In Konohagakure, the rain was falling heavily. Tsunade gazed in the direction of Otogakure; she seemed to be waiting for Danzo's return, but in truth, she was far more anxious for Jiraiya's safe arrival.
The pitter-patter of the drizzle soaked every street in Konoha. Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade stared blankly out the window.
"This annoying rain just won't stop," Tsunade murmured.
"Jiraiya-sama will definitely be fine. That man is quite..." Shizune began to offer comfort, but Tsunade cut her off.
"That guy isn't coming back."
Shizune froze, only to be met with a mischievous smirk from Tsunade. "That's the bet I've placed."
"Because... I lose every bet I make."
"Oh, so that's what you meant..." Shizune gave a weak laugh and left the office, leaving Tsunade alone to watch the rain.
Tsunade recalled the words Jiraiya had spoken that evening at dusk:
"A man only becomes strong after being rejected."
"If you don't have the guts to turn a rejection into a joke over drinks, you aren't a real man."
"Happiness isn't something a man should pursue."
Thinking of this, the corner of Tsunade's mouth twitched into a faint smile.
"Always trying to act cool."
"When he gets back, it'll be about time he stopped putting on such an act."
…
Amegakure.
Jiraiya had already entered Sage Mode, flanked by the two Great Sage Toads: Fukasaku and Shima. They perched upon his shoulders, while behind them lay the corpses of several Pains.
Just moments after unleashing Sage Art: Frog Call…
"I suppose this is where I make my choice."
As Jiraiya walked forward, his expression suddenly stiffened. Behind him, the Asura Path materialized out of thin air.
"I believe it was you who taught me never to let my guard down, Jiraiya-sensei," Pain's voice rang out. The moment Jiraiya began to turn, a horrific explosion erupted.
Jiraiya was sent flying through the air. His left arm had been severed by the Asura Path.
"Boy! Your left arm is—!"Shima cried out in warning.
"I know!" Jiraiya gritted his teeth. Fukasaku was equally stunned.
"What is going on? That's not the same face as the three from before!"
"He must have used the Summoning Jutsu to bring them out earlier!" Jiraiya explained, his brow furrowed in pain.
In the distance, Pain's voice drifted over.
"And now..."
Suddenly, six silhouettes emerged, standing tall before Jiraiya.
"The Six Paths of Pain are here!" the Deva Path, standing in the center, declared coldly.
"Six of them? There are six?!" Fukasaku gasped.
Shima realized the gravity of the situation. "Hey, look! The three we just took down are there too!"
"Perhaps one of the new ones used a technique to revive them," Jiraiya surmised.
"A Ninjutsu that can fully revive three dead people? How is that even..."
"Are these guys even human?"
Listening to the exchange between the sages on his shoulders, Jiraiya finally spoke. "Pain... just who are you?"
The Deva Path answered, "'Pain' is the collective name for the six of us."
"But why..." Jiraiya's pupils shrank in shock. "All six of them possess the Rinnegan!"
As he looked closer, the face of the Deva Path struck a chord of deep familiarity.
"Is that... Yahiko?"
"What is the meaning of this?! Yahiko is dead! And those eyes!"
Faced with Jiraiya's interrogation, Pain spoke flatly. "Do you see the shadow of Yahiko in me?"
"I expect nothing less from my former teacher."
"However, Yahiko died long ago. The one standing here is Pain."
Jiraiya erupted in fury. "I've heard enough of that nonsense! Why do you have the Rinnegan?!"
Fukasaku asked in confusion, "What's wrong, Jiraiya-boy?"
"One of my former students is among them. But... that child didn't have those eyes."
Shima was equally baffled. "What? Could there be two Children of the Prophecy among them?"
"No... that's not right!" Jiraiya began to piece together the events of the battle.
A sudden realization struck him. Because of the Rinnegan, he had reflexively assumed the original Animal Path was Nagato. But looking closely now, none of them possessed the chakra he remembered, and none of them truly looked like Nagato.
Yet, there stood one who looked exactly like Yahiko, but possessed Nagato's Rinnegan.
Is it Yahiko? Or is it Nagato? The question echoed in his mind.
"What exactly are you people?!" Jiraiya roared.
"We are Pain. We are God," the Deva Path replied.
Instantly, the Six Paths of Pain charged at Jiraiya in unison.
"Jiraiya-boy! Retreat, now!"
The six closed in, but Jiraiya's eyes were fixed on only one: the Deva Path who bore Yahiko's face.
"Yahiko! Why do you have Nagato's eyes?!"
