The instant Deva Path Pain finished speaking, the water beneath his feet exploded.
Scalding steam mixed with masses of white bubbles shot upward.
The spreading ripples turned eerie beneath the green light.
A dazzling green glow shone from the unfathomable depths.
Even the surrounding rusty iron pipes gleamed in its light.
"Nagato, this chakra... something's wrong."
Konan took half a step back, the paper sheets beside her scattering slightly.
Deva Path Pain stared into the water, his Rinnegan narrowing.
"It isn't Jiraiya's. It's that Wooden Talisman."
Meanwhile, deep beneath the water's surface.
The blackened Wooden Talisman in Jiraiya's robes, covered in cracks.
Finally gave a crisp crack and shattered completely.
The splintered wood did not scatter. Instead, it turned into green sludge.
An ocean of green vitality erupted underwater.
It was as though ten thousand dormant seeds had sprouted at once.
The green light was so intense that it dyed the surrounding filthy black water emerald.
Even the cold water began bubbling and steaming.
Jiraiya's body, already cold, his heart no longer beating.
Began trembling violently as that raging vitality enveloped him.
Pfft.
The long black rod embedded in his chest.
Was forcibly pushed out by the new flesh growing wildly inside him.
The flesh around the wound writhed rapidly, making wet, sticky sounds.
Flooded with green light, his pierced heart suddenly contracted.
Thump, thump.
A deep, powerful heartbeat sounded beneath the water once more.
Next came his throat, which Asura Path had crushed completely.
The shattered bone fragments rapidly aligned and locked together in the green light.
His windpipe, muscles, and skin closed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Not even a scar remained. The skin was pink and new.
"Pwah!!"
Jiraiya burst out of the water, gasping for breath.
He spat out a mouthful of black,