The Eight-Tails escaped by shedding a tail

The Fourth Raikage, unaware of who Shazo was, engaged him in a fierce battle from a position of superiority, only to suffer a crushing defeat and be annihilated.

As the price for this crushing defeat, Kumogakure lost 700 Ninja lives, and the Raikage lost his left hand.

For an ordinary Ninja, losing an arm means losing the Hand Seals, which is equivalent to losing the power of Ninjutsu, leaving the Ninja with no choice but to retire.

However, the Fourth Raikage was no ordinary Ninja. He relied almost entirely on Ninjutsu rather than Nintaijutsu in combat, so losing his hand did not significantly affect his fighting ability.

After months of arduous practice, mastering the technique of hand Hand Seals with one hand, the Raikage regained all his abilities.

Later, with the help of the research on Chakra Weapon by the Kumogakure, he had a prosthetic hand made of metal to solve the inconvenience in his life.

Because the weapons were too powerful, further experiments were no longer possible, and research on Chakra Weapon in Kumogakure was halted two years ago. However, research on prosthetics continued.

The Fourth Raikage's left hand has been continuously upgraded, becoming more and more agile and realistic in appearance, and it can also be used to Hand Seals and release Ninjutsu.

Over time, the Ninja got used to it and forgot the fact that the Fourth Raikage had lost an arm.

Even Black Zetsu overlooked this, so when Nagato fought the Raikage, he completely ignored the special nature of Nagato's left hand, allowing the Fourth Raikage to seize the opportunity and damage the Preta Path, which could absorb Chakra.

With the Chakra absorption ceasing, the Fourth Raikage immediately felt a sense of relief, and arcs of electricity, representing the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, once again appeared on his body.

He burst into laughter. "So that's how it is. Absorbing Chakra from Ninja's body isn't as fast as absorbing it from Ninjutsu, but it can create the illusion that the Chakra is completely depleted."

"In that case, Nagato of Amegakure, take this!"

At face-to-face distance, Raikage did not choose the [Lightning Release: Lightning-Type Hot Knife] which required a dash; instead, he raised his right hand, four fingers together, thumb bent and pressed tightly against his palm.

[Hell Stab - Four Violet Fists]

A blinding flash of lightning propelled the Fourth Raikage's right hand through the Preta Path and toward Nagato's chest.

Nagato's Rinnegan markings rapidly contracted inward, unleashing powerful ocular energy that transformed into a formidable Rinnegan Secret Technique.

[Heavenly Dao: Shinra Tensei]

Boom!

Just as the Fourth Raikage's fingers were about to touch Nagato's body, an invisible repulsive force erupted first, repelling the four fingers that were joined together, and the remaining force continued to rush towards the Fourth Raikage.

The Raikage felt a numbness in his fingers, and the attached Lightning Release Chakra was easily dispelled.

The backlash of Chakra made the Raikage's body stiffen, and then he felt a transparent wall pressing down on him, pushing away his arm and slapping him mercilessly.

"Ah!!"

The Fourth Raikage roared, shoving his feet into the ground with all his might. He barely managed to shield his face with his hands, and was pushed backward more than ten meters by the unstoppable repulsive force, leaving two deep furrows in the ground.

Then, like a radish, he was pulled up from the ground, rolled around, and was sent flying by the repulsive force.

"To be able to withstand Shinra Tensei for so long, the Raikage's Taijutsu is indeed very strong."

Nagato uttered words of praise, his face showing surprise, but his tone was devoid of any emotion.

If one hadn't witnessed the Fifth Hokage's Taijutsu, the Fourth Raikage's Taijutsu would indeed be the strongest in the Ninja World, certainly worthy of Nagato's praise.

But now he's only second, and he's far inferior to the strongest, the Fifth Hokage. The difference between the two is like heaven and earth, so Nagato naturally just gave a perfunctory compliment.

Having repelled the Fourth Raikage, Nagato turned to look at the Eight-Tails, Gyuki Demonic Statue of the Outer Path but was still struggling desperately.

As expected of the second strongest Tailed Beast, the Eight-Tails is significantly stronger than the Nine-Tails, which was split into Yin-Yang.

Even though it was countered by the Ten-Tails ' body, and even though the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had gathered the Chakra of seven Tailed Beast, it could only suppress the Eight-Tails, but could not completely subdue it.

Inside the Eight-Tails ' body, Killer B was completely panicked, but he still didn't forget his rap, asking in a strange tone, "Oh no, we're doomed, there's no hope this time. What kind of monster is this? It feels even scarier than the Fifth Hokage's Wood Release?"

