38: Know Pain: Part 1

"How?" Naruto whispered still in shock unable to believe that his teacher had been taken from the world.

His lover's reply of, "Pain," tore through him since he immediately felt a sense of guilt and responsibility for Jiraiya's death as it had been his idea to inform the Toad Sannin that the supposed leader of Akatsuki had been his student. He looked down at the woman he was hugging to him, who was crying into his chest, and knew she must be feeling the same mixture of emotions as she had wanted to inform him as well. She began to blur as the tears he was trying to suppress for her sake quickly overpowered him. Unable to hold them back any further he let them fall as Tsunade let him know the details of how his teacher had met his end.

*****************************

Jiraiya's last day:

Jiraiya was sitting on the edge of what had become his side of the bed at the place that he had been using for the past several weeks. He was looking out the bedroom window of the apartment he was staying in as he observed God's Tower which was what the locals called Nagato's base of operations.

He felt the other occupant of the bed begin to stir as she said sultrily, "Mmmmm, come back to bed Master Jiraiya." The Toad Sannin chuckled as he looked over his shoulder at the naked full-bodied woman whose apartment he had been sharing for the past several weeks. She rolled onto her back so that her feet were pointing towards him in order that she could nudge his shoulder with her foot. Jiraiya reached back to grab the foot and began to massage it causing Tezuna to coo appreciatively. She followed his gaze causing her to say, "It looks like it is going to Rain today."

Despite the fact that there wasn't a cloud in the sky, Jiraiya grunted in the affirmative. Her face grew pained as she pulled her foot away and getting to a kneeling position said, "You're going to confront god today, aren't you?"

The Toad Sannin looked back at the beautiful woman that he had met in one of the male entertainment clubs of the Rain Village when he had infiltrated the village. Allowing himself to recall how he had become the woman's lover he thought back to how although Konan hadn't provide much information on Nagato, since Jiraiya figured that while she supported Naruto, she couldn't just betray her comrade with whom she shared so much suffering. She had however provided the key information that sometimes the rain that so often fell in the country was actually Nagato using a jutsu to locate infiltrators to his base of operation. Therefore, Jiraiya had been able to sneak in undetected in an attempt to learn more information for his inevitable confrontation with his former apprentice.

Yet, he had only been in the village a few hours when he had needed to find a place to lay low as the clouds began to grow darker signaling a downpour. He had quickly chosen the closest Hostess club he had stumbled across. Tezuna had been working there although she had been entertaining someone else when he arrived. He had quickly selected a couple of younger women and proceeded to put on the show of being a customer in search of a good time. However several hours in, the jovial atmosphere had been broken when Tezuna's husband had barged into the club smelling of booze. The husband, whose name was Ryusui, had caused a rather spectacular scene after chasing off the man his wife had been entertaining. He began to get a little too fresh soon thereafter as he began to fondle her breast while acting like a big shot.

Jiraiya had tried to ignore the man since he didn't want to cause a commotion. Granted, he was known to get a little too fresh at times himself, but the way Ryusui carried himself the Sannin could tell this was a rather common occurrence. The Sannin was also one of the people that tended to demand people behave themselves in the clubs. He was of the mind that although it was the various hostesses job to be flirtatious that didn't mean they were whores. He also knew this was something the more upstanding owners of such clubs tended to believe as well. True some of the more free-spirited women would allow themselves to be grouped provided it added to their tips, but it tended to be something that was done subtly less the other customers got the wrong idea.

He had been able to tell that the little old lady that owned the club was of growing annoyed by the genin due to the apologetic look Tezuna had been directing her boss's way. However, everything changed as Tezuna had tried to direct her husband to the exit. Ryusui tried to protest drunkenly at first but when the blond woman had said, "Ryusui, I'll see you at home. I'm working right now," he quickly grew belligerent.

"What, my money's not good enough for you," the Ame shinobi said bellicosely. "You'd rather whore yourself out to some strangers then the man that puts food on your table."

"What money would that be?" Tezuna replied bitterly, "I'm working a double today because you lost our rent gambling. Yet you still somehow have money left over to show up here drunk."

"Why you little bitch," Ryusui said, "I'll have you know that I made a big score today delivering another corpse to God's Tower. I was planning to buy you something nice with it."

"I'd just rather we have the rent money so we'd have a place to stay at the end of the month," Tezuna said. "Now please leave before you get me fired and we lose our only real source of income."

Ryusui snapped backhanding his wife and sending her to the floor. Towering over her as she held a hand to her bruised cheek he shouted, "There you go again. You just can't help bringing up how you make more money than me because I'm a genin. I'll have you know I take plenty of dangerous missions."

Tezuna looked up at her husband with her eyes growing watery yet still shown with defiance as she countered, "You're a glorified grave robber. The closest you come to danger is when you arrive at a battlefield and need to chase off the other scavengers."

The Rain genin looked like he was about to strike the prone woman again, but before he could Jiraiya grabbed him by the back of the neck. Lifting the man into the air with one hand he said, "Let's you and I have a talk about proper club etiquette shall we."

He tossed the man towards a swinging door that led to the back before following after him. By the time he entered the room the genin had gotten back to his feet and pulled a kunai. "Mind your own business old man," Ryusui said before trying to stab the Sannin.

Jiraiya easily pivoted out of the way of the amateurish genin's attack before striking him with a backhand in a similar manner as he had his wife. Ryusui hit the ground hard as his kunai skittered away from him. The genin looked about for it and quickly scrambled over the floor towards it when he spotted it lying against a trash can in the back room. Just as he was about to reach it, Jiraiya brought his foot down on the man's hand. He heard a satisfying crunch as he ground his geta into the genin's broken hand.

"Ahh, fuck! Get off you bastard," Ryusui shouted able to feel his broken bones grinding against each other.

Jiraiya crouched down to his haunches making sure to keep the pressure on the broken hand. Staring down at the genin, he said angrily, "There's nothing I hate more than when a man beats up on his woman to make himself feel like he's less of a loser." He bit his thumb and then summoned a small green toad. Before Ryusui could say anything the toad's tongue shot out and pulled the genin in. The toad's mouth grew unnaturally wide as it swallowed the genin whole. It looked back at Jiraiya likely expecting him to order it to Konoha to deliver the man for questioning. However, the Sannin shook his head no since he didn't want anyone to know he was in Ame, especially those that might be able to guess what his intentions were. The toad nodded its head in understanding before disappearing.

Jiraiya had then headed back to the front of the club while processing just why Nagato was collecting corpses. Despite not liking the implications when he reached the front he returned to acting in his laid back manner after telling everyone he had chased the genin off. To return the bar to its lively atmosphere he had ordered a round of drinks for everyone, before returning to the two hostesses he had selected, who gushed over how manly he had appeared. Brushing off their compliments, he went back to subtly pumping them for whatever information they had gleamed from their other customers.

He noticed Tezuna watching him for a moment, but then a new customer selected her so she smiled cheerfully as she greeted the man. Several hours later the rain looked like it was going to end. Tezuna having quickly drained several customers of their cash approached his booth and asked the two girls entertaining the Sannin if they would mind if she took over. The two girls sensing the slightly older woman's desire to speak with the man that had defended her as well as finding it difficult to keep up with the energetic Jiraiya quickly agreed.

Tezuna sat down next to him and poured him a drink from the bottle she had brought over. Jiraiya took a sip and was surprised that it was some of the top brand sake the club offered. Although more than capable of affording the good stuff, Jiraiya tended to stick to the cheaper less potent brands in order to keep up the appearance of being a carefree individual without getting completely hammered. "Thanks," the Toad Sage said, "It's a little pricey for me though."

