Madara's laughter echoed across the empty island.
The scientific Ninjutsu gun in his hand gleamed under the sun, his eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement.
"Madara's at it again…" Tobirama muttered, clearly annoyed as he watched his old rival lose himself in amusement.
Hashirama frowned, his tone laced with mild reproach.
"Madara, even if this scientific Ninjutsu gun is easier to use than Ninjutsu, you shouldn't be pointing it at us."
Madara glanced at Mito standing behind Hashirama. His expression flickered for a moment before he grinned.
"What's there to be afraid of, Hashirama? We're Edo Tensei bodies now anyway!"
At that moment, Boruto suddenly spoke up. "Hey, Hashirama, Madara—want to test those scientific Ninjutsu guns out on each other?"
Madara's eyes lit up immediately. He looked at Hashirama, grinning like a child handed a new toy. "Oh, that's a good idea, Hashirama!"
Seeing the excitement on Madara's face, Hashirama sighed, then nodded. "Fine. Let's go, Madara."
Boruto tossed another scientific Ninjutsu gun to Hashirama and equipped both of them with several Ninjutsu scroll magazines.
On the island's beach, the two legendary figures faced each other, weapons ready.
Madara raised his Ninjutsu gun and aimed at Hashirama, laughing wildly. "Times have changed, Hashirama!"
Hashirama held his gun with one hand, his voice steady. "I've known that for a long time, Madara."
With a sharp click, Madara fired first.
A Lightning Release scroll shot through the air like a thunderbolt, crackling violently as it sped toward Hashirama.
Hashirama reacted instantly, pulling the trigger as a Fire Release scroll met it head-on.
"Boom!" The two attacks collided in midair, fire and lightning erupting into a blinding explosion of energy.
Tobirama sighed as he watched. "Times really have changed too fast…"
"It takes time for a shinobi to form hand signs and gather Chakra before releasing a jutsu," he continued.
"But these scientific Ninjutsu guns need no signs, consume no Chakra, and can instantly fire multiple Ninjutsu one after another. They're fast and can even sustain rapid fire."
"If these things had existed during the First Great Ninja War," Tobirama added seriously, "they would've changed the entire face of battle."
Minato nodded. "Yeah. Most shinobi can only manage a few Ninjutsu before exhausting themselves. And even then, their attacks might miss. But this—this is like a Ninjutsu machine gun. The firepower's insane."
Hashirama, still exchanging blasts with Madara, couldn't help but shout, "What a great Ninja tool! Way easier to handle than my sword!"
"Hmph! Hashirama, this is just the beginning!" Madara sneered, then pulled the trigger again—this time in continuous fire mode.
More than a dozen sealed Ninjutsu scrolls shot toward Hashirama like a storm.
Not to be outdone, Hashirama fired back just as many scrolls.
Earth Release. Fire Release. Water Release.
Each technique clashed violently in midair, their collisions lighting up the beach like fireworks.
Nagato glanced at Itachi beside him. "If something like this had existed during our wars…"
Itachi nodded slightly, his gaze sharp. "It would've changed everything. These tools can boost combat efficiency and reduce direct risk for shinobi…
but they'd also make war even more devastating. Technology always has two sides—it depends on who uses it, and for what purpose."
Back on the battlefield, Madara had stopped dodging.
He let Hashirama's attacks hit him head-on—only for a massive blue skeletal frame to appear around him, shielding him completely. His Susanoo.
"Too much, Madara!" Hashirama shouted. "We agreed on a Ninja tool spar, and you're using Susanoo?!"
Madara burst out laughing. "You don't get it, Hashirama! This tool is meant to be used like this! Only by combining it with my Susanoo can I bring out its true potential!"
Hashirama's eyes narrowed. "Fine then, you're not the only one with tricks!"
He slammed his foot into the ground, and massive wooden structures erupted upward, wrapping around him like a fortress.
The Wood Release dome left only a small opening in front for him to aim and fire his Ninjutsu gun.
Madara's grin grew wicked. "Interesting! Hashirama, looks like you're having fun too!"
The battle intensified, explosions echoing through the island.
Boruto stood off to the side, watching intently. "It looks like there's still room for improvement," he muttered.
"Even though these Ninjutsu scrolls fire really fast, guys like Madara and Hashirama can still dodge or block them easily. If we could boost the firing speed and accuracy—or even add tracking functions…"
"Hashirama!"
"Madara!"
The two shouted simultaneously as their scrolls finally ran out.
Unwilling to stop, both unleashed their full power—Madara's Complete Body Susanoo rising like a colossal armored god, while Hashirama's Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands towered beside it.
Itachi's gaze locked onto Madara's form. "So that's the Complete Susanoo… Sasuke should be capable of reaching this level now too."
A few days later...
"Jiraiya's clone has been cultivated," Kabuto said calmly, turning to Boruto inside the dimly lit base.
Boruto nodded slightly.
On the floor lay four prepared bodies—Jiraiya, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Fugaku, and Uchiha Mikoto.
"Edo Tensei!"
Paper-like materials began to rise from the ground, fusing into their bodies as color and form slowly returned to their faces.
Jiraiya's mind flashed back to his final moments—his body sinking beneath the ocean after his battle with Pain.
"Looking back, my life's been one failure after another," he murmured.
"Always getting rejected by Tsunade… couldn't stop my friend from going astray… failed to protect my master, and my students…"
He smiled faintly, a trace of peace in his tone. "Naruto… the Child of Prophecy—it has to be you. I'm leaving the rest to you…"
He chuckled softly. "Jiraiya's Tale, Final Chapter: The Frog in the Well Scattered into the Great Ocean, huh? Guess it's time to put down the pen…"
As his consciousness faded, the ocean became his final resting place.
But when his eyes opened again, Jiraiya froze—his surroundings unfamiliar, his body whole once more.
Standing before him were Boruto and Kabuto.
"Where… am I?" he asked, bewildered. "Didn't I already sink into the ocean?"
...
Author's Note:
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