"Even the ultimate peace your plan promises is only temporary. How is it any different from the intermittent peace achieved between the successive Great Ninja Wars under the current order of the shinobi world?"
For the first time, Pain fell silent.
Because what Jiraiya and Kakashi had said made perfect sense.
However, Nagato had already considered these issues before. He simply didn't want to admit what he truly thought.
But Jiraiya had said it for him.
"I know, Nagato. I know you understand what the real difference is, but you're afraid to say it, aren't you?"
"Because the moment you admit that difference, you will no longer be someone who calls himself the God of Peace. You will simply be a God of War seeking revenge!"
Kakashi Hatake frowned.
"Jiraiya-sama, what you mean is..."
Jiraiya said solemnly, "The only difference between the Tailed Beast weapons possessed by Pain and the Great Ninja Wars is this..."
"The Great Ninja Wars were started by the Great Nations."
"But the Tailed Beast weapons are in his own hands—in the hands of the smaller nations represented by the Hidden Rain Village."
Kakashi's heart trembled.
So that was the real situation...
If Pain truly considered himself a God of Peace, then the Tailed Beast weapons wouldn't mean much.
But if he considered himself a God of War, then those weapons would be his greatest bargaining chip for balancing the Great Nations and maintaining the ultimate "nuclear deterrent" in his own hands.
But in that case, claiming that his actions were for peace would be nothing more than hypocrisy.
It would simply be a counter-threat from a small nation against the great powers.
Jiraiya continued, "Nagato, I know about the sins the Great Nations committed against the Hidden Rain Village back then, and I will never deny any of them!"
"But now, it seems that you are the one denying them..."
"Why don't you just admit that you want revenge against the great nations of the shinobi world?!"
Pain remained indifferent.
But Nagato, who was standing behind him, suddenly looked up.
He was breathing slowly, his face pale, and blood was even trickling from his nose.
Indeed, no one understood him better than Jiraiya-sensei.
So, what was the point of continuing this conversation?
Pain coldly said, "Jiraiya-sensei, perhaps you can understand the arrogance and sins of the Great Nations, but unfortunately, most people in the shinobi world are not Jiraiya-sensei."
"Back then, Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure chose to wage war solely for their own interests and because of their disagreements with one another, spreading suffering throughout the lands of the Hidden Rain Village."
"It was small nations like ours that were crushed beneath your wars!"
"At a time like that, would anyone have stood up for justice on behalf of the Hidden Rain Village?"
"Even though Hanzo is the person I hate the most, when he declared war against the Great Nations for the sake of the Hidden Rain Village, perhaps it was arrogance, perhaps it was madness, but he was still a hero to the Hidden Rain Village!"
"You're right. Perhaps the Tailed Beast weapons and the Great Ninja Wars aren't all that different. But that one difference is also the most important difference!"
"In this shinobi world, the authority over war and peace should not be controlled solely by the Five Great Nations!"
"And I will be the god who controls it all!"
"If I want war, there will be war!"
"If I want peace, there will be peace!"
Kakashi Hatake looked at Pain, who seemed to be on the verge of losing his mind, and then glanced at the worried Jiraiya.
"It seems there's no point in talking any further..."
Jiraiya shook his head.
"Ah, those who walk different paths cannot work together. The only thing left is to fight."
At that moment, Animal Path, riding on a Yatagarasu, suddenly descended from the sky.
Pain stood beside him.
Animal Path immediately activated his ninjutsu.
"Summoning Technique!"
In an instant, all the Paths of Pain who were still wreaking havoc throughout Konoha, along with Konan, were summoned to this location.
Tendo, Animal Path, Naraka Path, Human Path, Preta Path, Asura Path, and Konan—a total of seven people—stood in the distance, staring coldly at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya looked at Konan.
"So, it really was you, Konan?"
"It's been so many years, and you've grown into such a beautiful woman..."
"But just because you have origami wings on your back, you don't really think you're an angel, do you?"
Konan's clear, cold voice remained emotionless.
"Jiraiya-sensei, please don't stand in our way."
"I don't want to kill you."
Jiraiya laughed.
"You think you can kill me?!"
"Looks like I've raised a group of students who betrayed their master and strayed from the right path..."
"Today is a good day to clean up the ranks completely!"
However, Kakashi Hatake's expression was extremely grim.
Even with himself and Jiraiya present, they could be considered Konoha's two strongest combat forces.
But now they were facing seven enemies—the Six Paths of Pain and Konan—each possessing their own unique abilities.
