Slaying Jiraiya!

As the toad's chanting echoed, every Mist ninja in Tsunan Town froze in place, their expressions turning dazed and vacant.

Only Yuki Yoru remained unharmed, standing atop the ice wall. He listened to the toad song reverberating in his ears, his expression solemn.

"Sage Technique: Toad Song: Fudo Myo-o..."

Yoru was naturally familiar with this sonic genjutsu.

The reason was simple: the technique's reputation was far too legendary. It could bind not only the spirit but also the physical body. Its power was terrifying, capable of trapping even those with the Rinnegan.

In terms of genjutsu intensity, Yoru even felt it surpassed Tsukuyomi!

If it weren't for Hyōrinmaru constantly using spiritual power to protect him, he would likely be just like everyone else who had fallen victim to the technique, trapped deep within the illusion.

"Separating the Toad Sages from yourself, letting them maintain the power of the genjutsu while you deal with me... You had already anticipated that I wouldn't be affected by the genjutsu, hadn't you?"

Yoru gripped Hyōrinmaru, looking at Jiraiya. Jiraiya had not yet exited Sage Mode, but the two Toad Sages on his shoulders had already detached and landed on the ground.

"But, without the assistance of the two Toad Sages, how long can you maintain this half-baked Sage Mode?"

"I didn't expect you to have so much intelligence on me."

Jiraiya spoke in a deep voice: "It seems the Mist's ANBU isn't as decayed as the memories of Suikazan Fuguki suggested."

"For the renowned Sannin, even the most decayed factions would make sure to study you thoroughly."

"A genius like you actually cares about the title of the so-called Sannin?"

"Using words to stall for time, all to gather natural energy and restore your Senjutsu Chakra—isn't that trick a bit too low-level?"

Because he lacked the assistance of the two Great Toad Sages, Jiraiya's Sage Mode was experiencing significant instability. Even the eye makeup symbolizing Sage Mode had begun to fade, and his eyes were reverting to human pupils rather than the horizontal slits of a toad.

However.

As he continued to gather natural energy, Jiraiya managed to stabilize his Sage Mode once more.

But upon hearing Yoru's words, Jiraiya's brows twitched violently: "Since you knew I was stalling for time, why..."

"Because I was brewing a grand technique of my own."

Yoru suddenly grinned, raising Hyōrinmaru toward Jiraiya. The incantation he had been reciting silently in his heart had reached its end.

"...Know your own powerlessness. Hado #90."

"What?!"

"Black Coffin!"

Jiraiya sensed something was wrong immediately and instinctively tried to dodge.

However, the surging torrent of gravity locked onto his body. A heavy, immense pressure, as if thousands of pounds of force had suddenly descended, permeated the area. A deep, abyssal blackness emerged, instantly binding and enveloping Jiraiya's entire body!

"Little Jiraiya!"

The Black Coffin dissipated, and a blood-stained Jiraiya tumbled out, crashing onto the ground.

The two Toad Sages, who were maintaining the genjutsu, cried out in alarm at the same time: "Damn bastard, retreat quickly, Little Jiraiya!"

"Retreat?"

Yoru's cold voice rang out: "Retreat where?"

A blade descended. Jiraiya tried to dodge, but in his severely wounded state, he was far too slow. A gash opened from his left shoulder all the way down, slicing across nearly his entire abdomen.

However, although the wound looked gruesome, very little blood sprayed out.

The expressions on the faces of the two Toad Sages grew increasingly grim: "Little Jiraiya..."

Layers of ice crystals seeped through the wound and into Jiraiya's body. The freezing temperature made him shiver uncontrollably.

He could feel his blood, his muscles, and his internal organs being continuously frozen by the cold. In just a few breaths, Jiraiya's condition had plummeted to its absolute limit.

"Little Jiraiya!!"

Sage Fukasaku was frantic, pointing at Yoru and shouting angrily: "You cannot kill Little Jiraiya! If you dare to kill him, I will make sure that within this genjutsu..."

Squelch!

Hyōrinmaru pierced through Jiraiya's throat, and blood gushed incessantly from his mouth.

Yoru remained expressionless. He exerted force with his palm, driving Hyōrinmaru directly into the ice, pinning Jiraiya firmly to the frozen surface.

Blood trickled continuously from his throat and mouth. Jiraiya struggled for a few moments before going still.

[Ding! Successfully completed S-rank objective "Jiraiya" (Task 2). Task 3: Reward 250,000 Points.]

[Ding! Successfully killed a Kage-level powerhouse. Reward: 10,000 Points.]

"Little Jiraiya!!"

"Teacher Jiraiya!!!"

The two Toad Sages and Kushina, who had just arrived at the battlefield, stared in disbelief at the limp, white-haired figure lying on the ground. An unspeakable pain and sorrow instantly consumed their reason.

A terrifying surge of Senjutsu erupted from within the two Sages.

A subtle Water Cutter shot out from Sage Fukasaku's mouth, hurtling toward the Mist Ninja trapped within the genjutsu.

"Binding Spell #81: Danku!"

An invisible wall manifested before Fukasaku, but a Danku cast without an incantation was naturally unable to stop the enraged Toad Sage.

More than half of the Kirigakure ninja controlled by the Toad's song were sliced in two.

However, the unusually agitated emotions finally allowed the powerful Kirigakure ninja trapped within the illusion to recover. Karatachi Yagura narrowly dodged to the side, avoiding being dismembered, though his shoulder was still pierced, sending blood spraying into the air.

The intense pain caused Karatachi Yagura's expression to shift slightly, but he soon noticed Jiraiya, whose throat had been pierced by Yoru, lying dead. A look of wild joy instantly appeared on his face.

"Yoru, well done!"

The strategic value of the Sannin Jiraiya went without saying.

As the "General" specifically transferred from the Iwagakure battlefield by Sarutobi Hiruzen to oversee the Kirigakure front, Jiraiya represented the highest combat power and supreme command of Konoha on the Kirigakure battlefield.

Killing Jiraiya was undoubtedly a major victory for Kirigakure over Konoha!

"You two toads, stay here as well!"

A ruthless smile appeared on Yagura's baby face as he quickly formed hand seals.

The two Toad Sages exchanged a glance and instantly arrived beside Jiraiya's corpse. They grabbed the body and vanished on the spot, turning into white smoke.

"Hmph, they ran fast enough."

"Hum!!"

Yagura let out a cold snort, but the next moment—

A hair-raising aura rose in the distance, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present.

Red, sinister chakra continuously overflowed from Kushina's body. The girl, who had looked so beautiful and lovely, now had her red hair flying wildly, and one after another, several tails rose up behind her.

Everyone present turned pale, gasping in shock.

"A Jinchuriki?!"

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Damn it, has Konoha gone mad? They actually sent the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to the battlefield!"