Chapter 198
The body of Pain that had been struck didn't show any immediate abnormalities—until Rosinante exhaled gently.
"Puchi~" A sound like flesh being ground echoed. The black iron nails embedded in Pain's body shot out all at once, as if violently repelled from within.
Rosinante caught one mid-air with a single hand. His palm, cloaked in Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), didn't sense anything strange about it. He tucked the nail away, eyes narrowing toward the collapsed Pain.
Just moments ago, Pain had been brimming with killing intent and power, but now he lay lifeless like a marionette with its strings severed. The light faded from his eyes.
"So these nails are the key..." muttered Rosinante. He had cracked the code. These black nails were the control mechanism behind Pain.
But the other five Paths of Pain weren't fools. Rosinante's earlier blows had failed to land, so they had underestimated him. Now, having witnessed his strength, they were on guard. Every time Rosinante tried to close the gap, Tendō Pain unleashed his Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push), repelling him before he got close.
"Rosinante Attack his blind spot!" shouted Kakashi from a distance. Though ready to retreat at any moment, he still used his Mangekyō Sharingan to support Rosinante. On several occasions, he'd used Kamui to distort space, helping Rosinante dodge fatal hits.
"Retreat! One of them has mental and spiritual attack capabilities. Avoid getting caught at all costs. We've gathered enough intel for now. We'll deal with the rest later!" Rosinante shouted to Kakashi. He batted away incoming missiles with clawed strikes, then prepared to leave himself.
"You think you can come and go as you please? What do you take this place for?" A strange, arrogant voice came from behind.
Ye Wen only turned around after confirming Kakashi had withdrawn.
"No way... it's you!" Rosinante's eyes widened in disbelief. Someone who shouldn't be here had just appeared.