HTP: Ch. 45

Black Zetsu found Obito and conveyed Nagato's conditions. He also mentioned that, judging from Nagato and Konan's reactions, it didn't seem like they were the ones who leaked information. Perhaps Tobirama left behind some kind of unknown reconnaissance-type jutsu before he died, and now Konoha has perfected it.

This was his speculation and analysis.

Obito was deeply annoyed. Why should Nagato get all the attention? How is your nuclear deterrence plan better than the Eye of the Moon Plan?

In the Eye of the Moon Plan, everyone would be resurrected and live in bliss.

Black Zetsu had to remind Obito again, this time clearly. "Your intel has been exposed. You really can't beat Nagato. Even if you somehow manage to kill him through schemes, you wouldn't be able to lead the Akatsuki to destroy Konoha and collect all nine tailed beasts."

The power of the Six Paths of Pain was critical.

Obito was finally convinced.

"Fine," he said coldly, compromising for the sake of a brighter future. "Let that cripple enjoy a few more days of being the leader."

Under the moonlight, he stood at the window, gazing at a bar building where Jiraiya was indulging in pleasure.

"Let's go to Kumo."

"Aren't you going to observe the interaction between Konan and Jiraiya?"

"No need."

A swirling vortex of space appeared, and Obito vanished into thin air.

You should at least check! What if the real mole is Konan?

Black Zetsu looked in the direction Obito disappeared, helplessly sinking into the shadows.

---

Bang.

The wooden door of the bar burst open. Jiraiya staggered out, his cheeks flushed from drinking. As expected, the intel matched perfectly.

He squinted slightly, looking toward the towering steel structure in the center of Ame.

That's where I need to go next... But honestly, the sake here is surprisingly good.

As he tilted his head to savor the flavor, the night sky suddenly darkened. Countless white paper sheets rained down like a blizzard, instantly engulfing him. The papers clung to his body and reassembled, forming a massive humanoid figure that bound him tightly.

Looks like I won't have to go there, Konan's here, he thought, knowing this wasn't a fight she came for.

A shadow on the ground reformed into Jiraiya's figure, spewing fire from its mouth and burning away the paper, halting Konan's next move.

From the swirling ashes, the paper regrouped.

"Konan, you've improved a lot. And... you've become more womanly too."

He smiled as he looked at Konan's body reforming from paper not far away.

"Jiraiya-sensei, Pain's orders are to kill you."

Konan's back sprouted wings as she flew into the air. White paper sheets formed shuriken, ready to attack again. Clearly, this was a warning shot followed by a direct message: Pain had made up his mind. She hoped Jiraiya would retreat before things got out of hand.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I came to negotiate!" Jiraiya raised both hands and shouted, "You're not my match. Oil counters you. Let Nagato come out."

Silence spread under the night sky. Konan's pupils contracted slightly.

So Konoha's intelligence network has reached this far? They even know about Nagato's existence?

It was incomprehensible. Just how had the intel been leaked?

Frowning, she couldn't help but ask, "Where exactly did Konoha get this information?"

The moment she said it, she realized how foolish it was, Why would he tell me something that important?

Now, they were enemies. The bond of teacher and disciple had long since been burned away in the choices of blood and fire.

But Jiraiya chuckled, "I can tell you guys. But not here."

The information the old man gave him was almost absurd... The mastermind behind the Nine-Tails incident back then turned out to be Minato's own student. The apparent leader of Akatsuki was his own student, Nagato, who was being manipulated by Obito.

The most crucial part? Obito was supposedly Madara, but even behind Madara, there was someone else pulling the strings. That inconspicuous plant-like guy in Akatsuki who just handled intelligence turned out to be the true mastermind of all masterminds.

When asked where the old man got this intel, the answer was: a mysterious hyperspace.

How was he supposed to convince Nagato and Konan of something this ridiculous? And he couldn't say it outright either, if he spoke recklessly, Black Zetsu might completely vanish.

Though he was smiling on the outside, inside he was genuinely troubled over how to win Konan and Nagato's trust. Besides... even if all of it were true, as their former teacher, could he really change their minds?

They weren't kids anymore.

Forget it. At the very least, he had to make sure they weren't being used. And the fact that Obito was involved made things even more complicated.

Konan hovered in midair, looking down coldly at Jiraiya. "If you're here to stop us, then you will die here."

"I have a secret to tell you! Can we go to the hut together and talk?"

If they could just get to the hut, he could explain everything safely.

Konan stared at Jiraiya like he was an idiot. The wings of paper around her formed sharp spinning blades.

She was about to strike.

At the same time, a figure silently landed on a rusted pipe.

Standing atop the pipe, Pain appeared, staring down at Jiraiya. In his hand, a black chakra rod had already slid out.

Jiraiya had no choice but to shout on the spot, "That masked man isn't Madara! He's Obito! He's Minato's student! And your plan to collect all the tailed beasts, it won't succeed!"

His roar ripped through the night.

Right then and there, he exposed Obito's identity. Konan's attack stopped mid-motion. Pain had been about to say something threatening but paused.

Looks like there was room to talk now.

However, his voice was cold and merciless.

"Mortals... cannot comprehend the will of gods. Nothing can stop a god."

"Jiraiya-sensei, in exchange for this piece of information, I will let you leave Ame alive... this time."

Long-winded, aren't you, Nagato? Jiraiya thought.

He still wanted to say more. But six black rods slammed into the ground in front of him. A warning, and a final ultimatum for the sake of their past bond.

"Konoha... is no longer worth negotiating with."

...Danzō, thought Jiraiya bitterly.

Knowing the full backstory, he could only feel helpless. Even in Sage Mode, he wasn't a match for this wayward student.

Talk? Impossible.

Fight? No chance.

Just like the old man said... there's no way to deal with this.

"Leave. The next time we meet, it will be when Akatsuki attacks Konoha."

Pain delivered the final warning.

"Attack Konoha," that hit one of Jiraiya's deepest nerves. His tone turned grim. "Nagato, if that day ever comes... I'll kill you."

Rain fell gently, pattering on the steel and silence.