The Eight-Tails Gyuki has a unique aesthetic sense; it really loves Killer B's songs, and it feels happy every time it hears Killer B sing.

But at this moment, the Eight-Tails was no longer in the mood to appreciate Killer B's off-key singing. It smiled bitterly and said, "This guy is the body of the Ten-Tails. We Tailed Beast were originally born from the Ten-Tails ' Chakra, so it is naturally able to suppress us Tailed Beast."

"This time it's really over."

Killer B asked anxiously, "Isn't there any way to escape?"

The Eight-Tails Gyuki said, "Yes, I do have a way, but I need your full cooperation."

Without a second thought, Killer B agreed, "What should I do?"

Just then, the Eight-Tails sensed Nagato's gaze. After a brief silence, it said, "Let's fight! Fight to the death!"

Killer B roared, "Alright!!"

The struggle of the Eight-Tails suddenly became violent, shaking off the arm of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and the eight octopus tentacles turned around and entangled the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Then the Eight-Tails Gyuki lowered its head and used its remaining horns to strike the head of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, pressing it against the seven glowing eyes with all its might, trying to destroy them.

Nagato didn't know if the Eight-Tails could do that, but how could he be willing to risk the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path before it fully Awakening?

So he stretched out his right hand and, with his palm as the center, emitted a strong suction force.

[Heavenly Dao - The Banshō Ten'in]

Unlike the violent and domineering [Shinra Tensei], the suction force created by [Banshō Ten'in] is not as strong, but it can lock onto the target and will not interfere with the entangled Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Under the suction force created by the Rinnegan, the eight tentacles of the Eight-Tails were pulled away from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path one by one, and could no longer pose a threat to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path raised its hands and slammed them down, smashing the skull of the Eight-Tails Gyuki and breaking off even its last Kakuzu.

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path pressed the Eight-Tails to the ground, while Nagato stopped the suction of the [Banshō Ten'in] and instead created a black sphere in front of the Eight-Tails.

[Outer Path - Chibaku Tensei]

Because the seal was applied to its face, the Eight-Tails Gyuki didn't have time to struggle before its head was drawn into the black sphere, followed by its enormous body, and finally its eight tentacles.

Faced with this Extremis, the Eight-Tails struggled even more frantically, its eight tentacles sweeping wildly, firmly attaching to whatever it grabbed until it was pulled up and sucked into the black sphere along with the tentacles.

In the end, only one tentacle remained, tightly gripping the Rock on the ground, Rock was connected to the entire mountain, and even the suction force of Chibaku Tensei could not break it.

Nagato waited patiently for a while, until the Fourth Raikage stood up again and the Support Force from Kumogakure arrived in the distance. Only then did he impatiently reach out and cut off the end of the tentacle, ending the tug-of-war.

Seeing the Eight-Tails completely sealed away, the Fourth Raikage was so enraged that his eyes actually split open and blood flowed from them.

The disappearance of Wood Golem, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, a few days ago had already enraged the Fourth Raikage. However, since all the guard Ninja had been killed and the culprit could not be found for the time being, he could only endure it for the time being.

Today, things have gotten much worse. They've been attacked right at our doorstep, and with a repulsive Ninjutsu unlike anything we've ever seen before, they've destroyed half of the Kumogakure.

To protect the village, the Fourth Raikage and Killer B lured the enemy outside to fight, but little did they know that the enemy's target was Killer B — the Eight-Tails!

Killer B was the Fourth Raikage's acknowledged younger brother since childhood. It was A who personally raised Killer B from a tiny kitten to become the number two figure in Kumogakure.

The two have spent over 30 years together and have an extremely deep bond.

Seeing his younger brother sealed inside the stone sphere in the air, the Fourth Raikage roared and activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode once more, unleashing this most powerful Nintaijutsu at any distance.

[Lightning Release: Lightning Release: Lightning-Type Hot Knife]

Without the absorption of Preta Path's Chakra Absorption, and without a direct clash with [Shinra Tensei], the Fourth Raikage successfully struck Nagato's body this time.

But it wasn't until he tore Nagato's body in two that he realized he had struck a wooden stake, a stake disguised as Nagato by a transformation spell.

The Fourth Raikage asked incredulously, "How could it be [Substitution Technique]?"

Nagato arrogantly replied, "All Ninjutsu are only distinguished by whether they are suitable or unsuitable; there is no distinction between noble and unworthy."

"Just like you Ninja, whether you're the Raikage or Genin, you're all the same before God—you're all just Bug."

Nagato manipulated the repulsive force and flew into the sky. First, he released the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path from its summoning, and then, carrying the stone sphere that sealed the Eight-Tails, he flew into the sky and disappeared into layers of Thunderclouds.

