Chapter 139: Do You Think Jiraiya Would Mourn for You?
Karin was unmistakably a descendant of the Uzumaki clan.
That signature crimson hair, paired with her exceptional sensory perception, gave off a distinct Kushina Uzumaki vibe.
Her regenerative abilities were also off the charts. Even when Sasuke had impaled her, she'd managed to recover completely.
"She's supposed to head to Konoha next year to participate in the Chūnin Exams," Kitagawa Gen thought to himself. "But who says I can't bring her over early?"
As long as her Uzumaki lineage was confirmed, even Konoha would have a hard time turning her away.
That said, Konoha could be a bit too obsessed with appearances and so-called "ninja professionalism." Just like that guy Zabuza...
But—
"I'm not your average ninja."
Even now, he hadn't let go of his grudge against Gato.
Not to mention, if he hadn't been trying to avoid making a huge scene, there was still that Box of Ultimate Bliss in the Land of Grass—supposedly one of the Six Paths' treasured tools.
---
"Gen, let's head out."
Kakashi suddenly spoke up.
"Coming here... it brought me peace. I feel lighter now."
"Mm." Kitagawa Gen nodded.
Then he paused, considering something before asking:
"Do you want to visit the other place? You know..."
"Rin's place?" Kakashi interrupted gently. He then glanced down at the bouquet resting by the stone.
With a wry chuckle, he asked, "Don't tell me you brought extra flowers and just want to use them all?"
"That's exactly it. I bought quite a few this time."
Kitagawa Gen replied honestly, before muttering under his breath:
"Besides... that 'Salamander Hanzō' mentioned someone might have their eyes on us. Are we really just going to ignore that?"
"Which is why," Kakashi sighed, rubbing his chin, "every single time I go on one of these little outings, nothing good comes out of it."
He was beginning to seriously question something:
Was the problem him…
Or was it Kitagawa Gen?
He'd always considered himself unlucky—those closest to him inevitably got "taken away."
But ever since Gen entered his life, things had definitely changed.
His awful luck? Still there—maybe even worse. Every encounter led to some high-level threat or catastrophe.
Yet at the same time, the nightmares that haunted him had vanished. Though he was the one still suffering, somehow...
"Maybe my luck hasn't turned around at all. Maybe... it's just Gen's absurdly strong luck dragging me along."
---
"Who do you think we're up against this time?"
"No idea," Kitagawa Gen replied. "But it won't be anything simple. That 'Hanzō' earlier… he felt off."
"He didn't have much chakra," Gen added quietly. "And he didn't show any signs of aging either. So…"
"A fake?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes. He trusted Gen's instincts.
"Or maybe… a stand-in of some kind?"
"Can't say for sure. But I think we're in for trouble."
Just as Gen was about to elaborate, he paused—his senses flaring. Kakashi seemed to feel it too and nodded.
"Yeah. Looks like we're about to find out who's causing trouble this time. Right, Obito?"
No sooner had he spoken than the space around them twisted—
And in the next instant, several figures materialized before them.
---
"Well, well, Hatake Kakashi. Still as dangerous as ever,"
growled Kurosuki Raiga with an annoyed snort.
"Your perception's gotten sharp, Kakashi."
Uchiha Obito stepped forward, his cold gaze fixed on his former comrade—but soon drifted past him toward the stone cairn behind him...
...and the flowers resting quietly atop it.
"Still clinging to the past like a pathetic weakling? You know I'm not dead."
"I'm not mourning the Obito of now," Kakashi replied, voice frost-cold. He slowly lifted his forehead protector, revealing the scarlet Sharingan beneath.
"I mourn the Obito who once inspired me—the real Obito.
The one who gave me something to believe in.
Not the vengeful ghost that's now turned against the entire ninja world!"
"You know nothing!" Obito roared, his chakra flaring as his fists clenched.
"And you think you're worthy of wielding that eye?!"
Their chakra surged—two old friends now bitter enemies, teetering on the edge of battle.
---
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
But before either could make a move, Kitagawa Gen struck first!
Vrrrmmm—!
A roaring column of high-pressure water shot forward like a blade, tearing through the trees and lashing out toward the Akatsuki group.
BOOM—!
In an instant, the surrounding forest was shredded. If Pain and the others hadn't dodged quickly, they would've been in serious trouble.
"That Water Style…"
Raiga's eyes widened—his Mist Village instincts kicking in. That wasn't a jutsu you saw every day.
The lines had now been drawn. With no more words left to exchange, Kakashi and Obito launched at each other, warping the very space around them.
As the two former comrades clashed in place, Kitagawa Gen grinned inwardly. He was happy to leave that battlefield behind.
