Chapter no.33

Chapter 33: You Are Destined to Fail

Jiraiya, disguised as a Hidden Rain shinobi, emerged from the toad's mouth.

Standing up, he said to the toad,

"Head back to Konoha. Once you're there, find Ibiki—I've already spoken to him. I'm counting on you."

Jiraiya looked around cautiously and muttered,

"Alright. With this, I should be able to blend in smoothly."

But unbeknownst to him, a few paper butterflies floated silently behind him.

Konan's figure slowly appeared from the paper.

Jiraiya had no idea his movements had already been exposed.

---

On a high platform, sheets of paper gathered behind the Animal Path body.

Expressionless, Konan said,

"It's Jiraiya."

Animal Path gazed into the distance and murmured,

"Jiraiya-sensei… How nostalgic."

Konan asked,

"What should we do, Pain?"

Animal Path replied calmly,

"He's not one of us. Kill him.

There's nothing left to hesitate about.

I summoned this body specifically to eliminate intruders.

Lead the way."

Konan transformed into white paper and said,

"Pain, I'll handle him before you arrive."

The Animal Path leapt down.

"If you can kill him, do it."

---

Just as Jiraiya exited the tunnel, countless sheets of white paper flew toward him, quickly wrapping around his body.

Konan appeared, ready to stab him with a paper spear—

But suddenly, Jiraiya emerged from a shadow on the ground.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A fireball pushed Konan back. Hidden Rain shinobi appeared from the ground to assist her.

Konan stared calmly.

"A shadow clone technique?"

Jiraiya, arms crossed, smiled.

"I was hoping this would lure Pain out.

Your jutsu has improved. And you've become a strong woman, Konan."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"I thought you were dead. I didn't expect you to become… paper."

A Rain ninja, shocked, looked at Konan.

"Angel-sama! This is the intruder! We should—"

Konan cut him off sharply.

"Back away."

The moment she spoke, the Rain ninja disappeared without a trace.

---

[Onoki:] Are all Rain ninja this weak, Hanzo?

[Hanzo:] Don't ask me—I've been dead.

[Nagato:] Got a problem?

---

Jiraiya looked at Konan.

"So who exactly is Pain?"

Konan floated into the air, paper wings forming behind her.

"It has nothing to do with you, Sensei."

Jiraiya chuckled.

"You think having wings makes you an angel?

What's the point of that form?"

Konan said quietly,

"It's God's will. I will kill you."

Countless paper blades shot at Jiraiya like swords.

He countered instantly with a fire technique.

The two were locked in a stalemate until Jiraiya leapt back.

"Oil Bomb!"

A wave of oil burst from his mouth, soaking Konan.

He quickly formed hand signs and used his hair to pin her down.

"Now that you're soaked in oil, you can't disperse.

You always liked origami. You were the gentlest of the three.

Where are the others?

Nagato and Yahiko… are they still alive?

So the rumors of their deaths were false."

Jiraiya looked at the silent Konan.

"As I suspected, one of them must be Pain."

Konan looked at him and asked,

"Why have you come here?"

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed.

"Honestly… no special reason.

But if you weren't part of Akatsuki…"

---

[Deidara:] What's wrong with Akatsuki? Prejudice?

[Hidan:] Let's be honest—are any of us normal?

---

Jiraiya said,

"I heard you all died. I didn't expect this."

Konan whispered,

"Back then… if we had followed Orochimaru's advice… things might have been different.

You probably think that.

But you helped us. And now, it's too late.

We've already started following his ideology."

---

[Orochimaru:] So those three brats from back then really did survive?

[Orochimaru:] Tch. Missed my chance. What a waste.

[Nagato:] You'll see me soon enough.

[Orochimaru:]

---

Jiraiya shook his head.

"That's not what I thought.

I only felt sadness.

I taught you how to survive in a chaotic world.

You were my students. No doubt about it.

And now, without even a word, you attack me?

It breaks my heart.

Even after I left, I'd occasionally hear your names.

Then I heard you had died…"

Konan interrupted,

"Sensei, you know nothing of what happened after that."

Jiraiya shouted,

"You're right—I don't!

But still!

Joining Akatsuki… That's not the answer!

What Akatsuki does is wrong!"

Konan responded,

"These are the conclusions we reached ourselves, Jiraiya-sensei."

---

The Deva Path (Pain) appeared behind her.

Jiraiya stared coldly.

"Your appearance has changed, but those eyes…

You're Pain, aren't you… Nagato?

Nagato, looks like you've strayed far from the right path.

What happened to you?!"

Deva Path coldly replied,

"You don't need to know. You're just an outsider."

Jiraiya snapped,

"You've changed, Nagato!"

The Deva Path clapped his hands together.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A giant crab emerged and sprayed foam all around, washing the oil off Konan and pushing Jiraiya back.

Jiraiya whispered,

"Foam? As expected of my student—you knew that was my weakness.

Trying to wash off the oil, huh?"

Sure enough, Konan flew out of the foam.

Deva Path said to her,

"Step back, Konan."

Then he directed the giant crab toward Jiraiya.

"Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"

Jiraiya's hair grew rapidly, entangling the crab and smashing it.

The foam disappeared.

Jiraiya looked seriously at Deva Path.

"Nagato, I have a few questions.

What happened to Yahiko?"

Deva Path replied coldly,

"He's long dead."

---

[Yahiko:] Nagato?

[Nagato:] Don't misunderstand. The 'me' in this video might just be pretending to be strong.

---

Jiraiya, sorrowfully,

"The old you…"

Deva Path interrupted,

"It doesn't matter.

This place has seen so many die in war.

That pain made me grow.

Ignorant, foolish children… after experiencing pain, they become adults.

Their words and thoughts mature."

Jiraiya shouted,

"So abandoning your friends and feelings—that's maturity to you?!"

Deva Path coldly responded,

"Sensei, you're just a mortal.

But I've felt endless pain. I've transcended mortality.

That's right. I've become a god."

Jiraiya whispered,

"I never thought you'd become this obsessed."

---

[Naruto:] He's even more dramatic than Sasuke!

[Sasuke:] Shut up!

---

Jiraiya demanded,

"Why are you collecting the Tailed Beasts?!"

Deva Path said,

"Since you're about to die, I'll mercifully tell you.

Using the sealed Tailed Beasts, we'll create a new forbidden jutsu.

With it, even a great nation can be destroyed in an instant.

The ultimate forbidden weapon.

We'll sell it to nations at war. Millions will die instantly.

Both people and countries will learn true pain.

And that fear will suppress war.

War will finally end."

---

[Mei Terumi:] Are you insane?!

[Tsunade:] This must be stopped!

[Onoki:] All villages, protect your jinchūriki!

[Onoki:] Roshi, you saw that? Get back immediately!

[Rōshi:] Understood! On my way!

[Nagato:] It's useless. You can't stop me.

[Jiraiya:] That's not true. You saw the future. The Five Great Nations will unite. You are destined to fail.

[Nagato:] We'll see about that.