Afterward, Shinju went to ask Fukasaku whether every Pain had black rods like the ones found in this corpse.
When he received Fukasaku's confirmation, Shinju stood in the Hokage's office and voiced his suspicion.
"Based on the autopsy and the research on the black rods, all of the Pains are controlled by chakra."
"And according to the information Jiraiya-sensei sent back..."
"My guess is that the six Pains that have appeared so far aren't the real 'Pain.'"
"I don't really get it," Fukasaku muttered, still a bit dazed.
"It's like a puppeteer controlling puppets."
"You can think of the six Pains, each with different abilities, as puppets being manipulated by someone else. The real 'Pain'—Nagato—is hiding in the shadows, pulling the strings."
Everyone in the Hokage's office fell into deep thought at Shinju's words.
It sounded far-fetched, but it also seemed entirely possible.
Shinju's complicated gaze swept over those present.
He had never once considered using Konoha's power to avenge his teacher.
"Fukasaku, can you explain Pain's abilities to me in detail?"
The old sage understood what Shinju was thinking. His wide toad eyes grew complex.
Finally, he nodded. "Alright."
"First, the one with short orange hair. He's got three small black rods on his nose bridge. His ability is attraction and repulsion... Sorry for being vague, but that's all he showed in battle."
"Then there's..."
...
At the same time.
Orochimaru's southern base.
Sasuke had come here to recruit the fourth member of his squad—Karin.
"Hey, she's a warden of the southern base. Can we really just take her with us?" Suigetsu asked.
"Of course."
Sasuke smirked confidently, nodding.
He turned his head and looked at Naruto beside him.
Naruto looked surprised, pointing at himself.
"Me? But I don't even know her! (꒪⌓꒪)"
"You don't expect me to use a pretty boy trick, do you?!"
Sasuke: (≖╻≖;)
"What are you even thinking? Even if we needed a pretty boy trick, it wouldn't be your turn!"
"What I mean is—we've met her before."
Naruto scratched his head.
He was sixteen and had no memory of ever knowing someone named Karin.
Sasuke, knowing Naruto's brain didn't always work, explained: "During the Chūnin Exams, Shinju once saved her life."
Naruto suddenly understood.
"Ohhh~~~ so that's how it is!"
"But Shinju isn't here now! ┐(´-｀)┌"
Sasuke: "Just because Shinju isn't here doesn't mean we can't use his name to bluff. (◔◡◔)"
"I already checked this out."
"After the Chūnin Exams ended, Karin became Shinju's crazy fangirl."
"These years, she hasn't just been hoarding Shinju merch—she even spent a fortune to buy clothes Shinju once wore..."
Suigetsu had never liked Karin much to begin with. After hearing Sasuke's description, his opinion of her dropped even further.
"Seriously? I mean, sure, Shinju's handsome, but isn't that obsession a bit much? (||๐_๐)"
Sasuke: "You've got a lot of nerve talking about her! Don't you still keep the sword Shinju broke during your fight?! (′д｀σ)σ"
Suigetsu's face flushed red. "That's different! Mine's just pure admiration. վ--0027ᴗ--0027 ի"
And with that, the group noisily walked into the southern base.
They didn't even have to talk much with Karin—she agreed right away.
The moment she learned Shinju would be there, her eyes lit up and she eagerly volunteered to join the squad!
After leaving the base, Naruto quietly gave Sasuke a thumbs-up.
Just then, a messenger hawk flew in from the sky.
"New intel on Itachi?" Sasuke said, raising his arm for the bird to land on.
He untied the message tube from its leg, unrolled the letter, and read:
[Konoha's Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, has fallen in Amegakure. His killer is the leader of Akatsuki—Pain!]
Naruto leaned closer, curious. "What's it say...?"
Before he could finish, he froze as if struck by lightning. His whole body went stiff.
"P-Pervy Sage... he's dead?"
Naruto finally understood why his heart had felt so heavy yesterday.
It was the sense of losing a loved one.
After a moment of silence, Naruto raised his head, determination in his eyes.
"Sasuke, I'm going to Amegakure!"
Sasuke was stunned.
After a brief pause, he nodded.
"I'll go with you."
"But let's be clear—I won't throw my life away before I get my revenge."
He turned, looking back at Karin and Suigetsu.
"As for you two, this isn't something you should get involved in."
"Spend this time gathering intel on Itachi. When I return, we'll move."
Suigetsu stayed silent.
Karin stepped forward. "The one who died... that was Jiraiya of the Sannin, right?"
"He was Shinju's teacher."
"That means I'm going with you too."
"What Shinju loves... is what I love."
...
Back in Konoha, after listening to Fukasaku's explanation of the six Pains' abilities, Shinju nodded.
"I understand."
Tsunade, realizing Shinju's intentions, quickly tried to stop him.
"Shinju, don't act recklessly!"
"Amegakure is an extremely closed-off village. We don't know what traps Pain has laid there."
"If something happens to you, then Jiraiya's revenge will truly be lost."
But Shinju only smiled faintly.
"Tsunade-sensei, you seem to underestimate your disciple."
With that, his eyes turned blood-red Mangekyō!
Immediately, a jade-green Susanoo armor wrapped around him.
The armor expanded, growing more complete—
Until finally, it became the Complete Body Susanoo!
A towering war god, two hundred meters tall, clad in samurai armor, wielding a spiral sword, and with wings unfurled at his back!
The people in the Hokage's office: (≖╻≖;),--003d͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇),⊙▽⊙,Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
Koharu and Homura sank into deep thought.
They had once considered removing this genius from Konoha?
What kind of foolish idea was that?!
A shinobi who not only wielded Wood Release but also commanded the Complete Body Susanoo!
Such a man could rival—or even surpass—the legendary God of Shinobi himself!
Tsunade at that moment: (´◊ω◊｀)
This brat sure knows how to make me proud!
But next time, can you please not transform inside the Hokage's office?!
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
You broke through the ceiling!
I just had it fixed!!
Though that was what she thought, Tsunade didn't say it aloud.
She knew she couldn't stop Shinju's path, so she warned him instead.
"Be extremely careful. You're facing Pain—never let your guard down!"