Bab 156: The World Shall (Not) Know Pain!
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As Jiraiya, Konan, and Pain stood overlooking the seemingly peaceful border of Konoha, Konan's voice fluttered through the air, the crisp coolness of it barely disturbing the silence. "Is it really different?" she asked, her azure eyes scanning the familiar yet foreign boundary.
Jiraiya nodded, "They've altered the barriers and wards. Probably because of my defection to Akatsuki. Or perhaps it's due to Itachi-sama as well. He was, after all, an Anbu captain once," he conjectured, his eyes narrowing at the contemplation of these changes. His words hung in the air like a sword of Damocles, a reminder of the treacherous path they were about to tread.
Pain's piercing gaze intensified as he studied the barriers with his rinnegan. An unknown element prickled at his senses, a jigsaw piece that refused to fit into the puzzle. He frowned slightly, the lines etching deeper into his already stern face. "We will just barge in. Jiraiya-sensei, are you ready?" His voice echoed with an unyielding determination, not a question but a confirmation of their impending action.
At this, Jiraiya nodded in acknowledgment, his features hardening into a stoic mask. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate, pulling from the deepest reservoirs of his being. His chakra stirred, amassing into a potent force that hummed with raw power.
Nature Chakra started to flow within him, converging and merging with his own in a harmonious fusion. The transformation was almost immediate, a transformation he had not been able to achieve so effortlessly before his alignment with Akatsuki. His previous struggles seemed almost laughable in the face of his current prowess.
In the past, the balance between his chakra and nature energy was a precarious one, the potential for petrification always looming ominously. But now, with the addition of Orochimaru's DNA obtained from Jugo, he found an uncanny affinity to Nature Chakra. His Senjutsu mode, which he once had to negotiate with the reluctant assistance of the stubborn mountain toads, was now available at his beck and call.
Standing tall and mighty, Jiraiya opened his eyes, which now glowed with an ethereal luminescence. His body was sheathed in a soft, pulsating aura that made him seem even more formidable. It was a sight that spoke volumes of his mastery over Senjutsu, a feat he accomplished through rigorous practice and sheer talent. "Ready," he announced, his voice resonating with a firm certainty.
Pain summoned the rest of his Paths, and the bulky Deva Path heaved the lithe Fuma-Clan Shinobi high into the air with a powerful throw. The airborne shinobi hurtled towards the barrier surrounding Konoha, a silver streak shooting through the twilit sky. His momentum was unfaltering, his trajectory unwavering, and with an audible crackle, he penetrated the barrier.
He hit the ground with grace and force, his body rolling across the tiled roof of one of Konoha's many buildings. As he slapped the ground to summon the rest of his Paths, Pain felt a subtle shift in the air, a faint ripple of chakra that made his stomach knot with unease. But it was too late to counter. In a blink, he found himself standing with the rest of Akatsuki in an unfamiliar dark room, completely enclosed by what seemed to be powerful seals. A single light source was shining from above, casting a stark spotlight on the figure seated upon a throne-like chair.
Six clones of Pain, Konan, and Jiraiya found themselves under the piercing gaze of a single light source. It hung suspended in the air, illuminating a throne-like chair and the individual perched atop it. Koushin sat there, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, his blonde hair shimmering in the glow. The light refracted in his violet eyes, the glow catching the edges of his pupils, enhancing the palpable arrogance that clung to him.
"Welcome, Akatsuki. I was waiting for you," he drawled, his voice echoing in the austere confines of the room. His words curled into a sneer, the mockery of it reverberating against the stone walls.
"Koushin!" Jiraiya's voice echoed, a wave of anger crashing through him. This insolent brat was the epicenter of his ongoing struggles.
His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white as the anger coursed through his veins. The glow of his eyes intensified, the energy from his Senjutsu mode pulsating in a steady rhythm that matched his heart rate.
"The traitor, the sick, and the beauty," Koushin started, his violet eyes twinkling with mischief as he looked at the three intruders. His gaze lingered on Konan before shifting back to Jiraiya. He wore an impish smile that was all too knowing. "Walked right into a trap."
Pain stood there unmoved, his rinnegan taking in the scenario without a trace of surprise or fear. "This was a neat trick." His voice was as monotone as ever, showing no sign of being affected by their predicament.
Koushin chuckled, leaning back in his chair, "Thank you, Nagato-san. I aim to please." The usage of Pain's real name stirred a collective gasp from the Akatsuki members. Their eyes widened, and their mouths parted, their expressions reflecting an unexpected shock.
"How do you know that?" Konan demanded, her azure eyes glowing with a fierce fire. Her voice came out in a harsh whisper, bristling with a quiet fury.
Koushin merely shrugged, his grin never wavering. "I just do."
Then it was Jiraiya's turn to voice his disdain, "This was Minato's technique, but you altered it to such a degree... how did you do it?" His eyes bore into Koushin, seeking answers to the puzzle at hand.
Koushin merely threw his head back and laughed, "Do I look like a simple-minded anime protagonist who would reveal all his secrets?" His eyes danced with amusement as he teased them, playing the part of the wily trickster with finesse.
Jiraiya, the master of seals, saw through the facade, his mind already deciphering the altered technique. "Like Minato, you marked him," he pointed towards the Deva Path, his brows furrowed in concentration, "Then, instead of teleporting him, when he used his summoning jutsu, he was transferred here."
At this, Koushin began clapping slowly, his smirk evolving into a genuine smile. "That's indeed almost the truth. Not bad, Jiraiya. For a traitor, you sure know your stuff.
The atmosphere in the room crackled with tension as the insult found its mark. Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, the ethereal glow around him flaring up momentarily. Yet, he held his anger in check, the stoic mask firmly back in place. Koushin's words, wrapped in a veneer of playful banter, had been cleverly crafted to sting.
"I am not a traitor, Koushin," Jiraiya declared, his gaze as steadfast as his conviction. "Itachi-sama showed me the light, the truth. How rotten the Shinobi world, the system is. I have been enlightened. I have been freed." The sincerity that resonated in his voice was potent, a clear testament to the profound impact of the Kotoamatsukami.
Koushin tilted his head slightly, regarding the sage with a faint glimmer of amusement. "Enlightened? Freed? Now that's quite a way to frame treason, Jiraiya-sensei." His tone was laced with irony, a hint of mockery dancing in his violet eyes.
"Enlightenment comes in different shades, Koushin," Jiraiya retorted, "and it seems you're still enveloped in darkness."
Koushin chuckled at the retort, his amusement evident. "Poetic, Jiraiya, very poetic."
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