Man, What a Pain

The rain dripped steadily off the brim of Jiraiya's forehead protector as he walked through the misty streets of Amegakure. His senses were on high alert, but he moved with the casual confidence of a man who had seen far too many battles to fear the unknown.

And then he saw her.

Konan.

She stepped out from the shadows like a wraith, her long blue hair dampened by the ceaseless downpour, her amber eyes cold yet somehow still familiar. She had grown—no longer the shy girl from the orphanage, but a powerful kunoichi, wrapped in paper wings like an angel of death.

Jiraiya let out a slow whistle. "Well, well… Look at you, Konan. You've really blossomed."

For a brief second, something flickered in her gaze. A ghost of the past. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by unwavering resolve.

"Jiraiya-sensei," she said, her voice smooth, but tinged with finality. "You shouldn't have come here."

Jiraiya grinned, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, I get that a lot. But I had to see for myself. Had to see what kind of leader this 'Pain' really is."

Konan didn't respond. She simply turned, her paper wings shifting, and began walking. "Come," she said.

Jiraiya followed.

The walk was long and silent. Jiraiya's sharp eyes scanned everything—the hidden eyes on every building, the oppressive atmosphere of the village. This was not the Amegakure he remembered.

They entered a massive chamber, water reflecting the dim light above. And there—standing upon the water like an untouchable deity—was Pain.

Jiraiya's breath caught.

The face was Yahiko's. The boy he had trained, the one who had dreamed of peace. But the eyes… those were Nagato's Rinnegan.

"Impossible," Jiraiya muttered, his body going rigid.

Pain's voice was deep, calm, godlike. "You should not have come here, Sensei."

Jiraiya stared hard at the figure before him. "Yahiko…? No… Nagato? What the hell happened to you?"

Pain didn't answer. "I have transcended mortality. I am no longer Nagato. I am Pain. A god."

Jiraiya clenched his fists. His student was gone.

There was no need for more words.

This would end in battle.

Jiraiya wasted no time.

With a burst of chakra, he lunged forward, weaving through hand signs at incredible speed.

"Fire Release: Flame Bombs!"

A massive inferno surged forward, tearing through the rain, aiming straight for Pain. But before it could connect, Konan moved, her body shifting into paper butterflies, dispersing around the attack.

Jiraiya clicked his tongue. "Should've expected that."

Before he could react, Konan reformed, launching razor-sharp paper spears at him. Jiraiya flipped backward, dodging with ease, then retaliated with a burst of oil, coating her paper in the sticky substance, rendering her mobility useless.

Konan fell, struggling against the oil.

"Sorry, kid. You're strong, but not strong enough."

A sudden shift. A gust of chakra.

Pain raised his hand.

"Shinra Tensei."

BOOM.

A shockwave sent Jiraiya flying back, smashing him into the chamber's stone walls.

Jiraiya groaned, wiping blood from his lip. "Damn… that hurt."

The sheer power in that one move was beyond anything he'd faced before.

This was bad.

Jiraiya stood, pressing his hands together in a seal.

If Pain wanted to fight at full power…

Then so would he.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A burst of smoke, and three massive toads emerged: Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro.

The ground trembled as they landed, their enormous bodies towering over the battlefield.

Gamabunta took a long drag of his pipe. "Tch. This guy's got a god complex, huh?"

"Less talking, more fighting!" Jiraiya shouted, already moving into Sage Mode preparation. He focused his chakra, feeling nature itself flow through him.

And then—

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A second burst of smoke, and two tiny toads appeared on Jiraiya's shoulders.

Fukasaku and Shima.

"Jiraiya-boy, you really know how to pick a fight," Fukasaku grumbled.

"Yeah, yeah," Jiraiya muttered. "Less complaining, more fighting!"

Pain watched in silence, unmoved by the sudden turn of the battle.

"Summon."

The air shifted.

A massive chameleon. A multi-headed dog. A colossal ox.

Jiraiya's eyes widened. "He can summon without seals?!"

The battlefield descended into chaos.

The fight raged on.

Jiraiya, enhanced by Sage Mode, proved to be an incredible opponent. He dodged, countered, and landed powerful blows, but Pain was relentless.

Slowly… the tide turned.

Jiraiya felt himself being pushed back, outmatched. Pain wasn't even fighting at full strength.

And then—it happened.

A blinding pain shot through him.

Jiraiya looked down to see six black chakra rods piercing his body.

His left arm was gone.

He coughed blood, his vision blurring.

Pain stepped forward. "You cannot defeat a god."

Jiraiya gritted his teeth, determination burning in his fading strength.

Even now, he wasn't done.

With his remaining hand, he pressed against Fukasaku's back, etching a message into his skin.

One last act. One last clue for Naruto.

"You're wrong," Jiraiya rasped. "The real god of this world… hasn't been born yet."

Pain didn't respond.

He simply raised his hand.

The final blow came swiftly.

Jiraiya felt himself fall, sinking into the dark waters of Amegakure.

The last thing he saw… was Naruto's smile.