Jiraiya spotted Konan's fist darting out, but he was too slow to dodge, so he caught it with his palm.
After he landed, a fist whistled toward the back of his head. Jiraiya ducked beneath it and swept a leg low to knock Konan off balance.
As he turned with the motion, Nagato's chopping fist was already upon him!
Heart aligned with intent, intent with energy, and energy with strength.
The chopping fist came down like a massive axe felling a tree, powerful and swift. He absolutely could not take it head-on!
Just as Jiraiya was about to move, Konan stuck out a leg, tripping him as he sidestepped.
This is bad! Nagato's chopping fist struck Jiraiya in the groin.
"Hiss... that really hurt!"
Seeing the three ready to press their advantage, Jiraiya hurriedly rolled away.
He clutched his groin. He had barely been injured, but it hurt!
The three struck like spears thrusting with the grace of roaming dragons. Every muscle worked together, their strength building inside their bodies like compressed springs.
"What sharp, fierce moves. They're practically weapons."
Jiraiya found it remarkable, though he could still just about fend off their attacks.
They clashed again.
Xuanhui sat on a nearby rock, clicking his tongue in wonder and praising them nonstop.
"Martial arts really are impressive. They actually let three ten-year-olds hold their own against Jiraiya in taijutsu."
After a while, the three began to slow as their stamina ran out. Jiraiya, who had conserved his energy by dodging, quickly subdued them.
Still, the result far exceeded his expectations. Several of their attacks had nearly put him in danger.
"You've passed the taijutsu test. Keep practicing diligently, and don't use all your strength right at the start of a fight."
"Next is the genjutsu test!"
Taking advantage of their