Inside the dim secret room, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was nearly suffocating.
Suddenly, Obito's low, somewhat eerie voice drifted into Nagato and Konan's ears without warning. Immediately following, his body emerged from the Kamui dimension like a ghost.
Seeing Nagato and Konan, Obito's expression turned grave. He knit his brows and spoke in a deep voice, "Last time, your soft-heartedness let Jiraiya escape!"
"This time, he has brought even more people to deal with you."
"As far as I know, his arrival isn't just to eliminate you as a threat; he wants to drag Nagato back to Konoha. He likely intends to seize the power of the Rinnegan for the village's own use."
Upon hearing this, Nagato's already pale face turned as white as a sheet. Last time, he truly hadn't wanted to kill Jiraiya-sensei, as a lingering shred of respect and gratitude remained in his heart. He never expected that a moment of mercy would invite such catastrophe. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Go on. Tell me everything."
White Zetsu, sensing the mood, chimed in with a voice tinged with schadenfreude. "Jiraiya really went all out this time! He brought over thirty Jonin and nearly a hundred Chunin-level elites!"
"The rest are all Konoha shinobi, at least Chunin level."
"They left Konoha yesterday. At their current marching speed, they should be reaching the border of the Land of Rain at any moment."
"How do you plan to handle this? I suggest avoiding them for now. They've come prepared with a much better understanding of our abilities. Going head-to-head wouldn't be in our favor."
Konan stared in disbelief, her eyes wide with shock. "How could Jiraiya-sensei bring others to hunt us down?" He had been their teacher, after all, caring for them for three years. In her heart, he was a truly good man.
Obito shrugged with an air of indifference. "Because of Danzo, there is an unbridgeable blood feud between you and the Leaf. They fear that once you grow to your full potential, you'll launch a frontal assault on Konoha, leaving the village in ruins."
"Besides, if it weren't for the Rinnegan, do you think he would have stayed by your side for three years? You wouldn't have learned a single real skill. In his eyes, you children weren't worth much—just passing encounters in his long life."
Long silence filled the secret room as Nagato and Konan fell mute. It was true, as Obito said—Nagato had begged Jiraiya to teach them ninjutsu, but Jiraiya had consistently refused with various excuses. It was only after Nagato unleashed the power of the Rinnegan in a moment of desperation that Jiraiya changed his mind, branded him a "Saviour," and finally imparted his knowledge.
"Should we leave? That's up to you," Obito said slowly. "The purpose of our organization is to protect the Eye of the Moon plan, allowing you to use the Rinnegan to achieve true peace. That has always been our mission."
Nearby, White Zetsu grumbled internally, thinking Obito was sounding more like Madara by the day. Madara must have taught Obito how to manipulate people through genjutsu; otherwise, how could he speak with such grand hypocrisy?
"I'm staying. This is the place where dreams become reality. To flee is to abandon that dream. Tell that freak to help me!"
At this moment, Nagato's gratitude toward Jiraiya was completely incinerated by hatred. In his mind, he had already spared Jiraiya once and wanted nothing more to do with him. Yet, Jiraiya was returning with an army to drag him back. It was infuriating.
"Tell that freak to help?"
"Ah, how rude. I have a name—please call me White Zetsu." The Zetsu hidden behind the stone pillar finally stepped out. He wasn't one of those ordinary clones; he was the high-end version with a self-aware consciousness and the need to use the bathroom.
Obito shot him a glance and said to Nagato, "Use him as you see fit! But before Jiraiya finds you, try to replenish all your Six Paths of Pain. Every extra body increases your strength and provides another layer of security."
The Six Paths of Pain were essentially six specially treated corpses. Each possessed a portion of the Rinnegan's mysterious power, maintained and driven by the transmission of the user's chakra through long black rods. These rods acted like black veins, funneling the original's power into the puppets. With all six paths ready and cooperating, Nagato was confident that even if the entire Leaf village mobilized, they couldn't pose a substantial threat.
--- Konoha ---
Hiruko was holding Rin Nohara's hand tightly, happily leading her through the Konoha Amusement Park.
The moment they entered, the vibrant colors of the carousel caught their eyes, accompanied by cheerful music. Hiruko turned his head, looking at Rin with eyes full of warmth. "Rin, do you want to ride the carousel? You'd look as beautiful as a princess from a fairy tale on those horses."
Rin's cheeks flushed a soft pink. "Okay... whatever you say."
They picked a beautiful white horse. Hiruko carefully helped her up before settling in right behind her. As the carousel began to rotate, a light breeze fluttered Rin's hair. Hiruko reached out, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. "You're enchanting today," he whispered.
Rin's heart raced. She lowered her head in shyness, but a smile she couldn't suppress tugged at her lips.
After the carousel, the sound of screams erupted nearby—the roller coaster was roaring past. Hiruko's eyes lit up, and he excitedly grabbed Rin's hand. "Rin! Come with me."
