Pain's incomparably cold gaze swept over the crowd, an immensely powerful pressure continuously radiating from him.
Though the Twilight Squad members were exhausted to the extreme, they still gripped their weapons tightly, prepared to make one final, stubborn stand.
"Since you refuse to recognize what is good for you, don't blame me for showing no mercy." Pain's voice seemed to drift out of a grim and sinister hell.
"We'll hold him off. You two, get out of here!" Kakashi shouted at Utakata and Hotaru. They were the key to this mission and could not be allowed to fall into the Akatsuki Organization's hands.
Naturally, Utakata refused to leave so easily. "No. I have to atone for my own sins."
"Take Hotaru and leave now! This is the mission. You two are his target, and the mission only ends once you escape!" Kakashi yelled anxiously.
Utakata gritted his teeth and blew out a massive bubble. It enveloped him and Hotaru, then flew into the distance.
Pain was in no hurry to pursue them. Instead, he slowly raised a hand as powerful chakra surged violently, making the pebbles on the ground tremble and bounce.
Then, a powerful shockwave shot straight toward the group.
The Twilight Squad members did everything they could to block it, but before Pain's absolute power, their defenses appeared utterly frail and powerless.
One after another, they were sent flying and slammed heavily onto the ground.
Naruto roared and charged forward, unleashing all kinds of ninjutsu, but Pain merely waved a hand and effortlessly neutralized Naruto's attacks.
"Give up. You are no match for me," Pain said coldly.
The Twilight Squad members struggled to their feet one after another, continuing to stand before Pain and engage him in battle.
Seeing how fiercely they resisted, Pain summoned the other Five