Destroy the Ninja World, destroy the ninja.
Create a New World, create new ninja.
At this moment, Akihara Kagura claimed that everything he did was following Jiraiya's teachings, as he aimed to learn from the once Six Paths Sage.
Jiraiya always liked to educate his disciples using the Six Paths Sage and Ninja Sect as examples for peace in the Ninja World. Upon hearing Akihara Kagura's words, he only felt a suffocating fear, because his disciple seemingly was genuinely following his teachings.
Good news, Kagura listens to his teacher's teachings.
Bad news, Kagura listened a bit too much.
Rain and cold sweat flowed down Jiraiya's face, his body trembling unable to move, as he tried hard to find a way to argue: "Kagura, my wish has always been for the ninja of this era to achieve mutual understanding like the Ninja Sect of ancient times..."
"Master Jiraiya..."
Akihara Kagura gazed at Jiraiya, seemingly puzzled: "I am your disciple, yet you are unwilling to understand me, so why hope for the ninja of the Ninja World to mutually understand each other? Isn't this somewhat self-contradictory?"
"..."
Jiraiya felt the poverty of his rhetoric.
"For the ninja of this era, mutual understanding is impossible. Ninja have long been accustomed to fighting over interests, starting wars for mere employment commissions, killing each other over benefits, praising the killers as excellent ninja..."
Akihara Kagura extended his hand, as if firm in his resolve: "Why should this Ninja World achieve mutual understanding? Isn't it better to bury the history of this Ninja World and recreate the existence of ninja like the Six Paths Sage did..."
"Perhaps you're right..."
Jiraiya took a deep breath, feeling unable to refute Akihara Kagura on such matters: "But, as a ninja of this era, I cannot stand by and watch you destroy this era..."
"Master Jiraiya..."
Akihara Kagura looked at Jiraiya, furrowing his brows tightly, seemingly understanding Jiraiya: "You, who consistently advocated for change towards peace in the future of the Ninja World, yet when peace calls for your sacrifice, are unwilling to sacrifice for it..."
"Hey..."
Jiraiya hastily tried to voice a rebuttal.
"It doesn't matter."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, raised his palm: "Master Jiraiya, humans are all selfish, you are the most outstanding ninja of this era, yet you still cannot escape selfish thoughts, just like a reflection of this ninja era..."
"It's precisely because every ninja harbors selfish intentions that mutual understanding is impossible in this era, ninja continue to incite wars and slaughter, peace forever appears like the moon on the horizon..."
"Everyone prays for peace in the Ninja World."
"That's because the peace everyone desires is the peace that benefits them."
Every sentence from Akihara Kagura pierced Jiraiya's heart, leaving him without a word to refute. This outstanding ninja couldn't even speak a word of opposition.
"Goodbye."
"Master Jiraiya."
Akihara Kagura's palms folded together, sighed and said: "Let the prologue to the demise of this era's ninja be unveiled here! Sage Art: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
The ground suddenly surged!
A massive vine transformed into an enormous wood dragon!
In Sage Mode, this wood dragon was lifelike, charging fiercely towards Jiraiya, the wood dragon slightly opened its mouth, emitting a roar!
Jiraiya's hair flew wildly as he turned and dashed in another direction, his palms rapidly forming hand seals and attempted to spew flames at the wood dragon!
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bomb!"
A gigantic flame struck the wood dragon!
Yet this flame was merely fireworks to the wood dragon!
Akihara Kagura stood atop the head of the wood dragon, calmly watching Jiraiya turn back again to flee, his speed seemed rather leisure as if forcing Jiraiya into a dead end!
On the other side of the battlefield.
By the lakeside near the Akatsuki Hideout.
Nagato and Konan, along with their group, had just fled here.
"Little Jiraiya is going to sacrifice..."
Sage Fukasaku glanced at the overwhelming battlefield in the distance.
"He originally intended to sacrifice here!"
Orochimaru looked at Nagato needing paper wings to be dragged along flying, spoke coldly: "I have saved him many times, but if we continue at this pace, even if Jiraiya dies in battle, we won't escape Kagura's pursuit, his perception ability is strong..."
"I have already set up traps."
Konan furrowed her brows, spoke solemnly: "As long as Akihara Kagura steps into the trap I prepared by the lake during the pursuit, billions of explosive tags will be enough to kill him..."
"Generous move."
Orochimaru shook his head, not believing Konan's plan would succeed: "But Kagura possesses the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, the Space-Time Jutsu is enough for him to avoid any trap..."
This is reality.
No matter what, as long as the Rinnegan is on Nagato, they cannot escape Akihara Kagura's pursuit, because Nagato's legs are disabled, relying on Orochimaru and Konan's assistance.
However...
This would greatly slow down their escape.
"Do you have any plan?"
Nagato asked Orochimaru.
"Of course."
Orochimaru looked at Nagato's Rinnegan, smiled lightly and proposed his idea: "The most important thing to Akihara Kagura is that pair of Rinnegan, just don't let him get the Rinnegan..."