"Damn…*
Jiraiya had almost forgotten about this teacher.
Akihara Kagura possesses the Sage Body, and Nagato possesses the Sage Eyes. Both, claiming to be inheritors of the Sage of Six Paths, united to overthrow the ninja world.
Without a doubt...
These two students now possess the strongest power in the ninja world.
"Nagato."
Jiraiya shook his head, disagreeing with Pain's statement: "You merely possess the power of the Sage of Six Paths, but you do not understand the spirit of the Sage. The ninja world he established in old times was an era where everyone could understand each other..."
"The era of the ninja has long since changed."
Pain shook his head, continuing coldly: "Jiraiya-sensei, the ninja of this era cannot understand each other. The only thing they can empathize with is pain. You cannot keep up with the tide of the new era and will ultimately be completely forgotten by it here..."
"Are you going to kill me?"
Jiraiya squinted his eyes.
"Jiraiya-sensei."
Pain seemed somewhat regretful, speaking softly: "We are ultimately not on the same path. I will kill you here to prove that the path we are walking is the right one."
As Pain's words slowly fell...
Figures emerged from the depths of the Akatsuki base.
All of these individuals wore black robes with red clouds. They looked different, had different hairReleases, yet they all had the same hair color and the same pupils in their eyes.
The Rinnegan.
Without exception, all of these people possessed the Rinnegan.
"Tendo!" (Deva Path)
"Chikushodo!" (Animal Path)
"Ningendo!" (Human Path)
"Gakido!" (Preta Path)
"Shurado!" (Asura Path)
"Jigokudo!" (Hell Path)
The Six Paths of Pain.
All these people shared the same name: Pain.
If others saw this scene, they might be frightened, but Jiraiya had known the truth behind Pain ten years ago. He already knew that these people were puppets controlled by Nagato from behind.
"A total of six puppets..."
Jiraiya's gaze swept back and forth over the six orange-haired figures. After looking at all six faces, his expression suddenly changed!
"Wait... this isn't right..."
"I've met all these people before!"
Jiraiya's heart pounded as he looked again at the six Pains, remembering each person he had seen before.
These puppets...
All of them were people he had met in life!
Except for Yahiko, the other Pains were people he had encountered on his travels. After they died, their bodies were obtained by Nagato and made into Rinnegan puppets!
The convergence of fate...
Jiraiya strangely thought of the Great Toad Sage.
"No..."
Jiraiya's heart began to struggle violently as he thought of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, considering what he should choose: "This time, with Kagura not present in the Akatsuki, I must take care of Nagato first. If he and Kagura truly join forces in battle, no one in the ninja world could stand against them..."
However...
To deal with Nagato first...
He must first resolve the issue of the Six Paths of Pain in front of him!
"Konan, you should leave."
Tendo Path Pain, seeing Jiraiya's battle intent, indicated for Konan to leave first.
"I'll go take care of your real body."
Konan's body instantly transformed into sheets of paper, flying towards the depths of the Akatsuki base. Every time Nagato used the Six Paths of Pain, she worried about his body.
"Jiraiya-sensei..."
Tendo Path Pain extended his hand, suddenly raising it towards Jiraiya: "Now, it's just us here... Bansho Ten'in!"
A sudden gravitational force emerged from Tendo Path Pain's hand!
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, and his body involuntarily flew towards Tendo Path Pain. Asura Path Pain held a black rod, ready to pierce through Jiraiya's body!
"Rasengan!"
Jiraiya raised his hand to release a Rasengan, using the gravitational pull to accelerate, intending to resolve Asura Path Pain before him. Jiraiya grabbed Asura Path Pain's black rod with one hand, aiming to press the Rasengan onto Asura Path Pain's body with the other!
"Summoning Technique!"
Animal Path Pain instantly performed a summoning technique!
Just as Asura Path Pain was about to be hit by Jiraiya's Rasengan, he disappeared from his original position, reappearing beside Animal Path Pain!
However...
This also exposed Tendo Path Pain to Jiraiya's attack!
Preta Path Pain leaped up, directly blocking in front of Tendo Path Pain, reaching out to grasp Jiraiya's Rasengan, instantly absorbing all the chakra of the Rasengan!
The Six Paths of Pain were all controlled by one will, with one person controlling the six puppets, making their combat coordination very seamless!
"One can summon..."
"One can absorb chakra..."
Jiraiya immediately identified the abilities of Animal Path Pain and Preta Path Pain, his gaze falling on Asura Path Pain: "That was a puppeteer I once met, probably one who specializes in attacks..."
"No..."
"And..."
