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Having delivered a batch of White Zetsu to Orochimaru, Obito left to prepare for the upcoming events. The issue with the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki needed some investigation, but as long as the Outer Path Gedo Statue had successfully absorbed the Eight-Tails, there was no real cause for concern.
Orochimaru stored away the corpses and Hashirama's cells, then herded the White Zetsu down to the basement, ready to begin his research.
...
Meanwhile, the Konoha forces had completed their preparations. Neji, Hinata, and Tenten, accompanied by the small fox, crouched in the grass a few hundred meters away, taking on the role of scouts.
As for the rest, Minato, Kushina, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kimimaro and his five subordinates, Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Asuma, Fū, Shisui, and Itachi, Naruto felt this lineup was bordering on overkill.
"Jiraiya-sensei, don't hold back just because he was once your student," Minato warned. He was worried that Jiraiya, like before when confronting Orochimaru alone, might hesitate and suffer the consequences.
"I understand. I'll go all out right from the start," Jiraiya responded, biting his thumb and smearing his blood across his face in two additional red streaks that crossed his existing oil marks. He clasped his hands together. "I need time to summon the two Great Sages to enter Sage Mode. During this period, I can't separate my hands. Until then—"
"No need for that, I'll help you out," Naruto interjected. In a flash, he disappeared and reappeared, placing Fukasaku and Shima on Jiraiya's shoulders.
Jiraiya froze in place, his hands still clasped. He had not expected this workaround.
Shima, equally surprised, asked, "What just happened, little Naruto? You rushed us here so fast you didn't even explain. I was still preparing lunch!"
"Perverted Sage needs you two to assist in his Sage Mode for battle," Naruto explained.
"I see." Fukasaku shot Jiraiya a disapproving look and smacked the back of his head with his webbed hand. "I've told you time and time again to visit Mount Myōboku and properly train, but you never listen. Now you're dragging us old folks into battle again. Unbelievable."
Jiraiya winced. "I get it, Boss! Not in front of everyone, at least spare me some dignity!"
Fukasaku's irritation only deepened. "Dignity? Three of Mount Myōboku's students are here, and you're the only one who still can't fight properly on your own! You dare talk about dignity?"
"Alright, dear, let's scold him later. This isn't the time," Shima intervened, saving Jiraiya. "Just how strong is the enemy that both little Minato and little Naruto need backup from Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya's expression turned serious. "No time to explain fully. Our opponent possesses the legendary Rinnegan. He was once my student, and I must stop him. Please, I'm counting on you both."
Fukasaku's face hardened. "The Rinnegan, huh? This is serious… Alright, we'll help you."
With the Great Sages' assistance, Jiraiya swiftly entered Sage Mode.
At that moment, the enemy group came into view Six Paths of Pain, Tobi, Kisame, and Deidara. They stopped just outside the range of conventional jutsu, with the Deva Path standing in the center.
Pain's gaze swept over the Konoha shinobi, lingering on Kushina, Naruto, and Fū for a few extra seconds before settling on Jiraiya. "Both the Nine-Tails and Seven-Tails Jinchūriki are here. And Jiraiya-sensei, you've entered Sage Mode. What an impressive welcome."
"Yahiko…?" Jiraiya had been mentally prepared, but seeing Yahiko's face still unsettled him.
"Yahiko? Yes, such a person did exist," the Deva Path stated coldly. "But he died long ago. A naive fool like him had no place in this world."
"Nagato… You must have endured unimaginable pain," Jiraiya said, remembering Nagato's childhood dream to protect Yahiko and Konan. For him to turn out like this, he must have suffered greatly.
Deidara and Kisame exchanged intrigued glances. So their leader was Jiraiya's student? And his real name was either Yahiko or Nagato?
Far away, Nagato paused at Jiraiya's words. "So they know everything now… Yes, Konoha was involved in that incident, but talking about it changes nothing."
Not wanting to linger on the subject, Nagato controlled the Deva Path to raise its hand. "There's no point in asking, but I'll do so anyway will you surrender the Seven-Tails and Nine-Tails?"
"Don't joke around!" Jiraiya shouted. "Give up, Nagato! Your foolish plan has no chance of success!"
Pain sneered. "So you even know about our plan? I suppose that's expected, considering we lost Hidan to you. But what does it matter? I never expected mere mortals to comprehend a god's vision."
He spread his fingers, his Rinnegan glowing ominously. "Universal Pull!"
An immense gravitational force erupted from his palm, pulling Naruto, Kushina, and Fū forward.
Naruto felt his body being yanked forward. He braced his legs, skidding across the ground before ultimately being lifted off his feet.
Seeing Kushina and Fū also airborne, Naruto was astonished by the precision of the technique. "It's this accurate?"
Reacting instantly, Naruto activated his golden chakra cloak and extended a chakra arm into the ground, halting his movement in mid-air.
Kushina, too, had entered her Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, using a chakra limb to brake. She extended another to grab the frantically flapping Fū.
"Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!"
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Even as Naruto, Kushina, and Fū were pulled forward, Jiraiya planted his hands and launched a thousand razor-sharp hair needles, while Minato threw a kunai that multiplied midair, hurtling toward the Akatsuki members.
Despite their powerful techniques, they managed to perfectly avoid hitting their allies caught in the pull.
The needles and kunai, upon passing Naruto's position, were also affected by Universal Pull, accelerating dramatically toward Pain's group.
Seeing the threat, Pain's Deva Path narrowed its Rinnegan. "Shinra Tensei!"
A powerful repulsive force exploded outward.
----
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