Chapter 54: Fragile Soul!

In the Rain Shinobi Village, 

Nagato gave a rare smile.

"It's not a successful infiltration, Jiraiya... Sensei..."

After saying this, Nagato fell silent once more. In this situation, there was a high probability that he had killed Jiraiya himself.

In the past, his heart, burdened with pain, would have remained unwavering, and he would have done anything for that world. 

However, after that video was played, the Akatsuki organization had fallen apart.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame had disappeared. After Deidara and Sasori bid their farewells and claimed that the world held no interest for their art, they left.

As for Kakuzu, he had fled with his money and met his end at his own hands.

As for Obito and Black Zetsu, it was best not to mention them.

Oh... There was one idiot left, Hidan. This guy was still happily enjoying free food in the village before his departure.

In short, his lifelong dream had been utterly shattered by that video.

Both mentally and realistically.

For a moment, he even contemplated destroying the Rinnegan that wasn't his.

Now, he was left with only confusion, unsure of what to do next.

[The screen continues]

[Sure enough, the moment Jiraiya appeared in the Rain Shinobi Village, he was detected by Pain.]

[Unbeknownst to him, Jiraiya began to use his identity as a travel writer to gather information and soon discovered that Hanzō of the Salamander had been replaced.]

[And then... he accidentally stumbled upon his archenemy!]

[That is... an izakaya with a big sister.]

[In order to gather information, Jiraiya had to enter, and he ordered a waitress.]

[I don't know if Jiraiya's other information was accurate, but one thing was certain – it was quite substantial.]

"Sure enough, he's still an idiot, that old rascal!"

Tsunade, who had just been moved, smashed a tree in front of her with a punch.

In Konoha, Jiraiya scratched his head, feeling a bit uneasy.

[However, through his exchange, Jiraiya gained some valuable information.]

[From the other party's words, he learned that the rain outside was Pain's doing, and he had indeed been exposed.]

[As the camera shifted, inside a dark and empty building, a mysterious ninja moved stealthily.]

[Suddenly, numerous white papers materialized in the air, wrapping around the ninja as if they were alive.]

[The remaining white paper transformed into a woman with purple hair, wielding a condensed weapon in her hand, and she thrust it forward.]

"Fire Style · Flame Bullet!"

In an instant, the shadow beneath the white paper-wrapped figure revealed itself to be Jiraiya, and a powerful blaze shot towards the purple-haired woman.

"Toad Flatness - Shadow Manipulation?"

Seeing the unharmed woman unleash her ninjutsu, Jiraiya recognized with surprise that the person before him was his apprentice, Konan.

In the Cloud Shinobi Village, the Raikage almost applauded. "Haha, is it another case of the apprentice surpassing the master? Konoha truly has some hidden talent."

"Is this... one of those three kids? Jiraiya shouldn't have stayed to train them!" Tsunade muttered gloomily.

But Jiraiya had no regrets; he just stroked his chin and commented, "She's grown into quite the good woman."

[The 'good woman' didn't hesitate to attack again. The white paper in the sky transformed into sharp shurikens, raining down on Jiraiya.]

[Jiraiya attempted to use Fire Style once more but was surprised to find that the number of papers on the other side was overwhelming and relentless. 

He should have been the one suppressing the opponent, but he found herself being overwhelmed instead.]

[However, Jiraiya quickly changed tactics, using toad oil to drench her opponent.]

[After a moment's thought, instead of using Fire Style, Jiraiya used his rapidly extending long white hair to bind Konan.]

[Konan maintained an indifferent expression but spoke lightly, "I regret not listening to Orochimaru at a time like this."]

[Jiraiya looked at the unfamiliar disciple before him, disappointment evident in his gaze. He sighed, "I taught you how to survive in turbulent times. I was undoubtedly your master, but now, I'll do what needs to be done without hesitation."]

"It's truly chilling."

Naruto tugged at the corner of Jiraiya's clothes and said, trembling slightly, "Uncle, I'll never do anything to hurt you, even if it costs me my life. Don't worry."

Jiraiya concealed the sadness in her eyes, ruffled Naruto's hair, and laughed heartily, "Don't worry, I won't let you down."

In the Rain Shinobi Village, Konan lowered her head, and Jiraiya's words acted as a mirror, revealing all her shortcomings.

"Nagato, can you truly do anything for a dream, or is it just an excuse?"

["For the sake of my dreams, I'll kill anyone without hesitation... Summoning Technique!"]

[The Animal Path Pain descended, accompanied by a massive crab bristling with black spines!]

[A wave of foam washed the oil off Konan's body, and then the crab roared at Jiraiya.]

[The fierce battle began!]

[Though the Summoning beast appeared formidable, in Jiraiya's eyes, it was manageable, easily dispatched with the 'Chaotic Lion' technique.]

[At this moment, Pain began to speak, having become a god of suffering after Yahiko's death.]

[And Jiraiya remained a mortal, unable to comprehend Akatsuki's current motives.]

"Oh, what a fragile soul."

At this moment, Aizen couldn't help but chuckle.

In his eyes, the other party wasn't even a god, let alone an ordinary person. Their heart had been completely shattered by pain and had become a slave.

In the world of the Hokage, within Orochimaru's underground base, Uchiha Madara sneered.

"Obito, he seems even more fragile than you."

Seeing no response from Obito, Madara continued, his voice slightly hoarse, "If the world doesn't change, people like Nagato will continue to emerge, neither more nor less."

Finally, Obito spoke, his voice a bit raspy, "So the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan is perfect, and perhaps science can mend the flaws."

Orochimaru, standing nearby, smiled silently and offered no response.

[Pain looked down on Jiraiya condescendingly; in this moment, he seemed like a true God.]

"In my eyes, you're nothing more than a minuscule existence that will never grow."

Jiraiya didn't show any anger, instead, she leaped up with a hearty laugh.

"Being treated like a child by a child, huh?"

"Summoning Technique!"

In the air, a black seal appeared, and from within a vast white fog emerged a gigantic red toad!

*****

Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,

https://ko-fi.com/aayume