You Think Too Highly of Yourself.

Killer B knelt on one knee, listening to the three of them bickering as if he weren't even there. Red Tailed Beast chakra began to drift off his body, bubbling and hissing, while the air filled with the raw, metallic scent of a beast on the verge of a frenzy.

"Are you... ignoring me, yo?"

Lin Zi tilted his head, a flicker of amusement crossing his golden slit pupils, his tone as relaxed as if he were watching a play.

"The kid is finally about to undergo Tailed Beast transformation."

Tsunade immediately dropped into a stance, feet planted firmly, chakra gathering in her fists, her gaze sharp. Jiraiya also shed his playful grin, his hands beginning to weave hand seals.

"Jiraiya, prepare the sealing jutsu." Lin Zi held his Kusanagi Sword horizontally, his snake-like eyes locked onto that rampaging red shadow.

"Don't kill him. Bring him back alive. A catch this big will be enough to give Cloud Village a massive headache."

"Got it, Orochimaru."

Jiraiya nodded, then paused, scratching his head.

"But... shouldn't we use Summoning Jutsu here? Are we just going in raw?"

"No need. Because I just sensed something new."

Lin Zi's golden slit pupils drifted past Killer B, looking toward the distance, his tongue flickering in the air.

"There's an even bigger fish behind him, holding the line."

"Huh?" Jiraiya froze, just about to ask for clarification, when Killer B exploded.

Red Tailed Beast chakra surged wildly, and four massive octopus tentacles burst from his back, slamming into the ground with a thunderous boom. It looked as though a fifth tail was about to sprout.

BOOM!!!

A bolt of azure lightning descended from the sky—not a ninjutsu, but pure electrical sparks generated by speed tearing through the air.

The Fourth Raikage, Ai, with Lightning Release Chakra Mode fully engaged, slammed into the center of the battlefield like a human cannonball wreathed in thunder. The ground collapsed instantly, two deep trenches cracking open beneath his feet, the gravel vaporized by electric arcs before it could even fly into the air.

He didn't even glance at the others, pressing one hand onto Killer B's head, his fingers hooked like claws, forcibly suppressing the rampaging Tailed Beast chakra back into his body.

"B." Ai's voice was as low as rumbling thunder. "Calm down. Don't fall for their trap."

Jiraiya swallowed hard, muttering to himself.

"No wonder you said there was a big catch... so the A-B brothers are both here."

He knew clearly that if it really came to a fight, he and Lin Zi might not be able to take down this pair of brothers.

But the problem was, Tsunade was right there. Her hemophobia had only just been suppressed; what if she saw blood later and broke down again?

As if reading his concerns, Tsunade suddenly spoke, her voice quiet but resolute.

"Orochimaru, Jiraiya."

The Yin Seal on her forehead glowed blindingly, her chakra condensing into a tangible white light on her fists.

"Don't worry about me. Prepare to continue the fight."

Jiraiya was stunned for a moment, then grinned, his eyes as sharp as an unsheathed blade.

"...Fine, then let's gamble on it!"

Ai slowly straightened up, the blue electric arcs wrapping around his body crackling and illuminating the surroundings. His gaze swept over Tsunade, lingering for a moment on her face, then passed over Jiraiya, finally pinning itself firmly onto Lin Zi.

"Long time no see, Sannin."

Ai's voice was heavy with suppressed rage. He raised his hand, pointing directly at Lin Zi, lightning dancing on his knuckles.

"But, Orochimaru, why are you here?"

"Isn't he an S-rank missing-nin on Konoha's wanted list? What kind of dirty business is Konoha doing behind the scenes to be mixing with trash like this?"

Lin Zi tilted his head, a trace of mockery flashing in his golden slit pupils.

He couldn't be bothered to explain, not even opening his mouth to speak. He simply lifted his chin slightly, the natural energy of the Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu erupting from his body, his purple eyeshadow looking eerily terrifying under the glare of the lightning.

