"Is this how Sunagakure welcomes its guests? You guys sure are enthusiastic," Jiraiya said, feigning bravado while discreetly assessing his surroundings. The Four Violet Flames Formation covered a vast area, but since it was cast by Hyuga Mirai's shadow clone, breaking through it wouldn't be easy.
Should he cause a commotion?
More importantly, how had these three managed to intercept him the moment he emerged from the Iwasuku Toad's stomach? Jiraiya frowned slightly, unable to figure it out. If Sunagakure's shinobi arrived, he doubted they'd let him go either. And against these three, he had no confidence in escaping.
"You snuck in through the Rock Sand County checkpoint. A traveling writer, 'Jiraiya'... How amusing."
Mirai spoke slowly. "Instead of gathering material, all you do is stir up trouble. Did Hiruzen Sarutobi send you? Konoha making a move against Sunagakure in secret… It seems they intend to break the treaty and start a war."
"Sunagakure has plenty of material worth gathering," Jiraiya laughed heartily. "Besides, a traveling writer isn't bound to one place!"
But internally, he was already devising a way to escape.
Mirai asked, "Where is Keikou Sanmoku? Still inside your toad's barrier?"
"So it was because of him that you found me?" Jiraiya's expression turned serious. He had sensed something off earlier—Sanmoku had resisted his genjutsu, and his behavior was far from that of an ordinary man.
"Jiraiya," Orochimaru spoke as he stepped forward. "I've always called you a fool, but the truth is, you're just selective about what you care about. You hold onto that pitiful dream of yours as if it were absolute truth."
Jiraiya sneered. "Orochimaru, I'll never stoop to your level."
Orochimaru chuckled. "And what about Tsunade? Even she has joined us. Jiraiya, of the Three Sannin, you might be the first to fall."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Without warning, Orochimaru swiftly formed hand seals and summoned several large serpents from Ryuchi Cave. Their scales glistened with an unnatural sheen, evidence of some sort of mutation.
Jiraiya, seeing this, immediately countered with his own summoning jutsu, bringing forth the giant toads Gamaken and Gamagōrō. However, his mind was still fixated on what Orochimaru had just said.
"Orochimaru! What do you mean by that!?" he shouted, his face contorted with anger.
"There's no need for you to know," Orochimaru sneered. "Jiraiya, you shouldn't have come here today. Now, you'll serve as the test subject for my latest research."
With that, he formed a one-handed seal and commanded the summoned serpents to attack.
Fortunately for Jiraiya, Mirai had cast the barrier over a vast area, allowing enough space for the giant summons to battle.
And these serpents were far from ordinary.
"This guy really is a genius when it comes to experiments," Mirai murmured as he activated his Byakugan. "He transplanted kekkei genkai into these snakes… and even integrated mechanical components into their bodies!?"
With his enhanced vision, Mirai quickly discerned the nature of Orochimaru's summons. One snake possessed Ice Release, another wielded Crystal Release, a third controlled Magnet Release, and the last had Shikotsumyaku. Moreover, the mechanical implants had significantly bolstered their combat and durability.
"This looks like a fusion of my modifications and Sasori's puppetry," Mirai remarked.
Sasori, standing nearby, tilted his head slightly and said, "I only provided a few ideas and some bloodline research. I never begged for anything."
He totally begged. Mirai made a mental note to ask Orochimaru for the recorded footage later.
Shifting his focus back to the battle, Mirai observed the clash between the two Sannin. Since Jiraiya had chosen to act after putting some distance between himself and Sunagakure, it had given Mirai the opportunity to deploy a large-scale barrier.
And now, Jiraiya was paying the price for that decision.
One of the massive serpents opened its jaws wide, spewing forth a gigantic ice spear nearly three meters thick. The sight stunned Jiraiya for a brief moment—summoned creatures using kekkei genkai?
However, before the spear could impale him, Gamaken stepped in to block it. The impact sent him skidding backward, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Meanwhile, the other serpents unleashed their own attacks—a barrage of crystal kunai, magnet-infused iron spears, and massive bone spikes sprouting from the ground like towering trees.
