Shunko!

"Crack, crack..."

The ice walls all around were constantly being shattered by Bunta. Uchiha Fugaku and Sarutobi Shinnosuke led the surviving Konoha Ninja in a continuous retreat.

Yagura's expression turned cold. He waved his hand and decisively gave the order.

"Leave not a single one of them alive!"

"Yes, Lord Yagura!"

The Kirigakure forces launched their pursuit, but in the next moment, a column of water came hurtling toward them.

The seemingly thin, unimposing column of water sliced across the ice wall like a blade, directly cleaving the thick wall in two.

The ice wall crashed down, blocking all the Kirigakure Ninja. Standing atop it was none other than Jiraiya!

"Don't think you can get past this Toad Sage of Myobokuzan!"

"Big Sis, Boss, use that move!"

The two sages immediately understood Jiraiya's intention. They abruptly pressed their hands together, while Jiraiya leaned back at the same time.

Three completely different techniques—gale-force wind, Toad Oil, and Fireball—were released simultaneously. Enhanced by Senjutsu Chakra, they formed a terrifying force resembling a volcanic eruption!

"Sage Art: Goemon!"

"A technique of this level!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the instant he saw the technique, Yagura's figure appeared before the Kirigakure Ninja, and he immediately cast the Water Mirror Technique!

But then, an astonishing scene unfolded.

The Jiraiya reflected in the mirror, along with the phantom images of the two Toad Sages, also unleashed raging flames, fierce winds, and Toad Oil. Yet in terms of both power and scale, the two sides were worlds apart!

In the blink of an eye, the Goemon released by Yagura was swallowed by Jiraiya's Sage Technique. Jiraiya's Goemon, however, continued toward the Kirigakure forces without losing any of its momentum.

"Not good!"

Yagura's pupils contracted.

The Water Mirror Technique was reputed to be capable of copying and reflecting every ninjutsu. It could even reproduce the power of many Kekkei Genkai on a one-to-one basis.

Yet at this moment, when facing Jiraiya's Senjutsu, the power copied by the Water Mirror Technique was completely on another level!

"Vacuum Multi-Layer Ice Wall!"

At the critical moment, Yoru brought his sword down. Layer upon layer of vacuum ice walls blocked the rolling molten fire at the limit.

The ice and molten fire collided, constantly hissing. Only after melting through several layers of ice did the flames gradually die out.

"It even managed to block Goemon?"

"Little Jiraiya, haven't you sensed it yet?" Sage Fukasaku stared at Yoru, who was gripping Hyōrinmaru. "The Hyoton this boy released isn't ordinary Hyoton. The power contained within it isn't ordinary Chakra either!"

Jiraiya paused slightly, his expression growing more solemn. "Ah, I only just noticed it myself..."

"I never thought you had mastered Senjutsu as well, Yuki Yoru!"

"Senjutsu?"

Yoru gripped Hyōrinmaru and took the initiative, slashing toward Jiraiya.

"Who cares about that stuff?"

Hyōrinmaru cut toward Jiraiya. Rather than retreat, Jiraiya advanced and attacked Yoru head-on.

In Sage Mode, both the amount of Chakra and the physical abilities of Jiraiya had increased dramatically. His speed was actually a fraction faster than Yoru's.

In the blink of an eye, Jiraiya appeared above Yoru. Senjutsu Chakra gathered in his palm, and a blue-white Super Giant Rasengan materialized, its diameter reaching more than ten meters!

"Sage Technique: Super Giant Rasengan!"

"BOOM!!"

As the attack crashed down, Yoru forced Hyōrinmaru up before him. Even so, he still felt an immense force pressing down on him, as though his internal organs were about to be knocked out of alignment.

The next moment, his entire body was blasted away.

"Yoru!"

"Lord Yoru!"

A graceful figure with reddish-brown hair burst from among the Kirigakure Ninja. Yurui, Hozuki Mangetsu, and the others also charged toward Yoru at that moment.

