Six Paths of Pain

In a forest outside the Hidden Mountain Village,

After a violent explosion, countless trees were reduced to dust. A crimson figure flashed past and landed in an open clearing, followed closely by six figures.

The devastated surroundings made it clear that a fierce battle had taken place here. The combatants were Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, and the Six Paths of Pain.

Utakata was currently in a partially transformed state. Though this form was less destructive than a complete Tailed Beast transformation, it was the most agile and best suited for small-scale combat.

As he watched the Six Paths of Pain standing before him, Utakata's partially transformed face showed no expression, but his heart was incomparably heavy. Every one of the Six Paths of Pain possessed bizarre abilities. Even as a Jinchuriki, he found them extremely troublesome.

Deva Path Pain stood at the center of the other five Pain bodies, his expression blank. An eerie light flickered in his purple Rinnegan as he looked at Utakata and said flatly,

"Stop struggling pointlessly. Your fate is already sealed."

Utakata snorted coldly and exhaled a stream of hot air. He suddenly raised one claw. Under the influence of Tailed Beast chakra, his arm abruptly extended, curved through the air, and clawed toward the Hell Path.

During their earlier exchange, Utakata had used a Tailed Beast Bomb to destroy the Human Path and Animal Path. Yet the Hell Path had soon revived both Pain bodies. That made Utakata realize that if he did not eliminate the Hell Path first, he would eventually be dragged to death by them.

However, his attack was still far too slow in the eyes of the six pairs of Rinnegan. The Asura Path leaped into the air, directly grabbed the incoming chakra arm, then yanked hard, pulling the partially