Boom! Boom!
The Yasaka Magatama struck the black sphere, emitting a violent roar.
Waves of air erupted and spread layer upon layer, flames soaring and dyeing the entire sky red.
Immediately following, the purple giant swung its great sword and charged into the flames.
Two flashes of the blade appeared, parting the flames as the purple giant carved its way out from within.
After a brief pause, an even more massive explosion occurred behind it.
Flames surged and roared, swallowing the sky, as scorching shockwaves rippled outward ring by ring.
The Preta Path, who had been thrown upward, was blown down by the airwave while still in mid-air.
Jokichi remained expressionless.
He controlled the purple giant to dive down in pursuit of the Preta Path, crossing its twin swords in front of its chest, waiting only to get close to slay him with a single strike.
Closer, closer.
Seeing the Preta Path enter its attack range, the purple giant slashed out mercilessly.
The massive blades tore through the sky, howling as they arrived.
Just as the Animal Path was about to be slain on the spot, suddenly.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
As the voice echoed over the sea, the Preta Path vanished instantly from mid-air.
It was the Animal Path.
He had summoned the other Paths of Pain over to him.
Obito had opened his Kamui space nearby, intending to sweep everyone inside and escape.
"Don't think you can escape!"
The purple giant swapped its swords for a bow, aiming at the gradually distorting spatial vortex.
A massive arrow burning with black flames shot out at a despair-inducing speed, emitting a mournful shriek along the way.
"Almighty Push!"
The Deva Path blocked the front, raising both hands and unleashing a powerful repulsive wave.
"Bang!"
The arrow collided with the repulsive wave, erupting into a violent vapor cloud.
Accompanied by a roar like clashing metal, it spread outward, and the arrow spun as it plummeted into the sea.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the remaining Paths of Pain were all sucked into the Kamui space.
The Deva Path took a deep look at the Complete Body Susanoo attacking from the sky, seemingly trying to see Jokichi's full appearance through the massive body.
Then, without hesitation, he jumped into the Kamui space.
The spiraling, distorted space returned to calm.
"Boom!"
The purple giant arrived a second later with its swords.
The wind generated by its massive size whipped up monstrous waves.
However, no matter how immense the power, it is meaningless if it cannot hit the target.
"Did they escape?"
Jokichi frowned and controlled the Susanoo to fly high into the sky to scout.
The boundless ocean surged with waves, and tsunamis could be seen rising in the distance, but there was no sign of anyone.
Not giving up, he took out his scouter to investigate, but still found nothing.
With an eye technique like Kamui, unless one is so powerful that the opponent doesn't even have time to use it, it is impossible to stop them from escaping.
However.
"At least I can develop in peace for a while now!"
A comfortable smile appeared on Jokichi's face.
Even in an environment like the ocean that restricted Wood Release, Obito and Pain could still do nothing to him.
Next time, without absolute certainty, they would not make a move.
The only pity was that he failed to obtain their bodily tissues.
Facing these two enemies, Jokichi did not dare to be distracted.
As for the three Paths of Pain who were killed, their flowing blood was instantly washed away by the seawater.
Retracting the Susanoo, Jokichi pinpointed the ship's direction and chased after it.
Three days later, the ship arrived at the coast of the Land of Fire.
Jokichi spent half a day returning to Konoha.
He didn't go see anyone, heading straight to the Hokage building.
Holding the mission report he had prepared on the ship, Jokichi intended to report the mission status to the Hokage.
He also wanted to cash in on his plan to travel outside.
However, pushing open the office door, the person sitting behind the desk was not the elderly figure of the Third Hokage, but a woman wearing a green coat.
Pale blonde hair, golden eyes, exquisite features, coupled with an explosively perfect figure, made it hard for any man to look away after a single glance.
It was exactly one of the legendary Sannin, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Tsunade.
Seeing her sitting behind the Hokage's desk buried in paperwork, it was clear she had already taken over the position of the Fifth Hokage.
"What are you doing just standing at the door?"
Tsunade, who was buried in her work, looked up.
Her golden eyes were filled with sternness.
"Having just taken over the Hokage's duties, I am incredibly busy. If you have something to report, get it done quickly."
Beneath the mature and beautiful exterior was an abundance of majesty and strictness.
This queen-like attribute, which seemed to only exist in anime and movies, left Jokichi stunned for a moment.
It took him a good while to recover.
"Oh, oh!"
Responding verbally, Jokichi walked up to the desk and handed over the report.
"I am here to submit my mission report."
"Understood."
Tsunade put down the documents in her hand, took the report, and read it seriously.
Jokichi, however, looked at her with a peculiar expression.
At this close distance, he could smell a faint scent of sake.
As the Hokage, to be drinking in broad daylight, this woman was not as serious and strict as she appeared on the outside.
"You must be Jokichi, the one the village has been buzzing about recently!"
After finishing the report, Tsunade set it down.
Resting her chin on her hands, she looked at Jokichi with great interest.
"The old man and Jiraiya both mentioned you to me, saying you are a genius and quite an interesting kid."
Uh.
Weren't we submitting a mission report?
What is with this casual chatter?
Jokichi scratched his head and said hesitantly.
"Just average, I guess!"
"Average?"
Tsunade burst out laughing.
"If word of this gets out, those geniuses who have been praised by countless people would die of shame."
Jokichi continued to scratch his head, saying nothing.
"Let's get down to business!"
Tsunade seemed to realize Jokichi wasn't good at this kind of conversation and didn't push it.
Her face turned serious as she said.
"I know all about your agreement with my teacher. You completed the Land of Snow mission exceptionally well, proving you can hold your own just like a Jonin."
"Then about my application to leave the village and travel."
"No rush on that."
Tsunade took an envelope from a drawer and handed it over.
"Take a look at this first."
"This is?"
Jokichi took it in confusion and opened it.
Inside was an application form that read Royal Guard Application.
"Royal Guard Application?"
Jokichi looked at Tsunade in confusion.
"Your performance in the Chunin Exams earned you the praise of Daimyos and ninja leaders from various countries. Our Fire Daimyo is also very fond of you and wants to transfer you to serve as a Royal Guard."
Pausing for a moment, Tsunade continued.
"Your feat of independently killing the Fourth Kazekage during the war and ending the war with your own power has spread throughout the ninja world."
"Although many people do not believe a 12-year-old kid could do such a thing and think it is exaggerated, without a doubt, your name has resonated across the world. The Reincarnation of the God of Shinobi, that is your nickname. People believe you can become the next First Hokage."
Jokichi curled his lips and tossed the application onto the desk.
"That is not a good thing."