Jiraiya's eyes also fell on the strongest, Tendo Path Pain, whom he had seen personally defeated by Akihara Kagura: "The puppet made from Yahiko's body, skilled in using repulsion and gravitational attacks, and possibly other strange and powerful techniques..."
Such as the Chibaku Tensei he had seen before...
Honestly...
Even Tendo Path Pain alone made Jiraiya feel uncertain.
"In that case…"
Jiraiya's gaze once again fell on Hell Path Pain and Human Path Pain, who had been quietly standing at the back: "Only the abilities of these two puppets remain unknown..."
Just as Jiraiya was deep in thought, the Preta Path Pain suddenly dodged, and Tendo Path Pain raised his hand, releasing a tremendous repulsive force towards Jiraiya!
"Shinra Tensei!"
Jiraiya's body was sent flying, tumbling until he crashed into a rock wall, spitting out blood!
"The power can't be this weak..."
Jiraiya had witnessed the power of Shinra Tensei in the battle between Tendo Path Pain and Akihara Kagura. He squinted slightly: "Is he worried about the base being destroyed in the battle?"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Tendo Path Pain, along with Asura Path Pain and Preta Path Pain, leaped towards Jiraiya, all three attacking him simultaneously!
A black rod flashed in Tendo Path Pain's hand!
A blade emerged from Asura Path Pain's arm!
Jiraiya swiftly dodged, and the rock wall behind him was instantly destroyed by Asura Path Pain's attack, debris flying everywhere!
Asura Path Pain continued to swing the blade on his arm, relentlessly slashing towards Jiraiya, indifferent to whether Jiraiya could counterattack!
"Ninjutsu: Summoning Technique!"
Jiraiya raised his hand, releasing the Summoning Technique!
An Iron-Arm Toad appeared, blocking Asura Path Pain's attack with its arms!
"Bypass them, go directly to deal with Nagato!"
Taking this opportunity, Jiraiya rolled and tried to rush inside the Akatsuki base. This idea was somewhat inhumane, as Jiraiya knew Nagato was immobile due to his injuries.
Compared to the Six Paths of Pain...
The immobile Nagato might be easier to deal with!
However, Nagato might have seen through Jiraiya's thoughts. Tendo Path Pain swung his black rod to block his path, and the other Pains also blocked his other exits!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya spat out a ball of flames, trying to clear a path!
Preta Path Pain stood directly in front of the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, raising his palm to absorb Jiraiya's ninjutsu!
"Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
Jiraiya's white hair grew wildly, sweeping towards Preta Path Pain's body, seemingly trying to control them with this move!
A broad blade emerged from Asura Path Pain, like a pair of scissors, directly cutting Jiraiya's extended hair!
"I should have been better prepared..."
To avoid Asura Path Pain's attack, Jiraiya had no choice but to jump onto a rock wall. Watching the six Pains gradually surround him, a drop of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
The trouble is...
He couldn't summon stronger toads to assist in battle now.
This base might not accommodate the large size of toads like Gamabunta. The most suitable allies were undoubtedly Fukasaku and Shima, who could assist him in using Sage Mode...
However...
Fukasaku and Shima were too powerful.
Summoning them required time.
If possible, Jiraiya truly envied Akihara Kagura's summoning ability, capable of summoning all the toads of Mount Myoboku, including the Great Toad Sage...
Unfortunately...
That student was also an enemy now.
The most troubling part...
The environment here was also unsuitable.
The base inside this cavern was too spacious, and the six Pains blocked all routes, leaving Jiraiya with no time to maneuver tactically.
"No, wait..."
"I can create a suitable environment myself!"
Jiraiya patted his forehead, quickly raising his hand to form seals again: "Ninjutsu: Summoning Technique! Sorry, Toad Mouth Bind!"
The entire cave instantly turned red!
This was the inside of the Toad Mouth Bind from Mount Myoboku, whose size was so large it couldn't be fully summoned. Jiraiya could only summon part of Toad Mouth Bind's intestines.
The six Pains present were instantly separated by the intestines of Toad Mouth Bind, and Jiraiya's figure also disappeared from their sight!
But...
There's no rush.
Animal Path Pain quickly formed seals!
The Six Paths of Pain were swiftly summoned together!
Taking this opportunity, Jiraiya hurriedly ran through the intestines of Toad Mouth Bind, hoping to find an exit before the Six Paths of Pain broke through!
Slash!
Asura Path Pain swung his blade at the intestinal walls, but it was futile; only mucus covered the blade.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Tendo Path Pain raised his palm!
A burst of repulsive force suddenly erupted from around his body, causing his entire stomach to swell instantly, but like a balloon, it stubbornly retained its resilience!
"Is the repulsive force not strong enough..."
