She still had to protect the unconscious Naruto. He was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, after all.
If Gekkō Raito discovered him and took the Nine-Tails as well, the sky would come crashing down on Konoha.
On one side was Lady Tsunade, who had been captured; on the other was the Nine-Tails, on whom the village's safety depended.
Just as Shizune was agonizing over the dilemma, she secretly peeked out again.
Huh? Where was he?
Gekkō Raito, who had been standing there, had actually vanished into thin air.
Had he left?
Shizune held her breath and waited several more minutes. Only after confirming that she could sense no presence nearby did she venture out fearfully, carrying the unconscious Naruto on her back.
Looking around the deserted battlefield and confirming that the menace really had left, she finally dared to rush over to Jiraiya and check his condition.
"Is... is he completely frozen solid?"
Looking at the lifelike ice sculpture of Jiraiya, Shizune paced anxiously in circles.
How was she supposed to save him?
Since it was ice, hot water should melt it, right?
Shizune went to enormous lengths to get hot water and poured it over the ice sculpture again and again.
Only after over ten minutes of effort did the ice begin to show signs of melting.
By the time the ice had melted completely and Jiraiya regained consciousness, more than an hour had passed.
The moment he woke, Jiraiya abruptly sat up and looked blankly at Shizune before him.
"Shizune... what is..."
"Lord Jiraiya, you're finally awake! Thank goodness!" Shizune cried, her voice thick with tears.
Jiraiya looked down at his stiff body. His limbs were so numb that he could barely feel them.
What terrifying Ice Release!
*Was this that brat's power? He could actually freeze someone alive for