"That damn Orochimaru…"
Jiraiya's face was dark as he stared at the spot where Manda had vanished, his mind swarming with curses.
You ran off… so what the hell am I supposed to do now?
Leave me alone to deal with this monster?
Taking a deep breath, Jiraiya lifted his gaze to the hundred-plus Rasengan about to rain down from above. A bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead.
"No way I can win this… unless I use the Shiki Fūjin…"
Even in Sage Mode, his gut twisted with unease.
This guy definitely knows me… he's a Konoha shinobi… and he hates Konoha deeply. I have to get this intel out.
Jiraiya convinced himself, but before fleeing, he made one last attempt.
"Sage Art: Chōōdama Rasengan!"
With a roar, a massive Rasengan infused with Sage Chakra burst to life in his palm, crashing into the descending flaming sphere.
BOOM!!!
The Shakuton: Rasengan clashed head-on, unleashing a deafening blast. A wave of scorching heat ripped outward, withering grass instantly.
Jiraiya's clothes caught fire, his hair turned into a torch, and he howled in pain.
"Damn it—this Rasengan has both wind and fire properties… it's a bloodline limit-level jutsu…"
Feeling the moisture in his body evaporating rapidly, Jiraiya no longer hesitated. He slammed a palm to the ground.
"Summoning Technique — Gamaken!"
A massive, dark red toad appeared, wielding a trident and shield, its expression grim as it scanned the surroundings.
"Jiraiya, where's the enemy?"
"Above!" Jiraiya shouted. "Quick, open your mouth—shield up!"
He leapt into the toad's mouth, grimacing at the sticky interior.
"…Lucky you thought of this, Orochimaru… but how am I supposed to get out?"
A troubling thought struck him—Mount Myōboku had only ever contracted with him. If he got stuck there, no one could reverse summon him.
Cold sweat slid down his brow. You couldn't have taken me with you when you ran, you bastard?
BOOM!
Another impact rocked Gamaken, forcing him back several meters. The toad gritted his teeth, straining under the shield.
"Jiraiya… what now—AAARGH!!"
The shield cracked.
"My shield's going to break…!"
The next second—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Over a hundred Rasengan fell like meteors, pummeling the earth into craters and tearing the canyon apart.
At the epicenter, Gamaken bled profusely, his shield arm bones audibly splintering under the onslaught.
"Jiraiya…" the toad cried in despair. His arm was caught in a Fūton: Rasenshuriken, the slicing agony like constant dismemberment.
"Damn it…" Jiraiya's expression hardened. "Cancel the summoning!"
Barely clinging to life, Gamaken instinctively loosened his grip—the shattered shield exploded into fragments.
Just before he vanished, Naruto appeared on his back, placing a cold palm upon him.
POOF!
The massive toad vanished in white smoke.
"…Impressive," Robin murmured, watching the disappearance. "Naruto-kun, your world has so many powerful beings?"
Even in her eyes, Jiraiya would be a top-tier pirate in the Grand Line. The ability to summon giant toads at will was like commanding Sea Kings—enough to roam the seas unchallenged.
"Robin." Naruto turned to her.
"What is it, Naruto-kun?" She hopped off Tsunade's back, lifting the chain binding her and also picking up Nii Yugito. "Do you want me to help deal with those two over there?"
Her gaze flicked toward the Fourth Raikage and Killer B.
Though they thought they were hidden, her Kenbunshoku Haki had spotted them from the start.
Cold sweat beaded on the brothers' brows. Even Naruto's companion had found them—if they'd tried to ambush him as planned, they might've paid dearly.
"No need." Naruto cast them a glance and shook his head slightly. "Everyone here is dangerous. If they're pushed too far, even I could be in danger."
Robin blinked in surprise, staring at the Raikage and B. "Just those two…?"
She could tell they feared Naruto—meaning they'd already suffered against him.
In the pirate world, a weaker opponent could still score an upset. But killing a true powerhouse? Impossible.
"My world isn't like the seas…" Naruto said. "They might not beat me, but they both have ways to take me down with them."
Robin nodded slowly, raising her estimation of the ninja world's danger.
"I'll take you back first."
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Naruto waited as she tightened the chain on Tsunade and picked up Yugito.
With a flicker of the Hiraishin no Jutsu, they vanished.
In the distance, Killer B scowled. "Bro, we're just letting them take Yugito?!"
If Raikage hadn't stopped him earlier, he'd have charged in.
The Fourth Raikage's body crackled with lightning, his face twisted in rage, but his voice was tight and controlled.
"No. I can't beat Bofū Minma. If we provoke him and he attacks Kumogakure… you know what would happen."
B's eyes widened. He looked toward the canyon—now a wasteland of craters, fissures, fire, and rubble.
Just imagining Kumogakure ending up like that made him shiver and swallow hard.
After a long pause, he asked hoarsely, "So we're just abandoning Yugito?"
"Hmph. Of course not." The Raikage clenched his fists, glaring toward the Land of Fire. "Konoha will pay for this."
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]