The meaning was clear: if you want to fight, fight. Enough talk.

Jiraiya stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Lin Zi, his hands already moving in a blur of seals.

"Since you insist on an answer."

He took a deep breath, his chest expanding, chakra gathering frantically in his throat.

"Then taste this first! Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"

BOOM!

Viscous toad oil mixed with a sky-high sea of flames, roaring like a burning behemoth as it lunged toward the Raikage, Ai!

[Ding! Detected intense emotional fluctuations from world-important supporting character Ai and world-important supporting character Killer B.]

[Roleplay progress for Orochimaru (Spirit Snake Sage) increased by 10%. Current compatibility: 50%.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for reaching over 50% compatibility with Orochimaru (Spirit Snake Sage). Reward: Character Card *1]

"Jiraiya, it seems your sealing jutsu was prepared for nothing."

Lin Zi stared at Ai, who was wreathed in lightning across from them, his golden slit pupils narrowing slightly as his voice dropped.

"Well, this is great. Konoha is going to war with Cloud Village again."

"Oh? I see it now."

Jiraiya grinned, his hands already moving in a blur of seals as beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

"Orochimaru, buy me some time. I need to enter Sage Mode as well."

"Fine... wait, Tsunade?!"

While the two were still coordinating their tactics, Tsunade had already transformed into a green blur and charged out.

The chakra released from her Yin Seal condensed into a blinding white light around her fist, and she slammed a straight punch directly into Killer B's abdomen!

Bang!

Killer B's entire body was sent flying backward, crashing through half a mud wall before coming to a stop, the octopus tails on his body retracting.

"Let's wake the jinchūriki brat up first."

Tsunade shook her fist and retreated to the side of the two men, the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead glowing with a terrifying intensity.

"Any objections?"

Jiraiya gave a thumbs-up, laughing heartily.

"Of course not!"

Before the words had even faded.

BOOM!!!

A bolt of azure lightning tore through the air; Ai's Lariat was already upon them! The speed was absurd—almost at the exact moment the sound arrived, the elbow strike wreathed in violent Lightning Release was already inches from their faces!

Jiraiya's pupils constricted; his Sage Mode charge was only halfway complete, and Tsunade had just thrown her punch, her center of gravity not yet fully recovered.

"Damn it... there's no time!"

Only Lin Zi could stall him now.

"Many Snakes Array!"

Lin Zi slammed his hands onto the ground, and countless white snakes surged frantically from his sleeves, the earth, and the shadows, rushing toward the blue lightning like a pale tide in an attempt to use sheer numbers to stall that terrifying speed!

"Snake Limb Hardening!"

As the swarm of snakes poured out, a metallic, cold light shimmered beneath the skin of Lin Zi's arms, and the natural energy of Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu poured madly into his bones and muscles.

He crossed his arms, his hardened body infused with sage chakra, and met the bolt of lightning head-on.

Bang!

The moment fist met arm, a shockwave exploded, and the ground shattered inch by inch!

Ai's Lariat slammed into Lin Zi's crossed arms, but the expected sensation of shattering bone never came.

Bang!

Instead, it felt like punching a slab of tempered steel, the impact vibrating through Ai's own finger bones. Blue arcs of electricity crackled and burst at the point of contact.

"Orochimaru..." Ai's pupils shrank as he retreated several yards, his feet plowing two charred trenches into the ground. "You actually managed to block me head-on?!"

Lin Zi maintained his crossed-arm defensive stance, slowly lifting his head as his mouth curled upward, revealing a grin that was nearly ferocious.

"What do you mean, 'actually managed to block you'?"

As he continued to exert force, the muscle fibers in his arms emitted a creaking sound like twisting metal, and a low laugh rumbled from his throat—a sound mixed with the distinct, hissing rasp of a snake that sent a chill down anyone's spine.

"Aren't you... overestimating yourself just a little too much?"