Chapter 268: Jiraiya: Long Time No See, Konan
Menma and Jiraiya’s conversation lasted quite a while, covering topics far and wide, from the flavor differences in ramen across various countries to strange tales, even discussing the folk customs of certain small nations.
Jiraiya seemed carefree and unrestrained, but in reality, every word was carefully probing, trying to catch any clues from this mysterious boy’s speech.
Menma responded with ease, his words witty and insights unique, as if he were truly just a well-traveled food enthusiast.
Konan sat silently to the side, taking small bites of that bowl of ordinary-tasting instant ramen.
She watched as the two went from strangers to chatting amiably, the atmosphere warm like old friends who had known each other for years, and she felt something was off.
This guy had a maturity beyond his years, and that white-haired uncle, though he looked lecherous and unkempt, clearly no good person.
She couldn’t understand their conversation, only instinctively sensing something unusual.
Finally, the bowl was empty.
Menma set down his chopsticks, sighing contentedly: “Thanks for the meal, boss. The taste is ordinary, but eating a hot bowl of noodles on a rainy night like this is still a treat.”
Menma placed several crumpled Land of Rain banknotes on the counter.
The money was enough to pay for two bowls with some left over.
Jiraiya immediately switched to that sleazy shopkeeper smile, took the money, but his gaze lingered on Menma: “Glad the customer is satisfied! You two look young, out so late—be careful and stay safe.”
“Save that advice for yourself. I can tell you’re not a local either, shop manager.” Menma replied with a smile.
Jiraiya’s heart grew more uneasy: ‘This guy… has he already seen through my disguise?’
Konan quickly set down her chopsticks and obediently followed behind Menma, her small figure appearing somewhat frail in the dimly lit space.
Just as the two were about to step out of this ramen shop disguised as a toad, Jiraiya couldn’t hold back and called out loudly to Menma’s back: “Hey, kid! We’ve chatted so long, still don’t know your name?”
Menma paused at the door, the sound of rain clearly coming from the gap outside.
He didn’t turn around, just tilted his face, a curve forming at his lips, his voice clearly piercing through the rain curtain:
“I’m called Ichiraku, just a passing foodie.”
Konan blinked her big eyes. Though she knew the name was surely fake, out of politeness she softly added: “I-I’m Konan.”
As the words fell, Menma had already pushed open the shop door, merging into the endless rain curtain outside with Konan.
Inside the shop, the smile on Jiraiya’s face instantly froze.
“Ichiraku…?” Jiraiya watched their backs disappear beyond the door, then helplessly shook his head: “What a perfunctory fake name. Mentioning Konoha and Ichiraku Ramen over and over—this kid’s doing it on purpose!”
He immediately realized the other had not only seen through his disguise but used this way to point out his knowledge of Konoha—a silent mockery.
Yet, from start to finish, the other showed no hostility, which only puzzled him more.
He could feel that the boy calling himself “Ichiraku” had an indescribable sense of familiarity.
But this feeling of being completely seen through while knowing nothing about the other made even this experienced Sannin feel a trace of unease.
At that moment, Gamaken’s voice, heavy with gravity and suspicion, rang out in the ramen shop: “Jiraiya! That kid who just left—something’s definitely off with him!”
“Hm? What’s wrong?” Jiraiya composed himself, eyebrow raised.
“His aura… extremely, extremely dangerous!” Gamaken’s voice carried a faint tremble: “Though he concealed it well, in the instant he set down the money and his attention slightly dispersed, I still sensed a leak of dangerous aura…”
“Cold, brutal, full of destructiveness—like… like facing a Tails!”
“Even more chilling than a normal Tails!”
“Tails?!” Jiraiya was first stunned, then laughed: “Gamaken, are you too tense? That kid looks so young—how could he be a Tails? Or some ninja village’s jinchūriki wandering around…”
His laughter abruptly stopped, his face changing as he recalled the top-secret intel recently passed via Mount Myōboku’s communication toads from Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After Cloud Village suffered heavy losses from “Shura’s” raid, they aggressively came to question Konoha, insisting that “Shura” was the Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
At the time, all Konoha high-level officials, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, thought it was Cloud Village making baseless accusations, trying to frame Konoha—after all, the Nine-Tails was clearly sealed inside Naruto, an indisputable fact.
