Sen willed it.
From the cracks between the stones of the hot spring pool.
Several green vines covered in barbs, damp and smelling of wet earth.
Silently climbed along the gaps in the wooden wall covered in black mold.
The vines made barely a sound as they crawled.
It was completely drowned out by the splashing water and clattering wooden basins in the women's baths next door.
At that moment, Jiraiya was on the roof, thoroughly engrossed in the view.
Both his hands clutched the old brass telescope, his palms slick with sweat.
"Gulp."
He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, unwilling to blink even once.
Suddenly, he felt something cold and wet against his right ankle.
"Huh? What's that?"
Jiraiya scratched his thigh and muttered distractedly.
Before his brain could catch up.
A force as savage as a wild bull erupted from his ankle!
It yanked downward!
"Waaah!"
Jiraiya only had time for a short cry of surprise.
Then his entire body slid straight off the sloping gray roof tiles.
Clatter-
A string of sharp crashes rang out.
His massive body shattered a dozen mossy old tiles, sending them tumbling off the eaves.
In midair, Jiraiya instinctively tried to summon the chakra inside him.
His left hand rapidly formed hand seals, attempting to use the Body Flicker Technique.
But at that very second.
The black barbs on the vines wrapped around his ankle pierced his trouser leg.
And sank into his flesh.
[Life Drain] activated at maximum power.
Jiraiya felt as though the chakra inside him had encountered a pump.
A huge portion vanished in an instant.
His whole body went limp, like a sick, dehydrated hen, and his hands fell helplessly out of their seals.
"Sucking... you're sucking out my chakra?!"
Disbelief filled Jiraiya's wide eyes.
Before he could