Susanoo: Third Stage!

Hearing Sasori's angry roar, everyone in the Akatsuki except Itachi instantly turned pale.

Kou remained calm and composed, as if Scorpion's incisive revelation was nothing more than a trivial breeze passing by.

Behind him, Jiraiya had already led the Konoha Anbu to Koko's side.

Nagato looked down at Jiraiya, who had walked to Koto's side, and a ripple of emotion stirred within him.

This scene was all too familiar to him.

Once upon a time, he too stood beside Jiraiya- Teacher, just like Kokoro, alongside Yahiko and Konan, on that land soaked by war and rain, gazing up at the sky they had once believed would one day bring clear skies...

Just as Nagato was about to forcefully suppress this inappropriate emotion and regain the cold expression that belonged to Pain, an urgent shout came from below without warning.

"Nagato, Konan!!"

On the arena, Jiraiya shouted urgently to the two on the platform:

"Stop it now! Before things escalate into disaster, it's not too late to turn back!!"

Hearing Jiraiya's resounding call that echoed throughout the entire arena, Konan and Pain were both startled at the same time.

The Akatsuki members, who were still reeling from the huge shock of Kou's betrayal and hadn't fully recovered, all froze for a moment after hearing Jiraiya's shout, which contained a wealth of information.

"... Nagato, who is that? Is there anyone like that in our organization?"

Hidan muttered blankly to himself, then turned to Kakuzu, who had a strange Kakuzu, and asked him a question.

"Idiot, that's clearly calling the leader by his real name!"

Kakuzu glanced disdainfully at the fool, then, gazing at Pain's silent back, murmured meaningfully:

"It seems our unassuming leader has quite a connection with the Fifth Hokage of Konoha..."

The Akatsuki members fell silent, tacitly observing the orange-haired figure who never turned around.

"... You're still so naive, Jiraiya- Teacher."

Nagato completely ignored the shocked reactions of the Akatsuki members behind him, looked down at Jiraiya, and said in a deep voice:

"Now that you know my identity, you should also know, to some extent, what happened to us after you left."

Jiraiya opened his mouth, looked at Nagato who bore Yahiko's face, then glanced at Konan beside him, whose expression was somber, and lowered his head in shame.

"Ah, I know... I know everything that happened to you."

"Now that you already know, are you still going to try to persuade us to stop?"

At this moment, a hint of genuine emotion seemed to finally seep into Pain's usually indifferent tone:

"Now that you know Yahiko's fate, can you still cling to your naive ideas from back then?!"

"You're wrong, Jiraiya- Teacher. Mutual understanding between people can never bring peace!"

Only pain can bring peace to this world!

Only when everyone in the Ninja World personally experiences the pain of war will people genuinely resist and fear it, thus truly preventing those tragedies from repeating themselves!

"Nagato..."

Jiraiya looked at the furious Nagato before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Nagato took a deep breath, suppressing the surging excitement within her.

When he opened his eyes again, the calm and indifference that belonged to Pain had returned.

"Facts have already proven that the path I am taking now is the right one."

Jiraiya - Teacher, out of consideration for our past relationship, I will not intentionally hurt you, nor do I wish to hurt you.

But if you insist on standing against me and stopping our plans, then I will show no mercy!

For the ultimate arrival of peace, even if the enemy we face is you—me, we will not hesitate in the slightest.

Konan glanced at Nagato, whose attitude was resolute, and then at Jiraiya, whose expression showed reluctance. The sorrow on her usually cold face deepened.

Jiraiya felt Pain's resolute gaze and looked at Konan's slender figure standing silently beside Pain, he felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out.

"But your plan was pre-arranged from the very beginning!"

You were all manipulated by that man who called himself Uchiha Madara!!

He used you to collect the Tailed Beast for him, not to achieve the peace you desire. His true purpose is—"

"... Let's stop here, Jiraiya- Teacher."

Nagato spoke indifferently, interrupting Jiraiya before he could finish speaking:

"That man had ulterior motives towards us, and I've always known that."

I have never truly and completely trusted him.

That man was indeed using us, but I was using him too.

Although we don't yet know his ultimate goal, at least we can use those captured Tailed Beast to intimidate the nations of the Ninja World.

Thus, we can achieve our ideal of peace in the fastest and most effective way.

As he spoke, Nagato coldly looked down at the white-haired Jiraiya:

What do you think, Jiraiya- Teacher?

Jiraiya opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more, but a broad and strong hand gently landed on his shoulder, firmly pressing the words he was about to utter back down.

"Alright, Jiraiya- Teacher."

You can never really understand these guys just by talking.

Kou slowly withdrew his hand from Jiraiya's shoulder, his gaze sweeping over the Akatsuki members on the platform who were watching him with a variety of complex expressions. A helpless smile appeared on his lips.

"Listen to my advice, given that I've been in the Akatsuki for nine years."

To get these guys to listen to you properly, first you have to use your strength to beat them all into submission.

As he spoke, he turned his head Jiraiya:

"Leave this task to me with confidence. You should take Gaara and leave here first."

As for my old colleagues, I can handle them all by myself.

Don't worry, you know my strength better than anyone.

Kou turned his gaze back to the Akatsuki members on the platform, who were staring at him with wary and hostile eyes. A confident smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"They are far from being my match."

Upon hearing Kou's arrogant declaration, Pain's gaze towards Kou instantly turned hostile.

Behind him, the Akatsuki members all turned their hostile and murderous gazes toward Kou below.

Jiraiya stared at Kokoro's tall, straight back for a long while, then nodded heavily.

"I understand. I'll leave this to you. knock"

Please, please be safe and sound!

"... ah."

Kou didn't turn around. He simply gave a soft Jiraiya, indifferent reply to Jiraiya behind him.

Jiraiya immediately put his mind at ease, turned around, and prepared to carry the completely unconscious Gaara on his back, along with the Konoha Anbu who were still waiting for orders, to evacuate this dangerous arena.

"I never gave you permission to leave this place with that One-Tail Jinchuriki, Jiraiya- Teacher."

Pain coldly looked down at the two below, Koro and Jiraiya, who were completely ignoring him and busy arranging their evacuation, and said in a deep, oppressive voice:

"Leave the One-Tail Jinchuriki here!"

Having said that, he slowly raised his right hand, gently spreading his five fingers towards the void:

"Banshō Ten'in."

An invisible, immense, and almost irresistible terrifying suction force enveloped the entire arena the instant Pain finished speaking, violently dragging Jiraiya and Gaara on his back towards the podium!

Jiraiya's pupils suddenly contracted. Jiraiya before the terrifying suction force was about to reach him and the boy on his back, a tall and steady figure silently blocked their path.

Emerald green Chakra surged forth from Kou's body, first forming a massive skeletal frame that materialized out of thin air, then countless muscle fibers wrapped around the frame as if they were alive.

Then there was that heavy, Crow Tengu- like armor, which firmly enveloped him, along with Jiraiya and Gaara behind him, right in the center of that half-giant exuding terrifying pressure.

Susanoo, third stage, Tengu Armor Form?

The azure giant clad in the armor of the Crow Tengu stood majestically on the arena, completely ignoring the terrifying suction of the Banshō Ten'in, which was powerful enough to tear apart an entire rock wall. Two cold, azure flames burned in its empty eye sockets.

Inside Susanoo, Kōji crossed his arms and coldly watched the Akatsuki changed instantly.

The composed curve of his lips suddenly became extremely flamboyant at this moment:

"I already told you this... Pain."

"I alone am enough to deal with you all!"