Even summoning beasts from the Three Great Sacred Lands were ultimately outmatched when facing a Tailed Beast head-on.
After only a few exchanges, Gamabunta had already been beaten back by Shukaku again and again.
Gamabunta's appearance in Konoha Village also drew the attention of many people. As the Fourth Hokage's personal mount, he was quite well-known among Konoha's ninja.
There were only a handful of people capable of summoning the toads of Mount Myōboku. With the Fourth Hokage dead, Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Sannin, should have been the only one left.
When the Third Hokage and Orochimaru, trapped within the Four Violet Flames Formation, first saw Gamabunta, they too thought Jiraiya had arrived. But when they discovered that Naruto was the one who had summoned Bunta, the Third Hokage could not help showing disappointment.
Jiraiya was indeed in Konoha, but he had not entered the central area. Instead, he was suppressing the giant snakes summoned by the Sound Ninja.
Jiraiya had been away from Konoha for many years. After witnessing his two companions leave the village and defect one after another, then later suffering the deaths of his student Minato and his wife, he had long since become disappointed in both present-day Konoha and the Third Hokage.
One side of the battle was his former teacher, while the other was his old friend. Interfering would only make him miserable, which was why Jiraiya chose to avoid it this way.
"That is Sand Shukaku, isn't it? I didn't expect the Sand Village to bring even such a devastating weapon to destroy Konoha this time.
Jiraiya, is it really fine for you not to go over there? Bunta probably isn't Shukaku's match, and that kid should be the Fourth Hokage's only child."
After hearing Gamakichi beneath him, Jiraiya revealed a conflicted expression.