Jiraiya's face suddenly twisted with shock. He seemed not even to notice when the Great Ball Rasengan in his hand was crushed by Shukaku's beast claw after holding it off for a brief moment.
"Little Jiraiya!"
"Defend yourself!"
"Dear, hurry!"
"Let's transfer all our Senjutsu Chakra to Little Jiraiya!"
Though Sage Shima had seen her old partner's tongue badly injured, at this critical moment she displayed remarkable composure and didn't panic.
At that moment, Needle Jizo was the only Senjutsu technique Jiraiya could cast instantly. He had just whipped his hair around himself, wrapping it up like a blanket,
when a storm of golden blades came pouring down.
Clang! Clang! Clang...
Souya narrowed his eyes, watching the white steel ball in the air being battered by the raging torrent of golden blades. He was sensing how much Senjutsu Chakra remained inside it.
A moment later,
as the golden tide on the ground began to thin, the white sphere in the air also started to drift down.
It was easy to see that the hair forming the sphere had grown sparse. It no longer shimmered with the cold gleam of steel.
Souya raised both hands, and grains of Gold Sand quickly floated over to him, gathering into a thick, sharp spear.
He gripped the spear with both hands and twisted. A ring of yellow light gradually rose across its surface.
The light pulsed and contracted, then gathered at the spearhead, forming a nearly solid golden-yellow triangular tip that clung to its point.
Souya then gripped the golden spear tightly in his right hand, bent his arm, and raised it over his shoulder. The spear stood nearly upright, its tip slightly lower than its butt.
After taking up the standard throwing stance, Souya didn't hesitate. He aimed at the opening and gave