"Don't worry, I'll take care of Jiraiya! Leave the rest to you!"
Orochimaru shot Kabuto Yakushi a glance, then charged at Jiraiya atop his Summoning Animal.
The giant python scattered everyone's positions.
Naruto was swallowed by the python once again.
"I won't! I'm not letting you eat me again!"
Naruto fought with all his might to struggle free of the python's mouth, but lost his balance and fell to the ground, where the snake crushed his leg.
Kabuto Yakushi splattered blood onto Tsunade and controlled the giant snake to coil around Jimo, while he himself began fighting Shizune.
"Get out of my way!"
Jimo quickly formed Hand Seals and used Fireball Jutsu. The concentrated Chakra made him spew yellow-white, high-temperature flames into the air. The flames did not form a fireball; instead, they pierced through the snake's head like a blade.
"What kind of jutsu is that..."
At the sight of Jimo's technique, Tsunade momentarily forgot about the blood on her.
Jimo created a clone and used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to widen the range of the Fire Release. Within moments, the enormous python had been roasted to a crisp, filling the air with the aroma of cooked meat.
While Tsunade was distracted, Kabuto Yakushi had beaten Shizune to the brink of death.
"Lady Tsunade, do you really have time to look elsewhere?"
Kabuto Yakushi kicked Shizune aside and swaggered over to Tsunade.
Kabuto Yakushi splattered blood on Tsunade again, leaving her unable to move as her fear of blood took hold.
Just as his fist was about to strike Tsunade, Naruto appeared between them and blocked Kabuto Yakushi's punch with his Forehead Protector.
A Rasengan formed in Naruto's hand, but Kabuto Yakushi dodged it.
"You really won't stay down! Then I'll just have to sever your muscle tissue!"
A green Chakra Blade flashed past, and Naruto lay helpless on the ground.
"You're old enough to know better. Stop trying to act tough. You don't have what it takes to be a ninja, so if you want to run, then run!"
Kabuto Yakushi taunted him. "Once you're dead, your dreams won't mean a damn thing!"
"I always keep my word... That's my ninja way!"
Naruto created a clone, and a full-power Rasengan slowly took shape in his palm.
"Shut up, brat!"
Kabuto Yakushi drew a Kunai and stabbed at Naruto. But Naruto grabbed his arm and held on tight, even as the Kunai pierced his palm.
"Rasengan!"
"I won't die before I become Hokage!"
The tremendous force sent Kabuto Yakushi flying until he slammed into a boulder and finally came to a stop.
Although Kabuto Yakushi had protected his abdomen with Chakra in advance, the Rasengan's force still gravely injured his internal organs.
"That kid's full of surprises..."
Orochimaru stared at Naruto in shock, then flashed past Jiraiya and headed straight for him. Jiraiya gave chase, but a moment's carelessness let Orochimaru fling him away.
"If you won't treat me, then you can die with that brat!"
Orochimaru spat out the Kusanagi Sword, aiming to impale both Tsunade and Naruto.
"Don't you fucking underestimate me, you disgusting, slippery snake!"
A red blur flew in and struck Orochimaru in the face, sending him tumbling backward.
Jimo appeared in front of Tsunade, swinging the Nyoi-Bo.
"I forgot about that kid... He's got strength nearly on par with Tsunade..."
Jiraiya let out a long breath of relief.
Before Orochimaru could react, Tsunade's enormous fist slammed into his face.
"How is this possible?! You have a fear of blood..."
He didn't get to finish before Tsunade's fists came raining down like a storm.
Tsunade had undone the new seal on her forehead.
The wounds on her body healed rapidly.
"Lord Orochimaru! Get over here!"
Seeing Tsunade form Hand Seals, Kabuto Yakushi struggled to his feet. Orochimaru retreated to his side without hesitation.
"Summoning Technique!"
Three giant beasts appeared in what had been an empty battlefield.
"Manda and Orochimaru, Slug and Tsunade... It's been a long time since I've seen you all. Are you holding a class reunion, Jiraiya?"
Gamabunta said.
"Now's not the time for jokes, Gamabunta!"
Gamabunta blew a puff of smoke directly into Manda's face.
"Ugly toad, are you that eager to end up as dried toad meat?" Manda glared at Gamabunta.
"Perfect! I could use a snake-skin wallet!"
"You two... aren't even worth my time!" Manda sneered.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had Slug split off a clone to take Naruto to Shizune.
"Would I be enough to make the cut?"
Smoke appeared again.
As it cleared, a giant vermilion toad stood there.
"How can this be?! The Nine-Tails brat shouldn't be—" Kabuto looked toward Shizune in alarm, only to see Naruto quietly receiving treatment.
"I told you! Don't underestimate me!"
Jimo stood on the toad with his arms crossed, wearing a smug expression.
"Oh-ho, Gamabunta! Mind sharing that snake-skin wallet with me?"
The vermilion toad hopped over beside Gamabunta and teased him.
"You really went too far, calling out that troublemaker..." Gamabunta glanced at Jimo, who was standing on Gamamo's head.
"But it's just as well... Manda's not easy to deal with," Jiraiya interjected.
"Orochimaru, you've committed too many atrocities! As of today, we're no longer comrades!"
"No longer comrades? How heartless..." Orochimaru said coldly.
"From now on, we will no longer be known together as the Three Ninja!" Tsunade signaled Slug to attack.
Slug spat out a mouthful of highly corrosive slime, but Manda dodged it at an impossibly tricky angle.
Manda was worthy of being Orochimaru's trump-card Summoning Animal. In just a few breaths, he had slithered up beside Slug and coiled tightly around her.
Gamabunta thrust his short sword at Manda, but Manda snatched it away with his mouth.
"Use oil!"
At those words, Slug quickly split apart and escaped through a gap.
"Fire Release! Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
A wide swath of flames engulfed Manda, but when the blaze passed, only a layer of snake skin remained.
"Damn... He shed his skin..." Jiraiya stared at the shaking ground.
"Underground!"
Manda's tail burst out of the ground. Gamabunta blocked it with his forelimb, but Manda's head emerged from behind him.
"Big brother Gamabunta, you're such a loser!"
Gamamo swung his forelimb and slapped Manda hard across the face, leaving his head ringing.
By then, Tsunade had picked up Gamabunta's broken sword and pinned Manda's mouth firmly to the ground, rendering him helpless.
"Fighting two of the Three Ninja at once... sure is a pain..."
Orochimaru shot Kabuto Yakushi a glance.
Kabuto formed Hand Seals again and summoned three smaller giant snakes to attack Jimo and Gamamo.
"Brat! Don't underestimate Gamamo!"
Gamamo drew his short sword, one in each hand, and began fighting the approaching snakes...
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