"Hmph!"
Deva Path hadn't expected Sasuke to pull off such a move. The carefully calculated trajectory was entirely disrupted, and planning a new route became impossible.
With Sasuke controlling Susanoo, even a random boulder could alter the path of others, creating an endless array of variables.
At the moment, Deva Path's best option was to avoid the incoming boulders as much as possible. If avoidance was impossible, he would have to rely on his physical body to withstand the impact.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Although the boulders were large, they were ordinary rocks. Against Tendo Pain's formidable physical endurance, they were far from a significant threat. After deflecting a few, he determined that he could withstand them directly.
However, just as he reached this conclusion and stopped dodging…
Susanoo suddenly leaped high with a massive boulder and hurled it towards Deva Path.
This was precisely the opportunity Sasuke had been waiting for.
Deva Path seems extremely small in front of Susanoo. To strike a moving target accurately, Sasuke would have to rely on ranged attacks.
However, Sasuke's long-range attacks obviously posed no real threat to him.
The earlier boulders and Sasuke's bold declarations were merely a ruse… a smokescreen.
As long as Deva Path stopped moving, Sasuke could control Susanoo to close the distance and engage in melee combat.
Boom!
The moment Susanoo landed on the ground, the earth trembled slightly, causing Deva Path to stagger backward.
By the time Deva Path regained his footing, Susanoo's boulder was already smashing down toward him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With precise targeting, Susanoo's boulder, now cloaked in a purple Chakra, maximized its destructive power while minimizing chakra expenditure. Like wielding a massive hammer, Susano'o repeatedly slammed the boulder toward Deva Path.
The scene was so comical that a black-cloaked observer nearby couldn't help but chuckle. After all, it looked uncannily like a game of whack-a-mole.
Unfortunately, rocks were still just rocks. After dozens of strikes, the boulder finally gave out under the force of the impacts and shattered completely.
However, Sasuke's goal had been achieved: he had smashed Deva Path deep into the ground in a brutal display.
However, much to Sasuke's dismay, the moment he stopped his assault, Deva Path shattered the ground and leaped back out.
"Hiss!"
Sasuke couldn't help but gasp. Those dozens of ultra-heavy strikes were powerful enough to demolish the Akatsuki's base. Yet Deva Path's agility and condition showed he had suffered no serious injuries.
'As expected, this puppet's modifications were truly formidable!'
"It ends here!"
Deva Path narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly enraged.
The fact that Sasuke had pushed him to this extent was utterly infuriating.
With a forceful stomp, Deva Path charged directly at Sasuke, abandoning any evasive maneuvers in favor of a frontal assault.
Boom!
Deva Path's punch landed squarely on Susano'o, disrupting its purple Chakra and forcing it to take half a step back.
"Hmph!"
As Susanoo sustained damage, Sasuke himself felt the backlash and grunted in pain.
"Do you think you can get cocky just because you survived my attacks? I'll show you the true power of Susanoo!"
Sasuke growled as Susanoo surged with energy, evolving toward its complete form.
Not only that, but a massive purple bow materialized in Susanoo's hands.
The bow's frame was thick and sturdy, which could also double as a shield.
Raising the purple bow, Susanoo slammed it down towards Deva Path.
Yes, there is no need to shoot aimlessly, as that would consume too much of Sasuke's pupil power. Using the purple bow to fight against Deva Path in close combat can not only save his pupil power and Chakra, but also allow Sasuke to attack without restraint.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The purple bow repeatedly smashed down. After blocking the first strike, Deva Path's arms trembled uncontrollably. He quickly realized he couldn't withstand such brute force.
Without any hesitation, Deva Path quickly performed a backflip, dodging Susanoo's relentless blows, while preparing for a counterattack.
But as Deva Path retreated too far, Sasuke seized the opportunity without delay. Drawing the bow, he unleashed an arrow.
Whoosh!
A blazing arrow, cloaked in purple flames, shot straight toward Deva Path.
Deva Path didn't dare take any chances and immediately used Shinra Tensei to block the attack.
The flaming purple arrow was instantly deflected and dissipated upon contact with Shinra Tensei's repulsive force.
'Hmph, is that all you've got?'
Deva Path sneered. This level of power posed no real challenge to him and even accelerated Sasuke's energy depletion. Once Sasuke could no longer sustain Susanoo, Deva Path planned to close in, prevent Sasuke from consuming any more recovery pills, and end the battle.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
But before Deva Path's thoughts could finish, multiple arrows shot toward him in rapid succession.
This time, Deva Path used Shinra Tensei to its maximum and was able to barely resist the attacks.
His strategy of attrition was now completely shattered. Unexpectedly, the effort to block those attacks drained a considerable amount of his own strength.
"Not bad. You're stronger than I expected!"
Deva Path admitted grudgingly.
However, there was a silver lining for Deva Path… Sasuke's Susanoo was beginning to dissipate.
Deva Path squinted slightly, realizing that his plan hadn't failed, it had only accelerated.
"Damn it!"
Sasuke was also aware that Susanoo was reaching its limit, and he could no longer rely on the purple arrows for long-range attacks.
After multiple uses of the recovery pills, Sasuke's body was now developing a temporary resistance to their effects.
'Success or failure would be decided in this moment.' Gritting his teeth, Sasuke forced his body to keep moving and charged Deva Path with what remained of Susanoo.
"Desperate struggle!"
Seeing through Sasuke's intentions, Deva Path decisively clasped his hands together and said, "Shinra Tensei!"
If he could block this final strike from Susanoo, Deva Path was confident he could prevent Sasuke from consuming another pill and subdue him at close range.
An invisible wall of repelling force formed around Pain's body and expanded outward, eventually solidifying into a faint green energy barrier.
"Break!"
Sasuke shouted as something completely unexpected occurred.
The massive purple hand of Susanoo had actually pierced through the Shinra Tensei barrier, reaching for Deva Path's head.
"How is this possible?! It withstood Shinra Tensei?!"
Deva Path couldn't believe his eyes, but he had no choice but to activate Shinra Tensei again, using it to blast himself away from the grasp of Susanoo.
The distance widened, but Pain had lost his best opportunity to capture Sasuke.
Out of the corner of his eye, Deva Path noticed something peculiar. As Susanoo began to fade, a layer of black, mysterious runes appeared over its purple form. It seemed this added layer of power was what allowed Sasuke to break through Shinra Tensei.
"What a pity."
Sasuke let out a deep sigh and stepped back as well.
What he had just used was the Cursed Seal. By using the Cursed Seal to strengthen the Susanoo, he was able to forcibly break through the Shinra Tensei and prepare to give Deva Path a fatal blow.
Now, though Pain was battered and injured, Sasuke was completely drained of energy.
'It seems…I have no other choice but to let her handle this?'
Sasuke turned his gaze toward the black-robed figure standing behind him.