"Help me tell Tsunade..."
Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru, unconcerned about the discontent in Orochimaru's words, still wearing a calm smile: "This time, she finally won her bet."
"I understand."
Orochimaru nodded nonetheless.
For Orochimaru, an S-Class Traitorous Ninja who came back to life, sneaking into Konoha to meet Tsunade was a dangerous task, yet he still chose to take the risk to see her.
"Thank you."
Jiraiya's smile suddenly became brilliant, and he added another request: "By the way, I know you've heard all the intel, remember to tell her everything, including the information about Pain and Akihara Kagura..."
"Jiraiya, don't push your luck..."
A sinister smile appeared on Orochimaru's face.
Orochimaru was not entirely sure whether Akihara Kagura's plan was as he expected, but Akihara Kagura had yet to appear.
Jiraiya had already entered Sage Mode, combined with the two Sages from Mount Myoboku, whose perception ability was strong, yet they still couldn't find any trace of Akihara Kagura.
Perhaps...
Akihara Kagura really wasn't here?
Orochimaru gave Jiraiya a long, deep look.
If they were truly to die here together with Jiraiya, it wouldn't serve his interests.
Orochimaru felt he had done enough for his old friend Jiraiya. Facing Nagato and Deva Path Pain, he didn't believe they could overcome them, nor did he believe he could take Jiraiya away under their pursuit.
In the next second.
Deva Path Pain suddenly charged towards Jiraiya!
From behind Nagato grew a mechanical arm, which instantaneously transformed into a radiant laser weapon, the light quickly condensing on the weapon!
Although it was in coordination with his puppet, it felt as if he were covering for Yahiko's attack many years ago!
Konan's figure floated in the air, as if battling alongside their teacher many years prior, sheets of Explosive Tag paper transforming into paper airplanes gliding towards Jiraiya!
All of this...
Seemed as if it were going back to many years ago...
Yet this scene was so strikingly different from back then...
The last time they fought, it was still as teacher and students, the three young members of the Akatsuki Organization appeared somewhat green in their battle with Jiraiya, even without a hint of killing intent; this time, every move was filled with lethal intent, as if trying to keep their teacher here completely!
"Little ones..."
Jiraiya smiled slightly, body suddenly dropped to the ground: "If you open with these crude techniques, it's far from enough... Sage Art: Thousand Needle Hair!"
The thick hair on Jiraiya's body instantly became rigid, countless strands transforming into needle-like senbon, shooting swiftly towards the trio!
The Thousand Needle Hair immediately pierced through Konan's Explosive Tag paper, nailing those tags to the ground, the explosions of the tags echoing continuously!
This wasn't over yet...
The densely packed Thousand Needle Hair was about to pierce through Deva Path Pain's body!
"Ninpo: Summoning Jutsu!"
Nagato swiftly halted his attack, raising his hand to complete a Summoning Hand Seal, summoning a panda descending from the sky, landing in front of Deva Path Pain, blocking the assault of the Thousand Needle Hair!
Deva Path Pain stepped on the panda and leapt into the air, brandishing the Black Rod in his hand, stabbing towards Jiraiya, his face icy and merciless!
"Sage Art: Super Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"
Jiraiya raised his hand, conjuring a massive Rasengan, aiming to directly first deal with Deva Path Pain in front of him, yet Deva Path Pain's body moved aside instantly, revealing Nagato behind!
"Preta Path!"
Nagato raised his palm, directly absorbing the Chakra within the Super Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!
If it were Natural Energy, such absorption would cause issues with Nagato's body; however, inside was refined Sage Art Chakra, instead energizing Nagato's spirit!
"Asura Path!"
Another mechanical arm extended from Nagato's back, arm splitting open to reveal a cluster of missiles, launching towards Jiraiya!
"Dodge!"
Jiraiya and Orochimaru simultaneously jumped aside!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
A series of explosions followed one after another!
"Heavenly Attraction!"
Nagato lifted his palm directly towards Orochimaru!
A gravitational force immediately drew Orochimaru's body towards him, aiming first to resolve Orochimaru, who might most easily escape, incapable of being killed even by Almighty Push...
"Trying to kill me first?"
A slight smile graced Orochimaru's lips; he suddenly opened his mouth, taking the chance as the gravitational pull approached Nagato, spitting out a Kusanagi Sword towards Nagato!
Nagato furrowed his brow slightly as the mechanical arm on his back changed again, producing a strange mechanical hand that readily caught the Kusanagi Sword, dragging Orochimaru over!
Two more mechanical arms appeared!
One hand gripping Orochimaru's neck and the other clasping his arm, forcibly seizing Orochimaru directly!
"Human Path!"
Nagato raised his palm to Orochimaru's chest!
The Human Path ability, never shown before Jiraiya or Orochimaru, finally appeared before them, capable of extracting the soul from a body!
"No!"
Orochimaru suddenly felt his soul about to leave his body!
This feeling...
Was surprisingly familiar?
Orochimaru suddenly recalled why it felt familiar; it was the sensation experienced when battling his teacher, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Sarutobi used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to extract his soul!