Escaping the Mist Ninja starts with backstabbing your teacher.

Chapter 141 Pain's Clearance, Yagura Karatachi's Inescapable Fate

Chapter 141 Pain's Clearance, Yagura Karatachi's Inescapable Fate

Faced with the unexpected visitor, Orochimaru, upon hearing that the other party seemed to be looking for Taketori Izumi, slowed down his retreat slightly.

This mess is far deeper than he anticipated; he's not the kind of person who would put himself in a desperate situation for unknown gains.

Especially the other person's eyes, and the masked man beside him.

If I'm not mistaken, it is indeed the Rinnegan. I never expected that the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths would appear.

The mysterious masked one-eyed man is likely the culprit behind the Nine-Tailed Night.

So what exactly is their relationship?

Orochimaru watched this scene with great interest, but at the same time he was very vigilant, ready to retreat immediately if any unexpected situation arose.

But at this moment, the gazes of both Rinnegan and Sharingan were focused entirely on Izumi, and had nothing to do with him.

"Interesting!" Orochimaru muttered to himself, his snake-like vertical pupils narrowing slightly. He loosened his grip on the Kusanagi sword, letting the tip droop towards the sea.

Kabuto peeked halfway out from behind the rocks, adjusted his glasses, and gave Orochimaru an inquiring look—retreat or stay?

Orochimaru didn't turn around, but simply shook his head slightly, making a very subtle gesture with his right hand at his side: observe the situation.

Dou nodded and silently retreated behind the reef, the green light in his hand healing him.

Unlike Orochimaru, Yekura was not at ease. Her body was tense, and the light of her Blazing Release flickered in her palm. She subconsciously took a half step closer to Izumi.

Her gaze lingered on those Rinnegan for a moment. She and Izumi had seen those eyes before, but the owner was not the person in front of her.

So who is the other party, and what is their purpose in searching for Izumikawa?

The Three-Tails in the distance had gradually dissipated. Severely injured and finished off by Nagato, Yagura could only ultimately succumb to defeat and fall unconscious.

Izumikawa also sensed the different reactions of the three people behind him: Orochimaru's caution, Kabuto's calmness, and Pakura's tension.

He didn't turn around, but simply raised his right hand slightly, palm facing backward, making a "step back" gesture.

Ye Cang bit her lip and finally took two steps back, but not far; her Blazing Release was still lit.

Pain, the Deva Path, remained oblivious to all of this. His Rinnegan swept over everyone present.

There was no emotion in those pale purple concentric pupils.

He turned his head slightly and said to Obito beside him, "Go do what you need to do. I'll take care of things here."

Obito glanced at him, and beneath the vortex mask, his crimson Sharingan flickered slightly, as if weighing something.

But in the end, he didn't say another word, and with a flicker, he disappeared silently from the spot.

The next instant, he appeared beside Yagura.

The Fourth Mizukage floated unconscious in the shallow water, covered in blood. His Tailed Beast Cloak had completely disappeared, revealing his battered body underneath.

The Three-Tails' chakra surged weakly within him, like a caged beast panting helplessly.

Obito looked down at the once arrogant Mizukage from his high vantage point and let out a barely audible chuckle.

His palm pressed directly against Yagura's face, and the crimson Sharingan's power, like invisible chains, wrapped around Yagura's consciousness layer by layer.

Inside the sealed space, the struggles of the Three-Tailed Isobu grew increasingly intense.

Its massive body crashed against the sealing barrier, each impact causing the entire space to tremble violently. The light of the sealing technique flickered, as if it were about to shatter at any moment.

Three enormous tails lashed out wildly, slamming into the sealing wall and creating ripples of chakra fluctuations.

But those struggles were pointless.

The Sharingan's genjutsu has penetrated to the deepest part of the seal, like an invisible giant net, simultaneously enveloping the consciousness of the Three-Tails and Yagura.

Isobu's roar gradually weakened, its body began to stiffen, its three tails slowly drooped, and the scarlet light in its three eyes gradually dimmed.

Finally, it fell completely silent.

Like a tamed wild beast, it curled up in a corner of the sealed space, no longer struggling, no longer roaring.

His eyes stared blankly into the void, as if he had lost all will.

Yagura's body stopped convulsing.

His eyelids twitched slightly, as if he wanted to make one last struggle.

But that weak resistance was like a drop of water falling into the ocean, not even causing a ripple, in the face of Obito's eye power.

A moment later, he opened his eyes. The sharpness and composure that once belonged to Shuiying had disappeared from his eyes, replaced by an empty, wooden look.

"Get up." Obito's voice was very soft, as soft as if he were coaxing a child to sleep.

Yagura stood up, his movements stiff, his joints like rusty hinges, making a faint clicking sound.

But his gaze remained empty, unfocused, and lifeless, like a puppet on strings.

Obito nodded in satisfaction, stood up, and turned his gaze to the group of people confronting each other in the distance.

On the other side, the remaining three Paths of Pain—Animal Path, Asura Path, and Preta Path—had silently emerged from the mist and occupied three positions on the battlefield.

The animal realm's army of spirit beasts lurked in the shadows, with giant chameleons and hellhounds appearing and disappearing in the mist.

