- Dimensional Gods’ Selection: Only I Know Saitama is the Strongest
- OKSTS Chapter 174
Chapter 174: The True Puppet Master
Pain’s attacks grew increasingly relentless, pushing Jiraiya to his limits.
“Jiraiya-sensei, you’ve grown old,” Pain sneered, his cold gaze matching the deadly precision of the black rods he hurled with lethal intent.
“Is that so?” Jiraiya retorted with a grim smile, his expression turning serious.
Something about Pain was deeply unsettling. Despite repeated clashes, Pain showed no signs of exhaustion. It was as though he was drawing chakra from an infinite reservoir.
In contrast, Jiraiya’s energy reserves were dwindling. Natural energy could replenish his Sage Mode chakra, but in the heat of combat, he had no time to meditate and draw upon it fully. His chakra levels visibly diminished with every passing moment.
“Jiraiya-boy, how much longer can you hold out?” Fukasaku asked from his perch on Jiraiya’s shoulder, his tone laden with concern.
“Not much longer…” Jiraiya admitted, his voice heavy with fatigue.
The two elder toads exchanged grim glances. Fukasaku turned to Shima, his resolve firm. “Wife, it’s time to use that.”
Shima hesitated, her expression torn. “You want me to sing that ridiculous love song? At my age? It’s humiliating!”
“Now’s not the time for modesty! We need to help Jiraiya-boy, or he won’t make it out of this alive!” Fukasaku shot back, his tone sharp.
After a brief pause, Shima sighed and nodded, clearing her throat. “Fine. Let’s do it.”
The two elder toads began to sing—a haunting duet laced with strange, melodic incantations. Though the tune was absurdly sentimental, it carried an undercurrent of raw power, weaving a potent genjutsu.
As the eerie song filled the battlefield, Pain’s Deva Path faltered. His vision blurred, his head swayed, and he quickly channeled chakra to block his ears.
Jiraiya, hearing the familiar song, smirked despite himself. The power of Sage Mode surged within him, fueling his strikes with renewed vigor. He ducked under a thrust of Pain’s black rod and countered with a sharp palm strike to Pain’s wrist.
Clang!
The black rod flew from Pain’s hand, embedding itself in the ground. Jiraiya capitalized on the moment, infusing Pain’s ear-blocking chakra with his own, disrupting it.
The elders’ chant grew louder, and the genjutsu intensified. Inescapable syllables wormed their way into Pain’s ears, distorting his vision. His Rinnegan spun rapidly, a telltale sign he was succumbing to the illusion.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiraiya formed hand seals. “Swamp of the Underworld!”
The ground beneath Pain liquefied, morphing into a bubbling swamp that quickly engulfed his lower body. He sank deeper with each passing second.
“Stay still, Pain. I have questions,” Jiraiya said, signaling the toads to halt their chant.
Fukasaku hesitated. “Jiraiya-boy, are you sure? He’s dangerous.”
“I’m sure. I need answers,” Jiraiya insisted, his tone firm.
Reluctantly, the elder toads ceased their song. Pain’s dazed expression began to clear as he emerged from the genjutsu, realizing he was trapped.
“Impressive genjutsu,” Pain admitted, his tone eerily calm.
Jiraiya’s eyes narrowed. “Yahiko, who is the one behind you? Who’s pulling the strings?”
Pain’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Kami—the God.”
“Kami?” Jiraiya’s confusion deepened. This wasn’t the first time he’d heard the term from Pain.
“You mean to tell me this ‘God’ isn’t you?”
Pain shook his head. “I am merely a follower of God’s will—a representative of His power.”
“A representative? Then who is this so-called God?” Jiraiya pressed, frustration mounting. It was clear now: there was a puppet master behind Pain. But Pain’s cryptic answers left more questions than they resolved.
Pain’s response was cold and detached. “Jiraiya-sensei, your questions mean nothing. Soon, you’ll be dead.”
Before Jiraiya could react, Pain’s expression darkened. His voice was a whisper, dripping with malice. “Shinra Tensei!”
A powerful force exploded outward from Pain, obliterating the swamp and sending debris flying. Jiraiya shielded himself, but the shockwave hurled him into the distance, crashing into rubble.
“Damn, I forgot about that move…” Jiraiya muttered, rising from the ruins with difficulty.
Pain stepped forward, raising his hand. “You’ve been too noisy,” he said coldly. “Bansho Ten’in!”
The gravitational pull wasn’t directed at Jiraiya himself but at Fukasaku. The elder toad was yanked off Jiraiya’s shoulder, drawn helplessly toward Pain’s waiting hand.
“No!” Shima screamed.
With a swift motion, Pain drove a black rod through Fukasaku’s chest. Blood dripped onto the battlefield as the elder toad’s body went limp.
“He’s dead. Without him, your irritating genjutsu is finished,” Pain declared, callously discarding Fukasaku’s body.
Jiraiya’s face twisted with grief and rage. “You bastard!”
Ignoring his own injuries, Jiraiya launched himself at Pain. His mind raced with regret—if only he’d ended Pain earlier, Fukasaku might still be alive.
Pain, unphased, raised another black rod, aiming to impale Jiraiya.
“Jiraiya-boy, watch out!” Shima yelled desperately.
Jiraiya’s reflexes kicked in, and he raised his arms to block. But the rod’s edge was razor-sharp—he couldn’t stop it.
Just as the black rod was about to pierce Jiraiya, the ground beneath them erupted.
From the shattered earth emerged Fang Ye, wielding a massive, glowing chunk of rock.
“Get lost!” he roared, his eyes blazing with determination.
Fang Ye swung the boulder with all his might, aiming directly for Pain’s head.