Tendo Path Pain frowned slightly, quietly waiting for the cooldown time of Shinra Tensei.
The other Pains gathered together and directly followed the intestinal pathway, chasing Jiraiya, since there was only one path through the intestines!
"Shinra Tensei!"
Tendo Path Pain finally waited for the cooldown time!
A massive repulsive force instantly erupted within the intestinal passage of the large Toad Mouth Bind!
Bang!
The intestinal walls of the toad eventually ruptured!
However, strangely...
The intestines remained in place and did not disappear like other summoning beasts when seriously injured; evidently, this level of damage to the intestines was not significant.
"Hmm?"
Tendo Path Pain frowned.
Inside the intestinal passage.
Jiraiya was swiftly running along the passage. According to his memory, by infiltrating the deepest part of the Akatsuki base, he could find Nagato's location!
"How fortunate..."
Jiraiya even looked back once.
Several Pains were following behind him, and they had caught up!
Jiraiya noticed the pursuing Pains and didn't see Tendo Path Pain among them, feeling slightly relieved. He even controlled the toad's intestinal walls to wriggle, hindering the pursuing Pains.
Deep inside the Akatsuki base.
Nagato frowned slightly and sighed softly.
This time, he had chosen the wrong battlefield. To avoid the Akatsuki from needing to change bases, Tendo Path Pain couldn't exert his full power, giving Jiraiya the opportunity to escape the encirclement of the Six Paths of Pain.
"What's wrong, Nagato?"
Konan glanced at Nagato with concern.
"It's nothing."
"Open the door and send me out."
Nagato shook his head, looking outside the door, and said softly, "Jiraiya-sensei has broken through the encirclement of the Six Paths of Pain and is charging toward the base's depths..."
"That's impossible..."
Konan didn't believe their teacher had the capability to break through Pain.
"It was my mistake in choosing the battlefield, limiting Tendo's power."
Nagato shook his head and continued, "Don't worry. Regardless, the ending of this story will not have any surprises. He aims to infiltrate the base's depths, but this ensures he won't escape..."
Deep inside the Akatsuki base.
A huge Gedo Statue stood inside.
Jiraiya quietly slipped out of the Toad Mouth Bind's intestines, observing the Gedo Statue. He could clearly sense the terrifying chakra within it.
"Phew... Let's deal with Nagato first."
Jiraiya had a vague sense of illusion.
Pain and Nagato were the same person, yet their personalities seemed split. Perhaps he couldn't convince Pain, but he had a feeling he might be able to convince Nagato.
No...
That's not right...
This is an illusion.
Nagato cannot be persuaded.
Regardless, Nagato is the source of chaos in the ninja world and must be dealt with first.
Now that the Six Paths of Pain were temporarily trapped by the toad's intestinal walls, he needed to find Nagato's location quickly...
Jiraiya stepped into the deepest part of the Akatsuki base.
He saw a room with its lights on and its door open. Inside, a gaunt man in a wheelchair was waiting for him.
"Nagato."
Jiraiya's pace gradually slowed, and his voice regained its steadiness, "Now all your puppets have been trapped by me. If you are willing to give up that nonsensical plan and release all the tailed beasts captured by the Akatsuki..."
"Jiraiya-sensei."
Nagato shook his head, interrupting him, "A god cannot be trapped. You trapping the Six Paths of Pain in the toad's intestines is merely your own illusion..."
"There's one thing I forgot to tell you..."
Nagato clasped his hands together, and his hanging red hair covered his eyes, "As the true bearer of the Rinnegan, I can use all the abilities of the Six Paths of Pain. It's not that you trapped my puppets, but that you were lured here by me..."
"Ninjutsu..."
"Summoning Technique!"
With Nagato's hands spread open!
Orange-haired figures were instantly summoned in front of him!
Six Pains raised their heads and looked at Jiraiya. The Rinnegan in their eye sockets appeared lifeless, but this scene was exceptionally terrifying!
In the next moment!
Tendo and Asura Path charged at Jiraiya!
The other Pains followed, keeping a close watch on Jiraiya's every move!
"Not good!"
Seeing the figures of the Pains appear, Jiraiya felt a chill down his spine, and he instinctively began to retreat!
This was not an opportunity to deal with Nagato but a trap set by Nagato to lure him into the deepest part of the Akatsuki base!
Slash!
Jiraiya's arm was instantly cut open with a long wound. Asura Path kicked Jiraiya, and the Six Paths of Pain surrounded him!
On the oil lamp in the depths of the Akatsuki base.
A small white snake coiled around the lamp's base, quietly watching Jiraiya being chased by the Six Paths of Pain, even flicking its tail in boredom.
"Hiss hiss…"
~~~
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