Tezuna smiled gently as she replied, "It's on the house. Thank you for stepping in earlier. When Ryusui gets like that he can be rather..."

Jiraiya noticed the woman's hands begin to tremble as she trailed off, so imagined that Tezuna had found herself in a similar situation before without someone there to help her. He wanted to tell the woman she need not worry about it happening again. But felt doing so may compromise his mission. "I'm sure he'll recognize the error of his ways after he has a chance to calm down. Thanks for the drink, but I should probably get going."

Jiraiya stood preparing to leave as the rain had stopped coming down. However, he only took a single step before Tezuna said, "Do you have a place to stay?" Jiraiya turned to look over his shoulder feeling slightly on edge as he wondered if the woman was an enemy kunoichi. He had been around long enough to know that kunoichi were just as aware of how men tended to be loose lipped when surrounded by booze and women as he was. Nor would he have put it past a kunoichi to have arranged for the little drama that had happened in order to ferret out a potential infiltrator in their midst. However, his practiced eye at spotting such threats made him confident Tezuna wasn't one since she had a certain softness In her arms and legs that a professional kunoichi would lack due to many long hours of training. The woman though did prove she had the knack for being able to read a situation that most women in her particular line of work had as she said, sensing Jiraiya's sudden defensiveness, "The reason I ask is that all the rental establishments in the village report new arrivals to God's Tower. I just have the feeling you were hoping to keep a low profile."

"Thanks for the warning," Jiraiya replied turning away to leave, "I do admit to feeling a certain amount of unease that someone would feel the need to report on the arrival of a simple traveler like myself just for renting a room for the night. Have a pleasant night."

"I'd be willing to offer you a place to stay," Tezuna said causing the Sannin to stop again. She looked off to the side as Jiraiya looked back at her again to hide a slight coloring of her cheeks as she continued, "It often takes several days for my husband to calm down. I can imagine how much angrier he'll be considering how you manhandled him earlier. Would you perhaps be willing to escort me home for a place to lay your head?"

Jiraiya remained wary, but not sensing that he was walking into a trap answered, "How can a man refuse such an offer?"

Tezuna had beamed brightly at him before heading to the back to collect her things. Jiraiya had then escorted her to the lower levels of the Rain Village where her apartment resided. Nothing had happened between them on that first night as Jiraiya had slept on a pull out sofa. But upon waking he had decided to thank his host by making her breakfast, which he had delivered to her in bed. The blond had been quite pleased by the gesture even commenting that it was the first time a man had ever done so. Jiraiya had also admitted that it was the first time he had done such a thing himself.

Although he had bedded his fair share of women, he had never much needed to be concerned about the more emotional aspects of sex. Considering that his encounters tended to be one-night stands or just a simple business transaction with the women that worked the various brothels he frequented, there had never much been a reason to stick around afterwards. Truth be told, he had likely spent more time in the morning with Tezuna, a woman he hadn't been with sexually, then all of the women he had slept with combined.

Nothing had happened between them for the several days that followed either, although she had shown him around the village whenever it didn't rain or she wasn't at work. Having never truly been in a committed relationship he had still sensed something developing between them. Jiraiya began to attribute it to the fact that Tsunade having once more settled her heart on a man had in a sense freed him to pursue something himself. Although he had told Naruko that he had come to believe that Tsunade would never love him as he did her. There had been a hope that she would. That hope had in a way turned into a chain that had bound Jiraiya to the Hokage in a way he was only just beginning to understand. But now that she was in love with Naruto, he understood that a part of him had always remained unattached so that incase she did ever turn her affections to him. He wouldn't be bound to someone else at the time and possibly miss his chance.

To his surprise though, his attraction to Tezuna didn't really stem from her resemblance to his fellow Sannin. In fact, he attributed it to how different the two women were. Although Tsunade could be warm and sensual, there had to date only been two men to ever see her that way. To just about everyone else she tended to be gruff, domineering, and pigheaded. Tezuna on the other hand was quite inviting and kind to everyone which is why she seemed to be a motherly figure to the younger women that she worked with at the club. It also tended to be why she was the most popular hostess despite approaching an age where most women tended to begin losing customers to the younger and newer girls. It had been during a dinner the two had enjoyed together that he learned Tezuna had never planned to still be working as a hostess at this point in her life. Instead, she had planned to purchase a club of her own, but she had needed to support her husband who had blown through their savings.

That dinner had reminded him that technically she was still a married woman, even though she would likely never see her husband again once Jiraiya sent the man to Ibiki. Fearing he was getting in too deep and would lose his edge before his confrontation with Nagato, he decided to end things as only he could. Therefore later on the next night after she had returned how from her job he had planned to peek at her in order that she would get upset and kick him out. In hindsight he supposed that he should have realized he was playing into her hands, when from his position on the couch where he had been sleeping he noticed a slight crack in the bathroom door. Figuring that moment was as good as any he crept to the door and prepared to get an eyeful before the fireworks.

He felt his desire for the woman increase as she stood in front of her mirror after washing her face of the make-up she wore. He nearly turned away when she reached up to undo the knot holding the straps that covered her breasts in the cow outfit she favored up. Yet, after undoing the knot she held her arms in position as she demonstrated that although she wasn't a kunoichi, she possessed the qualities that would have made her an excellent one by saying, "It's rather rude to peek on the woman whose couch you've been using." However despite her words, she turned the door and let the straps to her outfit fall uncovering her large mounds to his roving eyes. Before drinking in her half naked form, Jiraiya noticed that she had angled one of her mirrors so that she could discreetly watch the cracked door. He didn't process the thought much further than that as he began to record every detail to memory. He vaguely noticed that the woman was coming closer but didn't react until the door slid fully open.

The sudden movement caused the Legendary Jiraiya to fall back onto his ass like a startled genin. Getting back to his feet he said, "Look Tezuna...I can explain."

However the hostess closed with Jiraiya and pressed her chest into the Sannin's as she brought her face within inches of his. Her eyes were half closed as she whispered, "There's nothing to explain. I feel it to." She then pressed her lips to his and as she kissed the stunned man, brought one of his hands up to place it against her breast. Jiraiya paused only a moment longer before he began to fondle the tit and became an active participant of the kiss.

Jiraiya let himself go as he took the woman in every way he knew how as she reciprocated in kind. By morning both of them laid spent on the sofa-couch although they had moved from room to room during their hours of lovemaking and wild sex. She had been lying next to him with her head on his shoulder when she finally asked, "Ryusui is never coming back is he."

The Toad Sage had a difficult time reading her emotional state due to the unemotional tone she had used. However, instead of taking it as a challenge he believed it to simply be her stating a fact. Still he couldn't help sounding slightly defensive as he answered her, "I didn't kill him if that's what you're asking. But I doubt he'll be coming back to Rain anytime soon."

Despite all that they had shared he was a little surprised when she said, "Good, maybe then I can move on with my life and follow my own dreams." She followed up her statement by straddling the Sannin and after once more burying his love muscle inside her began to please the man that she felt had finally set her free.

*****************************

Jiraiya ended his recollection of the events that had led him to Tezuna's bed and wasn't surprised by her being aware of his purpose in her village, after all he choose to visit clubs like the one she worked at not only because of the company. But because the women were far more observant then most gave them credit for. The women needed to be in order ensure, that the old adage that fools and their money were soon departed remained true. The Hostesses needed to know just what it was that their various customers were looking for so that they could pour on the charm. Most of their customers often tended to forget their presence as they would quite often let interesting bits of information slip in front of the Hostesses. For Jiraiya coming to such places was a way for him to truly mix business with pleasure.

