Jiraiya's Defeat

As for Kaguya, Feng Yao said he did not know her well.

Before long, Jiraiya brought Feng Yao to the hall.

In fact, Feng Yao had already spotted the toads from far away.

"Well, if it isn't little Jiraiya. We've hardly seen you back here these past few years..."

Two small toads walked over.

Jiraiya smiled without answering, but still greeted them respectfully. "Sage Fukasaku, Sage Shima."

Feng Yao knew these must be Sages Fukasaku and Shima of Mount Myōboku.

There was also a large orange toad sitting on a cushion, seemingly asleep.

He should be the Great Toad Sage Feng Yao knew of.

He was even older than the Sage of Six Paths, a true living fossil of the shinobi world.

The one who had spoken was Sage Shima, and beside her was Sage Fukasaku.

"Oh, Jiraiya, have you brought someone new? The last newcomer you brought was that little fellow Minato..."

"If little Jiraiya brought him here, he might have some talent..."

The two stared at Feng Yao, trying to see what was special about him.

"Hello..."

Feng Yao greeted them politely with a slight smile.

These two were ancient themselves, only a few hundred years younger than the Great Toad Sage.

"Ahem, here's the thing..."

Jiraiya rubbed his nose awkwardly and briefly explained the situation.

Only then did Fukasaku and Shima realize they had misunderstood.

"I see. An Uchiha with the Mangekyo, and he seems quite polite, too..."

Fukasaku and Shima marveled. They knew of the Uchiha, a powerful clan in the shinobi world with a hereditary ability.

Feng Yao's Mangekyo in particular.

It reminded them of Madara Uchiha from decades ago, one of the strongest in the shinobi world.

He, too, had been an Uchiha clansman with the Mangekyo.

"Yes. Sorry for the trouble, but I'll need both of your help shortly."

Jiraiya did not overestimate himself. He had certainly heard of the Mangekyo's reputation.

Like the First Hokage's Wood Release, the Mangekyo was a power that had ended an age of chaos.

Naturally, Jiraiya did not dare let his guard down.

Without Sage Mode, relying on his own limited strength, Jiraiya really had no confidence in facing the Mangekyo.

"But the Great Toad Sage has fallen asleep again. The last time he slept was ten years ago, with the Child of Destiny..."

Jiraiya looked at the sleeping Great Toad Sage, inwardly shocked.

"Yes. A few days ago, the venerable sage suddenly fell asleep..."

"He gave us quite a fright. We thought his soul was about to return to the Pure Land..."

Jiraiya's mouth twitched as he listened to the two sages.

But though the speakers meant nothing by it, the listener took it to heart.

Feng Yao, on the other hand, grew inwardly tense.

A few days ago?

Barring any surprises, that would be the day I awakened my past-life memories and the system.

I wonder how much of the future the Great Toad Sage can see.

"Let's go. Since you're going to fight, let's head to the usual place..."

Fukasaku and Shima led the way out of the hall.

Feng Yao followed them. Although he did not know what they meant by the usual place, it was probably somewhere suited for a fight.

Soon, they arrived at a large open clearing, with numerous toad statues scattered around it.

Several large toads were sparring there as well.

Presumably, they were Gamabunta and his two brothers, along with several other large toads Feng Yao did not recognize.

"Yo, Jiraiya. We don't see you back here often..."

Gamabunta, who looked just like a mob boss, spoke.

Sparring with Gamabunta was a large blue-green toad with two sword sheaths on his back, presumably the youngest brother, Gamahiro.

Feng Yao drew in a sharp breath, struck by the sight of their immense size.

"Ah, Gamabunta, you look like you've gotten stronger again!"

Jiraiya smiled and greeted Gamabunta.

Gamabunta was his summoning companion, and they had fought side by side for years.

"Hmph..." Gamabunta turned his head haughtily. "Anyway, is that black-haired kid a newcomer?"

The second brother, Gamakichi, and the youngest, Gamahiro, were both toads of few words, but they nodded to Jiraiya in greeting.

Fukasaku briefly explained the fight between Jiraiya and Feng Yao.

"Oh, I see. Jiraiya, you'd better not lose, or don't tell anyone you know me..."

"Haha..."

Jiraiya knew what Gamabunta was like.

"All right, Gamabunta..."

"Let's begin..."

"Haha, Feng Yao, don't say I'm picking on you when I use Sage Mode and summon Gamabunta and the others..."

Feng Yao smiled slightly. "Of course, no problem. Sage Mode and summoned beasts are part of your strength, too."

"Haha... then..."

Jiraiya's gaze sharpened as he readied himself for battle.

"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"

An enormous fireball shot toward Feng Yao, trailing blazing flames!

Sage Shima and Sage Fukasaku swiftly jumped onto Jiraiya's shoulders.

They helped Jiraiya regulate natural energy.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

An enormous fireball, trailing flames, hurtled into it at tremendous speed!

Boom...

Sparks flew everywhere!

Then three Jiraiya clones charged in, Rasengans poised in their hands.

"Hmph!"

Feng Yao flickered out of the way.

His long blade came free!

One of Jiraiya's clones dispersed into smoke.

Then he lashed out with a kick.

Another clone dispersed into smoke.

"Summoning!"

Boom!

Gamabunta slashed with his blade.

Feng Yao flickered away. In midair, his golden Susanoo's skeletal hand transformed into a massive bone blade and slammed down!

Gamabunta hastily raised his blade to block.

"Tch, this guy's really strong!"

Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta's head. "So this is Susanoo? It doesn't seem all that impressive..."

Gamabunta's mouth twitched. Can't you see my hands shaking? I can barely hold it back!

If the timing had not been wrong, he would really have liked to slash Jiraiya a few times and let him find out just how sharp his blade was!

Feng Yao gave Gamabunta no chance. The large summoned beast was too big and too much of an obstacle.

So he swiftly formed an enormous golden skeletal fist and sent it hurtling toward Gamabunta's right cheek with lightning speed.

Gamabunta inwardly cried, Not good!

The next second, Gamabunta was sent flying far away, belly up...

Jiraiya lost his balance, and Feng Yao seized the opening, blasting a Great Fireball Technique at him.

But Jiraiya did not panic. "That was enough time!"

With that, the instant the great fireball touched him, he dispersed into smoke.

Elsewhere, Jiraiya suddenly opened his eyes!

"Sage Mode!"

Red markings appeared around Jiraiya's eyes, red lines crisscrossed his face, his pupils became horizontal slits, and parts of him took on toadlike features.

This was Jiraiya's Sage Mode-or, more precisely, his incomplete Sage Mode.

This resulted from Jiraiya's inability to fully control natural energy.

"Sage Art: Goemon!"

Jiraiya opened his mouth and spewed an immense volume of thick toad oil.

It swept out like a black torrent, engulfing the entire battlefield and instantly coating the ground, rocks, and vegetation in a thick layer of oil.

At the same time, Sage Shima, on his left shoulder, sharply inflated herself and unleashed a raging Fire Release attack. The flames, crimson as blood, instantly ignited the layer of oil!

Sage Fukasaku, on his right shoulder, simultaneously blew out a fierce gale. The wind fed the flames, and the oil fueled the fire, turning it into a boundless sea of flames in an instant!

Feng Yao activated the Body Flicker Technique and leaped high into the air to avoid the hot oil!

"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"

Jiraiya's figure abruptly flashed, and he appeared behind Feng Yao!

The Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan crashed forward, the chakra sphere bearing the force to destroy heaven and earth!