After Gamabunta delivered the utterly exhausted Naruto to the hospital and dispelled the summoning on his own, Jiraiya finally let out a sigh of relief.
With his arms folded, he leaned against a tree and glanced at the figure below. "So, what do you think of your junior disciple's performance?"
"Not bad. In a moment of danger, he actually managed to get chakra from the Nine-Tails, and he even summoned such a huge toad. He's way more impressive than me."
Qiuyang answered from beneath the tree with a pout.
What did I think? Obviously, I thought with my eyes.
The prince already had several times more chakra than me thanks to his Uzumaki Clan physique, and he had the Nine-Tails as an emergency power bank. How could we even compare?
Jiraiya laughed and jumped down from the tree. At a glance, he could tell that his disciple, whom he hadn't seen for several months, had changed a lot.
Besides being much more composed, the most obvious difference was... his clothes were far nicer than before. They were no longer pilled and patched.
He looked much more handsome, though still nowhere near as handsome as me.
Jiraiya thought smugly. Then, naturally, he began scheming and took his disciple to a bustling civilian district outside Konoha.
"Haha, looks like those bandits were loaded. Come on, your teacher will show you the world and take you to see some exciting entertainment."
Exciting entertainment??
Qiuyang didn't need to guess where Jiraiya was taking him. When they arrived and he looked up, sure enough, it was the red-light district.
The constant sultry laughter and seductive music drifting from inside gave Qiuyang a headache.
Of course, he wasn't going in there with his teacher. He paid the bill first, then pointed out an inn to Jiraiya and said he'd look around nearby and wait for him there.
Seeing that his student knew how to handle things, Jiraiya paid for two bar girls and didn't insist on making him go inside.
Shaking his head, he went on about how youngsters didn't understand the pleasures of being a man, then eagerly wrapped an arm around a girl soliciting customers outside and headed into the establishment.
Qiuyang stared, dumbfounded. He really wanted to ask Jiraiya whether there was truly a woman named Tsunade who was the love of his life.
She was still alive, and he was already letting himself go like this?
When Jiraiya returned to the inn that night, humming to himself, he found that Qiuyang had prepared several dishes he'd never seen before.
Jiraiya had been drinking sake for most of the day, and he was deeply moved. He immediately ate two or three bowls of rice to show how much he enjoyed them.
"Qiuyang, don't leave here for the next few days. I've received word that Sunagakure might make a move."
By the time Jiraiya finished eating, the alcohol had completely worn off. He told his disciple the news with a serious expression.
Qiuyang already knew Snake Auntie's Konoha Crush Plan was about to be put into action. He had no intention of leaving Konoha at such a critical moment, so he looked his teacher in the eye and agreed solemnly.
Jiraiya once again felt that he'd taken on a disciple who was both talented and responsible.
But he had never expected Sunagakure to actually dare attack its ally.
On the morning of the third day, Jiraiya received word that a large force of Sound Ninja and Sunagakure shinobi had gathered and crossed the border. According to reliable reports:
The leader of Otogakure was Orochimaru.
Jiraiya grabbed Qiuyang, who was still sleeping in, and headed straight for Konoha. Along the way, he explained the situation in detail.
You've finally come, Orochimaru?
The same thought rang through both Qiuyang and Jiraiya's minds.
Don't assume that the only capable fighters in the Otogakure founded by Orochimaru were Kabuto, Kimimaro, and the Sound Four, while everyone else was just fodder.
Even among the forces assigned to launch a frontal feint, there were plenty of powerful ninja at the Jonin level.
Orochimaru had especially stationed Jonin from Sunagakure and Otogakure in advance at key locations like Konoha's main gate and west gate.
Otherwise, if they couldn't pin down enough of Konoha's fighting force, wouldn't the exam grounds soon be surrounded and trapped?
So after rushing back to the village with Qiuyang, Jiraiya sent him to reinforce the west gate, while he stayed behind to deal with the giant snakes and dozens of Jonin at the main gate.
The arrangement suited Qiuyang perfectly.
For the past few days, he'd been wondering how he could contact Orochimaru without his teacher finding out, so they could discuss cultivating Hashirama Cells suited to his physique.
Now wasn't this opportunity practically being handed to him?
According to his memories, the Third Hokage would seal Snake Auntie's hands during this battle. If Qiuyang met him then... even if Snake Auntie wanted to attack, he'd have to think twice.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Qiuyang's grin nearly reached his ears. He agreed to his teacher's plan and hurried off in the other direction.
After taking out a few minor Sound Ninja who had infiltrated the village along the way, he finally reached the west gate.
The original story barely described this entrance, but judging by the terrain and the layout of the buildings, it was clearly another economic center of Konoha.
Its importance went without saying.
By the time Qiuyang arrived, several deep cracks had already split the walls on either side of the gate. Broken stones kept crashing down, but fortunately, the gate hadn't been breached completely.
A Jonin stationed there was leading the few remaining Chunin in a desperate stand against two giant snakes, each twice as tall as the gate.
The bodies of many Konoha shinobi lay strewn across the area, all lifeless.
The terror of giant summoning beasts was plain to see.
They simply weren't something anyone below the rank of ordinary Jonin could fight head-on.
"Hold that snake outside the gate! Don't let it destroy the gate!"
The Konoha Jonin, who had used Earth Style: Earth Flow River to fill in a gap made by the snake, panted heavily as he shouted.
He couldn't help cursing Root, under Danzo's leadership, in his mind.
How long ago had they sent the distress signal? Still, not a single person had come to help.
Would they really wait until the enemy had fully invaded before realizing how serious things were?
Honestly... Lord Hokage shouldn't have given so many people to Root.
The Jonin's worried gaze passed over the snake and into the depths of the forest. He knew there were plenty of Sunagakure and Sound Ninja there, helping the snakes attack.
If the gate was breached, they would surely pour into Konoha at once.
"Hisss!"
But just as the Jonin's attention wandered, one of the snakes suddenly whipped its head around and lunged at him with a headbutt.
"Captain, watch out! Move!"
Shimada, I was careless.
When the Jonin realized how dire the situation was, he quickly began forming Hand Seals, trying to use Earth Style Wall to block the attack. But halfway through, he realized he was too late...
The snake's head was now only four or five meters away. He closed his eyes in despair, bracing himself for the impact.
He thought that this blow might be the end for him, but judging by how long they'd held out, the other squad tasked with evacuating the civilians should be back by now.
At least... he'd managed to hold them off for a while.
Jingjing, I'm counting on you to take care of our child from now on.
"Captain..."
Seeing that their captain couldn't dodge the snake's attack, several Chunin cried out, their voices filled with despair.
But before the Jonin's life could flash before his eyes, he heard a voice like a heavenly melody:
"Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique."
Before you continue