"Yahiko, you took Nagato's Rinnegan. What happened to him?"
Jiraiya stared into the Deva Path of Pain's eyes and asked.
"..."
Pain's Deva Path exchanged a glance with Konan, then raised his hand.
[Shinra Tensei.]
A powerful repulsive force suddenly surged forward, catching the unguarded Jiraiya off guard. He was sent flying more than ten meters backward.
He felt a pang of helplessness.
Was it really that difficult to simply have a conversation?
Quickly performing the Body Replacement Technique, he reappeared before them and had no choice but to speak again. "I'm not here for espionage, nor am I here to fight you."
As he spoke, Jiraiya raised both hands and loosened his posture entirely, trying to show he had no intention of attacking.
"I know your Akatsuki Organization is gathering Tailed Beasts for Kaguya, right?"
At those words, Konan was visibly startled.
How did Master Jiraiya learn about Akatsuki's purpose?
Then confusion flickered across her face.
Who exactly is Kaguya? Is it the Kaguya Clan? Or could that masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha actually be someone named Kaguya?
Beside her, the Deva Path of Pain remained expressionless, still wearing that blank face.
Inside the Tall Tower in the Country of Rain, Nagato shared Konan's confusion.
Jiraiya carefully observed their expressions and noticed that Konan seemed genuinely surprised.
Looks like they truly knew nothing about Kaguya.
"Can we talk? I can tell you what I know."
Konan and the Deva Path of Pain remained silent, showing no sign of wanting to drive him away immediately.
"When the nine Tailed Beasts merge into the Ten-Tails, who will control it? Kaguya would definitely try to take it away, right..."
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Jiraiya continued speaking alone until Konan interrupted. "Master Jiraiya, exactly who is this Kaguya? And where did you get this information from?"
"Kaguya... she..."
From afar, a White Zetsu quietly watched their figures. "Is Jiraiya contacting Nagato and Konan?"
"If you don't believe me, go check the Country of Hot Springs yourself. See who exactly the White Zetsu in the Akatsuki is truly working for."
After saying this and seeing no indication from Konan and the Deva Path to detain him, Jiraiya scratched his nose and turned to leave.
Next destination: the Country of Hot Springs.
Konan and the Deva Path stood silently on the spot, still digesting what Jiraiya had said.
The Ten-Tails already belongs to someone?
That White Zetsu has lived for thousands of years?
Could someone who's been sealed away for a thousand years actually return?
That sounds completely unbelievable.
After a long silence, Konan and the Deva Path returned to the Tall Tower in the Country of Rain shortly after each other.
Inside the Tall Tower, Nagato wore a puzzled expression on his face.
Looking deeply worried, Konan finally spoke. "Nagato, do you think Master Jiraiya was telling the truth? Could it be that everything we've been doing is simply preparing things for someone else?"
Nagato remained silent as he contemplated the possibilities.
"If it's true, should we continue with our plan?"
"Ten-Tails is the ultimate power in existence," Konan noticed a flush of excitement rising to Nagato's pale cheeks as he spoke with growing intensity, "and must remain under Akatsuki's control."
Denying his goal would mean denying the very meaning of his existence.
If he simply let go now, what meaning would there be in all the suffering he'd endured before? Would all that pain just be reduced to a joke?
Konan murmured, "Does he know about this?" her voice barely above a whisper.
She naturally referred to the man who claimed to be "Madara Uchiha."
Nagato remained silent.
Silence settled over the tower for a moment.
Biting her lip, Konan finally broke the silence. "Nagato, perhaps I should go investigate in the Country of Hot Springs."
After a pause, Nagato spoke firmly — "No."
Jiraiya's storytelling had certainly prompted Nagato to begin questioning Zetsu's reliability.
Yet most intelligence gathering within Akatsuki was accomplished by Zetsu.
Without him, who could possibly replace his role?
And if Zetsu indeed had ulterior motives, then how much of what he passed on could be trusted as truth?
The more he thought about it, the more he wondered if Jiraiya had told those stories on purpose — to fracture Akatsuki from within.
After prolonged deliberation, Nagato finally reached a decision: "Let our peripheral members handle the investigation."
Unfortunately, among Akatsuki members with official status, besides Konan, it would be difficult to find someone completely loyal to him.
At Orochimaru's base, Third Hokage brought Naruto into the laboratory.
"Naruto, channel some Nine-Tails chakra to Bee."
Bee stepped forward from behind Orochimaru.
"Why?" Naruto asked, puzzled.
"Hiruzen explained, "Try using Nine-Tails' chakra to stimulate Bee's Eight-Tails chakra."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod.
Glancing at the gloomy, snake-like man beside him, Naruto seemed to understand something. "What? You want me to help him, Old Man Third?"
"Just assist Orochimaru with his experiment, and maybe fewer lives will be lost..."
Before Hiruzen could finish speaking, Naruto angrily interrupted,
"So after helping him, he'll just go on to do worse? I've figured it out already — apart from these experiments, there are others too, all filled with human sacrifice. Why would you have me help such a person, Old Man Third?"
A headache throbbed at the base of Hiruzen's skull.
How could he make Naruto understand that the world wasn't divided neatly into good and evil?
Orochimaru only smiled, perfectly anticipating this reaction.
He had long since seen through both Naruto's and Sasuke's characters.
Naruto wore his heart on his sleeve; any emotion he felt came bursting out right away.
Sasuke was different — always composed, always guarded, never letting anyone see what he truly thought. Provoked, he'd strike back instantly if strong enough, or bide his time and bite once he'd grown stronger.
"Old Man Third, aren't you someone who despises senseless killing? Have you been controlled by him?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"Naruto, it's not like what you imagine..."
"I won't help him."
With that, Naruto just walked off.
He reached a small river, sat down on the grass, and frowned with a troubled look on his face.
Kaguya Otsutsuki was someone who would harm people in the future, so she had to be eliminated.
Orochimaru was someone currently hurting people. He should also be taken out...
But why were everyone cooperating with him instead?
Even Jiraiya had turned a blind eye.
Naruto's mind was in a mess. He picked up a small pebble and threw it into the water, creating ripples spreading outward in circles.
Sighing, he muttered to himself, recalling the words Sasuke once said, "Jiraiya, when will you come back? I don't want to stay here anymore..."
The name he muttered under his breath—Jiraiya—was now on his way to the Country of Hot Springs.
If one wanted to know where White Zetsu were most numerous, naturally it would be the Palace of the Country of Hot Springs. Besides, Naruto had detected their presence long ago; there was no need to worry about mistaking one White Zetsu for another.
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