Respecting the woman too much to lie to her about his plans he said, "I am."

The woman quickly threw herself against his back as she said, "Please don't. If I mean anything to you, you won't confront Lord Pain."

For a moment Jiraiya considered giving into the request. However, unable to abandon what he felt was his duty as both a shinobi of Konoha and the teacher of the man that now considered himself a god, he turned to face his lover and said, "I...I can't honor that request." It pained him as tears began to form in the blonde's eyes but he explained his reasoning, "It isn't just my duties to my home that make it impossible for me to do as you ask. It's also because you do mean so much to me." His lover was about to protest as she looked away, but he cupped her chin to force her eyes to meet his as he continued, "Naga...Pain is meddling in something he can't control and eventually he's going to attract the full attention of all the Shinobi world. If that happens then Rain is going to be reduced to ash no matter how powerful he's become."

"But why does it have to be you?"

It was Jiraiya's turn to look away as he stared at the tower that Pain was said to reside in. Finally after a handful of heartbeats he answered, "Because it's my duty as his sensei. I'm the one that may have sent the events for this potential disaster into motion. As his teacher it's my duty to either get him to see reason or to stop him."

The woman nodded even as she began to weep silently. Jiraiya stood and began to get dressed. Once he was fully clothed he said, "Tezuna, I want you to gather your things and leave this place. I can get you out undetected and should the worse befall me...I want you to be safe. If I fail, they'll eventually find out where I've been staying."

Tezuna nodded as she began to get dressed, seeing that she couldn't talk the man that she had grown to love out of his self-appointed duty she said, "You should be aware that Lady Angel paid the club where I worked a visit. She said she was concerned about Ryusui's disappearance. I admitted that he had been run off by a stranger, but I hadn't seen either of them since. I was backed up by everyone so she appeared to have believed me."

Jiraiya wanted to question why she hadn't said anything before now, but believed he knew the answer. She had been afraid it would hasten the day when he would confront Pain. Letting the matter drop, he said, "Thank you for covering for me. Please get your things quickly; I'll get you out of the village before I confront Pain. The toad I summon will take you wherever you wish to go even to Konoha. I'll find you once my business with Pain is concluded."

Tezuna nodded as she began to get dressed and followed Jiraiya's request. Looking out the window with renewed interest he thought, "No, Konan wouldn't simply accept any such statement without thoroughly investigating it. So, I've been under your observation this entire time." Smirking proudly he mentally added, "You've grown quite skilled for me to have detected no sign of your presence. Something tells me though that she isn't going to just stand aside." He was pulled from his thoughts as Tezuna returned with a handful of possessions stuffed into a sack. "Alright let's go."

They moved quickly to the lowest parts of the village in silence. Reaching the water edge he summoned the same toad that he had stored Ryusui in. Turning to his lover the Toad Sage said, "Tezuna, these last few weeks have meant the world to me. I thank you for taking me into your home and I hope heart. I'll find you once I've defeated Pain."

Tezuna closed with Jiraiya and kissed him deeply pouring all of the feelings that she had for him into the display of affection. When it ended she stepped back and looked like she wanted to tell him something but in the end decided on saying, "I'll be waiting."

Jiraiya nodded, before adding, "You should know I've also stored your husband in that toad. After it drops you off it'll be taking him to Konoha where he'll be interrogated. If you have anything you want to say to him, now would be the time. He'll be restrained so tell him whatever it is you're feeling." He then nodded to the toad that inhaled deeply pulling the woman into its mouth and the other dimension that resided inside of it.

Jiraiya watched it then jump into the water. He looked up to see the clouds growing darker and said, "Thanks for allowing me to say my goodbyes." He didn't need to turn around to know that Konan was standing behind him. When the woman didn't respond, he said, "Still the strong silent type it seems. I don't suppose I can convince you to let me proceed."

"I'm sorry Sensei. But I can't let you confront Nagato," Konan replied as she attacked by throwing several shuriken of paper. Jiraiya didn't dodge as his hair expanded and wrapped around him. The paper shuriken hit the mass of hair burying themselves inside of it. Once imbedded seals located on the paper began to release a cloud of smoke.

Konan watched as the hair returned to normal to reveal a sleeping Jiraiya. She approached cautiously, and immediately went on guard as he burst into smoke to reveal a large doll. She spun just as Jiraiya was reaching her and burst into paper as he tried to grab her around the throat. Jiraiya leapt back as quite a few of the sheets of paper folded themselves into shuriken which launched themselves at the toad sage driving him towards the water.

The sheets that remained began to gather together revealing Konan who remained in midair due to the large paper wings that spread from her back. Holding her hand above her head a large paper spear appeared which she threw forcing Jiraiya to retreat towards the water's edge. She followed the attack up with a large origami windmill shuriken but was forced to dodge in turn when it was incinerated by a large fireball that erupted from Jiraiya's mouth. The two combatants prepared to attack each other once more unaware that they were being observed.

*****************************

The Animal Path that Nagato had been using since Kakashi had damaged the other when he and Konan had collected the host of the six-tails watched on as his blue-haired companion struggled against the man that had taught them the art of being shinobi. Despite having come to rely on the masked man watching the fight as well more and more as his faith in his friend had turned into doubt, he felt a measure of annoyance as Tobi said, "My, she is certainly pulling out all the stops against Jiraiya. To think the spy she had mentioned was him."

Nagato, from the top floor of his tower, forced the animated corpse to turn towards Tobi as it said, "If she is to have any success against the likes of him, she cannot hold anything back."

"I see," Tobi said thoughtfully although he also sounded amused. "Then wouldn't it be prudent for us to go to her aid."

"That would imply that you are admitting to being wrong about her allegiance no longer being to Akatsuki," Nagato replied turning from the fight.

"My you've certainly become coldblooded Nagato," Tobi said watching the fight with a greater interest than before, "Leaving her to fight a monster like Jiraiya is a bit much don't you think. If they aren't in league with one another and she loses then we may find out that she wasn't a spy. But I doubt she'll survive the experience."

"The opposite also rings true," the female body that was the current Animal Path replied.

"I doubt she'll be able to defeat Jiraiya," Tobi said skeptically.

"That wasn't what I meant," Nagato said through the Animal Path before leaping away.

"Interesting," Tobi said turning to watch the fight, pleased to see that Nagato was moving deeper into the darkness due to his manipulating him against Konan. Smirking behind his mask he said to himself, "Now if only Sasuke turns out half as well."

*****************************

Konan was finding it difficult to think let alone breathe due to just how skilled Jiraiya was. Although he had landed several blows to her, she had yet to even land one on him. However, before she could berate herself for her lack of progress against the Sannin, she was forced to roll out of the way as his hair took on the form of a Lion's Mouth and smashed into the wall where she had just been standing. Quickly rolling to a crouch she threw two sheets of paper that folded themselves into origami cranes that flew towards her sensei. His hair retracted just as they reached him and exploded.

Konan tried to remain calm and impassive since that would be what Nagato would expect. Although she had told him that it appeared a spy had snuck into the village, she had downplayed it so that he would let her handle the matter alone. Still despite her secretly being pleased at his having yet to show up, a part of her was wondering what was keeping him. By now she figured word must have reached him that whoever the spy was, he was giving Konan a hard fight. Although if Nagato did show, she would be forced to abandon her strategy of forcing the Toad Sage out of the village, since she knew once her teacher and friend came face to face she would have to pick a side.

