Dai's Belief

The moon already hung high in the night sky.

The quiet, gentle moonlight spilled into the forest below, yet it could not calm the intensifying battle raging beneath it.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"...

Suddenly, a brilliant flare of fire erupted in a section of the forest, and countless clouds of dust and debris blasted through the trees!

When the dust finally settled, the area was a scene of utter devastation; the thick trees surrounding the site had long since been snapped at the roots by the previous shockwaves.

The ground was covered in jagged, torn ravines, and shattered rocks lay scattered everywhere, serving as proof of the ferocity of the battle that had just taken place.

"Huff... this guy is really a handful!"

Hidden beneath a large tree, Jiraiya crouched behind the trunk, gasping for air.

His forehead was beaded with sweat, and his body was covered in dust, making him look quite disheveled.

Hearing his words, Tsunade, who was panting heavily beside him, narrowed her eyes and said in a low voice.

"Next time we attack, help me create an opening. If I can get close enough to touch him, I can finish him off in one blow!"

Jiraiya was taken aback by this, an idea seemingly forming in his mind.

In the distance, Rasa stood upon a floating mass of gold dust, his expression grave.

There was a charred wound on his right leg, and his clothes were in tatters. The few Sand Ninja who had originally been with him had already been killed by Jiraiya and the others during the earlier skirmish.

He narrowed his dark-rimmed eyes, scanning the trees below with a heavy gaze, and muttered in a low voice.

"Is this the power of the Sannin... truly troublesome. If I'm not careful, I might actually die