Whoosh!
A layer of dark brown oil burst from Jiraiya's mouth, floating across the sea like a thick blanket and cutting off the influence of the seawater.
The next second, roaring flames fell onto the oil slick. Using that oily blanket, they spread instantly, forming a blazing wall of fire.
That was not all. Sage Fukasaku spat out a fierce gale, fanning the flames. The fire wall rose with the wind and transformed into a towering firestorm that swept forward, confronting the oncoming tidal surge head-on!
In an instant, the temperature between heaven and earth soared. Wherever the crimson flames swept, even space seemed to warp faintly. Before the seawater could fully make contact, it had already begun to evaporate, dense vapor rising into the sky like a white mushroom cloud.
In Sage Mode, Jiraiya had actually blocked this large-scale Water Release jutsu, jointly cast by more than a thousand Mist Village ninja, all by himself!
Even though it had already been weakened at great cost by many Akimichi Clan jonin, this feat of one man against a thousand still left everyone on the battlefield utterly stunned!
The Konoha ninja fleeing atop the toads of Mount Myōboku were immediately overjoyed. One after another, they turned back on the toads' backs and shouted eastward with all their strength, "Lord Jiraiya is mighty!"
Some ninja who recognized Gamabunta even pleaded, "Lord Gamabunta, please take us back! The danger has passed. We want to fight alongside Lord Jiraiya!"
"The danger has passed? Tch, what ignorant brats!"
Gamabunta kept racing west without even turning his head.
"Isn't that the case? Didn't Lord Jiraiya's Fire Release jutsu stop that seawater?"
The ninja who had made the request looked confused, then said happily, "To counter Water Release with Fire Release on the open sea... Lord Jiraiya