Jiraiya just felt a headache coming on.
He wasn't good at long arguments, and he could tell he wasn't going to convince Nagato.
He knew Nagato and Konan had become extreme after Yahiko's tragic death. No matter what he said, it would be hard to shake their resolve.
But for the sake of his students, he still wanted to try.
Jiraiya unrolled a large scroll. "The truth of this world is all in here. I'm going to show you! Nagato, Konan, you've been deceived. That Uchiha Madara isn't Uchiha Madara—he's…"
"He's Uchiha Obito!" Nagato and Konan finished the line for him.
"…Collecting the Tailed Beasts is a scam. Once a Tailed Beast weapon is born, something terrible will happen!" Jiraiya pressed on.
"As long as the Tailed Beasts are under our control, even a scam will be shattered. Madara, Obito—when the time comes, we'll wipe them all out," Nagato said with utter confidence.
Even after being defeated by Natsuki, he was still confident.
His (Rinnegan) Rinnegan were the Sage's eyes. He could keep growing stronger, create even stronger Six Paths, and someday defeat Natsuki and take the (Jinchūriki) Tailed Beast hosts.
The only regret was not reclaiming Yahiko's body—meaning it could never be revived in the future.
Jiraiya paced anxiously, at a loss for how to persuade them.
He looked at Konan, then at Nagato, scratching his head in frustration—until his gaze fell on the Rinnegan. He slapped his thigh as he remembered.
"Right! Nagato, those Rinnegan aren't yours! Madara had them implanted in you on purpose, to raise them! You're being used by Madara! Don't stay fixated on this!"
"The Rinnegan have always been mine, Jiraiya-sensei. What nonsense are you talking about?"
Nagato didn't believe it. "I awakened these eyes when I was a child. I had never even met Madara back then. Why would he use a powerless kid like me? No matter what you say, I won't believe it!"
Jiraiya grew more anxious and thrust the huge scroll toward them. "Then read this. Once you see it, you'll understand!"
Nagato and Konan both shook their heads. "Jiraiya-sensei, don't waste your effort. We won't waver. If you want to stop us, then come at us."
Argh! Why won't they listen?
These two blockheaded disciples!
In truth, after suffering such bitter losses, Nagato and Konan had chosen their path. Their willpower was anything but fragile; their conviction was rock solid—not something a few words could shake.
That's why (Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Kōgaisha no Jutsu?) "Talk-no-Jutsu" from Naruto is so ridiculously mythical.
With Jiraiya trying it now, it basically had no effect.
At last, Jiraiya grit his teeth. "In that case, I'll beat you first—then make you sit and listen!"
But Konan moved first. She swiftly opened a slit at the back, carried Nagato out of the paper tree, sealed the opening, and detonated it.
Seeing the mountain of (Bakufuda) Explosive Tags inside, Jiraiya's face changed. He instantly used (Kuchiyose: Gamaguchi Shibari) (Summoning: Toad Mouth Bind) to protect himself with a toad's stomach wall. Outside, a chain of thunderous explosions erupted. Even the toad's stomach wall shuddered. Fortunately, the toads of (Myōboku) Mount Myoboku were formidable—the stomach lining was incredibly tough and wouldn't be blown apart easily.
What Jiraiya didn't know was that outside, Nagato and Konan had encountered Obito and been taken into (Kamui) space.
When Jiraiya dissolved the stomach wall and stepped out, the outside was a blasted wasteland—Nagato and Konan were long gone.
"This is bad… I failed!"
Jiraiya felt crushed. He stared at the big scroll in his hands, too heartsick even to cry.
He had brought the truth with him, yet his two students wouldn't even look at it—wouldn't even listen.
And even if they read the scroll, Jiraiya suspected they still wouldn't believe it. Their convictions were ironclad; once decided, they wouldn't change easily.
So, his "spoiler truth operation" had failed!
"Sigh… forget it. I'll head back to the village and think of another way. I hope the village is okay."
Jiraiya packed away the scroll and hurried toward the village at top speed, wanting to learn its status as soon as possible.
On the way, he ran into Genma's trio, who were scouring the area for Kabuto.
"Jiraiya-sama, what brings you here? Are you searching for the one behind the Six Paths of Pain?" Genma asked quickly.
"Mm. That's right—but unfortunately, he got away."
Jiraiya wouldn't tell the whole truth, and immediately asked, "How's the village? Were there heavy casualties? Serious destruction? Tell me everything!"
Genma's team rushed to summarize the raid from Pain's invasion to its end.
Of course, the final showdown had to be recounted in detail—Sasuke, Neji, Shino, Kakashi, and Natsuki's spectacular battles had to be shared.
After listening, Jiraiya finally let out a long breath of relief.
His own operation had failed, but the youngsters had done splendidly, defending the village well.
If the village had been flattened by Pain's ultimate technique—if villagers and shinobi had died in droves, if even Tsunade had fallen—Jiraiya would have regretted it to death.
"The young ones of the village—every last one of them is outstanding," Jiraiya said with feeling.
"No kidding! Today's victory was all thanks to them. Other than Kakashi, just look at Natsuki, Sasuke, Neji, Shino—each one a standout among the new generation! Natsuki's a once-in-an-era prodigy! With a genius like that in Konoha, the future is absolutely going to flourish!"
After their praise, Genma's trio remembered their mission and quickly took their leave.
Jiraiya didn't dare waste time either, and sped up on his way back to the village.
Meanwhile, in the Foundation's base…
Danzo was a little dumbfounded.
He had called former Foundation members back, instructing them not to act rashly during Pain's invasion and to preserve Root's fighting strength—leave the enemy to Tsunade.
He knew this enemy wasn't simple. The village would suffer severe losses; shinobi casualties would be heavy.
Then he could jump out and lambaste Tsunade for being unfit for the role—claim that it was because she was an unqualified Hokage that Konoha suffered such devastation.
At that time, he would smoothly oust Tsunade and take the Hokage's seat himself!
Because only a hardliner like him could truly protect Konoha—truly protect the Land of Fire!
Everyone would surely support him!
But the intel now said: Akatsuki's invasion had failed; the Six Paths of Pain were annihilated; the village had only lost a number of buildings; thanks to early evacuation, not a single villager had died; shinobi casualties were minimal. In short, under Tsunade's leadership, the defensive battle against Akatsuki had been fought beautifully!
What's more, several young prodigies had emerged—the very heroes who defeated Pain.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]