"Even if you knew, you could never defeat us," the Deva Path stated, his voice devoid of emotion, carrying only the chill of killing intent.
With a swift move, the Deva Path hurled Jiraiya away, and the Asura Path immediately followed up with a volley of missiles.
…
Outside the village, a figure emerged from the Flower Realm.
"Kanon-chan, you just finished your fight with Itachi Uchiha. You've pushed yourself too far! Your chakra might be fine, but your ocular power is at its limit!" Konin's warning echoed in Kanon's ears.
"I don't care!" Kanon sprinted toward Amegakure with every ounce of strength she possessed.
"If I'm even a second too late because of my own body, I'll never forgive myself!" Kanon's speed was blinding, ignoring her blurring vision and the minor wounds littering her frame.
Jiraiya was her master, one of the most precious people in her life. She could not, would not, accept him dying here. He had promised her he would win, so why did Black Zetsu's intel say he was on the verge of death?
It's impossible. Jiraiya-sensei is so strong!
Kanon ran faster, her heart pounding with the fear that if she slowed down even a fraction, it would be a final farewell. Blood-stained tears streaked from her eyes; the white sleeves of her robe, adorned with the Uchiha and Ryūchi Cave crests, were tattered and dusty.
She didn't care about her appearance. Jiraiya's face flashed through her mind. He was like a grandfather to her, always looking out for her. Her body became a blur, a streak of pink lightning cutting through the rain of Amegakure. She refused to lose another person she cherished.
…
On the surface of the water where the Six Paths of Pain stood, the Animal Path was suddenly dragged underground, its presence vanishing instantly. The other Pains didn't even notice.
The Animal Path fell into a toad barrier beneath the water. As its footing gave way, it leaped upward, falling perfectly into Jiraiya's trap. Shima used her tongue to hoist Jiraiya up as a Rasengan flew from his hand.
Jiraiya gasped for air; he had finally taken one down.
"Great job, Jiraiya-boy!" Fukasaku cheered.
But before he could say more, the Animal Path's hand lunged out from the toad's stomach, thrusting a long black receiver straight toward Jiraiya. Jiraiya tried to block, but the rod pierced through his right chest.
It was a final, desperate counterattack from the Animal Path, who slumped over dead immediately after. Jiraiya coughed up a spray of blood.
"I dragged him into a barrier... and only managed to kill one?"
Jiraiya snapped the rod protruding from his hand and chest, but the effects of the Rinnegan took hold. "My chakra... it's in chaos..." he groaned in pain.
"Is it because of this?" Fukasaku asked, pulling the black rod from Jiraiya's shoulder.
Jiraiya closed his eyes, his mind racing through the gathered information.
That face... there's no doubt. That was Yahiko...
He recalled the battle, his thoughts becoming a tangled mess. But one thing confused him above all: what could have happened to Nagato, the boy who had once sworn to protect Konan and Yahiko at any cost?
Just then, the Animal Path's headband slipped off. A scar on its forehead made Jiraiya's eyes widen. Memories from years ago flooded back. Yes, he remembered this man! He had fought this man in his youth, that scar was one Jiraiya himself had inflicted!
In that moment, the Great Toad Sage's prophecy resonated in his mind.
"You shall be the one to guide the revolutionary. One day, you will be forced to make a great choice."
"In my dream, you traveled the world while writing books."
Jiraiya froze. He finally understood the secret of Pain.
"I have to go back out there. There's something I must confirm."
"You two... please go back."
Shima was horrified. "What?!"
"You can't! You'll definitely be killed if you go back out there!"
"The number of eyes has increased, and they won't fall for the same barrier trap twice. They haven't noticed us yet, now is our only chance to escape!" Fukasaku shouted.
"I know that if I go out there, I'll likely be killed," Jiraiya said. "But if I don't, I may never uncover the enemy's true identity. If I miss this chance, no one will ever get this close to Pain again!"
"The only time to learn the truth is now!"
"This is the 'choice' spoken of in the prophecy."
"Fukasaku-sama, Shima-sama... please take the information we have on Pain and this corpse back with you. And tell Tsunade—"
Fukasaku interrupted him. "Ma is enough to handle that task."
"But..."
Shima seemed to understand Fukasaku's intent. She hopped off Jiraiya's shoulder, sealed the corpse into a scroll, and prepared to leave.
"You'd better be back by dinner," she said softly.
"Once this is over, I'll be coming back with Jiraiya-boy to eat," Fukasaku said with a grin.
Jiraiya nodded weakly. "You two... I can't thank you enough."