"Kumogakure's shinobi…"
"How convenient. Both the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails are here. Today, I'll take you two along with the Four-Tails," Tendo declared as five figures emerged from the shadows, with him standing at the forefront as if by divine right.
"Quit your arrogant boasting!" The Raikage ripped off his white cloak, his body erupting with crackling lightning—a testament to Kumogakure's secret technique passed down through generations: the Lightning Release Armor.
Although ranked as a mere B-class jutsu, its potential was extraordinary, and the Raikage had clearly honed it to near perfection.
"Lariat!"
True to his hot-headed nature, the Raikage wasted no time. With a flash, he concentrated the lightning chakra enveloping his body into his elbow and shot toward Tendo in a blur.
So fast!
Nagato's heart skipped a beat. Even with his full attention on the battle, his mind blanked for a fraction of a second—it was impossible to react in time.
Fortunately, the distance between them gave him just enough time to respond instinctively. Tendo raised his right hand.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A powerful repulsive force surged forth. The Raikage stopped abruptly less than two meters from Tendo, his face flushed red and muscles straining as he fought against the invisible barrier.
But it was futile. Within a second, he was flung backward.
"Raikage-sama!" Yugito Nii rushed to his side, sighing in relief when he stood up as though unharmed.
"What a mess! You're embarrassing, you big oaf—yo!" Killer B chimed in, earning a glare from the Raikage.
"B! Stop rapping!" the Raikage barked, landing a punch on his brother's shoulder. Undeterred, he refocused his attention on the five Pain Paths, now strategically spaced apart.
Despite the setback, the Raikage wasn't discouraged. The repulsive force was formidable, but he had faith in his speed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
From a distance, the Asura Path launched a barrage of missiles—highly modernized weaponry one wouldn't expect to find in the shinobi world.
"Mouse Hairball!"
Yugito entered her partial Tailed Beast Transformation, spewing a massive blue, flame-shaped projectile resembling a mouse. It intercepted the missiles midair, resulting in a fiery explosion.
Without hesitation, Yugito dashed forward, her feline claws tearing through the air toward the Human Path.
"Bansho Ten'in!"
An irresistible force pulled Yugito toward Tendo. However, just as she neared him, Tendo abruptly canceled the technique. Drawing her in would only force him to repel her with another Shinra Tensei, leaving him vulnerable during its cooldown.
From Asura Path's head, a laser shot out at the suspended Yugito. Yet the beam hardly fazed her, protected as she was by Tailed Beast chakra.
"Now, it's Killer B's turn!" Killer B roared as he entered his own partial Tailed Beast Transformation. Eight tails unfurled behind him, exuding overwhelming power far surpassing Yugito's.
"Be careful, B!" the Eight-Tails warned in his mind. "Your opponent wields the Rinnegan."
Killer B charged forward, using his horn as a weapon, while Kumogakure's shinobi advanced, targeting the more vulnerable Human, Naraka, and Preta Paths.
But Nagato was prepared.
"Shinra Tensei!"
With a massive repulsive wave, he not only repelled Killer B but also sent the Kumogakure forces flying.
"Now!"
The Raikage, who had been waiting for this moment, erupted into action. His white hair spiked like blades, his body enveloped in an even denser lightning cloak. Entering the second stage of Lightning Release Armor, his speed rivaled the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop!"
He roared, his hand poised like a blade as he slashed toward Tendo's neck. Such an attack could break even the Susanoo—if it connected, Tendo would undoubtedly fall.
"Bansho Ten'in!"
Nagato pulled the Preta Path into Tendo's place, allowing it to bear the brunt of the Raikage's strike. As the Preta Path extended its hands, the Raikage's Lightning Release Armor began to dissipate. Without the chakra's enhancement, his physical attack lost much of its speed and force. Even so, he managed to send the Preta Path flying.
Roar!
Twin beastly howls shook the battlefield. Recognizing the strength of their foe, Yugito and Killer B fully transformed into their Tailed Beast forms. Two massive figures loomed over the battlefield, their predatory gazes locked onto the five Pain Paths.
The Two-Tails opened its jaws wide, unleashing a Tailed Beast Bomb that hurtled toward Pain.
Once again, the Preta Path stepped forward, absorbing the devastating chakra blast.
But it was a feint.
Wrapped in his tails, the Eight-Tails spun into a ball, charging at the enemy like a living wrecking ball.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Tendo clasped his hands together, unleashing another colossal repulsive wave. The Eight-Tails collided with the barrier, unable to push through, and was eventually flung backward.
Now's my chance!
Seizing the cooldown, the Raikage vanished like a lightning bolt. This time, instead of aiming for Tendo, he targeted the Naraka Path.
With a thunderous punch, the Naraka Path was obliterated. The Raikage grabbed the remains and retreated to his forces, handing them over for sealing.
"Now you can't revive yourselves," he declared. "Each time you use Shinra Tensei, you expose a weakness, and I will use it to take you down, one by one. It won't be long before you're completely defeated."
Nagato finally understood why the battle felt so one-sided.
That man… he even revealed the secrets of my abilities to Kumogakure.
Three loud thuds echoed as the remaining Preta, Human, and Asura Paths collapsed.
"What's going on?" The Raikage frowned. "Are they surrendering?"
Tendo rose into the air, his voice calm yet thunderous.
"So what if you know my abilities? You understand nothing of true power."
The strongest form of the Six Paths of Pain wasn't when they acted as six separate entities. That division was a compromise—a tactic for gathering intelligence, probing enemy strengths, and handling complex scenarios.
But when all that power converged in a single body…
"How strong am I now?" Nagato wondered.
Today, a god declares his existence.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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