Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 156: As Expected of Jiraiya-sensei…

These days...

What kind of enemy required such a massive operation?

Unless they were trying to take down another village's Kage or an even stronger Jinchuriki!

No...

Maybe...

They were trying to eliminate Orochimaru?

But before Jiraiya could think too much about it, he immediately sprang into action, rushing toward the battlefield—

Where the fight between Hiruzen Sarutobi, Rasa, and Pain had already begun!

Sarutobi removed his hat and cast off his ceremonial robe, revealing the sturdy armor beneath. Gone was his usual warmth—his voice carried nothing but the raw intensity of battle.

"For someone of your stature to come to Konoha..."

Sarutobi crouched low like a battle-ready ape, his sharp gaze locked onto the gas mask of the man before him.

"And for me, as the host, to fail to greet you personally... what a grave oversight on my part."

"..."

Pain lifted his head slightly.

He didn't deny his identity.

It was as if he already knew they had uncovered his true nature. His voice, however, remained as cold and emotionless as ever.

"It seems...

You already know.

This place was a trap set for me..."

"That's right."

Rasa spoke with a hint of amusement, clearly pleased with himself—whether it was for successfully collaborating with Sarutobi or for correctly deducing Pain's identity.

"No secret in this world can remain hidden forever."

Rasa's smile was brimming with confidence as his gaze lingered on Pain's gas mask.

"No matter how enigmatic you may be, no matter how many secrets you keep... As long as you exist in this world, you will eventually be exposed."

"..."

Pain silently observed the two Kage.

Although...

It was inevitable that he would be exposed someday...

He hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

Even if he wanted to retreat now with Konan and his true body, Nagato, it was clear that Konoha and Sunagakure had already anticipated this.

Escape would not be easy.

That meant—

This battle was unavoidable.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Sarutobi immediately recognized Pain's movements. His hands flew through a series of seals, and he spewed a massive fireball infused with his chakra!

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Rasa's seals were just as fast. A powerful gust of wind erupted from his mouth, fueling Sarutobi's flames!

In an instant—

The battle exploded into full force!

The combined wind and fire jutsu surged toward Pain like a raging inferno!

"What's going on?!"

The surrounding shinobi were stunned.

What the hell was happening?

One moment, they were focused on the chaos—

And the next, they saw two Kage attacking an Ame ninja—together!

But before they could even process it, the devastating blaze that was about to engulf Pain—

Vanished.

Pain had merely raised a hand, and in an instant, the combined jutsu of two Kage dissipated into nothingness!

"!!!"

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed.

This...

Seemed familiar.

"Old man..."

Jiraiya kept his gaze fixed on Pain's gas mask and urgently asked,

"What's going on? Who the hell is he?"

"Capture him first!"

Sarutobi knew the threat Akatsuki posed.

And he knew just how dangerous a man who could command S-rank rogues like Akatsuki's leader had to be.

For someone to effortlessly neutralize the jutsu of two Kage—

That alone was terrifying.

Moreover...

They needed him alive for interrogation.

As Sarutobi spoke, his eyes sharpened, still fixed on Pain's mask.

"I just learned this information from the Kazekage...

The Akatsuki's leader has infiltrated Konoha."

"!!!"

Jiraiya's expression immediately hardened.

There was no time to hesitate—

If this was truly Akatsuki's leader...

Then he could hold the answers to all of Konoha's S-rank rogue ninja!

"Heh..."

Rasa chuckled as he glanced at Sarutobi and Jiraiya, now his battlefield allies.

"Interesting."

More interesting was—

Tsunade had noticed the commotion.

CRACK!

Under her fist, the stadium floor shattered like an eggshell!

With a single punch, she had crushed the One-Tail into the ground.

After ensuring Gaara was knocked unconscious, she wasted no time rushing toward Sarutobi's side.

"What's the situation?"

Tsunade landed beside Sarutobi, immediately assuming her combat position.

But something felt... off.

She glanced at their formation—

Then at Rasa's position—

And frowned.

Wait.

Why was the Kazekage standing where Orochimaru should be?!

Or rather...

Was this really the Kazekage of Sunagakure?

He found the optimal battle position way too quickly!

Damn it...

This guy had insane battlefield intuition.

If they were to analyze it, the four of them—

All Kage-level combatants—

Had naturally arranged themselves in a formation that perfectly complemented each other's attacks.

Moreover—

This kind of formation...

Ensured that even if one of them fell, the enemy wouldn't escape.

But...

Before they could execute their strategy—

Pain broke out of their encirclement in an instant!

"Shinra Tensei."

As the four shinobi charged, Pain suddenly raised his hand—

A powerful repulsive force erupted from his palm!

In a split second—

All four of them were blasted backward, coughing up blood!

But their injuries were secondary—

What truly shook them was...

That technique!

That power...

Jiraiya immediately recognized it.

"This is..."

"The Rinnegan!"

A memory flashed through Jiraiya's mind—

The battle against Shigen.

The moment he had been completely overwhelmed.

His gaze instinctively darted toward where Shigen stood, still watching from afar.

A strange realization struck him.

Another Rinnegan...

Why the hell am I always running into Rinnegan users?!

First, his deceased disciple, Nagato...

Then, the legendary Shigen from the ancient past...

And now, this man.

Jiraiya realized—

He had encountered the Rinnegan three times in his life.

The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths...

Were they really that common?!

But there was no time to think—

He had to act now.

The five-second interval!

Jiraiya knew from experience that Shinra Tensei had a cooldown period.

The instant his feet touched the ground, he formed hand seals at top speed—

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

As someone who had fought the Rinnegan before, Jiraiya knew—

Ninjutsu was useless against it.

The Rinnegan user could simply absorb chakra.

However—

Something was off.

Pain didn't absorb it.

In fact—

Pain seemed caught off guard.

As if he hadn't expected Jiraiya to counterattack so quickly.

Shinra Tensei had a five-second cooldown...

And Jiraiya had exploited it immediately!

Pain barely had time to dodge—

The flames scorched the edge of his body!

His gas mask...

Was burned away.

Pain tore off the smoldering mask and dropped it to the ground.

There was no point in hiding anymore.

His gaze lifted to meet Jiraiya's.

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A rare flicker of admiration crossed his face.

"As expected of...

Jiraiya-sensei."

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