"Don't get distracted! Hurry up!" Gamabunta shouted, enduring the searing pain on his back.

"Sage Art: Toad Confrontation Chant!"

A strange, croaking sound filled the air. This was the most powerful genjutsu created by the two sages working in concert—the frog song illusion. Invisible sound waves spread rapidly, blanketing the Six Paths of Pain. Their movements became noticeably sluggish, as if they were suddenly trapped in a thick quagmire.

"A perfect opportunity! Let's get rid of them all in one go!"

A determined light flashed in Jiraiya's eyes as he formed the hand seals once more.

"Sage Art: Goemon!"

This time, it was Sage Fukasaku who spat out Wind Style, Sage Shima who unleashed Fire Style, and Jiraiya who expelled a massive amount of toad oil. The three forces mixed together, forming a violent sea of fire with an incredibly wide range, strong viscosity, and burning properties that instantly swallowed all six of the slow-moving Paths of Pain.

The flames burned fiercely, the intense heat distorting the very air.

"Is it finished?" Gamabunta asked, looking nervously at the raging sea of fire.

However, Jiraiya's sage perception told him that things were not that simple. There seemed to be a powerful chakra reaction still present within the flames. The inferno gradually died down, revealing the scorched battlefield. Although the Six Paths of Pain looked a little disheveled, they were standing there, completely intact. Only three of the Paths had minor burn marks on their bodies, while the other three were almost entirely unharmed.

"How is this possible?! They took that attack head-on and actually…" Sage Fukasaku said in astonishment.

"The genjutsu seems to have been lifted," added Sage Shima.

The Deva Path spoke, his voice indifferent. "In the face of the Rinnegan, all ninjutsu is meaningless."

Jiraiya's heart sank. He had noticed everything that had just happened. That portly Path of Pain… it possessed the ability to absorb chakra. "It can actually absorb ninjutsu… What a tricky ability."

Jiraiya's mind raced, desperately formulating a countermeasure. "We must first deal with that one—the one that can absorb ninjutsu!"

"Bunta, Hiro, Ken! Help me hold the others back!"

"Two sages, prepare for close combat! Target that fat one!" Jiraiya quickly gave the tactical order.

"Understood!" The three toads gathered their strength again and rushed toward the Paths of Pain. Gamabunta swung his sword at the Deva Path, but the Path easily dodged it. Gamahiro attacked the Human and Asura Paths with his twin swords like a raging storm, while Gamaken raised his shield and charged toward the Naraka Path, creating an opening for Jiraiya.

"Sage Art: Massive Rasengan!"

A huge ball of sage chakra condensed in Jiraiya's palm, shining brightly and containing terrifying energy, as he rushed straight for the Preta Path. The Preta Path immediately stepped forward, stretching out its hands to try and absorb the massive Rasengan. Sage chakra, however, is different from ordinary chakra and is absorbed much more slowly.

"Now!" Jiraiya roared, pushing the Rasengan forward with all his might.

BOOM!

A huge explosion erupted. The Preta Path, having forcibly absorbed multiple bursts of sage chakra, could not bear it. Its arms were the first to shatter, and then half of its body was blown to pieces. It fell to the ground, completely paralyzed. The impact of the explosion also slammed into the nearby Naraka Path, blowing it away and sending it crashing hard into the canyon wall.

"Successfully took out two of them!" Jiraiya thought, a flash of triumph in his eyes.

At that moment, the Asura Path broke free from Gamahiro's assault, its arms transforming into multiple rockets that shot toward Jiraiya. Jiraiya dodged hastily, looking a little overwhelmed.

The Deva Path looked coldly at the shattered Naraka Path and whispered, "It's useless."

Jiraiya watched in horror as the Naraka Path struggled to get up. Although it was injured, it seemed to be otherwise fine.