Naruto: I exposed famous scenes!-Chapter 68: The Death of Jiraiya!

Hearing their words, Jiraiya closed his eyes, deeply moved, and solemnly stated, "I am grateful."]

[On the water's surface, the Asura Path scanned the surroundings.

Jiraiya appeared behind it, attempting a shuriken attack, but was immediately surrounded by five of the Paths of Pain, leaving no escape route.

He scanned their faces again and was stunned to realize he recognized them all – individuals he had encountered during his past travels.

In that instant, he finally grasped Pain's true identity!]

[Just then, the Preta Path lunged from the water, crushing Jiraiya's throat and slamming him forcefully onto the ground. Simultaneously, the other four Paths attacked, driving black rods into Jiraiya's body, pinning him down.]

[As he lay dying, Jiraiya tried to convey the secret he'd discovered to Fukasaku, but realized his crushed throat prevented him from speaking. 'Damn it... what's happening?' He felt his strength fading rapidly, his consciousness waning. 'It's no use... I'm losing consciousness... Is this... how I die?' ]

[Yet, just as his eyes were about to close, he remembered Naruto – his determined gaze, his ninja way (Nindō) of never giving up, his unwavering persistence. 'Naruto, as your teacher, how can I give up so easily?' he thought. 'A disciple's ninja way is inherited from their master! Isn't that right, Naruto?'

Miraculously, Jiraiya, despite being moments from death, roused himself through sheer willpower. He extended a finger and, using his remaining chakra, etched the coded message onto Fukasaku's back – a code revealing Pain's secret, decipherable only by Naruto.]

[Seeing Jiraiya, who should have been dead, manage to pass on a message, the five Paths of Pain immediately launched another vicious assault.]

[Following the ensuing blast, Jiraiya, riddled with black rods, sank slowly into the dark, cold depths of the water. Yet, even in death, a calm, serene smile graced his features. He had fulfilled his mission and made the crucial choice. Still, his life ended with lingering regrets:

He had almost brought back his wayward friend, Orochimaru.

He was almost truly together with Tsunade.

He had almost saved his student, Minato.

He had almost saved his master, the Third Hokage.

He had almost lived to see Naruto become Hokage.

Almost...]

Jiraiya' s life was full of almost.

The image on the screen faded, leaving behind the undeniable, heartbreaking reality of Jiraiya's death.

-------------------------------------------------------------

In Konoha Square,

the crowd watched in stunned silence as the image of Jiraiya sinking into the sea lingered.

The silence was shattered by a woman's anguished cry.

"Jiraiya, you damn fool!"

It was Tsunade, her voice thick with tears and rage.

"Who told you it was okay to die! Who asked you to go after Pain alone! Why didn't you leave when you had the chance?! Are you an idiot?!"

Everyone looked sympathetically at Tsunade, distraught and overcome with grief. They had just witnessed Jiraiya's final regrets displayed on screen, including his feelings for her and his sorrow at never truly winning her heart.

Tsunade collapsed weakly, overwhelmed by grief, her usual Sannin composure completely gone.

Nearby, Sarutobi Hiruzen mourned the death of his beloved student, his heart heavy with sorrow, especially seeing Jiraiya's regret about not being able to save his master shown in his final moments.

Though Jiraiya often expressed frustration with Orochimaru's path, his dying thoughts proved his heart ultimately remained with his friends and with Konoha.

...

In his own hideout, Orochimaru witnessed Jiraiya's death and heard his final regret about failing to stop him. Orochimaru remained outwardly impassive, showing no reaction, as if Jiraiya's fate was irrelevant. However, a flicker of pain deep within him couldn't be entirely suppressed. 'Jiraiya... still regretting that you couldn't stop me?' he thought silently.

...

Across the Shinobi World, news of Jiraiya's death saddened many. Even former adversaries were moved by his spirit of self-sacrifice.

•Onoki: "Though we belong to different villages, I cannot help but admire him!"

•Fourth Raikage (A): "To persist even when facing certain death... that spirit is something we can all learn from!"

•Terumi Mei: "That man... truly admirable, right to the very end."

•Kushina : "Jiraiya-sensei... thank you for everything you did for Minato and Naruto."

Yet, while some admired Jiraiya's heroic sacrifice, others deemed him foolish.

"He clearly had a chance to escape but didn't take it. I don't feel sorry for a ninja who lacks adaptability," one might say.

"Exactly, charging ahead knowing he couldn't win..." another might agree.

"What could possibly make him choose death over retreat?" Many wondered what drove him.

Others recalled his earlier words, "Didn't he ask Shima to tell Tsunade something specific? What was it?" And some speculated,

"There must have been a deeper reason for his insistence on investigating Akatsuki personally, but we may never know."

As discussions continued, the screen flickered back to life, revealing a new scene.

.....

[On screen]

[Tsunade was seated at the Hokage's desk. Jiraiya stood before her. "I've located the Akatsuki leader's base," he stated.

Tsunade leaned forward eagerly. "Truly? Where?"

Jiraiya offered a wry smile. "Not so fast. How about we discuss it over drinks?"

Tsunade retorted, "Idiot! I'm the Hokage! I can't drink during the day! What kind of example would that set for the shinobi on missions?"]

[The scene shifted to an izakaya, where Tsunade and Jiraiya were indeed drinking. Seeing Tsunade drinking straight from the bottle, Jiraiya remarked dryly, "So much for setting an example, Hokage!"]

["You're the one who suggested it," Tsunade replied.

Jiraiya turned serious. "The Akatsuki leader is in Amegakure, the Hidden Rain Village. I'm going to infiltrate and gather intelligence."

"Alone? That's too dangerous, Jiraiya!" Tsunade protested nervously.

"Hey, I'm one of the Legendary Sannin!" Jiraiya stated confidently.

Tsunade looked down guiltily. "Sorry... it seems I always leave the toughest, most thankless jobs to you."

Jiraiya laughed. "Hahaha, what's gotten into you?"

Tsunade murmured, "It should have been you... you should have been Hokage."

"That's not me," Jiraiya dismissed. "I prefer being free."

Tsunade looked at him intently. "You still regret not stopping Orochimaru back then, don't you? That's why you're doing this."

Hearing this, Jiraiya fell silent.]

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[The scene changed one last time, showing Tsunade and Jiraiya sitting quietly together on a bench, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.]