"Oh? You have some skill, actually managing to deflect my Dust Release."
Ōnoki gave Orochimaru a slightly surprised look, then sneered. "But how many times can you use a cheap trick like that?"
"Old man, you talk too much!"
Jiraiya seized the opportunity to form hand seals. "Ninja Art: Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!"
Countless strands of white hair, hard as needles, shot toward Ōnoki in the air like a torrential downpour.
Orochimaru attacked at the same time. His body stretched unnaturally as he sprang up like a giant python, countless venomous snakes shooting from his sleeves to coil around Ōnoki's feet.
"Pathetic tricks!"
Ōnoki nimbly rose higher, evading the hair and venomous snakes while preparing to form hand seals again.
For a time, Ōnoki used the threat of his Dust Release and his agile flight to wage a fierce battle of attack and defense against Jiraiya and Orochimaru on the ground.
Jiraiya unleashed one powerful ninjutsu after another, keeping Ōnoki's attention occupied.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, using all manner of bizarre, tricky ninjutsu and taijutsu to constantly search for openings in Ōnoki's defenses and try to close in.
Though powerful, Ōnoki dared not let his guard down for a moment against two of Konoha's top Kage-level fighters at once.
Dust Release required preparation time, and Jiraiya and Orochimaru's attacks came in unending waves, leaving him no chance to use it at his leisure.
At times, he used other Earth Release ninjutsu to block and counterattack; at others, he used his flight to gain distance, seeking another chance to use Dust Release.
The battle reached a fever pitch.
Three powerful masses of chakra clashed violently on the battlefield, the shock waves of escaping energy making it impossible for the ordinary ninja below to