I’m Not Naruto, But I Got a Better Bloodline

"Tch. That brat Gen really is a damn jinx."

After a long silence, Jiraiya finally let out a resigned sigh. A flicker of complex emotion passed through his eyes before he stepped forward and spoke quietly: "Yahiko… is that you? Last time—it was you too, wasn't it?"

"It was me."

Pain fell silent for a moment, then gave a faint nod.

"It's been a long time, Jiraiya-sensei."

That one sentence left both Kisame and Uchiha Itachi momentarily stunned.

What the hell?

Their leader...

Was Jiraiya's student?

Kisame immediately went on alert, while Itachi appeared dazed, as if he was still processing what he had just heard.

"That Kitagawa Gen… is he also your student?"

But Pain didn't seem to care in the slightest. His expression remained as cold and composed as ever.

"You've always had a knack for teaching—raising strong shinobi."

"He's not really my student," Jiraiya replied, scratching his head a little awkwardly. "Though I have taught quite a few over the years..."

Then his tone shifted, becoming deadly serious.

"What's going on here? I've received some unusual intel—sources said you were all dead. And Orochimaru told me things about what happened back then… you all…"

"Those days are over. And we did die, in a sense."

Pain shook his head, and for the briefest moment, a rare trace of sorrow touched his voice—but it vanished as quickly as it came. "The ones standing here now are Pain—beings beyond suffering, born to bring change to this world!"

Change the world?

Jiraiya's mood instantly soured.

Judging from what Uchiha Obito had said earlier, it was clear now—his former student had gone completely astray.

But there was still something he didn't understand. He stared straight into Pain's eyes, narrowing his gaze, and asked in a low voice: "Your eyes… what's going on? I remember those were Nagato's. And you… you don't seem like Yahiko at all. If it was Yahiko, he wouldn't act like this. He—"

"You're right. Yahiko is dead, Jiraiya-sensei."

Pain's voice remained flat and unwavering, but there was a subtle sharpness behind his words now.

"He chose the wrong path. Or rather, the path you gave him was wrong from the start."

"This world isn't filled with hope and kindness. It's nothing but a cruel, unending hell."

"True understanding between people is a fantasy. Even the most basic trust… is almost impossible to achieve."

"I've already paid a terrible price for this. Now, I am Pain—and we will walk a new path."

"A true path. One that leads to peace. A path forged by us, by the ones who have brought peace through our own hands!"

"So… is your path the same as that Uchiha Obito guy's?"

But before Pain could finish his sentence, a voice suddenly cut in.

Turning to look—there he was.

At some point, Kitagawa Gen had appeared beside the Fourth Raikage, unnoticed.

He stared at Pain with a puzzled look, then asked with genuine curiosity: "So if you kill everyone in the world… that's peace?"

"…"

When Kitagawa Gen's words rang out, the entire scene fell into a stunned silence.

Tsunade and Shizune stared at Pain and the others in utter disbelief. The Fourth Raikage, who had been seething with the urge to blast the Konoha shinobi into oblivion, found himself momentarily dumbfounded by what he'd just heard.

Even Jiraiya and Kakashi, though fully aware of how terrifying this group's intentions were, hadn't thought they were that extreme.

Still, they didn't interrupt. After all, changing the world required some kind of method. They wanted to hear exactly how this organization planned to do it.

"Hiss—how the hell did this brat end up behind me?!"

Suddenly, the Fourth Raikage seemed to realize something. His expression froze in disbelief as he turned to glare at Kitagawa Gen. A terrible suspicion struck him like lightning.

This little bastard... did he plant a Flying Thunder God mark on me?!

"What kind of nonsense are you spewing, brat?" Pain frowned. But before he could continue—

"Am I wrong?" Kitagawa Gen cut in sharply. "From what I remember, you people have always been going on about changing the world—bringing peace, right?"

Pain frowned deeper, but nodded slightly. Gen immediately pressed on.

"But human nature is greedy. Where there are people, there will be conflict.

"So isn't the simplest solution to just eliminate all life from this world?

"That way, there'd never be any more disputes at all."

"…"

Pain said nothing, but his hand slowly clenched into a fist.

Tsunade shot a fierce glare at Jiraiya and Kakashi—so sharp it needed no words.

"Or… do you have a different plan?" Gen stroked his chin thoughtfully, as if a new idea had just occurred to him.

"Like… randomly wiping out half the population of the ninja world?"

"…"

"After all, the ninja world has limited resources, but humanity reproduces without restraint. Doing this would ensure long-term sustainability, leave enough resources for the other half, and instill fear in the survivors. Wouldn't that bring peace?"

"…"

Pain could feel the tightness in his fist now—tension rising with every word. What kind of twisted logic was this? Were they really that extreme?

But Gen still acted like nothing was wrong. He tilted his head slightly and asked in a quiet voice: "Or do you have some other brilliant idea to achieve your so-called revolution?"

