Under the setting sun, along a quiet street,
Jiraiya and a slightly tipsy Tsunade sat side by side on a bench. Tsunade was the first to break the silence.
"The Akatsuki… The one who commands monsters like them… there's no way to even guess how strong he really is. And yet you're running straight into the enemy's territory like you're offering yourself up to die."
Jiraiya slowly rose to his feet.
"Well then… I suppose it's about time I head out."
Tsunade lowered her head, worry evident in her voice.
"You have to come back alive. If even you die… then I…"
Jiraiya turned back with a grin.
"Would you cry for me? I'd be happy if you did. Though… probably not as much as when Dan died, right?"
"Idiot…"
Jiraiya chuckled.
"Then let's make a bet—your favorite pastime."
Tsunade looked up at him, her expression complicated.
"Bet that I'll die. You lose every time you gamble, anyway.
But when I come back alive…"
He looked at her seriously. Her eyes trembled.
And then—
"Hahaha! Just kidding, just kidding!"
Jiraiya burst into laughter as if it had all been a joke. He pulled out a copy of Icha Icha Paradise.
"I'm grateful to you, you know. A man grows stronger after being rejected. If he can't laugh things off, he's no man at all.
You've got to turn these things into inspiration."
Tsunade sighed softly.
"So men have to be strong?"
"Something like that. Besides… happiness isn't supposed to be a man's goal."
"Trying to act cool? Without a woman, you wouldn't even have the chance to get dumped."
"Hahaha… true enough."
They fell into silence for a while.
Jiraiya gathered up his scrolls. Tsunade wanted to say something—but in the end, she could only clutch the fabric of her coat tightly.
He faced the sinking sun, his back to her.
"I have to go."
He paused.
"One last piece of advice. When Nagi stops hiding and the time for change comes… do everything you can as Hokage to support him.
The world of peace he speaks of… I'd like to see it too."
"…I understand."
"Good."
Without looking back, Jiraiya walked away.
"Goodbye."
Tears finally slipped from Tsunade's eyes.
Some Time Later — The Land of Rain
Through gathering information from locals, Jiraiya eventually tracked down Pain.
He first encountered Konan. After a brief clash, she proved no match for him.
The Animal Path arrived to rescue her. With the assistance of Fukasaku and Shima, Jiraiya entered Sage Mode.
The Animal Path summoned the Preta Path and the Human Path. After a fierce battle, the two Great Toad Sages used Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant ( Frog Call), trapping the three Paths in a powerful genjutsu and allowing Jiraiya to eliminate them.
As they prepared to withdraw, the Naraka Path launched a surprise attack. Jiraiya's arm was torn off, and he was blasted through a wall and into a corridor.
Then—the Six Paths of Pain revealed themselves in full.
Jiraiya recognized the leader: Yahiko.
After another intense exchange, Jiraiya managed to defeat the Animal Path once more.
Shima took the Animal Path's body away, while Fukasaku remained behind to fight alongside Jiraiya.
In the end, the Asura Path crushed Jiraiya's throat. The remaining four Paths impaled him with black chakra receivers.
With his final strength, Jiraiya carved a coded message onto Fukasaku's back.
The Deva Path soon realized he had left behind a message. The Paths moved in to finish him.
The Asura Path struck first.
"Monster Launch."
A section of its arm split open, chakra concentrating at the seam. The built-up force exploded, propelling the detached arm forward in a straight line—
Toward… the Naraka Path?
Yes. The rocket arm shot directly into the Naraka Path. Caught completely off guard, the Naraka Path's chest was blown open.
The Naraka Path fell.
"What?!"
The remaining three Paths recoiled in shock, distancing themselves from the Asura Path.
A Hidden Location in the Land of Rain
Nagato stared blankly ahead. He had clearly aimed at Jiraiya-sensei.
Refusing to believe it, he launched another Monster Launch—this time, the rocket arm shot straight toward the Deva Path.
The Deva Path raised his hand.
"Shinra Tensei."
A powerful repulsive force erupted, blasting the incoming arm away and detonating it midair.
But Shinra Tensei had a cooldown period—the greater the force, the longer the delay.
In that brief opening—
A figure suddenly appeared behind the Deva Path.
Before he could react—
"Flying Thunder God: Slash."
A blade flashed through the air, grievously wounding the Deva Path.
"What?!!"
Nagato's eyes widened in disbelief. He could feel his connection to the Deva Path weakening.
"Damn it! Who is it?!"
He immediately cut off chakra to the Asura Path and redirected control to the Preta Path and Human Path. Looking through their shared vision, he saw the attacker clearly—
A figure wearing a fox mask.
"A fox mask… It's you!!"
Konoha Hospital
Nagi's Water Release Shadow Clone arrived in a flash of space-time distortion, bringing Jiraiya with him via the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The moment five black chakra receivers pierced Jiraiya's body, the Flying Thunder God formula Nagi had secretly placed on him activated. Sensing it from afar, Nagi executed an ultra-long-range teleportation.
He arrived just as Jiraiya finished leaving his coded message. As the five Paths turned, Nagi forcefully cast Genjutsu: Mirror Flower, Water Moon, briefly manipulating the Asura Path into misfiring.
Before departing, the Water Clone administered emergency medical ninjutsu to stabilize Jiraiya's fading life.
"Someone! Over here!"
Doctors turned in shock.
"That's Lord Jiraiya! Hurry!"
"Get Chief Physician Karin and Lady Tsunade!"
The Water Clone stepped aside after handing Jiraiya over. Between the long-range Flying Thunder God and emergency treatment, its chakra reserves were nearly depleted.
Some Time Later
Jiraiya lay on the hospital bed.
Karin carefully examined his wounds with Medical Ninjutsu.
"These black receivers are disrupting Lord Jiraiya's chakra network. If we're not careful, Medical Ninjutsu will be destabilized. But we can't remove them all at once—it would be too dangerous."
"…Understood."
Karin pulled one receiver free and immediately healed the wound left behind.
One by one, she removed all five, treating each puncture carefully.
Then she formed hand seals.
"Medical Ninjutsu: Living Rebirth Technique."
Dense green healing chakra surged from her hands, enveloping Jiraiya's body in radiant light.
Moments later—
"Cough… My throat… I can talk?"
Jiraiya regained consciousness.
His crushed throat had been fully restored.
He was alive.
PS: I've been releasing chapters daily . Honestly, it hurts seeing almost no support on Patreon after all that work.If you're enjoying the fic, even a little, supporting me would mean a lot. It helps a student stay independent .
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