His Life Force Was Gone, and His Body Was on the Verge of Collapse

"At most 20 minutes."

Hagoromo didn't forcefully say no.

If Jiraiya doesn't face obstacles, he'll never agree.

Jiraiya was taken aback when he heard the time above Gamaken's head.

"Good."

Without saying another word, he stomped his feet twice on Gamaken's head and shouted:

"Shoot him down!"

Upon hearing this, Gamaken did not hesitate and swung his steel fork in a wide arc towards the strange bird in mid-air.

Call out.

A sonic boom rang out, Nagato, atop the strange bird, frowned. The speed and distance were too great to dodge.

Without hesitation, he stretched out his hands. "Shinra Tensei!"

A tremendous repulsive force erupted, the steel fork paused briefly in mid-air, and then returned at an even faster speed.

Gamaken dodged it with a single leap.

Rumble--

The ground trembled violently from the impact of the enormous steel fork.

Amidst the flying pebbles, Hagoromo raised her hand and used a Lightning Release to knock down the panda charging towards her.

Looking up, I saw Nagato taking advantage of the opportunity to control the strange bird and swoop down.

The strange bird's enormous claws were aimed Jiraiya Gamaken's head.

Jiraiya immediately raised his hands and formed hand seals. "Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"

The white fur instantly hardened and lengthened, wrapping around the entire body like countless steel needles.

He deflected the giant bird's attack directly, and the Gamaken beneath his feet seized the opportunity.

He pulled out the steel fork from the ground, wielded it with great skill, and struck the strange bird's wing hard with the fork.

Howl--!

The strange bird let out a cry, wobbled in mid-air for a moment, and then landed in the nearby forest.

"Walk!"

Jiraiya didn't hesitate and sent Gamaken over.

Meanwhile, Hagoromo, who remained in place, looked around.

That Black Zetsu, is he really that tolerant?

Whether in Konoha or here, Hagoromo barely sensed his presence.

He shook his head, deciding not to think about it anymore. All he could do now was keep an eye on Nagato as much as possible.

At the very least, the Rinnegan cannot be taken away.

In the forest, Jiraiya looked at Nagato not far below and spoke again:

"Nagato, it's not too late to give up now!"

Nagato in a boulder, did not respond, but instead unleashed his Deva Path power with a wave of his hand.

"Banshō Ten'in!"

A powerful suction force instantly acted on Jiraiya and Gamaken.

The rhinoceros, which had just been injured by the Great Flame Bullet, was summoned back into existence.

The sharp horn on its head aimed at the Gamaken that was being pulled in by the suction force, and rammed into it.

"Oops!"

Jiraiya was startled and shouted, "Gamaken! Go back!"

Gamaken silent and immediately dispelled the summoning.

Without the suction provided by Gamaken's physique, Jiraiya faster speed.

In this critical moment, Jiraiya did not strongly resist this suction force.

Instead, he went with the flow, raising his hands and pressing them together just before he was about to get close.

"The Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"

His hair seemed to come alive instantly, tightly wrapping around the rhinoceros's horn. With a flip, he stepped onto its broad back and charged swiftly towards Nagato.

"It's not over yet! Shinra Tensei!"

Nagato raised his hands, completely ignoring the rhinoceros within range, and a terrifying repulsive force erupted.

The summoned beast, along with Jiraiya, slammed violently into the mountainside behind them.

After letting out a mournful cry, the rhinoceros burst into smoke and disappeared from the spot.

"Cough!"

Jiraiya's back slammed heavily against the mountain wall, and he felt a sweet taste in his throat before spitting out a mouthful of blood.

This ability to seamlessly connect attacks is almost enough to render one of the most experienced Sannin powerless against it.

"Did you see that? Jiraiya."

Nagato raised his hands, panting heavily.

Continuously activating his abilities would cause significant damage to his current body.

However, seeing Jiraiya not far away, Nagato felt it was all worth it!

"This—is the power of God!"

"Feel this pain, understand this pain!"

Jiraiya struggled to his feet, the sharp pain in his ribs making him wince as he wiped the blood from his mouth.

My eyes are brighter than ever before.

"I felt it, Nagato... I felt and understood your pain, your loneliness... your despair..."

Jiraiya walked step by step toward Nagato: "But power has never been used in this way."

"Back then, what were you, Yahiko, and Konan thinking when you found me?"

"You've already forgotten."

"You keep talking about peace! But what you're doing now is no different from the murderer who killed Yahiko back then!"

"You are not allowed to mention Yahiko!"

Nagato was thoroughly enraged by Yahiko's mention of Jiraiya and by the comparison between himself and Hanzō.

The ripple-like Rinnegan shimmered with an eerie light, and the Chakra emanating from its body swept outwards like a storm.

"You don't understand anything at all! Ground explosion..."

Puff--!

"Cough cough--!"

Nagato, who was about to unleash Chibaku Tensei Nagato, stopped abruptly, then coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Heh... heh...

Heavy breathing echoed all around.

Raising his trembling hands, Nagato realized that his strength seemed to be disappearing.

Not far away, Jiraiya was shocked to see Nagato.

He shouted, "Nagato!"

Just as he was about to take a step, Nagato opened his mouth wide and roared, "Don't come any closer!"

Snap...

Jiraiya paused, staring at Nagato in astonishment.

Nagato, however, turned his gaze to a more distant place, where a figure was slowly approaching.

"Sawada Hagoromo, you actually left Shadow Clone in Konoha..."

In Nagato's perception, the Naraka Path and the Preta Path directly annihilate people.

In the senses transmitted back, what he saw from his perspective was Hagoromo.

"Ah, after all, those clones of yours are indeed a bit troublesome."

Hagoromo did not deny that daring to come alone meant that she had left a contingency plan in Konoha.

They were there, both at the venue and with the Four-Tails Five-Tails Jinchuriki.

"Ha... I should have dealt with you sooner."

Nagato watched Hagoromo slowly approach, he couldn't help but feel regret.

He would act immediately after the opponent defeated the Eight-Tails for the first time.

Perhaps he wouldn't be like this today.

First, Deva Path Pain Chibaku Tensei directly broke through his defenses, causing a significant decline in his physical functions.

The situation for those in the Naraka Path and the Preta Path has just worsened; things might not have turned out this way before.

But... there are no buts...

Nagato felt a moment of dizziness, and in his daze, it seemed as if Yahiko was standing right in front of him.

Its mouth was open, as if it were saying something.

"Yahiko... you've come..."

Jiraiya stared wide-eyed at Hagoromo: "Hagoromo, what happened to Nagato?"

"His life force has been cut off; his body is on the verge of collapse."