"What do we do now, Jiraiya?"
"Are we going to keep fighting?" Gamabunta asked, his voice tinged with unease as he gazed at the massive clay dragon hovering in the sky. A sense of foreboding washed over him. Now that the enemy had taken to the skies, Deidara could launch an unrestrained bombing assault—an incredibly dire situation.
"This is our best opportunity!"
"Gamabunta, I need you to buy me some time."
Jiraiya's expression turned grim as he stared at Deidara above. He hadn't expected his opponent to be this troublesome.
Even though Deidara's abilities were relatively straightforward, his creativity in battle was terrifying. This man had a frighteningly high combat IQ.
"What?! Are you planning to use that?"
Gamabunta's eyes widened in shock as Jiraiya performed another summoning jutsu. Two small frogs appeared, their diminutive size contrasting sharply with their immense significance.
These were none other than Fukasaku and Shima—the true rulers of Mount Myoboku.
"What's the meaning of this, summoning us so suddenly? I was just preparing dinner!" Shima grumbled, holding a basket filled with wriggling insects. One glance at the squirming contents was enough to evoke some unpleasant memories for Jiraiya.
"Little Jiraiya, calling us out at a time like this—what's the emergency?" Fukasaku asked directly, cutting straight to the point.
"I want to use Sage Mode. I'll need your help," Jiraiya replied with a nod.
Sage Mode?
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance. Without hesitation, they leapt onto Jiraiya's shoulders. Jiraiya clapped his hands together, beginning to gather natural energy for Sage Mode.
"Secret Technique! Dragon's Nest!"
Countless clay dragons of various shapes and sizes filled the sky, creating an overwhelming sense of dread.
On the ground, Gamabunta broke out in a cold sweat as he watched the dragon swarm dive toward him. "This sheer number... this is bad!"
"Water Release: Water Bullet!"
Gamabunta's belly swelled before contracting sharply. From his wide-open mouth, he fired over ten water bullets in rapid succession, attempting to intercept the approaching dragon horde.
"Ha!"
A light shout echoed, and the leading clay dragons exploded mid-air, effortlessly neutralizing Gamabunta's water bullets.
"It's no use! I can't stop them!"
Realizing the futility, Gamabunta immediately leapt away, his massive body bounding across the battlefield in a manner that was both clumsy and comical.
"Hey! You two haven't finished off that slippery snake yet? Hurry up and help me!" Gamabunta shouted, glancing toward Gamaken and Gamahiro, who were still locked in battle with the Clay Manda.
"I'm useless, after all!" Gamaken muttered as he blocked another attack from the Clay Manda with his pitchfork. The prolonged combat had left him visibly fatigued, and the battle showed no signs of ending—a truly frustrating situation.
"This isn't good! The enemy is trying to ascend even higher! If he gains more altitude, he might even detonate the Clay Manda!"
"If that happens, we're done for! We have to stop him!" Jiraiya yelled.
If Deidara detonated the Clay Manda, Jiraiya might be able to escape using various techniques. However, the three giant toads had no means of avoiding the blast, except by dispelling themselves and returning to Mount Myoboku.
And if they left, Jiraiya wouldn't have the chance to summon them again.
"I'll do my best! Even though I'm pretty useless!" Gamaken exclaimed, leaping high into the air. For a moment, he soared higher than Deidara, aiming his pitchfork at the airborne clay dragon.
Roar!
A Guardian Dragon emerged, fulfilling its role by intercepting Gamaken. The dragon bit into Gamaken's belly. Though the dragon was much smaller than Gamaken, the scene looked somewhat comical.
However, since the dragon attacked from the side rather than facing Gamaken's full momentum head-on, it managed to disrupt his trajectory. The two hurtled through the air at high speed, spiraling away from the battlefield.
Seeing Deidara about to perform a detonation gesture, Jiraiya shouted in panic, "Gamaken, get away from that dragon! It's about to explode!"
"Ha!"
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed. Although Gamaken managed to shove the Guardian Dragon away with his shield at the last moment, he was still too close to the blast. He sustained severe injuries, his body covered in horrific burns.
Lying on the ground belly-up, his weapon barely clung to his grasp.
"I'll have to return to Mount Myoboku... I'm so useless!"
Poof!
With a puff of smoke, Gamaken dispelled himself, retreating to Mount Myoboku.
Although one of the giant toads had been dealt with, Deidara remained uneasy. Jiraiya was clearly preparing to enter Sage Mode. Once he succeeded, the situation would become extremely troublesome.
However, Jiraiya remained on Gamabunta's back, constantly moving at high speed. Even if Deidara dropped large bombs, they would be ineffective, much like a Tailed Beast firing a Tailed Beast Ball but missing its target.
"Jiraiya! If all you're going to do is run, then this battle is meaningless."
"I'll just fly somewhere you can't reach and wait for Brother Sasori to escape your barrier. Then we'll take you down together!" Deidara declared, steering his clay dragon upward, clearly intending to disengage.
What?!
The enemy is retreating!
Jiraiya was alarmed. He shouted to Gamabunta below, "Gamabunta, we have to stop him!"
"I'm almost ready for Sage Mode! Just a little more time!"
Hearing such an unreasonable request, Gamabunta couldn't help but complain, "I'm already struggling just to run, and now you want me to stop him? Jiraiya, can you be a bit more realistic with your demands?"
Jiraiya knew Gamabunta was right, but he was still anxious. At that moment, Gamahiro broke free from the Clay Manda and leapt over.
"Let me handle this!" Gamahiro said.
"Boss Gamabunta, you hold off that slippery snake."
Without waiting for a response, Gamahiro crouched low and then leapt skyward, wielding his twin swords as he charged toward Deidara.
"Toad Twin Blade Slash!"
Gotcha!
Deidara had only feigned retreat to lure Jiraiya and his allies into a direct confrontation.
"Try this! Its power rivals that of a Tailed Beast Ball!"
Ha!
A Dragon Mother flew in front of Gamahiro, poised to explode. However, Gamahiro revealed his hidden strength. He quickly switched techniques, spinning his twin swords rapidly.
"Toad Whirlwind Slash!"
Accompanied by the roar of a fierce wind, Gamahiro spun his swords, slicing the Dragon Mother cleanly in half, preventing the explosion from occurring.
However, the sky remained Deidara's domain. Even though one Dragon Mother was neutralized, another immediately replaced it, maintaining a safe distance before being detonated by Deidara.
"Ha!"
"Hot! Hot! Hot! I'm heading back to Mount Myoboku too!"
Although Gamahiro managed to escape death due to the distance, he was left severely injured and unable to continue fighting.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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