Smoke shrouded the brutal battlefield, and the fighting stretched on.
Countless lives perished there. Screams and wails rang out without end, and the smell of blood filled the air.
This was a war in which neither side was willing to yield.
Konoha did not want to lose, and Iwagakure wanted to win even more!
At some point, Jiraiya and Kitsuchi had already begun fighting. The other ninja kept their distance from their battle of their own accord, lest they hold their commander back.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
As Jiraiya spat out a large quantity of oil refined from chakra, he instantly unleashed Fire Release to ignite it, forming a tremendously powerful Fire Release ninjutsu that hurtled toward Kitsuchi.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!"
Kitsuchi slammed a fist into the ground, and a thick rampart rose before him.
Boom!
The searing flame bullet slammed into the rampart, sending rubble and sparks flying everywhere as smoke and dust billowed into the sky.
Thanks to the oil, Jiraiya's Fire Release ninjutsu was far more powerful than ordinary Fire Release ninjutsu. But Kitsuchi was equally skilled in Earth Release ninjutsu, and the rampart he created was not only tough but exceptionally thick.
Thus, the clash between the two techniques ended in a draw.
Whoosh!
At some point, Kitsuchi had slipped into the smoke and dust, rapidly closing in on Jiraiya. The instant he burst out, he swung his powerful fist at him.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist!"
Kitsuchi's right fist had now become a hard rock fist, greatly increasing its weight and hardness. It punched through the air, whistling toward Jiraiya.
Jiraiya leaped backward, dodging the first strike. Facing Kitsuchi's relentless pursuit, he swiftly formed hand seals in midair.
"Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
The long white hair hanging down his back rapidly grew and