Chapter 331: Jiraiya – I've Let Minato's Family Down!
"Nagato, Konan, Yahiko wouldn't have wanted this!"
Jiraiya's furious shout echoed across the battlefield.
"Wasn't the Akatsuki always fighting for peace in the shinobi world? What you're doing now—"
"Our goal has never changed. But the truth is, peace without power is nothing but an illusion, Jiraiya-sensei."
A cold voice rang in his ears, causing Jiraiya's face to tense.
"Earth Style—Earth Flow Wall!"
Jiraiya rapidly formed seals, and a massive earthen wall shot up from the ground.
BOOM!
A relentless chain of paper bombs detonated against the barrier!
The moment the wall rose, it was instantly shattered—reduced to rubble amid a storm of dust and flames.
"You're really not holding back, huh, Konan?"
Dashing out of the smoke, Jiraiya locked eyes with his former student, his peripheral vision quickly scanning the battlefield to check on his teacher's situation.
What's the old man doing?!
Nagato and Tendo Pain were understandable—the Rinnegan made them formidable opponents.
But Konan?
She was strong, but not on their level.
There was no reason the Third Hokage couldn't handle her!
…Right?
Huh?
The moment Jiraiya laid eyes on Hiruzen's battlefield—his expression almost collapsed.
Above Sarutobi Hiruzen, a massive "cloud" made entirely of explosive tags loomed overhead.
It followed his every movement, ensuring no escape.
Hiruzen was struggling desperately just to avoid being caught in the deadly storm.
If Jiraiya was seeing this correctly—
That entire kilometer-wide cloud consisted of nothing but explosive tags.
Now, considering that a single explosive tag was roughly the size of a coin…
Just how many were in there?
One hundred million?
Two hundred million?
Three hundred million?!
The worst part?
That cloud of paper bombs was still expanding—and the source was clearly Konan herself.
Jiraiya's face paled, his eyes widening in shock and horror as he watched his student continuously produce more explosive tags from her paper techniques.
I was wrong.
I underestimated her.
If Nagato didn't have the Rinnegan, she would be the most dangerous of them all!
Not only did my student grow more beautiful over the years—she became a goddamn billionaire!
"Jiraiya-sensei, prepare yourself."
Konan's cold voice snapped him back to reality.
"If you truly want peace, you can work with Konoha! Why resort to this?! You're walking down the wrong path!"
"This world has always been shaped by the strong."
Nagato interrupted, stepping forward, his terrifying presence radiating out.
"A thousand years ago, it was the Sage of Six Paths. Decades ago, it was Senju Hashirama. And now, as the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails, I am the second Sage of Six Paths."
"In the past, Konoha was the strongest—so it dictated the shinobi world's structure."
"Then, Hyuga Fuji appeared and reshaped an entire era."
"Now, I have ascended. So why shouldn't I lead the shinobi world?"
"Kushina!"
Nagato's words were suddenly drowned out by Minato's desperate scream.
Jiraiya turned—
Minato, now unrestrained, stumbled toward Kushina, who had collapsed on the ground.
The once fierce and fiery kunoichi now lay weak and pale, her strength fading rapidly.
Losing the Nine-Tails was a death sentence—even for an Uzumaki.
Jiraiya's fists clenched, veins bulging across his arms as he roared in fury.
"You want to be like Hyuga Fuji?! He was wrong!"
"True peace doesn't come from war or power! All you're doing is continuing the cycle of hatred!"
Nagato remained silent for a moment, then spoke.
"I once feared that Hyuga Fuji would lead the shinobi world down a path of no return…"
"But I cannot deny that his actions have brought stability."
"For the past two years, the shinobi world has been at peace."
Jiraiya gritted his teeth.
"That isn't peace! That's just the calm before another war!"
"True peace is—"
Nagato interrupted him again, his voice cold and unwavering.
"As long as humanity exists, war will never truly end."
"There is no such thing as eternal peace."
"So all I need is 'relative peace.'"
"If war and power can bring even temporary peace, then I will use them."
"Jiraiya-sensei, the concept of 'unity' is already widespread in the Land of Fire."
"The ideals you once held no longer belong in this era."
Jiraiya gazed at Nagato, feeling like he was staring at a stranger.
The Nagato he once knew would never have spoken like this.
But…
He thought back to the ideologies now being taught in Fire Country's schools.
He recalled the new philosophies spreading from Snow Country to the entire shinobi world.
Much like how the villages once modeled themselves after Konoha…
Now, the entire world was adopting Snow Country's systems and ideologies.
And just like an old man struggling to keep up with advancing technology—
Jiraiya simply couldn't accept it.
Nagato gave him one final glance, then turned away.
"The Nine-Tails and Three-Tails have been secured. Let's go, Konan."
Konan silently followed, her cold expression unchanged.
Jiraiya's eyes suddenly widened in horror.
"Kakashi!"
Without his protection, Kakashi—depleted of chakra—had already fallen.
Otsutsuki Shinichi had defeated him and was now carrying him away.
"Put him down!"
Jiraiya charged forward, but Nagato didn't even look back.
"Shinra Tensei."
A powerful shockwave erupted from Nagato's palm.
Jiraiya barely had time to cross his arms before he was blasted away, crashing into the rubble hundreds of meters away.
He coughed up blood, struggling to rise—
Only to see Konan's ocean of explosive tags raining down upon Konoha's defenders.
Combined with the remaining Six Paths of Pain, no one could stop Nagato's retreat.
"Nagato! I will never forgive you!"
Minato, cradling Kushina in his arms, tried to pursue, but was immediately blocked by Tendo Pain.
He could only watch helplessly as Kakashi was taken away.
Nagato heard his words through his connection to Tendo Pain.
He hesitated—
Then continued walking, his expression cold and unreadable.
Once the Akatsuki had fully retreated, Tsunade approached Jiraiya, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"That was a pretty convincing performance, Jiraiya. Your grief looks so real."
"...??"
Jiraiya, truly devastated, was stunned.
"What the hell are you talking about?! Kushina is dying! Minato—Minato's family is being torn apart!"
He watched Kushina's breathing grow weaker.
Minato loved her more than anything.
If Kushina died, would he follow her?
Naruto was still so young—
Would he lose both parents today?
And it was Nagato's doing.
Nagato—his own student.
Jiraiya clenched his fists, shaking.
I've failed Minato's family.
(End of Chapter)