Through

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."

Yueshu spat out a fireball. He might have been in good shape, but even he had his limits at this age. After casting so many jutsu, including Great Fire Annihilation, his chakra was starting to run low.

"Water Style: Water Bullet."

Jiraiya was a grown man in his prime, and even without any special physique, he had a vast reserve of chakra.

He easily countered the Great Fireball Yueshu had sent his way with a Water Style jutsu.

The Water Bullet collided with the Great Fireball, hissing as clouds of steam rose up and blocked everyone's view.

No!

Jiraiya's vision wasn't obscured. His Barrier made this situation feel like home turf.

Jiraiya's lips curled up. Just as he'd expected, the three of them had already expended too much chakra to cast many more jutsu.

Especially Yueshu. Jiraiya found it hard to believe that an eight-year-old kid had a chakra reserve comparable to a Jonin's. That was the sort of thing he'd only expect to see among the Uzumaki Clan or Senju.

Jiraiya could see the three of them clearly, so he quietly waited for them to approach.

There was no doubt about it: the three of them were planning to use Taijutsu.

"On the right!"

A figure darted out from the side. Jiraiya seemed not to react in time.

Got him!

Kushina gripped her Kunai and thrust it toward Jiraiya. Just as she was about to hit him, an excited smile spread across her face.

"Ninja Secret Technique No. 2."

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

"Never let your guard down too soon."

Jiraiya moved, kicking at Kushina with a side kick.

Just as he was about to hit her, another figure darted out from the side.

"Not so fast!"

It was Yueshu! He had rushed in from the side, timing his attack to catch Jiraiya in the middle of his strike.

Jiraiya had already sensed Yueshu's movements. He moved again, leaping into the air with his legs spread. He kicked not only Kushina but Yueshu as well, sending them both flying.

One foot for each of them—Yueshu and Kushina went flying.

That kick had packed a punch!

Smack.

"Yueshu, Kushina!"

Mikoto couldn't help calling out. The next second, Jiraiya was right beside her.

"Ninja Secret Technique No. 3."

"Never stop observing and thinking."

Jiraiya clenched a fist and swung it at Mikoto.

Whoosh.

Yueshu quickly pulled out a shuriken and hurled it at him.

"Ah!"

Mikoto cried out as Jiraiya sent her flying with a punch.

By then, Yueshu's shuriken had also flown over, but it was a little too late.

Jiraiya didn't pay it any mind. It posed almost no threat to him.

"Mikoto!"

Kushina shouted.

Mikoto had just been knocked down, but when she heard Kushina, she forced herself upright and ran toward Jiraiya just like Kushina.

Yueshu also got to his feet and began forming Hand Seals.

Did he still have chakra left?

Jiraiya turned slightly and dodged the shuriken, then kept his eyes on Yueshu.

"Grab him!"

Kushina was faster than Mikoto. She shouted as she lunged at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya froze for a moment, completely unprepared for Kushina's plan.

Mikoto wasn't afraid, and she didn't ask why. Without hesitation, she lunged at Jiraiya too.

Jiraiya wasn't about to let them succeed so easily.

Even in Taijutsu, he couldn't let the two of them get close and pin him down.

Just as he was about to strike Kushina and Mikoto back, Yueshu, some distance away, made his move.

Poof!

A cloud of smoke burst from Yueshu's direction. It was clear he had only just finished forming his Hand Seals.

Jiraiya knocked Kushina and Mikoto away with a punch and a kick, but they didn't give up. Even as they were sent flying, they remembered to toss a shuriken or a Kunai at him.

Though their aim was truly terrible.

"Could it be...?"

Jiraiya sensed something was wrong. He couldn't feel Yueshu's presence anymore.

The two girls' shuriken flew toward him. Jiraiya, however, turned around and looked behind him.

"Too late!"

As he turned, he saw a sword flying straight at him.

It was Yueshu's Kusanagi Sword.

"Ninja Art: Needle Jiz—"

Jiraiya had meant to cover his whole body with needles to block the attack. After all, there were also shuriken coming from behind him.

But out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yueshu charging at him and immediately stopped what he was doing.

He caught sight of Yueshu running in a ninja's crouch, one hand empty and the other holding a blue-and-white orb.

Jiraiya knew exactly what it was. It was the jutsu without Hand Seals that had nearly injured him just moments ago!

Jiraiya drew a Kunai and knocked the sword in front of him away, then threw the Kunai at the charging Yueshu.

The shuriken behind him weren't aimed well enough to be a threat. Jiraiya didn't even need to dodge them.

"Rasengan!"

Yueshu thrust the Rasengan forward. The incoming Kunai was knocked to the side.

"Earth Style: Triple Earth Style Wall!"

Jiraiya slapped his palm against the ground, and three earthen walls rose in front of him, blocking Yueshu's path.

Yueshu's expression didn't change at all. He kept his eyes fixed ahead.

Boom!

The Rasengan slammed into the Earth Style Wall, making a deafening noise.

"Don't underestimate the orb!"

Yueshu poured in more chakra, and the Rasengan in his hand grew larger and larger.

"This kid!"

Boom!

Yueshu smashed through all three layers of the Earth Style Wall. Jiraiya hurriedly retreated.

"Not so fast!"

Yueshu slammed the Rasengan in his hand into the ground.

Boom!

The Rasengan struck the ground and exploded.

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

Whoosh.

Kushina and Mikoto's shuriken flew past from the side. Their aim really was terrible; they didn't hit Jiraiya.

Jiraiya landed steadily and immediately assumed a fighting stance.

"I won."

Yueshu stood up straight, a smile appearing on his face.

He held the bell in his hand. It jingled softly, making a pleasant sound—

"When did you...?"

Jiraiya immediately checked his waist. The cord holding the bell had been cut in two.

"Could it be...?"

Jiraiya looked sharply at Yueshu, his pupils trembling slightly.

"That's right."

Yueshu grinned.

"Using Transformation Jutsu to disguise myself as a shuriken, then using a clone to cover for Kushina and Mikoto, while also distracting you."

"Then launching a surprise attack from behind."

Yueshu explained slowly.

"And while you were focused on me, you had Kushina and Mikoto cut the cord with their shuriken."

Jiraiya finished for him.

"Bingo!"

Yueshu replied.

"I had a lot of faith in their shuriken."

As Yueshu spoke, Kushina and Mikoto slowly walked over, looking rather battered.

The three of them stood together once more.

"This was all thanks to us, you know."

Kushina was unable to hide her excitement.

"We couldn't have done it without Yueshu."

Mikoto was more modest. Her voice was soft, as usual, but excitement shone in her eyes too.

"Well, the three of us needed each other!"

Yueshu grabbed the bell and tossed it to Jiraiya.

"This time, we won."

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

"Well, I can't deny that."

"That was amazing, Yueshu! I knew I was right about you!"

Minato Namikaze saw the result and excitedly ran over.

"I won't lose either!"

"No, I give up."

Yueshu raised both hands.

"I'm already tired. Really tired."

Yueshu sighed.

"What are you talking about? You can't get cocky now. You still have to keep training!"

Minato Namikaze said something completely out of character. Maybe Yueshu really had managed to switch on Minato Namikaze's hot-blooded side.

"All right!"

Jiraiya clapped his hands as he looked at the four youngsters.

"Let's go get barbecue. My treat—it'll be a welcome dinner for our new teammate."

Jiraiya smiled.

"Thank you, Jiraiya-sensei."

"I was getting a little hungry, that's all."

"Thank you, Jiraiya-sensei."

"Hey..."