Within the steel forest that was Amegakure, Jiraiya, ever reliant on the toads' resilience, managed to buy enough time, summon the Two Great Sages, and enter Sage Mode.
Although Jiraiya had never possessed innate talent for Sage Jutsu and couldn't achieve Sage Mode on his own even after so many years, in a way, his Sage Mode was even more refined.
With the help of the Two Great Sages, Jiraiya no longer needed to worry about the consumption of Sage Chakra.
These two toads acted like external power sources, continuously absorbing natural energy and refining it into Sage Chakra for him.
In terms of endurance, he far surpassed Naruto, who didn't rely on Shadow Clones or the Nine-Tails.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound of wooden clogs echoed through the tunnel. Jiraiya, having undergone a complete transformation, stepped out. He looked up at the orange-haired man and the flamboyant blue-haired woman floating in the sky, sighing, "So many years have passed in the blink of an eye."
"The innocent little girl back then has grown into a remarkable woman, hasn't she?"
Konan's expression remained unchanged at his praise. "Sensei, you haven't changed at all. Still just as perverted as ever."
"Hahaha!" Jiraiya didn't feel the slightest embarrassment and even nodded in agreement. "As long as men are breathing, they all have a bit of a lecherous side."
"I never thought you would join Akatsuki. I heard rumors back then and assumed you had died in the chaos"
"It was experiencing a pain worse than death that led us to understand the meaning of peace," Pain explained calmly.
Jiraiya stared at those deep purple eyes. "Peace? That doesn't seem to align with your actions. Akatsuki, once a ruthless mercenary group, has now begun collecting Tailed Beasts, provoking all the major villages. Is this your version of peace?"
"These sacrifices are necessary," Pain replied patiently. "By gathering all the Tailed Beasts, the Akatsuki can create an ultimate weapon capable of destroying a major village in an instant. Only by experiencing pain will people truly understand the value of peace."
Jiraiya's brows furrowed deeply. "Utter nonsense. Konan, are you really siding with someone like this? These eyes… aren't they the eyes of the long–"
"Mortals cannot comprehend the path of gods, Sensei. I already gave you a chance to leave. Since you didn't take it, stay here forever," the Pain's voice echoed through the steel jungle.
"Sensei?" Jiraiya's pupils contracted. "Nagato, is that you?"
Pain didn't respond. Instead, two figures landed beside him and attacked Jiraiya simultaneously.
A battle that could be called a peak clash in the shinobi world erupted.
Of course, that pinnacle didn't include the true figures lurking behind the scenes.
How strong was Jiraiya in Sage Mode?
Very strong.
But he was still a shinobi, and what mattered most to shinobi?
Information.
Having or lacking intelligence could significantly impact a shinobi's battle strategy and style.
Against the enigmatic and ever-changing Pain, Jiraiya felt immense frustration. He often had to pay a high price just to obtain a single piece of intel, and even then, there was no guarantee it was accurate.
To Pain, Jiraiya wasn't unfamiliar.
Even the unique techniques Jiraiya had honed in Sage Mode came at a cost when fighting against Pain's regenerating puppet bodies.
Eventually, the battle spilled from Amegakure to the open sea.
All Six Paths of Pain revealed themselves. Jiraiya lost an arm, Sage Mode was canceled, and with the Great Sage leaving, his fate was sealed.
Using the last of his strength, he carved a message onto Fukasaku's back. Jiraiya, utterly spent, allowed himself to sink into the ocean as water flooded into his body.
In his final moments, his mind flickered with scenes of his life, like a revolving lantern.
Failure had followed him throughout his journey. His career as a shinobi felt like it had amounted to nothing.
He failed to protect his friends, couldn't save his comrades, and was unable to properly guide his disciples.
In the end, his scattered thoughts settled on the prophecy given to him by the Great Toad Sage decades ago.
"You, who only care about women, will one day become an outstanding shinobi and even take on disciples. Your disciples will bring about great change in the shinobi world—either toward stability or destruction."
Maybe Jiraiya had chosen the path of destruction.
Yami... I leave it to you in the end.
Jiraiya slowly closed his eyes.
Watching his former Sensei swallowed by the ocean, Pain's expression wavered slightly but quickly returned to calm. He solemnly turned to Konan and said, "Now that Konoha has uncovered our secret, we must accelerate our plan. Capture the Eight Tails first, then head for Konoha."
"Let's hold off on Konoha for now."
Coincidentally, Tobi returned just in time to hear Pain's plan and immediately interjected.
"You're back? What about Uchiha Itachi and Kisame?" Pain asked upon seeing the masked man.
Behind the mask, Tobi also looked surprised.
He had been so concerned about being surrounded by multiple Mangekyō Sharingan and Yami that he had fled in haste and forgotten about Kisame.
But when he returned to the battlefield, he hadn't seen Kisame. The guy must have already escaped, right?
"I rushed back because I have urgent information to share."
Tobi smoothly changed the subject and said in a deep voice, "Yami has raised a major flag. Ten years ago, when I worked with Uchiha Itachi to wipe out the Uchiha clan, he secretly saved many people. Even Uchiha Shisui didn't die."
"That recent battle wasn't internal strife. It was the cursed souls of the Uchiha clan seeking vengeance on Uchiha Itachi. They had six pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan."
Upon hearing this, Pain's expression turned grave.
He had a basic understanding of Mangekyō Sharingan's power through Itachi. Within the organization, he trusted few—Itachi being one, and Kisame, who could suppress Jinchūriki, being another.
The others were just pawns.
Konoha was already strong enough to make him cautious. With their strength rising further, he found himself without a clear path forward.
"What do you suggest we do?" Pain threw the question back at the masked man.
"First, capture the Eight Tails… then go speak with Orochimaru."
