Nagato arrived just as Naruto broke through the barrier. Without a word, he used Banshō Ten'in to draw the Chakra Crystal toward him. Naruto refused to let someone snatch away the crystal he had nearly claimed. Spotting Nagato in the air, he hurled a kunai at him. Nagato tilted his head to dodge, but Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind him instantly. With a kunai in his left hand, he formed a Rasengan in his right and thrust it at Nagato.
Nagato had no choice but to use Shinra Tensei to repel Naruto, and the Chakra Crystal fell to the ground. Sasuke was about to retrieve it when a paper shuriken stopped him. Several explosive tags also flew toward Hinata and Jiraiya, forcing them to retreat for the moment to avoid the blasts.
After landing, Naruto quickly regrouped with Sasuke and the others. Nagato and Konan descended from the air as well. Both sides stared intently at each other, with the Chakra Crystal lying between them.
Jiraiya was stunned to see Nagato and Konan. "Nagato, Konan, why are you two here?" He had every reason to be surprised. According to their intelligence, the Akatsuki had sent only four people this time. Two had already retreated, so only Obito Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki should have entered. Why was Nagato here too?
Damn it, Kakashi, Jiraiya thought. At the thought of Kakashi, he could not help asking, "Nagato, Konan, if you're both here, does that mean Kakashi has already died at your hands?"
Nagato looked at Jiraiya and replied, "Kakashi Hatake? No. Konan and I haven't done anything to him. I came here solely for that Chakra Crystal. Master Jiraiya, hand it over to me."
Hearing that Nagato had not attacked Kakashi, Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief.