Jiraiya’s death was one of the saddest in the Naruto franchise. Here’s how he died and which episode of Naruto: Shippūden it happened in.
How did Jiraiya die in Naruto: Shippūden and in what episode does Jiraiya die? Alongside Jiraiya’s former teammates Lady Tsunade and Orochimaru, Jiraiya was one of the “Legendary Great Three Students of the God Shinobi.” Series lead Naruto Uzumaki had several mentors aid him in his quest to become Hokage of Konoha, but it’s fair to say that fan-favorite Jiraiya was probably the most influential because he was both a teacher and father figure to the young ninja-in-training. Jiraiya is also one of the few Naruto characters to die and not be resurrected, which makes his death sting that little bit more.
Also known as the Toad Sage (thanks to his toad summoning abilities) and the Pervy Sage (thanks to his peeping tom tendencies), Jiraiya made his debut in the first season of the Naruto anime series and soon took the titular character under his wing. He played a huge part in molding the anime’s hero into a powerful ninja and was the first of Naruto’s mentors to attempt to teach him how to control his Nine-Tails power. Jiraiya also taught his pupil how to summon animals and helped him master the Rasengan technique which would become one of Naruto’s signature attacks.
Sadly, Jiraiya’s time was cut short in Naruto: Shippūden. The sixth season of the anime saw Jiraiya depart Konoha for Amegakure on a mission to infiltrate the village and investigate the whereabouts of Akatsuki leader Pain. Jiraiya soon comes face-to-face with Pain and learns the Akatsuki leader is none other than his former mentee Nagato who – like Naruto – he took under his wing and trained. Here’s everything else that viewers need to know about Jiraiya’s death in Naruto: Shippūden, his return in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and the character’s future.
Naruto’s Jiraiya Death Explained: What Episode Does Jiraiya Die?
Unfortunately, Jiraiya and Nagato’s reunion was not a happy one and the two engaged in a battle that resulted in Jiraiya’s death in Naruto: Shippūden episode 133, “The Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant.” As Jiraiya and Akatsuki leader Nagato fought each other, the latter unleashed his Six Paths of Pain which proved too much even for an accomplished ninja like Jiraiya to overcome. During the battle, Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain severed Jiraiya’s arm and crushed his throat before impaling him in the back multiple times with a volley of black chakra rods. In the moments before he died, Jiraiya used the last reserves of his energy to writing a coded message on his toad friend Fukasaku’s back that would provide Naruto with clues as to Pain’s real identity.
What Episode Does Jiraiya Come Back? (And How Does He Return In Boruto?)
Although Jiraiya wasn’t resurrected during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Jiraiya reappears in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations episode 132, “Jiraiya’s Assignment,” in which Boruto and Sasuke go back in time. Aiming to better sync his chakra with Naruto’s, Boruto meets a Genin Naruto training in the past with Jiraiya. Furthermore, it’s also revealed that Kashin Koji is a clone of Jiraiya in Boruto episode 214, “Predestined Fate.” Created by Amado to infiltrate the evil Kara faction and take down Isshiki Otsutsuki, Kashin Koji continues to play a key role in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. While Kashin Koji cannot hope to match Jiraiya’s charisma, he does succeed at keeping Jiraiya’s legacy alive through his similar array of ninjutsu.
Is Jiraiya Coming Back In Boruto?
Jiraiya’s death in Naruto: Shippūden was crucial, allowing Naruto to grow into the independent ninja he came to be, but this doesn’t rule out another Jiraiya reappearance in Boruto. During Boruto‘s Time Slip Arc, it’s implied that Jiraiya knows that Sasuke and Boruto are from the future and is aware of their true intentions, which means there’s a chance that Jiraiya could somehow travel to Boruto‘s timeline. Meanwhile, although it’s pretty clear that Kashin Koji is not actually Jiraiya, the clone’s continuing story could eventually answer certain key questions about Jiraiya in Naruto: Shippūden. From a narrative standpoint, the finality of Jiraiya’s death is a crucial turning point in Naruto’s evolution, which means that it’s highly unlikely that Jiraiya will somehow be reanimated or resurrected in Boruto. However, one thing is for sure: the Naruto franchise is definitely not done with Jiraiya.
