Jiraiya finally decided to take the risk and entered the tall tower in Amegakure said to be where Pain resided.
If the leader of Akatsuki, who had been wreaking havoc across the shinobi world, was truly his former disciple… then it had to be him, the teacher, who ended it with his own hands!
Suddenly, a figure flickered before him.
A woman wearing Akatsuki's black cloak patterned with red clouds appeared not far away.
When Jiraiya saw the woman's distinctive blue hair, he smiled.
He couldn't quite say what he was feeling.
It was as if a heavy weight that had been hanging in his heart for years had finally been set down.
At the same time, he felt the gears of fate turn once more…
Jiraiya put on a casual air and said,
"Konan, you've grown into quite the woman."
"So it really is Nagato who's the leader of Akatsuki."
"Since you were alive, why didn't you ever send me a message?"
"Back then, when I learned you were dead, I grieved for a long time."
The blue-haired woman, Konan, spoke coldly, her greeting brief:
"Jiraiya-sensei. It's been a long time."
"Unfortunately, you've come too late."
Jiraiya asked,
"You're acting all over the world, collecting the Tailed Beasts. What exactly are you after?"
Konan answered seriously, without hesitation:
"Peace."
"Peace?"
Jiraiya began to doubt whether this woman standing before him was really his student from back then.
When he had taught them, he had never once said that destroying the shinobi world could bring about peace.
As if guessing his thoughts, Konan slowly raised her hand.
"Jiraiya-sensei, your way of thinking hasn't progressed at all."
Whoosh—
White paper sheets appeared around her, gathering into a pair of massive wings.
Then!
Konan slowly waved them, sending countless paper sheets transformed into sharp kunai flying toward Jiraiya!
His eyes sharpened.
He dodged through the barrage in a flash, then formed hand seals.
"Toad Oil Bullet!"
A gush of toad oil sprayed from Jiraiya's mouth, drenching Konan.
Since she relied on her paper techniques, being soaked in oil severely limited her abilities.
Afterward, Jiraiya lowered his eyes, disappointment in his voice.
"So, you really are the so-called 'angel,' the messenger of Amegakure's god, sprouting wings."
"I taught you for three years, and at the very least, I'm your teacher. And yet, without even saying a few words, you attack me. That's truly disheartening."
Just then, a voice rang out above his head.
"Jiraiya-sensei, you and we are no longer walking the same path."
Following the source of the voice, Jiraiya saw a pair of eyes covered in concentric ripples!
The man wore an Akatsuki robe, with long orange hair—very different from the Nagato of the past.
But Nagato had been a boy back then. Growing older and looking different was only natural…
"Even though you look very different, those eyes leave no doubt. You're Nagato," Jiraiya said.
"No. I am Pain. One who has become a god." Pain declared stubbornly.
As soon as he spoke, a summoning seal appeared behind him!
Then—
Boom!!
A giant crab burst through the wall!
The crab spewed foam, washing the oil off Konan!
Jiraiya was nearly hit by the spray, but he quickly leapt up the wall to evade.
"As expected of my student—using foam to wash away the toad oil," he muttered with a hint of self-mockery.
Pain didn't even glance at Konan and coldly ordered,
"Withdraw for now."
Konan left. Jiraiya seized the chance, forming seals.
"Wild Lion's Mane Jutsu!"
His white hair suddenly lengthened and surged toward Pain!
It seemed Pain hadn't reacted in time, and he was bound by Jiraiya's lion's mane.
Holding him down, Jiraiya lifted his face.
"Nagato! I have questions for you!"
"What happened to Yahiko?!"
"And why are you collecting the Tailed Beasts across the world?!"
Pain answered with an icy expression.
"Yahiko? I seem to recall someone like that. But he's long dead."
"As for the Tailed Beasts… since you're about to die anyway, I suppose I can tell you."
"I will make the world feel pain. It is the duty of a god—to put an end to war."
"By using the sealed Tailed Beasts to create new forbidden weapons, a single strike will be enough to annihilate even the great nations."
Jiraiya snapped,
"That kind of thing will only fuel war! How could it possibly stop conflict?!"
"Jiraiya-sensei, after all these years, you still haven't grown. You only think from a mortal's perspective," Pain said.
"I will provide these forbidden weapons to the nations that once fought each other. The war-hungry will inevitably use them."
"When they do, hundreds of millions will die in an instant."
"After that, people and nations alike will know fear. They will understand pain."
"And with that fear in their hearts, war will be restrained. War will naturally come to an end."
"Only pain can make this world grow."
"Just as I did in the past…"
"To make the world grow, to make it think, to push it forward, requires the intervention of a god."
Jiraiya froze.
What had Nagato gone through, to come to such a twisted idea?
"You've even learned how to joke now, Nagato."
Jiraiya forced a smile.
Pain remained resolute.
"I know mortals will never understand my vision. Otherwise, why would there be a need for gods?"
Realizing something was wrong, Jiraiya suddenly tightened his control!
Shnk!
The Wild Lion's Mane turned into sharp spikes, stabbing into Pain's bound body!
Whoosh!
But in that instant, Pain used a substitution and vanished!
Jiraiya focused his gaze and saw him standing on top of a summoned beast!
"As expected of the Rinnegan's wielder—instantaneous summoning."
"If not for later encountering the Shinju, you might have been the most talented shinobi I've ever seen in this world."
"Shinju?"
When Pain mentioned the name, his tone was icy.
"One day, he too will know pain."
"Jiraiya-sensei, you were his teacher as well, weren't you?"
"I wonder how he will react… when he learns of your death?"
With that, Pain leapt. The summoned beast beneath him flapped its wings, diving at Jiraiya!
Battle instincts razor-sharp, Jiraiya bit his thumb, quickly forming a summoning seal and pressing his hand against the wall!
Whoosh!!
In a puff of smoke, Gamaken appeared—his body a deep purple-red.
"I may not be very dependable, but I'll do my best, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya grinned.
"The opponent wields the Rinnegan. Don't let your guard down."
Gamaken stiffened suddenly.
"Jiraiya, just to be clear… when you say opponent, how many are you talking about?!"
"Of course one. Why would you even ask that?"
Jiraiya frowned, puzzled, as he slowly raised his head.
(≖╻≖;)
He saw five more figures appear beside Pain, all clad in black cloaks with red clouds!!
Even more shocking—each of them possessed the same purple Rinnegan!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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