Sun Wukong Takes the Field!

Meanwhile, Tsunade and the others were investigating everything.

"How is it? Did they leave behind any passageways?"

"Can we use them to get in and provide support?"

Tsunade swept her gaze over the area like an enraged lioness.

There were many people present. Including sensory and medical ninja, there were nearly a thousand of them, all guards Jiraiya had left behind to ensure Tsunade's safety.

If they could enter the barrier and provide support, the roles of hunter and prey might very well be reversed!

"Lady Tsunade, it's underground. They've been lurking beneath the ground all this time! I'm afraid we can't make use of it!"

Hizashi Hyūga respectfully reported his findings.

"Lord Minato has already set off! He's approaching the location Lord Jiraiya designated!"

A sensory ninja from the Yamanaka Clan reported. Right now, perhaps only Minato Namikaze, who could use the Flying Thunder God, could get inside.

"Lady Tsunade, something is changing underground!"

"Underground... there's an enormous chakra signature underground!"

"It's going to explode!"

A sensory ninja spoke in a trembling voice.

"What?!"

"What?! It's going to explode?!"

Listening to the slug's relay from his shoulder, Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief.

The ground was going to explode too?

Without questioning it, Jiraiya and the other Konoha ninja immediately followed the slug's warning and rapidly moved toward the edge of the barrier.

Boom!

As though the events were seamlessly connected, Jiraiya and the others had barely left when the entire area split apart like an erupting volcano, spewing scorching magma without end!

Lava Release: Flower-Fruit Mountain!

A figure wrapped in blazing, glowing magma leaped out of the molten rock, letting out a wild laugh.

At the same time, an evil chakra that made everyone uneasy flooded the entire battlefield in an instant. Many ninja lacking sufficient strength were so frightened that their legs trembled.

Standing once more atop Gamaken's head, Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply at the sight, and he sucked in a breath.

"That is... the Four-Tails' jinchūriki!"

"Rōshi, the Lava Release ninja!"

Only then did Rōshi seem to realize that his attack had accomplished nothing.

"Tch, sensory ninja?"

Thirty-year-old Rōshi clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, clearly unhappy with the results he had achieved.

Rōshi had already entered a partial Tailed Beast Transformation. A layer of dark crimson Tailed Beast cloak covered his body, while three scarlet tails swayed continuously behind him, drawing everyone's attention.

Combined with his earthshaking entrance, the Allied Shinobi Forces' previously flagging morale instantly rose again.

Jiraiya, however, stared in surprise at the transformed Rōshi, silently searching for ninjutsu that could counter him. He knew full well that this man was undoubtedly the strongest enemy Konoha's ninja forces faced on the Sand ninja front!

"Ken, I'll use a barrier to trap him next. I'm counting on you to hold him off for now!"

Jiraiya instructed Gamaken with a solemn expression, completely unlike his usual carefree self.

Almost all of his ninjutsu was countered by that magma-like Lava Release covering the opponent's body. Of everyone present, only Gamaken could contend with him.

Gamaken silently nodded, his body crouching slightly as he prepared to burst into action at any moment.

Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Technique!

Rōshi shouted and spat several balls of magma from his mouth toward Jiraiya.

Gamaken raised his shield at the same time and blocked them with all his strength.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, leaped backward, tossing his white hair behind him as his hands formed seals.

"Alright, then it's time for this Toad Sage Jiraiya's turn!"

Clap!

Pressing his palms together, Jiraiya lowered himself into a horse stance, his hand seals growing faster and faster.

Barrier: Canopy Formation!

The instant Gamaken and Rōshi separated, Jiraiya swiftly leaped to Rōshi's side and deployed the barrier.

Centered on Jiraiya's palm, a transparent spherical sensory barrier rapidly expanded.

As the barrier spread, it was as though Rōshi had been dragged into another world, the surrounding space narrow and enclosed.

Seeing this in his partial Tailed Beast Transformation state, Rōshi was not only unafraid, but a flash of excitement even crossed his eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, the Tailed Beast chakra surrounding his body erupted once more.

Lava Release: Taijutsu: Underwater Needle!

Rōshi roared as every muscle in his body instantly bulged, then transformed entirely into magma!

Rōshi immediately leaped high into the air and punched at the barrier!

However...

Bang!

Rōshi's fist, aimed at the barrier, struck his own face instead!

"It can control the space within the barrier? This jutsu..."

Having punched himself, Rōshi looked slightly disheveled as he glared at the barrier with dark fury in his eyes.

If his body had not transformed into magma, rendering him nearly immune to taijutsu, he might truly have died!

"I underestimated you, did I? One of the Sannin, Jiraiya? I'll remember you!"

Jiraiya, maintaining the barrier, looked somewhat regretful. If Rōshi's attack aimed at him just now had killed him, how wonderful that would have been!

With a sigh, Jiraiya turned and walked toward the edge of the barrier. He knew Rōshi would definitely use the jinchūriki's power to break through it. For now, he was merely buying time.

"Sun Wukong, lend me your power!"

Rōshi called out to the Four-Tails within him, then directly entered full Tailed Beast Transformation!

The next second, a gigantic red ape dozens of meters tall appeared where he stood.

The Four-Tails, Sun Wukong!

With its appearance, the barrier, originally only several dozen meters in diameter, rapidly expanded to several hundred meters, firmly trapping it within.

Rōshi, now controlled by the Four-Tails, crouched on all fours like an ape and opened his great mouth lined with sharp canines.

The next second, a Tailed Beast Bomb with a 2:8 Yin-Yang Release ratio rapidly formed in its mouth!

Apparently fearing its power would not be enough, the Four-Tails deliberately charged it for another minute before violently firing it!

Boom!

Before the immensely destructive Tailed Beast Bomb, the entire barrier was like a sheet of paper pierced through by a blade. It was completely shattered without making much sound at all.

The Tailed Beast Bomb that burst free continued in its originally intended direction without losing any momentum.

Unfortunately, this direction had been carefully calculated by Rōshi—it was aimed at the Konoha ninja!

"Damn it! How did this happen?!"

Watching the purple-black Tailed Beast Bomb hurtle toward them, Jiraiya cursed with an ugly expression, then stomped his foot and called out to Gamaken.

"Ken, we're going in!"

"Huh? Me?!"

Gamaken's hesitant voice rang out. It was not even as large as that Tailed Beast Bomb!

Just then, a specially made three-pronged kunai suddenly appeared!

"Am I late?"