Startled, Jiraiya spun around, ready to attack the newcomer. But when he saw who it was, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"Kazama! What the heck, kid, why're you tailing me? And what do you mean I've been exposed?"
"I mean the rain in Amegakure isn't natural—it's man-made. The moment this rain touches us, the leader of Amegakure knows we've snuck in. In other words, both you and I are completely exposed right now!"
"No way!"
Jiraiya's jaw dropped at Kazama's words.
"What do we do now? I was planning to secretly investigate the Akatsuki! And hold on, if you knew we were exposed, why're you so chill about it?"
Jiraiya couldn't help but find Kazama's calm demeanor odd. Not only was Kazama familiar with Amegakure—a place even Jiraiya didn't fully understand—but he also knew the enemy's techniques inside and out. Jiraiya couldn't shake the feeling that Kazama's skills were vast and unfathomable.
"Sooner or later, we'd get exposed anyway. Getting found out a bit early doesn't change much!"
With that, Kazama summoned Guren Goka (Crimson Lotus Hellfire).
"Whoa!"
The moment Jiraiya saw the fiery figure formed by Guren Goka, his nosebleed gushed like a waterfall. He'd never laid eyes on such a stunning woman—sexy yet dignified, alluring yet adorable.
"Hey, beautiful, you…"
"Get lost!"
Before Jiraiya could even start flirting, the fiery figure knocked him flat on his back.
Kazama stifled a laugh. He'd known full well that Guren Goka's fiery incarnation had a short temper and wouldn't take kindly to Jiraiya's lecherous antics.
"Kazama, you did that on purpose, didn't you? Why'd you summon her out of nowhere?"
Jiraiya scrambled behind Kazama, not daring to look at the fiery figure again.
"Because the enemy's about to show up. Instead of fighting in this downpour, I'd rather clear the skies. Guren Goka, evaporate all the rain in the sky!"
"As you command!"
Though the fiery figure was prideful, she followed Kazama's orders without question.
"What? She can do that?"
Jiraiya was skeptical as Kazama ordered Guren Goka to vaporize the torrential rain.
"What's wrong, Nagato?"
At that moment, Nagato, the leader of Amegakure, sensed Jiraiya and Kazama's presence.
"Intruders have infiltrated Amegakure. One of them has chakra stronger than a Kage-level ninja."
"What?!"
Konan, standing nearby, was shocked. Amegakure had never been infiltrated by someone this powerful before.
"I'll cast a jutsu to stop the rain. You go check the intruders' identities. I'll send Tendo (Deva Path) to back you up!"
"Got it!"
Konan noted Nagato's unusual caution. Tendo was the strongest of the Six Paths of Pain. Normally, invaders were handled by the Chikushodo (Animal Path) or Shurado (Asura Path). But Nagato was deploying Tendo right from the start, a sign that even he found the intruders' strength daunting.
"This can't be!"
As Nagato prepared to stop the rain, he suddenly saw Amegakure's sky engulfed in red flames. The searing heat instantly evaporated all the rainwater.
"This… this is unreal!"
Jiraiya, standing beside Kazama, witnessed Guren Goka's power firsthand and collapsed in shock. Despite all his experience, he'd never seen a Katon (Fire Release) capable of covering an entire village.