Thud!
As Madara Uchiha's Storm Release blasted out, Jiraiya's body slammed into the ground like a rag doll, kicking up dust.
"Master Jiraiya!!!"
Madara Uchiha snorted and was just about to leave when someone else suddenly appeared.
As the cry faded, a white figure arrived. Sheets of white paper swirled around her like snowflakes, gently wrapping Jiraiya as though she feared waking him.
"Master Jiraiya, how could this happen...?"
Konan gazed at her teacher, who now showed no sign of life. Tears filled her blue eyes as she murmured in disbelief.
In this world, Jiraiya had been the first teacher of all three of them. They had survived in this dog-eat-dog world thanks first to his protection, then to the ninjutsu he had taught them.
Konan was also different from her original counterpart now. Yahiko had been resurrected, and Nagato had regained his health. Thanks to Shin Uchiha, she did not carry so many burdens, and naturally still felt deeply for someone as important to her as Jiraiya.
Just then, with two swift rustles, two figures appeared between Konan and Madara Uchiha. They watched Madara Uchiha warily, their defensive stances showing that they were ready to fight at any moment.
"Oh?"
Madara Uchiha was rather displeased. Though he had killed Jiraiya on this trip and more or less secured a claim on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the person he had meant to draw out had yet to appear. He could not help wondering whether this man named Jiraiya was really as important as White Zetsu had claimed.
Madara Uchiha had intended to simply leave, but he had not expected an unexpected windfall at this point.
Nagato, Yahiko, and the others were pawns he had put in place while he was alive. Nagato in particular was the keeper he had personally chosen