Nagato knew nothing about the Ten-Tails. Too much time had passed. A thousand years erased memories like rivers smoothing stone. Even the Sage of Six Paths had become a myth told like bedtime stories. Apart from a few survivors and the ancient Uchiha tablet, barely anyone remembered the truth.
"Peace built on fear and power alone? That will never last," Jiraiya argued, voice stern with conviction. "Fear only breeds more war, not peace."
"If every nation is fighting," the Animal Path asked, "then how do we make them stop, Jiraiya-sensei?"
"That is what I should be asking you!" he shot back, frustration mixed with disappointment. He wanted to know how the boy he once believed was the Child of Prophecy now thought about peace.
The Animal Path answered calmly.
"Give every great nation forbidden weapons. Tools that can kill millions in an instant. When people taste true pain, when nations tremble at the thought of that power, fear will suppress war."
He raised his gaze like a prophet delivering a revelation.
"The world is moving toward stability. But a child cannot grow without guidance. It needs the hand of a god."
"Teaching the world through suffering?" Jiraiya whispered, unable to understand Nagato's logic. "Is that really what you believe, Nagato?"
"Yes. I am a god of peace," Pain said with chilling certainty.
"You sound like you are joking."
Jiraiya's tone darkened.
"I am not joking, sensei."
He had revealed enough.
Leave. You know more than you should, his expression seemed to warn.
At that moment, an invisible force tugged the Animal Path free from Jiraiya's hair trap. A massive chameleon materialized, scales shimmering as if it had drunk the light.
So that was the creature that saved Konan earlier, Jiraiya realized.
"In my eyes, you are still a tiny being with no growth," Pain spoke coldly.
Jiraiya burst into laughter, stepped forward, and slammed his palm onto the floor.
"I guess even a kid thinks I am just another clueless old fool. But I am no ordinary man anymore. I am a Sage!"
"Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya, reporting for duty!"
He landed proudly atop Gamaken's head, striking a dramatic pose.
Gamaken wobbled.
Jiraiya slipped and face-planted.
The grand entrance shattered.
High above, Konan watched the scene. Her eyes softened. A flicker of memory surfaced like a firefly in the rain.
Pain sighed.
"No growth at all. You are still as clumsy as ever."
"Ken, stop wobbling when I am trying to look cool!" Jiraiya whined.
"Sorry, I am not good with balance!" Gamaken replied, voice rough and embarrassed.
The battle officially began.
Against the Rinnegan, Jiraiya felt an unfamiliar pressure. Pain was once his student. Pain knew him well. Jiraiya, however, knew almost nothing about what Nagato had become.
That was why he planned to enter Sage Mode from the start. His only advantage was knowledge Pain did not know he possessed.
But Jiraiya could not gather natural energy alone outside Myoboku. He needed two Sages.
Which meant he needed time.
Gamaken stepped forward, ready to buy it with his life.
Yet something bothered Jiraiya.
Despite possessing the Rinnegan and mastering five chakra natures at a young age, Pain was only using Summoning jutsu. No ninjutsu. No chakra techniques.
Is it arrogance? Or something else?
Jiraiya trusted instinct over logic. Pain would not be careless.
Gamaken fought fiercely. Even splitting dogs summoned by Pain were swallowed whole inside the Great Toad Gourd's stomach.
Time.
That was what Jiraiya needed.
Two small figures appeared on his shoulders. Fukasaku and Shima, the Great Toad Sages, here to draw in natural energy for him.
At last, Sage Mode.
Not perfect like Naruto's future form. Jiraiya's body twisted, becoming more toad than human, monstrous and powerful.
The two Sages attacked immediately, strangling the massive chameleon. It slumped lifeless to the ground.
"One of the Legendary Sannin. Orochimaru, Jiraiya, the three of you truly are unique," Pain murmured. "I suppose I must show more strength."
He slapped the ground.
Smoke exploded.
Three Pains now stood side by side.
Three pairs of Rinnegan stared back at them.
"Why do they all have the same eyes? How?" Jiraiya gasped.
"Shadow clones?" Fukasaku guessed.
"They look different..." Shima frowned.
"Stop chattering. Dinner can wait. We fight first!" Fukasaku barked.
"I was making supper!" Shima scolded back.
"Later!"
Jiraiya cut them off.
"Enough. Time to get serious."
He began dancing theatrically.
"From now on, ninjutsu becomes senjutsu. Heaven's back glows beneath the sky. Mighty Jiraiya arrives!"
Both elderly toads punched him in the head.
"Quiet!"
Three Pains stared blankly, as if unsure whether to laugh or kill him. The moment felt painfully like old times.
Human Path dashed forward. Jiraiya vanished then reappeared, foot slamming into Pain's chest. He flew like a rag doll.
Nagato narrowed his eyes.
His physical strength and speed increased greatly. Sage Mode... truly formidable.
"Enough bickering. Time to cook!" Shima declared. "Oil for me, wind for you."
"Fire style from me!" Jiraiya grinned.
Together they inhaled deeply.
"Senjutsu Art: Goemon!"
A roaring inferno of oil, wind, and flames surged across the battlefield. A sea of death rushing forward.
Hungry Ghost Path stepped forward calmly, palms glowing like whirlpools.
He absorbed it. All of it.
The deadly inferno vanished like chalk in rain.