Watching Nagato drift high in the air, the Konoha ninja below were completely baffled.
From their perspective, even if the enemy intended to attack from above, that height was simply absurd.
Only Jiraiya looked frantic as he shouted loudly, "Nagato! What are you trying to do?!"
Unlike the others, he knew very well that Nagato possessed the Rinnegan.
Those were the eyes once held by the Sage of Six Paths himself!
The power contained within them was something ordinary people could never comprehend.
Yet Nagato seemed not to hear him at all. Terrifying chakra began to pour out of his body without restraint.
Jiraiya's expression changed sharply. He bit his finger and slammed his palm against the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"
At the same time, countless sheets of paper gathered on Konan's back, forming enormous wings like those of an angel.
With a single gentle flap, the wings carried Kakuzu upward into the sky as well.
The wind in the air seemed as if someone had pressed a pause button. Heaven and earth fell deathly silent.
The next instant, an overwhelming repulsive force exploded outward with Nagato at its center.
Boom!
Under that terrifying power, the once-bustling Tanzaku Street was reduced to ashes in an instant.
The Konoha ninja stationed there were like willow leaves drifting helplessly in a gale, unable to evade at all.
Some were smashed into solid walls, while others were buried directly beneath collapsing rubble.
In the blink of an eye, the entire Tanzaku Street turned into a living hell, wails and screams rising one after another.
"This kind of power…"
Standing atop Gamabunta's head, Jiraiya stared at the ruins before him in disbelief, a chill running through his heart.
In just a single moment, Tanzaku Street had been completely destroyed.
Of the more than three thousand Konoha ninja stationed here, fewer than a hundred could be seen crying out amid the ruins.
Gamabunta took a drag from his pipe and muttered, "Jiraiya, looks like the enemy we've run into this time is a real handful."
Jiraiya did not respond, his eyes locked firmly on Nagato as he slowly descended.
He scolded sternly, "Nagato, is this really the outcome you wanted?"
"Look at the people you've killed in these ruins! Every single one of them represented a happy, complete family!"
"You bring destruction and ruin to others—can you truly feel at ease calling yourself the side of justice?"
Hearing this, Nagato replied coldly, "Everyone stands in a different position. The justice in their hearts is naturally different as well."
"So-called justice is nothing more than a cloak worn by the victor."
"Jiraiya-sensei, these eyes of mine can see the essence of things far more clearly than you."
After speaking, he saw the grave look on Jiraiya's face and continued, almost persuading him, "Jiraiya-sensei, you once said that I was the Child of Prophecy who could lead change in the ninja world."
"That I would bring peace to the ninja world. You may not approve of my methods, but at the very least, you shouldn't stand in my way as an enemy."
Although Nagato had long since abandoned the illusion of being any so-called Child of Prophecy after learning from Yuzuru Uchiha that his Rinnegan was merely part of Uchiha Madara's scheme, Jiraiya had still taught him for three years.
For that reason, Nagato did not wish to fight Jiraiya to the death.
"The Child of Prophecy can bring change to the ninja world," Jiraiya said slowly, "but can also bring destruction."
"I failed to teach you properly. So I will personally make up for my mistake."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiraiya clapped his hands together.
Seeing his movement, Nagato did the same. "Summoning Jutsu!"
In an instant, six massive summoned beasts charged toward Jiraiya—the Hellhound, the Chameleon, the Yata Bird, the One-Horned Rhinoceros, the Hell Crab, and the Two-Horned Bull.
"Bunta, I'm counting on you."
Jiraiya reined in his presence and rushed into the ruins, vanishing from sight.
Gamabunta drew his long blade, facing the six summoned beasts alone.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
…
As seven gigantic summoned creatures clashed, the ground trembled without cease.
Nagato did not deliberately search for Jiraiya's whereabouts. Instead, he ordered the Hellhound and the Chameleon to hold Gamabunta in place, while the remaining summoned beasts rampaged through the ruins of Tanzaku Street.
As a result, the Konoha ninja who had barely survived began to suffer casualties once again.
In just a short time, the ground was littered with crushed remains and mangled flesh.
"So this is the power of the Rinnegan… truly terrifying."
Hovering in midair, Kakuzu drew in a sharp breath in shock.
He had once believed that after mastering Earth Grudge Fear, he stood among the very best in the ninja world.
Now it seemed that thought had been utterly naive.
Power capable of effortlessly destroying an entire town—didn't that already surpass even the legendary tailed beasts?
Hearing his remark, Konan's cool voice sounded. "The power of the Rinnegan is far more than this. You'll understand in time."
As the two spoke, rubble in one section of the ruins suddenly exploded outward, and Jiraiya reappeared.
Two toads stood perched on his shoulders, and his face now bore many distinct frog-like features.
Without a word of hesitation, Jiraiya leapt forward. "Sage Art: Massive Rasengan!"
The enormous Rasengan sent the Hellhound that was tearing at Gamabunta flying away in a single blow.
"Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique!"
The dual-blade-wielding toad Hiro dropped from the sky, pinning the Two-Horned Bull beneath him.
At the same time, Jiraiya's white hair rapidly extended, binding and constricting the Chameleon and the Hell Crab.
Bang!
With a burst of white smoke, three of the summoned beasts were instantly dealt with.
"Thanks for your hard work, Bunta."
"Leave the rest to me—the sage of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya!"
Seeing Gamabunta covered in wounds, Jiraiya voluntarily released the summoning.
"Sage Art: Needle Jizo!"
Dropping to all fours, Jiraiya launched his white hair forward like a storm of needles toward Nagato.
Nagato clapped his hands. "Summoning Art: Stone Panda!"
A panda several meters tall appeared, blocking Jiraiya's attack head-on.
Without pausing, Jiraiya flashed to the side. "Sage Art: Goemon!"
Jiraiya supplied oil, Fukasaku provided wind, and Shima added fire—the three combined to create a terrifying sea of flames that surged toward Nagato.
"Almighty Push!"
With a low shout, Nagato unleashed a powerful repulsive force that instantly blew the firestorm apart.
"Asura Path: Five-Finger Missiles!"
A barrage of rockets locked onto Jiraiya, chasing him relentlessly.
"Again with this move…"
Goemon was already among the most destructive sage techniques, yet it posed no threat to Nagato at all.
Jiraiya's expression darkened as he dodged the missiles, thinking rapidly about how to continue his assault.
With the Rinnegan, Nagato was like an impenetrable turtle—none of his attacks had any effect.
"Little Jiraiya, use genjutsu."
"Alright."
Jiraiya nodded heavily, and Fukasaku and Shima opened their mouths and began to sing in unison.
But Nagato gave them no such chance. He raised his right arm toward Jiraiya.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
Jiraiya felt his chakra seize up as his body was forcibly dragged toward Nagato.
Bang!
Pulled by the immense gravitational force, Jiraiya slammed heavily into the ground.
In the next instant, several pitch-black chakra rods stabbed viciously into his body, pinning him firmly to the earth.