Hearing that Rorin wasn't home, Uzumaki Naruto seemed to suddenly remember something and clapped his hands.
"Hey, didn't Rorin say last time that he was going to build a new residence? Could he have gone there?"
Shizune slowly shook her head.
"I already checked there. His new residence isn't finished yet. I also asked the foreman, and he said that since Rorin left the village, they haven't seen him at all."
At that, Uzumaki Naruto lowered his head.
"Alright, let's set Rorin's matter aside for now. I'm sure he'll come back once he's done with whatever he's doing. Right now, what matters is the Five Kage Summit."
Tsunade tapped the table and spoke.
Jiraiya nodded and asked, "Tsunade, do you need me to go with you this time?"
Tsunade shook her head in refusal.
"If I leave the village, it still needs someone to look after it."
Since Tsunade said so, Jiraiya didn't press further. He then glanced at Kakashi beside him, smiling slightly as he thought to himself: Kakashi, huh… yeah, not a bad choice.
Kakashi, noticing Jiraiya's gaze, returned an awkward yet polite smile.
Soon after, Jiraiya draped an arm over Uzumaki Naruto and left the Hokage's office with him.
Kakashi and Nara Shikamaru also took their leave from Tsunade. Nara Shikamaru needed to inform his family and hand over his unfinished work to others temporarily.
Kakashi, on the other hand, was alone and had no missions lately, so he headed by himself to the Hidden Leaf Village Memorial Stone.
Meanwhile, Tsunade continued handling documents, since she would be leaving the village in a few days.
...
After Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto left the Hokage's office, they walked along the street.
Suddenly, Jiraiya caught sight of two familiar figures from behind, his brows furrowing.
"What's going on?"
"Huh? What is it, Pervy Sage?" Uzumaki Naruto turned around and squinted at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya scratched the back of his head, then his expression suddenly turned serious.
"Naruto, I've got something to take care of. I'll head off first."
"Huh?" Uzumaki Naruto tilted his head.
"Hahaha, I'm going to gather some material. Haven't had any inspiration lately, so I need to go find some. You head home on your own." Jiraiya rubbed Uzumaki Naruto's head and laughed loudly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiraiya vanished in a flash and quickly disappeared.
Uzumaki Naruto pouted, then shook his head speechlessly and headed home.
...
Elsewhere, Nagato and Konan arrived at the place where Kisame Hoshigaki was being held.
"This is it. Let's go in," Nagato said.
"Who are you?!" A Hidden Leaf Village ninja guarding the place shouted loudly upon seeing them, alerting the others nearby.
"Why don't you take a little nap first," Nagato said. In a flash, he appeared beside the ninja and struck his abdomen, knocking him unconscious.
Konan also moved, knocking out the surrounding guards one by one.
"Damn it, who are they? Why are they here? This place is holding… could it be… they're from the Akatsuki?!"
"This is urgent—we have to inform Lady Hokage immediately!"
The two Hidden Leaf Village ninja exchanged a glance and were about to leave when Nagato noticed them.
To avoid trouble, Nagato slowly raised his right hand.
Universal Pull!
The two ninjas who were trying to escape were involuntarily pulled toward him.
After cleanly knocking them unconscious, Nagato and Konan exchanged a look and continued deeper inside to find Kisame Hoshigaki.
...
After they left, Jiraiya's figure appeared.
He stepped forward to check the fallen Hidden Leaf Village ninja and, after confirming they were only unconscious and not in danger, let out a sigh of relief.
He followed after them, muttering,
"That should be Nagato and Konan… no mistake. But why are they in the Hidden Leaf Village?"
...
Nagato and Konan finally arrived at the room where Kisame Hoshigaki was being held.
Using the power of the Asura Path, Nagato transformed his arm into a massive chainsaw and cut through the iron door.
Kicking the door down, they found Kisame Hoshigaki bound at the limbs, unconscious on a platform.
In a few swift moves, they removed his shackles. Supporting him between them, Nagato and Konan carried him out.
"Nagato, Konan—it really is you!" Jiraiya appeared in front of them, frowning slightly as he spoke.
Nagato and Konan looked at him, both exclaiming in surprise, "Jiraiya-sensei!"
"Nagato, so you really are the one controlling Pain," Jiraiya said slowly, his gaze fixed on him.
Nagato set down Kisame Hoshigaki's arm and entrusted him to Konan.
"Konan, take Kisame and leave the Hidden Leaf Village first."
"But, Nagato—!"
Nagato waved his hand. "Don't forget our objective. Leave sensei to me."
Konan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Using her Paper Release, she wrapped Kisame Hoshigaki, unfolded paper wings, and flew upward.
Seeing her about to leave, Jiraiya stepped forward to give chase, but Nagato blocked his path.
"Nagato, meeting you this time… you seem a bit different from before," Jiraiya said calmly.
Nagato looked at Jiraiya's severed arm and spoke apologetically,
"Sensei, I'm sorry about what happened last time."
Jiraiya was slightly stunned. For a moment, it felt like he was seeing the gentle Nagato from the past again.
Earlier, when he saw that the village's ninja were merely unconscious, he had already begun to suspect something.
"Have you figured it out, Nagato? Have you let go of your obsession?" Jiraiya asked slowly.
Nagato smiled faintly, then shook his head.
"Back then, my thinking was too shallow."
Hearing this, Jiraiya's gaze softened considerably. Then, thinking of why Nagato had infiltrated the Hidden Leaf Village this time, he asked,
"Then why have you come here?"
"Sensei, I won't give up my pursuit of peace," Nagato replied.
At those words, Jiraiya frowned.
"This time, I'm walking the correct path, sensei. You don't need to worry. And on this path, I need Kisame's help—that's why I came to take him away," Nagato added.
"Then… will you return to the Akatsuki?" Jiraiya asked softly.
Nagato shook his head slowly, his expression sincere.
"Sensei, the true leader of the Akatsuki isn't me, but someone else. I was merely controlled by him before, and combined with what I went through at the time, I ended up on the wrong path."
Jiraiya nodded slowly. "That person is Uchiha Madara, right?"
Nagato paused slightly. "Sensei… you already know?"
Jiraiya nodded faintly.
"We only found out today. We learned it from the memories of Kisame Hoshigaki—the one you just rescued."