It rains continuously in the Hidden Rain Village.
The drainage pipelines in the village are arranged in large numbers to ensure that the village is never flooded at any time, their quantity so vast that even the ordinary Rain Village Ninja find it hard to remember where each pipeline leads.
However, to prevent enemies from infiltrating the Hidden Rain Village through these pipelines, they eventually converge into several main drainage tunnels, most of which have Rain Village Ninja stationed.
Except for one tunnel.
Because this tunnel connects on one side to the tower where Nagato resides, and on the other side to a lake near the Akatsuki Hideout, it's the secret route of Nagato and the Deva Path of Pain.
Unfortunately, Jiraiya chose this very route to leave the Hidden Rain Village.
The Deva Path of Pain leads a group of Pain closely pursuing in the tunnel, the Asura Path Pain activating a radar capable of tracking chakra, tightly clinging to Jiraiya's position!
The Deva Path Pain is on the hunt for Jiraiya, contemplating the current circumstances.
Jiraiya now has no intention of engaging in direct combat, he's definitely only thinking about delivering the intelligence he's gathered from the Hidden Rain Village back.
If Jiraiya manages to escape, it would pose significant trouble and could potentially hinder Akatsuki's plan to capture the Konoha Nine-tailed Jinchuriki.
Especially since it's possible that Uehara Naraku's real identity might be exposed.
Fortunately, Jiraiya is severely injured, estimated to have internal organ damage. According to Asura Path Pain's reconnaissance, Jiraiya's chakra response's movement speed is getting slower.
They'll catch up soon.
Even if Jiraiya pulls some trick midway, after escaping the Hidden Rain Village, he'll find he has arrived at a large lake.
And that lake.
Is precisely where other Akatsuki members often go for training.
Meanwhile.
Uehara Naraku is also observing the positions of the Deva Path Pain and Jiraiya, unable to help but frown: "Why does it feel like something is off? According to this situation, is Jiraiya trying to escape from the Hidden Rain Village to Akatsuki's base?"
The situation is indeed a bit off.
Inside the underground tunnel.
Jiraiya's speed is sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
The Deva Path Pain leads a group of Pain with very constant speed.
Only occasionally when the Asura Path prepares to launch missiles, Jiraiya seems to sense it, despite his injuries speeding up to escape!
"Really troublesome... Jiraiya-sensei!"
The Deva Path Pain frowned, quietly saying: "But even if you escape recklessly without conserving your strength, it's simply impossible to evade Pain's pursuit... and your luck truly isn't good. You've chosen the wrong direction to flee!"
Once Jiraiya thinks he's escaped the Hidden Rain Village, he won't realize he's approaching another enemy stronghold.
Just as Uehara Naraku and the Deva Path Pain were speculating about Jiraiya, Jiraiya's face was covered with oil paint, his hands clasped, murmuring numbers softly.
"Five..."
"Four..."
"Three..."
"Two..."
"One..."
"Summoning Jutsu! Sage Mode · Activate!"
A powerful aura suddenly erupted from Jiraiya's body, the toad oil paint on his face emitting a rich red hue, and two small frogs abruptly appeared on his shoulders!
The next moment, Jiraiya unhesitatingly removed his boots, his legs and arms transformed into frog-like flippers, continuing to flee towards a distant direction!
In that instant, Jiraiya's speed increased significantly!
"Hey, little Jiraiya, what's going on here?"
"No time to explain now!"
Jiraiya scurried on all fours through the underground tunnel, spoke solemnly: "Fukasaku Sage, Shima Sage, one of you perceive the path ahead, the other sense the pursuers behind, let's escape from here first!"
Even with Sage Mode, one must not turn back to fight.
Because Jiraiya is well aware, Hidden Rain Village's Uehara Naraku possesses a jutsu-stealing ability, once forcibly cracked his Sage Mode, so Sage Mode isn't meant for fighting, just for easier escape!
"Ah... alright alright!"
Fukasaku Sage and Shima Sage nodded hurriedly.
Among them, Fukasaku Sage even had some leftover strength, opened his mouth to use Water Release Ninjutsu to hinder Pain's pursuit behind, at least slowing down their pursuit.
Even if the Preta Path jumps out to assist by absorbing Ninjutsu, it will force the Six Paths Pain to pause together for a while.
This interval is when Jiraiya gradually pulls away!
Shima Sage at the front is responsible for observing the road and sensing the surrounding chakra. When it sees a light appearing in front, its spirit visibly excited, saying: "Wait, we're about to reach the tunnel's exit!"
Fukasaku Sage looked somewhat speechless at Jiraiya beside him and said: "Really unexpected, that one day someone would use Sage Mode to flee."
Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode has always been used for combat.
Sage Chakra provides a substantial boost to the power of Ninjutsu, it's traditionally a trump card against formidable foes, never thought today Jiraiya would use it for escape.
"Ahahaha..."
Jiraiya showed a slightly hearty smile, saying: "After all, this time I gathered too much intelligence in the Hidden Rain Village, this intelligence is more important than my dignity!"
"Hidden Rain Village?"
Fukasaku Sage raised his head in amazement saying: "Oh? Hidden Rain Village? Isn't that the village where that boy named Uehara Naraku is from?"
Shima Sage also spoke with some surprise: "Isn't that the boy who cracked our Sage Mode last time?"
"Exactly!"
Jiraiya nodded, his expression somewhat peculiar: "Let's leave here first, that kid has quite a connection with us!"
The speed of movement in Sage Mode is indeed very fast.
Deva Path of Pain furrowed his brow, realizing that the distance between them and Jiraiya seemed to have increased: "He activated Sage Mode just to escape the Hidden Rain Village? Even using Heavenly Attraction, the distance isn't enough..."
