"Whup-whup-"
The helicopters circling hundreds of meters overhead cast enormous beams of light onto Senso-ji's main hall from every direction, creating a dazzling display of illumination.
In the nearly ruined Senso-ji, only Kannon Hall still stood in its original place.
With its hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, sweeping eaves, red pillars, and green tiles, Senso-ji's main hall was solemn and imposing-the perfect stage.
The stars were naturally Jiraiya and Tobi, facing each other from opposite ends of the main roof ridge of Kannon Hall.
Rain pattered through the darkness, neither heavy nor light, naturally filling in the tense, murderous backdrop of a battle about to erupt.
Leaning halfway out of a helicopter to film below, a cameraman could not help marveling at the composition beneath him, like a video game cinematic or a blockbuster movie poster.
"This is just so cool!"
The cameraman felt inspiration overflowing. This was no longer simply work, recording and broadcasting a battle between Superhumans-he was creating something great.
He could not resist wanting to go a little farther and get a clearer shot.
Unfortunately, the helicopter pilot was a philistine, entirely lacking his willingness to die for art.
Only repeated pressure from his superiors had forced him to fly to Asakusa. Even now, he looked as miserable as if his whole family had died, navigating as though along the edge of an abyss or across thin ice, ready to turn around and flee at any moment.
What a killjoy!
"Clang, clang, clang! What comes next isn't ninjutsu, but Senjutsu. Look up at the halo and the Tengai-the tale of Jiraiya the gallant is earning rave reviews!"
Having entered Sage Mode, Jiraiya tossed his silver-gray ponytail back like a kabuki actor, struck a pose he thought looked dashing, and made his announcement.
"You're practically a warty toad