Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 270 Hanzo the Salamander Enters the Scene

Under the cover of rain, the battle situation changed rapidly.

Xiao Nan flapped her wings, which were newly formed from fresh paper, and hovered higher in the air, calmly observing the battle below.

Animal Path Pain formed hand seals and once again performed a summoning jutsu.

A cloud of smoke exploded on the damp alleyway wall, and a huge chameleon emerged from the smoke.

Its enormous Rinnegan eyes slowly rotated, and it opened its mouth wide and stuck out its tongue.

Animal Path Payne stood expressionlessly on the chameleon's sticky, elastic tongue. As the tongue retracted, his figure disappeared into the chameleon's open mouth.

Immediately afterwards, the chameleon's massive body began to blend into its surroundings, its colors rapidly assimilated, its outline blurred, and finally it disappeared completely into the drizzling rain and the backdrop of dilapidated buildings, as if it had never existed.

Below, Jiraiya, who was maintaining a special hand seal with both hands and trying his best to absorb natural energy and convert it into Sage Chakra, suddenly felt a tightness in his heart.

"Another one I've never seen before has been summoned... and it can even turn invisible?!" Jiraiya felt a chill run down his spine, realizing something was wrong.

His hands remained in the hand seals for absorbing natural energy, unable to relax, but he could still cast an auxiliary perception barrier spell.

Om-!
An invisible, special sensory barrier rapidly spread outwards from Jiraiya's center, like a transparent bubble.

He can immediately sense the location of anyone who steps into the barrier.

"Sensory ninjutsu..." However, the Animal Path Pain, who was also hiding inside the chameleon and possessed the sensory abilities of the Rinnegan, immediately sensed the barrier power that was trying to search for him.

His wavy eyes held no emotion; he simply formed hand seals once more.

Psychic art!

On the wall of a tall iron tower nearby, runes of a psychic array appeared. Accompanied by a deafening roar and bursting smoke, a huge hellhound with a ferocious appearance, three heads, and fleshy wings growing from its back suddenly leaped out!
Its six scarlet eyes instantly locked onto Jiraiya and Gamaken below, and using all four limbs, it rushed down the steep and slippery tower wall!

"Tsk, Nagato, that kid, he really has a lot of tricks up his sleeve!" Jiraiya looked up and saw the enormous creature approaching at high speed, and couldn't help but spit out his tongue.

The toad-like creature beneath his feet gripped its shield and steel fork tightly, ready for battle.

"Toad Ken, it's all up to you!"

"Yes, although I'm clumsy, I'll do my best!" Hamaken replied slowly, but his movements were anything but slow.

With a sudden burst of power from its thick hind legs, its massive body leaped up with extraordinary agility, and the huge steel fork in its hand was thrown out with the precision of a javelin, accompanied by the sound of wind breaking through the air!

puff!

The steel fork pierced the neck of the dog's head in the middle with perfect accuracy, and the immense force slammed the hellhound's massive body against the tower wall, pinning it there firmly!

The hellhound let out a painful howl, while its other two heads frantically tore at the steel fork, but were unable to break free for a time.

"Well done! Gamaken!" Jiraiya couldn't help but praise, "You're not 'useless' at all!"

"No, it's nothing, just a fluke." Hama Ken remained modest, while reaching out to recall his steel fork.

However, the moment the steel fork was pulled out, something strange happened!

The hellhound nailed to the wall suddenly slumped down in the middle, its head pierced through, while the other two heads let out even more ferocious roars!
Its body, like a splitting cell, accompanied by a tooth-grinding sound of flesh tearing, actually split open from its neck, transforming into two smaller but equally ferocious hellhounds!

They broke free from the wall, shook their heads, and roared as they charged toward Jiraiya and Gamaken once more!
"What?! It's split?!" Jiraiya was horrified when he saw this.

Gamaken once again brandished his shield and fork, engaging the three hellhounds in battle.

Its fighting style is bold and sweeping, using its shield to block and its steel fork to strike fiercely. Each collision produces a dull thud and splashes large amounts of water in the rain.

But something even more alarming happened.

