Chapter 50: The Natural Immortal Mode
Of course, he could not just let the other side absorb his chakra and instantly turn to stone.
If the Preta Path petrified the moment he touched him, Nagato would immediately become suspicious about how Kenichi knew the puppet's ability in advance.
So he had to act.
"Chidori."
Lightning roared to life in Kenichi Amamiya's hand. His Sharingan spun to life, and with its help, he could now control the thrust, trajectory, and landing point of Chidori with precise accuracy.
Nagato and Konan watched from the side, silently observing while the shrill bird like screech echoed over the field.
"Sealing Technique: Attraction."
The Preta Path struck a strange stance. In the next instant, the lightning in Kenichi's hand vanished as if it had never existed.
Kenichi curled his lip inwardly.
This ability really was ridiculous.
If only it did not require the Rinnegan, he could have created a chakra armor, worn it, and just walked around casually absorbing ninjutsu. That would be nearly invincible.
Outwardly, though, a look of shock spread across his face, perfectly selling his performance.
Taking advantage of that moment, the Preta Path seized Kenichi's arm.
A heartbeat later, Kenichi was "astonished" to feel his chakra being drained away.
Fortunately, he was not a shinobi who relied only on ninjutsu.
He drove a solid kick into the Preta Path's body, forcibly tearing himself free, then used the Body Flicker Technique to pull open some distance.
"You can absorb chakra?" Kenichi demanded, face serious and eyes narrowed.
"He is not an idiot," Nagato thought, nodding to himself.
If Kenichi failed to grasp such an obvious ability, he would not be qualified to join Akatsuki in the first place.
Intelligence was crucial for a shinobi, and most of that intelligence was gathered mid battle. The speed at which you read your opponent's ability often decided who lived and who died.
The Preta Path said nothing.
He simply crooked a finger in a taunting gesture that practically shouted, "Come on, I can take ten of you."
Kenichi took a slow breath, calming his heartbeat, and once more expanded his chakra perception.
The next moment, he felt it again.
The natural energy drifting through the air around him.
This time, with the Preta Path acting as his safety net, Kenichi let himself open up completely.
He drew in everything he could feel.
Countless strands of natural energy cheered as they surged into his body, wild and eager.
Kenichi had to suppress the urge to shiver.
He forced himself to stay focused and guided those raging currents, carefully blending them with his physical and spiritual energy, seeking balance.
He had originally thought this step would be dangerous and slow, that his body would resist or transform uncontrollably.
Yet to his surprise, his body adapted almost instantly.
The wild natural energy stabilized inside him, and a new kind of power was born from that balance.
Sage chakra.
"That was it?" Kenichi opened his eyes in surprise.
"Hm? Why did his face change?" Konan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Dark golden markings had appeared on Kenichi's face, stretching out from the corners of his eyes like jagged lightning patterns etched into his skin.
Nagato frowned.
What was this ability?
Inside, Kenichi could feel the power surging through his body, and his excitement spiked.
So this was Sage Mode.
His body felt tremendously reinforced, and every sense sharpened frighteningly fast. This ability was incredibly practical.
Even better, he showed no signs of losing control at all, and he had entered Sage Mode in an instant.
He could not help but sigh in admiration.
As expected of the Sage Body of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi. This physique really was on another level.
This was the difference between a true genius and an ordinary person.
"Konoha Whirlwind."
Kenichi did not use any new ninjutsu. Instead, he shot forward and launched a straight taijutsu kick at the Preta Path.
Since the enemy could absorb ninjutsu, throwing Sage chakra techniques around would be too wasteful.
Nagato remained impassive.
The Preta Path could absorb chakra and ninjutsu, so countering with physical combat seemed like a reasonable response on Kenichi's part.
But as long as he was grabbed, then…
As if to prove that thought correct, the Preta Path did not dodge at all.
It accepted the kick, arms wrapping firmly around Kenichi's leg, and immediately began draining his chakra.
Kenichi's eyes curved slightly, a smile flickering in their depths.
This was exactly what he had been waiting for.
He had to admit, fighting while already knowing the opponent's ability in advance really did feel like cheating with spoilers.
"Hm? The Preta Path?" Nagato's expression finally shifted.
All at once, he realized his connection to that body had been cut off.
At the same time, he saw the Preta Path's body rapidly turning to stone.
A breath later, the petrified puppet was shattered into pieces by a single kick from the Konoha rogue shinobi.
"So that means I passed the test, right?"
Kenichi turned back toward Nagato and Konan, who had been silently watching, and asked lightly.
Konan said nothing.
This was not her decision to make.
"I suppose you did," Pain replied after a moment. "But how did you turn him to stone just now?"
As he spoke, he walked forward and held out a ring to Kenichi.
Kenichi lowered his gaze. A single character, "Jade," was carved into the ring. It was simple and beautiful, and he slipped it onto his finger without hesitation.
"Your companion can absorb chakra," Kenichi said calmly. "I had just refined Sage chakra. If he absorbs too much of that energy, it naturally turns his body to stone."
He did not bother to hide it.
If Nagato understood this power, he would have fewer doubts later, which would only benefit Kenichi's future plans inside Akatsuki.
"Sage techniques. Natural energy. I see."
Pain thought for a moment, then nodded.
"I am the leader of Akatsuki. You may call me Pain. This is Konan."
He spoke in an even voice, then produced another ring and handed it to Kenichi.
Kenichi examined it curiously. It was the ring marked "Sky."
"Orochi's ring," Pain said. "Once he puts it on, I will tell you about Akatsuki's development plan."
He had barely finished speaking when the Preta Path's body stirred and returned to standing.
Kenichi glanced over.
"What a convenient ability," he thought.
A complete revival, and applied over multiple bodies in an area. It was honestly unreasonable.
"All right, I will take it back to my teacher."
Kenichi nodded and looked straight into Pain's eyes.
The Rinnegan.
He really wanted to study it.
But even if he attacked now, he probably still could not defeat Pain. He needed to find a way to develop something like an antigravity device first.
"Very well. We will assign you missions later. It is also for Akatsuki's growth."
Pain was surprisingly considerate toward these early recruits, even bothering to explain things.
"I understand," Kenichi replied seriously.
Hurry up and recruit Kakuzu already, he added silently.
Without Kakuzu, their best money making workhorse, how was Akatsuki supposed to grow and expand properly?
Kenichi did not have time to run around doing every job himself.
And speaking of making money, his thoughts immediately drifted to the first mini boss that Naruto and his friends had once run into.
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