The Land of Hot Water.
In the end, Jiraiya could no longer maintain Sage Mode.
At the very end... he still failed to escape.
Looking around at the scenery surrounding him—lush green mountains, clear waters, dense vegetation, blooming flowers everywhere.
Leaning against a massive boulder, Jiraiya let out a bitter smile.
"This really is... a pretty decent place to die."
He summoned the scroll toad, Gerotora.
"Jiraiya, what's going on?"
"There's no time. I need to record the intel immediately."
"Understood."
Gerotora hurriedly opened the scroll hanging from his waist.
Dipping his finger into blood, Jiraiya rapidly began writing across the scroll.
Seeing that the Cloud ninjas still hadn't fully surrounded him yet, he used the remaining time to write a few extra words for Tsunade... and a few for Orochimaru as well.
"Jiraiya..."
"Go, Gerotora. And remember to say goodbye for me to Shima, Fukasaku, Gamabunta, Gamaken, Gamahiro... everyone."
Tears welled in Gerotora's eyes.
"Mm."
After answering softly, he vanished in a puff of smoke, returning to Mount Myōboku.
With the last thing he needed to do finally completed,
Jiraiya felt strangely relieved.
Looking back on his life—as a child, he'd been the dead last of the class.
Then, through sheer coincidence, he'd been accepted as Sarutobi-sensei's disciple.
After that, he somehow ended up at Mount Myōboku, taking on the destiny of guiding the Child of Prophecy.
Along the way, he fought Hanzo alongside Tsunade and Orochimaru, led troops against the Hidden Cloud Village and battled the Third Raikage, and even took in an incredible disciple like Minato.
Oh right... there were also those three students of his in the Land of Rain.
They were probably doing quite well now too.
And in the ninja world, he'd left behind legendary works that would endure for generations.
So maybe... his life hadn't been wasted after all.
"Jiraiya! Don't think you're escaping this time!"
A, Darui, and Killer B closed in from three directions, completely sealing off every possible escape route.
But now, Jiraiya truly no longer cared.
He looked at the three with contempt.
"You guys sure took your time. If you were any slower, I might've started reminiscing even more."
Jiraiya sneered.
Only then did the three Cloud ninjas notice— his entire body was wrapped in Explosive Tags, and they had already been activated.
"Damn it! Retreat!"
The three instantly leapt backward.
But moments later, the explosion they expected never came.
Instead, an unfamiliar voice sounded from where Jiraiya stood.
"The older generation really is passionate. Always blowing yourselves up at the slightest provocation. I'm getting emotional just watching this."
Jiraiya, who had already believed he was about to die, stared blankly at the strange insects covering his body.
Then hearing that sarcastic tone, his old face immediately reddened in embarrassment.
"Aburame Shiken, you bastard! Get out here!"
"Jiraiya-sama, that's awfully rude. Given the current situation, I'd say I just saved your life. Yet you speak to your savior with that kind of attitude? Society truly is declining. Honest people like me are always the ones who suffer."
"Drop the act already. Just tell me—why are you here?"
"I've always been here. This is one of my experimental bases."
"You're a Hidden Leaf Village ninja. Why the hell do you have an experimental base in the Land of Hot Water?"
"Because the people here are very kind. Once they learned I needed a laboratory, they generously cleared out a wonderful area for me."
Aburame Shiken answered with complete seriousness.
Jiraiya looked utterly unconvinced.
But then he remembered Shiken was Orochimaru's disciple.
And suddenly everything made sense.
(Orochimaru: Don't pin this on me. I never taught him that. Actually... I never taught Shiken anything at all. Everything he is now came entirely from his own efforts.)
(Aburame Shiken: Wow... I'm so touched, Orochimaru-sensei.)
(Orochimaru: It's nothing. Just do me one favor—when you travel the ninja world, never mention having any connection to me.)
"Hmph. Jiraiya, do you really think adding one more person changes anything? You still won't escape. Darui!"
"Yes sir! Storm Release!"
Black lightning shot forth with blinding speed, instantly striking Aburame Shiken.
Seeing this, Jiraiya was filled with guilt.
It had to be because he distracted Shiken.
Otherwise, there was no way Shiken wouldn't have dodged.
"Not bad power-wise. But my new insects seem even better."
As the black lightning dispersed,
Aburame Shiken stood there completely unharmed.
"How is that possible?! Aside from the Third Raikage, nobody should be able to tank a full-powered Storm Release attack without injury!"
Darui was beginning to doubt his entire existence.
If Storm Release only amounted to this much... then what value did he even have?
"Darui. Steady your heart."
"Yes, sir."
A rubbed his forehead with a headache.
Darui was excellent in every area—taijutsu, kekkei genkai, swordsmanship—all top-tier among his peers.
But mentally... he was just a little too fragile.
Looks like more training awaited him after they got back.
"B, did you figure out what that guy is?"
The question wasn't really directed at Killer B— it was meant for the ancient monster inside him.
"Yo, Eight, got anything?"
"Not yet. But there's something ancient about him."
"Eight doesn't know either! Fool ya fool, ya fool!"
"No concrete intel, huh? Fine. We'll use that move then, B."
"Roger that!"
A instantly used Body Flicker, appearing before Aburame Shiken in a flash, bringing down a chopping hand strike.
"Insect Sphere."
Aburame Shiken summoned a massive sphere of insects to block the attack.
Taking advantage of the opening,
Killer B rushed in close.
"Seven Swords Style: Wild Crane Slaughter!"
Using an absurdly bizarre posture,
Killer B swung all seven blades simultaneously.
Each sword crackled with dense Lightning Release chakra as he launched a frenzied assault against Aburame Shiken's body.
Blood sprayed everywhere from Shiken's body.
"Big bro! His body's ridiculously tough—I can't cut through him!"
"Use that move."
"Got it!"
Killer B and A instantly retreated, then accelerated once more, charging directly toward Aburame Shiken from opposite sides.
Their target—the man standing between them.
"Lariat!"
The signature combination technique unique to every generation of the Hidden Cloud Village's AB duo.
Its power was extraordinary.
Under that attack,
Aburame Shiken's head was violently torn from his body.
"SHIKEN!!!"
Jiraiya roared in grief.
Before, it had only been speculation.
But now there was no doubt whatsoever.
His head was gone.
How could anyone survive that?
A and Killer B exchanged satisfied smiles.
Their combo attack had never failed.
"The older generation really is emotional. You cry way too easily."
"What?!"
Aburame Shiken's voice suddenly rang out once more.
Not only did it stop Jiraiya's tears before they could fall— it also terrified A and Killer B half to death.
Your head's gone... so how are you still talking?!