Whether it's a stab from a steel fork or a smash from a shield, as long as the hellhound is damaged severely enough, it will immediately split apart!
The pierced body will split into two, and a new head will emerge next to the smashed head!
In just a few minutes of fighting, the original three hellhounds had grown to more than a dozen!

They surged in from all directions like a black tide, frantically tearing at Hamaken's shield and body. Although Hamaken was tough and safe for the time being, the situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse!

"No, we can't fight head-on! Gamaken, retreat!" Jiraiya made a decisive decision.

"Understood!" Gamakami used his shield to push away several hellhounds that pounced on him. With a burst of power from his thick hind legs, he carried Jiraiya through a broken wall on the side and rushed into another, narrower alley, where they began to run for their lives.

Behind them, a dozen or so hellhounds, multiplying and splitting, roared and pursued relentlessly, their sharp claws leaving deep marks on the slippery ground and walls.

High in the sky, a giant bird summoning beast, circling overhead, seized the opportunity and let out a sharp cry. Like a fighter jet, it swooped down, its huge beak aimed directly at Jiraiya, who was standing on Gamaken's head and unable to dodge!
"Get out of the way!" Jiraiya commanded Gamaken to dodge, and they suddenly turned into another, narrower dead end.

The giant bird and the pack of hellhounds immediately swarmed in!

However, the moment they rushed into the alley, Gamaken and Jiraiya inside the alley "poof"ed and disappeared into two puffs of white smoke—they were shadow clones!

"Hmm?" The beastly Pain, hidden inside the chameleon's body, was slightly taken aback: "When?"

"Now's the time! Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"

Jiraiya and Gamaken's true forms appeared from behind the eaves of a high rooftop. Although his hands were still in a hand seal position, the fire-attribute chakra that had been accumulated in his mouth transformed into an incomparably scorching and vast sea of ​​fire, pouring into the narrow alley below!
Rumble——! ! !
The flames instantly engulfed the entire alleyway!
Hama Jian also spat out a stream of toad oil, which spread all over the alley, fueling the fire and making the flames sticky and difficult to extinguish.

The pack of hellhounds, crammed into the alley, had nowhere to escape. Amidst the earth-shattering explosion and shrill screams, they were utterly incinerated by the terrifying celestial fire!

However, before Jiraiya could catch his breath, the giant bird, with its astonishing speed and agility, charged at him again!
"Gamaken!" Jiraiya exclaimed urgently.

"Understood!" Gamaken raised his shield with all his might to block!

boom! ! !
A violent impact rang out!

The power of the giant bird's self-sacrificing attack was beyond imagination; the shield in Gamaken's hand shattered instantly!
Its massive body was sent flying backward by the impact, crashing heavily into the wall of a building, filling the air with dust.

Jiraiya was also thrown off Gamaken's head by this tremendous force.

"Gamaken! Are you alright?!" Jiraiya shouted anxiously after landing.

Amidst the smoke and dust, Gamaken, leaning on his steel fork, struggled to his feet. His shield was completely shattered, and he had multiple abrasions on his body. Although he looked somewhat disheveled, his eyes remained resolute: "I'm... I'm alright. I'll be fine and continue fighting."

Just then, the light of the spirit communication array reappeared on the wall next to them without warning!

"There's more?!" Jiraiya's expression changed.

As the smoke exploded, a massive rhinoceros summoning beast, covered in thick armor and with sharp horns on its nose, roared and charged out like an out-of-control heavy tank, crashing into Gamaken and Jiraiya who had just stood still!
Rumble——! ! !
This impact was more violent than any of the previous ones!
Gamaken and Jiraiya had no time to dodge and were slammed into the building wall behind them by the ferocious rhinoceros and the momentum of its charge!

Bricks and stones flew everywhere, and dust filled the air. A huge pit was carved into the wall, swallowing the figures of a man and a toad.

Hidden within the chameleon's body, Animal Path Pain, observing the battle through the shared vision of his summoned beast, coldly watched the ruins, preparing to control his summoned beast to deliver the final blow.

However, at that moment, a large number of Amegakure ANBU ninjas finally arrived in this chaotic area.

