CHAPTER 181 - 181: RINNEGAN! DEVA PATH!

Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi's pupils suddenly constricted.

They recalled critical information about the Akatsuki organization.

Originally, the Akatsuki was a mercenary group, taking jobs from whoever paid the most.

But a few years ago, their strategy changed drastically. They began working not just for various ninja villages but started hunting down the Tailed Beast Jinchūriki.

One of the most notorious incidents was when members of Akatsuki raided the Hidden Mist Village to capture the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, only to be defeated by Uchiha Haru.

At that time, Uchiha Haru was already hunting down Akatsuki traces across the ninja world.

Whenever they crossed paths, there was only one order in Haru's mind—kill.

During this period, another Akatsuki member, Biwa Jūzō, was killed by Uchiha Haru as well.

Naturally, the ninja world speculated whether Akatsuki would seek bloody revenge on Uchiha Haru for surviving in the Hidden Mist Village.

After all, Akatsuki was a powerful organization, working for major villages—how could they tolerate such defiance?

Yet, Akatsuki endured.

They didn't attack Uchiha Haru or the Hidden Mist Village. Instead, they retreated into the shadows, vanishing from the ninja world and taking no missions.

It seemed as if Uchiha Haru single-handedly suppressed the entire Akatsuki organization.

However, now, during the Chūnin Exams that the entire ninja world was watching, Akatsuki suddenly appeared right before Uchiha Haru.

"All the Jinchūriki," Kakashi gasped.

Akatsuki's appetite was enormous.

Kakashi didn't know how many Jinchūriki were at the Chūnin Exams.

But he knew for certain that his student, Uzumaki Naruto, was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

No matter what, he would never let his student be taken.

We must find a way to get Naruto out of here!

Kakashi's mind raced.

Suddenly, an orange figure leapt from the side, pointing at the Pain bodies and shouting, "You invaders, leave Konoha immediately!"

"Otherwise, I will make you regret it!"

He ran up beside Kakashi, shouting, " Kakashi Sensei, I'm here to help!"

Kakashi was stunned.

Damn it...

I was just thinking how to hide this guy, but he's jumped straight into the trap!

However, the enemy didn't know Naruto, nor did they know who the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was.

Even with Naruto exposing himself, it shouldn't be a big deal...

Or so he thought.

When Deva Path Pain saw Naruto suddenly leap out shouting, he immediately recalled something White Zetsu once said:

There's no need to know what the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki looks like. The first person to jump out of the crowd must be the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

That was incredibly accurate.

While they were still figuring out how to identify the Jinchūriki, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki revealed himself outright.

But that was fine—if they lost him now, they'd have to search again later.

"Sasuke, Sakura, take Naruto away, now!"

Kakashi read Pain's gaze and guessed that they might have figured out Naruto's identity.

He urgently told Sasuke and Sakura, hoping Naruto could escape immediately.

Go as far away as possible!

But Naruto had no intention of running.

Now that Kakashi faced such a formidable enemy, how could he just run away?

Impossible!

Kakashi wanted to throttle this reckless kid, but he patiently said, "Naruto, listen to me, they're here to capture you."

"You have to leave, understand?"

"The enemy's power is unfathomable. Even I might not be able to defeat them."

"When the battle starts, it'll be impossible for me to protect you. You must leave at once!"

Naruto frowned, still processing Kakashi's warning, before being hurried away by Sakura and Sasuke, who fully grasped the severity of the situation.

Pain wouldn't miss this chance.

He saw the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki he wanted to capture being taken away and immediately charged toward Naruto.

Kakashi was prepared for Pain's move.

But once the fight began, he realized the gulf between them was overwhelming.

Though closer to Naruto, he could only watch Deva Path Pain rush past him.

Desperately, Kakashi threw several shurikens, hoping to slow Pain down.

To his shock, before the kunai could even strike Deva Path, they were sent flying back along the same trajectory.

Kakashi had never seen such a bizarre defense.

Is this a ninjutsu?

Or something else?

It was capable of deflecting any attack!

Seeing this, Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai joined the fray.

Naruto was a ninja of Konoha.

The Nine-Tails was Konoha's tailed beast.

They would never allow anyone to take him away!

Just as Kakashi threw kunai, they attacked Deva Path Pain as well.

But just like the kunai, their attacks were repelled by an enormous force, pushing them back.

