Sarutobi Hiruzen did not believe Shōji could be as powerful as the invincible First Hokage of his own village, but he did acknowledge that Shōji was stronger than the man regarded as the strongest in the shinobi world over the past twenty or thirty years—the Third Raikage. That was an opponent Sarutobi Hiruzen believed he could not defeat.
Shōji had also displayed his formidable side on the previous battlefield. Therefore, in this clash, neither he nor Jiraiya could face Shōji alone. Only by joining forces would they stand a chance of winning!
That was right. From the Third Hokage's perspective, there was a certain possibility that master and disciple could win together. At worst, they could hold Shōji back. This was not merely confidence in their own strength, but because Sarutobi Hiruzen possessed a trump card of his own—the Reaper Death Seal!
However, the limitations of that technique were equally obvious.
Shōji was immensely powerful and unbelievably fast, practically unmatched in the shinobi world. Yet no one on their side knew space-time ninjutsu. If he truly reached the point of needing to use that technique, someone would have to create an opening for him.
That was why Sarutobi Hiruzen had emphasized that Jiraiya must fight Shōji alongside him.
As for this matter—
Shikaku clearly agreed with his Third Hokage's judgment. However, this was an issue between Sarutobi Hiruzen and his disciple Jiraiya, so Shikaku would not casually interrupt.
Jiraiya frowned deeply at that moment. He always felt that his Hokage teacher had some sort of plan. His gaze fixed straight on the old man, as though he wanted to spot something unusual in his teacher's aged face. Unfortunately, all he saw was the same calm and resolute expression.
After taking a deep breath, Jiraiya could only nod heavily. "Yes, I