Kakashi and Tsunade's clash lasted until the sky began to lighten. When it ended, both were panting heavily, looking like they had just finished an intense workout.
Although they looked quite disheveled, neither had serious injuries. Most were minor cuts and bruises. With Tsunade's abilities, she would probably heal in less than a day, but Kakashi would need a few more days to recover.
After all, he didn't have Tsunade's incredible medical Ninjutsu. As the top medical ninja in the world, Tsunade could heal almost anything in a day, unless it was a terminal illness or severe injury. Especially when it came to her own body.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain, just as Jiraiya finished gathering intel and was about to infiltrate the Akatsuki base, white paper sheets appeared in front of him, wrapping around his body instantly, giving him no time to react.
Konan's figure appeared before the wrapped Jiraiya, holding a paper knife, ready to stab him.
But at that moment, a shadow of Jiraiya emerged from the darkness.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet."
A massive fireball shot towards Konan.
"Toad Flat Shadow Manipulation?"
Konan's slightly cold voice echoed in Jiraiya's ears. As Jiraiya's former student, she knew his Ninjutsu well.
"To lure out Pain, I didn't expect you to take the bait. Your skills have sharpened, and you've become quite the woman, Konan."
Seeing Konan in the Akatsuki, Jiraiya's expression showed no surprise.
"I thought you were dead, but you've turned into paper."
Jiraiya stroked his chin, looking curiously at Konan, whose body had turned into sheets of paper.
"Who is Pain?"
Jiraiya's tone shifted as he questioned Konan. Although he already had a clear answer in his heart, he didn't want it to be true. He didn't want his student to be the one causing chaos in the ninja world.
"It has nothing to do with you, Sensei."
Konan's body rose higher, her tone still cold.
At that moment, the papers flying around her gathered behind her, forming two large wings.
"Do you think you can become an angel like this? What good does it do to appear in such a manner?"
Jiraiya questioned Konan again.
"God's will is to kill you."
Hearing this, Jiraiya's expression froze slightly. He hadn't expected his disciple to be so ruthless, speaking of killing him without any emotion.
Then, the paper wings behind Konan, sharp as swords, shot directly at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's reaction was quick. He opened his mouth, and a huge fireball spewed out.
The flames collided with the paper. Even though the paper was as sharp as a sword, it was still paper. When it met fire, it burned up immediately.
So, although Konan's attack seemed much grander than Jiraiya's, she didn't gain any advantage.
"Toad Oil Bullet."
At this moment, Jiraiya seized the opportunity, rolled to the side, and spat out a mouthful of toad oil, spraying it on Konan.
He quickly formed hand seals, and his hair extended, binding Konan.
"You can't do anything after stained with oil."
Just from observing Konan earlier, Jiraiya had already figured out her abilities.
"You, who loved origami, were the gentlest among those children. What about the other two, Nagato and Yahiko?"
Jiraiya asked the question that concerned him the most.
"I heard they died too. That's a lie, right?"
After all, Konan, who was rumored to be dead, was standing right in front of him.
"If that's the case, then Pain must be one of them."
Seeing Konan not answering, Jiraiya boldly voiced his guess.
"Now that you're here, what do you want?"
Konan asked Jiraiya, with a hint of resentment in her heart. If Jiraiya had appeared when they needed him the most, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
"I don't want anything, if you weren't Akatsuki. I heard you were dead, but I didn't expect things to turn out like this."
"At that time, if I had listened to Orochimaru, things would have been better, right?"
Konan guessed Jiraiya's thoughts.
Hearing Konan's words, memories flashed in Jiraiya's mind, and Orochimaru's voice echoed in his ears.
"Kill these children? I've seen many war orphans, but they are still pitiful. Killing them here would be a mercy."
"But you saved us."
Konan's voice pulled Jiraiya back from his memories.
"It's too late. We've already acted according to his ideas."
"I never thought about killing you back then."
Jiraiya spoke with unwavering conviction, "Indeed, even though I'm aware of the many sins my disciple has committed, I've never harbored such thoughts."
During the brief time he spent with these three, Jiraiya always treated them as his own children, caring for them with a fondness that perhaps even surpassed that which he held for Minato.
After all, when Minato became his disciple, he was already an outstanding ninja who needed no further teaching.
But Nagato and the others were different; they were like blank slates, taught and molded by Jiraiya's own hands from the very beginning.
"It's just sadness that I feel. I taught you how to survive in a chaotic world, and there's no doubt you're my disciples. But to attack me without a greeting, in such a harsh world, it's truly heartbreaking.
Years after we parted, I would occasionally hear of your exploits, gaining fame amidst the strife, and later, I heard you had died."
"You knows nothing of us after we parted."
"Indeed, I don't know. But even so, did you have to join Akatsuki?"
Thinking of Akatsuki's actions over the years, Jiraiya's tone couldn't help but be tinged with a hint of anger, a frustration born of disappointment.
(End of Chapter)