But… what if Gamaken’s perception was right?
That boy emitting an aura comparable to a Tails…
Cloud Village’s accusations… rumors of that mysterious ruler “Shura” in the Land of Stars… the blue-eyed boy unusually familiar with various countries’ customs, especially Konoha and Ichiraku Ramen…
Countless clues suddenly connected in that moment, forming a guess that made Jiraiya’s heart stop!
“Could it be… that kid just now… is ‘Shura’ himself?!” He whispered in shock, pupils contracting slightly: “But… why would Shura come to Rain Village? And with a frail-looking Rain Village genin girl by his side?”
It couldn’t be… to pick up girls, right?!
A massive sense of absurdity and deeper doubt surged in his mind.
He immediately suppressed the thought.
Impossible—the other’s behavior seemed casual.
This figure stirring up the ninja world, headache for all great nations, sneaking into Rain Village from afar must have a more important purpose.
Before Jiraiya could sort his chaotic thoughts, the ramen shop door was pushed open again, the wind chime on the eaves ringing crisply.
Two ninjas in standard Rain Village ninja uniforms, cloaked in soaked straw raincoats, walked in. As they hung their dripping raincoats on the rack by the door, they shouted casually: “Boss, got anything good? This damn weather’s got me starving!”
Jiraiya’s eyes sharpened instantly, temporarily suppressing his guesses about “Shura.”
He piled on that overly enthusiastic smile again, as if the earlier shock never happened.
“Oh oh! Welcome!” He rubbed his hands, stepping out from behind the counter, tone oddly eerie: “Today… I especially recommend our shop’s ‘Interrogation Special’! Guaranteed to leave you… with memories for life!”
The two Rain ninjas were stunned, not yet grasping the weird dish name, when the “shopkeeper” before them suddenly formed hand seals!
“Release!”
Bang!
A puff of white smoke flashed, and the mundane shopkeeper appearance vanished, replaced by wild white hair and a red haori-clad hero.
Jiraiya!
“You… you’re?!” The two Rain ninjas’ pupils shrank, instantly recognizing this infamous face in the ninja world, terror crawling over their faces.
They instinctively turned to flee, but found the ramen shop door inexplicably tightly shut—no matter how hard they pushed, it wouldn’t budge!
“Easy to come in, hard to get out.” Jiraiya’s voice carried a teasing note.
The next moment, the entire ramen shop interior began twisting and deforming violently!
Warm lights extinguished, wooden walls and tables writhing like living things, swiftly turning into nauseating pink flesh walls covered in mucus and folds!
A strong acidic rotten smell spread, the floor beneath softening with adhesive grip.
“This… what’s this?!”
“Mon… monster!”
The two Rain ninjas screamed in terror, limbs sinking like in quicksand, tightly adsorbed and wrapped by the writhing flesh walls. No matter how they struggled, they sank deeper.
They seemed trapped inside some massive creature’s digestive organ, despairing fear overwhelming them.
This was Gamaken’s interior—the Toad Esophagus!
…
Meanwhile, not far outside the ramen shop, on a higher elevated abandoned pipe platform.
Menma held his oil-paper umbrella, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Konan, quietly watching the alley below.
In Konan’s surprised gaze, the seemingly ordinary ramen shop they’d just left deformed and shrank like a burst bubble, revealing its true form.
A massive, oddly shaped emerald-green toad.
The toad gradually shrank, glanced around left and right, then kicked off with its hind legs, leaping forward with a “plop” into the rushing river, splashing water everywhere before vanishing in an instant.
“Th-that… ramen shop just now… was… a summoned beast in disguise?” Konan covered her mouth, eyes full of disbelief.
Though only a genin, she knew a summoned beast that could disguise so realistically—even simulating food aroma and steam—was no ordinary thing.
Who exactly was that white-haired uncle?
“Mm.” Menma responded faintly, but his gaze didn’t follow the departing toad. Instead, it casually swept over shadows in a nearby alley and the top of a distant iron tower.
