Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 361 Encounter 8

Just as Hyuga Kanan launched a fierce attack on Pain like a tiger descending a mountain, an unexpected turn of events occurred! A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the ever-steady Pain, and then an incredibly powerful repulsive force suddenly erupted. This force surged forth like a tidal wave, instantly sending the unsuspecting Hyuga Kanan flying.

Because the attack happened so suddenly, Hyuga Kanan had no time to react and could only watch helplessly as his seemingly certain strike missed its mark. Meanwhile, Pain, who was so close and could have easily defeated him, seized the opportunity to regain his footing and quickly adjust his defensive stance. Just like that, a golden opportunity to win slipped through Hyuga Kanan's fingers. He was furious, but at the same time, he gained a deeper understanding of Pain's fundamental strength.

In that breathtaking moment, the Six Paths of Pain moved with the speed of ghosts, seizing the precious opportunity of their recent successful defeat of Hyuga Kanan, and regrouped closely. Their eyes were as fiery and unwavering as burning flames, fixed on Hyuga Kanan not far away, as if they wanted to devour him alive.

At this moment, the Six Paths of Pain knew perfectly well that they could not afford the slightest carelessness, nor could they afford to fall into the same predicament again, being picked off one by one by Hyuga Kanan. The painful lessons of the past were still vivid in their minds, making them deeply aware of the importance of unity and working together to defeat the enemy. Each Pain understood that only through close cooperation could they unleash their full power and defeat this formidable opponent.

In this tense atmosphere, time seemed to stand still. The Six Paths of Pain silently adjusted their breathing and posture, preparing for the impending fierce battle. Their bodies leaned slightly forward, exuding an imposing aura of readiness to strike at any moment. Hyuga Kanan, on the other hand, stood quietly in place, confronting the Six Paths of Pain, his eyes equally sharp as an eagle's, showing no fear. A life-or-death struggle was about to begin.

Suddenly, Hyuga Kanan's eyes narrowed sharply, his gaze fixed like lightning on the very back corner of the formation formed by the Six Paths of Pain. With his incredibly sharp spiritual sense, capable of discerning even the slightest changes, Hyuga Kanan clearly saw the figure standing at the very back—Pain! At that moment, Pain exuded a mysterious and powerful aura, his hands rapidly forming hand seals as he chanted incantations.

With a flash of eerie light, a colossal and terrifying object slowly emerged. This object resembled Yama, the King of Hell, possessing a hideous and grotesque face and an aura that sent chills down one's spine. Its massive body stood in the air, radiating an overwhelming sense of oppression.

At the same time, the mechanical Pain, which had been previously shattered, seemed to be drawn by some force, involuntarily flying towards the head that resembled Yama, the King of Hell. The moment they made contact, a dazzling light suddenly burst forth, so bright that it was almost impossible to open one's eyes.

As the light gradually faded, Hyuga Kanan was astonished to find that the previously tattered Mechanical Pain was visibly recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye! Moreover, what shocked him even more was that a strange, unprecedented power of rules was continuously surging from that Yama-like head, merging into the Mechanical Pain's body. This power of rules seemed to contain endless mysteries and power, enabling the Mechanical Pain to move.

Just moments ago, the mechanical Pain had been utterly defeated by his overwhelming power, but now it appeared in the same spot as if it had been resurrected! This scene was so unbelievable that Hyuga Kanan was filled with intense shock and confusion.

You see, his previous attacks were all-out, without holding back, so logically there shouldn't have been any chance for the enemy to catch their breath. Yet what was happening before their eyes was completely illogical, as if some mysterious and unpredictable force was secretly manipulating the battle. Could it be… that Payne, standing at the very back, possessed the ability to regenerate them? Or perhaps there was a deeper and more terrifying secret hidden behind them? Countless questions flooded his mind in an instant.

"I never expected this! Even this is one of the rules contained within those mysterious eyes? It's truly astonishing and surprising! This unique and wondrous power of rules seems to break the boundaries of conventional understanding, making one deeply curious and eager to explore it. What unknown secrets does it hold? And what unexpected effects will it bring to its possessor?" Hyuga Kana thought to herself.