His own target?
The six Paths of Pain and Kurosuki Raiga.
He charged straight toward the direction of the Hidden Grass Village—his real goal.
---
"Universal Pull!"
Just as he accelerated, a tremendous force yanked him back, halting his charge.
Gen raised a brow—but didn't panic.
In a flash, he flung a kunai.
And just as he was about to be dragged in—bam!—he vanished and reappeared back at his original position, via Flying Thunder God.
"This time," he muttered, eyes narrowing,
"It's time we settled this for good."
Tendo Pain gazed coldly at Kitagawa Gen, who had come to a halt. The other five Paths swiftly spread out, not to encircle Gen, but rather to stand defensively in front of Tendo, each one staring him down with icy indifference.
"This time, I'm going all out."
"All out, huh?"
Gen looked at the six figures before him and chuckled.
"Looks like something's seriously wrong with your real body. Otherwise, why keep fighting with a bunch of puppets instead of showing up yourself?"
"Real body? Puppets?"
Raiga Kurosuki blinked in confusion. He didn't quite understand what Gen meant, but he could sense one thing clearly—this kid gave off an extremely dangerous vibe.
"Let me take a wild guess," Gen continued, unbothered by Pain's silence. "Last time, I already tracked your real body, but you ran off—fast. Too fast. So, that tells me two things: Either your real body is seriously injured, or you're tied up with something important that keeps you from acting directly."
Pain's gaze sharpened.
"And there's one more thing I've been thinking about…" Gen said, sensing the intensity of the battle between Kakashi and Obito escalating in the distance. His own chakra was already stirring.
"If your body is that wounded, yet you still made it here, then that means someone must be helping you. Someone important to you."
Suddenly—BOOM!
The air seemed to compress violently as a powerful, invisible force slammed down onto the ground. The earth trembled, cracks spread like spiderwebs, and thick smoke billowed upward.
The sudden explosion stunned Raiga. He hadn't even seen what happened before the ground burst apart.
"What the hell was that...?"
Raiga swallowed hard, his nerves tightening. But Gen's voice rose again through the smoke and chaos.
"Looks like I was right. And the person helping you... must mean a lot to you."
He turned, now bathed in streaks of violet lightning. The natural energy around him surged wildly, and his white eyes stared down the group without fear.
In the blink of an eye—he vanished.
The short white blade of the White Fang was suddenly unsheathed, and lightning exploded outward like a violent storm.
A beast-like howl echoed through the air, and a spray of crimson blood burst across the sky like rain, staining the earth below.
"Did you really think I couldn't sense you, just because you were invisible?" Gen landed steadily, eyes still locked on the Six Paths of Pain. "Let me ask you something."
"When we went to the Land of Rain, Lord Jiraiya asked us to place flowers at Yahiko's grave. It was clear he still cared deeply for certain people."
Lightning danced again across the battlefield, and Gen's voice carried not only to the Six Paths—but also to Nagato, hidden far away and controlling them.
"So if all of you were to die today… do you really think Jiraiya would mourn you?"
---
Meanwhile – Grass Village
In a dimly lit room deep within Grass Village, Karin suddenly paused, anxiety welling up inside her.
"Why does something feel so… off today?"
She couldn't explain it, but the unease was sharp and persistent.
"Hey! Karin, get over here!"
A gruff voice from outside barked at her.
"Time to draw blood again! Move it!"
"...Alright."
Karin replied quietly and walked over. She was used to this. They had drawn her blood countless times.
Her blood had healing properties—potent enough to pull even dying people back from the brink. Because of that, the Grass ninja experimented on her relentlessly. Especially after her mother's death, they no longer held anything back.
BOOM—
The ground trembled slightly.
"Huh? An earthquake?" one of the Grass ninja muttered. "Weird... whatever. Hurry it up, you!"
But Karin didn't move this time. Her eyes widened.
"That's not an earthquake. That's… chakra shockwaves. Someone's fighting—someone powerful!"
And it was getting closer.
"Watch out!"
She shouted suddenly, crouching low to the ground.
"Huh?"
The others didn't understand—until it was too late.
BOOM—
A thunderous crash erupted as a monstrous figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere and smashed violently into the village wall.
In an instant, the wall crumbled, debris flying everywhere as the massive creature barreled through, crashing deeper into the village.
"What the hell is happening?!"
Panic spread through the Grass ninja like wildfire. Only Karin looked into the distance, her eyes wide with awe and fear.
She could sense it now—two massive chakra signatures were clashing.
And one of them...
One of them felt as bright and natural as sunlight itself—wild, untamed, and overwhelming.
"Just… what is this…?"