In his Kagura Shingan perception, two familiar chakras flickered faintly.
Zetsu lurking like mold in the street corner underground, and Konan standing lightly like a paper crane high above—their attention clearly on the toad submerging in the water and Jiraiya inside it.
“Next, Rain Village won’t stay peaceful.” Menma withdrew his gaze, looking at Konan still in shock beside him, tone calm with a faint warning.
“Protect yourself. If you face danger you can’t handle, go to the room I rented, find my shadow clone.”
Konan tensed upon hearing this.
She caught the clear parting intent in Menma’s words.
He was leaving, to handle his real “business” in Rain Village.
An inexplicable loss and attachment surged in her heart. Though they’d known each other briefly, though this boy was mysterious and dangerous, the ramen he bought her, the umbrella he handed her, the occasional gentleness mismatched with his great strength—all gave her a strange sense of security.
“I… still don’t know your name?” Konan looked up, rain wetting her purple short hair, her bun disheveled. She mustered courage, staring straight into Menma’s eyes, overly blue even in the rain curtain.
“‘Ichiraku’ was to fool him, right?”
Menma saw the pure worry and stubborn questioning in her eyes, a mild smile appearing on his face.
“Yeah, to fool him.” He nodded, voice clearly piercing the pattering rain: “I’m Menma, Uzumaki Menma.”
With that, he gently placed the umbrella that seemed to repel rain into Konan’s hands.
Then, before she could react, his figure blurred like ink dropped in water and vanished completely from her sight, leaving no trace.
Only the still-dry umbrella in her hand, with lingering warmth, proved his earlier existence.
“Uzumaki… Menma…” Konan stood dazed in place, repeating the name, feeling the umbrella handle’s touch, her heart a mix of emotions.
She glanced toward where Menma had vanished, gripped the umbrella tighter, turned, and quickly left this place about to become a hotbed of trouble.
…
Inside the Toad Esophagus.
Jiraiya looked at the two Rain ninjas tightly bound by flesh walls, faces etched with extreme terror—no more of his usual grin, only the cold resolve of an elite ninja.
“Tell me, a few years ago, what exactly happened between Hanzo of the Salamander and Akatsuki? Spill everything you know.” His voice echoed in the sealed esophagus, carrying oppressive force.
Under the effects of Gamaken’s secreted mucus—with hallucinogenic and will-weakening properties—and facing Jiraiya’s powerful Sannin aura, the two Rain ninjas’ mental defenses crumbled swiftly.
One chūnin had participated in the encirclement of Akatsuki back then, confessing known intel in bits and pieces.
A few years ago, Hanzo of the Salamander allied with Konoha ninjas, set an ambush, feigned peace talks, luring in Akatsuki leader Yahiko and core members whose reputation was rising in the Land of Rain.
In that ambush, Yahiko died saving companions, Akatsuki suffered heavy casualties…
But just as Hanzo thought victory assured, the red-haired boy in Akatsuki suddenly unleashed unimaginable terrifying power, summoning a massive, demon-god-like puppet that severely wounded the joint Rain and Konoha forces…
Since then, Lord Hanzo became reclusive, no longer leaving the central tower, ruling only through ninjas.
And hypersensitive to any “Akatsuki” whispers—dispatching heavy troops to exterminate upon discovery.
Yet strangely, years later, Rain Village still couldn’t find Akatsuki remnants’ exact tracks—they’d vanished like into thin air…
Hearing the Rain ninjas’ confessions, Jiraiya’s face grew heavier.
‘Konoha ninjas… could it be Danzō!’
Jiraiya was almost certain it was that guy Danzō.
Teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi might not have known, or known too late to stop it.
Yahiko… that once clear-eyed, ideal-filled orange-haired boy determined to change the Land of Rain, dead in this filthy political conspiracy and betrayal?
And Nagato, that introverted yet kind child with legendary Rinnegan, the power he unleashed… Rinnegan power?
What had he gone through to become like this?
Intense guilt and anger surged in Jiraiya’s heart.
If he’d paid more attention to these three disciples’ situations, would the outcome have differed?