The mechanical arm of the Asura Path twitched slightly beneath the cloak, its sharp blades and cannon muzzles poised to extend at any moment.

The Hungry Ghost Path had its hands hanging down, with a faint glow of the chakra absorption technique visible in its palms.

Three figures, from three directions, subtly blocked Izumi and the others' escape route.

They didn't make a move; they just stood there quietly, like emotionless stone statues.

But that invisible sense of oppression was like three mountains, making it hard to breathe.

Pain's gaze shifted from Yagura to Izumikawa.

In his Rinnegan, he saw the figures of the four people opposite him—Orochimaru, Pakura, Kabuto, and Izumi standing at the very front.

He quickly assessed the threat level of each person in his mind.

Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, is a top-tier ninja in the ninja world.

But given his personality, he would definitely be the first to retreat if the situation turned unfavorable.

This kind of person won't risk their life for anyone, so they are actually the easiest to deal with. As long as you don't push them to the brink, they won't become a real obstacle.

Yekura, the holder of the "Scorching Release" bloodline limit, was once a hero of Sunagakure, but is now a rogue ninja.

Her strength was already fully demonstrated when she fought the Three-Tails; the high temperature of her Scorch Release technique was enough to threaten any opponent.

However, her weakness is also obvious—her loyalty or dependence on Izumikawa makes her a target that can be controlled.

As for Kabuto, a medical ninja, although he is quick-witted, he is nothing to fear in the face of absolute power.

What Payne really cared about was the person standing at the very front.

Bamboo takes spring river.

Those heterochromatic eyes—the right eye is a Byakugan, and the left eye is a Sharingan with three tomoe.

In his battle with the Three-Tails, he only used the Corpse Bone Pulse and taijutsu; he didn't seem to use the flight ability or explosions he had previously demonstrated.

He's in hiding!

Pain's Rinnegan narrowed slightly. Even for him, along with the other three Pain Paths, it wouldn't be an easy task to defeat the four people in front of him.

Orochimaru is a veteran powerhouse who possesses many secret and forbidden techniques, making him a formidable opponent and potentially implicating Konoha.

Even if you win a head-on confrontation, you will inevitably pay a heavy price.

While the Akatsuki organization is still in hiding, it is not advisable for them to clash with Konoha or leak their own information.

At least in Nagato's eyes, Konoha knew he possessed the Rinnegan, since Danzo had once collaborated with Hanzo to plot against his eyes.

Therefore, those who should not be present should be removed.

Pain quickly assessed the situation. When the light fell on Orochimaru, there was no emotion in his pale purple Rinnegan eyes. He spoke coldly.

"My targets are Taketori Izumi and Yokura."

"As for Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, do you also intend to help these two rogue ninja?"

This statement was made with great tact.

He did not directly threaten Orochimaru, nor did he link Orochimaru and Izumigawa together.

Instead, you use the identity of a "Konoha ninja" to remind the other party that you are not on the same side as them.

Although Orochimaru defected from Konoha, he was once one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha.

As for Izumi and Pakura, one was a rogue ninja from Kirigakure, and the other was a rogue ninja from Sunagakure.

What good will it do you to help them?

Orochimaru's vertical pupils narrowed slightly, and the unfathomable smile on his lips remained unchanged, but his gaze swept back and forth between Pain and Izumi.

He understood what Payne meant.

This is a process of differentiation.

Payne didn't want to face all four of them at once, so he first used words to separate him from Izumi.

If he chooses to retreat now, Payne will not stop him.

If he chooses to stay, then in the next instant, Pain's "Shinra Tensei" will probably be aimed at him.

"Oh dear!" Orochimaru chuckled, his snake-like eyes darting between them, his hands outstretched in an innocent gesture.

"I didn't say I had to help anyone, I just happened to be here and happened to see this commotion."

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His gaze shifted to Izumi, his tone carrying a meaningful undertone: "Izumi-kun, it seems the main character today is you, not me."

Izumikawa did not respond. His own light remained fixed on Pain, as if Orochimaru's retreat or not was entirely within his expectations.

Orochimaru took a few steps back and withdrew from the center of the battlefield.

Kabuto glanced at him, put away his kunai, and followed Orochimaru to the distant rocks.

The cooperation between the two sides was not close enough to help each other deal with a powerful enemy, especially since the other side's target was the Izumi River Army.

Unlike the Fourth Mizukage, whose target was all of them, Orochimaru had no reason to get involved in this mess.

So Orochimaru twitched his sleeve slightly, and several small snakes quietly slipped out. He then left with Kabuto.

Payne watched the other person leave, then turned his gaze back to Izumi.

Now, only Izumi and Yekura remain on the field, facing off against Pain and Obito.

Yekura's Blazing Release light pulsed even more violently in her palm, her breathing became rapid, but she did not take another step back.

"Lord Izumikawa—" Her voice was soft, tinged with unease.

"Don't be afraid," Izumi's voice was calm as still water. "I'm here."

Pain's Rinnegan stared at Izumikawa, and his right hand rose slightly once more.

"Now, we can have a proper talk."

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