256Fists are still the most effective.AI Model: gemini-3.0-flashChapter 256: Fists Are Still More Useful
Jiraiya quickly snapped out of it.
Setting the Tianming Organization aside for now, the Akatsuki Organization's threat to the Ninja World was real, and they had already taken action.
As far as he knew, several Jinchuriki had already been captured.
Thinking back to the three years he spent with Nagato and the other two, Jiraiya didn't know what had led to the current situation.
He had once held high hopes for them; otherwise, he wouldn't have taught them so painstakingly for so long.
Jiraiya sighed, his heart filled with a sense of lamentation.
If it weren't for Naruto, he would have started to doubt whether he, the so-called guide for the child of prophecy, was a fraud.
Cough, cough, but to be honest, he felt that Naruto's current achievements didn't seem to have much to do with him.
But the Great Toad Sage's prophecy wouldn't be wrong.
So, he still had some use after all.
"Can I talk to him?"
Jiraiya cast aside his stray thoughts and said in a deep voice, "I am also responsible for Nagatobecoming the way he is now. I want to ask him if he still holds onto his original wish."
"Of course."
Naruto nodded.
But he knew it would be useless.
Even if Jiraiya possessed Naruto's 'Talk-no-Jutsu' from the original work, it wouldn't be effective.
Nagato firmly believed in his actions because of the Rinnegan.
The prerequisite for a conversation was to defeat him and make his heart waver.
Of course, no matter what, there was indeed the effect of the protagonist's halo.
This was like Schrödinger's cat.
Persuading him made sense.
Not being persuaded seemed possible as well.
Tsunade turned to look at Jiraiya, a hint of worry in her eyes.
She comforted him, saying, "The future is inherently full of unstable factors; you have already done your best."
How should one put it?
As one of the Sannin of Konoha, staying behind to accompany three orphans for three years was indeed not an easy task.
Jiraiya also had to endure pressure from Hiruzen Sarutobi and others.
After all, in their eyes, it was a waste of time.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Jiraiya smiled at her and said.
Seeing this, Tsunade also smiled.
Although Jiraiya had many flaws, his willpower was beyond reproach.
He wouldn't be crushed by this little setback.
Besides, he had already placed his hopes on Naruto.
A moment later, Gaara arrived from behind.
Naruto had notified him beforehand.
As a target of the Akatsuki Organization, leaving him in the Hidden Sand Village without knowing anything was also dangerous.
It was better to keep him under his own watch.
With Tsunade and Jiraiya present, plus Gaara's own strength, even Nagato would find it difficult to control him instantly.
The usually calm Gaara scanned the members of the Tianming Organization, his gaze finally landing on Sasori of the Red Sand, and his expression couldn't help but shift.
He looked familiar.
He quickly remembered—wasn't this the person in the photo in Granny Chiyo's room?
"Naruto."
Gaara pointed at Sasori and asked, "Who is he?"
Naruto's brow twitched slightly, then he calmed down again.
Sasori definitely had feelings for Chiyo; otherwise, he wouldn't have died by holding back in his fight against her and Sakura in the original work.
But as an outsider, Naruto wasn't in a position to interfere in the awkwardness between the two.
Besides, Sasori was now focused on resurrecting his parents.
Perhaps there would be a turning point with Chiyothen.
"It's Sasori, but don't say anything for now."
Naruto replied.
Gaara was somewhat surprised to hear this.
It really was Granny Chiyo's grandson, Sasori.
He nodded slightly and didn't go to talk to him.
However, he did hope that the famous Sasori of the Red Sand could return to the Hidden Sand Village.
Mainly because, as one of the Five Great Villages, the Hidden Sand Village had far too few powerful experts.
Publicly, he was the only one holding things up.
Naruto didn't bother with his thoughts, looking up into the distance.
Deva Path Pain was traveling at high speed through the air.
Then, he stopped.
Naruto and the others hadn't hidden their presence; their gathered Chakra was as clearly visible as a lighthouse in the night sky.
Uzumaki Menma said with a look of fury, "Someone betrayed us!"
The expressions of the others changed in various ways.
Karen clung to Konan, looking like she knew nothing.
The corner of Kakuzu's mouth twitched under his mask.
He sure was good at playing the victim while being the culprit.
Why are you people from the Tianming Organization so shameless?
Wait, I'm a member now too.
"Bullshit!"
Deidara, who had always been at odds with the money-obsessed Uzumaki Menma, immediately stepped forward. "How could there be a mole in our Akatsuki Organization?!"
"Senior is right."
Tobi chimed in, "No one can escape under the God's wise eyes."
With one sentence, he elevated Nagato.
The key was that the Rinnegan indeed counted as a God's wise eye.