There was almost no chance of victory.
Moreover, they couldn't expect the other reinforcements to arrive anytime soon.
The Six Paths of Pain could instantly converge on this battlefield using the Summoning Technique.
But Konoha's shinobi couldn't do the same.
On top of that, there were still numerous summoned beasts roaming around the village, and the shinobi also had to deal with them.
Kakashi couldn't sense any sign of reinforcements within his detection range.
Even if they were already on their way, it would take several minutes for them to arrive.
But on this rapidly changing battlefield, even a few minutes was far too long.
By the time the reinforcements arrived, Kakashi and Jiraiya-sama might already be dead.
Despite this, Kakashi had no way to retreat.
At this point, all that remained was a desperate struggle!
As a veteran who had participated in countless battles, Jiraiya didn't hesitate for even a moment.
"Kakashi, let's go!"
"Yes, Jiraiya-sama!"
The two of them immediately released their chakra and power simultaneously, launching a fierce assault against the Six Paths of Pain and Konan.
"Secret Technique: Toad Oil Bullet!"
Taking advantage of the weakness of Konan's paper-based ninjutsu, Jiraiya unleashed a barrage of toad oil bullets, attempting to overwhelm her with the sticky oil.
But—
Preta Path immediately activated his ability and suddenly stepped in front of Konan.
He raised both hands and absorbed all of the toad oil.
"Hmm?!"
"He absorbed my ninjutsu and chakra?"
"As expected of the Rinnegan... It's certainly troublesome."
At the same time, Kakashi Hatake suddenly unleashed a long-range Lightning Release attack.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!"
A massive bolt of lightning transformed into a roaring thunder wolf and suddenly charged toward the Six Paths of Pain.
However, before the violent lightning could reach Tendo, it seemed to slam into an invisible wall.
With a tremendous boom, the attack scattered and completely disappeared.
"Huh? What kind of ability is that?!"
Kakashi's expression became even more serious.
At that moment, the counterattack of the Six Paths of Pain erupted.
"Strange Armed Rocket!"
Asura Path suddenly pulled back his wrist and fired a series of chakra missiles, targeting both Jiraiya and Kakashi.
Kakashi slammed his hand against the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A massive earth wall carved with dog heads instantly rose from the ground, shielding Kakashi and Jiraiya behind it.
However, in the blink of an eye, the wall was blown apart by the chakra missiles.
The ground shook violently as dust and fragments of stone scattered in every direction.
Jiraiya and Kakashi could only retreat temporarily.
But just then, a roar suddenly came from behind them.
Several Hellhounds charged toward them, snapping their jaws viciously.
A kunai instantly appeared in Kakashi's hand, wrapped in crackling Lightning Release chakra.
He swung it downward twice with tremendous force.
Slash!
With a single strike, he sliced one of the attacking Hellhounds cleanly in two.
"Nice work, Kakashi!"
As Jiraiya praised him, he suddenly saw the Hellhound split into two separate creatures and attack again from both sides.
"Hmm?!"
Both of them immediately recoiled, but before they could react, the Yatagarasu overhead had already launched a barrage of chakra bombs.
The projectiles struck the ground, sending flames soaring into the sky as continuous explosions engulfed both of them.
"Frog Mouth Binding Technique!"
Amid the smoke and dust, Jiraiya remained calm.
He immediately activated the secret technique of Mount Myōboku, summoning the stomach wall of the Great Toad Iwagama and swallowing the Hellhounds in a single gulp.
At the same time, Kakashi Hatake launched a surprise attack from underground, targeting the Six Paths of Pain.
It turned out that he had used Earth Release during the explosion.
The master of ninjutsu had descended underground and was now attempting to catch the Six Paths of Pain off guard by attacking them from behind.
This was Kakashi's Earth Release technique, combined with his greatest weapon—
"Chidori!"
The attack came suddenly from underground and struck from behind Pain, making it nearly impossible to anticipate.
But—
Preta Path suddenly changed direction and completely intercepted Kakashi's Chidori.
He absorbed the entire attack, along with all of its ninjutsu and chakra!
"How can this be...?"
At the same time, Asura Path suddenly appeared from the side.
"Sawtooth Attack!"
Sharp, saw-like blades protruded from his arm as he violently slashed toward Kakashi.
Kakashi tried to escape, but Preta Path held him in place.
And then—
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The saw-like blades of Asura Path mercilessly pierced through Kakashi's body.
Blood suddenly sprayed into the air.
"Ahhhhhhh—!"
________________________________________
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