Despite having tried to remain vigilant as she searched the dust cloud for any sign that Jiraiya hadn't been caught in the explosion. Her inattention ended up costing her as she was hit by a volume of oil that erupted from the cloud. Unable to turn to her paper form she groaned in pain as Jiraiya appeared from the dust and smoke to hit her in the stomach with his fingertips. She felt her chakra get sealed away as she smashed against a wall. Sliding down it, she felt her consciousness begin to fade away as her teacher began to turn away from her. Unable to speak or fight the seal that was compelling her to close her eyes and sleep she thought, "Please turn back Sensei. Even you would be unable to best Nagato."

*****************************

Jiraiya continued to walk away confident the seal he placed on Konan would keep her out of his hair until his business with Nagato was settled. The sky opened up as it began to rain heavily, so not knowing whether it was just the typical weather of Ame or Pain searching for him, Jiraiya began to run towards God's Tower. Reaching the base of the tower, he was surprised to have done so unmolested, but upon leaping the fence that surrounded the property found himself surrounded by Rain shinobi.

"I'm sorry, should I have made an appointment?" Jiraiya quipped before tearing into the ranks of shinobi that tried to bar his path.

Easily crushing the meager resistance, he entered the tower but was surprised to find no one waiting for him in the lobby. Looking around, he couldn't sense any hidden ambushes so took a deep breath before unleashing another gush of oil from his mouth. Spraying down the walls and floors, until everything was coated he began to move towards the elevator. Pressing the button, he waited for the doors to open by preparing his trump card. Pulling a sheet of paper with a storage seal that read, "fire," on it, he pressed it to the ground and activated the chakra identification seal that resided on the back and would keep it in place.

Although the storage seal was not the same type as the one he had used on Konan. It did share one similarity in that it would remain active until he released it, or his heart stopped beating. Steeling himself for battle, he prepared to meet his student and was called to his destiny by the ding that signaled the arrival of the elevator. Stepping into it, he pressed the button for the top floor.

When the doors opened again he would admit to feeling a little disappointed due to the lack of a welcoming committee. Stepping into the room, his disappointment gave way to a feeling of unease as it appeared as if recently several pieces of equipment had been removed. He crouched down to examine an electrical connection and wondered what had been hooked up to it. Figuring he wouldn't be gaining any insight from staring at a few wires he began to move deeper into the building. He inspected several rooms he passed but found them just as empty.

Stepping into a wide hall that ended in a pair of double doors, Jiraiya suspected that he was coming up to the room that Hanzo had used when greeting his visitors back when he ran Rain. Upon stepping in front of the doors, he reached out to open them when he heard a voice say on the other side, "Almighty Push."

Jiraiya was propelled backwards along with the doors that were blown off their hinges. The Sannin was able to recover so that he landed on his feet, but upon looking at the man that was standing in the doorway felt his blood run cold. "How..."

"Hello sensei."

Jiraiya couldn't believe his eyes, as standing before him was Hanzo of the Salamander. Although, the old Ame ruler was wearing his rebreather mask, Jiraiya could see what appeared to be black piercings in his nose and cheeks. Another change besides the obvious one of him having the Rinnegan was that he had orange hair. The man was also dressed in the black and red cloak of Akatsuki.

Jiraiya's confusion grew as Hanzo was joined by several other men in cloaks all of whom also possessed the Rinnegan. Jiraiya had no idea who the other men were although he did find one of them to be familiar. The one that he found was familiar also matched the description of the man Kakashi had fought when he, Guy, and Yamato had fought Pain during their mission to prevent the Tsuchigumo clan's kinjutsu from falling into the wrong hands.

From what Jiraiya recalled of the events of that encounter the man he recognized was capable of summoning. He also remembered that the Pain that had matched Yahiko's description was capable of manipulating attractive and repulsive forces. Jiraiya guessed that however it was that Nagato was manipulating Hanzo, he was now the one able to use those abilities.

Studying the other four he said, "Kakashi said one of them tends to keep back out of the conflict. One will almost be like some sort of human puppet. Of the ones that remain Kakashi said that he only knew of one possessing the ability to absorb chakra. With two opponents that have abilities I know nothing about I'm not going to be able to mess around here."

Jiraiya began to formulate a plan of attack, but then suddenly the various men that claimed to be Pain disappeared into smoke as the Animal Path slammed its hands to the ground. From the smoke a large rhino that had the same piercings as the others as well as the Rinnegan emerged as it charged down the hall towards Jiraiya.

The toad sage deciding it would be best to simply go all out decided to fight fire with fire as he also performed the summoning jutsu. The summoned Rhino without hesitation charged into the cloud of smoke, but came to an almost complete stop. It struggled to move forward as the man controlling it wondered what Jiraiya had summoned to arrest its movement. From the cloud of smoke he heard a decidedly female voice say, "Honestly Jiraiya. A little warning would have been appreciated."

"I apologize," Jiraiya said respectfully as the smoke began to clear revealing the two toads sitting on his shoulders and his transformed features due to his entering his Sage mode. Staring into the Rinnegan of the beast that he was gripping around the horn, he added, "But I'm going to need your help if I'm going to have any chance of beating this opponent."

Shima sighed able to sense Jiraiya's concern directed towards the opponent he was facing. Forgetting her annoyance that had been due to Fukasaku and her just sitting down to dinner she said, "Well what's done is done. What can you tell me about the opponent we are facing?"

"It appears that at the very least he seems to be in possession of the Rinnegan," her husband said before Jiraiya could speak.

Shima was about to tell her husband not to be ridiculous, but then noticed the eyes of the summons that Jiraiya was holding in place. Taken aback she said, "I...I had come to believe that such a dojutsu was only a legend."

"You wouldn't be the first," Jiraiya said before grunting and tossing the Rhino the rest of the way down the hall where it smashed through a wall. "Unfortunately, I'm afraid that outside of some basic abilities that each of the Dojutsu wielders have, I'm about as in the dark as you are. I've been here for several weeks but was only able to hear some scraps of information."

"Wielders," Fukasaku said sounding concerned, "As in more than one. How can a Legendary Dojutsu that hasn't been around for several millennia suddenly be in the possession of several people at once?"

"I'm not convinced it is," Jiraiya said, "I once had a student that possessed the Rinnegan. He suddenly activated it when I was training him and two other orphans during the Second Shinobi War. I believe he's somehow manipulating the others from behind the scenes."

"You're quite well informed Sensei," The current Deva path said stepping into the hall from behind Jiraiya. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since you've been making a nuisance of yourself these past several months. Perhaps you'll be so kind as to inform me just who it is you've been working with?"

"You're rather full of yourself Nagato," Jiraiya replied, "assuming I needed an accomplice to find out at least some of your secrets. After all, you're the one that let Kakashi and the others you faced get away. He was able to provide accurate descriptions of the men that attacked him. One struck me as being Yahiko and considering that he appeared to have the Rinnegan, I didn't believe it was mere happenstance. I couldn't be sure whether it was him or you behind Akatsuki until just now. You were there when I faced down Hanzo; you should recognize that he would never willingly serve another. No, not if he had any say in the matter that was."

"Ah, I do remember that was the name of this body. Now however he serves as an instrument of your demise."

