Intense!

"Whoosh!"

Pain's Human Path pulled Yun Zhiyi's soul from his body, and the soulless corpse collapsed at his feet!

This sight... made the surrounding Hidden Cloud Village ninja instantly choke up!

"Damn ittt!!!"

Yet their first reaction was not fear of this horrifying ability, but... shared, righteous fury!

"Bastard! Pay with your life!"

Ninjutsu of all kinds came hurtling toward Pain's Human Path!

Whoosh!!

At that moment... the Preta Path flashed over, deploying a Sealing Jutsu Barrier and absorbing the ninjutsu!!!

But though it absorbed the first wave of ninjutsu... it could not absorb the sword strikes coming from Hidden Stone!

"Honestly, Hidden Cloud Village's unity is seriously impressive!"

"Whoosh!" Pain's Human Path formed hand seals with both hands, and his body directly sank into the ground!

Pain's Preta Path leaped upward with force, evading the first wave of slashes before forming hand seals with both hands!!

—Ninja Art: Camouflage Concealment Technique!

His figure... vanished into camouflage before everyone's very eyes!!

"What...!?"

"This is... the Earth Concealment Technique and Camouflage Concealment Technique. Damn it, those are all Hidden Stone's specialties!!!!"

"Hey... look closely. The enemy who fired those missiles earlier is wearing an Iwagakure forehead protector too!!!"

Everyone's gazes simultaneously focused on the Asura Path!!!

"Clack!" "Clack!"

—Asura Barrage!

At that moment, the Asura Path stood on the mountainside, his arms transforming into machine guns as he rained a slanted barrage downward in flashes of muzzle fire!

"Aaargh...!!" In an instant... the five Amegakure ninja at the very front were shot down!

"Long-range ballistic attacks from mechanical armor? Since when did Iwagakure master this kind of technology!!?"

Dodai had no time to think. He bellowed, "Earth Release ninja, construct defenses! Everyone else, fall back and stay alert! Those two enemies could launch a sneak attack at any moment!!!!"

The Hidden Cloud Village ninja skilled in Earth Release stepped forward one after another, forming hand seals simultaneously!!!

—Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!!!

"Boom!!!"

The earthen wall rising before them temporarily blocked the barrage... "Clack!" "Clack!" But under the relentless bombardment of missiles launched from the grenade launchers protruding from the Asura Path's shoulders, the wall was on the verge of collapse!!

At that moment, Dodai formed hand seals, strode forward, and slammed both palms fiercely onto the ground!

—Lava Release: Rubber Wall!!!

"Glug glug glug...!!!"

Liquid rubber surged from the earth before his palms, rolling forward with gurgling sounds and pressing tightly against the rear of the Earth-Style Wall, reinforcing its defense and finally barely managing to hold it!!

The Hidden Cloud Village ninja cried out, "Oh!!! As expected of Dodai!!!"

"This is all I can do. From here on, it's up to you, Lord Raikage!"

Dodai turned to look back.

There... the Fourth Raikage, A, rose from before his father's grave, tears still wet upon his face as he roared, "Get the hell out of my way! I'll personally tear those Hidden Stone bastards apart!!!!!!"

"Lord Raikage is making his move!!!"

"Move aside, quickly!!!"

The Hidden Cloud Village ninja hurriedly scattered!!

"Rooaarrr!!"

"Crackle crackle!!!!"

Violent Lightning Release Chakra Mode enveloped A's towering body!!

"This kind of chakra..." Even Konan, who was not a sensory ninja, was shaken.

It was not that this chakra was truly stronger than Nagato's... it was simply outrageously flamboyant and explosive in sensation, impossible to ignore.

Nagato said, "Lightning Release Chakra Mode grants the 'Raikage' unparalleled speed and strength, as well as a formidable body capable of taking any attack head-on."

"His father, the Third Raikage, had attained an even greater mastery of this mode. Setting speed aside, at least in terms of 'attack power' and 'defense,' he was even more formidable."

