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It hadn’t been long since they rendezvoused with Kakuzu, maybe fifteen minutes, when Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with his pursuers.
Seeing Kakuzu wasn’t alone, the enraged Hiruzen faltered for a moment.
Of course, the main reason for his pause was seeing Shin Uzumaki, Kushina, and Orochimaru.
Hiruzen’s expression flickered through several emotions, putting on quite the face-changing performance for Shin and the others.
“The Third Hokage’s expression is… hard to describe,” Kushina whispered to Shin. Hiruzen looked worse than if he’d eaten spoiled liver.
“Sensei, long time no see.”
Orochimaru greeted Hiruzen, then glanced at Pain. He still needed Hiruzen to help him force out Pain’s true controller. He needed Hiruzen to draw out Pain’s true form.
“Orochimaru, why are you here?”
Hiruzen questioned Orochimaru, while also glancing at Shin. He was implicitly asking Shin the same question.
Hiruzen instinctively felt something was wrong…
Were they all working with Kakuzu?
The thought made his expression even heavier. If that was the case—this situation would be difficult to handle.
“Third Hokage, give me some face. Let Kakuzu’s matter drop.” Pain, dissatisfied with being ignored by Hiruzen—who had been focused on Orochimaru and Shin—spoke up, trying to assert his presence.
Being ignored by the Hokage of Konoha bruised Pain’s Ego. As a self-proclaimed God—Nagato felt all eyes should be on him!
“….”
Hiruzen completely ignored him and unleashed an Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet towards Kakuzu.
He didn’t even know who this guy was, let alone care about giving him face.
“<Shinra Tensei!>”
Hiruzen’s attack was completely repelled by the repulsive force. Shinra Tensei was a versatile technique, useful for both offense and defense.
“So you won’t give me face.” Pain looked coldly at Hiruzen, killing intent radiating from his eyes.
Nagato actually harbored deep hatred for Konoha; his parents had been killed by Konoha ninja.
Although Jiraiya’s tutelage had complicated those feelings, even leading him to temporarily let go of his hatred, Yahiko’s death—a result of Hanzō and Konoha’s collusion—had reignited his animosity.
“Who are you?”
Hiruzen finally turned his attention to Pain, whom he hadn’t paid much mind to earlier.
“You may call me Pain. Or you may call me God,” Pain stated flatly, his arrogance palpable.
——
“He doesn’t seem that strong, yet he calls himself a God??” Kushina muttered, annoyed by Pain’s pretentious display.
“To Average Shinobi, he is,” Shin explained to Kushina.
Even Peak Kage-level shinobi were no match for Pain. At full power, he could likely kill a Kage instantly.
“So he’s really strong? Then I want to spar with him!” Kushina said eagerly.
“He can’t beat you.”
Kushina’s strength was at the peak of Super Kage level, comparable to Madara Uchiha during the Valley of the End battle.
Nagato wouldn’t stand a chance against Kushina. His Rinnegan wasn’t his own; using its powerful abilities consumed his life force.
“Even better! If he was stronger than me, I wouldn’t want to fight.” Kushina laughed. Everyone prefers dominating others rather than being dominated.
Shin glanced at Kushina. Her personality was quite similar to his own. He also disliked fighting opponents stronger than him.
Who enjoyed getting beaten up? Only a masochist!
——
While Shin and Kushina chatted, Pain had already engaged Hiruzen in battle. Taking advantage of Hiruzen’s unfamiliarity with the Rinnegan’s abilities, Pain quickly gained the upper hand, forcing Hiruzen onto the defensive.
“Your eyes… are they the legendary Rinnegan?” Hiruzen asked Pain.
He had noticed the resemblance earlier but hadn’t been sure. Now, witnessing Pain’s power, he had to ask.
“Impressive, Third Hokage.” Pain said, floating in the air, looking down on Hiruzen.
“The legendary Rinnegan…”
Hiruzen’s expression became extremely grave.
He couldn’t afford not to be. This was the Rinnegan, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, said to possess the power of creation and destruction—the power of a God.
When Pain had called himself a God earlier, Hiruzen had been dismissive. Now, he thought Pain might actually deserve the title.
“Is Kakuzu working with you?” Hiruzen asked Pain.
“Indeed. I am Kakuzu’s leader.”
‘He just answers whatever they ask, huh?’
Shin couldn’t help but comment.
‘Just fight already! Why are you two chatting?’
If not for the fight, Shin wouldn’t have bothered coming all the way from The Land of Whirlpools.
“Hokage-sama, I’ll hold him back! You go kill Kakuzu!” A young ninja accompanying Hiruzen stepped forward.
Shin, not far away, overheard their conversation and glanced at the young man in surprise.
‘An Uchiha… Could it be Uchiha Shisui?’ Shin guessed, noticing the clan symbol on his clothes.
“Shisui, are you sure?” Hiruzen asked Uchiha Shisui.
Shin’s guess was correct. It was indeed Uchiha Shisui. It made sense; besides Shisui, which other Uchiha would willingly help Hiruzen?
“I’m not entirely confident, but I’ll do my best.” Shisui couldn’t guarantee success. He had witnessed Pain’s fight with the Third Hokage; even Hiruzen had struggled.
Shisui knew he wouldn’t have an easy time either.
“Be careful. Kakashi—assist Shisui.” Hiruzen ordered another ninja nearby.
Hatake Kakashi was also present.
He was now an Anbu member, tasked with protecting the Hokage, hence why he accompanied Hiruzen on this mission to hunt down Kakuzu.
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