The Deva path raised his arm and Jiraiya felt himself being pulled towards the Path of Pain. However, he had prepared for such an attack by gripping the floor with chakra. He suddenly sensed an attack from behind and realized that the Deva path wasn't targeting him. Turning just in time, he avoided a blade that emerged from the arm of the current Asura path before retaliating with a blow that smashed the body into and through a wall. Jiraiya cut the chakra to his feet allowing himself to be pulled towards the Deva path. The animated body of Hanzo ended the jutsu causing Jiraiya to drop to all fours as the two great Toad Sages on his shoulders opened their mouths. Doing likewise he expelled a massive quantity of oil as Fukasaku used his wind technique to carry it towards the Deva path. Shima then exhaled a stream of flame that ignited the oil. The massive combination fire jutsu flew towards the Deva path but another body dashed in front. Holding his hands in front of him, The Preta Path, absorbed the energy of the jutsu causing it to disappear. Nagato then channeled the chakra to the Deva path as the Preta moved out of the way. "Disappear sensei," he said using Hanzo's voice before releasing a powerful push that destroyed the hall as it approached Jiraiya.

The Toad Sage avoided the jutsu before it reached him by smashing through a wall and leaping as far as his legs would take him. He looked back in time to see the jutsu wash over the area he had just been standing as the hall collapsed. Not liking his chances should he fight in such a confined area he continued forward hoping to find a more open area in which to confront Nagato.

He continued smashing through the walls as he searched for a more open area in which to confront the bodies that Jiraiya believed Nagato was controlling somehow. Although able to use a rudimentary form of Sage Jutsu due to his bonding with the two Sages perched on his shoulders. He didn't possess several of the abilities he knew a true Sage would. One of them being the ability to sense chakra as it was all he could do to perfectly balance his Sage Chakra while in a fight even while connected to the two Sages. But luckily for him, he didn't need to since they could. Shima from her perch on his right shoulder said, "Jiraiya, go one more room up and then start heading right."

"Why?" The Sannin questioned, "Right now I need to find a more open place in which to fight."

Shima shook her head as she said, "No, you need to find the man manipulating these, well...I'm not sure how best to describe them...watch out!"

Jiraiya didn't need to ask what Shima was warning him about as before he reached the next wall a body exploded through it. It was small and spindly. Jiraiya quickly recognized the Asura Path he had sent flying earlier as it landed on all fours and made clicking sounds like a puppet. It looked up at him revealing the Rinnegan it sported and upon laying eyes of him said, "Ah, there you are."

"They're all converging on us," Fukasaku said feeling the other paths moving to their location.

"No," Shima corrected, "Not all of them. There are two chakra signatures that are still in the throne room. One of them possesses an incredible amount of chakra and it is also the same as the one which is manipulating these Paths. The other one is... well to be honest it feels...dark."

"I see," Jiraiya said understanding where Shima had wanted him to go. "The one controlling these bodies must be Nagato." Jiraiya leaped away as suddenly the Spindly Asura Path's cloak tore from its back as a pair of senbon launchers appeared. The weapons sported several tubes mounted in a circular formation and were attached to a square block to which a feeding mechanism was connected that ran into the Spindly Asura's path back. The tubes began to spin causing a loud whirring noise to fill the air which changed in pitch as the senbon began to shoot out of them.

Jiraiya cursed as the launchers filled the air with an unfathomable amount of senbon as he was forced to run not trusting even his Sage Mode Needle Jizo to stand up against the barrage. The Spindly Asura continued skittering about on all fours as it tried to bring its back mounted weaponry in line with the Sage. Jiraiya hit another wall to smash into the next room. Yet instead of following, the Asura path simply began moving back and forth as it destroyed the rest of the wall and covered the entirety of the next room with senbon.

When its weapons ran dry, it began to walk on all fours into the next room as it searched for some sign of the Sannin. Upon entering the room it immediately spotted the series of holes that indicated that Jiraiya had escaped. It quickly followed the trail of destruction, but upon entering the following room Nagato realized his mistake as he heard, "Now it's my turn."

The Asura looked up just in time to see Jiraiya sticking to the ceiling on all fours his hair looking wild and overgrown. From it flew thousands of hairs that hardened into needles which coated the room. They tore the Spindly Asura Path to ribbons before it could react due to it being what Jiraiya considered his fastest attack.

The Sage dropped to the ground to stare down at the destroyed body. Unlike with the Animal Path or Hanzo, Jiraiya didn't have the same sense of familiarity he did with them. With a moment to breathe Jiraiya said, "I think it would be prudent of me to handle these Paths before moving to face Nagato."

"I would normally say that is a prudent thing to do," Shima replied sounding worried, "but that may not be the best plan of action in this case."

"Why not," Fukasaku said well aware of his wife's strategic way of thinking.

"Well for one, I believe this Nagato must be limited in his movement for some reason. Why else rely on these animated bodies?"

"Well it does present him with several advantages," Fukasaku replied as Jiraiya began to move once more less the other Paths find him.

Deciding to follow Shima's directions he began heading to the Throne room while asking, "I would tend to agree with your husband. It allows him to attack without exposing himself."

"There is that," Shima conceded, "But to me it would present far more disadvantages then gains. For one, it seems that he can only channel one of these abilities through a particular path at a time. Imagine how much more powerful he would be if he could use all of them himself. Also, to use these bodies as he is would require a certain amount of preparation. I'm guessing that is what those piercings are for. I've heard of certain materials which could be used to transmit and receive chakra."

Jiraiya hit another wall and after passing through it said, "That doesn't explain why we shouldn't deal with these animated bodies first though."

"Sure it does," Shima countered, "All we would be doing is wasting chakra on pieces of an organism instead of concentrating our energies on defeating the entirety of it." She looked around the room and spotting several exposed electrical connection continued, "Plus, I have the feeling that you've encountered Pain before."

"Not me personally," Jiraiya answered, "But several Leaf Jounin did. From that report I was able to gleam that these Paths seemed able to communicate what they see to each other. One of the Paths even matched the description of one of my old students."

"What about the one we are facing here? Are they the same that those Jounin faced?" Fukasaku asked beginning to understand what his wife was driving to.

Jiraiya frowned as he answered, "Yes and no. The one that summoned the Rhino appears to be one of the ones they fought. But there was no mention of the Hanzo one and he seems to share the same ability as the one that resembled Yahiko."

Shima stroked her chin, before saying, "Which means that although he may be limited to manipulating six. That doesn't mean that is all he has on hand. I imagine when not at use he must store them somehow. I believe that is what all these disconnected wires may have been used for. Therefore, he could have a considerable number of bodies prepared and ready to step in for when one is defeated."

Jiraiya didn't like the thought of that, but replied, "Then where are they? He probably didn't know I was here until just before my battle with Konan. He couldn't have hidden all his stored bodies away."

Shima shrugged before saying, "Who can say? He may have been busy preparing for some operation. If he's immobile like I believe then it is likely he would need time to transport himself and the inactive bodies to a new location. He was probably in the midst of doing so for a while." Shima looked ahead and then said, "But you can ask him yourself, he just ahead."

Jiraiya prepared himself and forming a Rasengan slammed it into the wall. When he appeared on the other side he found four of the six Paths waiting for him in a large high ceiling room. The Toad Sages also noticed six metal cylinders that looked as if they were used to store the Paths when not in use. Finally their attention shifted to the top of a set of steps where an emancipated Nagato stared down at them from the mechanical walker he used. Giving his sensei an unemotional welcome, he said, "Hello Jiraiya-sensei."

Taken aback by his former student's condition he said, "Nagato, w-what happened to you?"