Rin hesitated, but seeing the expectation in his gaze, she nodded. "Alright. As long as you're there, I'm not afraid."
As the coaster sped forward, diving and twisting, Rin couldn't help but scream at the top of her lungs. Hiruko gripped her hand tight, shouting in her ear, "Don't be afraid! I've got you!"
When they got off, Rin's legs were still a bit shaky. Hiruko pulled her into his arms, asking with concern, "Are you okay? Did it scare you too much?"
Leaning against him and feeling his warmth, Rin murmured, "I'm fine!"
While the two were enjoying their date, Obito was off "working hard on his career!"
As the sun began to set, Hiruko offered to walk Rin home. This proposal sent a ripple through the calm lake of Rin's heart, her thoughts drifting back to that night. It was the same scene, except then it was under starlight, and now under the fading day.
She realized she hadn't seen Kakashi in a long time. In her memory, his voice and face seemed to be shrouded in a thin mist, growing less distinct. She understood that this was the subtlety of human memory—distance makes the familiar strange, while the warmth of a reunion brings the strange back to familiarity. She shook her head with a self-deprecating smile. Perhaps this was just the natural state of human emotion.
Thinking of this, Rin looked up at Hiruko. The glow of the setting sun traced the resolute and handsome contours of his face. He possessed a mature, steady charm that was entirely different from Kakashi's youthful awkwardness.
Rin's heart skipped a beat as something began to sprout.
"Lord Hiruko... why don't you come in for some tea?" The words were out before Rin could stop them. She wasn't thirsty or hungry, and she didn't even understand the motive behind her own invitation. A young girl's heart is like a flower blooming in spring—shy, yet carrying an inexpressible sweetness.
Hiruko's gaze swept over her tenderly, those deep eyes appearing to see right through her little secret. He smiled with a touch of indulgence and understanding. "Sure."
They stepped inside together. The soft light of the entryway added a touch of elegance to the slightly ambiguous atmosphere. Rin's heart hammered like a drum. She told herself this was just the confusion of adolescence, just hormones, not real love. But she also knew that if these feelings continued to spread, they might one day become something she couldn't let go of.
I really am cuckolding Obito, aren't I? Hiruko thought to himself. He was increasingly looking forward to the drama of doing it to Obito's face. If Obito saw Rin in his arms, looking at him with such adoration... what kind of face would he make?
Meanwhile, at the border of the Land of Rain, a column of Konoha shinobi moved forward.
A Hyuga branch member looked up through his rain-soaked headband and asked cautiously, "Lord Jiraiya, we have entered the Land of Rain. Where shall we begin the search?"
His squad was the dedicated tracking unit, a powerhouse of sensory talent consisting of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans. However, in this land of constant downpours, the Inuzuka's sense of smell was dampened, and the Aburame's kikaichu bugs struggled with the moisture. Unless the rain stopped, they couldn't operate with their usual agility.
"I know a few towns the Akatsuki frequent," Jiraiya said grimly. "We split into four sub-units, maintaining a distance of no more than two kilometers. If you find anything, signal immediately."
Deep down, Jiraiya dreaded a life-and-death struggle with his disciples, but he was a shinobi on a mission. For the sake of the Leaf, he had to harden his heart and take Nagato down.
Orders were relayed, and the squads mobilized. The Akatsuki were a large, mysterious organization; they couldn't leave zero tracks. Moreover, since the Leaf were here on an official mission, using genjutsu on civilians for intel wasn't out of the question. It wasn't like last time where Jiraiya limited himself to his own moral code, wandering in disguise.
After a meticulous search, they hit paydirt. They found civilians who had been aided by the Akatsuki and even caught a shinobi who had recently quit the organization. Just as they were contacting the Yamanaka specialist for interrogation, a deafening explosion roared in the distance. A massive signal flare tore through the gray sky.
"A discovery!" Jiraiya and the other units raced toward the flare, hearts pounding. A fierce battle was imminent.
But when Jiraiya arrived first, he froze. Standing before him was Yahiko. The same face, the same familiar clothes... a shock beyond words surged through Jiraiya.
"Yahiko... is it you?" Jiraiya's eyes were wide with disbelief. "Why are you alive? And why do you have the same Rinnegan as— What is going on?"
"You talk too much, Jiraiya-sensei," the Deva Path said coldly. The respect was gone, replaced by a gaze as cold as death. "I told you last time: do not come looking for me again."
"The actions of your Konoha have completely disillusioned me."
Nagato, through the puppet, slowly raised a hand. His palm quivered as if condensing an unimaginable force. Under Jiraiya's shocked gaze, he roared:
"Almighty Push! (Shinra Tensei)"
A colossal repulsive force erupted like a nuclear blast, instantly blowing the surrounding Konoha shinobi away. Trees were uprooted, and the ground was plowed into a massive crater.
Nagato's body wasn't yet the withered husk it would become in the future. Bolstered by Zetsu's life force, his strength was reaching its zenith. This time, he didn't intend to hold back.
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