Shunko!

"Crack, crack..."

The surrounding ice walls were continuously destroyed by Bunta as Uchiha Fugaku and Sarutobi Shinnosuke led the surviving Konohagakure shinobi in a steady retreat.

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

"Leave none of them behind!"

"Yes, Lord Yagura!"

The Kirigakure ninjas launched their pursuit, but in the next instant, a water jet came streaking in.

That seemingly thin and harmless water jet, as it sliced through the ice wall, cut through the thick barrier like a blade, cleaving it cleanly in two.

The ice wall collapsed, blocking the path of all the Kirigakure ninjas. And standing atop that ice wall was none other than Jiraiya!

"You won't get past me, the Toad Sage of Myobokuzan!"

"Boss Lady, Boss, use that technique!"

The two sages immediately understood Jiraiya's intent. They clasped their hands together, and at the same time, Jiraiya leaned his body backward.

Gale, Toad Oil, and Fireball—three completely different techniques—were unleashed simultaneously. Empowered by Sage Chakra, they merged into a terrifying force reminiscent of a volcanic eruption!

"Sage Technique: Goemon!"

"A technique of this caliber!"

Without a moment's hesitation, the moment he saw that technique, Yagura appeared before the Kirigakure ninjas and immediately activated the Water Mirror Technique!

But what followed was a shocking sight.

The reflection of Jiraiya and the two toad sages in the mirror also unleashed flames, gale winds, and toad oil, yet the difference in both power and scale was immense!

In the blink of an eye, Yagura's Goemon was devoured by Jiraiya's Sage Technique, while Jiraiya's Goemon surged forward toward the Kirigakure side with undiminished force.

"Not good!"

Yagura's pupils contracted.

The Water Mirror Technique was said to be capable of replicating and reflecting all ninjutsu, even copying many Kekkei Genkai abilities at a one-to-one ratio.

But now, against Jiraiya's Senjutsu, the power replicated by the Water Mirror Technique was on an entirely different level!

"Vacuum Multi-Layer Ice Wall!"

At the critical moment, Yoru swung his blade down, and layer upon layer of vacuum ice walls barely managed to block the rolling torrent of molten fire.

The ice surface hissed as it met the flames, and after several layers melted away, the fire finally died out.

"So even Goemon can be blocked?"

"Little Jiraiya, haven't you noticed yet?" Sage Fukasaku stared at Yoru, who gripped Hyōrinmaru. "That kid's Ice Release isn't ordinary Ice Release. The power within it isn't just ordinary chakra!"

Jiraiya paused, his expression growing even more serious. "Ah, I only just noticed..."

"I didn't expect you to also wield Senjutsu, Yuki Yoru!"

"Senjutsu?"

Yoru gripped Hyōrinmaru and charged at Jiraiya, blade swinging.

"Who cares about that!"

Hyōrinmaru slashed toward Jiraiya, but instead of retreating, Jiraiya advanced, meeting Yoru head-on.

In Sage Mode, Jiraiya's chakra reserves and physical abilities were vastly enhanced. His speed was so great that it even surpassed Yoru's by a hair.

In an instant, Jiraiya appeared above Yoru. Sage Chakra gathered in his palm, and a massive spiral sphere radiating blue-white light formed—its diameter a full ten meters!

"Sage Technique: Super Giant Rasengan!"

"Boom!!"

As the attack came crashing down, Yoru forced Hyōrinmaru up to block it. Even so, he felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, as if his internal organs were about to be displaced.

Then he was blasted away entirely.

"Yoru!"

"Lord Yoru!"

A graceful figure with reddish-brown hair rushed out from among the Kirigakure ninjas. Yurui, Hozuki Mangetsu, and the others also charged toward Yoru in that moment.

But the next instant.

From the crater of shattered ice where Yoru had landed, a suffocating burst of chakra erupted, forcing everyone to halt in their tracks.

"This is!"

Countless ice crystals were swept up by the violent chakra, forming a frigid tornado. Yoru's body was lifted by the vortex, slowly rising to hover in the sky at the tornado's center.

Biting ice shards swirled around him, tearing apart the upper half of his Kirigakure ANBU uniform.

The swirling ice fragments spread from his shoulders like wings or a cloak, casting him in the image of a deity commanding the depths of winter!

The ultimate fusion of Kido and Hakuda elevated Yoru's presence to an unfathomable height in that moment.

"Similar to the Eight Gates technique."

"A very intense aura. Little Jiraiya, be careful."

The two Toad Sages called out in warning. Jiraiya nodded solemnly, kicked off his sandals, then dropped to all fours like a toad. In the next instant, he pushed off with all four limbs simultaneously, launching himself at Yoru like a wild beast.

At the same time, he extended his right hand. Another Super Giant Rasengan, over ten meters in diameter, materialized in his palm as he slammed it down toward Yoru.

Yoru did not dodge. Gripping Hyōrinmaru, he swung his blade at Jiraiya.

"Sage Technique: Super Giant Rasengan!"

"Shunko: Fury of Winter!"

Boom!!!

The power unleashed by Shunko was monstrous. Clashing head-on against Jiraiya's Sage Mode Giant Rasengan, the two forces canceled each other out evenly.

Ice dragons howled. Vacuum Ice Blades swept in.

"Watch out!"

Sage Fukasaku immediately pulled out a smoke bomb and slammed it at his feet. At the same time, Jiraiya's form flickered, evading the incoming ice dragons and blades as he forcibly created distance.

The moment he landed, Jiraiya's white hair erupted wildly, shooting toward Yoru like a storm of senbon.

"Sage Technique: Hair Needle Senbon!"

A layered wall of ice crystals formed before Yoru, blocking the barrage of Hair Needle Senbon.

Shunpo flared.

He swung his blade.

"Clang!!"

Their battle was ferocious. After the collision of raw energy, they descended into close-quarters combat, each trying to tear the other apart with pure strength and martial skill.

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Jiraiya became!

In their earlier exchanges, Yoru had been able to trade a few blows, but he had mostly relied on bizarre techniques, swordsmanship, and Shunpo to keep Jiraiya at bay. There had been few direct clashes.

But now, after using that secret technique resembling the Eight Gates, Yoru was meeting him head-on!

Secret techniques, Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, swordsmanship, instant movement...

Was this kid really only fourteen, and not some ancient monster who had trained for decades?!

"Sage Technique!"

"Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

The two slammed into each other once more. As they recoiled apart, Jiraiya's hands blurred through seals. A fire dragon, forged from Sage Chakra, erupted violently.

Under the enhancement of Sage Chakra, every ninjutsu he used—whether in range or power—was massively amplified.

Yoru swung his blade down. A Vacuum Multi-Layer Ice Wall condensed, forcibly halting the fire dragon.

Ice and fire intertwined.

Hissing steam rose, mingling with the lingering mist of the Kirigakure Technique still hanging in the air, making the world even hazier.

But from the distance, the retreating Konohagakure shinobi screamed in agony.

Jiraiya, having activated Sage Mode, was indeed formidable. Even Yoru, spending a full fifty thousand Points to exchange for "Shunko: Fury of Winter," could barely hold him back.

But that was enough.

As long as he held Jiraiya here, the fleeing Konoha shinobi would become nothing but prey for the Mist.