The Kazekage's Ambition

"What?!"

But after exerting all his strength, he discovered that the Gold Dust shackles were as immovable as if they were cast from pure gold.

Moreover, more Gold Dust was climbing up his legs. When he looked to his left, he saw surging waves of Gold Dust.

"Jiraiya, I can only help you this much!"

Gamabunta exhaled a puff of smoke helplessly, then suddenly opened his mouth.

"Water Style? Iron Hammer!"

He spat out a large water ball, which shot towards the Third Kazekage in the air.

The Kazekage casually gestured, and a dark Iron Sand Wall appeared to block the water ball.

Bang!

The large water ball was quite powerful. Even the hard Iron Sand Wall was struck with a huge dent, almost being pierced through.

After leaving those words, Gamabunta dispelled the Summoning Jutsu himself and returned to Mount Myōboku, as the Chakra within him was almost depleted from the earlier clash of ninjutsu.

"Teacher!"

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Two shouts rang out almost simultaneously.

Jiraiya, who was about to fall from Gamabunta's head to the Gold Dust ground, was suddenly caught by a flash of green.

"Are you underestimating me? But, the title of 'Sannin' is indeed not for nothing..." the Kazekage feigned anger, but his aura was stable, suggesting he hadn't suffered any significant losses.

The fleeting green shadow revealed its true form: a giant, emerald-green toad carrying two large swords on its back.

"Gamahiro, I'm sorry, Gamabunta had to return. I'll have to trouble you!" Minato and Jiraiya stood on Gamahiro's head. He greeted Gamahiro gently as always.

Gamahiro simply grunted softly.

With remarkable agility, it leaped dozens of meters away.

This area was still a dense forest. Upon landing here, Gamahiro crushed a few small trees.

"Even you couldn't take down the enemy?"

"It seems this enemy is no ordinary foe!"

Jiraiya's expression grew solemn. Judging from the vast waves of Gold Dust they had just witnessed, the other two ninja from Sunagakure were clearly not to be trifled with.

"Yes, Teacher!"

"That red-haired youth's puppets are quite peculiar. I wonder what material they are made of. Their surfaces shimmer with a layer that looks like liquid metal, or perhaps... like living things."

"My Rasengan was directly swallowed by that puppet. Otherwise, I could have at least dealt with the guy using the Gold Dust."

"Is that so... a powerful puppet that even you can't identify?" Jiraiya stroked his chin, seemingly contemplating something.

"It seems I have no choice but to enter Sage Mode!" Jiraiya decided after a brief moment of thought.

"Teacher?!"

"Teacher, should we continue pursuing them?" Souya asked the Kazekage.

"What?" The Kazekage knitted his delicate brows. Based on his years of understanding Souya, who possessed both talent and diligence, and was exceptionally proactive in completing missions, he shouldn't have thoughts of cowardice.

If the Kazekage knew that Souya's diligent training was solely for better self-preservation, and that the so-called "Will of Wind" of Sunagakure ranked far behind that, his feelings would likely be very complex.

After all, Souya, who had just brushed past death, now not only had thoughts of cowardice but very strong ones at that!

"The Yellow Flash's speed is too great! Even if we temporarily repel them, we won't be able to kill them!"

"If we delay any longer and Konohagakure's reinforcements arrive, the situation will be reversed." Souya narrowed his eyes, looking towards Jiraiya and his student ahead.

He had already noticed Jiraiya clasping his hands together, forming a hand seal, and the lines beneath his eyes suddenly stretching significantly.

Meanwhile, Minato was forming hand seals towards the sky, and the transparent barrier was spreading diagonally downwards, as if intending to turn this area into a sealed, large-scale arena.

It seemed their intentions aligned with the Kazekage's, planning to eliminate the threat right here.

The Kazekage gazed at Souya's eyes, as if trying to see through his soul, but unfortunately, Souya met his gaze with a composed expression, revealing nothing.

Then, the Kazekage looked up at the transparent barrier above, as if suddenly remembering something. He spoke, "They can use Sealing Techniques to restrain us, so we can also use Sealing Techniques to restrain them!"

Upon hearing this, Souya really wanted to retort. With Minato, who possessed Uzuki Kushina, his Sealing Techniques were practically at the pinnacle of the ninja world...

Though the Sealing Techniques he learned from Grand-Uncle Bunpuku were not low-level, they were still quite lacking compared to the Uzumaki Clan.

However, seeing the Kazekage's determined look, Souya knew further persuasion would be futile.

After all, if they could kill these two prominent figures of Konohagakure here, Sunagakure, by pursuing victory, would at least be able to tear off a large piece from the wealthy territory of the Land of Fire to satisfy its long-thirsty citizens!

"Senior Brother Rasa! Please first..."

"Sasori, you..."

After composing himself, Souya quickly laid out their strategy. After all, with the four of them together, if they couldn't win, they could surely escape...

"Teacher, let's attack directly. That white-haired guy seems to be preparing some incredible ninjutsu!"

Souya, Sasori, and the Kazekage sped directly towards the giant green toad.

Meanwhile, Rasa quietly landed in a hidden spot, preparing something unknown.

The third scroll on Sasori's back had also opened at some point. Two puppets stood beside him. One was refined from Suikazan Fuguki, Samehada, and some rare metals. The other was the surviving rock ninja puppet from the previous great battle against the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

As for the Raiga Kurosuki puppet, under Sasori's control, it erupted with dazzling silver lightning that danced above the two of them.

After witnessing Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique, it was natural to first implement defensive measures.

The Kazekage spread his wide Iron Sand Wings, stirring up gusts of wind while simultaneously condensing a dense circle of Iron Sand.

In the blink of an eye, this circle of Iron Sand stretched and deformed, forming sharp spears emitting a dark, cold glint. They were all aimed squarely at Jiraiya.

Whoosh! Whoosh...

Sharp whistling sounds pierced the air.

After all, his hands were clasped tightly together at this moment, making him an obvious target.

Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya made no move. The giant green toad beneath their feet, however, was quite swift, drawing two massive swords from its back.

It crossed the swords in its hands and began to spin them rapidly.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The toad wielded the two giant swords with great vigor, like a massive windmill, easily slicing the spears to shreds.