At this very moment, Hyuga Kanan, with his keen insight and extraordinary wisdom, was able to begin to analyze the power of rules wielded by the Six Paths of Pain. While this power was indeed astonishingly strong, it was still a long way from the realm that could truly be called "god".

Hidden within the towering tower, Nagato was clearly captivated by the powerful, rule-based force emanating from those eyes. He seemed lost in a phantom world, gradually losing his clear understanding of reality. How much power could a person blinded by illusion, sinking into the abyss of power and desire, truly wield?

Hyuga Kanan pondered silently. He clearly understood that relying solely on these puppets created from eyes was utterly insufficient to grasp the unfathomable true power of the Sage of Six Paths. These seemingly powerful beings were perhaps merely the tip of the iceberg. After careful consideration, he gradually lost interest in continuing to probe the power of rules wielded by Pain. He realized that such attempts would be a waste of time, not only unlikely to yield substantial progress but also potentially leading to the leakage of more information.

At this moment, he needed to reassess the situation and find more effective ways to deal with the unprecedented challenges ahead. Before that, any rash action could lead to irreversible consequences. Therefore, Hyuga Kanan decided to completely abandon his entanglement with Pain and instead focus on thinking of other strategies in hopes of finding the key to breaking through the predicament in the future.

"Let's end it here!" He had hoped this operation would yield unexpected and significant gains, but the result was utterly disappointing, yielding only superficial intelligence. Hyuga Kanan slowly straightened up, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness, then forcefully brushed away the dust and debris clinging to his clothes. His once expectant eyes were now dull and lifeless, as if all enthusiasm and fighting spirit had vanished. Then, he raised his head, his gaze passing over the ruins and wreckage before him, landing directly on the several figures standing in the distance—the Six Paths of Pain.

At this moment, Hyuga Kanan was filled with disappointment and frustration. He was utterly weary of this intense and protracted battle. He had once been confident that he could obtain crucial information or basic combat strength from his opponent, but reality had cruelly shattered his illusions. Now, facing this mysterious and unpredictable Six Paths of Pain, having seen through his true nature, he simply couldn't muster the slightest interest in fighting him again.

Upon hearing Hyuga Kanan's words, Pain's rage erupted like a volcano! The raging flames seemed poised to devour the entire world. Nagato, hidden deep within the tower, was even more enraged. His eyes widened, fixed intently on the distance, filled with boundless hatred and fury.

Since awakening the Rinnegan and transforming into a "god," Nagato had never suffered such contempt. This disdain pierced his pride like a sharp blade, filling him with unprecedented humiliation and anger. It was not merely a questioning of his personal abilities, but a blatant trampling on the dignity of a "god," a wanton provocation of the authority of a "god"!

Nagato knew that if he didn't teach this arrogant intruder a lesson, his prestige as a "god" would be completely destroyed. At that point, the unruly and untamed members of Akatsuki would inevitably harbor rebellious thoughts, and their reverence for Akatsuki would vanish. If that happened, maintaining Akatsuki's dominance would likely require double, or even greater, effort.

Therefore, Nagato absolutely could not tolerate such a thing happening. He had to crush the enemy before him with overwhelming force, defend the dignity of "God" with absolute power, and re-establish his supreme authority within the Akatsuki! Only in this way could he ensure the stability and strength of the Akatsuki, allowing it to continue to stand at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

The Tailed Beast Capture Project, now underway, relies heavily on the participation and execution of Akatsuki members for its key elements and core tasks. Like components in a precision instrument, they work closely together, each fulfilling their specific role, propelling this massive project forward. Each Akatsuki member shoulders a crucial mission, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to the battle of capturing the Tailed Beasts, utilizing their unique abilities and skills. Whether tracking targets, setting traps, or engaging in direct combat, they have demonstrated exceptional strength and unwavering courage. In this thrilling adventure, the Akatsuki members will face countless hardships and obstacles, but they will not falter, remaining steadfast in their beliefs, solely focused on achieving their ultimate goal—the successful capture of all the Tailed Beasts!

Whether for his own plans or to intimidate the Akatsuki members, Nagato had to capture this intruder from Amegakure. This would give the other Akatsuki members enough confidence to carry out their subsequent operations.