On the other side of the battlefield.
Jiraiya raced through the night.
He had originally been ordered to report intelligence to the Southern Army. But he had never expected to see this-the Jashin Cult's Faithful Legion engulfing the Southern Army's flank defenses like a dark red tide.
"Damn it..."
He gritted his teeth, forming a Rasengan in his hand.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
He spat out a massive fireball, hurling it at the True Believers pursuing the Konoha Ninja.
Several of the True Believers were swallowed by the flames and fell screaming.
But more surged forward.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Jiraiya formed hand seals again, summoning a water dragon that scattered the True Believers' formation.
His strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Jonin. But he was only one man, and there were ten thousand enemies.
"I have to... find Danzo... I have to... stop them..."
He fought as he moved toward headquarters.
Then he saw someone.
A young man standing on a hill, with dark red hair and scarlet Sharingan.
"Nagato?!"
Jiraiya's pupils suddenly contracted.
That child... the child he had once taught in the Land of Rain... the "Child of Prophecy" who possessed the Rinnegan...
What was he doing here?
"Nagato!"
Jiraiya shouted.
Nagato turned his head on the hill and looked at him.
There was no delight or nostalgia in those scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan, only calm.
As though he were looking at a stranger.
"Teacher Jiraiya."
Nagato's voice was soft, yet every word was perfectly clear.
"Long time no see."
"You... what are you doing here?!"
Jiraiya's voice trembled.
"These people from the Jashin Cult... what do they have to do with you?"
"Have to do with me?"
Nagato tilted his head.
"Nothing much. I'm just here to collect servants."
"Servants?"
Jiraiya did not understand.
But