"Sage Art: Water Severing Wave!"
Sage Shima was the first to open fire.
Whoosh!
A silvery-white torrent swept over like a ribbon, easily cleaving Tang Ping in two.
Yet there was not the slightest hint of relaxation on Jiraiya's face, which bore fewer toad-like traits now.
If that was all the enemy had, he would not deserve such caution.
The simplest proof was this.
The Wood Human, Wood Dragon, and the rest, still wrapped in magma, showed no sign of dispersing.
Jiraiya directly threw a Frog Kumite punch to the side, colliding with a massive magma fist.
Boom!
Under the terrifying clash of power, the magma lake beneath them surged outward like towering waves.
"It seems the Fifth Hokage's strength has improved quite a bit!"
Tang Ping's leisurely voice rang out.
That punch, propelled by Great Eruption, could have blasted through even a small mountain. He had not expected Jiraiya to block it so easily, which truly surprised him.
By his estimate, even if the other man could take that punch, it should not have been so effortless.
"Sage Art: Frog Call!"
Sage Fukasaku unleashed this sound-based genjutsu.
Tang Ping showed no reaction whatsoever.
He had already demonstrated his terrifying resistance to genjutsu on the battlefield before, so he had never expected to catch anyone off guard with it now.
Jiraiya surely knew his intelligence inside and out, yet he still chose to try it. That could only mean one thing.
He wanted to verify that piece of intelligence in preparation for the coming battle.
Few among the strongest were idiots. Those with poor judgment had long since had grass growing over their graves.
Even Hashirama's mind was exceptionally sharp in battle.
A certain prince favored by his Six Paths Father could be excluded from that rule.
"**Sage Art: Yomi