Chapter Thirty-Two: A Fierce Battle

During the fierce battle between Orochimaru and the Six Paths of Pain, Sasuke quietly approached from the side, hiding behind a boulder. Activating his Sharingan, he observed the fight intently.

"Pain is so strong," Sasuke thought, watching as only three of the Pains took action, already forcing Orochimaru into a flustered state. If all six attacked together, how could Orochimaru possibly cope? Especially the Deva Path—reputed as the core—once he joined the fray, the battle would surely shift dramatically.

"Pain..." Sasuke murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing, the crimson glow of his Sharingan shining with newfound determination. If Orochimaru refused to teach him, he would seek out Pain instead—after all, Pain seemed far more powerful.

In that instant, Sasuke changed the mentor he held in his heart. He was determined to catch up to Naruto.

While Orochimaru faced the Six Paths of Pain in single combat, the snake swarm he summoned clashed with the various summoned beasts of the Animal Path. For a brief period, neither side could gain the upper hand.

Orochimaru’s gaze locked onto the Naraka Path—the Pain capable of reviving the others. That one had to be eliminated first.

With a flash, Orochimaru charged toward the Naraka Path, but the Preta Path stepped forward, blocking his path. Orochimaru knew well the Preta Path’s abilities: it could absorb any chakra-based technique, defend against ranged attacks, and if it managed to grab someone at close range, it would drain their chakra dry, rendering them powerless.

With a chilling laugh, Orochimaru spat out the Kusanagi Sword mid-run, gripping it tightly as he engaged the Preta Path. Unable to make physical contact, he relied on the sword for offense. Sparks flew as the black rods of the Preta Path clashed with the Kusanagi Sword, a cacophony of strikes filling the air.

Suddenly, a thunderous crash erupted near the Deva Path, where another Orochimaru descended from the sky. Mid-fall, he transformed into a massive white phosphorous serpent, jaws gaping toward the Deva Path below!

The Deva Path opened both arms, his pupils contracting sharply, robes billowing. As the snake was about to strike, he roared: "Almighty Push!"

With a resounding bang, the white serpent was blasted away.

The Deva Path muttered, "I’ve finally mastered the power of the Deva Path." Until now, he had refrained from acting because he had only just been created—an empty vessel yet to wield its true power. Now, at last, he had mastered it.

At that moment, with a puff of smoke, the blasted-away serpent vanished—it had not been Orochimaru’s true body!

Suddenly, the Preta Path changed tactics, abandoning defense for an all-out offensive. He struck the Orochimaru he had been fighting, which also vanished in a puff of smoke.

Still not the real body!

Where was Orochimaru’s true form?

As the six Pains searched for their opponent, beneath the ground at the location of the Naraka Path, Orochimaru hid, weaving hand seals: Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!

He dragged the Naraka Path underground, leaving only its head exposed above the surface. Without hesitation, Orochimaru unleashed Hidden Shadow Snake Hands—dozens of serpents slithered from his sleeves, wrapping around the Naraka Path, twisting tightly until a sickening crack echoed through the air. The Naraka Path was crushed.

With a burst of earth, Orochimaru emerged. With the Naraka Path dead, the King of Hell’s visage vanished, rendering the Asura Path beyond repair.

In this way, Orochimaru had eliminated two of the Pains.

"When did he do it?" The Deva Path’s gaze sharpened as he replayed the recent battle in his mind. When had Orochimaru created two shadow clones and hidden himself underground?

Soon enough, Deva Path realized it had happened when the Asura Path unleashed its head-mounted laser cannon. Orochimaru had used Earth Style: Mud Wall to shield himself, and under cover of the collapsing wall and ensuing dust, created two clones: one continued the frontal assault, drawing attention, while another attacked from above.

But the true body had slipped underground.

In fact, the clone attacking from the sky served only to further distract the Pains. With their shared vision, any one of them might have spotted Orochimaru tunneling below, so all attention had to be drawn upward. Hurting the Deva Path had never been Orochimaru’s intention—that was the strongest Pain.

Orochimaru had succeeded.

The Deva Path extended his hand, fingers splayed—a prelude to unleashing a technique.

"I underestimated you, Orochimaru."

Orochimaru had always been powerful, but his strength was usually perceived as insidious and sinister, not as sheer combat prowess. Many, including Pain, overlooked his real strength—and for that, Pain had lost two bodies.

"Universal Pull!"

The Deva Path unleashed his power, manipulating both repulsion and attraction. He could drive objects away or pull them in—the Universal Pull was meant to drag his target close.

The Preta Path and Human Path rushed over, flanking the Deva Path. One prepared to drain Orochimaru’s chakra, the other to forcibly extract his memories—a process that would be fatal.

As Orochimaru was pulled closer, seemingly at a loss, his eyes suddenly transformed into the five-tomoe Sharingan-Byakugan, locking gazes with the Deva Path.

Their eyes met.

"Genjutsu: Darkness Technique!"

Orochimaru intoned. This was one of the First Hokage’s jutsu; upon casting, it would rob the opponent of sight, plunging them into darkness.

Suddenly, the Deva Path fell under the illusion—the true controller, Nagato, was ensnared, causing all the Pains to lapse into a fleeting daze.

Although Nagato’s Rinnegan allowed him to break free almost instantly, that brief moment was enough for Orochimaru’s next move.

"Toriyan Ruka!"

Orochimaru’s jutsu sent two giant snakes bursting from the earth, hurling the Preta Path and Human Path into the air before winding around them and crushing them like twisted rope.

The Deva Path managed to unleash an Almighty Push, sending Orochimaru and his summoned serpents flying, but it was too late.

Two more Pains were down.

Now, only the Animal Path and Deva Path remained.

The Deva Path regarded Orochimaru coldly, noting the curious choice of targets—Orochimaru had attacked the Preta Path and Human Path. Had he been faster, he could have struck at the Deva Path directly, who was the strongest. Eliminating him would have made the rest of the battle much easier.

But Orochimaru had not done so.

Was it a mistake? Deliberate? Or simply beyond his power? Pain could not tell.

Though thrown back, Orochimaru quickly regained control midair, landing steadily. His pale golden, serpentine pupils glinted with a chilling light.

"Only the Animal Path remains," Orochimaru hissed, his tongue flicking out.

He charged once more at the Deva Path, who spread his fingers, preparing to pull Orochimaru in again with Universal Pull. This time, he raised a black rod, aiming to impale Orochimaru directly.

Orochimaru’s expression remained unchanged. As he was drawn in, he formed hand seals, his arms elongating like rubber, pressing against the ground as he unleashed the Serpent Winding technique—not to attack Deva Path, but himself. A serpent burst from the ground, slamming into Orochimaru.

With the force of Universal Pull binding him like an invisible rope, the serpent's strike caused Orochimaru to swing upward. Calculating the angle precisely, he sent himself soaring directly above the Animal Path.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

From above, Orochimaru unleashed the jutsu, summoning a water dragon that crashed into the unprotected Animal Path, eliminating it instantly.

The impact of his own technique broke the gravitational hold of Universal Pull, and Orochimaru landed smoothly, facing the Deva Path.

Now, only the two of them remained.