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When Shin asked about his injuries, Obito felt a surge of anger.
Enough time had passed that his recovery, aided by the transplanted First Hokage cells, was complete.
But seeing Shin, he felt phantom pains where he’d been struck.
Obito hated Shin with a passion!
Even though Shin hadn’t directly attacked him, he had controlled the Third Raikage puppet. Obito obviously blamed Shin.
“No need for your concern.”
Obito stormed off.
He was afraid he’d lose control and attack Shin. Obito, naturally impulsive, had only recently become more composed as a behind-the-scenes mastermind. But his composure was fragile.
If provoked, he couldn’t control his anger.
“Tsk, I was just showing some concern, and you’re not even grateful.”
Shin used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport directly into Konoha, landing on the Hokage Rock.
From this vantage point, he could see the entire village.
With his Nine-Tomoe Rinne-Tenseigan, he could see an ant from dozens of kilometers away, with a 360-degree field of vision—
—Looking down, he saw the Akatsuki had already infiltrated. The two gatekeepers, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, were already dead.
In the original story, they had survived. But now, they were gone.
It was understandable.
With the entire Akatsuki entering through the main gate, they would have needed Kage-level strength to survive. They were, at best, Tokubetsu Jōnin, or perhaps Elite Chūnin.
Death was inevitable.
The Akatsuki had stormed in openly, with no intention of being subtle. They were causing a massive commotion.
Sasori used his Performance of a Hundred Puppets, controlling a hundred puppets to kill anyone in sight. He even brought out his trump card, the Third Kazekage puppet.
Deidara created clay birds, soaring through the sky and dropping clay bombs on the village—an air force of one.
And the Animal Path of the Six Paths of Pain summoned countless powerful beasts, wreaking havoc throughout Konoha.
——
News of the attack quickly reached the current Hokage, Jiraiya. He immediately left his office.
“Quick! All ninja, with me! We’ll confront the enemy! And have the Genin evacuate the villagers!”
Jiraiya issued his orders swiftly. In this situation, they had to fight the enemy while trying to save as many villagers as possible.
Perhaps because Konoha had faced so many disasters, the villagers were quite adept at self-preservation.
Upon sensing trouble, they immediately headed for the shelters. Their cooperation made the evacuation proceed smoothly.
But that was a minor concern.
The biggest threat was the Akatsuki.
Jiraiya looked at the powerful Akatsuki members, his expression grim. Besides Zetsu, who wasn’t a combatant, everyone was here.
Actually, Zetsu wasn’t entirely a non-combatant. White Zetsu had countless clones, and Black Zetsu’s abilities could even kill Six Paths Madara. Could he be underestimated?
——
“Yahiko?”
Looking at the Deva Path, Jiraiya was momentarily stunned.
He recognized him!
Even though Yahiko was grown, even though it had been nearly twenty years since they last met, Jiraiya still recognized his former student.
“Jiraiya-sensei, long time no see.”
A cold, emotionless voice came from Pain’s mouth.
“You’re…?”
“As you can see, I am the leader of the Akatsuki. Jiraiya-sensei, I suggest you hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.”
Pain’s gaze towards Jiraiya was complex, but he quickly suppressed his emotions.
A Teacher-student reunion, yet Nagato felt nothing.
After Yahiko’s death, Nagato’s only goal was world peace.
Besides, Nagato already harbored hatred for Konoha. His parents had been killed by Konoha ninja.
And Yahiko’s death also involved Konoha ninja. Nagato’s hatred for Konoha was bone-deep.
His hatred for Konoha was as immense as Obito’s hatred for Shin.
“Why?”
Jiraiya’s eyes filled with sorrow. He never thought their reunion would be as enemies.
“<Shinra Tensei!>”
Without answering, Nagato controlled Pain, unleashing a Shinra Tensei at Jiraiya.
“Leader, we’re still here!” Hidan couldn’t help but shout.
“Idiot.” Kakuzu cursed Hidan. He had already moved away from Pain. Only an idiot like Hidan would stand so close.
After all this time, did he still not know the leader’s abilities? Standing so close to the leader was just asking for trouble.
Kakuzu and the others were smart; they knew Pain’s attacks were indiscriminate, so they had already distanced themselves. Only Hidan, the fool, remained beside the leader.
“Ow, ow, ow! It hurts so much!”
Hidan screamed. The Shinra Tensei had hit him as well. Pain wouldn’t hold back just because Hidan was there, especially not when he was in a bad mood.
Fortunately, Hidan was immortal. Even if he was hit, he wouldn’t die.
Jiraiya was also sent flying, but he had been prepared. Though injured, it wasn’t serious.
“It seems there’s no turning back. Yahiko, I won’t let you destroy Konoha!” Jiraiya said firmly.
“Yahiko? Jiraiya-sensei, don’t you know Yahiko is already dead?”
Hearing this, Jiraiya was stunned. Yahiko is dead? Then… this is Nagato.
Seeing the Rinnegan, Jiraiya confirmed his identity. It was indeed Nagato. Then what about Yahiko?
Jiraiya didn’t understand what had happened.
Why had Nagato become the leader of the Akatsuki? Why was Yahiko dead?
Jiraiya felt a pang of regret. He regretted not keeping in touch with them.
Right, he remembered Yahiko sending him a letter once, saying he had formed an organization…
Was that the Akatsuki?
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened to you. But today, I must stop you.”
Jiraiya got up from the ground, looking at Pain with a grave expression.
“Stop me? No one can stop me from capturing the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Hand him over, and I’ll spare Konoha further destruction, Pain said calmly.
If possible, Pain didn’t want to kill Jiraiya.
But if Jiraiya insisted on standing in his way, even if he was his former teacher, he would kill him without hesitation—
So many years had passed; their bond had long since faded.
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