"Don't leave! Give me back my brother!"

The Fourth Raikage roared in grief and despair, "Nagato of Amegakure! I will raze Amegakure to the ground and slaughter every last Rain Ninja!"

"You just wait!!"

"Big Brother?"

Suddenly, Killer B's voice came from behind the Fourth Raikage. He turned around in surprise and saw the Eight-Tails' tentacles wriggling and "spitting" Killer B out from the severed end.

Killer B grinned and said, "Big Brother, I'm not dead. The Gyuki protected me with its tentacles."

After spitting out Killer B, the Eight-Tails ' tentacles continued to wriggle and transform, turning into a miniature version of Gyuki: "Bee, all my Chakra has been stolen, so I won't be able to help you fight for a while."

Killer B said, "It's alright. Facing such a powerful enemy, surviving is the best outcome. What does losing Chakra matter?"

"Come back soon."

Without hesitation, the Eight-Tails jumped onto Killer B's body, merged with him, and returned to the Tailed Beast seal.

Killer B put away the Eight-Tails, then turned to the Fourth Raikage and said, "Big Brother, I—"

With a loud "thud," the Raikage's right Iron Fist struck Killer B on the head, interrupting his words.

Before the bewildered Killer B could recover, the Fourth Raikage hugged him tightly. "You scared me to death, Bee, you almost scared me to death!"

Killer B: "Big Brother ----"

"Don't hit me on the head next time, or my brain will break and I won't be able to write new songs."

The Fourth Raikage scoffed, "Don't even think about it. I can smash your head however I want. If I can smash it so badly you can't write a song anymore, even better."

Half an hour later, the Cloud Ninja reinforcements cleared the battlefield, Dodai and Darui, two high-ranking Kumogakure officials, gathered around the Raikage and Killer B for an emergency meeting.

The Cloud Ninja also knew that small meetings were necessary for important matters, so when faced with the crisis of more than half of the Kumogakure being destroyed, the other Cloud Ninja voluntarily avoided it.

The Fourth Raikage sighed, "Now you know the result. Even if Killer B forces, we were no match for Nagato of Amegakure."

"Nagato's goal was the Tailed Beast. He easily sealed the Eight-Tails. If the Eight-Tails hadn't had the ability to sever its tail and escape, Killer B would have died like Kushina Uzumaki in Konoha."

Dodai and Darui exchanged a glance and said, "After you drove the enemy out of the village, Raikage, the Konan -leader of Amegakure, also attacked the village."

"The woman flew in the sky and scattered countless Explosive Tag, causing great damage to the remaining buildings and Ninja in the village."

The Fourth Raikage sighed again, "The Amegakure is so powerful, it's truly unexpected."

Dodai began, "Lord Raikage, Nagato and Konan are not only the leaders of Amegakure, but also the leaders of Akatsuki, the strongest mercenary organization in the Bounty Station."

"The Akatsuki basically only accepts war mercenaries and participates in wars between small countries and Shinobu villages. Before the Fifth Hokage established peace in the Ninja World, they had wiped out several Shinobu villages."

The Fourth Raikage frowned and said, "I see. Besides Nagato and Konan, who else is in Akatsuki?"

Dodai replied, "Currently, there are eight known Akatsuki members, whose identities can be confirmed: Kakuzu, the Immortal Ninja; Hidan, a heretic from the Land of Hot Water Kirigakure Kisame Hoshigaki, the shark- Shark Face ninja from Kirigakure; Deidara, the missing-nin from Iwagakure."

Darui asked in surprise, "Deidara, the disciple of the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure?"

"He represented Iwagakure and fought against me in the Chunin Ninja Exams. How did he become a rogue missing-nin of Iwagakure?"

Dodai shook his head and said, "The specific reason is unclear, but Iwagakure did notify us—"

"Oh right, I remember now, the Akatsuki accepts the most hires from Iwagakure. They can be considered Iwagakure's most capable henchmen."

Killer B said angrily, "That makes sense. The Third Tsuchikage is such a proud old man. What's the difference between Four-Tails Jinchuriki and missing-nin? He stubbornly refuses to admit it. How could he possibly say Deidara is missing-nin?"

"So they were sent to Akatsuki to keep an eye on this peripheral organization for Iwagakure."

Both Dodai and Darui thought Killer B's prediction made a lot of sense and couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Only the Fourth Raikage shook his head after deep thought, "It shouldn't be Ōnoki's doing. Even if the Akatsuki was once supported by Iwagakure, the situation is probably out of control now."