The severed oil projectile burst into flames as it fell, forming a towering wall of fire that lingered, temporarily blocking the two men's view of each other.
Hatake Sakumo seized the opportunity to break free of the Earth Release, the intense heat making his hair stand on end.
Looking at the surrounding flames, he realized this was Jiraiya's plan: to use a wide-range attack to confine him within a fixed area.
If that was the case, why hadn't his opponent immediately pressed the advantage?
Sensing something wrong, Hatake Sakumo swiftly cut through the wall of fire, only to see two tiny green toads with white hair and beards already standing on Jiraiya's shoulders.
"Little Jiraiya's run into trouble!"
"Less talk. Hurry up and help him!"
Jiraiya held his hands tightly in a hand seal without releasing it, and a peculiar energy gathered around him.
"Sages, he's a difficult opponent. I need your full support."
"Understood!"
Fine markings began appearing at the corners of his eyes. The contours around his eye sockets distorted, taking on toadlike features, and the color of his pupils gradually deepened.
They finally became horizontal slits.
His breathing rhythm changed.
Hatake Sakumo naturally noticed the change, but he didn't immediately charge in to interrupt him.
With Gamabunta there, interrupting him wouldn't be easy. The enormous toad could shield him effortlessly, so Sakumo instead calmly watched Jiraiya gather natural energy.
"You chose not to keep attacking? Sakumo, you made the wrong choice.
Sorry. I can let you and Kakashi go, but I'm taking Naruto back today, no matter what."
The instant Sage Mode was complete, Jiraiya's aura changed noticeably.
His pupils became horizontal slits.
The skin around his eyes turned crimson, its surface covered in fine bumps like a toad's.
His body swelled slightly compared to before, and