Caught off guard by the overwhelming assault, both Gamaken and Gamagōrō found themselves struggling to keep up. Though experienced in battle, even they were unprepared for such a coordinated kekkei genkai onslaught.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
Jiraiya had planned to summon the Two Great Sage Toads and enter Sage Mode, but the relentless attacks forced him to fight back instead. He cast a powerful earth jutsu, trapping one of the serpents in a quagmire.
"Damn it! Where did Orochimaru even find these monsters? If this keeps up, I'll have no chance of escaping!"
Even so, Jiraiya refused to give up. As long as there was even the slightest chance, he would fight for it. He had already gathered crucial intel—Keikou Commerce and Mirai were deeply connected. He had to report back to the old man.
And then, there was Tsunade…
His resolve hardened. He had to escape and confront her about all of this.
"Gamaken, cover me!"
Leaping onto one of the massive snakes, Jiraiya swiftly formed hand seals and pressed his palm against its body.
"Reverse Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff of smoke, the snake was instantly transported into the Iwasuku Toad's stomach.
But before Jiraiya could capitalize on the moment, a colossal snake tail came crashing down toward him. Gamagōrō intercepted it with his twin swords, producing a deafening metallic clang.
"Metallic bones? Just how many of these monsters has Orochimaru modified?" Jiraiya muttered.
Clasping his hands together, he made a decision—he had to enter Sage Mode. Otherwise, he'd have no hope of escaping.
"Sage Mode, huh?" Orochimaru sneered. "Foolish. Do you really think that will save you? Give up, Jiraiya. It would be better to let me consume you than to die at someone else's hands."
His golden, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed with eerie amusement. Orochimaru had long since mastered a perfected version of Sage Mode, thanks to his extensive body modifications. He had even learned one of Ryuchi Cave's forbidden senjutsu techniques.
Even if Jiraiya entered Sage Mode, it wouldn't make a difference.
Meanwhile, Sasori and Mirai observed the battle with mild interest, critiquing Orochimaru's modifications.
"Interesting concept," Mirai commented. "But the execution is flawed. The coordination between the four kekkei genkai serpents is weaker than your Five-Element Mecha Puppet."
Sasori smirked at the assessment, but quickly suppressed the expression, returning to his usual cold demeanor. "Hmph. Orochimaru never prioritizes combat readiness. He's probably the weakest member of our organization now—even that Uzumaki girl is stronger than him."
There was also Tsunade. Even though she had only recently joined, she shouldn't be underestimated.
Hyuga Mirai thought about this but didn't say it out loud. Instead, he turned his attention back to the battle.
Orochimaru seemed more interested in testing the strengths and weaknesses of his bloodline-modified snakes rather than actively fighting. He controlled them in combat but barely made a move himself. Summoned creatures using kekkei genkai were indeed stronger than humans in some ways. Having lived in their respective summoning realms for years and enhanced through modifications, these creatures possessed chakra reserves far beyond most shinobi. If only Ryuchi Cave had more intelligent serpents, bloodline transplantations could have turned them into formidable allies rather than disposable tools, as Orochimaru was currently treating them.
As time passed, the two toads, Gamaken and Gamagoro, were covered in wounds under the relentless assault of the kekkei genkai serpents. Orochimaru's control over them also grew more refined, discovering ways to combine their abilities.
"Jiraiya seems to have summoned two smaller toads. What is he planning?"
Sasori, using his puppet's enhanced vision, noticed the change and turned to Mirai.
"Those are the two Toad Sages of Mount Myoboku," Mirai replied. "With their help, Jiraiya can enter Sage Mode."
"Sage Mode, huh… I should look into that when I get back. Maybe I can develop Sage Mode for my puppets. Are you planning to make a move?"
Sasori had just begun speaking when he saw Mirai step forward, surprised. He had assumed Mirai would remain uninvolved and was even planning to test his combination puppets later.
"Yeah, the warm-up is over. Sunagakure might notice soon."