Deva Path Pain raised his hand and said calmly, "The Tianming Organization is not to be underestimated; it's normal for them to have some special means. There's no need to lose our composure over such a small matter. Just eliminate them."
"Brilliant insight, Leader!"
Uzumaki Menma gave a thumbs up and praised.
Konan glanced at him.
For some reason, she always felt this guy spoke sarcastically.
But then she thought it might be a delusion.
After all, his speaking style had always been like this.
Karen, in her arms, curled her lip.
She couldn't be bothered to talk; snuggling with a beautiful girl was the priority.
Although she was a genuine girl, she had inherited the personality of the original body.
Naruto had given an order: the males weren't allowed to mess around.
But she was a female now.
Deva Path Pain slowly moved forward, and as he approached, he saw the members of the Tianming Organization clearly.
His gaze finally rested on Jiraiya.
The arrival of his former teacher was not within his expectations.
"Yahiko?"
Before anyone else could speak, Jiraiya had already stepped forward and asked.
"It is I."
Deva Path Pain admitted it.
He had indeed been living as Yahiko all this time.
Jiraiya glanced at Naruto in confusion.
Because Naruto had said earlier that Yahiko was dead.
But he was, after all, a man of great experience and broad vision, and he soon realized that the Yahikobefore him was not quite normal.
The nose, ears, and chin were all covered in black ornaments.
With Yahiko's personality, why would he wear such unconventional things?
And his eyes were clearly the Rinnegan.
Combined with Naruto's words, his identity was obvious.
"Are you Nagato?"
Jiraiya asked tentatively.
Deva Path Pain was silent for a few seconds before responding, "Jiraiya-sensei is indeed clever."
"Why did it turn out like this?"
Jiraiya took a deep breath and said, "Nagato, it's still not too late to turn back."
"Laughable!"
Deva Path Pain's cold words echoed in the desert. "Becoming like this... isn't it because of your Five Great Villages?"
Jiraiya was slightly stunned.
The Nagato before him was too unfamiliar.
"Back then, Yahiko said he wanted to create a peaceful world through communication between people, you..."
"That is impossible."
Deva Path Pain interrupted him. "Yahiko's death has already proven that. Therefore, I will use war to make you feel my pain. Only when you know the pain I have experienced will you hate war from the bottom of your hearts and only then will true peace arrive."
Jiraiya frowned; he did not agree with Nagato's methods.
Tsunade, behind him, couldn't help but say, "I admit that our Five Great Villages have made mistakes in the past, but the current peace was hard-won by our predecessors. We will not allow you to destroy it."
Deva Path Pain stopped arguing.
Those on different paths cannot make plans together.
Everyone was an adult; trying to make the other person agree with one's philosophy in just a few words was obviously impossible.
In that case, he would follow his own path.
He raised his hands, and a powerful aura gushed out.
The ground sank, and the yellow sand was torn apart by the wild and invisible Chakra, scattering in all directions.
Facing the long-detested Tianming Organization, he held nothing back.
"Shinra Tensei!"
The air vibrated instantly.
The air masses wrapped in sand and dust were like dark clouds, rising from the ground and rushing toward the opposite side.
Jiraiya, bearing the brunt of it, turned pale.
The immense pressure was like an endless mountain range descending from the sky, threatening to crush him.
The others felt the same way.
Even Sasori hadn't seen Nagato take action much.
Seeing it now, he indeed lived up to his reputation.
He might not be able to block this move.
At least not easily.
Naruto instantly appeared in front of Jiraiya, grabbed him, and threw him back. He looked at Deva Path Pain and smiled. "Your opponent is me."
He drew the enma sword, a look of caution in his eyes, but his movements were quite casual.
He made a slash in front of him.
A Wind Wall rose up.
The gushing wind expanded rapidly, protecting the people behind him as well.
Then, the powerful thrust forced a huge crater to appear in the center of the Wind Wall.
But it didn't shatter instantly.
Deva Path Pain was slightly surprised.
"What kind of Ninjutsu was this Wind Wall?"
It could actually block his Shinra Tensei.
But in just three seconds, the Wind Wall was blown away.
However, that was enough time.
Except for Naruto, everyone else scattered.
Talk-no-Jutsu wasn't working, so Jiraiya had to temporarily give up and choose force.
Fists are indeed more useful.
But when he came to his senses, he found that the members of the Tianming Organization had already assigned all their opponents, leaving only Karen.
Karen was dumbfounded at this moment.
She didn't know how the main body had assigned them.
But seeing the remaining Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Gaara, the corner of her mouth twitched.
"Me against three?"
"What's going on?"
"How can I, a weak girl, be capable of this!"