"Of course we do—"

Pain responded almost instinctively, but cut himself off just as quickly.

His clenched fist tightened further, his cold gaze sweeping across Gen, Jiraiya, and the others.

"…But there's no need for you to know. You'd better focus on surviving first."

Pain was truly done wasting words with Kitagawa Gen.

He had originally intended to engage Jiraiya in a discussion—right and wrong, paths and choices—then finish it all with a proper master-and-apprentice showdown.

But now, he didn't want to say another word.

His chakra began to surge restlessly, but even then, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

'That guy pretending to be Uchiha Madara… what's his deal? Did he already have a run-in with this brat?'

Pain had long harbored suspicions—no, he was practically certain of that man's true identity.

He wasn't a fool. Some things didn't need to be said aloud. As far as he was concerned, a relationship based on mutual exploitation was still a relationship that worked.

"Getting ready to fight?"

Kitagawa Gen raised an eyebrow, then suddenly broke into a smile.

"Come to think of it, you started tailing us the moment we entered the Land of Waterfalls. Considering what you did in Kirigakure, Iwagakure, even Konoha... You're not here to ambush the Fourth Raikage, are you?"

"?"

"Also, I just noticed your comrades have already infiltrated Takigakure.

Their target seems... less than simple. So—"

"Shut up!"

Pain couldn't take another word. His fist was clenched so tightly it trembled.

Who the hell knew what chaos might unfold if this little brat kept running his mouth?

In a flash—

His figure vanished and reappeared directly in front of Gen, a black rod forming in his hand, thrusting straight for the boy's chest!

"Watch out!"

Even Jiraiya was caught off guard. He was still trying to process everything Gen had just said. Instinctively, he rushed forward—

But Kisame's Water Release erupted at that very moment.

A surge of chakra burst forth, unleashing a torrential flood that transformed the battlefield into a vast lake in seconds.

Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Tsunade quickly dodged.

The Fourth Raikage and Shizune also darted to safety.

"Coming for me, are they?"

The Fourth Raikage's eyes flickered warily.

He had no idea whose version of events to believe anymore—

But this was no time to dwell on it.

Because the fight had already begun.

"Tch, you again."

Kisame scowled at Jiraiya standing before him, then gave a low scoff and hoisted his massive Samehada blade onto his shoulder.

"Whatever. Doesn't matter who it is—

You won't be getting lucky this time."

"Out of the way, shark-face."

Jiraiya wasn't in the mood. He had no interest in wasting time here.

Right now, all he wanted was to find Yahiko.

"Tsunade-sama. A pleasure."

On the other side of the field, even though Uchiha Itachi stood ready for battle, he still gave Tsunade a polite nod.

"What a pain… Uchiha, huh?"

Tsunade frowned, clearly irritated. This wasn't a fight she particularly wanted to get involved in. She was well aware of her own issues. Fortunately, Kakashi was still beside her.

"That's Uchiha Itachi," Kakashi said in a low voice. "The one who massacred his entire clan. But judging by what just happened, he's not the only one—Watch out! Someone else is here!"

"Kakashi!"

Before he could finish, Kakashi's Sharingan reacted—

He immediately shouted a warning to Tsunade and leapt to the side.

In that split second, Uchiha Obito phased out of the void, lashing out at him with a heavy iron chain!

"Obito!"

Kakashi instantly recognized him, but something felt off. Obito's presence, his aura—it was... unbalanced.

Not just his mood—his appearance was strange too.

Even with his mask on, a corner of it had broken off. His cloak was half-destroyed, and one of his arms was completely exposed.

That arm... looked all wrong.

"It's white… some kind of transplant?"

Kakashi evaded swiftly, muttering under his breath. Then he frowned, voice steady but sharp.

"So it really was you that Gen encountered in Takigakure. What's your goal?"

"My goal?"

Obito let out a bitter laugh, one filled with simmering fury.

He thought back to those ten maddening minutes in Takigakure.

For the first time in his life, he'd discovered that a person could be that shameless.

That bastard had impersonated him just to stir up chaos—

Then shamelessly shifted the blame onto him without hesitation.

Worse still, that little bastard had the nerve to use such underhanded, downright disgraceful tactics. Obito was livid.

"Forget my goals. Let's talk about you, Kakashi. You're a disgrace."

"...?"

"Only a worthless failure like you could've raised such a despicable, shameless disciple!"

"…"

"I'm honestly curious... Once you're dead, will that filthy little bastard even bother to mourn you?"

"…"

Watching Obito unravel, Kakashi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

He didn't know what exactly had happened—

But clearly, Kitagawa Gen had done something outrageous again.

To see Obito this unhinged? That was rare.

Honestly, Kakashi wanted to explain. That Gen's habits and behavior...

Weren't his fault, damn it.

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