Chapter 221 – Devil Fruit: The Face-Face Fruit
"I can handle this. Leave it to me," Yusuke said calmly.
In the blink of an eye, he teleported to the Land of Rain, instantly locking onto Jiraiya's chakra signature.
At that moment, Jiraiya was deep within battle—trying to enter Sage Mode while being relentlessly hunted through the rain-soaked ruins by Pain.
"Jiraiya-boy, who in the world are you fighting? Why does he have six pairs of Rinnegan eyes?" asked Fukasaku, the old Toad Sage perched on his shoulder.
"I don't know either… As far as I remember, only one person ever possessed those eyes—and that was my student." Jiraiya's brow furrowed, rain dripping from his hair. "Don't tell me… Nagato's dead?"
"Don't think about it too much! Focus and finish entering Sage Mode already," Shima, the female Sage, chided sharply.
The natural energy around them began to swirl and gather. Gradually, it fused with Jiraiya's chakra, marking the start of his Sage Transformation.
His skin thickened and became rougher, his hands and face taking on amphibian traits—his human form beginning to merge with that of a toad.
At the same time, six figures emerged through the mist and surrounded him.
"This time," Jiraiya said, his tone shifting into theatrical bravado, "I'll rely on Sage Mode instead of ninjutsu! Now, lift your heads and witness this—standing before you is the great hero, Jirai—!"
Before he could even finish his line, both Sages smacked him in the face simultaneously.
"Stop yelling in our ears!" they shouted in unison.
"Dammit… and here I thought I had my cool moment," Jiraiya muttered bitterly, clutching his cheek.
One of the Pains lunged forward. Jiraiya countered instantly, landing a powerful kick that sent the body flying. The sheer increase in physical power from Sage Mode was staggering.
"Let's finish this quickly. And please, no more shouting," he said seriously, eyes narrowing. Even he wouldn't dare underestimate the Rinnegan.
"Jiraiya-boy, use Wind Release!" Shima called.
Jiraiya nodded. "Sage Art: Goemon!"
Together, he and the two Sages formed hand seals.
A massive torrent of flame roared forward, fueled by Shima's oil and fanned by Fukasaku's wind—merging into an ocean of fire that scorched the entire street.
But one of the Pain bodies—the Preta Path—leapt ahead, raising a hand. In a single motion, the inferno vanished, sucked away into nothingness.
"He absorbed the oil?" Jiraiya's expression hardened. That wasn't ordinary chakra—it was Sage Chakra.
"Then… we'll fight up close!" he said.
He kicked off his sandals, leaping onto the wall and clinging to it like a frog. His transformation deepened. In an instant, he launched himself toward the Naraka Path.
"Super Giant Rasengan!"
A massive sphere of chakra erupted from his hand, roaring toward his opponent. But again, the Path raised its hand—and the Rasengan was swallowed whole.
"He can absorb all ninjutsu…?" Jiraiya muttered, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Behind you!" Fukasaku and Shima shouted together.
Fukasaku hurled a purple sphere to the ground, which burst into a thick, dark mist. Within that smoke, Jiraiya darted forward silently and struck at the Deva Path.
But even in total darkness, his enemy raised an arm to block.
"What the—? He can see me? Does the Rinnegan grant 360-degree vision?" Jiraiya thought in disbelief. That ability was supposed to belong only to the Byakugan—or maybe the Six Eyes.
"Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!"
His hair stiffened into hundreds of deadly spikes, launching toward the Animal Path. But in an instant, a giant summoning beast appeared before it, blocking every projectile.
"This isn't good. Even Sage Mode might not be enough…" Jiraiya's face tensed.
"Who are these people…" Fukasaku whispered, worry seeping into his tone.
If ninjutsu's useless, we're at a disadvantage, Jiraiya thought grimly.
"Jiraiya-boy, maybe we should retreat for now," Fukasaku advised.
Jiraiya nodded. With a poof of smoke, he vanished into the shadows, putting distance between them. The Six Paths didn't immediately pursue.
"Come to think of it," Shima said, "if that man really is your student, he should know you can't use Genjutsu."
"Then… we could use that against him," Fukasaku added.
"You're right," Shima replied, nodding firmly.
"Our Genjutsu works through sound—through song, carried into the ears," Fukasaku explained.
"I get it," Jiraiya said, stopping in his tracks. His eyes sharpened.
"What is it?" Fukasaku asked.
"If things get dangerous, you two must escape immediately."
"No way! This fight could decide the future of the ninja world!" Fukasaku argued.
"The future of the ninja world…?" Jiraiya smiled faintly. "That's not enough. The fate of this world will be decided by one person alone. As long as Tsunade's alive… she won't sit idly by."
He looked out into the distance, eyes filled with quiet conviction.
"You're right," Shima murmured. "If Yusuke were here, this would already be over."
"Enough," Fukasaku said sternly, giving her a sharp look.
He understood what Jiraiya was thinking. His student planned to sacrifice himself—to make Yusuke intervene. Jiraiya knew Yusuke wouldn't act easily. But if Tsunade was the one to ask… he surely would.
"Jiraiya-boy… is this your decision?" Fukasaku asked solemnly.
"Yes," Jiraiya replied with a soft smile. "Whether it's Konoha or Naruto… as long as they're left in Yusuke's hands, I have nothing to worry about. He's… unbeatable."
"Then we'll fight with you to the end!" Shima declared.
Jiraiya exhaled slowly and began forming seals.
Pain appeared again—six bodies, advancing through the ruins.
"Earth Release: Dark Swamp!"
The ground beneath three of them liquefied into a thick, sticky mire, trapping them in place.
Fukasaku and Shima began their duet, their voices harmonizing in eerie rhythm. Within seconds, three of the Pain bodies froze, caught in the toads' auditory illusion—Frog Song. Even the Rinnegan couldn't resist its hypnotic power.
"I taught you not to lower your guard," Jiraiya said quietly, stepping toward them.
"You truly were a great teacher… Jiraiya-sensei," came a voice behind him.
"—No!!" Jiraiya spun and leapt, bursting through the wall.
But he was too late.
The Asura Path was already upon him, its arm transforming into a blade that sliced through his right arm in one brutal strike.
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, blood splattering the walls as he looked up. The Asura Path loomed above him—and behind it, five other bodies appeared, including three that should've been defeated.
Among them… a face he recognized.
"Yahiko…?" Jiraiya whispered in disbelief. "You too…?"
Even in shock, his mind stayed sharp, analyzing the formation, the timing, the coordination.
The Six Paths moved together. Their combined assault was unstoppable.
Jiraiya knew he couldn't win. But retreat was no longer an option.
"The life of a shinobi isn't defined by how he lives… but by what he does before he dies," he said to himself, steadying his stance.
His body was failing, his chakra nearly gone. Yet there was no fear—only acceptance.
The Six Pains charged, their killing intent closing in from every direction.
'So this is it, huh?' Jiraiya thought. 'Guess this is where I die.'
But there was no regret in his eyes. No sadness.
In the final seconds, he saw a vision—a bright grin, a boy in an orange jacket raising his thumb proudly.
"Naruto… I believe you'll become Hokage."
Jiraiya smiled one last time.
And then—an unfamiliar, almost comical voice echoed from afar.
"Excuse me… but may I borrow your faces for a moment?"
Before anyone could react, an invisible force exploded outward.
All six bodies of Pain were hurled away violently—scattered like ragdolls by an overwhelming power that none of them could comprehend.
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