Actually, the three of them—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Gaara—were also a bit dazed.
Gaara thought for a moment and didn't speak.
Although he used to want to kill everyone, he was more of a gentleman now.
It was hard to strike a young girl.
"I'll do it."
Tsunade clenched her fists and said, "I haven't exercised in a long time. Let me see what the Akatsuki Organization is really capable of!"
Before Jiraiya could speak, she flickered and appeared in front of Karen, her fist slamming down.
Karen was unfazed.
One Qi Transforms into Three Purities meant she possessed the exact same abilities as the main body.
Except for the cards.
But the defense bonus wasn't from the cards, so her body was extremely tough.
To Jiraiya's astonishment, Karen sent Tsunade back several steps with a single punch.
Tsunade herself was also taken aback.
Even if it was just a tentative punch, being pushed back was a very rare occurrence.
Interesting.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she became serious.
She didn't want to fail against an unknown junior.
Watching the two of them fight, Jiraiya couldn't help but shudder.
Violence! Too violent!
Gaara's eyes calmly watched Sasori of the Red Sand.
Only when he saw the numerous puppets did he show a shocked expression.
If he remembered correctly, Granny Chiyo could control ten puppets at most, which already made her a top-tier Puppeteer in the Ninja World.
But Sasori had far exceeded ten.
In comparison...
Kankuro seems quite weak.
Although it was a bit rude to his own brother, it was the truth.
Main battlefield.
Naruto didn't dodge in time.
It wasn't that he couldn't, but he wanted to test the power of Shinra Tensei.
Shinra Tensei isn't just a simple use of repulsive force to repel Ninjutsu or Ninjas; it causes damage after repelling them.
Naruto's body flew backward.
When he landed, he felt the vibration.
Ordinary Ninjas would at least faint, or at most, have their internal organs displaced.
If Nagato concentrated his power, Shinra Tenseiwould be enough to level Konoha.
Even so, the area within a three-hundred-meter radius around Deva Path Pain had sunk, revealing a massive crater.
Gaara broke into a cold sweat watching this.
If this happened in the Hidden Sand Village, who knows how many people would have died from this one wave.
Naruto flipped up and brushed the sand and dust off his clothes.
Deva Path Pain's Rinnegan shifted, and his gaze narrowed.
He was actually unharmed.
But he soon regained his composure.
If the leader of the Tianming Organization was so easily killed, it would make the other members of the Akatsuki Organization look incompetent.
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Waiting for me to attack?
He activated Sage Mode and slashed through the air.
Flames spread from the enma sword and quickly expanded to the surroundings.
The scorching heat and intense killing intent merged together.
After being compressed to the limit, countless sword-qi beams were born.
Deva Path Pain pushed with one hand.
The sword-qi that had turned into fire dragons were all forced back.
Naruto thought to himself, 'As expected.'
Shinra Tensei could even repel Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
Although the last form of Sun Breathing was stronger, its strength was limited.
He remembered that the Tailed Beasttransformation seemingly couldn't be repelled.
But let's try again.
He still had many different Ninjutsu.
Naruto raised his right hand, and a sizzling thunder resounded, wrapping around Enma, just like Sasuke's Chidori.
"It's useless."
Deva Path Pain spoke calmly, "Show me your real skills."
He knew this guy had the Mangekyo Sharinganand Space-Time Ninjutsu, so he had been waiting.
Repulsion and attraction had a five-second cooldown.
If Naruto found out, it would cause some trouble.
The best way was to counter-attack after defending.
Although Nagato was confident, he was not conceited.
Naruto ignored him.
His body suddenly vanished.
Heavenly Street Patrol!
Wherever the sword light passed, lightning flickered.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu? No, that's not quite right."
Deva Path Pain was slightly surprised to see Naruto's new trick.
But his response was still simple.
A single effective move can conquer everything.
Hardly anyone in the entire Ninja World could crack his Shinra Tensei.
But when he pushed out his palm, he felt something abnormal.
He had lost the target.
He couldn't lock on.
Shinra Tensei felt like it was pushing against thin air.
The next moment, the sword light reached him.
Deva Path Pain used a black rod to block Enma with extreme speed.
Naruto wasn't surprised; he clenched his left fist and punched directly at Pain's head.
Chakra Enhanced Strength!
He had learned it from Tsunade.
Because his defense was maxed out, it was particularly suitable for him.
Deva Path Pain's reaction was not slow either.
A second black rod appeared in his left hand.
But what he didn't expect was that with a crack, the black rod was smashed in half.
The fist's momentum continued and struck his head.
Immense power was transferred over.
Deva Path Pain's body was instantly sent flying.
Fortunately, he was just a corpse; otherwise, his head would have exploded.