As soon as the Fourth Raikage stepped out, he saw the Rinnegan-summoned beasts rampaging through the Hidden Cloud Village.

Massive white birds flew swiftly above Kumogakure, launching suicide attacks on the village's ninja forces.

Furious, the Fourth Raikage's sharp gaze locked onto the members of the Akatsuki Organization.

Hovering in the sky was a colossal summoning beast with the Rinnegan. Six Paths Pain stood atop it, motionless.

Beside it, Konan floated gracefully, her wings formed from white paper sheets.

Compared to the calm presence of Konan, Deidara looked wild and manic. Standing on a giant white clay bird, he gleefully hurled bombs into the village below.

"Bastard!" the Fourth Raikage growled, his eyes burning with fury. Electric blue chakra danced violently over his body, intensifying by the second.

Just as the Raikage spotted them, Tendō Pain noticed him too. Three of the Six Paths Pain descended to confront the incoming threat. Tendō Pain spoke in a cold, mechanical tone.

"Fourth Raikage, hand over the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchūriki."

"Hmph! Don't get cocky, Akatsuki," the Raikage snapped back, filled with disdain. "This is Kumogakure, not some weak village like Sunagakure."

"You want the Tailed Beasts from our Hidden Cloud? Come and take them—if you're willing to die trying!"

Crackling with power, the Raikage surged forward in a bolt of lightning, punching directly at Tendō Pain with immense force.

Under the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, the Raikage's speed and defense were enhanced dramatically, turning his strikes into weapons of terrifying destruction. A casual blow could rival high-level jutsu.

"Shinra Tensei."

With a blank stare, Tendō Pain activated his repulsive force just as the Raikage closed in.

A thunderous impact followed as the opposing energies collided. The Raikage was ultimately thrown back—his strength unable to fully counter the Rinnegan's repulsion.

"Raikage-sama!"

"Brother!"

From behind, Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, and Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, appeared, stepping in to support the Raikage.

"Well, well..." Tendō Pain said in his usual flat tone. "So you two plan to resist. Are you surrendering peacefully, or do I have to subdue you?"

"Over my dead body," Yugito hissed. "I'm Yugito Nii of Kumogakure, and I'll stop you here!"

A red chakra shroud exploded from her body. In the blink of an eye, she fully transformed into the Two-Tails—Matatabi, a flaming blue feline.

Matatabi launched a massive fireball toward the enemy. Preta Path Pain jumped in front and extended his hands to absorb the fiery chakra attack.

"So, absorbing chakra is your ability?"

"The Sand Village provided us with all the intel we need. Ironically, their grudge with you is now helping us."

The Fourth Raikage's voice boomed as he struck. His blue-lightning-covered fist crashed down on the distracted Hungry Ghost Path.

Just then, Asura Path stepped forward, transforming his body into weaponized metal to shield Preta Path. The Raikage's punch detonated Asura Path's mechanical body.

"You fool! Your real enemy is Killer Bee!"

With his signature rap, Bee slashed Preta Path across the neck with his chakra-infused blade.

Though the chakra was absorbed, the physical strike was lethal. Hungry Ghost Path collapsed, decapitated.

Immediately, Tendō Pain countered with another Shinra Tensei, sending Bee flying.

"Eight-yo!"

Bee called out mentally to his Tailed Beast. Red chakra surged, wrapping around him to protect against the force of the attack.

Despite being blown back, both Bee and the Raikage recovered quickly, protected by their respective chakra cloaks.

"Those summons with the Rinnegan can share their vision," Raikage said, gritting his teeth. "That's a real problem."

"Still," he smirked, "we've taken out two of them. Four left. Not bad."

Just then, Animal Path Pain summoned two previously destroyed Paths. Naraka Path Pain emerged, calling forth the King of Hell.

The massive spectral head devoured the broken Pain bodies, chewed, and spat them out—fully restored.

Watching his defeated enemies return completely intact, even the Fourth Raikage's confident face darkened.

"What kind of monster is this guy…?" he muttered.

Still in her Tailed Beast form, Yugito growled, "Even with the Rinnegan, they're not invincible."

"No dojutsu can function without chakra. Bee and I both have massive reserves."

"Damn right!" the Raikage shouted. "Yugito's right—we're the ones who will win this battle."

"Conserve chakra. If we can't overwhelm them, we'll grind them down."

If it came down to stamina, the Raikage wasn't worried.

After all, his father—the Third Raikage—had fought 10,000 shinobi alone for three days and nights before collapsing.

Though not quite at his father's level, the Fourth Raikage could still fight for days.

He refused to believe this enemy could outlast him.

While the Raikage, Bee, and Yugito clashed with Six Paths Pain, battles raged across other parts of Kumogakure.

Kumo's ninja, led by their jōnin, fought desperately against the Akatsuki's elite: Kakuzu, Hidan, Sasori of the Red Sand, Deidara, and Kisame Hoshigaki had already entered the fray.

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