Deidara and Hidan were closest to the entrance, though neither of them cared much for the discussion inside. The moment they heard the noise outside, both rushed under the eaves and saw a lone figure standing in the rain, hands folded behind his back, black cloak with red clouds drifting in the wind.
Uchiha Gen.
Konan's old Akatsuki cloak fit him perfectly.
"Huh? Where'd you crawl out from?" Hidan tilted his head, pale-purple eyes sizing him up. "Why haven't I seen you before? Some outer member?"
Deidara slapped Hidan on the shoulder. "Idiot. Use your eyes. That's Konoha's future Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Gen."
Hidan blinked. "Then why's the Fifth Hokage wearing our uniform? What, Konoha's Hokage is secretly one of us?"
Deidara also stared at Gen, unable to make sense of it.
Gen smiled. "Did your group patent this outfit? I wear whatever I like."
That was all the explanation they needed.
"It's an enemy!"
"Hahaha... perfect! A sacrifice fit for Lord Jashin!" Hidan lunged forward, raising his tri-bladed scythe, except his charge went completely off-track. Instead of striking Gen, he arced in a half-circle straight toward Deidara.
"Are you insane?" Deidara jumped back, dodging the blade.
But Hidan didn't stop. He kept swinging wildly at Deidara.
Deidara's patience snapped. He flicked his hands outward. Two clay birds shot forth, one small one toward Hidan, one much larger toward Gen.
The explosions thundered through the rain. Fire and shockwaves filled the courtyard. Hidan ended up buried in soot, clothes shredded. Gen stood completely unharmed.
At that moment, the doors of the main hall opened. Tendo Pain stepped out first, followed by Konan, Kisame, Juzo, Mei Terumī, Kakuzu, Sasori, and the other Paths behind them.
Seeing their leader, Hidan and Deidara finally kept still.
Nagato immediately noticed the rain sliding around Gen's body. So that was why his sensory field couldn't detect him clearly.
Gen greeted calmly. "Long time no see, Miss Konan. You haven't lost any charm."
Konan's expression didn't shift. "You're bold."
"What, does the mighty Akatsuki dare to oppose Konoha?"
"Damn Konoha! I'll kill you!" Hidan snapped, unable to tolerate the attitude. He kicked off the ground, water splashing as he charged.
Gen had no affection for this cultist. Since Hidan insisted on dying, Gen didn't bother holding back.
With a subtle motion of his sleeve, the rain around them condensed into water chains that bound Hidan's limbs and head. A white streak of light pierced straight through Hidan's heart.
Blood spilled from Hidan's mouth. "You can't kill me! Do it! Kill me!"
Gen's eyes remained calm. "Is that so?"
A surge of blazing white lightning burst forth from Shizukamaru's body, wrapping Hidan in crackling fury. His scream tore through the rain before it abruptly cut off. Flesh blackened. Bones charred. Hidan disintegrated into drifting ash and vanished into the water.
Shizukamaru shrank down, returning to Gen's sleeve.
Gen shrugged. "He told me to kill him. I've never seen a request like that before."
The entire process happened too fast. Pain and the others knew Hidan's abilities, so they hadn't interfered immediately but they never expected Hidan to be erased so thoroughly and so quickly.
Nagato's face hardened.
"You have offended the dignity of God. You will die."
He didn't raise his voice. He simply ordered, "Kill him."
All except the Paths immediately moved—only to be blown back before they got close.
Water surged like a hammer. Tendo Pain, Konan, Deidara, and Sasori were flung into the walls of the hall, smashing through wood and stone before hitting the floor.
They dragged themselves out, soaked and furious.
"Kakuzu! Mei Terumī! Juzo! Kisame! How dare the four of you betray me!"
"What betrayal?" Kakuzu said flatly. "I don't serve you. I serve money. Lord Gen pays too well."
Mei laughed softly, one hand on her hip, her Akatsuki cloak failing to hide her figure. "I am my husband's woman. And those two pledged their allegiance long ago. How is that betrayal?"
Juzo and Kisame grinned silently.
Gen smiled. "No need for so much resentment. If I hadn't told them to pull their punches, Explosion Boy and Miss Konan would be dead. Those injuries are nothing."
Deidara twitched at the nickname. Proud of the 'Explosion,' furious about the 'Boy.'
Tendo Pain floated closer, eyes narrowing. "Should I thank you for that?"
"Shouldn't you?" Gen replied.
Tendo Pain froze for a breath. It almost sounded reasonable, which annoyed him even more.