He took a deep breath, suppressing churning emotions, formed hand seals.
“Ninja Art: Toad Flat Shadow Manipulation!”
His body flattened like a shadow, silently merging into one Rain ninja’s shadow like a persistent parasite, fully controlling the body.
Then, Gamaken opened its mouth, spitting out the controlled Rain ninja and the other corpse.
The Jiraiya-controlled Rain ninja shuffled back into Rain Village’s damp, dim alleys like a walking corpse, stiff-legged.
Gamaken swiftly shrank, submerging back into the river bottom to hide.
The controlled Rain ninja walked stiffly through Rain Village’s dim alleys, trying to blend in, heading to Hanzo’s tower area for more intel.
Rain fell harder, visibility low, only monotonous rain on metal sounds around.
Yet, not fifty meters out, change struck suddenly!
Countless white, razor-edged paper sheets, swirled by invisible winds, silently fell from the sky, instantly covering the Rain ninja’s body!
The paper seemed alive, tightening and wrapping him like a white mummy, immobilizing him.
Meanwhile, more paper converged, folded, shaped ahead—not far—into Konan’s cold figure.
She hovered mid-air, white paper wings slowly fanning behind, rain unable to touch her.
Expressionless, eyes icy on the bound Rain ninja, she gripped a sharp paper spear—highly compressed paper sheets gleaming coldly.
No warning, no hesitation—Konan swung her arm, paper spear like white lightning with shrill air-breaking sound, stabbing straight at the wrapped Rain ninja’s heart!
In this critical moment!
Jiraiya’s true body emerged from the shadow, hand seals, spewing a blazing fireball.
“Fire Style: Flame Bullet!”
Boom!
Blazing fireball collided fiercely with the incoming paper spear, exploding in massive roar and shockwave!
Flames and scattering burning paper bits flew, scorching the damp air into slight distortion.
Paper spear destroyed in flames, Flame Bullet’s aftershock forcing Konan to maneuver paper wings backward to stabilize.
The now uncontrolled Rain ninja, at the instant paper spear was blocked, had throat sliced by follow-up razor-edged paper—blood gushing, no scream escaped as he crumpled lifeless into mud.
Jiraiya’s figure separated from the shadow, landing steadily.
Looking at airborne Konan, he forced a complex smile tinged with sentiment.
“Yo, Konan, long time no see.” He tried light tone to break heavy atmosphere: “Heard from Rain ninjas Hanzo ambushed Akatsuki, Yahiko died—pretty worried about you all. Didn’t expect to meet so soon… you’ve grown, more womanly now.”
Konan stared silently, pale purple eyes calm—no reunion joy, no enemy hatred, just bottomless cold indifference.
Flying paper swirled around her like loyal guards.
Jiraiya, seeing no reply, continued: tone turning serious: “Your techniques are sharper now. So, Yahiko death rumor must be fake? He’s hiding like you, pulling strings?”
He stared intently at Konan’s eyes, seeking flaws.
Konan finally spoke, voice cold as endless chill rain: “This has nothing to do with you anymore, Teacher.”
She emphasized “Teacher.”
“Nothing to do?” Jiraiya shook head: “Heard current Akatsuki recruits tons of S-rank rogue ninjas, hired by countries, stirring trouble everywhere, even country-destruction ops.”
“Even Konoha’s S-rank rogue ninja Uchiha Itachi, who massacred his clan, joined you. Konan, is this what you want? I remember Yahiko’s original goal: end war, bring peace to Land of Rain—not shelter these dangerous guys, bringing chaos and fear to whole ninja world!”
His voice held pain and confusion—he couldn’t fathom why those three once pure kind kids took this divergent path.
Konan’s expression unchanged, Jiraiya’s words like breeze past.
She looked at him, eyes vacant, slowly: “Now that it’s come to this, you showing up here asking these… what’s the point?”
Her tone carried resolute severance from past, and indescribable fatigue.
…
While Konan and Jiraiya confronted in the alley.
Rain Village center, atop the tallest iron tower overlooking the village.
Deva Path stood quietly in cold rain, Rinnegan indifferently watching distant conflict alley, as if piercing rain and buildings to see all.