It was the Hanzo Deva path that answered as it said, "There's no need to waste time explaining to the dead."

He began to raise his hand, but Fukasaku opened his mouth and shot his tongue out. It wrapped around the Deva Path's arm and he pulled it off its feet as he retracted it. But he was forced to let go when the Animal Path summoned a large centipede that tried to intercept the tongue and bite it in half. The giant bug dispelled itself before it could be attacked in turn by Jiraiya's pony tail which sharpened into a spike to impale it as it was able to see the attack coming via the various Rinnegan spread throughout the room.

Jiraiya while his hair was moving towards the insect also tried to attack the Hanzo Deva path directly with Taijutsu as it was still airborne. However, just before the sage reached it the Deva Path orientated itself to face Jiraiya. It brought both its hands in line with the Sage as it unleashed a powerful repelling force. Jiraiya smashed into a wall before hitting the ground. Getting up to a crouched position, he saw the Animal Path summon a giant Ox that much like the other summons thus far had the same black piercings and the Rinnegan.

"Give it up, Jiraiya-sensei," Nagato said from the platform on which his walker stood, "You're no match for a god."

Jiraiya stood straight just before the summons reached him and bringing both of his hands above his head said, "Sorry Nagato. I've had too many stubborn students to ever just give up. There's still time for you to turn away from this dark path you've chosen for yourself." He then brought his fists down on the Ox's head smashing it through the floor. The Ox smashed through all the floor's until it hit the bottom one.

"Impressive, but futile Jiraiya-sensei." Nagato said dispassionately. "You cannot defeat me with mere words. I've walked a path filled with too much pain to allow weak promises of a better tomorrow to dissuade me from it. Pain is the one thing that all people understand and when they have all experienced a similar amount, only then will they attempt to understand one another."

Jiraiya had feared something similar would be necessary before his hope that the hate that engulfed shinobi could be lessened, but confident in Naruto replied sadly, "It pains me to see the student that once inspired me to believe a better world could be achieved has turned his back on that dream."

"Fortunately Jiraiya-sensei, you won't have to live with that pain for long."

Jiraiya charged forward as the Four Paths present charged him at once. Jiraiya brought a knee up into the one that had absorbed his Fire Jutsu earlier stomach. He spotted the Hanzo path preparing to hit him with another Shinra Tensei. Grabbing the Preta Path, he tossed it at the Deva forcing the Path to abandon its current action or to hit the Preta with the jutsu. Jiraiya was forced back on the defensive as the Animal Path summoned a Giant Panda that would have driven the sage through the floor like a stake had he not leapt away.

"Dammit," Jiraiya said as the summoned bear disappeared, "I can't find a blind spot to attack Nagato directly."

Shima nodded as she said, "His skill at manipulating these Paths is impressive. But we should be able to trap them all at once if we use that jutsu."

Fukasaku caught on immediately as he said, "Jiraiya-boy, you'll need to buy us some time to prepare."

"Whatever, you two have planned, you better do it quickly. I'm not sure how much time I can give you." Jiraiya leaped to the wall just as the Deva Path unleashed another Shinra Tensei. Responding in kind, he fired his hair out like senbon again hoping to pepper Nagato with them. However, the Animal Path leapt to his defense and summoned the Panda again which took the attack in Nagato's place. Jiraiya leapt away just as Shinra Tensei smashed into where he had been.

He landed on the ground in front of the Human path and swiped it off of its feet. He then smashed his fist into its stomach as he drove the Path into the floor. He became aware of the two sages singing and almost immediately all of the paths came to a stop. Recognizing that they had been placed in a genjutsu by the toads' singing he made straight for Nagato in order to end his student. However, just before reaching Akatsuki's supposed leader a man in a mask fell between them dropping from the shadow. Jiraiya recognizing the true master behind Akatsuki due to the intelligence given to Naruto by Konan didn't hesitate in forming a Rasengan. He tried to plunge the spiraling ball of chakra into Tobi's chest, but the man simply reached up to place his hand on Nagato's walker and turned them both intangible as the Sage passed through them.

"To think a man that calls himself a god would allow himself to be caught in a genjutsu. It's almost shameful," Tobi said as he ended his jutsu. Staring into the Rinnegan eye of the Deva Path with his Sharingan, he said, "Time to wake up."

Nagato suddenly shot back in his walker as if he had been submerged in water and was drowning. Shima watched as the other paths got began to stir and unable to hold the jutsu any longer ended it before croaking, "Who is that?"

Jiraiya aware that his insight into Tobi was due to Konan and as such revealing it could put her in danger answered, "A good question. Supposedly he was a new member that had been paired with an Iwa terrorist named Deidara. I'm guessing that isn't the case though."

"An astute observation Jiraiya," Tobi said coming around the walker to face Jiraiya. "I can see why Minato talked of you with such high regard."

"What," Jiraiya said confused, "How did you know Minato?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Tobi said before charging the Sannin.

Jiraiya prepared himself, and engaged in a heated Taijutsu fight with the masked man. Jiraiya managed to grip both of Tobi's forearms and holding them in a vice like grip said, "Start talking!" He then began to apply his strength to squeezing them painfully.

Yet instead of screaming in pain even as the skin of his arms began to break, Tobi began to chuckle in amusement. "I'm afraid I want to keep my identity a surprise for a little while longer. It isn't prudent for me to let the cat out of the bag just yet." Jiraiya heard the sudden of something being launched through a tube via air pressure. He was confused as it had sounded like it had come from behind Tobi. He thought he must have been mistaken since he doubted that Nagato would shoot through his ally. But then to his shock two chakra rods appeared from Tobi's chest. Realizing that Tobi was able to make any part of himself intangible at will, the Sannin leapt out of the way while keeping an eye of his opponents in front of him. That was why he was caught unaware by the blade that stabbed him in the back.

"Jiraiya!" Shima shouted having noticed the new chakra signature too late to warn the Sannin. But looking back at the man who was holding the black chakra receiver that he had plunged into Jiraiya's back. She realized that it wasn't exactly a new chakra signature as it belonged to the same Spindly Asura Path that they had already destroyed, seeing another Path behind it and the one that had stayed out of the fighting up to this point she thought, "Did that one restore it somehow?"

Jiraiya felt it was difficult to move and attributed it to the chakra receiver that had been plunged into him. Fighting against Nagato's will, he managed to bring his hands together. Fukasaku upon recognizing the sign said, "Now wait a moment Jiraiya-boy." But then he and his wife dispelled as Jiraiya sent them back to Mount Myoboku.

"Impressive," Nagato said as he couldn't control the Sannin's movements even with all the recent modifications to the chakra transmitters built into his walker. "I'm surprised you were even able to do that much."

Nagato was forced to eat his words as Jiraiya pulled the chakra receiver out of the Asura Path's grip and through his chest. But before he could do anything he was stabbed into the ground by all of the remaining paths. Coughing up blood, he stared up into the Rinnegan eyes of the Hanzo Deva Path as it said, "Do you understand the futility of it all now, Jiraiya-sensei?"

Jiraiya smiled despite the pain as he thought of Naruto and how his student refused to give up. His thoughts also turned to Naruko as she had proved to be an excellent student as well. All the people, who had influenced his life, appeared before him. It settled on Tezuna causing him to think, "I wish we could have enjoyed ourselves a little longer."

