"..."
Tsunade fell silent, not knowing what to say, and remained in a bowing posture of apology.
Ryou stepped forward. "Nagato, that's enough."
"This is all trauma brought by war. Tsunade's brother, Nawaki, also died in the Second Great Ninja War. She has always deeply loved her brother."
"Like you, she is someone wounded by the chaos of war."
At the mention of Nawaki, Tsunade's expression turned sorrowful.
Seeing this, Nagato helped Tsunade up. "Lady Tsunade, do you yearn for the world in dreams? In dreams, you could reunite with your brother."
Tsunade shook her head. "I don't. Reality is reality, and illusions are illusions. I also want Nawaki to be resurrected."
"But once people are dead, they are dead. The living will remember the deceased and live on with their last wishes."
"Dreams, in the end, are just illusions. People must wake up and face reality!"
Why does life slumber?
Because one day, we will all wake up from the dream!
The purpose of dreaming is to rest well and face reality. If one becomes obsessed with it, they will surely perish.
Nagato looked at Kiyomi.
Kiyomi stroked the child in her belly and asked a crucial question: "After the Eye of the Moon Plan begins, can my child still be born?"
Ryou shook his head.
Kiyomi also shook her head. "Then I cannot accept a world that would not allow my child to be born."
Nagato continued to ask, "Even if your child will experience the same pain as you in the future?"
Kiyomi nodded. "My existence is my child. As for her future, I hope she is healthy. If she truly experiences my pain..."
"Then she can only endure it, because... that is reality!"
Nagato fell silent. The Eye of the Moon Plan didn't seem so appealing; even someone as traumatized as Kiyomi still held hope for this war-torn world.
Humans are truly resilient!
Ryou changed the subject. "Alright, let's not talk about this! Let's talk about something happy!"
"For example, how about I marry Tsunade tomorrow, and Konan and Kiyomi join as concubines?"
"Pah!"
Tsunade reached out and pinched Ryou's ear, while Konan, with great rapport, pinched the other.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Kiyomi also smiled gently beside them; this kind of life also dispelled the gloom in her heart from her husband's death.
"(눈‸눈)."
Nagato felt more and more like a third wheel. This bastard, Uchiha Ryou, having Konan wasn't enough, he had to find so many beautiful women.
Wait—
Why did I say Konan is his? Do I deep down believe I can't compete with him?
Sob sob—
Nagato's heart was weeping, but at the same time, his resolve strengthened.
Yahiko, I'm sorry, I'm going to create a world where Konan and I are together!
...Mount Myōboku.
Gamabunta appeared by Jiraiya's hospital bed.
Jiraiya was covered in bandages, but he had improved a lot and even found the strength to write his work.
At this time, Jiraiya's work was still decent.
As for when he started degenerating into writing the Make-out series?
That was after Nagato (according to news Jiraiya heard) and Minato died.
The two children of prophecy Jiraiya believed in had passed away one after another, and Jiraiya felt despondent about the transformation of the Ninja World.
He began to degenerate into an erotica novelist, but as he wrote while traveling, he gradually stepped out of the shadow of Minato's death and perked up.
Most importantly, it paid well—they just gave far too much.
When Kakashi was 18, Jiraiya published his first book, make-out paradise, and sent it to Kakashi immediately.
He hoped to use this bold move to cheer Kakashi up.
The effect was great; it was only after reading Jiraiya's make-out paradise that Kakashi showed some signs of life.
So—
If life deceives you, do not be sad, do not be anxious!
Go watch some adult films or read some smutty books!
All human psychological problems are sexual repression! — Freud.
Shima and Fukasaku were taking care of Jiraiya.
Gamabunta's sudden appearance drew the attention of the man and the two toads.
"Gamabunta, why are you here? Little Gamaken told us you encountered Uchiha Ryou. What happened?"
Gamabunta said anxiously, "Lord Fukasaku, Lady Shima, something terrible has happened. Nagato's Rinnegan actually belonged to Uchiha Madara."
"Uchiha Madara has already snatched the Rinnegan back from Nagato."
"Nani—?!"
Minato and the others didn't see the scene of Madara gouging the Rinnegan from Nagato's eye sockets, but did they even need to see it?
Once Madara appeared, who could stop him from taking the Rinnegan?
Perhaps only going to the Pure Land to invite the Sage of Six Paths could stop him!
As soon as these words were spoken, Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima all stood up in shock.
The worst-case scenario had happened; Madara had obtained the Rinnegan. Now, no one in the entire Ninja World was his match.
Jiraiya was so anxious that the bandages on his wounds snapped. Shima quickly re-bandaged him.