Seeing the devastation, the burning ruins, and the strangely shaped spirit beasts, they immediately launched an attack without hesitation.

"Attack! Annihilate all the rebels!" the Dark Guard captain shouted hoarsely.

Xiao Nan immediately flapped her paper wings and rushed forward like a white angel, with countless sharp pieces of paper sweeping towards the Rain Shadows like a blizzard.

The giant birds in the sky also changed direction, spitting high-pressure wind blades at the dark forces below, or attacking directly with their claws and dives.

In an instant, shouts of battle, explosions, the rustling of flying papers, and the roars of the summoned beasts mingled together, turning this area into a bloody inferno. Taking advantage of the sudden chaos and the distraction of the summoned beasts, a few pebbles were gently pushed aside from the ruins created by the rhinoceros.

Jiraiya and a somewhat disheveled Gamaken quietly disappeared into the deeper shadows.

Jiraiya maintained his hand seals, accelerating the absorption of natural energy, while observing the chaotic battle outside through the gaps in the ruins.

Seeing the Rain Village's ANBU forces suffering heavy casualties under the combined attack of Konan and the giant bird, he couldn't help but recall the Rain Ninja's confession from before.

Hanzo the Salamander teamed up with the Konoha ninja to ambush the Akatsuki.

"Hanzo... and Danzo, they really are the fuse that ignited all of this..." Jiraiya thought bitterly.

Meanwhile, the Rain Shadow Anbu, terrified by the carnage, finally managed to transmit the most crucial information through a secret technique.

"...Target confirmed! A remnant of Akatsuki! That woman who knows Paper Release! A summoning beast with the Rinnegan! Requesting backup! Requesting... Ah!"

On the central tower of Amegakure Village.

Upon receiving the confirmation, Hanzo the Salamander's eyes behind his gas mask turned incredibly somber, revealing a hint of barely perceptible fear.

Rinnegan... A woman who can use paper magic...

Sure enough it was them!
That boy with the Rinnegan must be nearby!
"We can't wait any longer!" Hanzo the Salamander suddenly stood up, his years of fear now transformed into a resolute killing intent.

He must seize this opportunity to personally eliminate this major threat!

"Everyone, follow me!" Hanzo the Salamander commanded in a hoarse voice.

"Yes!" From the surrounding shadows, a dozen or so Amegakure ANBU ninjas emerged and knelt on one knee.

Hanzo the Salamander quickly donned his full gear and picked up the chain scythe that had accompanied him in battle for many years and was coated with deadly poison.

He personally led the remaining elite ninjas of the tower, like unsheathed swords, leaping down from the top of the tower and darting through the continuous steel buildings at high speed, heading straight for the northern city!

They moved extremely fast and soon saw the towering flames, billowing smoke, and the strange giant bird circling in the distance.

And that angelic woman flying through the air!
"It really is them... This time, I will not let you escape again!" Hanzo's eyes were filled with murderous intent as he was about to order the entire army to press forward, determined to wipe out these remnants of the Akatsuki organization.

suddenly!

"Shinra Tenzheng!"

A terrifying, overwhelming force erupted from the top of a tower to his side!
Om-! ! !
The air seemed to groan in despair!
Hanzo and his dozen or so elite ANBU didn't even have time to react. They were blasted away as if struck by an invisible giant's hand, screaming in agony!

Many people were still in the air when the enormous force shattered their bones and ruptured their internal organs!

Immediately afterwards, countless missiles trailing flames roared in from that direction like a swarm of bees, accurately striking those dark areas that had been thrown back by the repulsive force and lost their balance!

Boom boom boom——! ! !
Violent explosions rang out one after another, flames engulfed the figures, and severed limbs mixed with rain and rubble flew everywhere!
Only Hanzo, with his rich combat experience and powerful strength, used the Water Body Technique at the critical moment, transforming into a puddle of water and merging into the accumulated water on the ground, narrowly avoiding the fatal bombardment of the missile.

When he condensed his form again, he was already on top of another tall tower not far away, breathing rapidly, his eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

He stared intently at the top of the tower opposite him.

There stood two figures dressed in black robes with red cloud patterns.