Ground beside wriggled, Zetsu’s black-white figure emerged plant-like.
“Leader, Jiraiya and Konan have clashed.” White Zetsu half reported lightly: “Looks like it’ll get noisy soon. Need you to handle personally? Or… call back ‘Madara’?”
Black Zetsu half silent, awaiting Pain’s decision.
Deva Path silent moment, Rinnegan emotionless.
Slowly turned head, gaze to village’s other end—most heavily guarded central tower symbolizing Hanzo of the Salamander’s authority.
“No need.” He spoke coldly, voice flat: “Send the new ‘Animal Path’.”
Pain’s Rinnegan flashed cold calculation: “Noise… the bigger, the better. That old turtle-like Hanzo hiding years won’t stay idle.”
“Understood.” Zetsu replied, body sinking into ground, vanishing.
Deep in Akatsuki’s underground secret base in Rain Village, a dimly lit room with several cylindrical cultivation pods.
One pod’s door hissed with pressure release, sliding up slowly, pale green nutrient solution flowing out.
A figure stepped slowly from within.
Eyes vacant, but soon, eerie purple Rinnegan glow with ripple rings lit from depths.
Rinnegan light.
This new death-scented Animal Path Pain stiffly turned neck, adapting to new body, then strode toward base exit.
…
Meanwhile, Rain Village central tower, Hanzo of the Salamander’s residence.
Unlike external cold hard steel forest, tower interior traditional, typical Japanese style.
Polished wooden floors, sliding doors with ukiyo-e, faint incense scent in air.
Over ten sharp-aura Rain Village Anbu ninjas guarded key spots and shadows like statues, ensuring absolute security.
Hanzo, once ninja world-famous “Demigod,” now aged and gloomy.
Still wore gas mask, but exposed eyes lacked former sharpness—full of fatigue, suspicion, deep dread.
He knelt at low table, hearing subordinate report on prior minor rebellion and suppression.
“…Just a few ineffective chūnin, executed on-site by Anbu.” Subordinate knelt reporting.
Numb to such “minor troubles,” he just waved hand.
Truly unsettling him: that ghost-like organization vanished years yet like Damocles’ sword overhead—Akatsuki!
And those eyes… belonging to legendary Sage of Six Paths!
“Any leads on ‘Akatsuki’…?” Hanzo’s voice muffled hoarse through mask.
“Subordinate incompetent! Searched years, no trace of core members…” Subordinate bowed head fearfully.
At that moment!
Boom——！！！
A thunderous yet clear massive explosion roared from village north, near coastal area!
Even from afar, deep in tower, Hanzo felt faint ground tremor!
Teacup water rippled in circles.
Hanzo’s murky eyes snapped open, sharp glint flashing!
He furrowed brows—this explosion’s scale far beyond prior petty rebellions!
“What’s going on?!” He demanded gruffly, voice edged with irritation at disturbance.
Room’s Rain ninjas and Anbu knelt single-knee, trembling.
Soon, animal-masked Anbu flickered to door, knelt: “Lord Hanzo! Massive explosion in northern coastal urban area! Preliminary: huge scale, destruction over two street blocks! Cause unknown, not typical rogue ninja rebellion!”
（PS: Based on Jiraiya’s corpse sinking into sea post-death, and Grass Country’s seaside prison ‘Ghost Lantern City’ near Kusanagi Village yet surrounded by sea, infer a strait between Grass Country, Rain Country, and Land of Earth.）
Hanzo’s fingers unconsciously tapped table, thudding rhythm.
Eyes shifting, finally ruthless glint.
“Send people to investigate immediately!” Hanzo ordered sharply.
Voice faintly trembling, sternly: “Find out exactly who’s behind it! I want every detail!”
“Yes!” Anbu acknowledged, vanishing swiftly.
Soon, twelve shadows shot silently from central tower’s various points like blood-scent hounds, racing to northern explosion site.
Tower top, Deva Path watched all, cold Rinnegan finally rippling faintly.
Rain continued falling.
【PS: Last day—any monthly votes left to spare? Bowl-tapping.jpg】
