Chapter 126: The Attack of the Six Paths of Pain

"Plant it, and it can still be used."

Hearing Obito's words, Shishou was speechless and looked at the remaining half-head of White Zetsu as if it were a magical creature.

"Tsk tsk, this White Zetsu, created by Madara himself, can still survive with just a head. Is it because of Hashirama's cells, White Zetsu's unique traits, or both?" Shishou pondered.

"Hey, you bastard, stop tossing me around!" White Zetsu's half-head loudly protested from Obito's hand.

"Hahaha," a mocking laugh came from Uchiha Obito.

"It's you, Tobi! Just you wait!" White Zetsu's half-head was furious but helpless.

"Hahahaha..." Swirly Zetsu laughed even louder.

Ignoring the two White Zetsus, Shishou looked at Obito with some confusion, "You don't seem to be planning to make a move?"

Obito nodded and pointed behind Shishou, "Because they are your opponents."

As soon as he finished speaking, Obito entered the Kamui dimension and disappeared.

Shishou turned around and saw six figures with orange hair and Akatsuki cloaks standing on a giant bird.

The Six Paths of Pain had arrived!

...

A figure with an orange ponytail jumped off the giant bird; it was the Animal Path of the Six Paths of Pain.

Although Pain's intention was to recruit Shishou, Nagato believed that someone as powerful as Shishou would not willingly join Akatsuki without being subdued first.

"Summoning Jutsu: Rhino!"

With a puff of smoke, a giant rhino appeared beneath the Animal Path, charging towards Shishou.

"Hmph, testing me with the Animal Path?" Shishou quickly guessed Nagato's intention and waved his hand, sending hundreds of Phosphor Beetles disguised as insects towards the giant rhino.

To Shishou, these giant summoned beasts were mere snacks!

The beetles swarmed the rhino, rapidly multiplying and devouring it.

The Animal Path, with Rinnegan eyes, observed the beetles on the rhino and realized their nature. "So it's not a poison, but nano-sized venomous beetles!"

The Animal Path leaped into the air, performing another summoning.

"Summoning Jutsu: Hell Crab!"

With another puff of smoke, a giant crab appeared beneath the Animal Path.

"Water Release: Bubble Hell!"

The Hell Crab immediately sprayed bubbles at the beetle swarm, destroying all the nano beetles. However, the beetles inside the rhino continued to devour it from within.

"Summoning Jutsu: Flaming Elephant!"

The Animal Path summoned a massive elephant with a flaming trunk.

Seeing that the combat-oriented summons were ineffective against Shishou's nano beetles, the Animal Path switched to jutsu-using summons.

"Fire Release: Trunk Blaze!"

The elephant's trunk spewed flames towards Shishou.

Indeed, nano beetles were king within a living organism but vulnerable in the external environment, similar to cancer cells.

Shishou was not concerned about Nagato discovering the beetles' weakness; it was inevitable in front of the Rinnegan.

While Obito didn't have time to observe them due to the surprise attack, Nagato had enough time to figure it out.

However, Shishou was not afraid to face Nagato's summons head-on.

He put on a mask and performed hand seals.

"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"

Wooden walls emerged from the ground, protecting Shishou from the elephant's flames.

"Summoning Jutsu: Hellhound!"

"Summoning Jutsu: Bull!"

"Summoning Jutsu: Centipede!"

The Animal Path summoned three more giant beasts.

The beasts charged at Shishou as soon as they appeared.

Then, the Animal Path summoned a chameleon and disappeared into its mouth.

"Tsk, this is getting annoying," Shishou muttered, disappearing and reappearing at a distance.

He placed his hands on the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu: Nightmare Tapir!"

A gigantic tapir appeared at Shishou's feet, letting out a loud trumpet sound.

The Nightmare Tapir's body began to swell, growing larger and larger until it towered over the battlefield. Shishou's Mangekyō Sharingan spun rapidly, accelerating the transformation.

High-speed growth and transformation were one of Shishou's unique abilities with his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Soon, the Nightmare Tapir had transformed into a massive, armored beast, larger than any of Pain's summoned creatures. Its black armor gleamed menacingly in the harsh sunlight.

The Nightmare Tapir roared, its deep, resonant voice shaking the very ground beneath it. It charged forward, its enormous feet causing tremors with each step.

The summoned beasts from the Animal Path tried to intercept it, but the Nightmare Tapir's sheer size and power were overwhelming. It swatted them aside like flies, sending them crashing into the surrounding landscape.

...

In the Hidden Sand Village, inside the Kazekage's office.

"Kazekage-sama," a Sand ninja reported urgently, "we have received an emergency request for assistance from the town of Sakyu. They say there is a massive battle nearby and they need immediate help."

Fourth Kazekage Rasa didn't even look up from his documents. "Send Baki to handle it."

The Sand ninja hesitated, "Kazekage-sama, the town's leader specifically requested your presence."

Rasa finally looked up, surprised. "My presence?"

The ninja handed Rasa a photograph taken by a reconnaissance hawk. The image showed several gigantic summoned beasts, each impaled with black rods.

Rasa's eyes widened in shock. These were not ordinary summons. Given their size and the fact that they were controlled by someone, it was no wonder the town leader was desperate enough to call for him personally.

"Prepare a message hawk. Inform the town leader that I am on my way," Rasa ordered, standing up and preparing to mobilize his forces.

"Kazekage-sama, there is more information," another Sand ninja burst into the office, holding another photograph.

Rasa looked at the new image and froze in shock. The picture showed an enormous, fully armored beast - Shishou's Nightmare Tapir in its battle-ready form.

Seeing the massive, armored figure, Rasa knew this was no ordinary conflict. "This creature... It's even larger than the previous ones."

The other Sand ninjas gasped at the sight, realizing the gravity of the situation. The monstrous summon, clad in dark armor, looked more formidable than even a Tailed Beast.

Rasa knew this battle required his immediate attention. "Assemble a team. We leave for Sakyu immediately."