Jiraiya's Demise!

As the toads' chant rang out, every Kirigakure Ninja in Tsunan Town froze in place, their expressions dazed.

Only Yuki Yoru stood unharmed atop the ice wall, listening to the toads' chant echo around him, his expression solemn.

"Senjutsu: Toad Song: Fudo Myo-o..."

Yoru naturally knew of this sound-based genjutsu.

There was no other reason: this technique was simply too famous. It could bind the mind, and even the body itself, making it terrifyingly powerful. Even the Rinnegan couldn't block it.

Yoru even felt that its genjutsu surpassed Tsukuyomi!

If Hyōrinmaru hadn't been using Spirit Power to protect him every moment, he would likely have fallen under the genjutsu just like everyone else who'd been caught in it.

"You separated the Toad Sages from yourself, letting them maintain the genjutsu while you deal with me... Did you already expect that I wouldn't fall under it?"

Yoru gripped Hyōrinmaru and looked at Jiraiya. He was still in Sage Mode, but the two Toad Sages who had been perched on his shoulders had already detached themselves and landed on the ground.

"Still, without the two Toad Sages to assist you, how long can you maintain that incomplete Sage Mode?"

"I didn't expect you to know so much about me, too."

Jiraiya spoke in a low voice. "The ANBU in Kirigakure don't seem as rotten as they were in Suikazan Fuguki's memories."

"The legendary Sannin are worth studying, no matter how rotten the organization is."

"You're a genius like that, and you care about the so-called title of Sannin?"

"Are you really going to use words to buy time and gather natural energy to replenish your Senjutsu Chakra? Isn't that trick a little too obvious?"

Without the two Toad Sages' assistance, Jiraiya's Sage Mode was in serious trouble. Even the markings around his eyes that signified Sage Mode had faded, and his eyes were starting to return to their human appearance, losing their toad-like horizontal pupils.

However,

as he gathered natural energy once more, Jiraiya managed to stabilize his Sage Mode.

But when he heard Yoru's words, Jiraiya's brow twitched. "If you know I'm stalling, why—"

"Because I'm preparing a big move, too."

Yoru suddenly grinned and raised Hyōrinmaru toward Jiraiya. The incantation he had been silently reciting in his mind reached its final words.

"...Know your own helplessness, Hado #90."

"What?!"

"Black Coffin!"

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

But a surging torrent of gravity locked onto his body. A weight as heavy as a thousand tons suddenly pressed down on him, and a deep blackness, like the abyss of hell, appeared and instantly bound and enveloped him completely!

"Little Jiraiya!"

The Black Coffin vanished, and Jiraiya, covered in bloody gashes, fell out and crashed to the ground.

The two Toad Sages, who had been maintaining the genjutsu, cried out at the same time. "You damn bastard! Retreat, Little Jiraiya!"

"Retreat?"

Yoru's icy voice rang out. "Where to?"

His blade fell. Jiraiya tried to dodge, but in his grievously wounded state, he was far too slow. The blade carved a gash from his left shoulder down, splitting open almost his entire abdomen.

The wound looked terrible, but surprisingly little blood spilled from it.

The two Toad Sages' expressions grew even grimmer. "Little Jiraiya..."

Layer upon layer of ice crystals seeped through the wound into Jiraiya's body. The chill made him shiver uncontrollably.

He could feel his blood, muscles, and organs freezing over. In just a few breaths, Jiraiya's condition had deteriorated to the extreme.

"Little Jiraiya!!"

Sage Fukasaku was frantic. He pointed at Yoru and shouted, "You can't kill Little Jiraiya! If you dare kill him, I'll make sure that inside the illusion—"

"Pfft!"

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

Yoru's expression remained blank as he pushed down with his hand. Hyōrinmaru sank straight into the ice, pinning Jiraiya firmly to the ground.

Blood trickled from his throat and mouth. Jiraiya struggled a few times, then went still.

[ Ding! Successfully completed S-rank target "Jiraiya" Mission (2). Mission (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 on the ground. Unbearable pain and grief consumed them in an instant, overwhelming their reason.

The two Sages' bodies erupted with terrifying Senjutsu power.

An extremely fine Water Cutter shot from Sage Fukasaku's mouth, streaking toward the Kirigakure Ninja trapped in the illusion.

"Bakudo #81: Danku!"

An invisible wall appeared in front of Fukasaku, but Danku cast without an incantation naturally couldn't stop the furious Sage Fukasaku.

More than half of the Kirigakure Ninja controlled by Toad Song were sliced in two.

But the sudden surge of agitation finally roused several powerful Kirigakure Ninja trapped in the illusion. Karatachi Yagura turned sideways just in time to avoid being cut in half, but the attack still pierced his shoulder, sending blood spraying everywhere.

The intense pain made Yagura's expression shift, but he quickly noticed Jiraiya, dead with his throat pierced by Yoru. His face immediately lit up with delight.

"Yoru, well done!"

The strategic value of Jiraiya of the Sannin went without saying.

As the "general" Sarutobi Hiruzen had specially transferred from the Iwagakure Battlefield to command the Kirigakure Front, Jiraiya represented Konohagakure's greatest strength and highest-ranking commander on the battlefield.

Killing Jiraiya was undoubtedly a great victory for Kirigakure over Konohagakure!

"You two toads are staying here, too!"

Yagura's baby face twisted into a ruthless grin as he rapidly formed Hand Seals.

The two Toad Sages exchanged a glance, then instantly appeared beside Jiraiya's body. They grabbed it, and with a puff of white smoke, vanished from the spot.

"Hmph. They ran fast."

"Vmmm!!"

Yagura snorted, but in the next instant,

a hair-raising presence rose in the distance. In a moment, it drew everyone's attention.

Red, sinister chakra kept spilling from Kushina's body. The lovely young girl now had her red hair whipping about, and several tails rose behind her one after another.

Everyone present paled and cried out in shock.

"A Jinchūriki?!"

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