Chapter 140: Pain's Sudden Departure
Since it was only a suspicion, Black Zetsu needed to confirm it personally.
He would absolutely not allow even the slightest error to appear in his plan.
Leaving this matter to Nagato was the best choice. If it truly was that person…
At this thought, Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes and thought to himself that Obito was no longer trustworthy, and that the second plan would have to be activated.
Fortunately, Madara had not placed all his bets on Obito back then.
Although Obito still seemed to be carrying out the plan Madara left behind, Black Zetsu knew that Obito had already begun to form ideas of his own.
Moreover, Obito had already grown suspicious about Rin's death back then and had even begun investigating it in secret without informing him.
That result should already be clear by now.
Even so, once humans obtain power, ambition inevitably takes root within them.
Having lived for a thousand years, Black Zetsu understood this better than anyone.
Seeing Black Zetsu shake his head, Obito shrugged and put on a helpless expression.
However, beneath the mask, his face revealed an expression that said it was just as expected.
Black Zetsu was indeed hiding something from him. More precisely, Madara had still kept certain things from him back then.
"Let's go. Since Pain has already begun to completely suspect my identity, I should make some preparations in advance."
Obito spread his hands and spoke to Zetsu.
As soon as he finished speaking, the vortex-like rippling space once again enveloped the two of them, and they completely disappeared.
Elsewhere.
At the encampment of the Kirigakure forces.
At this moment, the Kirigakure ninja were quietly waiting for Yuto to return.
Ranmaru suddenly raised his head, surprise on his small face as he spoke.
"There's a figure rapidly approaching this place. Ranmaru feels a very dangerous aura coming from him."
"Dangerous?"
Zabuza Momochi rested the Executioner's Blade on his shoulder, an interested look appearing on his face.
Anyone who could make Ranmaru sense danger at this point was clearly extremely powerful.
Standing nearby, Ringo Ameyuri and the others also showed intrigued expressions.
They were very curious about what kind of person would dare to head straight toward the Kirigakure forces.
"He's here!"
Ranmaru spoke again. As his words fell, a black figure suddenly rushed out from the distance and appeared before them.
Bang!
The black-clad figure stood indifferently before everyone, his cold gaze sweeping across the group before finally stopping on Kisame Hoshigaki.
"The clothes he's wearing… seem to be the same as those worn by Kisame-senpai."
Ranmaru glanced at Pain's outfit a few times and spoke curiously.
Not only Ranmaru, but the others also looked back and forth between Kisame and Pain with interest on their faces.
At this moment, Kisame's expression stiffened slightly. His mouth cracked open as he spoke in a somewhat bitter tone.
"He was once my leader. His power is not only strange, but extremely formidable."
"So he's an enemy, then."
Ringo's eyes narrowed slightly as a bright smile suddenly appeared on her face.
In the next instant, without waiting for Kisame to warn them, Ringo and Zabuza charged toward Pain at the same time.
Ringo seemed to transform into a bolt of lightning, instantly appearing behind Pain as she thrust the Thunder Blade toward the center of his back.
At the same time, Zabuza appeared a short distance in front of Pain, raising the Executioner's Blade and chopping down at him.
Pain's expression did not change. Two black metal rods suddenly extended from his long sleeves as he raised his hand and twisted his body sideways.
The two rods simultaneously blocked the attacks from Zabuza and Ringo.
"If he's an enemy, then Ranmaru will cut you down!"
Ranmaru muttered as his body instantly expanded. At some point, the Explosive Blade had already appeared in his hands.
He stomped the ground, turning into an afterimage as he vanished from his original spot and appeared in front of Pain in the next instant.
Raising the Explosive Blade, Ranmaru brought it crashing down toward Pain, who was blocking both Zabuza and Ringo.
"Shinra Tensei," Pain said calmly.
Boom!
Ranmaru felt an utterly irresistible repulsive force erupt from Pain's body.
In the next moment, all three were blasted away at the same time.
"I told you, Pain's strength is very strong."
Kisame spoke solemnly as he stepped forward from the side and stopped a short distance opposite Pain.
Amid the ruins, Ranmaru lay upside down among the debris.
"So strong, so strong!"
He sprang back up from the rubble, rubbing his head as he spoke.
From the other piles of ruins, Ringo and Zabuza also climbed to their feet, shock evident on their faces as they looked at Pain standing in the center.
Pain paid no attention to the others. Instead, his gaze fixed directly on Kisame.
"Where is Itachi Uchiha?"
Pain asked coldly.
"He's dead."
Kisame shrugged.
Hearing this, Pain fell silent for a moment. After a long pause, he spoke again.
"No one may betray Akatsuki. You will pay the price for this, along with the Kirigakure behind you."
As Pain's words fell, the atmosphere instantly turned icy.
All of Kirigakure's people stared at Pain with undisguised killing intent.
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
Kisame gripped Samehada with both hands and spoke in a cold voice.
Just as the battle was about to erupt.
Soft footsteps suddenly reached everyone's ears.
"I seem to hear someone saying they want Kirigakure to pay a price."
Yuto walked over with a smile on his face.
Pain turned his head and looked toward the source of the voice.
The moment Pain saw Yuto, his entire body suddenly stiffened.
At the same time, Nagato, who was controlling Pain, suddenly felt a sharp pain surge from the Rinnegan.
Along with it, the chakra used to control Pain briefly stalled.
The stabbing pain in his eyes vanished almost instantly, but the connection between Nagato and Pain suddenly became intermittent.
"What's going on? Overusing the Rinnegan? Or is the distance too great?"
Sensing the faint, unstable signal coming from Pain, Nagato muttered to himself in confusion.
"Using only the Deva Path to deal with Kirigakure might be difficult, and now the signal is unstable. In that case…"
Nagato murmured softly, undisguised killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Elsewhere.
Seeing Pain suddenly stiffen, confusion flashed across Yuto's face.
"You will pay the price for this!"
Pain, who had been frozen, suddenly raised his head and spoke.
In the next instant, accompanied by a bang, Pain turned into a cloud of white smoke and vanished on the spot.
Clearly, he had been summoned away.
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