The Sage (Part One)

Jiraiya pressed one palm against the rock wall at the bottom of the crater and poured chakra into it.

In an instant, the earth within several hundred meters softened, turning into a filthy mud pit. The many buildings standing on the surface lost the support of solid ground and slowly sank under the force of gravity.

The Giant Lobster and crab summoned by Animal Path Pain were caught in it as well.

Seeing the ground beneath them turn into a mud pit, they struggled to escape. Unfortunately, the mud offered no footing at all. The harder they struggled, the deeper they sank.

Before long, half of both giant beasts' bodies had disappeared into the mud.

Seeing that the two Summoned Beasts could no longer help, Nagato had no choice but to cancel the summoning.

Bang! Bang!

Two clouds of white smoke rose, and the lobster and crab vanished into the filthy mud. They could not be summoned again for a short while.

Just as Nagato was preparing to search for Jiraiya, a black figure shot out of the pit and landed on the wall of a nearby building.

"Mount Myōboku, Toad Sage Jiraiya has arrived!"

Nagato took a closer look and saw that it was indeed Jiraiya.

However, Jiraiya's face had changed. Strange red markings covered it, along with quite a few little bumps.

Most strangely, two old toads the size of basketballs had appeared on his shoulders.

"Those are the two Toad Sages of Mount Myōboku. Jiraiya has entered Sage Mode. Be very careful!" Black Zetsu emerged from the wall not far from Nagato and solemnly warned him.

Nagato did not know Fukasaku and Shima, but that did not mean Black Zetsu did not know them.

Hearing this, Nagato frowned slightly and muttered, "So this is the Sage Power