Chapter 092: Jiraiya, the Pure-hearted Warrior

"Jiraiya-sensei, you really do know the name Akatsuki," Naruto said, watching Jiraiya's somewhat flustered and embarrassed expression. "What, does the creation of this organization have something to do with you? Is the leader your illegitimate child or something? There's no need to be embarrassed—at your age, being single and making the mistakes all men make when they're young is nothing unusual. I—"

Before Naruto could finish his increasingly wild speculation, Jiraiya thumped him sharply on the head. "What nonsense are you spouting! I am a man of pure love! I'd never make such a mistake!"

Naruto was skeptical of Jiraiya’s protestations. Even back when he hadn’t yet left the Land of Waves, he’d already received reports from locals about Jiraiya’s flirtatious ways—peeping into women’s baths and spending too much time in the company of geishas. Jiraiya insisted he was purely romantic, claiming that at most he’d hold hands or put an arm around a waist, but never anything more. Although two anti-vice raids had failed to catch him in the act, Naruto wouldn’t be surprised if they eventually did.

After all, the way Jiraiya wrote in his books was so vivid that Naruto doubted the old man could write with such detail without firsthand experience. Dazuna had once remarked that everything in Jiraiya’s novels was just the fantasy of a southern author, and that believing any of it was true was foolish. Naruto remained unconvinced; he’d never lived through such things himself and couldn’t say for sure.

Having eased the awkwardness, Jiraiya sighed. "I don’t know where you heard the name ‘Akatsuki,’ but I can tell you this: I am indeed connected to its founding."

"Akatsuki was once an organization full of noble ideals," he continued. "It was born in the Land of Rain—a small country caught between the three great nations of Fire, Wind, and Earth, used as a battlefield and buffer zone. Akatsuki’s original purpose was to give a home to all those who’d lost theirs in war, to drive out the enemy factions tormenting the Land of Rain, and to bring peace to the country."

"The founders of Akatsuki were my earliest students: Yahiko, an orphan, and his two childhood friends, Nagato and Konan."

Here Jiraiya paused. Naruto could see a trace of emotion and regret in his eyes. Curious, Naruto asked, "This Yahiko, and Nagato and Konan—your relationship with them was more than just teacher and student, wasn’t it?"

"It truly was," Jiraiya admitted. "At first, it was compassion that brought us together. For a time, I regarded them as my own children. But you know the kind of person I am—I’m not fit to have children."

"Can you tell me what happened between you?" Naruto pressed.

Jiraiya hesitated for a long while before finally speaking. "When I first met Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, they were just children who’d lost their homes to war. Tsunade, Orochimaru, and I were fighting Hanzo the Salamander in the Land of Rain. After the battle, the children came to us, begging for food. Orochimaru wanted to kill them, but I saw the confusion and helplessness in their eyes and stopped him. I cared for those children for a time."

"Yahiko was a gentle boy, wishing for a world where no one would be hurt. He held a steadfast belief and courage, yearning to bring peace and end the suffering of war. Konan was always gentle and kind, quietly supporting her friends. Nagato, on the other hand, had no strong opinions. Though he possessed immense power, he didn’t know how to use it, and carried deep pain and sorrow within him."

"My greatest worry from the start was Nagato, because of his eyes—the Rinnegan. They were—"

"The Rinnegan! That’s the old man’s eyes!" Before Jiraiya could finish, the Nine-Tails erupted within Naruto with a sharp, ringing cry. "Impossible! How could the Rinnegan exist in this era? Ever since Asura and Indra went their separate ways, the old man’s eyes have never appeared again! How could there be Rinnegan now?"

Naruto was filled with even more questions, but held them back, continuing to listen to Jiraiya’s story.

"I taught them how to survive, shared some ninjutsu, hoping they’d be able to protect themselves and others. When they grew strong enough to defeat my shadow clone, I left them and returned to the Leaf."

"When I next heard their names, they were already on the Foundation’s blacklist."

"I only knew that a man named Yahiko had suddenly risen, leading powerful companions to form the Akatsuki organization. Their initial goal was to achieve peace by using their strength to help the suffering. At that time, Akatsuki was full of vitality and hope. They traveled the Land of Rain, rescuing civilians and bringing a ray of light to the people—just as their name suggests, ‘Akatsuki,’ the dawn before daybreak, bringing hope to those in darkness."

"But as time passed, things changed." Jiraiya’s brow furrowed, his expression growing sorrowful and grave. "By the time I heard of Akatsuki again, it was already too late. Akatsuki had become a threat to the rule of Hanzo the Salamander, the leader of the Land of Rain. Hanzo had a secret pact with Danzo, leader of Konoha’s Foundation—they watched each other’s backs."

"So Hanzo and Danzo colluded, kidnapped Konan, and forced Yahiko to take his own life."

"What happened afterward, I don’t know. All I do know is that only Hanzo and Danzo walked away from that confrontation alive. The three founders of Akatsuki vanished, and all that’s certain is that Yahiko really did die to save Konan."

"I once wanted to kill Danzo to avenge my students, but the old man forbade me."

"Later on—just a few years ago—I heard Hanzo had been killed, replaced by a powerful newcomer who now rules the Land of Rain. I wanted to go there to investigate, but the old man stopped me."

Naruto knew about this—Orochimaru had mentioned it to him once. Someone had killed Hanzo the Salamander, that ninja once called a demigod. Orochimaru had also asked Kakashi to pass word to the Third Hokage, warning him not to let Jiraiya investigate the Land of Rain—not to send Jiraiya to his death.

Back then, Naruto hadn’t understood why Orochimaru was so adamant, nor why he believed Jiraiya’s going would be so dangerous. Now it all made sense—Jiraiya’s deep connection to the Land of Rain and Akatsuki.

Though both Orochimaru and Jiraiya were rather unreliable elders—one full of strange ideas, the other obsessed with risqué pursuits—Naruto couldn’t deny their strength, and even now he remained wary of them. But if Orochimaru was certain that Jiraiya would be walking to his death by crossing Akatsuki, it was a clear testament to the organization’s power.

And then there was the Rinnegan, as the Nine-Tails had cried out—the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths himself.

To be targeted by such a group, Naruto couldn’t help but furrow his brow in concern.