We lunged at each other. As Jiraiya & Orochimaru clashed, Itsuki's piercing green eyes stared into my soul.
Jiraiya gripped onto Orochimaru's tail with Toad's Tongue, proceeding to swing him up, launching Orochimaru into the air. We jumped up into the air, Jiraiya leaping over Orochimaru & striking him in the back using Toad's Palm. The small explosion from the oil residue went Orochimaru & Itsuki barreling towards the ground.
Itsuki scoffed, putting his palms together and pointing them towards the ground.
"NOW, BURROW OROCHIMARU!"
Right before hitting the ground, Orochimaru quickly dug deep into the ground, taking Itsuki with him.
I stood in the middle of the meadow alone, the howling wind the only thing heard. I couldn't see or feel Itsuki. It was only a matter of time before he decided to strike. I stayed vigilant, & in that moment, Jiraiya spoke to me.
"Kintaro… This isn't my first time fighting against Orochimaru. He's a very tricky enemy, in order for us to truly be effective against him & Itsuki, we MUST overwhelm him. His weakness is extreme close quarters combat. Take the fight like a sumo fighter, have me use Toad's Palm to push him out of the hypothetical ring."
I nodded and stayed still, trying my best to sense Itsuki. The wind cut through the silence like a hot knife, but that's when I heard it, the light rustle of dirt and grass being uplifted.
Itsuki pushed himself out of the ground behind me with enough force to send him flying up.
As his shadow completely covered me, he laughed.
"Look up, you fool! Unless… You wanna be hit by this!"
Orochimaru did a flip mid air
"TAIL WHIP!"
Itsuki sent Orochimaru's heavy tail slamming down upon me. In the split second before he hit, I used Toad Skin in order to tank the hit.
I shook it off and turned around, Jiraiya pulling Itsuki & Orochimaru closer with Toad's Tongue.
Jiraiya spoke aloud, making sure Itsuki & Orochimaru heard him too (a rarity for puppets).
"You're predictable, you snake! It seems both your users fight the same way: DIRTY!"
Itsuki & Orochimaru scoffed.
Jiraiya struck Orochimaru with one Toad's Palm, and then another, and another, and so on. The small explosions created by the toad oil residue staggering our opponent, allowing Jiraiya to unleash the flurry of strikes.
I laughed. "You thought you had me didn't you, Itsuki?! Well luckily, Jiraiya here had a plan. With his Toad's Palms, I can easily keep you stalled until I knock you out of the count!"
I chuckled again, "And for the record, this technique is what I call… SUMO STYLE!"
Jiraiya continued pummeling Orochimaru. Orochimaru's wooden frame began to slowly blacken and burn, a sign he was on the verge of retiring.
Itsuki groaned, his face as legible as an open book. He was obviously planning something, but what… I had to keep Sumo Style going. Right now, it's the only technique that lets me stand a chance against Itsuki.
If he managed to escape, I'd have to use my last resort. And if that's what it took to stop him, retire Shuten-doji, and pass the next leg of the exam, I'd even use the one ability he hasn't seen: Jiraiya's variety ability, Toad's Stomach.