One of them had short orange hair, a face covered with black metal rods, and those cold, indifferent eyes that looked down at him like a god—the Rinnegan!

"Ya...Yahiko?! Impossible! You're clearly dead!" Hanzo's voice was distorted with extreme shock, and his eyes above the gas mask were filled with panic.

He witnessed firsthand how Yahiko was driven to his death by his own scheme, falling to his companion's kunai!

"And... these eyes... the Rinnegan?! Why do you have them too?!" What terrified him even more were these eyes!

Just as Hanzo was in shock, a hellhound that used its fleshy wings to glide briefly between the towers, in perfect coordination with the giant bird circling in the air, launched another surprise attack on him from above and below!
Hanzo, being a battle-hardened "demigod," remained calm despite his shock, wielding his chain scythe with impenetrable speed.

Clang!
laugh--!
The chains coiled around the hellhound's limbs like venomous snakes, while the scythe, with a piercing whistling sound, cleaved the hellhound in two with precision and ruthlessness from top to bottom!

Hanzo snorted coldly, extremely confident in the potent poison coated on his scythe, believing that the summoned beast was doomed.

However, the next second, something terrifying happened.

The hellhound corpse that had been split in two did not fall down. Instead, it writhed and expanded rapidly like a split slime, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into two intact hellhounds, roaring and charging forward once again!

The giant bird in the sky was completely unaffected by the poison gas he occasionally released, and remained as lively as ever!

"How is this possible?! Why is he unaffected by the poison?!" Hanzo finally exclaimed in shock, this completely overturning his previous understanding and fighting style.

His poison is a trump card that even Kage-level experts are extremely wary of!
……

From the shadows, Jiraiya, who had been observing the battle, also witnessed this entire scene.

"Hanzo the Salamander's most powerful poison gas attack... was completely ineffective?" A storm of shock surged within him as well: "Why weren't those two summoning beasts affected by the poison gas?"

Immediately afterwards, his gaze was also drawn to the orange-haired figure on the opposite tower.

"That's... Yahiko?!" Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply, almost unable to believe his eyes. "But... Nagato and Konan clearly said Yahiko was dead! And... how could Yahiko possess the Rinnegan?! What on earth is going on?!"

He felt his mind was in complete chaos, and everything before him was full of contradictions and strangeness.

Just then, the toad-like creature beneath his feet spoke hesitantly in its slow, deliberate tone: "Lord Jiraiya... don't you feel that those summoning beasts... are a little strange?"

"Something's not right? What's wrong?" Jiraiya quickly asked.

“They don’t feel like living creatures to me.” Hama Ken struggled to organize his thoughts: “They’re more like… like a kind of ‘zombie ant’ that I saw when I was a teenager traveling through the rainforest, parasitized by a strange fungus.”

"Zombie ants?"

“Hmm.” Hama Ken recalled, “Those ants were covered with white mycelium at all their joints. They could still move and had the same habits as ordinary ants, foraging and returning to their nests... But in reality, they were already dead, just empty shells controlled by fungi to maintain their life’s activities.”

"An empty shell?!" Jiraiya was struck dumb, and the details of the previous battle flashed through his mind.

The summoned beasts all had black rods stuck in their bodies, and their eyes all had the Rinnegan pattern!

Furthermore, the "Nagato" who appeared in front of him, and the "Yahiko" on the tower, both had those strange black rods on their faces and bodies, and both possessed the Rinnegan!
A chilling conjecture flashed through Jiraiya's mind like lightning!

"Could it be... that Pain and those summoned beasts... weren't the real Pain at all?! They were just... puppets controlled by Nagato's Rinnegan?!"

That's why Hanzo's poison was ineffective!
Because they're already dead!

Jiraiya gazed at the cold, indifferent Rinnegan eyes that looked down upon all living beings through the rain, and a deep chill ran up his spine and up to the top of his head.

That's why Yahiko, who was "already dead" in the Nagamon Gate, was "resurrected"!
Because that wasn't the living Yahiko at all!
A chill instantly swept over Jiraiya's entire body.

Is this the power of the Rinnegan...?

Nagato... what have you become?!

(End of this chapter)