The light rain continued to fall, painting the sky a dull gray. Droplets landed on the lake, sending ripples across its surface.
Suddenly, bubbles rose from the water, and a small toad emerged. It opened its mouth wide, and in an instant, a hand stretched out from within—starting small and rapidly growing larger.
Jiraiya climbed out of the toad's mouth, smoothly flipping through the air before landing lightly on the water. He fixed his gaze on the village under the gray clouds and chuckled.
"That was easier than I thought."
As he looked toward Amegakure, a figure suddenly leaped into the air, heading straight for him.
—
In a dimly lit chamber deep within the village, Nagato's eyes narrowed slightly. He had sensed something.
Beside him, Konan noticed his reaction and asked, "What's wrong, Nagato?"
"The rain has been disturbed. Someone has entered the village… Their chakra feels strong."
Konan frowned. "A powerful intruder this time? I'll take care of it."
She turned to leave, but Nagato spoke up. "No. I'll handle it myself."
Konan placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "You've only recently adjusted to your condition. It's too soon for you to fight. Let me deal with this."
She met his gaze, her tone firm.
"Don't worry. I'll alert the others and surround him. He won't escape."
-------
Jiraiya moved swiftly through Amegakure, leaping between rooftops and darting through the shadows to stay out of sight. Avoiding patrols, he took advantage of blind spots and, when the moment was right, blended seamlessly into the busy streets.
With a hood pulled over his head and his cloak wrapped tightly around him, he strolled casually, moving with the crowd.
"No obvious ninja presence… and the village seems peaceful," he muttered under his breath.
His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for anything unusual. Though he walked at a leisurely pace, every step was deliberate.
Amegakure's buildings were a mix of steel and stone, towering structures reinforced with pipes running inside and out. The constant rain had shaped the city's architecture—large drainage systems and industrial sewers lined the streets.
Jiraiya studied everything: the terrain, potential escape routes, and most importantly, signs of hidden enemies. Yet, despite his careful observation, he saw little out of the ordinary.
As he wandered, he stopped by a street stall selling snacks. He smiled at the elderly shop owner.
"Things seem pretty peaceful around here."
The old man chuckled. "Of course. Under Lord Pain's protection, we live well."
At the mention of the name, Jiraiya's mind sharpened.
Pain? So he is in control of Amegakure?
Not wanting to draw attention, Jiraiya simply nodded and played along, pretending to be just another traveler. He had little information to work with, so he needed to gather intel carefully.
Through casual conversations and his own experience, he pieced together bits of information:
The people revered Pain as their ruler.
An "Angel" acted as his spokesperson, delivering his commands.
The unending rain wasn't just weather—it was a sensory barrier that allowed Pain to track intruders.
That last detail set off alarm bells in Jiraiya's mind.
He had already been discovered. The enemy was likely searching for him right now.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he spotted two Ame-nin approaching.
Jiraiya smirked.
"Right on time."
But as he observed them closely, he realized something…
They weren't looking for him.
Jiraiya watched silently, calculating his next move.
Without hesitation, he leaped into action, his figure blending into the shadows as he moved swiftly through the rain-soaked streets.
His sudden movement caught the attention of the two Ame-nin.
"Who goes there?!"
They immediately gave chase.
Jiraiya led them to a secluded area, a quiet corner of the city where no one else was around. He glanced back, a smirk playing on his lips, before pressing his hands together into a series of hand seals.
[Toad Gourd Prison!]
Slamming his palm onto the water's surface—
Bang!
A small toad appeared. It gave Jiraiya a quick look before rapidly expanding, its body stretching and shifting until it transformed into a small building.
Just as the two Ame-nin arrived, Jiraiya turned and walked into the structure without hesitation.
The two pursuers exchanged a quick glance before following him inside.
But as soon as they entered, something felt… wrong.
The walls weren't made of wood or stone. Instead, they pulsed and shifted, a soft, slick texture covering them.
Then it hit them.
These weren't walls.
They were inside a living, breathing stomach.
Jiraiya emerged from the shadows ahead, arms crossed and grinning.
"Welcome," he said casually. "You're in the belly of a toad."
The two Ame-nin paled, drawing their weapons.
"Damn it! Who are you?!"
Jiraiya simply clapped his hands.
The fleshy walls behind them contracted, inching closer. Panic set in as they tried to fight back, but their attacks were useless.
The space continued to shrink, their movements restricted—until they were completely swallowed.
The fleshy walls tightened around the two Ame-nin, binding their arms and legs before forcefully spitting them back out onto the ground.
Jiraiya stepped forward, a calm yet knowing smile on his face.
"Alright, time for a little chat, don't you think?"
The two Ame-nin stiffened. They knew they were trapped, completely at his mercy. Resistance was pointless.
Meanwhile, outside, the summoned toad that had swallowed them returned to its normal size. It lazily blinked before hopping away, vanishing into the rain-soaked village.
At that moment, countless pieces of paper drifted through the air, swirling together before forming the shape of a woman.
Konan.
Suspended in midair, her paper wings spread wide as she surveyed the empty streets below.
"His chakra… disappeared?" she muttered, her sharp eyes scanning the area.
She landed lightly on the water, studying the surroundings carefully, but there was no trace of Jiraiya.
"He can't have gone far," she concluded, reforming her wings and rising back into the sky for a better vantage point.
Inside the toad's stomach, Jiraiya had already finished interrogating the two captives.
From them, he learned something shocking—Hanzo had died years ago, and it was Pain who killed him.
That meant… the one ruling this village was no longer Hanzo, but someone else entirely.
And the one pulling the strings behind Pain?
Jiraiya already had a suspicion.
There was only one person who could fit the role.
A student he once believed in.
Nagato.
The child with the Rinnegan, the one he had once thought might be the "Child of Prophecy."
Jiraiya clenched his fists as the memory of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy echoed in his mind.
One of his students was destined to bring about great change in the ninja world. Whether that change would lead to peace or destruction… was still uncertain.
That was why Jiraiya had come here.
He had to find out the truth.
He had to know if the mastermind behind Pain was really Nagato.
And more importantly—
Was he still the "Child of Prophecy"?
Or had he become something else entirely?
___________
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