Through

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."

Yueshu spat out a fireball. Even though his constitution was truly excellent, there were limits at his age. Having unleashed so many ninjutsu, including a Great Fire Annihilation, it had to be said that Yueshu's chakra was beginning to run dry.

"Water Style: Water Bullet."

Jiraiya was a mature adult; even without a special constitution, the amount of chakra within him was vast.

Facing the Great Fireball spewed by Yueshu, Jiraiya easily resolved it with a Water Style technique.

The Water Bullet and the Great Fireball collided, producing a sizzling sound as waves of steam rose up, blocking everyone's vision.

No!

Jiraiya was not affected; his barrier was enough to make him feel right at home in this situation.

The corners of Jiraiya's mouth curled up. Just as he had expected, the chakra of Yueshu and the other two had been depleted too much, leaving them without enough to unleash further ninjutsu.

Especially Yueshu. In Jiraiya's view, it was incredible that an eight-year-old brat possessed a chakra volume comparable to a Jonin; such a situation would usually only occur within the Uzumaki and Senju clans.

Seeing the movements of Yueshu and the others clearly, Jiraiya waited quietly for them to approach.

Without a doubt, the three of them were going to use taijutsu.

"On the right!"

A figure darted out from the side, and Jiraiya acted as if he hadn't reacted in time.

Got him!

Kushina gripped her Kunai and thrust it toward Jiraiya. Seeing that she was about to succeed, a joyful smile bloomed on her face.

"Ninja Secret Technique Number Two."

Jiraiya spoke calmly, and Kushina immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Never relax prematurely."

Jiraiya's body moved, and he delivered a side kick toward Kushina.

Just as Kushina was about to be struck, another figure darted out from the side.

"Don't even think about it!"

It was Yueshu! He rushed out from the side, seizing the exact moment of Jiraiya's attack.

Jiraiya had known of Yueshu's movements in advance. His body shifted again, and he leaped into the air. With his legs spread wide in mid-air, he kicked not only Kushina but also the rushing Yueshu away.

With two legs, one for each, Yueshu and Kushina were sent flying.

The force was not light!

Thud.

"Yueshu! Kushina!"

Mikoto couldn't help but cry out, and the next second, Jiraiya's figure appeared beside her.

"Ninja Secret Technique Number Three."

"Never stop observing and thinking."

Jiraiya clenched his hand into a fist and struck toward Mikoto.

Whoosh.

Yueshu pulled out a Shuriken just in time and threw it over.

"Ah!"

Mikoto let out a cry as she was sent flying by Jiraiya's blow.

At that moment, Yueshu's Shuriken flew over, but the timing was a bit too slow.

Jiraiya didn't pay any attention to the Shuriken; it posed basically no threat to him.

"Mikoto!"

Kushina's voice rang out.

Mikoto, who had just been knocked down, forced herself up and ran toward Jiraiya just like Kushina.

Meanwhile, Yueshu stood up and began to weave hand signs.

Do they still have chakra?

Slightly tilting his body, Jiraiya dodged the Shuriken and observed Yueshu.

"Grab him!"

Kushina was faster than Mikoto, shouting as she lunged at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya was stunned for a moment, never expecting this to be Kushina's goal.

Mikoto wasn't afraid, nor did she ask why; she lunged at Jiraiya without the slightest hesitation.

Jiraiya wouldn't let them succeed so easily.

Even if it was just taijutsu, there was no way Jiraiya would let himself be entangled at close range by two people.

Just as he was about to strike back at the lunging Kushina and Mikoto, Yueshu, who was not far away, began to move.

Puff.

A cloud of smoke exploded in Yueshu's direction; he had clearly just finished forming his hand seals.

Jiraiya sent Kushina and Mikoto flying with a punch and a kick, but they did not give up; even as they were knocked backward, they didn't forget to toss a few shuriken or kunai.

Though their aim was truly abysmal.

"Could it be!"

Jiraiya sensed something was wrong; he could no longer feel Yueshu's presence.

In front of him, the two women's shuriken flew toward him, but Jiraiya turned his head directly to look behind him.

