Total Defeat

In the open space at the center of the Third Training Ground, Akaseki activated his eyes and cast the False Surroundings Technique, then immediately gripped a kunai and charged at Jiraiya!

However, Jiraiya dispelled the Genjutsu in an instant, as if he had never been affected at all. He casually slapped aside Akaseki's hand as it thrust the kunai toward him...

Akaseki saw it!

With the Sharingan's support, not even Jiraiya could move so fast with Taijutsu alone that Akaseki could not follow him.

However, being able to "see" was one thing; being able to "react" was another.

Fortunately, Jiraiya did not take the initiative to pursue him, giving Akaseki a chance to attack...

Akaseki pressed forward relentlessly, alternating between kunai strikes and fists and kicks as he sprang about and attacked Jiraiya.

Though he could not be called particularly strong, he was indeed proficient with his fists and feet. At the very least, he was already quite good among Genin!

Of course, he was able to show his full ability only because Jiraiya was merely defending with repeated hand slaps and disrupting moves with knife hands, neutralizing Akaseki's attacks one by one with minimal movement...

Akaseki gradually grew anxious, and his attacks became more and more disorderly!

Although Akaseki could clearly see how Jiraiya defended through the Sharingan, his attacks were always countered after Jiraiya moved later yet struck first.

Just then, Ranwu darted out from the side...

"Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field!"

After forming hand seals, Ranwu spewed a large amount of viscous fluid from her mouth, which surged toward Jiraiya from behind.

Jiraiya wanted to dodge, but Akaseki's exceptionally fierce barrage at that moment restrained him slightly.

At the same time, Jiraiya's lips curled faintly. He still leaped away, crouching on a nearby tree trunk parallel to the ground. However... the syrup from the Starch Syrup Capturing Field had already surged onto the tree, sticking to the soles of Jiraiya's feet!

Minato, who had been waiting for an opportunity, suddenly made his move as well. Using the Body Flicker Technique, he instantly appeared behind Jiraiya...

Body Flicker Technique was a general term for a type of ninjutsu or Taijutsu. As its name implied, it referred to techniques that produced the effect of "flickering." Whether achieved through Taijutsu or ninjutsu, it was considered a relatively advanced technique. There were even rare Genjutsu-based Body Flicker Techniques.

For example, the Uchiha Clan had the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, which combined Genjutsu and Taijutsu. However, Akaseki could not learn it yet...

What Minato used was Konoha's most common Konoha Body Flicker, a type of Taijutsu.

Jiraiya's pupils contracted—this level of Body Flicker Technique was not enough to frighten him, but seeing it used by a ten-year-old child left him greatly astonished.

Minato's ensuing Taijutsu assault also made Jiraiya's eyes light up.

Though it fell short of Jiraiya's level, it had already reached the standard of an ordinary Jonin!

If Minato had been an experienced Chunin, Taijutsu of this caliber would have been enough for him to be rated as a Taijutsu Special Jonin.

And...

Minato did not only know Taijutsu!

After pressing forward with several attacks, Minato unexpectedly slowed his steps, using that brief delay to rapidly form hand seals...

Dog—Dragon—Palms Together!

"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

Gale Palm was a C-rank ninjutsu with only three hand seals, and both the Dog seal and the Palms Together seal could be formed quickly.

Although it was a C-rank ninjutsu, Gale Palm was extremely practical. Once mastered, it could almost be used as a basic attack buff.

Just as Minato did now, after instantly forming the seals, he swept both palms forward, and wind pressure immediately slashed toward Jiraiya!

Jiraiya's expression tightened again—yes, it was "slashing"!

A normal Gale Palm excelled at wind pressure, but Minato's Gale Palm already carried the feeling of wind blades. There was no doubt that he had incorporated his own shape transformation into it.

Although Jiraiya was not so easily defeated, he was forced back into the range of the Starch Syrup Capturing Field...

The viscous Water Style chakra immediately stuck to Jiraiya slightly.

However...

Akaseki was stuck even more thoroughly than Jiraiya!

After all, when Ranwu had spewed out that mouthful of slime, she had been behind Jiraiya. Jiraiya dodged, while Akaseki had been directly in front of him...

Akaseki was now completely trapped in the Starch Syrup Capturing Field, wrapped up like a candied hawthorn skewer. But when he saw Jiraiya forced back, he immediately lunged forward and hugged him!

If Akaseki managed to hold Jiraiya tightly, Jiraiya would be thoroughly stuck as well—regardless of whether he could break free, he would be stuck first.

If he used his full strength, Jiraiya could break free even if he were stuck. But this was an "assessment," so naturally Jiraiya could not simply overwhelm them with brute force.

Bang—

In an instant, Jiraiya turned into a puff of white smoke, and Akaseki only hugged a log shaped like a toad.

Seeing Jiraiya already several meters away, Ranwu stepped forward, her entire body's muscles trembling violently as she tried to attack with Taijutsu. However, Jiraiya subdued her in just a few moves...

"Hey, hey, hey, that's not how you use Strength of a Hundred. You'll only hurt yourself that way." As Jiraiya spoke, he completely restrained Ranwu.

Because Akaseki had moved too wildly just now, he was now completely trapped by the Starch Syrup Capturing Field. Minato Namikaze, the only one left, could not support himself alone. Though he was the strongest of the three, once he closed in again, Jiraiya quickly captured him as well.

"Enough! You've truly disappointed me! Ranwu, aren't you going to release your technique?" Jiraiya said sternly.

Hearing this, Ranwu stepped forward and reached into the viscous fluid. Only then did the Starch Syrup Capturing Field's effect disappear.

"You're the worst group I've ever taught..." Jiraiya said with righteous severity.

"Huh? Lord Jiraiya, isn't this your first time being a supervising Jonin?" Ranwu questioned.

Jiraiya: ...

"So you're the worst group!" Jiraiya stubbornly insisted.

Jiraiya then began criticizing the three for their battle just now. "Ranwu, what was that Water Style of yours? You were practically causing trouble for your teammates, weren't you?"

Ranwu pursed her lips and said nothing—Akaseki had indeed told her earlier not to worry about him when ambushing Jiraiya. They were trying to trap the enemy anyway, but... Akaseki had originally assumed Ranwu would at most use a high-volume water ninjutsu like the Waterfall Technique to restrict Jiraiya's movements.

It was not that Ranwu had not considered how Starch Syrup Capturing Field would affect Akaseki. It was just that... she had thought it would be worth it if she could trap both of them together!

"And your Strength of a Hundred..." Strength of a Hundred looked broad and forceful, but in truth it was a secret technique that tested fine chakra control the most. Using it recklessly would only injure yourself! Tsunade actually taught you such a dangerous secret technique so casually... I'll go criticize her for that later!" Jiraiya spoke as though he were Tsunade's older brother.

"Minato, your timing for that second ambush was completely wrong as well. In the end, you even got yourself caught in your teammate's ninjutsu." Jiraiya criticized Minato too.

Minato honestly accepted the criticism with humility.

Finally, Jiraiya looked at Akaseki...