Dusk had fallen. It was the witching hour.
The Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku was walking along the road out of Konoha when he ran into Kiyosuke.
"Isn't this Kiyosuke? Where are you off to this time?"
"Amegakure, in the Land of Rain," Kiyosuke replied.
Jiraiya's face stiffened, but then he forced a laugh.
"Hahaha, Kiyosuke, what business do you have in Amegakure? I'm going to gather material for my research. While I'm gone, I'll leave Konoha in your hands."
"No, Jiraiya-sama. This time I'm coming with you. If I don't, you won't make it back alive," Kiyosuke said, shaking his head.
Jiraiya's mission was to infiltrate Amegakure and gather intel. But he would encounter Pain's Six Paths and Konan. For the sake of information, he would die at the hands of his own student.
That wasn't worth it. Kiyosuke had decided—he would go with him.
"You brat, aren't you underestimating the Sage a little too much? Don't forget I can use Sage Mode too."
Of course Jiraiya knew Kiyosuke could use Sage Mode. He had always admired the young man who had mastered it perfectly back when he was still a teenager.
"You should know the prophecy."
Jiraiya paused, then asked, "How do you know about that?"
The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku had once prophesied that Jiraiya's disciple would be the one to change the fate of the world—and that Jiraiya himself would die at his disciple's hands.
That was his destiny.
"I heard about it from certain places," Kiyosuke said vaguely. "But this time, the danger is too great. Jiraiya-sama, weren't you planning to confess to Tsunade-sama? Don't you want to attend Naruto's wedding? Don't you want to see him become Hokage?"
"Hahaha, brat, you see right through me, don't you? Fine, fine. But tell me, have you talked to Tsunade about it yet?" Jiraiya laughed awkwardly. Why was it that every time he tried to confess to Tsunade, the words never left his mouth?
"Pretty much. I had Naruto deliver the message for me."
"Then let's go."
The two of them set off toward the Land of Rain.
...
In the Land of Rain, the downpour never ceased. Rain fell all year round, day after day, soaking into people's spirits until it felt like they would rot away.
A frog and a snake swam through the streets of Amegakure. They slipped beneath a house, opened their mouths, and Jiraiya and Kiyosuke crawled out from within.
Toad Concealment Technique!
Snake Concealment Technique!
Crouching under the building, Jiraiya whispered,
"Kiyosuke, are you sure this rain is a jutsu?"
"Without a doubt. The rain covering Amegakure is infused with chakra. It can sense anyone exposed to it. If we're not careful, we'll be detected."
It was Pain's Rain Tiger at Will Technique—a sensory ninjutsu that injected his chakra into the rainfall, allowing him to manipulate and perceive everything it touched.
Except on Sundays, the rain always fell. Each droplet carried Pain's chakra, tied directly to his perception. Anyone entering Amegakure would have their chakra exposed to the rain and immediately sensed by Pain.
The rain would not stop until Pain himself dispelled the technique. He always activated it when leaving the village, ensuring he could monitor Amegakure from afar.
Only someone with Uzumaki-level chakra could sustain something this massive.
"Pretty clever," Jiraiya muttered. "If that's the case, then old Hanzō of the Salamander might already be finished. That geezer never had a technique like this."
"Most likely dead," Kiyosuke replied. "We'll need to sneak inside. The only safe place is under a roof."
Not a single raindrop could touch them, or their presence would be revealed. That would ruin their mission.
"Then let's move." Jiraiya dove headfirst into the water below.
"I hate water," Kiyosuke grumbled, diving in after him.
They surfaced in the backyard of a family home, lifted the floorboards, and crawled inside.
Soaked from head to toe, Jiraiya sighed in relief.
"Alright, we're in. But this limits our movements. We can't count on every building being connected, and eventually we'll have to step outside. Once we're in the open, it's only a matter of time before we're caught."
"That's why we need to suppress our chakra," Kiyosuke said. "I've already started. Otherwise we'll be sensed."
With his massive reserves, it was crucial that he suppress his chakra. The Uzumaki were renowned for their perception abilities—Nagato and Karin both could sense chakra over great distances.
Eventually, he would be discovered. But the longer he could fool Nagato, the better.
"You're right. Then let's begin gathering intel."
"Got it!"
...
"..."
Kiyosuke stared blankly at Jiraiya, who was laughing boisterously with a busty woman in his arms, guzzling sake.
I'm such an idiot. Really.
How could I forget this guy always gathers intel in places like this?
"Hahaha, don't be so uptight! You're not married yet, and your girlfriend won't come looking for you here!" Jiraiya teased.
"No way! If she finds out, she'll kill me!" Kiyosuke shook his head violently. With Mei Terumī's temper, if she discovered him hanging around a brothel, she'd march here from Kirigakure without hesitation—then end him on the spot.
"You brat, scared of your wife before you're even married?! Look at me—why would anyone settle down? The Sage lives free!" Jiraiya declared proudly.
"You act like a playboy, but you're actually a hopeless romantic. Honestly, what am I supposed to say?" Kiyosuke muttered as two more women cozied up to him on the sofa.
What has blinded my eyes?!
And so, they spent half the day in that place. With his experience, Jiraiya managed to gather plenty of intel.
They even abducted two shinobi who had come to drink.
Ninja, coming here to eat and drink?
Are you really proper shinobi?!
Kiyosuke hadn't learned much about interrogation, but Jiraiya knew enough—not too cruel, but effective.
Before long, they had pried the truth out.
"'Angel,' 'God'... looks like something's happening in Amegakure. A group has already taken control," Jiraiya said.
"Most likely Akatsuki," Kiyosuke replied. "This could very well be their main base."
"Can't rule it out. Looks like we've got work to do, Kiyosuke."
"Yeah. And it might be a tough fight. What do you say—strike first, or wait for them to find us?"
"Let's strike first," Jiraiya decided. "We're unlikely to get much more useful intel anyway."
"Then let's begin."
Kiyosuke reached his hand into the rain.