Jiraiya in Sage Mode was truly terrifying.
With the boost from Senjutsu, his chakra reserves, combat ability, and physical prowess had all increased tremendously.
Combined with Jiraiya's outstanding battle experience, it was no exaggeration to say he had the terrifying strength to take on an entire army by himself!
Against an opponent of this caliber,
even with the "Infinite Water Element" battlefield buff and "Shunko: Fury of Winter," which Yoru had exchanged for fifty thousand Points, he was still no match for Jiraiya.
He could only hold him back to a certain extent.
But that was already enough.
He didn't need to force himself to take Jiraiya's head alone. He couldn't do it anyway.
After all,
dozens of Kirigakure's elite ninja were still on the field, including Karatachi Yagura. With their help, the pressure on Yoru would be much lighter.
"Suiton: Wild Water Wave!"
"Water Style: Water Pressure Bullet!"
"Ten Finger Drilling Bullets!"
"Secret Hyoton Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
Ninjutsu poured toward Jiraiya in a dense barrage, as if it cost nothing, forcing him to defend himself.
"Sage Technique! Goemon!"
The scorching Sage Technique Fire Release, hot enough to rival the flames of an entire squad, roared across the ice as it clashed head-on with the many incoming techniques.
But in an instant, Yoru appeared behind him, and Hyōrinmaru slashed toward Jiraiya's neck.
"Little Jiraiya! Watch out!"
Sage Fukasaku cried out in alarm. At the same time, Jiraiya's heightened reflexes in Sage Mode helped him notice Yoru's presence immediately. Even so, while casting Goemon, he couldn't completely evade Yoru's attack.
"Shhk!"
A blade of ice cut deep into Jiraiya's back. Ignoring the pain, the Toad Sage quickly scrambled across the ground.
The Kirigakure ninja, watching like predators poised to strike, were about to pursue when the two Toad Sages on Jiraiya's shoulders simultaneously unleashed Senjutsu.
The Kirigakure assault was briefly held back.
"This won't work, little Jiraiya. There are too many of them."
"Even with the old man and me helping you, you can't handle this many Kirigakure ninja. That Hyoton brat's techniques are too troublesome."
"Yeah, I know."
Jiraiya's gaze kept shifting, lingering on the direction the Konoha ninja had retreated. But the clamor of battle coming from that way made his heart sink.
There were too many Kirigakure ninja—far too many for him to stop on his own.
And because he had to prevent these powerful Kirigakure ninja from pursuing the others, he couldn't use many of his techniques. He could only do his best to hold them back with large-scale jutsu.
But... even so, he had to keep these people in front of him from getting through!
"Boss, Big Sis, if your lives are ever in danger, please go back right away."
"Don't be ridiculous, little Jiraiya. We can't do that."
"Hahahaha, I'm not joking, Big Sis, Boss." Jiraiya rapidly formed Hand Seals, then slammed his hands down. "Sage Technique: Yomi Swamp!"
The ice below suddenly turned into a muddy swamp, and countless Kirigakure ninja, bewildered by the Toad Song genjutsu, sank into it at once.
But in the next instant, a biting chill swept through, and the muddy swamp froze solid.
"That fellow's Hyoton is extremely unusual. I don't know how he does it, but his techniques really do contain a tremendous amount of Natural Energy."
Sage Fukasaku gazed at Yuki Yoru with a grave expression. "It's not quite at the level of Senjutsu, but it's far beyond ordinary chakra-based Hyoton. Otherwise, it wouldn't have stopped either Goemon or Yomi Swamp."
"Yeah, he really is a monster of a boy. Most importantly, the intelligence says he's only fourteen— even younger than Minato."
Jiraiya crushed the ice blade embedded in his back and looked toward Yuki Yoru, who stood nearby bare-chested, Hyōrinmaru in hand.
"Maybe... I should take him out first. If we let him grow, he'll become far too great a threat to Konoha!"
"Can you do it? His techniques are strange, and there are so many Kirigakure ninja here."
"Yeah, I've got a plan." Jiraiya nodded. "The kid's techniques are strange, his swordsmanship and Body Flicker are absurdly good, and even his Hyoton contains Natural Energy. He's definitely hard to fight under normal circumstances."
"Big Sis, Boss, use that 'genjutsu' to control a large area and give me a chance to fight the kid one-on-one. I'll take him out first!"
"He can use 'Senjutsu power' to some extent. That genjutsu probably won't work on him," Sage Fukasaku said gravely.
"I know. And if I'm not mistaken, that kid's right eye is the Sharingan transplanted from Shisui..." Jiraiya's gaze lingered briefly on Yoru's single eye. "So this time, you two use the technique to control everyone else and create an opportunity for me to fight him one-on-one!"
"Ah, at our age, singing with the kids' father... It's a bit..." Sage Shima blushed.
"Dear, why are you bringing that up at a time like this?" Sage Fukasaku said helplessly, then grew serious. "Since you've made up your mind, give it a try. If it doesn't work, we'll reverse summon you out of there!"
"Don't worry. I'm not the reckless sort."
Jiraiya nodded firmly.
Yoru's ice had covered Yomi Swamp, allowing the Kirigakure ninja to breathe easier. One by one, they broke through the ice and climbed out.
The battle between Jiraiya and Yoru was simply too intense. Even though they had dozens of elite ninja, all at the Jonin level, they still couldn't gain much of an advantage.
Jiraiya was completely holding his own in their clash of jutsu!
"Just as you'd expect from one of the Sannin. He's operating on a level far beyond that of an ordinary ninja."
"Jiraiya is powerful, but victory will ultimately belong to us."
"Taking the head of one of the Sannin will mark the beginning of Lord Yoru and Kirigakure winning this war!"
"Hahaha, exactly... Wait, what's that sound?"
Suddenly, all the Kirigakure ninja present looked confused.
At some point, the sound of croaking frogs had begun to echo over the ruins of Tsunan Town. The world before every Kirigakure ninja seemed to waver—and even Karatachi Yagura was affected.
In a daze, they felt the world before them abruptly change.
Though they should have been on the battlefield, they were now all trapped inside an enclosed water barrier.
Outside the barrier, four enormous toads in armor surrounded it from the north, south, east, and west. Each held a sword in its right hand and stretched out its left, pressing it against the outer wall of the glass-like water tank.
"Genjutsu?"
Karatachi Yagura's expression turned grave. "To trap so many people in a genjutsu all at once, in an instant... Our bodies can't move, but our minds are still clear... A Binding-type Genjutsu?"
"Wait, where are Yoru and Jiraiya?!"
"As expected, that boy wasn't caught in the genjutsu..." Sage Fukasaku said gravely, looking at the Kirigakure ninja trapped inside the water barrier.
"Looks like you're on your own now, little Jiraiya..."
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