The Rose and the Fury

"That spear, can it disrupt the flow of chakra?"

Jiraiya stared at Uchiha Iori with sharp eyes and asked, "Is this the legendary spiritual weapon?"

"You could say that. Gae Dearg, that is what you may call this spear."

Iori nodded, having no intention of hiding it. The effect of the red rose was too obvious; anyone would understand it after seeing it a few more times.

"How marvelous. A nameless spiritual weapon possesses such an effect. I wonder what kind of power the legendary Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror might hold."

Jiraiya sighed. Being able to disrupt the flow of chakra meant that binding-type ninjutsu and sustained ninjutsu were completely useless before it.

Even Jiraiya's most proficient defensive ninjutsu, Needle Jizo, would be as good as naked before it, offering no defense whatsoever.

Slowly loosening one hand from Gae Dearg, a long red sword appeared in Iori's hand. The blade shimmered, exuding a biting chill.

One spear and one sword—this was the exact stance mastered by Diarmuid of the Face of the Faceless.

Jiraiya's expression turned solemn. "I admit I underestimated you, Iori. I shall use my full strength from here on out."

Although Jiraiya said this, he actually had no intention of using Sage Mode. He performed hand seals at lightning speed and whispered, "Summoning Technique."

Boar-Dog-Bird-Monkey-Ram. Following a burst of smoke, the great toad of Mount Myoboku, Gamabunta, descended from the sky, shaking the earth and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Everyone, move back! Don't get too close."

Minato Namikaze quickly organized the group to move away from the battlefield. Even he had not expected Jiraiya to need to summon Gamabunta.

The moment Gamabunta appeared, Iori retreated rapidly.

Tsk, are you trying to cosplay as a destroyer of worlds with that entrance?

Uchiha Iori muttered to himself.

It seems fighting giant monsters is a staple of high-martial arts worlds; one simply must experience it.

It appeared that, in the end, he would have to let the toad experience the power of a Noble Phantasm release.

Just what kind of power did the divine sword gifted by the Sea God possess?

Iori was curious as well. It seemed the lucky companion who would get to experience the power of the divine sword would be Gamabunta.

"Be careful. If you feel it's too much, you can concede early, and Minato will take you out. Fire Style: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"

Jiraiya held nothing back; in his eyes, Iori already possessed the ability to threaten him.

Gamabunta spat out a massive pillar of oil, and Jiraiya followed up by exhaling fire. The two combined to create a colossal oil flame bullet.

The raging flames seemed to ignite the very air. The scorching heat distorted the light, and the fire surged forward like a tidal wave, as if it intended to burn the world to ash.

"I thought the first time I'd use this would be against the Four-Tails or Five-Tails jinchuriki. I didn't expect it to be against one of our own."

Uchiha Iori scratched his head, feeling that this fight was a bit of a loss—he would have to reveal one of his trump cards.

"Oh well, at least this should make a name for myself. Once I get a title, it should be easier to be accepted by the jonin."

"Rho Aias."

Iori summoned a shield shaped like flower petals.

There were seven petals in total, each radiating a mysterious glow.

This shield originated from the Trojan War of Greek mythology; it was the sublimation of the legend of the seven-layered oxhide bronze shield that Ajax used to block Hector's spear.

In the legend, six layers were pierced, but it was stopped at the seventh, which was why the seventh petal possessed such astonishing defensive power.

The flames slammed violently into the shield like a flood hitting a dam. After shattering three layers of petals, they finally came to a halt, leaving the air filled with the scent of scorched earth.

Jiraiya couldn't help but ask, "Truly, the younger generation is to be feared. Just how many spiritual weapons do you have?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had been indiscreet and quickly added, "No, forgive my rudeness. Let us continue."

He knew that intelligence regarding secret techniques was vital in the Ninja World and should not be pried into.

Uchiha Iori merely smiled without answering. He assumed his stance and charged forward.

Gamabunta brandished his short blade, his massive body moving with surprising agility.

Iori dared not take the hit head-on and flickered away with the Body Flicker Technique.

Jiraiya and Gamabunta coordinated perfectly. Jiraiya flickered above Iori, a small whirlwind appearing in his hand.

This was the ninjutsu Minato Namikaze had spent three years developing—the Rasengan—which he had taught to Jiraiya shortly after completing it.

"Too slow, Senior Jiraiya."

Relying on his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Iori easily captured Jiraiya's movements. Without hesitation, he thrust Gae Dearg toward the Rasengan.

"Unless you can hit me before I react, this kind of ninjutsu is useless against me."

Bang!

"A Shadow Clone?" Iori was shocked; he hadn't caught a single trace of it.

"Wild Lion's Mane Technique."

A rock suddenly transformed into Jiraiya. His hair elongated, forming a lion's mane that bound Uchiha Iori. The force was immense, yet it carried no killing intent.

Iori thought for a moment and realized that Jiraiya had used the cover of the dust kicked up by Gamabunta's slash to transform into a rock and fly over.

Iori tilted his head, locking eyes with Jiraiya as he activated his Genjutsu: Sharingan.

In an instant, the illusion struck Jiraiya, causing his movements to stall and his hair to loosen.

Seizing the opportunity, Iori broke free.

The illusion could not hold Jiraiya for long; after all, he was a Kage-level powerhouse whose raw strength surpassed that of Uchiha Iori.

"As expected of the Sannin, Lord Jiraiya. You are the strongest opponent I have encountered; to think you would shake off my genjutsu so quickly."

Iori smiled faintly, intending to unleash his Noble Phantasm.

"Courtesy demands reciprocity. Now, Lord Jiraiya, witness my full power."

"Be careful. This attack will be no less powerful than the one I used to crush the Iwagakure Ninja earlier: Moralltach."

Iori leaped high into the air, his red longsword gathering a massive amount of chakra.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!" Jiraiya spat out a violent torrent of flame. The fire danced like a dragon, splitting into three directions—front, left, and right—to strike at Iori. Had it connected directly, Iori would likely have been reduced to ashes on the spot.

At that moment, the red longsword in the Uchiha's hand erupted with immense chakra, which transformed into three blade-like projections that struck directly at Jiraiya from the air.

Jiraiya manipulated the fire dragon to collide head-on with Moralltach. After a brief stalemate, the chakra blades shattered the flames and continued their assault toward Jiraiya.

"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"

Jiraiya braced himself for defense and the possibility of severe injury, feeling a pang of regret for accepting Iori's challenge; he had been far too careless.

Iori's age was too deceptive, leading people to mistake him for merely a prodigy rather than a true powerhouse.

The blades were deflected by the fire dragon, grazing past Jiraiya's body and shearing off only a few strands of his hair.

The ground was pulverized by the impact, leaving Jiraiya unsteady and nearly toppling over.

Minato Namikaze arrived on the battlefield at this moment; even for the Flying Thunder God, it required time to travel without pre-set markers.