"Fine. Then I won't kill you. I'll only beat you half to death." His voice grew colder. "But they will all die."
His six Rinnegan fixed onto Mei and the others.
Gen sighed lightly. "Then I'll simply keep them out of the fight. You three, step aside."
Mei and the others didn't hesitate. They retreated at once.
But Kakuzu stood frozen. The idea of one man fighting so many S-rank monsters alone seemed like suicide.
Tendo Pain snapped, "Stop them!"
Konan, Deidara, and Sasori rushed after the retreating trio—only for a wave of gathered rainwater to surge upward and engulf them, forcing them to defend themselves.
Gen glanced sideways at Kakuzu. "Lord Kakuzu, staying here to fight beside me... such loyalty truly moves me."
Before Kakuzu could retort, Tendo Pain raised his palm.
Universal Pull.
The suction dragged Gen forward along with the rain itself. Gen didn't resist. His eyes shifted into the Eternal Mangekyō. Black chakra formed full armor around him as a massive black hand materialized overhead and slammed downward.
The Paths scattered to avoid it. The ground split open under the impact.
The pull ended. Gen adjusted mid-air and landed lightly, graceful as drifting paper.
Kakuzu used the chance to slip away.
Nagato ignored him completely. All Paths closed in on Gen, forming two rings around him.
"No one escapes after offending God. Since you let them go, your life remains here."
Gen smirked. "My life is right here. If you can take it, be my guest."
Nagato clenched his teeth. Was the man ignorant of danger, or did he have absolute confidence?
The Five Paths moved first. The Asura Path charged at the front. Animal, Preta, and Human attacked from different angles. The Naraka Path hid and waited.
Black chakra surged around Gen, forming four additional arms. Each arm lunged out and grabbed a Path cleanly.
The Asura, Animal, and Human Paths were crushed instantly, reduced to pulp. The Preta Path tried to absorb the chakra, but Gen's reserves overwhelmed it. The arm solidified and crushed it like the others.
All of this happened in a breath.
Nagato's reaction was immediate.
Universal Pull.
Gen was dragged mid-air again...
Shinra Tensei.
Nagato triggered the repulsion sideways, launching Gen toward the waiting barrage.
Konan and the Naraka Path already retrieved the broken Path bodies. The Naraka King swallowed them in one massive bite, crunching through meat and cloth.
Poisoned senbon from Sasori and clay birds from Deidara streaked toward Gen's flight path. Explosions tore the courtyard apart, flames rising higher than the rooftops. Rain hissed away to steam.
When the smoke cleared, Gen floated calmly in the air, stepping on two drifting mists of water. Not a wrinkle on his clothes.
"Use whatever techniques you like. Entertain me."
He was deliberately dragging things out—partly for fun, partly because he wanted Nagato and the others to exhaust their hope. When they realized nothing could harm him, their despair would be complete. Then he could demonstrate overwhelming power and use talk-no-jutsu to make them loyal zealots.
The Hokage did righteous things publicly and left the dirty work to others. Gen planned to do the same. Danzo had taken Hiruzen's blame; the Akatsuki could take his.
Akatsuki already had experience capturing Tailed Beasts. Their members were perfect for shady work.
Deidara and Sasori were about to attack again when Tendo Pain raised a hand.
"Stand down. I'll handle this."
The Naraka Path opened its mouth, and the previously crushed Paths emerged fully restored.
Gen chuckled. "Rinnegan truly is interesting. Show me more."
"As you wish."
The Animal Path formed seals and slammed its palm to the ground. Smoke burst outward. Four massive summons materialized—Cerberus, Yatagarasu, the giant crab, and the rhinoceros. A chameleon hid further back.
The rain vibrated with their weight. Four pairs of Rinnegan locked onto Gen.
For the first time, Deidara's face brightened in excitement. Sasori's new Hiruko tail swayed unconsciously. Konan allowed herself the smallest smile.
Tendo Pain rose above them all, staring down at Gen. "Is this display pleasing to you?"
"I'll know once I try it."
Gen's Mangekyō spun. A wave of genjutsu burst outward.
The giant summons froze. Their Rinnegan dissolved into the Eternal Mangekyō pattern. Even the hidden chameleon slid into visibility, falling victim instantly.
Gen glanced up. "The Rinnegan's ocular power in your hands is nothing special. Rather weak."
Deidara fell silent. Sasori's tail stopped moving. Konan's faint smile vanished.
Tendo Pain's expression finally cracked.
"Impossible!"