Jiraiya bit his finger, formed hand seals, and slammed his palm to the ground.
Summoning Technique!
A giant toad with a pipe in its mouth appeared.
"Jiraiya, what did you summon me for?"
He looked around, then spotted the Nine-Tails rampaging nearby.
"Gamabunta, that big fox is the Nine-Tails! Let's attack him together!"
Jiraiya shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
Gamabunta's cheeks swelled, then he spat a stream of golden oil toward the Nine-Tails.
Jiraiya followed it with a fierce burst of flame.
The oil and fire combined into a terrifying blast that engulfed the Nine-Tails.
Ninja Art: Striking Shadow Snakes!
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!
Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and many other ninja joined the battle one after another.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, meanwhile, held back on the sidelines.
Like Danzo, neither Homura nor Koharu had brought their subordinates to this battle. Nor did either of them intend to fight with all their strength.
A single Great Fireball Technique was the extent of their contribution.
During the war, they would never have schemed against one another. But the war had ended two years ago. With external threats gone, the struggle for power within the village had begun.
Otherwise, they would never have been able to bring about Hatake Sakumo's death in the original story.
They might not have been as aggressive as Danzo, but that did not mean they were above such underhanded tactics.
The Nine-Tails felt the searing flames on his body and let out howl after agonized howl. His fury only grew.
His nine tails swept back and forth. He braced his limbs, then lunged. All nine tails trailed behind his surging body.
Before the beast itself moved, a shock wave rushed forward.