Focusing on his former student he said, "That's your problem Nagato. You've grown into a quitter." The Sannin then jammed the chakra rod he had been holding onto up into the Hanzo Deva Path's side. Having faced the former ruler of Rain and lived to tell the tale, Jiraiya had studied all he could on the man in case he ever needed to face him in battle again. Therefore he knew why Hanzo had worn the mask that he did even though he was immune to his own poison. He also knew that the Poison Sack within Hanzo's body was likely still there as the Deva Path sported the mask as well. Having learned where the sack was as Jiraiya had vowed that one way or the other he would take Hanzo out should they ever fight again he impaled the poison sack.

Gas immediately began to seep from the wound and although the Deva path was not affected due to its mask the same couldn't be said for the other Paths. Despite them technically no longer being alive the poison worked on the nervous system and was so powerful it would immobilize even Hanzo for several moments should the sack rupture despite his being immune. Unable to move along with the other Paths due to the poison he watched helplessly as Nagato was spirited away by Tobi as the gas began to fill the room.

The Hanzo Deva path lowered his face closer to Jiraiya's, as it still sported the mask that the Rain ruler had worn in life and so was unaffected by the poison spreading through the room, to say, "What satisfaction did your minor act of defiance give you?"

Already dying from being stabbed, Jiraiya felt his life slipping away as he smiled defiantly at his former student to say, "Plenty, at least now there are six less weapons for you to throw at Naruto." Nagato was about to respond but the temporary immobilization Jiraiya experienced from the poison ended prompting the Sannin to rip the black chakra receiver from the Deva Path's body and jam it into its neck. The Path fell like a puppet that had its strings cut. He looked around at the other ones but noticed they didn't appear to be moving either. Guessing that Nagato was going to let the poison dissipate before collecting them, Jiraiya smirked as he thought, "Sorry, Nagato you won't be playing with these puppets again." His eyes landed on the Animal Path and he suddenly recalled why the man seemed familiar. Remembering him as the Fuuma-nin that had been the basis of the antagonist of his first book he thought as the world began to go dark, "Speaking of books...I really need to think up a title for my next one. I got it, The Tale of Naruto Uzumaki: The Ero-Ninja. Yeah, that sounds like a winner...plenty of sexy action to keep the reader's attention...now how exactly did Naruko describe the sounds Tsunade made when she came?"

*****************************

Jiraiya's heart came to a stop as everything faded to black and upon his passing the seal he placed on Konan released itself allowing her to awaken. It also released the seal he had placed in the lobby of God's Tower. From it sprang forth the black fire of Amaretsu which he had sealed years earlier when Itachi and Kisame had moved against Naruto during the search for Tsunade. The black fire set the toad oil aflame quickly causing it to engulf the lobby. Due to the heat and power of the flames the building was soon engulfed and although the building would collapse the fire would continue to burn for years to come.

Konan upon her waking watched God's tower as it burned and knew that it marked the final resting place of her sensei. She tried to remain unemotional and just barely managed as only a single tear escaped from her eye. Aware that she wasn't alone she said without turning back, "It appears Jiraiya-sensei gave you some trouble."

The Yahiko Deva path responded, "Some, but that was only to be expected of an opponent of Jiraiya's caliber." It turned to begin walking away as it said, "Come, it's time we take a more active role in securing the jinchuriki."

Konan felt a spike of fear settle in her for Naruto since she had little doubt that soon her lover and oldest friend would be meeting face to face. Not sure what to do, she obediently began to follow confident that if their target was Konoha, the fox mark she sported on the inside of her lower lip would alert them to the coming danger.

*****************************

Nagato watched his companion follow his favored of the Deva Paths. Behind him Tobi was gasping for breath as he felt the strain of using Kamui to escape from God's Tower. Nagato watched him struggle through the eyes of the female Animal Path that he planned to use to replace the one lost in God's Tower. "It seems your guest is attempting to escape that dimension you travel through," The Animal Path said.

Tobi began to gain some measure of control as he chuckled mirthlessly, "You could show a little appreciation since it took considerable effort to keep it contained while warping us out of the tower. Your underestimating Jiraiya nearly cost you."

"Perhaps," Nagato said watching Konan follow his Deva Path. He then directed the Animal Path to follow them as well as the remaining four within the village.

Tobi having regained control moved to watch as the Animal Path took up a position behind the blue-haired woman. After several moments of silence he said, "I hope your vision wasn't clouded because she fought against Jiraiya." Nagato didn't reply causing the masked man to continue, "What I mean to say is, that from what I saw Jiraiya came here to kill you. If she was truly still committed to our cause then she would be..."

"You don't need to explain things to me like I am some child," Nagato said cutting Tobi off. "I'm quite aware that Konan's actions could just have easily been a way to prevent Jiraiya and me from actually fighting. I also didn't sense any hesitation in Jiraiya's intent to kill me. Still, I believe it is at the very least prudent that God's Angel not be dealt with in such a public manner. Her death would serve a far greater purpose when it can be explained as a result of Konoha's actions."

"Ah, I see," Tobi said thoughtfully, "I suppose it doesn't hurt in giving your people another reason to hate Konoha. It'll take some time to reach the Leaf Village considering our limited means of travel now that Kamui seems to be out of the question for the time being. Are you sure she won't pose a threat once she realizes where we are heading."

"I never said she needed to reach the Leaf Village," Nagato said coldly directing his mechanical walker to begin moving.

This time Tobi did let some mirth into his chuckle as he said, "No, I suppose you didn't."

*****************************

Tezuna watched as God's Tower collapsed into the black fire that had engulfed it from the opposite bank of the lake that surrounded Ame. Tears were leaking from her eyes as she knew that she would never see Jiraiya in this world again. Looking down, she stared at the scroll which Jiraiya had written her and hidden away in her pack as they kissed. She had found it as the toad she had been inside swam out of the village.

Her husband had also been inside the toad, imbedded in its flesh. He had demanded that she help him get free, but she had ignored him in favor of reading the letter. In it Jiraiya had informed her that while he planned to defeat Pain. He was aware that doing so would be no easy task and could just as easily end in his death. He had also left her a check for a considerable sum of money as thanks for her kindness and because he had wanted her to be well off should he not be able to return to her.

Yet, she had been unable to just leave without having some idea of how Jiraiya's fight with a person she felt could almost truly be a god had gone, so had informed the toad to just take her as far as the lake. When the tower began to be engulfed, she had her answer. Turning away from the fire with more money than she had ever dreamed possibly she was only glad that their child wouldn't be brought up in a life of poverty as she had been.

Rubbing her stomach she said, "Your father was a great man. I hope though that you'll understand why it is that I don't want you to follow in his footsteps." With that thought, Tezuna wondered where she could go in order to find a place far removed from the world of shinobi.

****************************

The Present:

Naruto stared up at the ceiling of the Den's Master bedroom as he stroked Tsunade's hair soothingly. He had been unable to sleep after hearing the story of Jiraiya's passing. Tsunade hadn't been much better after he had Hiraishined them there from the training field. The two of them had hugged each other closely as they vented their grief while laying in the bed they so often shared. He felt glad that for the moment Tsunade had been able to find a measure of peace from her grief in sleep. Although from time to time she would let a little whimper out which would prompt him to whisper to her soothingly.

However, it wasn't grief that kept Naruto awake, but fear. He knew that with Jiraiya gone there was now a big target resting on his back. One that would put everyone he loved in danger. Not to mention, the danger that was still present for Fu and Yugito since Akatsuki had no way of knowing the two women's Bijuu were no longer contained in them. If they were captured and Akatsuki did learn of this, he doubted they would let his lovers go since they would still represent valuable military assets to their villages.

