Chapter 188: Everything Is Under Control!
The ANBU ninja had barely finished reporting when a violent explosion erupted from the rear mountain area of Kirigakure.
BOOM BOOM BOOM…
The deafening roar shook both sky and earth.
A terrifying chakra shockwave spread outward.
In an instant, the entire sky darkened.
Countless rocks, dirt, and dust surged forward with the violent blast, causing everyone's expressions to change drastically.
Sensing that this power clearly belonged to the Deva Path, a faint, silent sneer curled at the corner of Obito's mouth.
At that moment, every single person's attention was drawn toward the rear mountain.
"There have been several intense combat sounds coming from that direction already! What exactly is happening over there?"
"It's not our people from the four villages—so who's fighting back there?"
"Is it Akatsuki?"
"Should we go check?"
"…"
The ninja from the four invading villages looked around in confusion and suspicion.
Meanwhile, Oborotsuki vanished from his original spot in less than a second, already arriving in the forest at the rear mountain.
Here, the underground ANBU prison barrier had already been forcibly destroyed.
When Oborotsuki arrived, Kakuzu had just emerged from inside—dragging the subdued Eight-Tails jinchūriki Killer Bee and the Two-Tails jinchūriki Yugito Nii with him.
And the Deva Path, as expected, was unleashing a massive technique against Terumī Mei, Kushina, Konan, Yūhi Kurenai, Yekura, and the others.
The moment Oborotsuki appeared on the battlefield, everyone reacted.
The Deva Path immediately stopped his pursuit of Oborotsuki's family and retreated to Kakuzu's side:
"You take these jinchūriki and go back first, Kakuzu. I'll cover the rear."
"Understood!"
Kakuzu knew that once Oborotsuki arrived, the balance of power had already tilted. Their advantage was gone.
Without wasting words, he immediately turned and fled with the Two-Tails, Six-Tails, and Eight-Tails jinchūriki.
Oborotsuki deliberately didn't pursue. Instead, his gaze swept over his women with concern.
"Are you all alright?"
Though Terumī Mei, Kushina, and the others were strong,
facing the Deva Path put them at a clear disadvantage.
Especially when the Deva Path had unleashed Almighty Push—an extremely powerful, indiscriminate large-scale technique.
Not to mention that Konan, Kurenai, and Yekura were all carrying his children.
If anything happened to them because of this, the consequences would be unthinkable.
"Don't worry—we're fine!"
"But Oborotsuki, be careful. This guy's strength is terrifying…"
Terumī Mei warned gravely.
She subconsciously glanced around.
The opponent's earlier attack had instantly turned the entire surrounding area into flat ruins.
She had never seen a ninjutsu with such massive range and destructive power before.
The enemy's strength had surpassed theirs.
She had no choice but to warn Oborotsuki to be cautious.
"Don't worry."
"Oborotsuki has fought him before."
Konan—seeing Terumī Mei's concern for Oborotsuki—spoke up immediately.
Hearing this, Terumī Mei turned in surprise toward Oborotsuki.
"Ah… this guy is the publicly acknowledged leader of Akatsuki."
Oborotsuki shrugged casually.
Terumī Mei immediately understood.
"So that's it—he's Uchiha Madara? No wonder he's so strong!"
"He's not Uchiha Madara. This one's called the Deva Path."
"Never mind. You all fall back."
"Leave this guy to me."
Oborotsuki shook his head helplessly and walked straight toward the Deva Path:
"You came looking for death this time—don't blame me."
The Deva Path ignored Oborotsuki's words and looked expressionlessly toward Konan.
"You've really decided to oppose us to the end, haven't you, Konan…"
"Have you already forgotten the vow you made together with Yahiko? Forgotten the original purpose when we founded Akatsuki…?"
Nagato—controlling the Deva Path from afar—began playing the emotional card against Konan.
Hearing these words, Konan immediately averted her gaze.
"Oborotsuki—we're going after the ones who just escaped!"
Not wanting to stay and face her former comrades any longer, Konan lowered her head and spoke to Oborotsuki. Then she, along with Terumī Mei, Kushina, Kurenai, Yekura, Kisame, and a group of ANBU, all turned and left.
Once Konan and the others had departed, the smile faded from Oborotsuki's face.
"We're living happily now, yet you want to destroy this peace and stability."
"Nagato—I've spared you multiple times not because I couldn't kill you, but because I didn't want to."
"But today—you die here."
With those words, Oborotsuki's figure flashed.
When he reappeared, he was already on a distant mountain.
Nagato—seated in his special wheelchair device—was hidden here, controlling the Six Paths of Pain from afar with powerful chakra.
Seeing Oborotsuki appear, Nagato's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Akatsuki's goal will never stop. The flame will never be extinguished…"
Nagato knew that in his current condition, he was unlikely to defeat Oborotsuki.
So he didn't struggle.
Instead, he spoke calmly to Oborotsuki.
"Save the talk."
"Die here."
Oborotsuki's expression darkened. He swung the Decapitation Greatsword and attacked Nagato.
But the moment his blade slashed downward—before it could connect—Nagato suddenly went poof and turned into a cloud of white smoke, vanishing.
"Hm?"
Oborotsuki looked up toward the distant sky.
"Summoning Technique…?"
"Tch… I thought you were ready to accept death quietly!"
He clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
Watching the Six Paths of Pain and the others rapidly shrink into tiny black dots in the sky, he didn't pursue further. Instead, he slowly sheathed the Decapitation Greatsword.
Not far away, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu—who had been hiding underground using the Mayfly Technique to observe the battle—finally breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Oborotsuki not chasing Nagato.
The two of them stealthily slipped deeper underground and quickly escaped.
Meanwhile, a playful, meaningful smile slowly spread across Oborotsuki's lips.
His powerful chakra sensing had long since locked onto Black Zetsu and White Zetsu's positions.
Everything had been part of his plan all along.
Otherwise—not one of these people would have escaped today!
"Next time we meet…"
"The Gedo Statue will definitely be mine."
Oborotsuki murmured meaningfully to himself.
-------------------------
Support us on Patreon and gain access to 100 chapters in advance!
patreon.com/inkroxx