- Dimensional Gods’ Selection: Only I Know Saitama is the Strongest
- OKSTS Chapter 162
Chapter 162: The Man Who Destroyed the Old Amegakure
“Oh?”
Jiraiya halted his approach, eyeing Fang Ye cautiously.
With deliberate slowness, Fang Ye reached into his pocket and pulled out a headband emblazoned with the iconic leaf symbol—the mark of a Konoha ninja.
“You’re from Konoha as well?” Jiraiya scrutinized Fang Ye closely, searching for any signs of deceit. But Fang Ye stood confidently, exuding calm assurance.
If you’re honest, there’s no need to fear shadows dancing.
Fang Ye’s identity as a Konoha ninja was airtight—perhaps even officially documented in the Hidden Leaf’s archives.
After a long silence, Jiraiya finally asked, “Who sent you?”
“Tsunade-sama, of course,” Fang Ye replied casually. Then, with a smirk, he added, “Unless… it was Tsuna-san?”
“You…”
Jiraiya’s cheeks flushed slightly but were quickly hidden as he suppressed the reaction with chakra control. Regaining his composure, he questioned, “This mission is highly dangerous. Why would Tsunade send you? And why have I never seen you before?”
“I’m from the ANBU,” Fang Ye said, brushing the inquiry aside with a wave of his hand. “Let’s focus on these two. How should we deal with them?”
He pointed to the two ninjas still struggling against the walls, clearly curious.
“Oh, them…” Jiraiya grinned, forming a hand seal.
In an instant, the newly established Toad Club shrank and transformed into a navy-blue toad, which promptly leaped into a nearby puddle. Simultaneously, the rain outside stopped.
Meanwhile, Nagato, in his Pain (Deva Path) form, issued a command. “Konan, locate Jiraiya-sensei.”
Standing behind him, Konan nodded before her body dissolved into countless sheets of paper, scattering into the rain-drenched village.
Inside the toad’s stomach, Jiraiya began interrogating the captives.
“Say what you will, but I’m not telling you anything!” Tsuna’s husband growled, his face a mask of defiance mixed with fear. The prospect of speaking meant potential death for his entire family.
The man’s terror wasn’t misplaced. The “god” of Amegakure, the man who had single-handedly quashed the village’s unrest, had obliterated everything tied to the former leader, Hanzō of the Salamander.
From the elderly to newborn infants, none were spared.
But beyond fear, there was devotion. To many, including this man, Pain was a divine figure—a savior who had brought peace and prosperity to the once war-torn Amegakure.
“Fine, if you won’t talk, I’ll have to try something else.” Jiraiya pulled out a feather and waved it in front of the younger ninja. “Last chance—will you talk?”
The younger ninja clenched his jaw.
Jiraiya shrugged and began tickling him mercilessly. The man laughed uncontrollably, tears and snot streaming down his face, but still refused to speak.
“Don’t say a word!” Tsuna’s husband hissed, trying to keep his comrade resolute.
Fang Ye leaned lazily against a wall, silently observing the farce. Though he knew the broader story, now was not the time to intervene. Revealing too much would only make the ever-perceptive Jiraiya suspicious, jeopardizing future plans.
“Well then, I guess I’ll have to use my ultimate technique,” Jiraiya declared, folding his arms. “I’ll turn you both into frogs.”
The two men remained silent, the atmosphere growing awkward.
“I said I’ll turn you into frogs… Frogs!” Jiraiya repeated, trying to intimidate them. Still, neither man flinched.
“Damn it.” Jiraiya muttered, now visibly embarrassed. Gripping the feather, he resumed tickling the younger ninja.
Finally, frustrated by their resilience, Jiraiya placed his hand atop the younger ninja’s head and activated his jutsu. With a puff of smoke, the man transformed into an actual frog.
“What?!” Tsuna’s husband exclaimed in terror.
“Your turn now,” Jiraiya said, stepping closer. “Talk, or join your friend as a frog.”
“Damn it…” Tsuna’s husband wavered, the weight of the decision crushing him.
In the end, he relented. “I’ll talk.”
It took every ounce of courage for him to betray what he knew. “The ‘god’ you’re after is Lord Pain. They say he resides in the western tower. He’s supposedly a member of the Fūma Clan.”
Jiraiya leaned in with a sly smile, his hand hovering near the man’s head. “So quick to betray? But… what do you mean by ‘supposedly’?”
“I don’t know for sure,” Tsuna’s husband admitted, his voice shaking. “But my devotion to Lord Pain is unwavering. Without him, our village would still be in chaos. Whether or not he exists doesn’t matter… Angel-sama often acts on his behalf.”
“Angel-sama?” Jiraiya repeated, stroking his chin. He committed the title to memory. “Amegakure seems to have no shortage of secrets.”
Despite further questioning, Tsuna’s husband claimed ignorance. Instead, he turned the tables, asking, “Are you remnants of the old Amegakure?”
“Remnants of the old Amegakure? What do you mean?” Jiraiya asked, puzzled.
“You’re outsiders, aren’t you?” Tsuna’s husband glanced between Jiraiya and Fang Ye, a knowing look in his eyes. “By remnants, I mean the followers of Hanzō. But they’ve all been wiped out. Lord Pain ended the civil war single-handedly.”
Jiraiya froze. The name “Hanzō of the Salamander” was all too familiar.
During the Third Great Ninja War, he, Tsunade, and Orochimaru—Konoha’s Sannin—had fought Hanzō together and failed to defeat him. The very title Sannin had been bestowed upon them by Hanzō himself.
And now, the man once called a demigod had been defeated by Pain—alone.
Jiraiya pressed further about the Akatsuki, but despite claims of ignorance, the walls of the toad’s stomach monitored heartbeats and revealed lies. It was clear the man knew more than he let on.
“Jiraiya-sensei, it seems we won’t get much more out of him,” Fang Ye finally spoke up, breaking his silence.
Jiraiya glanced at Tsuna’s husband, who clenched his teeth stubbornly, and nodded. “If he won’t talk, then I’ll go directly to Pain.”
The organic walls twisted, opening a passage for Jiraiya and Fang Ye to leave. Behind them, they left the man and the transformed frog behind.
On a high tower, Pain watched Konan’s paper body scatter into the distance. Turning, he entered a mysterious chamber filled with strange devices.
Reclining into one of six identical pods, Pain’s cold voice echoed in the room.
“Now… eliminate the intruders.”