Chop Off Heads!

"Jiraiya's strength is beyond doubt. With my current Jōnin-level ability, even with Flash Step, I'm unlikely to land a hit on him, so a solo fight is definitely out of the question!"

Hiding in a large tree not far away, Li narrowed his eyes as he watched Jiraiya below. Jiraiya was just standing there casually, yet Li could not find a single blind spot in his defense. After pondering for a long time, Li decided to cooperate with Minato Namikaze and Kushina.

"Minato Namikaze excels at Wind Release Ninjutsu, which can complement Fire Release perfectly. Kushina hasn't learned any Ninjutsu; she specializes in the authentic sealing arts of the Uzumaki Clan. While she lacks combat power in a head-on confrontation, she is very effective for sneak attacks."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Li was still considering how to initiate the attack when three sounds of air being pierced rang out. Three pitch-black Kunai flew out of the forest in a triangular formation, shooting straight toward the back of Jiraiya's neck.

"This Kunai throwing technique!" Li's face darkened. Seeing this style, he knew it could only be Kushina. After all, Li had taught her the technique, so he was very familiar with her methods. He had just thought about how her sealing arts were perfect for a sneak attack, and the next second, she couldn't hold back anymore.

"No choice now. Kushina has already exposed herself; it seems I must pin Jiraiya down!" Thinking this, Li produced several shuriken and flung them at Jiraiya. He then leaped out of the forest, and while mid-air, his hands moved in a rapid sequence of seals.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

More flaming shuriken flew toward Jiraiya, but Li didn't stop there. His right hand darted into his ninja tool pouch, pulling out four Kunai to throw, while his left hand simultaneously produced another four, launching them along the exact same trajectory as the first set.

"The first four Kunai have neither force nor accuracy, and while that Ninjutsu is decent, it isn't enough to catch me. What is this brat Li planning?" Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly, shifting his body to dodge the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique. The following Kunai were still several meters away, but with his keen eyes, he could see that even if he stood still, they wouldn't hit him. The final four Kunai followed the same path, also lacking accuracy.

Clang!

The trailing Kunai caught up to the leading ones in an instant. The tips struck the sides of the first four, and with a crisp, synchronized sound, the projectiles suddenly accelerated several times over. The eight Kunai then automatically curved, fanning out to strike at Jiraiya from all sides.

"Such exquisite Kunai throwing technique, this brat!" A sharp glint flashed in Jiraiya's eyes as he realized he had been deceived. Without hesitation, he performed a rapid seal: "Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!" In an instant, Jiraiya's hair grew rapidly, and he crouched down, his long mane wrapping around his entire body.

Clang!

The eight Kunai struck his hair simultaneously, producing the sound of metal hitting metal before being deflected. Seeing this, Li wasn't surprised. He pulled his hands slightly, revealing two silver threads shimmering in the sunlight—Chakra wires. As he tugged, the eight deflected Kunai circled back toward Jiraiya. Instead of attacking, they intertwined to form a knot. Li yanked his hands hard, pulling Jiraiya off the ground and hurling him toward Kushina's position.

"Kushina!"

At Wenxuan's sharp shout, Kushina burst from the forest, leaping toward the airborne Jiraiya. Her hands formed a series of strange seals—not Ninjutsu, but Sealing Technique hand signs. Having known Li for so long, Kushina could often guess what he was thinking.

"Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragon Seal!"

Kushina slammed her palm onto Jiraiya's lower back. Instantly, a strange pattern manifested on his body. Li had heard her mention this technique; it was a seal capable of suppressing an opponent's chakra, and it was the only one she had mastered so far.

After sealing Jiraiya, Li wrapped the chakra wires around his arms and performed a quick sequence of seals. He glanced at the spot where Minato Namikaze was hiding. Minato Namikaze had clearly noticed the situation, and seeing Li's gaze, he jumped out and joined his side.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

The two C-rank Ninjutsu overlapped, their elements merging to amplify the Great Fireball's power several times over as it rolled toward the still-airborne Jiraiya.

BOOM!

The fireball collided with Jiraiya, triggering a violent explosion that even severed the chakra wires in Li's hands. A heavy object hit the ground with a thud and lay motionless. Jiraiya was still encased in his hair, but his originally white locks were now charred black in places, emitting faint wisps of smoke.

"Li, we didn't kill Jiraiya sensei, did we?" Seeing Jiraiya lying motionless on the ground, Kushina grew worried. She had just used her sealing technique to suppress his chakra; in that state, taking a direct hit from a combined Great Fireball and Great Breakthrough was surely too much for even him to handle.

"Kushina, let me teach you one thing today!" Li said, pulling out a Kunai and looking at her. "Even if this is just a training exercise, it is a direct combat scenario. We and Jiraiya sensei are temporary enemies. When dealing with an enemy, if you cannot confirm they are dead, it is necessary to use a Kunai to sever their head. You and Minato Namikaze watch from the side; if Jiraiya sensei isn't dead, he will surely get up. If he is dead, well, he's already dead, so his head is of no use!" As he spoke, Li reached Jiraiya's side, aimed the Kunai at his neck, and with a mocking glint in his eyes, thrust it downward.

Kushina and Minato Namikaze were both startled, but it was too late to stop him, so they closed their eyes and braced for the worst.

Slap!

At that moment, the motionless Jiraiya reacted. He sat up abruptly, grabbed Li's wrist with one hand, his face flushed with irritation. "You brat, that's too ruthless! Even against a mortal enemy, there's no need to decapitate them after they're already down! Who taught you to do things like this?" Jiraiya was fuming; luckily, he had only been faking unconsciousness. If he had actually been knocked out, he would have been decapitated by his own students for no reason!