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"This brat…"
Noticing that Naruto's condition was off, a layer of dark red light radiating from his body, Tsunade's expression changed drastically as she cursed:
"Jiraiya, look at the fine mess you've made!!!"
Could their luck really be this bad?
Jiraiya was dumbfounded. Was Naruto using the Nine-Tails' chakra?
Had the seal malfunctioned?
Naruto, now entirely enveloped in the Nine-Tails' chakra, even had his eyes beginning to glow red.
Yet, he was still slowly forming hand signs, continuing to use the Summoning Technique.
Such immense chakra—was he planning to go all out in one shot?
At this moment, Jiraiya didn't know whether he should stop him or not.
He was already beginning to regret why he had dragged Sasuke into this to provoke Naruto.
There were many ways to motivate Naruto, so why did he have to choose the dumbest and most foolish one?
Fortunately, although Naruto was using a massive amount of tailed beast chakra, he showed no signs of losing control. He smoothly completed the hand signs and then...
POOF!
A cloud of smoke billowed down, and a figure as large as a small mountain appeared within the training grounds.
"???"
Gamabunta, with a tobacco pipe in his mouth and a towel draped over his back, looked utterly bewildered.
'Wasn't I just sunbathing in Mount Myōboku? Where is this?'
'Well, thank goodness.' Seeing Gamabunta's figure, Jiraiya let out a sigh of relief.
Naruto had used an enormous amount of chakra—both his own and the Nine-Tails'—and had managed to yank Gamabunta right out.
If it had been any other toad, Jiraiya would still be worried.
But Gamabunta? He was an old partner, a summoning beast passed down through generations. No matter how angry he got, he wouldn't do anything too severe to Naruto.
At most, he'd just give him a good scare.
"I... I did it?"
Perhaps because the extracted Nine-Tails chakra had been consumed, Naruto's mind cleared up a bit.
He stared blankly up at the small mountain before him.
No, this toad the size of a small mountain.
How the hell did he pull that off?
Sasuke wore a look of utter astonishment.
Aoda coiled near Sasuke instinctively shifted backward.
The toads of Mount Myōboku and the snakes of Ryūchi Cave didn't exactly have the best relationship. What if this giant toad decided to kick it?
"I did it! Grandpa Jiraiya! Sasuke! Look, I did it! Such a huge toad!!"
Suddenly receiving such a huge, unexpected surprise, Naruto jumped for joy, pointing at Gamabunta and shouting excitedly.
"Brat, was it you who dragged me here?"
Gamabunta, who had been peacefully sunbathing at home only to be inexplicably summoned to Konoha, wasn't in the best of moods.
However, since Naruto was Minato's son, Gamabunta wouldn't do anything to him. At most, as Jiraiya had anticipated, he'd just give Naruto a scare.
"You did succeed, but can you control it?"
Though Sasuke was shocked, he still poured a bucket of cold water on Naruto's excitement.
Kazuki had directly forced Manda to obey, making it behave and listen.
But Gamabunta... this giant toad wouldn't listen to Naruto.
At least not now, because Naruto hadn't yet earned the right to command it in battle.
The toads of Mount Myōboku were proud creatures. When you were weak, they wouldn't readily acknowledge you, let alone follow your commands and fight alongside you.
"Uh..."
It seemed he couldn't.
Tilting his head back to look at Gamabunta, who was staring down at him with wide, displeased eyes, Naruto gave an awkward chuckle:
"Um, hello there, big toad."
"..."
This kid's bad habits were cropping up again. Jiraiya raised a hand to cover his face.
Alright, alright, just make do and play along, okay? That shouldn't be a problem, right?
At this point, Jiraiya could only shoot Gamabunta a look, signaling him to help out and cooperate.
You're really something else.
Gamabunta let out a mental sigh.
"Sasuke, I won this time, right?"
Seeing that Gamabunta had fallen silent, Naruto's confidence instantly surged back.
Puffing out his chest and placing his hands on his hips, he looked at Sasuke triumphantly.
So what if my hand signs were slow? I summoned such a huge toad! Can you do that?
Hehe, the contest was about the summoning beast, right? Such a powerful toad definitely means I win, doesn't it?
What a cocky guy.
Sasuke really wanted to punch Naruto.
If not for his remaining sanity, he might have had the impulse to summon Manda right then and there.
Not daring to act recklessly, Sasuke could only shoot a pleading look toward Kazuki.
Kazuki shrugged his shoulders, indicating that Sasuke should do as he pleased. Follow what his heart desired.
At worst, it would just be Gamabunta and Manda having a fight—no big deal.
"Hmph!"
Sasuke snorted coldly at Naruto, then turned to the Aoda:
"Aoda, please return and rest for now."
"Understood, Lord Sasuke."
Aoda cast a fearful glance at Gamabunta and obediently chose to return to Ryūchi Cave.
After Aoda left, Sasuke began performing the hand signs for the Summoning Technique once more.
You can do it, so you think I can't?
Orochimaru's lips slowly curled into a smile. He found the drama between these two brats quite entertaining.
Kazuki also smiled, tilting his head to ask: "Do you think Manda will come out and pick a fight with Gamabunta?"
"Perhaps."
Orochimaru wasn't entirely sure either. Manda had a violent temper and could be quite ferocious when in a bad mood.
Moreover, Gamabunta was its old rival. When old rivals meet, wouldn't a fight be expected?
"But, is there something special about this brat?"
Orochimaru could tell that Kazuki held Sasuke in high regard.
Similarly, Kazuki also valued Naruto greatly.
Otherwise, given his personality, he wouldn't allow Naruto to mess around like this.
Sasuke's case could be explained by talent, but what about Naruto?
Orochimaru was beginning to feel that some secrets, before they were unraveled, held a fatal attraction for someone like him.
"You'll find out in time."
Kazuki gave Orochimaru an ambiguous answer, neither confirming nor denying, and turned his attention back to the spectacle.
Orochimaru chuckled softly, not pressing the matter. He believed that, with time, all these hidden secrets would gradually unveil themselves before him.
How boring.
To play along with Naruto, Gamabunta slightly toned down his attitude, merely watching as Naruto provoked Sasuke.
But seeing Sasuke refuse to admit defeat and prepare to summon again, he felt like cursing.
Are you two brats done yet!!!
"Huh?!!"
Accompanied by another cloud of smoke, an aura that made Gamabunta extremely uncomfortable emanated forth.
A figure even more exaggeratedly massive than Gamabunta himself appeared within the training grounds.
Looking at the mountain-like Gamabunta, then at the newly arrived Manda, Shizune and Izumi silently exchanged a glance.
Are kids these days just this excessive?
How old are you two, already messing with summoning beasts of this caliber?
"ROAR!!!"
Upon being summoned, Manda let out a thunderous roar. But as it roared, its peripheral vision caught sight of Kazuki standing alongside Orochimaru at the edge of the training grounds. Instantly, the force behind its roar weakened considerably.
"Gamabunta!!!"
Gamabunta never expected Sasuke to actually summon Manda.
"What in the world is all this?"
Tsunade massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on. These two boys were getting more and more out of hand, and on top of that Orochimaru and Jiraiya were joining in the foolishness.
Gamabunta was one thing, but could Manda be messed with so casually?
"What the heck!!"
Naruto was dumbstruck.
He had finally managed to summon a giant toad, and then Sasuke counter-summoned a snake even bigger than his toad.