Chapter 64: The Path to Amegakure

At the border of the Land of Rain:

"I must be crazy to team up with someone who attacked Konoha!" Jiraiya muttered though he followed Shin reluctantly. Deep down, he couldn't dismiss his concerns about his former student, Nagato, the one-time "Child of Prophecy." He feared what Shin might do to him.

"Your personality isn't really suited for being a ninja," Shin quipped. "The profession doesn't cater to ideals like justice and compassion, and you're overloaded with both."

Jiraiya had no answer. No matter how heroically ninjas are portrayed, there's an undeniable truth: ninjas are killers. Unlike soldiers, who primarily defend their homeland, ninjas encompass mercenaries, assassins, and spies, professions steeped in darkness and bloodshed. In a profession like this, it's no wonder so many go astray. People like Jiraiya, who manage to hold onto any goodwill, are indeed rare.

"We're here, the Land of Rain." Shin turned toward Jiraiya. "Do you want to see your disciple first?"

"Now that I'm here, there's no way I'm backing out," Jiraiya sighed. "I need to see if what you said is true."

In the time leading up to this, Jiraiya had sought counsel with the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku. Unfortunately, toads aren't much for record-keeping, and the Great Toad Sage, either due to senility or by choice, provided no concrete information. However, what little he did confirm—about the Sage of Six Paths, his sons, and the origins of ninjutsu—matched Shin's story closely.

The Toad Sage also mentioned that his visions of the future had ceased, which left Jiraiya more inclined to trust Shin.

The Land of Rain was a small country. Given their skill levels, both Jiraiya and Shin traveled quickly and soon reached the gates of Amegakure.

"The Rain Tiger at Will Jutsu." Jiraiya closed his eyes, concentrating. Having come prepared, he could sense faint chakra dispersed in the raindrops.

Shin, on the other hand, was less equipped to handle the perpetual downpour. As a Devil Fruit user, he harbored an intrinsic distaste for water, feeling uncomfortable with the endless drizzle that clouded the Land of Rain. At the gates of Amegakure, the rain poured ceaselessly under Pain's Rain Tiger at Will Jutsu, amplifying Shin's unease.

"To sneak in, I think we should—"

"Why sneak?" Shin interrupted, smirking. A dull, black sphere of energy formed in his hand. "Let's make a loud entrance; they'll come out and greet us."

As he finished, Shin tossed the black sphere into the sky. It expanded rapidly, drawing in the rain clouds and creating a black vortex overhead, siphoning the rain entirely.

Jiraiya, who had been contemplating stealth: "..."

In the original story, the fight against the Six Paths of Pain showcased the height of tactical ninja combat. Jiraiya had sacrificed himself to gather information, and Naruto, in turn, used that intelligence to defeat each of Pain's bodies strategically. From that point forward, the battles shifted, becoming more about raw power than strategic analysis. By the time Naruto gained significant power, tactics and strategy had been replaced mainly by sheer force.

Jiraiya, looking at Shin's blunt show of force, felt an odd mixture of dismay and disbelief. It was like a seasoned gamer, skilled through years of practice, being bested by a novice who simply bought premium upgrades.

Inside Amegakure, Konan looked at the cleared sky with concern.

The country was still in turmoil after Nagato had defeated Hanzo. Aside from Nagato and herself, Akatsuki's only allies were the enigmatic Zetsu and Uchiha Obito, both of questionable motives.

Determined, Konan spread her paper wings, ready to investigate, when she suddenly felt a compelling pull. She turned to see the Deva Path of Pain. The other Pains were approaching swiftly.

"Nagato, the situation is unclear. Let me go out to assess the threat."

"Precisely because of the unknown, I can't let you go," said the Deva Path in his usual stern tone. "Assessing danger is the task of the Six Paths of Pain."

"You should guard my real body. If something happens, you'll be nearby to help."

Nagato's physical body, despite its frailty, was still formidable, guarded by the Gedo Statue, and capable of wielding the powers of the Rinnegan. Yet, Nagato's words reflected his protective instincts toward Konan. In the original story, with his Rain Tiger at Will Technique monitoring the village and his knowledge of Jiraiya, he felt comfortable sending Konan to investigate. But now, faced with an unknown opponent powerful enough to clear the sky, he dared not risk her safety.

While the Deva Path's expression remained impassive, Konan sensed Nagato's concern. She nodded, flying to where his real body was concealed.

Such was her character: loyal and unwavering, always heeding the will of her companions.

In fact, Nagato had once been the same way, but Yahiko's death had forced him to take charge. His inherently cautious nature made him susceptible to manipulation by Obito, who used him as a pawn in a grander scheme.

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