Chapter 76: Can Tracking a Paper-Thin Disciple Be Called Tailing?

Beneath the rain curtain, all eyes locked onto the figure emerging from the rock sphere.

The Deva Path’s eyes were filled with shock, fixed on Rojie, his mind brimming with doubt:

What is that thing?

A Tailed Beast?

It’s a bit too small.

He didn’t understand what Rojie had become now.

Information Jiraiya and Healthy Itachi were equally baffled.

Information Jiraiya sensed the chakra on Rojie—strikingly similar to a Tailed Beast’s—and watched his transformed form, silently speculating:

Could Rojie also be a jinchuriki?

A special being akin to a Tailed Beast jinchuriki?

Information Jiraiya, no doubt the Hidden Leaf’s Illusion God, had already glimpsed parts of Rojie’s true nature.

But Rojie didn’t care about anyone’s reactions.

Now was his moment to perform.

Rojie stepped out from the shattered rock sphere.

He was no longer in just the Holy Lord Mode.

He had layered the Sage Mode atop the Holy Lord Mode.

More accurately, it should be called Holy Lord Sage Mode.

With the Sage Mode layered on, Rojie’s power grew even more terrifying.

The moment he stepped out, twin blinding bolts of lightning shot from his eyes.

Simultaneously, his dragon mouth opened, spewing a torrent of searing flame.

Lightning and flame intertwined, lashing toward the Deva Path.

The Preta Path reacted instantly, appearing before the Deva Path and roaring: “Ninjutsu: Seal Release: Chakra Absorption!”

In an instant, a transparent shield formed around him, frantically sucking in the two bolts of lightning and the stream of flame Rojie had fired.

Soon, the Preta Path’s absorption capacity exceeded its limit; his body was pierced through by lightning, and the searing flame completely engulfed him.

Amid the rolling heat, the Preta Path turned to charcoal.

The Preta Path brand range hood was immediately scrapped!

As the saying goes: sacrifice a teammate, magic becomes limitless.

Taking advantage of the Preta Path’s distraction, the Deva Path had already soared into the sky.

The Human Path, the only one still alive, suddenly went still and collapsed to the ground, finished off by Healthy Itachi with a hasty kill.

Clearly, Nagato was dumping all his chakra into Pain’s Deva Path like it was free.

He refused to let his old friend’s body be destroyed.

Nagato was going all out.

He was entering Phase Two.

Summoning Jutsu!

Pain’s Deva Path slammed one hand hard against the ground, releasing a powerful surge of chakra.

Konan saw this and her face changed instantly—she seemed to realize something.

Nagato was summoning the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!

Nagato’s current physical condition was such that even a medical ninja would fall silent, and Tsunade would want to hit him.

If he controlled the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique in battle, he would surely collapse from exhaustion and die.

The next moment, Konan made an instant decision: she abandoned her standoff with Master Jiraiya, her back rapidly sprouting wings as she shot off toward a location in the Hidden Rain Village.

Jiraiya watched Konan’s retreating back, didn’t stop her, and instead followed her willingly.

Can tracking a paper-thin disciple be called tailing?

That’s escorting!

…

As Pain’s Deva Path activated the Summoning Jutsu, thick clouds of smoke instantly spread, shrouding the entire battlefield in haze.

Deep within the smoke, a massive figure slowly emerged, gradually becoming clear.

The being summoned by Pain’s Deva Path was a colossal humanoid monster.

Its body resembled rotting deadwood, its head bearing nine enormous eyes, and ten pillar-like protrusions jutted from its back.

Yes, this was none other than the source of all evil in the ninja world—the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell, the Ten-Tails’ husk.

Seeing the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell appear, Rojie felt eager.

He possessed the power of the Rat Talisman; though transformed by the world’s rules, his ability to turn stillness into motion remained intact.

Rojie could regulate the talisman’s power by controlling chakra consumption.

What would happen if he used the Rat Talisman on the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell, the Ten-Tails’ husk?

Wild guess: if the figurine came to life, he’d eat the Tailed Beasts as snacks.

But the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell came with its own drive—maybe the Rat Talisman wouldn’t work on it.

Of course, Rojie wouldn’t use the Rat Talisman right now.

That would just be arming the enemy.

After all, the Rat Talisman has no strong control over revived life.

Poor review—Holy Lord’s after-sales service is inadequate!

At this moment, the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell, upon appearing, roared furiously in all directions.

Vast chains of chakra surged from its mouth, wildly wrapping toward Rojie.

These chains possessed sealing power, intertwining densely into a massive sphere, attempting to completely seal Rojie—now in his Holy Lord form—within.

Seeing this, Rojie showed no fear.

He extended his two massive dragon claws, gripping the incoming chakra chains tightly.

Simultaneously, his Ox Talisman was instantly activated.

In an instant, Rojie’s body was flooded with boundless power, muscles taut, veins bulging.

The Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell, originally many times his size, was yanked straight into the air.

Rojie gripped the chains tightly and swung them hard.

The Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell spun through the air like a giant meteor hammer in his hands.

The inaugural Hidden Rain Village Human Windmill Championship champion was born!

Champion: Rojie, the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf!

Rojie was having fun.

But the Hidden Rain Village’s high-rise buildings suffered.

After the devastation of the earlier Tailed Beast Ball, few buildings remained.

Now, under Rojie’s wild swinging, the few remaining structures were all smashed in half by the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell.

One could only hope the Hidden Rain Village had a building repair fund.

Pain’s Deva Path, who had been standing atop the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique’s shell, was also flung away.

His body tumbled uncontrollably through the air.

But soon, using the power of his Rinnegan, Pain’s Deva Path stabilized himself, floating in midair and speeding toward Rojie.

Rojie remained calm, slowly raising his hand and clenching it into a fist toward Pain’s Deva Path.

Pain’s Deva Path felt an irresistible force bind his body, freezing him motionless in midair.

…

Elsewhere, in a secret chamber within the Hidden Rain Village.

As a spatial vortex appeared, the mysterious masked man stepped out slowly.

At that moment, the ground slowly rose, and the black-and-white figure of Zetsu emerged.

Black Zetsu looked at Sasuke Uchiha and spoke:

“Nagato’s losing. Take Madara’s eyes.”

Sasuke Uchiha stood silently, not responding immediately, only staring through the gaps in his mask toward the distant battle.

“Konan and Jiraiya are almost here. If Itachi don’t move fast, Itachi won’t get another chance.”

Seeing Sasuke Uchiha still motionless, Zetsu urged again, his voice tinged with urgency.

Sasuke Uchiha withdrew his gaze.

“What a pity—all these years of planning.”

For years, he had meticulously laid traps, treating Nagato and others as pawns, believing everything was under control—now he had to watch his plan crumble before his eyes.

“There’s still time.”

Black Zetsu’s voice carried an eerie allure.

Hearing this, Sasuke Uchiha said nothing more, turned, and walked into the secret chamber.

(End of Chapter)