Of course, I can't just let him absorb my chakra and petrify him immediately. That'd be far too suspicious. Nagato would definitely question how I know the abilities of his Paths of Pain—especially the Preta Path. So, for now, I still have to put on a convincing act.
"Chidori!"
Ryujin Kenichi's voice rang out as he activated his Sharingan. With its enhanced perception, he could control the trajectory of his lightning-style jutsu with pinpoint precision.
Nagato and Konan stood at a distance, silently observing. Neither commented on the shrill crackle of the Chidori surging through Kenichi's hand.
"Sealing Technique: Absorption!"
The Preta Path moved forward and struck a strange stance. In the next instant, the lightning in Kenichi's hand vanished, completely absorbed.
Kenichi clicked his tongue. That's a pretty busted ability... But it required the Rinnegan—without it, recreating this technique wasn't possible. If he could develop a chakra armor capable of both offense and chakra absorption, he could become nearly untouchable.
Still, he made sure to look stunned—his performance flawless.
The Preta Path seized the moment and grabbed Kenichi's wrist. Immediately, Kenichi "realized" his chakra was being siphoned!
Fortunately, Kenichi wasn't the kind of shinobi who depended solely on ninjutsu. With a powerful kick, he knocked the Preta Path backward and followed up with a swift Body Flicker, creating distance between them.
"You can absorb chakra?" Kenichi asked, narrowing his eyes in feigned astonishment.
Not an idiot, Nagato mused. That ability had been shown clearly. If Kenichi couldn't put the pieces together, he'd be unfit to even consider joining Akatsuki.
In battle, intelligence was everything. The most capable shinobi learned on the fly, adapting to their opponents in real-time.
The Preta Path remained silent, instead motioning Kenichi forward with a taunting gesture—like a martial artist inviting a brawl, radiating confidence like Ip Man challenging ten men at once.
Kenichi exhaled slowly, activating his chakra perception. Again, he sensed it—the flow of natural energy in the air.
Now using the Preta Path's chakra absorption as a reference point, Kenichi released his own passive restraint. Natural energy rushed into his body, surrounding him in an unseen storm.
He had to regulate it carefully, balancing it with his physical and spiritual energies. Ordinarily, entering Sage Mode would take time and could even turn fatal if done incorrectly.
But to his surprise, his body adjusted instantly. The energy stabilized and transformed within him.
Sage Chakra.
"So... easy?" Kenichi opened his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Huh?" Konan's voice cut through the tension. "His face… changed."
Nagato's brow creased. Something was off.
Golden markings—jagged like lightning—appeared around Kenichi's eyes, trailing across his cheeks. They weren't identical to Jiraiya's or Naruto's Sage Mode, but they were unmistakable signs of nature energy infusion.
Feeling the vast energy coursing through his body, Kenichi couldn't help but grin. This is Sage Mode? The physical amplification was immense. He didn't feel even a hint of instability.
So this... is the Sage Body of Hashirama Senju, he thought. The God of Shinobi wasn't just a title—this physique is on another level. The gap between genius and average is absurd.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
Instead of using ninjutsu, Kenichi launched a powerful taijutsu kick. He wasn't about to waste Sage Chakra on techniques the Preta Path could absorb. Raw, enhanced physical strikes were far more effective here.
Nagato remained impassive, his gaze fixed on the confrontation before him. The Preta Path moved without hesitation—its ability to absorb chakra and ninjutsu made it a formidable opponent. From a distance, it seemed that taijutsu might be the best way to deal with it.
But once it made contact, things changed.
As expected, the Preta Path showed no concern for its own physical well-being. It seized Ryujin Kenichi's leg with a crushing grip, immediately beginning to drain his chakra.
Kenichi's lips curled into a slight smile. This was exactly what he'd been waiting for. Having prior knowledge of your opponent's abilities truly was a satisfying advantage.
"Huh? The Preta Path—" Nagato's calm demeanor cracked for a moment, his Rinnegan widening. He suddenly lost his sensory link with the body. At the same time, he noticed the Preta Path's flesh turning gray, then solidifying.
A heartbeat later, it shattered—literally—into a crumbling pile of stone fragments under Kenichi's kick.
"Did I pass the test?" Kenichi asked, turning casually toward Nagato and Konan, who stood watching silently from the sidelines. Konan remained quiet, her expression unreadable.
Only Nagato could make that decision.
"Yes," Nagato finally said, his voice calm once more. "But tell me—how did you petrify it?"
As he spoke, the Deva Path—the body most associated with Nagato's identity as Pain—approached, offering Kenichi a ring engraved with the kanji 『玉』("Gyoku" - Jade).
Kenichi glanced down at it, then slipped it onto his finger without much thought.
"Your Preta Path was absorbing chakra, right? But I'd just entered Sage Mode. That means my body was infused with natural energy. If you absorb too much of it without the proper training… your body turns to stone."
"Sage Chakra…" Pain repeated thoughtfully. "I see. Natural energy is dangerous to those who cannot control it."
Kenichi gave a slight nod. "Exactly. Not something you can absorb recklessly."
"You will be a useful asset," Pain concluded, handing over a second ring—this one inscribed with 『空』("Kū" - Void). "This was once Orochimaru's. When the time comes, wear it. We'll discuss Akatsuki's plans soon."
As if on cue, the Preta Path's body began to reform. The Rinnegan's resurrection technique—via the Naraka Path's King of Hell—was fully operational.
Kenichi raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Resurrected already? That's some ridiculous hax."
It was a complete regeneration—an ability few could boast. If he wanted to challenge Pain now, he'd probably lose. He needed time… and perhaps some anti-gravity tech to counter the Deva Path's Shinra Tensei.
"For now, you'll be assigned missions. They're essential for Akatsuki's development," Pain said.
"I understand." Kenichi nodded seriously.
Now, where's Kakuzu? he thought. If we're talking money-making potential, I need that guy in the mix. I'm not doing all the bounty hunting myself.
His thoughts wandered to Team 7's early missions—the first "mini-bosses" Naruto and the others encountered. Kenichi couldn't help but grin.