Jiraiya's eyes were full of disbelief. "Impossible. How could Nagato's Rinnegan belong to Uchiha Madara?"
"Could it be that he is the child of prophecy the Great Master mentioned?"
Fukasaku said, "Little Jiraiya, the Great Master said that the child of prophecy could become a Buddha or a demon with a single thought."
"He could be the reformer of the Ninja World, or its destroyer."
"Now it seems only Uchiha Madara has that kind of power."
Jiraiya stood up. "I will never let him destroy the entire Ninja World."
"By the way, where is Nagato? Is Nagato alright?"
"..."
Gamabunta remained silent.
Jiraiya felt he had asked a very stupid question. Was Madara a good person? Would he leave Nagato alive after taking back his eyes?
Gamabunta said, "Lord Jiraiya, I don't know about Nagato, but Yahiko is dead. He was hounded to death by Hanzo and Danzo."
"Yahiko!"
Jiraiya showed a look of heartbreak.
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan were all good children, but Nagato lacked his own opinions and was easily misled by others.
Konan was too beautiful; perverts would eye her.
The one Jiraiya trusted most was Yahiko. Yahiko had a firm idea of bringing peace to the world and had inherited many of his ideals.
Only with Yahiko by Nagato and Konan's side could Jiraiya feel at ease.
If he was gone, who knows what evil path Nagato and Konan would take?
Gamabunta comforted him, "Lord Jiraiya, you don't need to worry about Konan. That Uchiha Ryou cares for her deeply and will surely protect her."
It was better if Gamabunta hadn't spoken; once he did, Jiraiya became even more worried.
"Oh no, if Konan is targeted by that lustful demon Ryou, she'll have no future at all."
"No, I have to go rescue Konan as soon as possible!"
Shima quickly held Jiraiya down.
"Little Jiraiya, don't go to your death. You're simply no match for Uchiha Madara."
"Little Gamabunta was beaten back by little Ryou. According to him, little Ryou has learned little Tsunade's Monster Strength and can even use Wood Release."
"Right now, if you don't use Senjutsu, you probably aren't even his match."
Jiraiya lay on the bed in misery. Tsunade was snatched by Ryou, and now his most beautiful student was also targeted by him.
Jiraiya had completely become the "Incompetent Jiraiya."
He felt a bit despondent and wanted the world to experience the pain he felt at this moment.
No sooner said than done, Jiraiya immediately turned his inspiration into motivation and began to outline a Cuckoldry-themed erotica story.
He wanted his readers to experience the pain of being cuckolded, just like the pain he felt now.
Seeing that Jiraiya had perked up, Fukasaku and Shima breathed a sigh of relief.
They were concerned about Minato's situation.
"How is little Minato? Was he injured when he met Uchiha Madara?"
Gamabunta said, "Minato is in trouble. Uchiha Madara summoned a hundred-meter-tall Chakra giant and slashed him, directly dispelling Minato's Sage Mode."
"Minato was also seriously injured!"
Jiraiya immediately stopped writing. "Minato? Minato was seriously injured? With Tsunade not around, what should we do?"
Gamabunta said, "Don't worry, Minato's injury isn't like Lord Jiraiya's, where he's about to kick the bucket. Fortunately, Kakashi and the others met Shikaku and his team on the way."
"Their team had a high-level Medical Ninja from the Senju Clan. Her Medical Ninjutsu is much better than Rin's, and she stabilized Minato's condition as soon as she acted."
Jiraiya finally calmed down.
Gamabunta added, "There's also some good news this time. Minato rescued Obito, and Obito clearly knows Uchiha Madara's true objective."
Jiraiya stood up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to Konoha quickly and hear what Obito has to say!"
Fukasaku and Shima also nodded.
Madara's Rinnegan had exceeded their expectations, and they were very concerned about Obito's information.
What exactly did Madara want to do?
Did he want to unify the Ninja World or slaughter his way through it?
On the way to Konoha, Gamabunta proceeded to complain to the two Toad Sages.
"By the way, Lord Fukasaku, Lady Shima, that guy named Shimura Danzo spoke ill of the Great Master."
Gamabunta recounted some of Danzo's remarks.
Fukasaku and Shima were instantly enraged.
"How bold! That little Danzo dares to call the Great Sage a beast!"
"This is truly unbearable. Call Little Gamabunta, Gamahiro, and Gamaken. All the toads of Mount Myōboku will mobilize. Today, we must make Konoha give us an explanation!"
Jiraiya's face was full of dismay. Danzo, that idiotic teammate!
This guy had better die in the Land of Rain!