Deva Path continued advancing and shouted, "Shinra Tensei!" — Almighty Push!

Universal Pull

Naruto, who had been charging forward, was suddenly sucked violently toward Deva Path Pain.

Even though Sasuke and Sakura clung to Naruto with all their might, they could not counteract the immense gravitational pull.

Their tightly grasped hands slowly slipped apart, and Naruto was lifted into the air, helplessly flying straight into Deva Path Pain's grasp.

Kakashi's expression darkened sharply.

With all his knowledge, he had never encountered such a bizarre ninjutsu before.

One jutsu could repel any object — be it a kunai or a human body — while the other could pull people in through the very air itself.

The overwhelming force generated was so intense that even two people together couldn't hold on.

But Kakashi's greatest worry wasn't the technique itself — it was Naruto's safety.

Deva Path Pain was targeting Naruto specifically.

No matter that Kakashi was Naruto's teacher or a loyal ninja of Konoha — he absolutely could not stand by and watch this happen.

Yet, what could he do now?

Kakashi thought hard.

As a genius ninja, he believed strongly in one principle:

There was no truly perfect ninjutsu in the world. No matter how powerful, every jutsu had its weaknesses.

If you found that flaw, you could always break through.

But from the brief clash he had just witnessed, and all he had learned so far, he couldn't discern any weakness in the enemy's techniques.

This was Pain — and five of them still hadn't even moved.

Was he really going to watch the Akatsuki snatch Naruto away today?

Kakashi felt powerless...

The same weighed on Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi.

The enemy's strength far exceeded their expectations.

How could they possibly fight such an adversary?

Might Guy's thick eyebrows furrowed deeply.

Could it be time for Konoha's Blue Beast to disappear, and the Red Beast to save the world?

"Ah!"

Naruto cried out, struggling desperately to break free from the unrelenting gravitational pull.

But he was too small and too weak now. Against Deva Path Pain, a ninja of this caliber was no stronger than an ant.

Just as Naruto was about to be caught in Deva Path Pain's hands —

A black figure suddenly appeared between them.

The gravitational force linking Naruto and Deva Path Pain was abruptly broken, and Naruto crashed hard to the ground.

He groaned, rubbing his sore backside that was probably bruised from the fall.

Deva Path Pain's cold face flickered with surprise.

He had never expected anyone could directly interrupt his Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull).

Until now, no matter who the enemy was, he only needed to move a finger to defeat them effortlessly — no one had ever posed a real threat.

But now, someone had brought him a genuine challenge.

"Uchiha Haru?"

Deva Path Pain spoke to the man in the black cloak standing before him.

He had never seen Uchiha Haru before and did not know his appearance.

But the moment he saw him, he guessed his identity.

Some people were like that — simply standing there made them the center of attention.

Needless to say, others would instantly recognize who he was.

Uchiha Haru looked calmly at Deva Path Pain and said, "I said it before — whenever I see someone from the Akatsuki, I will kill them without hesitation. No exceptions."

"Haru!"

Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, and Might Guy all breathed a sigh of relief seeing Uchiha Haru finally take action.

With him moving, they could rest easier — even though they already knew what kind of enemy stood before them.

"Very well,"

Deva Path Pain lifted the corner of his mouth in a rare smirk.

It had been a long time since anyone dared speak to him like this, or since he had truly faced a worthy opponent.

"That depends on whether you have the ability."

"Uchiha Haru, I've heard of you. Everyone says you're very strong — even that person."

"I've long wanted to face you in battle but never had the chance."

"This time, you must not disappoint me."

There was an eerie fanaticism in Deva Path Pain's cold eyes.

Uchiha Haru smiled faintly.

With his five unique abilities, he had never really needed to use his full power, no matter the opponent.

Later, after mastering the Body Flicker Technique and the Flying Thunder God Technique, it was even easier.

In his eyes, ordinary strongmen—even those at the shadow level—were nothing at all.

Just like Kakuzu and Hidan — the so-called "immortal" duo —

Immortal? They had been torn apart before him without a hint of vulnerability.

He had long been eager to test the limits of his current strength.

Deva Path Pain, the wielder of the Rinnegan, was the perfect target.

He wondered just how much power he could unleash now.

Uchiha Haru and Deva Path Pain locked eyes from across the battlefield, an invisible tension crackling between them like gunpowder waiting to explode.

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