Mirai still didn't want to expose his connection to the Keikou Trade Association. Although Sunagakure wouldn't abandon the association, they would certainly become wary.
"Orochimaru, leave the rest to me. Your testing should be done by now."
Orochimaru glanced at him and smirked, stepping aside. "Heh… I was hoping to see how Jiraiya's Sage Mode fared. But if you insist, I'll leave it to you."
Jiraiya, now fully transformed into Sage Mode, felt a deep sense of unease upon seeing Mirai step forward. The last time they fought, even in Sage Mode, he had been no match for Mirai. This time…
"Boss… Big Sis… I don't think I'll make it out of this one. If things go south, escape immediately," Jiraiya muttered.
But before he could finish his words, he saw Mirai's white pupils shift into a radiant blue.
"Blue eyes?"
Both Fukasaku and Shima noticed it too. At that moment, they recalled the prophecy of the Great Toad Sage.
They had always known that Mirai's summoning beasts were somehow connected to the prophecy. However, having a summoned creature linked to the vision didn't necessarily mean Mirai himself was the prophesized figure. After all, his eyes were never blue before.
But now…
He was the one foretold by the Great Toad Sage—the man destined to bring about the downfall of the shinobi world.
"Boss, Big Sis… If I die, you must take this message back to Konoha!"
Jiraiya's expression turned resolute. Even with his enhanced perception in Sage Mode, he felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from Mirai's glowing blue eyes.
"Jiraiya," Mirai said calmly. "Even now, you still have a chance to live."
As he spoke, green chakra surged around him. At the collar of his robe, black tomoe markings appeared, and nine Truth-Seeking Orbs hovered behind him.
"Kill the two toads on your shoulders, and I will spare you."
Jiraiya immediately roared in defiance. "Keep dreaming, brat! If you want to kill me, come at me!"
"Two Sages, attack! Gamaken, use oil!"
Without hesitation, Jiraiya prepared to unleash Sage Art: Goemon, his most powerful senjutsu technique, hoping it could break the barrier and grant him a chance to escape.
"What a pity. I gave you a choice."
Mirai reached for one of the Truth-Seeking Orbs behind him. As it floated into his palm, it radiated an intense golden light.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
A golden beam erupted from his hand, extending forward like a divine spear.
The attack moved at incredible speed, slicing through the air like a meteor. Jiraiya, realizing the danger, attempted to react—but gathering senjutsu chakra had momentarily slowed him down.
Too late.
With a sickening sound, the golden beam pierced straight through Jiraiya's chest.
The beam didn't just destroy his heart; it continued, obliterating the Four Violet Flames Formation and even carving through the distant rock formations in the desert as if they were made of paper.
Sasori's eyes widened in shock. "What… what was that technique? I've never seen him use it before."
Orochimaru, equally surprised, didn't answer. However, he had a feeling it was connected to Mirai's dojutsu.
Jiraiya, mortally wounded, could barely speak. "T-Two… hurry…"
His heart had been destroyed, and the energy from the attack had severed his chakra flow. He could no longer feel pain—nor could he control his body. Even forming a complete sentence was beyond him.
"Jiraiya!"
Fukasaku and Shima shouted in despair. They hadn't expected their opponent to wield such overwhelming power—able to kill Jiraiya from nearly a hundred meters away with a single strike.
"You two should join him," Mirai said coldly.
In an instant, he moved at blinding speed, reaching for the two toad sages to finish them off.
"Old lady, run! Release!"
Fukasaku reacted quickly, leaping up and shoving Shima away while simultaneously severing her summoning contract. In a flash of smoke, Shima was sent back to Mount Myoboku.
But Fukasaku himself had no time to escape. Mirai's chakra-infused hand speared through him like a lance, pinning him in place.
With two loud bursts of smoke, Gamaken and Gamagoro canceled their summons and returned to Mount Myoboku as well.
"They fled quickly."
Mirai didn't bother pursuing them. The two large toads hadn't been his main targets, so they had managed to escape. Fukasaku, however, had made the right call—saving Shima in the last possible moment.
(End of Chapter)