Konan said, "Is that why you chose him as the Asura Path?"

Nagato said, "There are only two key requirements for choosing an Asura Path. First, a relatively strong and robust body, so it can house more Asura weaponry. Second, powerful explosive strength and defense, allowing it to effectively threaten enemies at close, medium, and long range."

"The Third Raikage fully meets both requirements. Moreover, the 'Lightning Release Chakra Mode' he possessed can take the Asura Path's weaponry even further. By my estimate, as an Asura Path ability wielded by Pain, it has a chance to surpass the 'original body'!"

Konan revealed a startled expression. "Pain can... surpass the original body?"

Nagato smiled. "Of course, that only means one Path's abilities stand out. My original body can use all Six Paths abilities at once and switch freely between them. That is an advantage Pain can never possess. In overall combat strength, I will always be above Pain."

"Boom!!!!"

As A charged forward, he threw a mighty punch!!! That plain, unadorned fist of lightning shattered a breach in the defenses formed by the Rubber Wall and Earth-Style Wall with a single blow!!!

After breaking through the gap, his small, round eyes glared furiously at the Asura Path hanging on the mountainside!!!!

The Asura Path looked down at him and greeted him, "Hello, thunder brat."

"Boom!!" The Raikage answered with a punch launched through the air!!!

"Boom!!!!"

Rocks tumbled down as the mountainside shook!!

After the Asura Path landed, he tore off his upper robe.

"Let's play with thunder brat!!"

"Glug glug glug!!" His entire body wriggled as three heads, six arms, and a saw-like tail emerged!!

Dodai shouted, "Fourth Raikage, be careful! The enemy's body structure is unlike that of an ordinary person!!"

"Hmph!" The Raikage snorted coldly, twisting his neck left and right with a series of "crack" "crack" sounds...!!!

"Boom!!!!"

The next second... he shattered the ground beneath his feet, his blade-like arm hooking fiercely around Pain's Asura Path's steel neck!!!

"Don't underestimate the Raikage!!!!!"

—Lariat!!!!!

The pupils of Pain's Asura Path contracted sharply. So fast, truly so fast. Even with the Preta Path's eyes watching from the shadows, there was no way to avoid it...!!!!!!

"Boom...!!!"

Driven by the Raikage's arm, the Asura Path's back smashed heavily against the mountainside. "Crack!" "Crack!" His mechanical body began to disintegrate from the neck downward!!!

"Clack!!!"

At that moment... the saw teeth on the Asura Path's tail curled around the Raikage's neck!!

"This is bad... Lord Raikage's neck has been caught by those steel saw teeth!!"

"Don't worry. That thing can't break through Lord Raikage's Lightning Release Armor!"

As Dodai spoke, he turned his gaze to the side. "C... did you sense it?"

Beside him stood ten-year-old C, the man who would later serve as one of the Raikage's guards alongside Darui in the original story.

He was currently a Genin being trained as a sensory ninja.

C closed his eyes and concentrated. "Yes. Although I'm still nowhere near as skilled as Senior Yun Zhiyi, I can sense that the enemy hidden by camouflage is... is approaching Lord Raikage from behind!!"

Dodai shouted, "Lord Raikage!!! The enemy wants to launch a surprise attack from behind!!!!!"

"Hm!?"

The Raikage caught a fleeting glimpse and swept his arm behind him...!!!

Whoosh!!

Pain's Preta Path was forced to reveal himself and rapidly retreated...!!!

"Thunder brat's subordinates are pretty capable too!"

A said coldly, "Hmph. Once I deal with this one in front of me, you and that other guy hiding underground will be next!!!"

"Bzzzzzz...!!!"

The sound of rippling energy caught A's attention!!

He turned his gaze back, only to see light gathering within Pain's Asura Path's open mouth!!!

The Hidden Cloud Village ninja cried out, "Point-blank range!?"

—Asura Path: Mouth Laser!!!