"So even if you have to die in battle, you must protect the merchant caravan. If this shipment is lost, your entire Konoha couldn't afford to pay for even this one cartload!"
"Understood."
Jiraiya didn't waste words with Koji Moriya. Instead, he headed straight for a large tree on the right side of the road.
Then Jiraiya summoned several small toads. After giving them a few instructions, they immediately scattered in different directions.
The four of them took up their assigned positions around the caravan. Then it crossed the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.
A few minutes later, the toads Jiraiya had sent out returned one after another, reporting the hidden locations, numbers, and strength of enemy ninja within a two-kilometer radius.
"They've finally made their move," Jiraiya muttered to himself.
Then Jiraiya took three kunai from a scroll and assumed a fighting stance. Seeing his movements, Uchiha Matsuri and the other two also went on alert.
Deep in the forest, more than a dozen ninja lay in wait, intending to intercept the cargo. When they saw that the man leading the caravan was Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, they couldn't help frowning.
If Konoha had sent another jonin, they might have stood a chance. But their opponent was none other than Jiraiya, renowned for both his strength and his reputation. As a result, many members of the various ninja groups were already having second thoughts.
On a large, leafy tree stood six rogue ninja from Kirigakure.
"Big brother, Konoha sent Jiraiya to protect the caravan. What do we do?" asked a dark-skinned rogue ninja from Kirigakure anxiously.
"Jiraiya?" The leader couldn't help pausing at the name.
"Well, that's just great. If it's Jiraiya, why even bother fighting? We might as well run for it," a female rogue ninja said sarcastically.
"Shut up," the leader snapped impatiently. "Yoru, you need to understand: if we intercept this shipment, we won't have to worry about money for years."
"But our opponent is Jiraiya..." the female rogue ninja argued, unconvinced.
"So what if it's Jiraiya? Three of us were once members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen! I refuse to believe that all six of us together can't beat one Jiraiya." A pale-faced rogue ninja with silver hair spoke disdainfully from a tree branch. "Tell me, Yoru Mizuzuki, are you getting cold feet?"
"Cold feet? Heh. Narishige Sawa, tell me, when have I ever been afraid of a fight?" Yoru Mizuzuki shouted, displeased.
"Then who was just making a fuss about running away?" Narishige Sawa sneered.
"You..."
They hadn't even attacked the caravan yet, and his own subordinates were already at each other's throats.
The leader shot a glare at the two who couldn't stand each other and barked in a low voice, "That's enough. Both of you, be quiet. Do as I say!"
"When the caravan gets close, I'll join the other two former members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in taking on Jiraiya. The remaining three will each deal with one of those brats."
"What about the other ninja in the forest?" the dark-skinned ninja asked impatiently.
"Hmph. They're nothing but a bunch of weak, cowardly fools. Ignore them." The leader glanced disdainfully toward several different spots deep in the forest.
"Yes."
On the main road.
The caravan didn't stop moving. Instead, it deliberately picked up speed.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
More than a dozen kunai suddenly flew in from all directions.
"Watch out!"
Jiraiya knocked aside one of the kunai with a casual swing and shouted a warning.
"Understood."
Uchiha Matsuri, Minato Namikaze, and Kiba Inuzuka all nimbly dodged the kunai flying toward them.
In an instant, four ninja leaped down from the trees on either side of the road. Judging by their Forehead Protectors, they seemed to be from Kumogakure.
"Hmph. You four Cloud Ninja, why did you attack us just now? We're on an escort mission. If you have no business with us, move aside," Jiraiya said, displeased.
"We were hired to seize the cargo," one of the Cloud Ninja replied.
"In that case, don't blame me for being rude." A trace of murderous intent entered Jiraiya's voice.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya held oil made from chakra in his mouth and spat it out, igniting it with a Fire Release technique as he did so.
The Flame Bullet shot toward the Cloud Ninja a few meters away. One of them was too slow to dodge and died instantly.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Rod!"
Blue electricity suddenly crackled across the palm of one of the Cloud Ninja. In an instant, he leaped forward and struck at Jiraiya's chest.
"If you won't back down, then I'll just have to spar with you." Jiraiya smiled faintly, his body radiating an astonishing killing intent.
Jiraiya dodged the Cloud Ninja's Lightning Release attack, then leaped sideways and struck the ninja in the back. The Cloud Ninja coughed up blood and crashed hard to the ground.
"With skills like that, they think they can take on Teacher Jiraiya? They're way out of their depth." Kiba Inuzuka looked down on the three Cloud Ninja as Jiraiya beat them senseless.
In just two minutes, Jiraiya had defeated all three Cloud Ninja one after another.
Seeing Jiraiya easily take down the four Cloud Ninja in no time, the ninja hiding in the forest couldn't help marveling.
"Jiraiya's incredible!" a kunoichi on a tree branch exclaimed.
"Indeed. He defeated a team that wasn't weak in just a few minutes. He really lives up to his name as one of the Sannin." An old man with a white beard watched the battle in the distance, his face full of worry.
"So, old man, are we still going to attack?" the kunoichi asked cautiously.
"Let's wait and see if anyone else loses their nerve." The old man with a white beard sighed softly.
Beside the caravan.
After effortlessly "slaughtering" the four men, Jiraiya led the caravan onward.
Seeing how easily the first four to make a move had been defeated, the other groups in the forest grew much more cautious. None of them dared to be the first to act, but they all hoped another group would step forward and hold Jiraiya off. Then they could go after those three "helpless" Genin.
For a full half hour, the caravan protected by Team 5 came under no further attack.
"Did everyone hiding in the woods get scared off?" Jiraiya muttered.
"They're just afraid to act for now," Uchiha Matsuri reminded him quietly. "As soon as a powerful ninja manages to hold Teacher Jiraiya back, all the other groups will rush to attack the caravan."
As he spoke, six people suddenly emerged from either side of the road ahead.
Sensing that all six had exceptionally strong chakra, Jiraiya immediately grew more alert. "Minato, E, Matsuri, these six won't be easy to deal with. Be careful."
"Understood," the three replied in unison.
When the six came closer, Jiraiya said, slightly surprised, "The Six Rogue Ninjas?"
Before you continue