Nine blades peirced Jiriaya's broken body, making him cough up blood 'so this is how it ends? well lets hope this keeps the pact'
The pact of the Sannin is a rarely known thing, known only to four people, Sarutobi, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.
Flashback
"Jiraiya you need to learn to help your teammates, or you will always fail" Sarutobi said emotionlessly, while Tsunade and Orochimaru looked at him. Tsunade stuck her tongue out at him while Orochimaru gave him a look of disgust.
Jiraiya looked down and sighed "I know, but they are never willing to help" He sighed. Sarutobi knew he had more potential than either of his other students, but was not about to play favorites. He sighed and walked away, Tsunade and Orochimaru in tow.
Three years later
Jiraiya had just took a blade for Orochimaru, it went right through his side. Orochimaru looked sad, angry, and hopeless all at the same time.
"jiraiya... why?" He cried out angrily
"always protect... and if worst comes to worst.... die with honor, make someone stronger by your death" Jiraiya mumbled out.
Flashback end
Jiraiya was now drowning and bleeding to death, but he never left the pact of the sannin, he left naruto, who grew and became more powerful from his death.
Orochimaru died without honor, but he still kept to the pact, leaving sasuke who became stronger with his death
Tsunade died in the battle with pein, with honor, but she left sakura, who she had to become stronger from her death.
Sarutobi had died defending his village from his old student, and by doing so he made an entire village stronger.
Even some who had never heard of the pact had learned from it.
Pein died and left konan to become stronger.
Itachi died and left sasuke to become stronger.
Zabuza died, making team 7 become stronger.
Jiraiya looked one last time, as water filled his veins and inwardly sighed. This was the end of the sannin, only to be replaced by a new generation. He was the model ninja, always learning, or teaching. His cover as a pervert worked to hide his true power.
In the end, there is only one lesson to learn, learn all you can, and leave someone better in your wake, for that is the pact of the sannin.