After speaking, Deva Path of Pain continued on his own: "It seems quite logical, after all, his goal is to gather intelligence, not to kill us. But if that's the case, it'll be very difficult to catch up to him..."
Unfortunately, he took the wrong path.
Deva Path of Pain slowly extended his palm, inputting Chakra into his ring, speaking softly: "Now, all members at the base, quickly head to Nameless Lake outside the hideout's base, search and capture one person!"
This sentence could be projected through the Chakra and Nagato's Rinnegan within the ring to any Akatsuki member holding a ring.
The next moment, there was a silence across the Akatsuki channel.
Deva Path of Pain instinctively furrowed his brow, what the heck, why is there no response from these members?
Deva Path of Pain's tone immediately turned cold, sternly saying: "What are you doing? Didn't anyone hear my command?"
"No, it's not that!"
Deidara's voice sounded a bit confused, even mixed with some surprise: "It seems like, besides you three, everyone else was already at Nameless Lake this morning!"
Deva Path of Pain: "..."
What are the odds?
What are these people up to at Nameless Lake for no reason?
It turns out the Akatsuki members weren't just idly gathering.
At dawn, Hozuki Mangetsu and Hozuki Suigetsu brothers were bickering again and set up another duel on Nameless Lake. How could others miss such an event?
On Nameless Lake.
Two water giants were still tugging at each other.
Hoshigaki Kisame swung his Shark Skin, leaping into the air to separate the battling Hozuki brothers, laughing lightly as he said: "Alright, stop fighting, the boss has sent a task for us to corner the enemy in this area!"
Sasori of the Red Sand looked in astonishment toward the Hidden Rain Village: "For Pain to personally give the order, it must not be a simple person, right?"
"No matter who it is, today they are doomed."
Uchiha Sasuke raised an eyebrow, a red light flashing across his eyes, coldly saying: "If it's a powerful guy, it's the perfect opportunity for me to test my new Jutsu!"
"The enemy will definitely be satisfying."
Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a strange gleam flashing in his pupils as his Chakra seemed excited, sensing the prey he desired.
This feeling… is truly unprecedented!
In the underground tunnel.
Jiraiya, in Sage Mode, was desperately fleeing.
Fukasaku Sage occasionally interfered to create trouble for the pursuing Six Paths of Pain behind them, only his demeanor slightly surprised: "Little Jiraiya, it seems there's only one enemy left pursuing us now? Should we deal with him?"
"Hmm?"
Jiraiya shook his head while continuing to flee, saying: "No, the most important thing now is to get the information back. The intel we've gathered this time is abundant and astonishing; I have a bad feeling about this…"
Shima Sage couldn't help but laugh, pointing at the light at the tunnel's end, saying: "Alright, little Jiraiya, don't worry, we're about to escape…"
As Shima Sage spoke, her voice suddenly sharpened: "Little Jiraiya, stop quickly! There might be danger ahead; I seem to sense a nauseating smell and several clusters of very powerful Chakra!"
"What?"
Jiraiya's hand suddenly gripped the rock wall of the tunnel entrance, halting abruptly, channeling his Chakra perception at the tunnel's entrance.
Phantom figures appeared in Jiraiya's Sage vision; these were all part of the super perception derived from natural energy in Sage Mode.
"No wonder there's only one enemy left pursuing us…"
Fukasaku Sage also sensed the danger at the tunnel's exit, solemnly saying: "The enemy indeed had set up an ambush at the exit of the escape route."
"We still have to break through!"
Jiraiya bit his teeth, his demeanor growing more serious, earnestly saying: "If I die in battle here, I'll dispel the Summoning and send both Sages back to Mount Myoboku before I fall, asking you to help get the intel back to Konoha!
Uehara Naraku is the future leader of the Akatsuki; right now, the Akatsuki leader is merely a puppet, the real controller of the Akatsuki is Nagato, who possesses the Rinnegan!"
"Jiraiya!"
Fukasaku Sage looked at Jiraiya shocked, both Jiraiya's pessimistic attitude and the intel he brought were enough to shock anyone.
Because Fukasaku Sage had also heard of Uehara Naraku and Nagato, and knowing their identity means something significant for the Akatsuki, means a giant upheaval in the entire Ninja World!
Fukasaku Sage pondered for a moment, then suddenly shook his head: "If it really comes to the last moment, then let the child's mother go back!"
After speaking, Fukasaku Sage suddenly turned to Shima Sage: "Hey, did you hear? At that time, you must send the intel back to Konoha!"
"…Shut up, old man!"
Shima Sage interrupted Fukasaku Sage, forcing a smile: "We haven't even started fighting now! How can we easily give up our lives! Little Jiraiya…"
"Hahahaha… That's right."
Jiraiya laughed, nodding, a joyful and carefree smile reappearing on his face: "I am the renowned Toad Sage Jiraiya of Mount Myoboku, the white-haired child! How can I lose to a kid like Naruto?"
After speaking, his feet firmly stomped on the rock wall, leaping out of the tunnel entrance, landing on the lake outside!
The next moment, Jiraiya slowly raised his head, watching the enemies waiting for him outside the tunnel, his smile growing even broader: "Hahahahaha… It seems there are quite a few enemies welcoming me!"
Indeed, quite a few.
On the lake surface, stood over a dozen Akatsuki members in their Cloud Black Robes.
Deva Path of Pain also quickly followed out, with Uehara Naraku and Konan flying from the Hidden Rain Village to here.
This lineup.
Involuntarily conjured an inescapable sense of desperation.