"What kind of ninjutsu is this? It can actually deflect the power of Susanoo?"
On the shoulder of the Susanoo, Izumi stared at Pain in the distance—who had casually deflected a strike from Keizumi's Susanoo—with clear disbelief in her eyes.
The current Izumi was no longer ignorant. Especially after witnessing the battle between Keizumi and the Fourth Mizukage, she knew very well that a single strike from Keizumi's Susanoo was almost comparable to a Tailed Beast Bomb.
And yet… such power had been deflected by this completely unknown man?
"Watch his eyes. That's the Rinnegan—the eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths!"
Tachibana Jirō fixed his gaze on Pain's eyes, his expression rarely turning serious.
Keizumi had mentioned the Akatsuki to him before, and the most critical piece of information was that their leader possessed the same eyes as the Sage of Six Paths.
"The Sage of Six Paths…?"
Izumi repeated the name—familiar yet distant. But the moment she recalled who that figure was, she looked toward Pain again, her eyes now filled with shock.
"The legendary Sage of Six Paths…"
Her face stiffened, and a trace of worry crept into her voice.
"Tachibana Jirō, take Izumi and move farther away. If we start fighting, I probably won't be able to protect you."
Keizumi spoke slowly.
For Izumi, this was the first time she had ever heard Keizumi speak in such a grave tone. That meant—even Keizumi himself had no absolute confidence in defeating this suddenly appearing opponent?
"So you know you're no match for a god, and you're sending your subordinates away first?"
"What a pity—those weaklings would only hold you back."
"Uchiha Keizumi, I'll give you a chance. Join the Akatsuki!"
"As long as you join us, God will help you achieve your absolute justice!"
Facing that Susanoo towering like a mountain, Pain actually tried to recruit Keizumi.
But his response was only a second streak of flying sword light!
The massive surge of energy made the air itself wail. The enormous sword light shot forward, as if it would reduce even the distant mountains to rubble.
Yet just like the previous strike, the moment it reached Pain's vicinity, it abruptly veered off course.
The gigantic slash exploded into another mountain peak. Countless giant trees collapsed, sending dust billowing into the sky.
"You want to uphold absolute justice?"
"Fine."
"Kill the Akatsuki members beside you."
"If you can kill them, I'll join the Akatsuki."
Keizumi looked toward Pain.
The evil on him had not yet reached a level that Keizumi absolutely had to eliminate. Moreover, Nagato himself was a pitiful figure. If he could kill the rest of the Akatsuki, Keizumi wasn't opposed to saving him.
As Senju Hashirama would say—Nagato was too dangerous. Keizumi wanted him kept under his own watch.
"Hey, hey, hey, I didn't offend you, did I?"
"Why are you trying to kill me?"
"And boss… we're not actually going to start killing our own people, are we?"
Hidan complained irritably after hearing Keizumi's words.
This damn organization—he really shouldn't have joined. They were supposed to be enemies, yet after just a few words from the enemy, their leader looked like he actually wanted to try it?
In truth, Nagato really was tempted.
Keizumi's strength spoke for itself. And Nagato knew his own body best—any battle where he could conserve energy was worth it.
But if Keizumi joined the Akatsuki, things would be completely different.
When Nagato couldn't act, Keizumi could take his place. Even collecting the Tailed Beasts—Keizumi might be able to handle it alone.
And with that "Uchiha Madara" in the organization—who was very likely Obito—it would be perfect to have Uchiha fight Uchiha.
If circumstances were different, and Kakuzu and the others weren't watching, Pain might actually have tried to seriously negotiate Keizumi's recruitment.
After all, it was all for the peace of the ninja world. Their methods differed, but surely they shared common ground.
"Obito… Nagato actually seems tempted!"
On the other side of the battlefield, Obito and White Zetsu were hiding, observing the fight.
Obito insisted he wasn't being cowardly—he was just gathering more intelligence on Keizumi. Given Keizumi's attitude, he was certain they would clash sooner or later.
"Obito… let me out!"
Inside the Kamui space, Black Zetsu—still writhing under the Judgment Flames—suddenly called out.
"You're in that condition, and you still want out?"
Obito didn't understand.
"I need to confirm something!"
Black Zetsu's tone was resolute.
Since the battle between Keizumi and the Akatsuki was inevitable, he had to confirm one thing first—even if, under normal circumstances, it should be impossible.
But… what if?
After all, nothing about Keizumi seemed normal.
As a mass of black substance, engulfed in Judgment Flames and with a twisted expression, Black Zetsu appeared out of thin air.
Obito instinctively moved a bit farther away—he was slightly worried those flames might spread.
"A complete-body Susanoo…"
The moment Black Zetsu saw that colossal Susanoo standing between heaven and earth, the shock in his eyes was unmistakable.
Having observed the Uchiha clan for over a thousand years, almost no one understood Susanoo better than him.
After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, Uchiha typically could only summon parts of Susanoo. Only with mastery over their ocular power could they fully manifest it.
At the second stage, Susanoo would take on a more complete form—like Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Fugaku.
But the third stage required extremely powerful ocular strength, reaching heights of thousands of meters.
Uchiha Madara's Susanoo that ended the Warring States era was of this stage. So was Sasuke's Susanoo that resisted the Infinite Tsukuyomi. And Kakashi's as well.
"Is it Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan? Or like Obito—implanted with Hashirama cells?"
"Keizumi has used Wood Release, so logically he should have Hashirama cells, but…"
Black Zetsu's thoughts raced.
He began to suspect that Keizumi might be connected to Asura and Indra—but he lacked definitive proof.
After all, Madara had only died a few years ago. There was no way he could have already reincarnated into Keizumi… right?