Deciding to defect just because he was forced to join the village?
Kakashi simply could not comprehend Allen's way of thinking, his motives, or his logic. After all, in the eyes of most children and villagers in Konoha, becoming a ninja was a source of immense pride and honor.
Yet, seeing Allen melt his forehead protector, the symbol of a ninja's identity, without a shred of hesitation, and witnessing his blatant contempt for the hidden village system, Kakashi realized the boy wasn't lying. Allen truly despised the profession of being a ninja from the bottom of his heart; it was a deep-seated loathing.
Even among rogue ninja, most wouldn't simply discard their forehead protectors. Instead, they would choose to carve a single horizontal scratch through the village's emblem. In their minds, while they had betrayed the village, they still took pride in their status as shinobi.
Just as Kakashi was about to speak again, a figure with long white hair suddenly descended from the sky, launching a direct assault at Allen, who was seated upon a throne-like branch of the massive tree canopy.
"Rasengan!"
Without a doubt, this newcomer was none other than Jiraiya, who had just rushed over from the other side of the village.
Unfortunately, before the swirling blue sphere of chakra could hit its mark, a burst of frigid white vapor exploded beneath his feet. Simultaneously, countless vines surged upward with blinding speed, coiling tightly around his calves below the knees.
Frost Trap!
In the next heartbeat...
An arrow shimmering with a terrifying aura tore through the air. With a thunderous boom, the explosion completely engulfed Jiraiya.
When the blinding flare and crackling electricity finally dissipated, Jiraiya was revealed in a sorry state. His face was a mask of shock and bewilderment.
"Honestly! Can't you people from Konoha just stay put and wait for the fight between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage to finish?" Allen complained with an air of exasperated helplessness.
"Jiraiya-sama! Careful! The ability of his Mangekyo Sharingan is a Guaranteed Hit! Whether it's the Substitution Jutsu or any other Ninjutsu, they all lose their effect in an instant!" Kakashi shouted a desperate warning.
"A Guaranteed Hit? No wonder!"
Jiraiya glanced with lingering fear at the severe burns on his body caused by the fire, explosions, and lightning. He nodded, the realization hitting him. Had he not summoned the esophagus of the Great Toad just in time, he would likely be a dead man right now.
It was a sobering thought: the great Toad Sage, one of the Legendary Sannin, had nearly been killed by a single arrow.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jiraiya quickly adjusted his mindset. He looked up, his voice heavy with caution. "What exactly do you intend to do to Konoha?"
"Nothing at all. I just want to leave, that's all. Of course, I'll be taking a few things with me when I go, like the lives of the Third Hokage and Danzo," Allen replied bluntly.
"You want to kill the Old Man and Danzo?" Jiraiya was visibly stunned.
The Third Hokage and Danzo were arguably the two most powerful figures in Konoha's high command. If both died, it would create a massive power vacuum.
"Yes. And I can tell you right now: Danzo is already dead. I have him to thank for my Wood Release and my Mangekyo Sharingan. Perhaps you didn't know? To gain more power, Danzo secretly transplanted the cells of the First Hokage and a vast number of Sharingan from the Uchiha clan. For this village, his death isn't a tragedy, it's a blessing. By that same logic, the Third Hokage should tuck himself into a coffin and make way for the younger generation."
Allen tossed out this bombshell with naked, unshielded mockery in his voice. He was curious to see how much this self-proclaimed "gallant" hero actually knew about Konoha's dark side, and what his stance would be.
"You killed Danzo?!" Jiraiya's expression shifted slightly.
Allen nodded slowly. He pulled a glass vial containing Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan from his pouch and shook it in front of everyone. "See this? This is the secret behind why Danzo always kept his eye covered with bandages. For his own selfish gain, he didn't hesitate to slaughter the entire Uchiha clan, sparing neither the elderly, the women, nor the children. Is this the legendary 'Will of Fire'?"
"Sigh…"
Jiraiya let out a helpless sigh. He made no attempt to defend Danzo or the Third Hokage. After all, he had originally chosen to leave the village and wander precisely because he couldn't stomach such things.
However, regardless of the past, he would never allow anyone to harm Konoha. Without another word, he summoned the two Great Toad Sages, Fukasaku and Shima, clearly preparing to enter Sage Mode for a final stand.
"Are you that eager to die? Or do you think mere Sage Mode can dodge an arrow with a Guaranteed Hit?" Allen questioned meaningfully.
"No. Neither. It's because you are too dangerous. I must keep you here, or you will bring endless calamity upon the village. Konoha has many flaws and even dark places, but it is still my home, the place I love. I will not allow anyone to destroy it."
With that, Jiraiya exchanged a glance with the two Toad Sages. After a brief moment of kneading nature energy, he successfully entered Sage Mode.
"Sage Art: Thousan Senbon!"
Under the influence of Sage Chakra, a massive torrent of hair flew forward like a violent rainstorm, blanketing the entire tree created by Allen's Wood Release.
Any other ninja would likely have needed a Substitution Jutsu or some other defensive technique to avoid being turned into a pincushion. But Allen stood motionless, allowing the hairs, sharper and tougher than needles, to strike him.
To be precise, they struck the protective aura surrounding his body.
With Allen's current level of Ken, forget mere chakra-enhanced hair, even a direct bombardment from large-caliber artillery wouldn't leave a single scratch.
"Jiraiya-boy, who is he?" Fukasaku couldn't help but ask.
"I'm not sure! But he has the Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan and the First Hokage's Wood Release. Those two alone are trouble enough," Jiraiya explained hurriedly.
"The Mangekyo Sharingan and Wood Release?!"
Shima was also startled by the news. She turned her gaze toward Allen and indeed saw the pair of Mangekyo eyes with three arrowheads fanning outward. Combined with the massive tree that had sprouted in the center of the arena, his claims were undeniable.
"Great Sages! Please, lend me your strength! We cannot let this dangerous man leave easily! Otherwise, he will surely turn the entire shinobi world upside down!" Jiraiya pleaded with sincere urgency.
Because his Sage Mode was imperfect, he required the assistance of the two elder toads to perform certain Sage Arts.
"Understood!"
"Pa, be careful. I have a feeling something isn't right here."
As they spoke, Shima and Fukasaku finished their preparations. In the next instant...
One unleashed Wind Release, the other Fire Release, while Jiraiya spewed a massive quantity of oil from his mouth.
"Sage Art: Goemon!"
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