Tobi's tone carried clear reluctance, but for the sake of the Eye of the Moon Plan, he had to consider unconventional reinforcements.
"Orochimaru… Edo Tensei?" Pain immediately guessed his intention.
"Do you have a better idea?"
Tobi's palm slowly turned, his tone growing colder. "Even with my ability and your Rinnegan, facing multiple Mangekyō is extremely troublesome—especially with Yami, who has Hashirama's power."
"The terror of Wood Release… Only those who lived through the era of me and Hashirama can truly understand."
After weighing the pros and cons, Pain nodded, agreeing to the masked man's proposal.
"So… Jiraiya is really dead?"
Konoha.
Not long after Yami returned to the village with his team, Fukasaku, who had escaped to Mount Myōboku, arrived with the dying message Jiraiya had left, seeking help from Konoha.
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade was visibly dazed after hearing Fukasaku's recounting of the events in Ame.
There was no romantic connection between her and Jiraiya. Tsunade had never had feelings for him.
But they had been teammates for decades. Jiraiya was one of the few friends Tsunade had in the shinobi world.
The rest of the room fell into silence.
While mourning for the heroic shinobi, a deeper sense of unease gripped them.
The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths had resurfaced in the world. Even someone like Jiraiya was no match and could only return critical intel before falling.
The Akatsuki's strength had once again exceeded their expectations.
In the corner, Naruto silently lowered his head, his nose tingling.
Although he hadn't traveled with Jiraiya, it was during the Chūnin Exams that Jiraiya taught him the Summoning Technique.
Later, he learned that Jiraiya had been his father's mentor, making their bond even closer.
"Right now, the most important task is to protect the Nine Tails Jinchūriki. We cannot let Pain succeed."
Fukasaku glanced at Yami.
He had heard many things about this young Hokage from Jiraiya, but didn't fully understand human conflicts.
He only knew that Yami and Jiraiya weren't enemies.
But in matters involving the shinobi world's future, a Hokage shouldn't act on personal emotion, right?
Under Fukasaku's gaze, Yami called an Anbu.
"Copy the code and send it for decryption."
After the Anbu left, he looked at Fukasaku and said, "First of all, I don't want to hear the term 'Nine Tails Jinchūriki' from your mouth again."
"Is this really the time to quibble over such details?" Fukasaku replied with frustration.
Yami answered seriously, "Naruto is my student, the son of the Fourth Hokage, and a well-known Genin of the village. Aren't those identities more appropriate than 'Nine Tails Jinchūriki'?"
Naruto was touched at first, but after hearing that last sentence, he couldn't help but grumble, "Yami-nii, that last part was totally unnecessary!"
Sasuke's thoughts stirred as well.
Having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, his strength had once again grown. But like Naruto, he was still just a Genin.
The rest of the Uchiha clan were now serving in the Anbu and holding high positions. It was time for him to raise his status too.
"Alright then," Fukasaku compromised with a sigh. "I suggest sending Naruto to Mount Myōboku. Jiraiya hoped he would learn Sage Jutsu there, and it's safer."
"No need," Yami immediately rejected the idea. "It's not worth making a big deal over just one Pain. And Naruto's safety is not a concern."
Fukasaku frowned.
Yami ignored it and continued, "Even if you hadn't come, I was preparing to contact Mount Myōboku."
"The key the Fourth Hokage entrusted to you—it's time for it to return to its rightful owner."
"Key? What key?"
Fukasaku didn't react at first, but when Yami took out a scroll and gave it a shake, he immediately understood.
"No, this is too risky. Naruto is still a child. How can he completely unseal the Nine Tails?"
"What?"
Kakashi also looked at Yami in surprise. "Is it really okay to take that step now?"
"Kakashi, I am the Hokage."
Yami answered firmly, then turned to Naruto, who was still confused.
"Naruto, you're the one this concerns. The choice is yours. Decide for yourself."
"Yami-sensei, what key are you talking about?"
Yami explained for Naruto and everyone present, "It's the final step to unlocking the Nine Tails' power."
"Right now, your partial transformation is actually a forceful extraction of its chakra, and it's being weakened by the seal."
"This key removes the seal completely. After that, whether you suppress the Nine Tails with your own will or communicate and harmonize with it, you'll be able to use its chakra efficiently."
"There's risk, yes, but the benefits are huge. Whether you attempt it or not is up to you."
Only the strong can oppose the strong.
Sasuke was already preparing to ride Susanoo. Naruto's configuration needed to catch up. The two guardians' levels couldn't be too far apart.
Would Naruto refuse?
Impossible. As an Asura, his most notable trait was stubbornness. He would never turn down a chance to become stronger over a little danger.
As expected.
After some thought, Naruto gave a firm nod and pleaded, "Sensei, I want to try."
"Did you hear that?"
Yami looked at the sleepy Fukasaku on the table. "That's the will of the one involved. Mount Myōboku is just the custodian. Don't worry yourself unnecessarily."
Fukasaku had no choice but to agree under Yami's firm stance, promising to have the scroll-carrying toad deliver it to Konoha the next day.
After that, Fukasaku returned to Mount Myōboku to report.
Yami, meanwhile, just ordered heightened vigilance in Konoha and dismissed everyone.
"What do you think about the Akatsuki Organization… should we consult grandfather for a plan?" Tsunade asked with a frown.
"No need."
Yami stood and left the Hokage's office alongside Tsunade. "The most important intel Jiraiya brought back was the location of Akatsuki's base. Now that we know where they are, we'll just go knock on their front door."
"Wherever you go, I'll go too."
"Once the Uchiha clan stabilizes, I'll personally head out."
(To be continued.)
I was listening to Licht und Schatten by Yutaka Yamada while working on this, and damn, the Jiraiya part almost made me shed tears again.
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