Using his Tenseigan to peer back through time, Hyuga Gakuya watched the events unfold. Jiraiya had just retrieved one of Orochimaru's corpses, using it to assist in a rapid reincarnation process. Now, Orochimaru had transformed into a white serpent and vanished beneath the earth.
Jiraiya sensed Orochimaru's chakra growing fainter as it disappeared underground. Though there was a trace of helplessness in his heart, he also understood—this might have been the best outcome they could hope for right now.
Hyuga Gakuya slowly descended in front of him, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"Heh… Looks like it's just you now. You really think you're going to get out of this alive?"
Jiraiya straightened his back and took a deep breath.
"I, Jiraiya, don't give up that easily. If you want a fight, then let's go!"
Gakuya sneered, then raised his hand. A blast of repulsive force shot toward Jiraiya. The old Sannin quickly dodged to the side and began forming hand signs.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
A massive dragon-shaped blaze roared toward Gakuya.
But he remained calm, guiding a Truth-Seeking Orb forward with ease, dispersing the fire dragon in an instant. Jiraiya tried again and again, unleashing a barrage of ninjutsu, but each one was systematically neutralized by Gakuya.
As the fight dragged on, Jiraiya's stamina waned. His movements slowed, his breath grew heavier. Gakuya seized the opening and launched a powerful punch. The sheer force sent Jiraiya flying.
He crashed to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth. He tried to stand, but his body wouldn't respond. He was seriously injured, completely exhausted.
Gakuya's punch had landed with terrifying strength. Jiraiya lay sprawled across the earth, his internal organs feeling as if they'd been jumbled out of place. A sickly sweetness welled up in his throat before he coughed out a mouthful of blood.
He tried to push himself up again, but it was no use. It felt like every bone in his body had shattered.
Gakuya walked toward him, step by step, wearing the satisfied smile of a man who knew he'd won.
Towering over Jiraiya, he said coldly, "Give up. You've run out of chances."
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, defiance still burning in his eyes.
"Have you ever heard of a hero who surrenders?"
Gakuya nodded slightly. "Very well. I'll make it quick for you."
From behind him, a Truth-Seeking Orb shot forward, aimed straight at Jiraiya's forehead.
Jiraiya slowly closed his eyes. "So this is the end… of the Tale of the Gutsy Ninja."
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he lay there, silent.
"My life… even though I always joked around… I never once regretted the choices I made.
"I traveled the world… witnessed so many stories… trained some great students… Naruto, you have to carry my hopes and keep moving forward..."
"And Tsunade, that stubborn old woman… I wonder if she'll cry for me… ha…"
His voice was fading, like it might be carried away on the wind at any moment.
"I know more trials lie ahead… but the Will of Fire won't die. It will keep burning in every shinobi's heart… passed down forever…"
He thought to himself, So death… really isn't painful. I can barely feel anything.
Just then, a familiar voice whispered by his ear: "You're not going to open your eyes?"
Jiraiya's eyes shot open. He wasn't dead.
Beside him stood a man wearing a familiar mask.
"Obito? You're the one who saved me?" Jiraiya said in disbelief.
He had once led a squad tasked with hunting down Uchiha Obito. Now the man had come to rescue him. What was going on? What did he want?
"What, is that not allowed?" Obito cast him a sideways glance.
Gakuya's eyes turned dark. "You again, Obito. Come to ruin my plans once more?"
Obito grinned. "So you can manipulate the Hidden Leaf, but I can't? That's a bit hypocritical, don't you think?"
"Heh… Not killing you back then is my greatest regret," Gakuya said, his voice thick with killing intent.
Obito looked pleased. "Then I guess you'll be regretting it for a while longer… traitor."
Jiraiya quietly listened to their exchange, taking in every word, every implication.
Manipulating the Leaf? He began piecing things together. The so-called "intelligence" the Federation gave Konoha must've been a setup. They had used it to force the village into sending a squad to eliminate Obito, leading to his near death.
And these two? They were once allies. Gakuya had tried to kill Obito and failed. That explained the enmity between them. No wonder Obito called him a traitor.
It also explained something else—why Obito saved him. He wasn't trying to be a hero. He wanted to use Konoha to get revenge on Gakuya.
"Goodbye, Hyuga Gakuya," Obito said. Then he pulled Jiraiya into the Kamui dimension.
Gakuya reacted instantly, firing a Truth-Seeking Orb. But it passed harmlessly through Obito's intangible form. A moment later, Obito's figure vanished as well.
"Not bad. That performance was flawless." Gakuya smiled faintly, watching the empty space where they'd disappeared.
He had no intention of letting Jiraiya die—not now. That would've made redemption impossible.
Even if the plan was to eventually redeem himself, he couldn't have too many stains on his record. Someone like Obito, who was black from head to toe in the original story, could never be truly forgiven.
Gakuya's "redemption" might only be temporary, but a proper villain still had to maintain some standards.
...
Inside the Kamui Dimension
Jiraiya and Obito appeared atop a stone pillar.
Jiraiya wiped the blood from his mouth and was the first to speak. "Why did you save me?"
Obito shrugged. "Why else? You heard it—I'm going to use you to deal with Gakuya."
"We've been at odds for a long time. He used your village to pull a fast one on me, nearly got me killed. Now it's payback time."
He smiled with exaggerated innocence. "Of course, if you'd rather hear a nicer version of the story, let's call it… cooperation."
His childish tone sent a chill down Jiraiya's spine.
For the first time, Jiraiya realized—everything they had thought was their decision… had only ever been moves on someone else's game board.
The sudden rumors spreading through the shinobi world about Obito's true identity… that, too, must have been the result of the ongoing chess match between him and Gakuya.
"If you want us to take Gakuya down, you'll need to give us intel," Jiraiya said. "Otherwise, how are we supposed to beat him?"
He knew there was no walking away from this. They were enemies now. All he could do was try to gain as much information as possible.
"Of course," Obito replied. "I'm counting on you to take him out."
He began explaining, "Gakuya's eyes are called the Tenseigan. They awakened after he devoured the Byakugan of an entire clan—it's the ultimate Kekkei Genkai."
"And those black orbs floating behind him are Truth-Seeking Orbs. They can nullify all ninjutsu. Nothing works against them."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Then… doesn't that make him invincible? How are we supposed to fight someone like that?!"
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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