- Dimensional Gods’ Selection: Only I Know Saitama is the Strongest
- OKSTS Chapter 176
Chapter 176: Nagato Revealed, A Reserve Six Paths
Pain’s Deva Path had assumed that Fang Ye’s toughness was limited to his fists.
But after seeing his black chakra rods fail to penetrate even Fang Ye’s chest and throat, Pain’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“It seems… I underestimated you again,” Pain muttered before leaping away once more—resorting again to escape.
Fang Ye, noticing Jiraiya catching up, slowed his pace slightly.
“Kid, where’s Yahiko?” Jiraiya asked as he approached, scanning Fang Ye for injuries. Confirming Fang Ye was unscathed, he let out a relieved sigh.
Fang Ye pointed in the direction Pain had fled. “That way.”
Jiraiya’s sharp eyes narrowed as he extended his senses in Sage Mode. Even at a great distance, he locked onto Pain, weaving through the forest with inhuman speed.
“Rest for a bit; I’ll take care of him,” Jiraiya offered, his resolve clear. He couldn’t let Pain escape, fearing the devastation he might wreak if left unchecked.
“No need,” Fang Ye interjected, stopping Jiraiya. “I think there’s someone behind him.”
Jiraiya’s eyes widened at the statement, surprised by Fang Ye’s insight.
“You think so too?” he asked, sharing his suspicions and recounting what Pain had said about a ‘god.’
“A god?” Fang Ye’s brow furrowed as the image of a red-haired, gaunt figure flashed in his mind.
Nagato.
There was no doubt in Fang Ye’s mind—Nagato was the mastermind behind the Six Paths of Pain. Knowing the storyline gave him an undeniable edge.
If Nagato wasn’t dealt with, Pain’s Six Paths could rise again. Creating them was no easy feat, but it wasn’t beyond Nagato’s capabilities. Once he replenished his chakra reserves, all he needed was six fresh corpses.
However, completely eradicating the Six Paths might provoke Nagato’s wrath, intensifying his vendetta against the Leaf Village. To Fang Ye, this felt like a double-edged sword—a looming, ticking time bomb.
Fang Ye nodded. “We should follow him. If we’re lucky, we might find the one behind all this.”
He continued, “From what we’ve heard, it’s clear someone is leading him. Yahiko’s best option now is to return to his leader—there’s no point in fleeing anywhere else.”
Jiraiya agreed with a resolute nod. “Good point.”
“Sensei, it’s up to you to track him. As soon as he disappears from your senses, we’ll move.”
“Understood.”
Pain’s Deva Path darted through the forest for some time, frequently using Banshō Ten’in (Universal Pull) to block paths and slow potential pursuers. But Fang Ye and Jiraiya, staying back, weren’t actively chasing.
After an extended period of weaving through the forest, Pain paused by an unremarkable tree. Confirming no one was following, he placed a hand on the tree’s trunk.
Moments later, Pain’s body phased into the tree, disappearing from sight.
Once inside, the darkness gave way to dim torchlight, illuminating the area. Before him stood two figures.
One was a thin, red-haired man connected to a strange machine, his frail body pierced by numerous black rods. The other was Konan, standing like a loyal sentinel.
“I already know what happened,” Nagato spoke without prompting, his voice calm but weak.
“Should I intercept them?” Konan asked, her back sprouting countless paper wings, ready to attack.
“No need,” Nagato replied, shaking his head weakly. “You can’t defeat them. Once I’ve recovered some chakra, I’ll create new Paths of Pain and obliterate the Leaf Village directly.”
Nagato broke into a fit of harsh coughing. Konan hurried to his side, gently patting his back.
After regaining his composure, Nagato gestured toward a corner of the room. “Bring them forward.”
Konan retrieved six bloodied bodies from behind the machine. These corpses, their bodies riddled with black chakra rods, lay lifeless on the ground.
If Fang Ye were present, he would have recognized them immediately—they were the same individuals who had once approached him outside the forbidden zone, inviting him to join their ranks.
Nagato was clearly prepared for setbacks. The existence of these corpses showed he had anticipated the possibility of Yahiko’s demise.
As Konan laid the bodies down, Yahiko’s Deva Path recounted the battle.
“Besides Jiraiya-sensei, there was another—a man I’d never seen before. His strength is terrifying.”
Fear flickered in the eyes of Pain’s Deva Path as he spoke.
“No matter what attacks I used, I couldn’t breach his defenses. His body is absurdly strong.”
Nagato cut him off with a dismissive wave. “The strongest physical fighter in the Leaf is Might Guy, and even he can’t withstand my attacks. That man must be using some unknown technique.”
Nagato’s eyes darkened. “Even if his defenses are exceptional, I refuse to believe he could withstand the Gedo Statue’s power.”
Konan’s expression shifted to shock. “Nagato, you can’t use the Gedo Statue again! It’ll kill you!”
“Konan!” Yahiko snapped sharply, his voice cold and commanding. “Do not interrupt the will of the god, or face the consequences.”
Konan’s paper wings fluttered as her gaze shifted to a distant point. Her voice trembled slightly.
“Someone is coming.”