"Too late!"

The moment he turned, a sword came flying into his field of vision.

It was Yueshu's Kusanagi sword.

"Ninja Art, Needle Ji—"

Jiraiya had intended to cover his entire body in needles to block it, especially since there was also an attack from behind.

But catching a glimpse of Yueshu charging toward him out of the corner of his eye, he immediately halted his movements.

In his peripheral vision, Yueshu was sprinting in a ninja stance, one hand empty and the other cradling a blue-and-white sphere.

Jiraiya certainly knew what that was—it was the seal-less ninjutsu that had nearly injured him just moments ago!

Jiraiya drew a kunai, swatted the flying sword away, and hurled the kunai at the charging Yueshu.

The shuriken from behind were not aimed accurately enough for Jiraiya to even need to dodge.

"Rasengan!"

Yueshu slammed the Rasengan forward, and the incoming kunai was knocked aside instantly.

"Earth Style, Triple Earth Style Wall!"

Jiraiya slammed his palm onto the ground, and three earthen walls rose up before him, blocking Yueshu's path.

Yueshu's expression remained unchanged, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Bang!

The Rasengan collided with the Earth Style Wall, emitting a deafening roar.

"Don't underestimate the sphere!"

Yueshu increased his chakra output, and the Rasengan in his hand grew steadily larger.

"This kid!"

Bang!

All three layers of the Earth Style Wall were shattered by Yueshu, and Jiraiya hurriedly retreated.

"Don't even think about it!"

Yueshu slammed the Rasengan in his hand into the ground.

Bang!

The Rasengan struck the earth and exploded outward.

The shockwave of the blast sent stones flying, and both Yueshu and Jiraiya were caught in the aftermath.

Whoosh.

The shuriken thrown by Kushina and Mikoto flew past; their aim was indeed poor, failing to touch Jiraiya.

Jiraiya landed steadily and immediately assumed a combat stance.

"I win."

Yueshu stood tall, a smile appearing on his face.

He held the bell in his hand, shaking it gently to produce a crisp, melodic sound—

"When?"

Jiraiya immediately checked his waist; the cord that had held the bell was severed in two.

"Could it be..."

Jiraiya stared intensely at Yueshu, his pupils trembling.

"It is exactly that 'could it be'," Yueshu laughed.

"Using Transformation Jutsu to disguise as a shuriken, using a clone to cover for Kushina and Mikoto, and incidentally drawing your attention."

"And then, launching a surprise attack from behind."

Yueshu said slowly.

"Then, by using you to draw his attention, I let Kushina and Mikoto cut my ropes with their Shuriken."

Jiraiya added.

"Bingo!"

Yueshu replied.

"I have complete faith in their Shuriken skills."

As Yueshu spoke, Kushina and Mikoto slowly walked over from the side, looking quite disheveled.

The three of them stood together once again.

"It was all thanks to us!"

Kushina made no effort to hide her excitement.

"It was thanks to Yueshu."

Mikoto was more modest, her tone soft and as calm as usual, though a spark of excitement remained in her eyes.

"Well, the three of us are indispensable!"

Yueshu grabbed the bell and tossed it to Jiraiya.

"This time, it's our victory."

Jiraiya caught the bell and looked at the three of them, unable to help but offer a wry smile.

"Well, that is indeed true."

"That was amazing, Yueshu! I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"

Seeing the outcome, Minato Namikaze ran over excitedly.

"I won't lose either!"

"No, I concede."

Yueshu raised both hands.

"I'm already exhausted, super exhausted."

Yueshu sighed.

"What are you saying? You can't get cocky now; we still have to keep training!"

Minato Namikaze said something quite out of character for him; perhaps Yueshu really had flipped the switch on this guy's hot-blooded nature.

"Alright!"

Looking at the four little ones before him, Jiraiya clapped his hands together.

"Let's go eat grilled meat. My treat, consider it a welcome for your new teammate."

Jiraiya smiled.

"Thank you, Teacher Jiraiya."

"I just happen to be a little hungry, that's all."

"Thank you, Teacher Jiraiya."

"Sigh."