The other reason he felt afraid was because he knew that if he couldn't handle someone like Danzou without the aid of his mother, then he highly doubted he could take Pain. Plus considering the fact that Akatsuki had succeeded in targeting several Jinchuriki already, there was no guarantee his mother would be enough to win the coming fight.

Naruto was pulled from his thoughts as the door to the room was opened. Not feeling that the intruder was one of his lovers, he felt a spike of concern until he remembered that Tsunade had told him that she had asked the Toad Sage Fukasaku to wait for them in the Den's war room. However, by the time she had finished telling the tale meeting with him had been the last thing on either of their minds. He received some confirmation to who the person was when he heard, "My, I imagine that only in his wildest dreams could Jiraiya-boy picture such a set-up."

Guessing their guest was tired of waiting and not wanting to disturb his lover. Naruto created a clone which he the substituted himself with. Standing where the clone had come into being Naruto immediately spotted the old toad and said, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

"Not at all," Fukasaku said waving off the apology, "I'm glad to see you shared such a powerful bond with you teacher. It is as it should be, don't you agree?"

Naruto nodded, and sending a look back to his lover said, "Can we talk someplace else?"

The Toad inclined his head before leaping to Naruto's shoulder. Upon exiting the room Naruto began heading to the entrance to the Den. Not sure how to begin he said, "Gramps, is there any way to beat Pain if even Jiraiya couldn't do it?"

"Gramps!," The elder toad said between amused and offended. It faded though as the seriousness of the situation took hold as he answered, "Pain was unlike any opponent I have ever seen. He truly had a monstrous amount of chakra and that coupled with the Rinnegan, I could see why Jiraiya thought he was the child of prophesy. However, I believe that Jiraiya was of the opinion that you..."

"I don't want to hear that," Naruto said quickly cutting the toad off.

"Naruto, whether you want to hear it or not, Jiraiya lived a large portion of his life with the belief that he would train the person that would change the world."

Naruto looked at toad on his shoulder for a moment before replying, "Do you know what I hear when a person says something was prophesized to happen?" Fukasaku nodded his head causing the jinchuriki to say, "I hear a built in excuse to be underwhelmed by an outcome. You say a student of Jiraiya's was meant to change the world. So say that happens? All that would mean is for the people that believed in the prophesy in the first place is that what they believed had come true which it was always supposed to do. How quickly do you think they'll forget about all the people that strived to make it happen? It's even worse when you apply such a moniker to one person because then people might come to believe that no matter what he chooses he can do no wrong. My opinion on this so called prophesy is simple, it will not be by any one person's hand that the world will become a better place. If it does happen, it will only be because there are lots of people striving to make it one."

Fukasaku stared at the jinchuriki for a moment as he thought, "Very true, Naruto-boy. But I'm beginning to understand why Jiraiya could face his death so confident the world would take a turn for the better." Confident that Naruto was the one Jiraiya was destined to train the Elder said, "There may be one way for you to face Pain on equal footing. I would like to take you to Mount Myoboku for training in the Sage Arts."

Naruto stared at the Toad for several heartbeats before saying, "I accept, but there's someone else I think has the right to come also."

"Who would that be?"

****************************

Naruko stepped into her cheap motel room. She yawned as she began to head to the bathroom needing to clean the sweat of the day's activities from her body which had built up due to a work as a freelance shinobi. She immediately felt that she wasn't alone in the darkened room, so acting nonchalant made as if she was stretching behind her back before pulling a kunai which she sent flying in the direction of the intruder. She didn't hear it hit anything making her believe that instead of dodging, the person had caught it. Preparing to defend herself, since she had brought several shinobi and bandits to justice who may have friends looking to avenge them, she got into a stance that Jiraiya had taught her.

She was blinded momentarily as the light switched on, but despite her temporary blindness she didn't sense an impending attack. Blinking her eyes to adjust them to the light she was surprised to find the intruder was Naruto. A million questions came to her at once but she felt the most prudent was, "How'd you find me?"

Naruto rested his hand on the Toad contract that she had left in the room since the days tasks had been the menial kind that were first given to genin. "I used this," Naruto answered.

Despite her feelings of fondness for Jiraiya and her having given up the bitter ones she felt towards Naruto. She felt a measure of anger as she suspected the Toad Sage had given it to her as a way for Naruto to keep tabs on her. She figured it must have showed as he quickly explained, "When my dad signed the contract he incorporated a Hiraishin seal into his signature. He figured that should anything ever happen to the scroll it would allow him to locate it."

"Did Jiraiya know about it?" she asked still wondering if that was why he had given it to her.

A pained expression appeared on his face at the mention of his teacher even as he said, "I don't know. But even if he did, I don't think that is why he gave it to you." Naruto was about to explain that he believed it was because Jiraiya didn't want it to fall into Pain's hands should he lose his battle with his former student. However, he was sidetracked when Naruko tossed a small scroll into his lap. "What's this?"

Naruko looked nervous as she said, "I know I did you wrong when I took your stuff and money. I've been working real hard so I could pay you back. It's all there. You can count it if you want."

Naruto held the scroll and smiled gently as he said, "Thank you Naruko. The truth is I wasn't angry about that." Taking in how she looked in his old clothes he added, "Plus those old jumpsuits fit you a hell of a lot better than they ever did me."

Naruko blushed from the appraising look she received from Naruto as she remembered spying on him and several of his lovers when Karin had rented a penthouse in a village she had been in at the time. But noticing that Naruto looked both tired and sad, she asked, "Then what brings you here?"

Naruto swallowed heavily before answering, "Jiraiya...Jiraiya fell in battle with Pain."

Naruko felt as if the blond man had struck her physical with his words as all the breath escaped her. Her mouth opened and closed several times as she felt her eyes begin to water. Hoping Naruto was simply playing a cruel trick on her, she weakly said, "No..." A look of pain appeared on his face telling her it wasn't a prank causing her to say more defiantly, "No! It can't be, no one could beat him."

Everything went blurry as her vision clouded with tears as her world seemed to spin off its axis. She had come to realize that although she had possessed Naruto's bad memories they truly weren't hers as they had never affected her like the news she had just been given. Feeling as if the waves of her emotions of grief and anger were casting her about she reached out for the life-preserver that wrapped itself around her as Naruto pulled her into a warm and soothing embrace. She let her tears stain his jacket for several minutes before pulling away to say, "I...I want to kill the man that did this."

Naruto stared at her a moment and she knew he was feeling the same way. She wondered how that conflicted with his desire to bring peace to the Shinobi world but let such thoughts go as he replied, "I know. But if we're going to have any chance of bringing Jiraiya's killer to justice, we need to get stronger."

"How?"

"Come with me to Mount Myoboku," Naruto said.

Naruko stared at the man in whose arms she was now standing. She felt a measure of gratitude towards him since while probably feeling as devastated as she was, the jinchuriki had sought her out. Not sure what she could expect at Mount Myoboku she nevertheless said, "Okay."

She stepped out of his arms to gather her stuff in order to follow a man that she once believed she despised in order to gain the strength necessary to avenge her teacher. Yet, as she did so, she began to wonder if she could truly honor Jiraiya's memory by spitting on his desire for a world where people could understand one another as every fiber of her being was calling out to her to kill Pain. Looking over her shoulder at her fellow student of Jiraiya, she wondered how Naruto, who had made that dream his own goal, planned to reconcile that desire with his ambition. But she pushed such thoughts out of her mind as first she would need to gain the strength necessary to confront Pain.