"Little Jiraiya, I have already..."
Sage Fukasaku seemed to want to say something.
"Sage Fukasaku, no hurry..."
Jiraiya hastily interrupted Sage Fukasaku, his eyes subtly glancing at Orochimaru beside him, slightly lifting the corners of his mouth and blinking.
"Hmph..."
Orochimaru also grinned, seemingly understanding Jiraiya's signal, using Goemon's fire waves as cover, his body instantly dispersing into countless little snakes.
"Immortal Technique, huh..."
Deva Path Pain squinted his eyes.
Goemon's flames surged like ocean waves!
Jiraiya had already gathered most of the intelligence on several Pain, and at this time the Almighty Push was cooling down, seemingly unable to resist the surging fire waves!
At this moment…
Pain seemed to be pushed to the limit by this move!
As Jiraiya said, if the Pain Six Paths had no other means, either several Pain would be burned by Goemon's fire waves, or expose the position of the hidden body, allowing the body Nagato to directly summon the puppets away.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
The Animal Path finally once again proved its usefulness at this critical moment!
A massive Hell Crab blocked the front of numerous Pain, spitting out countless bubbles, instantly stopping the oncoming fire wave!
This was the Water Release: Bubble Turbulence, especially effective against oil and fire!
Though the Hell Crab's Bubble Turbulence couldn't completely extinguish Goemon, it could nevertheless hold back the overwhelming fire, though the Hell Crab's body seemed roasted, gradually turning charred, but the time it bought was enough for Deva Path Pain to act!
"Almost exposed the position of the body..."
Deva Path Pain gazed at Jiraiya, coldly continuing: "I long knew Jiraiya-sensei excelled in fire oil, how could I not prepare a jutsu against you..."
"Now..."
"It's my turn."
"I'll directly use Heavenly Dao to settle this..."
Having realized his mentor's troublemaking, Deva Path Pain decided not to continue entangling once Jiraiya got more intel, recognizing a slight negligence could lead to tremendous losses.
Deva Path Pain's palm swiftly closed, the surrounding Pain immediately collapsed, all Pain's Chakra gathered onto the strongest Deva Path!
"..."
In the sky, Konan frowned, dispersing into countless paper figures, unwilling to interfere with Deva Path Pain's spellcasting.
"Bring it on, then."
Jiraiya's lips curled into a smile, seemingly unafraid of Deva Path Pain's assault, even wishing for Deva Path Pain's strength to be greater!
"Farewell, Jiraiya-sensei..."
Deva Path Pain extended his palm, resolute to use his strongest Almighty Push to eliminate Jiraiya who entered Sage Mode!
After much intel had been gathered on other Pain, relying solely on such means to continue entangling with Jiraiya was unwise, convinced his teacher was more battle-experienced.
Thus...
Simply crush with pure force!
Just as a terrifying Chakra emerged within Deva Path Pain, ready to release a jutsu powerful enough to kill Jiraiya, his face suddenly changed!
"Not good, the body..."
Deva Path Pain abruptly turned to look in a direction!
There originally lurked an invisible chameleon, always carrying Nagato to avoid discovery of his position, now suddenly split in two by an enormous Kusanagi Sword!
"Orochimaru!"
Deva Path Pain suddenly understood!
This was Jiraiya's tactic!
This mentor had secretly found the invisible chameleon long ago, distracting the Pain Six Paths while secretly informing Orochimaru about the chameleon's intel to ambush Nagato!
"The perception ability of Sage Mode is quite formidable..."
Jiraiya looked at Deva Path Pain, finally sensing his victory: "After entering Sage Mode, Sage Fukasaku helped locate the invisible summoned beast, pinpointed its location, and located Nagato's position..."
Meanwhile.
With the invisible chameleon slain, Nagato's body was suddenly exposed, falling from the chameleon's carcass in an embarrassed manner.
"Nagato!"
From the sky came Konan's anguished cry, countless pieces of paper flying towards Nagato!
"Konan, I'm fine."
Nagato's hand swiftly closed, raising an Almighty Push to repel the attacking Orochimaru: "Even if you've found my body, what can you do? As the Rinnegan's possessor, I can use all Six Paths' abilities..."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Nagato directly summoned Deva Path Pain to his side!
In the sky, paper danced down, landing between Nagato and Deva Path Pain, instantly folding into Konan's form!
"Yahiko, Nagato, Konan..."
Looking at the three figures gathered together, Jiraiya's eyes displayed a fleeting daze, the three had already crossed realms, even Yahiko's body was crafted into Deva Path Pain's puppet, yet they still gathered steadfastly.
The Frog Squad trio.
Old memories unfolded before Jiraiya.
Konan's gaze also carried nostalgia, glancing at Deva Path Pain and Nagato beside her, sensing a rare familiarity.
Since Nagato crafted Yahiko's body into Deva Path Pain's form, he stayed hidden behind the scenes, almost never appearing before others.
This companion with Rinnegan tirelessly permitted Deva Path Pain's puppet as another person, maintaining their past efforts, leading Konan to momentarily believe Yahiko lived, convinced they were all together...
Not only Konan felt so.
Even Orochimaru and Jiraiya shared this illusion.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya reunited, their gaze fixed on those three standing together, sneering: "I almost mistook that orange-haired lad for still being alive..."
This feeling…
Is rather odd.
Of the Sannin of Konoha, only Orochimaru and Jiraiya remained; the youngsters, though one had died, still gathered together.
"Yahiko is their pillar..."
Jiraiya sighed, slowly shaking his head: "Yet no matter how Nagato assembles the three of them together, it can't change the fact Yahiko's deceased; it's all merely an illusion he's maintaining..."
"Jiraiya-sensei..."
Deva Path Pain advanced toward Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
Nagato's body began floating, trailing behind Deva Path Pain; Konan's legs turned to papers, forming wings on her back, flying beside Nagato.
"All the past...ends here!"
Deva Path Pain raised his fingers, executing an Opposing Seal gesture: "Since you insist on attacking my body, having it exposed, let us disciples send you and your companion on your way!"
"Huh..."
Jiraiya inhaled deeply, slowly raising his fingers, gazing at the opposite three familiar figures, his lips displaying a bitter smile: "Ha, Frog Squad has gathered, challenging their teacher once more?"
"Jiraiya, I'm taking my leave."
Orochimaru retreated a few steps, seemed intent on leaving at once, chuckling: "That Rinnegan brat's powers are too bizarre, I've assisted you as much as I can, I won't partake in the next combat..."
After Nagato violently resolved the tactic veiled as attacking Pain but aiming at Nagato, Orochimaru had no further combat desire.
Moreover…
Orochimaru's Chakra had depleted considerably during the battle, unlike Jiraiya, who had assistance replenishing Sage Art Chakra.
"Understood."
Jiraiya nodded without opposing Orochimaru's desire to flee, recognizing this former close friend's considerable aid, genuinely obliging.
Nevertheless...
Jiraiya, seemingly having recollected something, suddenly called Orochimaru: "Wait, Orochimaru, assist me one last time before you leave..."
"Don't push it."
Orochimaru glared coldly at him.