After their successful terrorist attacks, the six paths of pain started to converge with them having previously split into two groups.
Mugetsu's reprisal team realized this and moved to intercept the group they had perceived as the lesser threat so as to gang up on them and, if possible, defeat them before turning to the other three.
The ones they chose to fight were Ningendo, Gakido and Jigokudo who had show powerful abilities but lacked the raw destructive power the other paths had and were thus considered "softer" targets by their enemies.
They predicted the path the three Pains would take and set up an ambush quite a distance from the linking point between all six.
During their observation period, Anko made note of the unusual level of coordination between the Pains despite their apparent lack of communication.
So, despite not yet knowing the inner workings of all of their abilities, she realized the other three would probably know immediately about their attack once it actually started. As such, speed and efficiency were key.
Guren set up a hidden barrier and waited for them to walk in while Anko laid in Ambush, ready to take out one of the enemies in a single surprise attack while Chino gathered her chakra as she prepared for a full frontal assault once the trap was sprung.
Ningendo, Jigokudo and Gakido moved with speed through a forest as they headed towards the rendezvous point where they would link up with the other oaths but, unfortunately for them, the plan was about to be disrupted.
'Crystal Style: Jade Crystal Labyrinth'
Guren's barrier ninjutsu was activated and it was much stronger the the version used in shippuden. This barrier would both keep their enemies from leaving and delay their allies from coming to help, at least for a short time.
Inside, a reflective maze that could fool even the most skilled of sensors was set in place, thus allowing Guren to support her allies by making her sneak attacks more likely to succeed and much easier to pull of since she could make them become unaffected by the maze.
Not only that, she could also take advantage of the reflective dungeon to unleash her most powerful attack from unpredictable directions.
The moment the barrier went up, the three Pains trapped within immediately took a back to back formation.
In a hidden location, Nagato furrowed his brows as he received the confusing images created by Guren's barrier jutsu.
"What is it Nagato?" Konan asked.
"It seems Mugetsu was faster to respond than we thought." Nagato replied.
"Three of the paths are trapped inside a strange barrier. From the looks of it, it was created by the Crystal Style user from Mugetsu's top members." He added.
"Will there be a problem?" Konan inquired.
"No. The other paths are moving to reinforce and no one can defeat them together. They will fall, like everyone that came before them. It seems Mugetsu will suffer an even greater blow due to their haste." Nagato declare.
". . ." Konan remained silent.
Personally, she was not quite so optimistic. Ever since Mugetsu had appeared, Konan had been keeping tabs on them and always thought the day would come when they threatened the Akatsuki.
She had advised Nagato to nip this growing problem in the bud but he was trapped in his way as always. Konoa did not resent him for it and she would never turn her back on him but lately, she had been wondering whether the path they were on was truly the best for Nagato, for Yahiko's will.
Konan did not know. And it was precisely because she saw no better alternative that she never saw fit argue against Nagato's decision. He was her friend and her leader and so, even though she would advise him to the best of her ability, Konan would never second guess him.
Back to the battlefield, as the Pains took their formation, CHino unleashed her jutsu, one she had co developed with Shiki and became one of her favourites.
'Ketsuryugan: Blood Dragon Song'
Shiki's favourite Dragon Song Jutsu, Ketsuryugan version.
One dragon for each target as they were boxed in, struck from three different directions..
Just as the dragons were about to hit, Jigokudo and Ningendo jumped to dodge while Gakido remained.
'This is the one known as Chiryu, another of Mugetsu's top members and wielder of the Ketsuryugan.' Nagato thought.
'With Jigokudo and Ningendo jumping to avoid the attacks, Gakido will bear them all and absorb them.' He planned.
But reality soon disappointed him as two of the blood dragons curved in mid air and pursued the escaping targets as if they were living predators while Gakido face the remaining one and it clashed with his absorption barrier, rapidly being devoured.
Little did he know, Chino already knew this was going to happen and it was part of the plan all along.
As Gakido absorbed the incoming blood dragon, out of nowhere, a giant snake emerged from the ground swallowing him whole then shrinking and burrowing into the earth once more.
'Heh! Lock his movements by making him absorb a powerful jutsu while ambushing him from below with a physical attack. Nicely done Anko!' Chino cheered in her mind as she kept pressuring the other two remaining paths.
Just because he was swallowed, it did not mean Gakido was defeated. Inside the snake, there was enough space for a large scale battle and there, Anko who has the best physical combat ability of the three was now facing her opponent in her full Curse Mark 2nd Stage Transformation.
Dark skin, sharp, fang like canines, luscious purple lips and a mesh suit with chakra armor that left her arms and back uncovered and wide sleeves going from her elbow down, made of a black weave. Anko looked exoticly beautiful and ready for savage battle.
Outside the snake, the battle continued to rage as well with Chino straining herself to create two more blood dragons, one for each remaining pain.
After all, she had the means to recover so long as she got a quick respite so if she could take out the enemy faster than their reinforcements could arrive in exchange for wearing herself out, her team would gain a massive advantage or more like, eliminate their numerical disadvantage.
'I underestimated their cunning and power . . .' Nagato thought to himself as he controlled the paths.
"Nagato?" Konoa realized things weren't looking to good with her incredible ability to interpret Nagato's mood and thoughts from his expressionless face.
"Silence Konan. I must focus." Nagato responded before redoubling his efforts in the battle.
All the paths had substantial physical abilities, even if some more than others. As such, despite the oppression from Chino's blood dragons, they were still surviving just fine.
The one on one inside the snake however, was not going so good for Nagato's Gakido.
Shiki's Curse Mark granded one the power of a full blown Sage Transformation combined with Sage Mode and only through all the other enhancements could the members of Mugetsu handle using it at all, some more than others.
Anko had a frightening compatibility and not only could she weather the strain for longer, she also recovered much faster and a single Pain could not handle her full powered onslaught.
Being overwhelmed by his opponent with raw speed and power, the only thing Gakido could do was hold on for his dear life so that the battle outside still had some hope of being won and not much else.
But, time was running out, the pair was fighting in Anko's field and she kept summoning snakes out of everywhere with her Hidden Shadow Wild Snake Hands.
Gakido seemed to be getting used to it though at it would take a some time to take it down, enough for Nagato to grasp victory outside, or so he hoped.
Anko on the other hand, had different plans. By Letting her attacks form a faintly discernible pattern, she had lured her opponent into a false sense of security so that she could settle the fight with a single unexpected move.
Something she had yet to use in the fight.
In what was a regular taijutsu exchange, Gakido was dodging one of Anko's powerful punches by stepping back when she unleashed a very basic jutsu of hers, but one she had yet to use against him.
'Hidden Shadow Snake Hands'
Perhaps the most basic of snake user moves but exactly what she needed as snakes burst out from her wide sleeve and bit onto Gakido before he could dodge, injecting powerful, specially made poison into his body.
'Not good.' Nagato thought as Gakido's response to his control became sluggish, the result of the poison working its magic.
Anko grinned savagely and moved in for the kill.
'Gakido won't last much longer, I need to end the battle with the other one now.' Nagato decided as he ran out of options.
His enemies however, were far from being out of moves and were fully ready for him . . .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.a.t.r.e.o.n is officially up!
The link is: https://www.p.a.t.r.e.o.n.com/lusoba without the extra dots of course.
You'll get to read up to FOUR week ahead, a full month, but I'll still post here.
There's also my other novel Archon of DanMachi, do check it out!
I would greatly appreciate any support since this is going to be my breadwinner.