Killer B knelt on one knee, listening to the three of them bicker as if he weren't there. Red Tailed Beast Chakra billowed from his body, bubbling and churning. The air filled with the sickly-sweet stench of a beast on the verge of going berserk.
"You guys... acting like I'm not even here, yo..."
Lin Zi tilted his head, a glint of amusement in his golden, slit-pupiled eyes. His tone was so casual, it was as if he were watching a show.
"This kid's finally going to transform into his tailed beast."
Tsunade immediately took a fighting stance, planting her feet firmly as chakra gathered around her fists. Her eyes sharpened, and Jiraiya dropped his goofy grin and began forming Hand Seals.
"Jiraiya, get ready with the Sealing Jutsu." Lin Zi held the Kusanagi Sword crosswise, his snake-like pupils fixed on the mass of rampaging red.
"Don't kill him. We'll take him back alive. A prize this big will give Cloud Village plenty to deal with."
"Got it, Orochimaru."
Jiraiya nodded, then paused and scratched his head.
"But... shouldn't we use Summoning Jutsu here? We're just going in head-on?"
"No. Because I just sensed something new."
Lin Zi's golden, slit-pupiled eyes looked past Killer B toward the distance. The tip of his tongue quivered in the air.
"There's an even bigger fish backing him up."
"Huh?" Jiraiya froze, about to ask more, but Killer B had already exploded into action.
His red Tailed Beast Chakra churned wildly, and four enormous octopus tentacles burst from his back, slamming into the ground with a thunderous crash. A fifth tail was already beginning to grow.
BOOM!!!
A bolt of brilliant blue lightning came crashing down from the sky. It wasn't a jutsu, just sparks from speed tearing through the air.
The Fourth Raikage, Ai, had activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode to its fullest. Like a human cannonball wrapped in lightning, he shot straight into the middle of the battlefield. The ground collapsed beneath him, two deep trenches tore open from his feet, and the flying rocks vaporized before they could even rise.
He didn't even glance at the others. He clamped one hand over Killer B's head, fingers curled like hooks, and forcibly suppressed the rampaging Tailed Beast Chakra.
"B." Ai's voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Calm down. Don't fall into their trap."
Jiraiya swallowed and muttered,
"No wonder you said there was a big fish... The A-B Brothers really did come out together."
He knew all too well that if it came down to a real fight, he and Lin Zi might not be able to take the brothers down, even working together.
But Tsunade was right beside them. They'd only just managed to suppress her Hemophobia. What if she saw blood again and lost control?
As if she had read his mind, Tsunade suddenly spoke. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was firm.
"Orochimaru, Jiraiya."
The Yin Seal on her forehead shone blindingly, and chakra gathered around her fists in a solid white glow.
"Don't worry about me. Get ready to keep fighting."
Jiraiya stared for a moment, then grinned. His eyes were as sharp as a drawn blade.
"...All right. Let's risk it!"
Ai slowly straightened. Blue arcs of electricity crackled around him, brightening the area. His gaze swept over Tsunade and lingered on her for a moment, then passed over Jiraiya, finally locking onto Lin Zi.
"It's been a long time, Sannin."
Ai's voice was heavy with rage. He raised a hand and pointed straight at Lin Zi, lightning dancing across his knuckles.
"But, Orochimaru, what are you doing here?"
"Aren't you an S-rank rogue ninja on Konoha's wanted list? What dirty business has Konoha been conducting in secret, to be working with the likes of him?"
Lin Zi tilted his head, a trace of contempt flashing in his golden, slit-pupiled eyes.
He couldn't be bothered to explain. He didn't even feel like opening his mouth. He simply raised his chin slightly as the Natural Energy of Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu burst outward around him. The purple markings around his eyes looked eerily sinister in the lightning.
The meaning was clear: If you want to fight, then fight. Enough talking.
Jiraiya stepped forward to stand beside Lin Zi, his hands already forming Hand Seals at a rapid pace.
"Since you insist on an answer..."
He drew a deep breath, his chest swelling as chakra gathered frantically in his throat.
"Then try this first! Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
BOOM!
Sticky Toad Oil mingled with a towering sea of flames, surging toward Raikage A like a roaring, burning beast!
[ Ding! Detected major supporting characters Ai and Killer B experiencing intense emotional fluctuations.]
[Orochimaru (Spirit Snake Sage) role-play progress increased by 10%. Current compatibility: 50%.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Your compatibility with the Orochimaru (Spirit Snake Sage) role has exceeded 50%. Reward: Character Card *1]
"Jiraiya, looks like you prepared that Sealing Jutsu for nothing."
Lin Zi stared at Ai, whose whole body was wreathed in lightning. His golden, slit-pupiled eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice turned serious.
"Now Konoha's going to be at war with Cloud Village again."
"Oh? I can see that."
Jiraiya grinned, his hands already forming Hand Seals at a rapid pace. Sweat beaded at his temples.
"Orochimaru, buy me a little time. I need to enter Sage Mode too."
"Sure... Huh? Tsunade?!"
While the two were still discussing tactics, Tsunade had already shot forward in a green blur.
The chakra released from her Strength of a Hundred Seal gathered around her fist in a dazzling white glow. She drove a straight punch into Killer B's abdomen!
THUD!
Killer B's entire body flew backward, crashing through half a mud wall before coming to a stop. His octopus tails had also withdrawn.
"First, let's knock some sense into that Jinchūriki kid."
Tsunade shook out her fist and returned to their side. The diamond-shaped mark on her forehead blazed with an alarming light.
"Any objections?"
Jiraiya gave her a thumbs-up, grinning broadly.
"Not at all!"
Before the words had even left his mouth—
BOOM!!!
A bolt of brilliant blue lightning ripped through the air. Ai's Lariat was already upon them! He was so absurdly fast that his elbow, wreathed in raging Lightning Release, was at their faces almost as soon as the sound reached them!
Jiraiya's pupils contracted. His Sage Mode charge was only halfway complete, and Tsunade had just thrown a punch, her balance not yet fully recovered.
"Damn... We're too late!"
Only Lin Zi could hold him off now.
"Many Snakes Array!"
Lin Zi slapped his hands against the ground. Countless white snakes poured from his sleeves, the earth, and the shadows, surging toward the bolt of blue lightning like a pale tidal wave, trying to slow that terrifying speed with sheer numbers!
"Snake Limb Hardening!"
As the snakes surged forth, a metallic sheen appeared beneath the skin of Lin Zi's arms. Natural Energy from Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu flooded into his bones and muscles.
He crossed his arms and met the lightning head-on, his hardened body wrapped in Sage Chakra.
THUD!
The instant fist met arm, a shock wave exploded, and the ground cracked apart inch by inch!
Ai's Lariat slammed into Lin Zi's crossed arms, but the expected sensation of shattering bone never came.
THUD!
Instead, it was like striking a plate of steel tempered a thousand times over, leaving Ai's own knuckles numb. Blue arcs of electricity crackled at the point of contact.
"Orochimaru..." Ai's pupils contracted. He retreated several yards, lightning carving two charred trenches beneath his feet. "You actually managed to stop me head-on?!"
Lin Zi held his arms crossed in a block and slowly lifted his head. The corners of his mouth gradually stretched into an almost savage grin.
"What do you mean, 'actually managed to stop you head-on'?"
He kept pushing, the muscle fibers in his arms creaking like twisting metal, as a low laugh rolled up from his throat. The sound was mixed with the distinctive hiss of a snake, sending chills down everyone's spine.
"You think far too highly of yourself."
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