Naruto Shippuuden 133 is one of the most emotionally charged episodes of the series that I’ve seen in a looooong while. In this ep, the battle between Jiraiya and Pain finally comes to an explosive end. I’ve read this part already in the manga but it’s so different watching it on screen. Not only was the animation flawless, the musical scoring of the episode really emphasized the drama and the action.

The episode starts of with Jiraiya confronting Pain. He recognizes one of his former students, Yaihko. Jiraiya starts to has doubts though if the earlier opponent he had with the Rinnengan was actually Nagato. Jiraiya manages to snag one of the bodies of Pain and drags him into a barrier where he’s able to finish him off with a Rasengan, sending the body to an acidic pool. Before the body dies though it manages to deal a damaging blow to Jiraiya, narrowly missing a fatal mark. As the body lies motionless, Jiraiya confirms that this body wasn’t the real Nagato and in fact was someone that he fought earlier in his ninja career.

Jiraiya instructs one of the elder frogs to bring the body and whatever information he’s uncovered so far back to Tsunade. He has an idea on the true identity of Pain already but he has to resurface again to confirm in. During his reflections, Jiraiya remembers the prophecy of the Elder Frog telling him that he would one day have to make a big decision that would change the Ninja world and usher in the destiny of another ninja. Mustering whatever strength he has left, the legendary Sanin gets up and goes back to the battlefield.

Jiraiya attempts to mount a comeback but it’s futile. As the other bodies of Pain converge, he finally confirms his initial theory. These bodies were all opponents that he’s faced before! However, before he’s able to escape, one of the bodies brutally attacks him, crushing his throat and preventing him from speaking. The other bodies of Pain then jump up and joins in on the attack, impaling Jiraiya with multiple iron spears, pinning him to the ground. This is one of the saddest parts of the episode as we see someone so familiar slowly dying.

Jiraiya finds strength again and manages to get up slowly. He realizes that he can’t just die now without letting the others know what he’s uncovered. If he doesn’t get the message to Tsunade, Pain will destroy Konoha. Drawing power from his memories of the 4th Hokage and Naruto, Jiraiya wills himself to life and burns a message to the back of the last Elder Frog.

Pain then comes in and finishes the job, finally putting an end to the life of Jiraiya. As the great Frog Sage drifts and sinks to the bottom of the ocean, he smiles as he knows that his death wouldn’t be in vain. He entrusts the next chapter and what needs to be done to his pupil – Naruto.