Chapter 111 - Healing Jiraiya

General POV

Having done what he needed in Uzo, Ishizu's next destination was the Summoning Realm, where he would plan for his next move.

His destination was a clear grassy pane with four stone stalagmites forming a square.

Looking up, Ishizu saw found the body of the Sannin floating in mid-space. The nature energy kept Jiraiya in a frozen state.

*You are letting him out?* asked Po, who stood beside Ishizu.

Ishizu didn't reply at first but observed the fuinjutsu in front of him. He rarely, if ever, complimented somebody else's work in Fuinjutsu after he became a master himself.

Yet looking at the spectacle in front of him, he couldn't help but marvel at the work. The pandas did a very well job.

*While Naruto is learning in the library of Uzu, I will prepare for the invasion of Konoha.

If Jiraiya survives, I hope he and Naruto can both convince Nagato to stop his whole revenge against the world.

I won't interfere much because I want to see how Naruto developed.*

Po looked at block rods still inside the body of the Shinobi.

*How will you heal him since his condition? That man's throat was crushed, AND he was stuck with the chakra disrupters into the back. The moment you let him out, his soul will leave his body.*

Ishizu opened his Rinnegan before concentrating really hard.

It was a long time since Ishizu saw the white moon on his right hand. The Yang symbol Hagoromo gave him way back.

*Originally, Jiraiya should have died during his foolish attempt to figure out about Nagato, but now here he is, on the brink of death or what I would call limbo. The chronostasis fakes a living life and keeps the soul inside the body.

Yes, you are correct. The moment I shut down the sealing array, the soul will try to leave the body. I need to act fast and heal the body quickly while also grabbing the soul.*

Ishizu grinned as he cracked his knuckles and bend his hands.

*This will truly be a challenge and I can't wait long as I don't want to use the Outer Path before such an important event.

I will use the Yang Symbol to rejuvenate Jiraiya's body to a pleasant condition before placing the soul back into the body.

It has to be fast, or the soul will reject the body. You can easily trick a body, but you can't trick a soul.*

Ishizu enjoyed the feeling of a challenge. Saving Jiraiya would make a couple of people happy. It would lessen his guilt, too.

'Play Naruto Akatsuki Theme for more emotion'

Amegakure

Nagato, Deva Path POV

It was time to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I was finished replacing the injured paths with new and better ones.

The mortal Yamamoto tricked us twice, but through Zetsu, I found out almost all Jinchuriki were in Konoha. With them capture it would be easy to capture the Hashibi and show the world what pain is. I looked at the two immortal members of our group that were still with us.

Yamamoto took Itachi and Madara couldn't find Kisame. It was of no matter now. The plan would go on without them.

"Are we finally going to kill somebody?!" asked Hidan as he swung his scythe.

"Yes, we are. Now be quiet. I have to read about the Konoha Shinobi and their skills. We don't want to attack a Shinobi village without information," responded an annoyed Kakuzu.

"Ha? You said something, you bastard? Should I just kill you now?"

"We are departing. Kakuzu, Hidan, let's go," said the Deva Path that made the other two look up to see Pain standing on a rock.

Being old had its ad- and disadvantages. One such advantage was to feel the surrounding air. I have lived during Konoha's founding, taken part in all 3 shinobi wars, and have developed a danger sense towards Konoha. More often than not, this feeling proved to be right.

I knew something would happen. With Jiraiya's death and the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi gone, the village was a target for any enemy outside. There are many enemies that Konoha has, but the most important was currently Akatsuki.

No doubt they would attack the village to get the Jinchuriki. With one more in Konoha, it would happen soon. The leaves could fall, but the root would stand.

It was also unfortunate that Ishizu Sasaki defected from Konoha. The reason was unknown, but him joining Akatsuki was high and had to be accounted for.

I sent some ROOT after him, but they couldn't find his whereabouts. If only I had Shisui's Sharingan, but that brat somehow knew about my intentions and replaced his eyes with other Sharingan eyes.

"Fuu, Torune, we have to prepare. The time has come for a new Hokage to take his place. One that can bring Konoha to be the best."

The two Root Shinobi nodded and followed their leader.

Ishizu POV

I looked at the stone statue floating above me. This was a moment where I couldn't make a single mistake and had to hasten, so I calmed myself. One deep breath in and one deep breath out.

"JUST DO IT!" screamed somebody from the sidelines.

"Shut up, Yin Yin. Go back to Konoha!" I responded before Tau and other pandas grabbed her by her neck and took her away.

'Finally, inner peace.'

I concentrated and felt the familiar energy in my right hand.

Opening it, I saw the familiar sun-like pattern on my palm.

"This must be the first time I use you, but at least it will be for a good use."

I gathered nature energy and entered Sage Mode. A ritual stone rectangular table with various symbols appeared from the ground.

With a Ram Seal, I deactivated the sealing array and Jiraiya's stone body statue fell on the table.

First, I had to extract the nature energy residing in his body.

Focusing on my right index finger, I placed it on Jiraiya's head and started pulling out the nature energy while slowly dragging my finger downwards.

In my hand was the icy body of Jiraiya, and he would stay cold if I did nothing.

Now I had to act quickly!

Activating my Asura Path to get more hands before taking out each chakra receiver simultaneously and throwing them away. Next, I pressed my right palm on his ribs where his heart was.

I had a slight smile remembering the scene I watched where Naruto did something similar when 8 Gats Gai destroyed half of Sage of Six Paths Madara with his ultimate technique, Night Guy.

It was one of the most epic scenes in the series. The Yang Seal pulsed, forming a familiar pattern all over the Sannin's body.

Meanwhile, my Rinnegan was looking over his body and when Jiraiya's soul stayed inside his body and made no attempts to leave the body, I fell on my buŧŧ with a sigh of relief.

"I did it."

"Why isn't he waking up?" asked Yin Yin as she poked Jiraiya with a stick.

"Could you please not stick this stick in his face or I will stick it inside of you," I growled.

"Oh, honey. I know exactly where you can stick it in."

Oh, god. Why did I deserve such a panda?

"It appears you did it. I must congratulate you, brother Ishizu. The Uchiha brothers are waiting for you to depart."

"Thank you, Tau," I replied.

"So, what are you going to do with him? You must not forget that we pandas don't take well with outsiders," spoke Tau.

"He won't wake for now. In a few days or even hours, Pain will attack Konoha. I changed canon up to where the immortal duo, Hidan and Kakuzu, are still alive. Plus, I don't want Konoha to be demolished by a chaotic Shinra Tensei, which in my opinion was done to make Pain look badass and strong. I don't want my house to be destroyed so I have to depart now with Itachi and Sasuke. Let's see how they are doing."

Itachi and Sasuke were waiting for Ishizu and nodded when they saw him.

"Are you both ready to depart?" asked Ishizu.

"We are. I know where Danzo is hiding.. I will lead Sasuke there and we will finish what I should have done long ago," said Itachi.