbs and torso bulging high, containing the most terrifying destructive power within.
Explosive white light pierced through Deidara's body, beginning to radiate light across the world. Deidara's body was quickly engulfed in the white light, his body becoming the source of the explosion, and the white light representing destruction spread in all directions.
Pain's Deva Path, who was clearing obstacles, Hidan, who was thrown back, and Naoki Senju, who escaped the furthest, were all engulfed in the blinding white light.
The explosion's radius continued to expand. Even from a distance, the sheer destructive power of it filled Black Zetsu with dread. Although the price paid was heavy, the explosion's force surpassed all the Ninjutsu Black Zetsu had ever witnessed. Naoki Senju, who had sabotaged the plan, should already be dead in the blast...
Nagato and Konan, who were remotely viewing the scene using the Rinnegan, could only see a vast expanse of white. At the same time, Nagato also noticed that the condition of the Six Paths of Pain was rapidly deteriorating, with the Human Path and Animal Path, who were least adept at combat, already on the verge of collapse.
" Deidara, that idiot! Cough cough cough..."
An unnatural blush rose to Nagato's face, and after uttering a curse, he began to cough incessantly.
" Nagato! Don't push yourself too hard."
Konan's hands glowed with a vibrant green light; though not very skilled, it was enough to soothe Nagato's pain.
"It's alright, but Pain's Deva Path's Chakra might not be enough to sustain the battle. We need to get closer to where Deva Path is."
"But wouldn't the risk of being exposed increase a lot? Nagato, this is enough. Let's try to capture it again next time..." Konan gently advised.
She knew better than anyone that although Nagato possessed the Rinnegan, one of the three great Dōjutsu, his physical strength, aside from Six Paths of Pain Nagato, was even inferior to that of a Chunin. His body was far too weak to withstand any risks.
"There's no time left, Konan. For Yahiko, for the Akatsuki we created, let me be willful this time."
Looking at Nagato, whose life force was nearly Nagato but whose eyes shone brightly, Konan sighed softly. The three of them, once full of ambition, decided together to create a world without war, but after experiencing too many setbacks, Konan had lost her original ideals. Now, only Nagato still held on to the ideals of the three of them.
"Alright, but Nagato, you have to promise not to use that Ninjutsu."
Nagato remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded in agreement with Konan's suggestion.