Inside the Hidden Rain Village, beneath the high-temperature combustion of the Goemon flames, Jiraiya's expression was solemn.
In his Sage Mode, his perception was enhanced to an extreme degree. He could clearly sense that the Fifth Kazekage across from him showed absolutely no signs of injury.
With the Ancient Crane Sage Seals swirling around Shiraishi's perimeter, a soft water-curtain iris cleverly neutralized Jiraiya's offensive.
Jiraiya's sudden intervention had completely exceeded Shiraishi's expectations; he truly was a ninja who did not play by conventional rules.
As the Ancient Crane Sage Seal represented Shiraishi's strongest defensive senjutsu, endless water currents condensed into a single point before erupting outward as countless water needles. The surrounding buildings were instantly riddled with innumerable holes.
While Jiraiya rapidly evaded Shiraishi's assault, Deidara—who was utilizing clay to construct golems—suddenly fired a beam of Dust Release from his palms.
Dust Release? Is this brat Ohnoki's disciple?
The bursting beam nearly shredded Jiraiya's body, but he used a Body Flicker to evade. Simultaneously, Shiraishi's feet were bound by a viscous substance created through a specialized Inorganic Reincarnation, while a silver light condensed in Jiraiya's palm.
Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!
Jiraiya rapidly gathered a massive amount of Sage chakra into his palm, forming a sphere dozens of times larger than a standard Rasengan. He charged directly at Shiraishi, the resulting gale stirring up a wave of scorching heat.
Shiraishi activated his Dragon Seal Sage Mode. His pupils transformed as powerful dragon-shaped air currents condensed around his claws. With a single sweep, the Dragon's Claw caught Jiraiya's Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan head-on.
The claw strike, combined with a Dual Chop, generated a terrifying cutting current that physically tore the Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan to pieces. Simultaneously, the airflow around Shiraishi began to spiral upward.
How is this possible!
Augmented by the power of the Dragon's Claw, the Dragon Dance currents surged around Shiraishi, and an explosive draconic aura rippled outward, exerting a horrifying sense of pressure.
With just a single strike of the Dragon's Claw, Shiraishi displayed terrifying physical damage capability. Even Jiraiya's meticulously prepared Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan failed to produce any effect.
Too strong!
While Jiraiya and Shiraishi were entangled, the Deva Path Pain made its move. Bansho Ten'in (Universal Pull) suddenly activated against Shiraishi.
As the specialized suction force erupted, Shiraishi's figure flickered. He unsheathed the Sword of Heavenly Path, swinging a gravity-defying blade that instantly suppressed Pain's Universal Pull.
During the gravitational confrontation between the two, Shiraishi's blade condensed a sharp, cold light aimed straight at the Deva Path. However, at that moment, Jiraiya launched countless sharp needles from his hair, while the Asura Path simultaneously released a powerful energy beam.
The Ancient Crane Sage Seal activated once more. The water iris skillfully blocked both attacks, though it caused Shiraishi's own momentum to stall for a moment.
"Jiraiya-sensei, you should not have involved yourself in this."
For the first time since Jiraiya entered the fray, the Deva Path Pain spoke, formally acknowledging his identity as one of the three disciples Jiraiya had once taken.
"No matter what you've become, you are still my former students."
Jiraiya's words caused the Deva Path to fall silent, but his hands did not stop. The Preta Path moved in, absorbing a large amount of surrounding chakra in an attempt to drain the power of Shiraishi's Ancient Crane Sage Seal.
"Presumptuous!"
Sensing the Preta Path's intent, Shiraishi's Sword of Heavenly Path transformed into a streak of chilling light, instantly piercing the Preta Path's body. However, the Hell Path was already prepared, summoning the King of Hell to rapidly repair the heavily damaged Preta Path.
Having experienced their previous encounter, the Six Paths of Pain had developed a cohesive combat system, successfully trapping Shiraishi in the center.
At this moment, Deidara and Uchiha Kaede dropped rapidly from the sky, taking positions on either side of Shiraishi. They stood in a tense standoff against Jiraiya, the Six Paths of Pain, and Konan.
"Those two... from the Uchiha family... how is this possible!"
Sensing the confusion in Jiraiya's voice, Shiraishi wasted no words. With a flick of his robes, streaks of silver-white light tore across the sky. He stood there with a towering, majestic presence, resembling a deity delivering judgment on behalf of the heavens.
Zzzt! Zzzt!
Innumerable bolts of electricity converged around his blade, expanding into a pillar of "Execution Light"!
The lightning force erupted. Under the assault of the sky-spanning current, Jiraiya relied on his Sage power, filling his body with the strength of Inorganic Reincarnation. His muscles expanded with explosive force as he charged into the fray. Ignoring the lightning damage manufactured by Shiraishi, he threw a heavy punch.
Illuminated by the dark light surrounding Shiraishi, the two engaged in a fierce physical struggle within the shadows.
As the darkness receded and the lightning dissipated, all illusions faded. Shiraishi's fist accurately met Jiraiya's right punch. Their muscles, fascia, and bones deformed under the impact, creating a tableau of raw power.
Ultimately, Shiraishi's strength proved superior. In that instant, Jiraiya's left arm went completely numb, briefly losing all sensation as the capillaries in his fist burst, sending droplets of blood flying.
"Why fight to this extent?"
Though Jiraiya was exceptionally powerful, there was still a significant gap between him and the current Shiraishi.
Though he didn't fully understand the motivation, Shiraishi would not miss this opportunity. Jiraiya was Konoha's strongest combat asset; if he fell here in the Land of Rain, Konoha's morale would crumble to its absolute nadir.
Thus, Shiraishi had already developed a killing intent, intending to leave Jiraiya buried in the Hidden Rain.
"A ninja must have a Nindo to follow. They are my beloved disciples; I naturally won't allow you to bully them."
A group of disciples who spend their days thinking about destroying the world to create a new one?
Watching Jiraiya fight so bloodily for them, Pain felt a stir in his heart. His tightly clenched fists involuntarily loosened.
"Jiraiya-sensei..."
"Nagato, you..."
Having lived with Nagato for years, Konan naturally perceived his shift in thought. She watched in horror as Nagato's true body emerged from the darkness of his hiding place.
"So it really is you, Nagato..."
Seeing Nagato appear in such a crippled state, Shiraishi's brow furrowed. He felt something was off.
Nagato, his face deathly pale, stared at the nearly flawless Fifth Kazekage. He had already reached a decision. "Jiraiya-sensei, you have done enough. Leave the rest to Akatsuki."
The moment his words fell, an invisible suction pulled Jiraiya's body away. Simultaneously, a massive summoning array manifested behind Nagato.
Outer Path Statue!
As the grotesque Outer Path Statue slowly emerged from behind Nagato, the souls and powers of the Six Paths of Pain all merged into the statue's mouth. Nagato's eyes slowly closed.
In an instant, as the Rinnegan's power returned entirely to Nagato, the Outer Path Statue began returning the life force it had once drained from him.
No, it wasn't a return—Nagato was sacrificing himself!
To manifest the complete Six Paths power of the Rinnegan, he had to fight in a more integrated form. Nagato knew clearly that his Six Paths of Pain fighting separately were no match for the strongest monster in the ninja world. He had to go all-out.
"Kazekage, the true battle starts now!"
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