The Substitution Technique had a very short range, but Jiraiya was confident he could slip away if there was only one person.
Then...
A shout rang out.
"Wood Release: Twisting Wrap Technique!"
Jiraiya's furiously fleeing feet faltered for a moment. What the heck? Wood Release?!
If I remember right, the person in Konoha who can currently use Wood Release is... what's his name again? Kō, I think?
Wait, isn't he from Root?
Why would he show up at this hot spring? Isn't this a teensy bit out of character for you Root people?
Jiraiya spent years away searching for intelligence on Orochimaru and the Child of Prophecy. Although he knew quite a bit about Konoha as well, secrets such as a change in Root's leadership were not available outside the village.
In that brief moment of distraction, wooden tendrils wrapped around his shoes, sending him straight to the ground.
When he raised his head, he found a crowd of masked ANBU members around him.
Yes, and not just ANBU. There were quite a few from Root, too.
Almost all of them had wet hair and had come over wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and a mask.
Jiraiya glanced at the sky. It was blue and clear, just like his heart at that moment... Like hell it was!
Could someone tell me why a whole truckload of ANBU popped out of the hot spring establishment and surrounded me in less than half a minute?!
The ANBU and Root members looked at the white-haired man. Most of the Root members were newcomers, so few recognized Jiraiya. A few of the older ANBU members, however, recognized him.
"Holy crap, I think that's Lord Jiraiya."
"Tsk, must be. Lady Tsunade beat him up for this back then. Never thought he'd still be