But the next instant—

From the shattered-ice crater where Yoru lay, a suffocating surge of Chakra suddenly erupted, forcibly bringing everyone to a halt.

"What is this?!"

Countless ice crystals were swept up by the violent Chakra, forming a freezing whirlwind. Yoru's figure was lifted by the vortex and slowly floated upward, standing in the center of the cyclone high in the sky.

Sharp ice shards coiled around his body, tearing apart the Kirigakure ANBU uniform covering his upper body.

The swirling ice shards resembled wings, yet also a cloak. They extended from Yoru's shoulders, making him appear like a deity who ruled over winter!

The ultimate fusion of Kido and Hakuda caused Yoru's aura to soar without limit.

"A technique similar to the Eight Gates?"

"That aura is incredibly powerful. Little Jiraiya, be careful!"

The two Toad Sages issued their warning. Jiraiya nodded solemnly, removed his shoes, and then dropped to all fours like a toad. In the next instant, he exerted force with all four limbs and launched himself at Yoru like a wild beast.

At the same time, he extended his right hand. Another Super Giant Rasengan more than ten meters in diameter appeared in his palm and came crashing toward Yoru.

Yoru did not dodge. Instead, he gripped Hyōrinmaru and slashed at Jiraiya.

"Sage Technique: Super Giant Rasengan!"

"Shunko: Fury of Winter!"

"BOOM!!!"

The power unleashed by Shunko was incredibly exaggerated. Faced with Jiraiya's Great Ball Rasengan in Sage Mode, the two attacks actually collided evenly.

An ice dragon roared as Vacuum Ice Blades swept toward them.

"Look out!"

Sage Fukasaku immediately took out a smoke bomb and smashed it beneath his feet. At the same time, Jiraiya's figure blurred, instantly avoiding the incoming ice dragon and ice blades while forcibly opening up some distance.

The instant he landed, the white hair on Jiraiya's body grew wildly, shooting toward Yoru like countless Senbon.

"Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!"

Layer upon layer of ice crystals appeared before Yoru, blocking the barrage of Hair Needle Senbon.

Shunpo erupted.

He swung his sword!

"Clang!!"

The battle between the two was astonishingly intense. After the collision of their frontal attacks, they entered a clash of Taijutsu, attempting to tear apart the opponent before them with the purest strength and combat skill.

The longer they fought, the more shocked Jiraiya became!

During their previous exchanges, Yoru had been able to trade a few moves with him, but he had basically relied on that strange technique, his swordsmanship, and Shunpo to keep him at bay. They had barely clashed head-on.

But now, after using that secret technique resembling the "Eight Gates," this brat Yoru had actually begun fighting him head-on!

Secret techniques, the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, swordsmanship, Body Flicker...

Was this fellow really only fourteen years old, rather than some old monster who had cultivated for several decades?!

"Sage Technique!"

"Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

The two collided fiercely. The instant they retreated again, Jiraiya rapidly formed Hand Seals, and a fire dragon formed from gathered Senjutsu Chakra suddenly spewed forth.

Enhanced by Senjutsu Chakra, every ninjutsu technique received a tremendous increase in both range and power.

Yoru brought his sword down. Vacuum Multi-Layer Ice Walls condensed, forcibly blocking the fire dragon.

Ice and fire interwove at that moment.

The hissing water vapor, combined with the remnants of the Kirigakure Technique lingering in the air, made the entire world increasingly hazy with mist.

Yet in the distance, screams came from the Konoha Ninja who were retreating.

Jiraiya, who had entered Sage Mode, was indeed immensely powerful. Even after Yoru had spent fifty thousand Points to exchange for "Shunko: Fury of Winter," he could only barely hold him back.

But that was already enough.

As long as Jiraiya was held back, those defeated Konoha Ninja fleeing in disarray would become nothing more than prey for Kirigakure!

(With his mask on)