Two unlucky shinobi from the Hidden Rain Village were captured and sealed inside the stomach of a giant toad. Under interrogation, Jiraiya learned that the previous leader of Amegakure, Hanzo the Salamander, who once granted them the title of Sannin, had long since been killed by the one they now called their God. The village was under that so-called God's rule, and to the villagers, he had brought peace.
From their tone, they worshiped this God deeply. And beside Him, they spoke of an angel who served as his messenger, a powerful figure always at his side.
While Jiraiya questioned them, Nagato, now controlling a different body, had detected the intrusion. Sheets of paper drifted through the night like snow, gathering and folding into a woman's upper form.
Konan.
"How is it?" the Animal Path asked.
"It is Jiraiya," Konan replied quietly, her voice steady and unreadable.
"Jiraiya-sensei, is it? How nostalgic." Though he said the words, no emotion stirred within the body that spoke. It was merely a corpse, animated by chakra.
"What should we do, Pain?" Konan asked.
"He is not our ally. The Nine-Tails' jinchuriki is his student, is he not?"
"Most likely," Konan answered softly.
"Then kill him. There is nothing left to hesitate over."
"If we were truly set on killing him, we would not have sent this weaker body," Konan thought to herself, but said nothing. Too many people they once cherished were already gone. Jiraiya was one of the few remaining pieces of that past.
She did not wish to kill him.
If possible, she wanted to drive him out of the Rain.
"Lead the way," the Animal Path commanded.
Konan folded a sheet of paper into a small plane, letting it float before Pain.
"Before you arrive, I will confront him first," she said. Her voice was calm, but her eyes carried a quiet, fragile hope.
If she could just push him away and make him leave. If not...
Jiraiya learned nothing more from his captives. They knew nothing of the true identities of God or the Angel. Using the Toad Flat Shadow Manipulation Technique, he hid within the shadow of one Rain shinobi, planning to collect more information.
But he did not get far before thousands of paper sheets surged toward him, wrapping the shinobi like a mummy.
Konan formed fully from paper, raising her hand as a spear of folded pages took shape.
Before she could strike, Jiraiya burst from the man's shadow and exhaled a stream of fire.
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"
Konan darted away, the fire forcing her back. Seizing the opening, Jiraiya emerged into the rain-dark street.
Konan stood unharmed once the smoke faded, watching him with calm eyes.
"Toad Flat Shadow Manipulation. I see you still favor that trick."
"I set the bait hoping to lure out this God, but instead, you took the hook," Jiraiya smiled.
He looked at her, truly looked.
Her paper wings framed her like a ghost of innocence long lost.
"You grew sharper with your techniques, and you turned into a fine woman, Konan."
So he was right to come here.
He met a familiar face dressed now in the cloak of the Akatsuki.
The organization they once dreamed about. Nagato. Yahiko. Konan.
"It seems you did not die after all, just became light sheets of paper," he joked weakly.
Konan did not flinch. She was no longer the shy girl from years ago.
A captured Rain ninja on the ground stared up at her in awe.
"Angel... you are the Angel," he whispered.
"Oh? So you are the angel they spoke of?" Jiraiya touched his chin thoughtfully. "Then that God must be Nagato or Yahiko. Which one, I wonder? Why is a man called Pain bearing the Rinnegan?"
"This man is an intruder," the Rain ninja blurted.
"Step back," Konan ordered.
"Yes!" He retreated quickly, knowing this battle was far beyond him.
"So you are God's emissary. Then tell me, who is this God? Nagato? Yahiko? Why does someone named Pain wear the Rinnegan?" Jiraiya demanded.
"It has nothing to do with you," Konan answered coldly.
Paper swirled behind her, forming enormous wings.
"Ah. So this is why they call you an angel," Jiraiya murmured, gaze sharpening. "What advantage does that form give you?"
"This is God's will. I am here to kill you."
Her wings opened, releasing a storm of paper kunai.
Jiraiya countered with a burst of fire, expecting flame to dominate paper, yet her barrage shredded it effortlessly, forcing him to leap aside.
But he knew her jutsu well. He had taught her himself.
And he knew paper's weakness.
He inhaled.
"Toad Oil Bullet!"
A wave of sticky oil drenched Konan before she could evade. Jiraiya slapped his hands together. His hair shot out like living vines, binding her tight.
"Once drenched in oil, your paper can't split anymore," Jiraiya said, stepping close. "Among the three of you, you were always the gentle one. Where are the other two now?"
"Nagato and Yahiko... what happened to them?"
He remembered Sasuke's words about the masked Uchiha guiding the Akatsuki from behind. If that man stole Nagato's eyes, then Konan might be under genjutsu.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, quietly sensing her chakra flow.
No sign of illusion.
Relief softened his expression.
"I heard rumors of your deaths. I searched, but found nothing. I thought you were truly gone. Then news of the Rinnegan reached me and I had to come," Jiraiya said quietly.
"But you joined the Akatsuki."
"You must have wished you listened to Orochimaru back then," Konan replied emotionlessly.
"If you mean killing you three when we met, I never once wished that," Jiraiya answered. "I taught you to survive a world of chaos. You were my students. And now you attack me without even greeting me first. It saddens me, Konan."
He had heard of their victories in Rain, the reputation they built. It once made him proud.
Then news came they died.
"Sensei, you do not understand what came after," Konan said softly.
"Then tell me. Is that why you founded the Akatsuki?"
Before she could answer, Jiraiya's body jerked.
Something unseen snared his waist.
A massive crab tore his hair binding apart and flung him through the air. He steadied himself, landing lightly as a voice echoed from above.
"We found our answer ourselves, Jiraiya-sensei."