Total Annihilation

In the open space at the center of the Third Training Ground, Akaseki, having activated his Sharingan, cast the False Surroundings Technique before immediately gripping a kunai and charging toward Jiraiya!

However, Jiraiya dispelled the genjutsu in an instant, as if he had never been affected at all, and casually swatted away the hand Akaseki was using to thrust the kunai.

Akaseki saw it!

With the enhancement of the Sharingan, even Jiraiya could not move fast enough with taijutsu alone to become invisible to Akaseki's eyes.

But "seeing" is one thing, and being able to "react" is quite another.

Fortunately, Jiraiya did not actively pursue him, which gave Akaseki an opportunity to attack.

Akaseki launched a series of aggressive strikes, using his kunai, fists, and kicks, leaping and lunging at Jiraiya from every direction.

Although one couldn't call him exceptionally strong, he was certainly "proficient in combat," at least quite impressive for a genin.

Of course, the reason he could perform so well was that Jiraiya was merely clapping his hands to defend, using hand-blade strikes to break his rhythm and neutralizing Akaseki's attacks with minimal movement.

Akaseki grew increasingly anxious, his movements becoming more and more chaotic!

Even with the Sharingan, while he could clearly see how Jiraiya was defending, he couldn't stop his own attacks from being countered by the opponent's preemptive strikes.

Just then, Ranwu darted out from the side.

"Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field!"

After forming the hand seals, Ranwu spat out a large amount of viscous fluid that surged toward Jiraiya from behind.

Jiraiya intended to dodge, but Akaseki's unusually fierce round of attacks held him in place for a split second.

At the same time, the corner of Jiraiya's mouth curled up slightly. He leaped away, crouching on a nearby tree trunk parallel to the ground, but... the syrup from the Starch Syrup Capturing Field had already surged onto the tree, sticking to the soles of his feet!

Minato, who had been waiting for an opportunity, suddenly made his move, appearing behind Jiraiya in an instant using the Body Flicker Technique.

The Body Flicker Technique is a general term for a type of ninjutsu or taijutsu; as the name suggests, it refers to techniques that create a "flicker" effect. Whether relying on taijutsu or ninjutsu, they are considered relatively high-level skills, and there are even rare genjutsu-based flickers.

The Uchiha Clan, for instance, possesses the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, which is a combination of genjutsu and taijutsu, though Akaseki had yet to learn it.

The technique Minato used was the most common one in Konoha, the Konoha Body Flicker, which is a form of taijutsu.

Jiraiya's pupils constricted—this level of Body Flicker was not enough to alarm him, but seeing it performed by a ten-year-old child left him deeply surprised.

The subsequent display of taijutsu from Minato also caught Jiraiya's eye.

Although not quite on par with Jiraiya, it was already at the level of an average jonin!

If Minato were a veteran chunin with such taijutsu, he would easily qualify as a special jonin in taijutsu.

Furthermore...

Minato knew more than just taijutsu!

After a few aggressive strikes, Minato unexpectedly paused, and taking advantage of that slight delay, he quickly formed hand seals.

Dog-Dragon-Clap!

"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

The C-rank ninjutsu Gale Palm requires only three seals, and both the "Dog" seal and the "Clap" are methods that allow for rapid execution.

Although it is a C-rank ninjutsu, Gale Palm is extremely practical and, once mastered, can almost serve as a "basic attack buff."

Just like Minato was doing now, after forming the seals in an instant and thrusting his palms forward, a blast of wind pressure sliced toward Jiraiya!

Jiraiya's expression tightened once more—that's right, it was "slicing"!

A normal Gale Palm excels in wind pressure, but Minato's version already carried the sensation of wind blades; there was no doubt he had incorporated his own shape transformation.

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

Immediately, the viscous Water Style chakra began to stick to him.

However...

Akaseki was stuck much more thoroughly than Jiraiya!

After all, when Ranwu spat out the large mouthful of sticky fluid, it was behind Jiraiya; Jiraiya had dodged, but Akaseki was directly in front of him.

At this moment, Akaseki was completely trapped in the Starch Syrup Capturing Field, wrapped up like a candied hawthorn, but seeing Jiraiya forced back, he immediately lunged to grab him!

If Akaseki managed to hold him firmly, Jiraiya would also be stuck fast—regardless of whether he could struggle free, he would be immobilized.

If Jiraiya used his full strength, he could break free even if stuck, but since this was an "assessment," he certainly couldn't rely on "overwhelming force to break through."

Poof—

In an instant, Jiraiya transformed into white smoke, and Akaseki ended up hugging a piece of wood shaped like a toad.

Seeing that Jiraiya had already moved several meters away, Ranwu stepped forward, her muscles trembling violently as she attempted a taijutsu attack, but she was subdued by Jiraiya in just a few moves.

"Hey, hey, hey, that's not how you use the Strength of a Hundred; you'll only end up hurting yourself." Jiraiya said as he completely restrained Ranwu.

Because of her previous exertion, Ranwu was already thoroughly trapped by the Starch Syrup Capturing Field, and the remaining Minato was left isolated. Although he was the strongest of the three, he was quickly captured by Jiraiya after closing the distance again.

"Enough! You have truly disappointed me! Ranwu, are you not going to dispel your technique?" Jiraiya said sternly.

Upon hearing this, Ranwu stepped forward and reached into the viscous fluid, and the effect of the Starch Syrup Capturing Field finally vanished.

"You are the worst group I have ever led..." Jiraiya said with righteous indignation.

"Hmm? Lord Jiraiya, isn't this your first time serving as a jonin instructor?" Ranwu questioned at this moment.

Jiraiya: ...

"That is exactly why you are the worst group!" Jiraiya remained stubborn.

Immediately, Jiraiya began to critique the three of them on their recent combat: "Ranwu, what was that Water Release about? You were basically just causing trouble for your teammates, weren't you?"

Ranwu pursed her lips and said nothing—it was true that Akaseki had told her earlier not to worry about him when ambushing Jiraiya, as it was meant to trap the enemy anyway, but... Akaseki had originally assumed that Ranwu would at most use a jutsu like the Waterfall Technique, which releases a large volume of water, to restrict Jiraiya's movements.

As for why she used the Starch Syrup Capturing Field, it wasn't that Ranwu hadn't considered the impact on Akaseki, it was just that... Ranwu had thought that if she could trap both of them, it would still be a win!

"And your Strength of a Hundred... the Strength of a Hundred may look like a wide-open, heavy-hitting technique, but it is actually a secret art that tests the most delicate control of chakra. Using it rashly will only result in you injuring yourself! To think Tsunade would teach you such a dangerous secret art so recklessly... I will have to criticize her for this later!" Jiraiya put on the air of being Tsunade's big brother.

"Minato, the timing of your second ambush just now was completely off, and in the end, you even ended up getting caught in your teammate's jutsu." Jiraiya then criticized Minato.

Minato, however, honestly and humbly accepted the feedback.

Finally, Jiraiya looked toward Akaseki...