It could be used.
It could be discarded.
But the balance itself could not be changed.
In the forest behind them, Jiraiya finally rose to his feet.
He raised a hand and wiped the cold sweat from his face.
The mental strain brought on by his repeated deaths had yet to fade.
His legs felt heavy as well.
But he had no more time to wait.
Lie Yang would soon cross the border.
If he did not reveal himself now, Konoha would lose even its last chance to make amends.
Jiraiya drew a deep breath and stepped out from his hiding place.
This time, he did not create any Shadow Clones.
Nor did he have the toads test the waters for him.
His wooden clogs stepped across the damp earth.
The sound carried through the woods.
The Causal Balance within Lie Yang gradually settled.
He turned around.
His right hand was already gripping his ninja blade.
Clang!
The long blade left its sheath.
Azure lightning swiftly coiled around the blade.
Every arc was condensed to the point of seeming almost tangible.
The air was pierced by the intense heat.
Piercing explosions erupted continuously through the forest.
Jiraiya's steps abruptly stopped.
He saw the blade pointed at him.
Yet it did not immediately slash down.
Lie Yang had already distinguished the original from the Shadow Clones.
Jiraiya had guessed correctly.
But this outcome did not ease him in the slightest.
Blue-white lightning continuously compressed around the suspended blade tip.
The scattered arcs around it swiftly gathered toward the center.
The next instant, a thick beam of light blasted from the blade tip.
Boom!
The lightning tore through the air.
The sea mist along its path instantly evaporated.
The trees on both sides were bleached white by the violent lightning.
The beam