"No, I can't die yet!"

"The intelligence is the most important thing!"

The will to survive and his sense of responsibility made him burst forth with one last surge of strength. He suddenly opened his eyes and struggled to raise his head. Jiraiya saw the Animal Path of Pain chasing him, standing on the water and staring at him coldly.

"I must… I must get the information back…"

He used the very last of his chakra, bit his finger, and quickly began to carve onto Sage Fukasaku's back the intelligence he had exchanged his life for—the secrets of the Six Paths of Pain, their abilities, and the fact that there was no "real body" among them.

"Father, take this and get back to Konoha! Quickly!" Sage Shima shouted with the last of her strength.

"Little Jiraiya!" Fukasaku looked at Jiraiya's pale face, now holding a faint, relieved smile, and tears streamed down his own.

"Go! Now!" Jiraiya used his final ounce of strength to push Sage Fukasaku away, and then he sank completely beneath the water's surface.

The Animal Path raised its cold, black receiver rod.

Underwater, Jiraiya's consciousness gradually sank into darkness. He seemed to see the ending of his own story.

"Hehe… it seems my story… is almost over…" he muttered to himself. "As for the sequel… I'll leave that to Minato…"

"The ending of the Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi… seems pretty good…"

The black receiver rod pierced silently into the water, striking its target with deadly accuracy. Blood slowly spread in the cold water. Jiraiya, the Gallant Hero, one of the legendary Sannin, slowly sank to the bottom of the cold water with his final thoughts, his regrets for his students, and his hopes for the future.

Only the extremely precious information that was exchanged for his life, as Sage Fukasaku used the Reverse Summoning Technique to break through the enemy's blockade, rushed quickly to the distant Konoha Village, becoming a spark of hope.

The rain still fell relentlessly, washing over the silent waters, as if playing a sad elegy for a hero's final act.

The Deva Path put his hand into the water and said slowly, "It seems he still has a breath left, but there is no way he can survive."

A Venus flytrap-like plant emerged from the ground at the Deva Path's feet, and White Zetsu emerged from it, smiling. "As expected of Pain. With just a little effort, you defeated Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin."

The Deva Path ignored Zetsu's exaggerated praise and asked in a cold voice, "Where is Orochimaru?"

"Tsk tsk, I knew you would ask that…" As soon as he finished speaking, the huge, plant-like leaves squirmed, and soon, the dying Orochimaru was pushed out of Zetsu's body.

"Of course, I will not let go of traitors to the organization," White Zetsu said, raising his neck proudly. "How are you going to deal with him, Pain?"

"Seal him. Ordinary methods cannot kill him."

The Naraka Path summoned the King of Hell again, and its long tongue shot out, rolling Orochimaru's body directly into its mouth.

"Let's go to the Land of Thunder."

White Zetsu was stunned. "Aren't you going to Konoha?"

The Deva Path shook his head. "With that guy here, Konoha doesn't need my intervention. Hidan and Kakuzu went to Kumogakure to capture the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails. I'm a little worried about them."

As soon as he finished speaking, the figures of the Six Paths of Pain vanished from the spot in an instant.

"He's always in such a hurry. Such a diligent workhorse." White Zetsu grinned and looked toward Konoha in the distance. "I have to join in the fun. Let's go! Tsk tsk tsk…" Accompanied by bursts of laughter, White Zetsu slowly sank into the ground and headed toward Konoha.

Underwater, Jiraiya's broken body sank completely to the bottom of the dark water. His consciousness had disappeared. Suddenly, the water surged, and a swimming figure appeared next to him.

"I won't let you die, Jiraiya!"