The word engraved on the back of the Seven-Star Sword was "Kaede."
During his years undercover in the Kara Organization, Jiraiya had spent every day with Ananda.
And Ananda had lived under the identity of "Kaede."
Thus, the name Jiraiya had called out most often over those years was "Kaede."
The moment Jiraiya said "Kaede," the Crimson Gourd would absorb and seal him!
Sizzle!
The horizontal pupils of a toad appeared in Jiraiya's eyes as he entered Mount Myoboku Sage Mode!
Bending his knees, he lunged toward Orochimaru with astonishing leaping power!
Whoosh!
Orochimaru pulled back swiftly, but an ice-encrusted mountain wall stood behind him!
Whirr!
A Rasengan formed in Jiraiya's hand, and he drove it toward Orochimaru's face!
-Blade-Spreading Fate Reversal!
In that instant, Orochimaru vanished.
Boom!
The Rasengan slammed into the mountain wall, shaking loose great masses of ice and snow.
Jiraiya looked up to see Orochimaru channeling chakra through the soles of his feet, clinging high on the mountain wall!
"You've got nowhere left to run, Orochimaru..."
Jiraiya pressed his palm down.
-Sage Art: Earth Release: Yellow Springs Swamp!
Splash!
A Yellow Springs Swamp suddenly appeared in the mountain wall beneath Orochimaru's feet. Muddy, ghostly hands reached out, seized his ankles, and dragged him inward!
Jiraiya said, "What a shame, Orochimaru. Your dōjutsu has a cooldown, and with ninja tools in both hands, you can't form hand seals. That leaves you with only..."
"Aaaagh...!!"
Orochimaru opened his mouth and spat out a brand-new version of himself.
The discarded snakeskin was dragged into the Yellow Springs Swamp, while the three Six Paths Ninja Tools fell at Jiraiya's feet.
Jiraiya bent down and picked up the Seven-Star Sword. Seeing the word on its back, he smiled faintly. "I see."
He released the absorbed word spirit from the Crimson Gourd