The one person Natsuhiko never expected to encounter here… was none other than Jiraiya.
Even though Natsuhiko now held the prestigious position of commander of Konoha's ANBU, his interactions with Jiraiya had been so few they were practically nonexistent. It wasn't strange, really—back then, they had lived in entirely different worlds. When Natsuhiko was still just an obscure ANBU operative, Jiraiya had already stood at the very top of Konoha's war front, commanding forces on a completely different level.
By the time Natsuhiko began to rise through the ranks, Jiraiya had long since left the village.
Because of that, there was no way Natsuhiko could recognize his chakra signature, nor identify him in that instant.
Still… what puzzled him even more was why Jiraiya had followed him all the way here.
After dodging Natsuhiko's kunai, Jiraiya immediately shifted into a combat stance, his expression turning sharp and alert.
The moment he discovered that one of Konoha's outposts had been wiped out, he had rushed inside to investigate. But before he could even reach the basement, he noticed the back door of the small shop standing ajar—clear evidence that someone had already fled the scene.
So he had quietly begun tracking the trail, following it all the way here.
By sheer coincidence, when he arrived, he found that the attacker had already engaged other shinobi in battle.
Jiraiya didn't intervene right away. Instead, he chose to observe from the shadows, intending to gather as much information as possible before making a move.
Although Kusagakure maintained relatively friendly relations with Konoha, they were still, at their core, competitors. And no matter how kind-hearted Jiraiya might be, he was still a man shaped by the brutal realities of war.
What he hadn't expected, however, was just how utterly outmatched those Grass ninja would be.
In less than a minute—before he could even fully assess the situation—they had already been completely wiped out by that young man.
Worse still, he hadn't managed to gather any useful intelligence at all before his presence was exposed.
In that instant, Jiraiya realized that this young man likely possessed keen sensory abilities.
And his speed… it was downright terrifying. If not for the absence of any marked kunai, Jiraiya might have suspected he was witnessing the Flying Thunder God Technique itself.
"So… it really is Lord Jiraiya."
Natsuhiko studied him for a moment before speaking, his tone calm but measured.
"I wonder—what brings you to follow me all the way out here?"
"You really don't know what you've done?"
Jiraiya's gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering and cautious, his body poised for battle.
"I don't know who you are, and I don't know what you're after. But one thing is clear—whatever you're doing, it's nothing good."
"Oh?" Natsuhiko let out a faint, almost amused chuckle. "So you're going to stop me… for the sake of your justice?"
There was a hint of irony in his voice.
Truth be told, in his previous life, Natsuhiko had admired Jiraiya deeply.
The memory of Jiraiya falling in battle against the Six Paths of Pain… and Naruto sitting alone on that bench, clutching a melting popsicle—those scenes had once brought him to tears more than once.
But now that he stood in this world, things were different.
He understood all too well that their beliefs would never align. And with Jiraiya being a disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi, it wasn't impossible that they might one day stand on opposing sides.
Even so, Natsuhiko still held a certain respect for the man.
He just hadn't expected their first meeting to unfold like this.
Shaking his head lightly, Natsuhiko decided not to waste any more words. He drew his blade in one smooth motion and turned toward the last surviving Grass ninja, intent on finishing him off with a single strike.
But just as he moved—
Jiraiya's hands flashed through a series of seals.
In the next instant, his long white hair surged outward, rapidly extending and twisting into the shape of a lion's mane, shooting toward Natsuhiko like a barrage of piercing spears.
Natsuhiko recognized the technique immediately. He knew full well that the strength and sharpness of that hair, in this moment, were no less formidable than a blade.
Clang!
With a subtle twist of his wrist, Natsuhiko raised his sword and deflected the attack, steel meeting hair with a sharp, ringing impact.
At that very moment, Jiraiya surged forward, closing the distance in an instant as his fist drove straight toward Natsuhiko.
Natsuhiko merely frowned slightly, his figure flickering as he shifted aside with effortless precision, easily avoiding the blow.
It was obvious now—Jiraiya was fully intent on stopping him. And more importantly, Natsuhiko had come to a quiet realization.
Jiraiya didn't recognize him at all.
Interesting… Natsuhiko mused inwardly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. For the disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi to attack me like this… it seems things are about to get a lot more entertaining.
Without another word, he stopped holding back.
With a swift step backward, he created distance between them. Then, bringing his hands together, he formed a seal in one fluid motion.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave."
The technique was completed almost instantly.
Jiraiya's expression shifted ever so slightly.
He could feel it—the power contained within that jutsu, and even more so, the sheer density of Natsuhiko's chakra.
That much chakra… from someone so young? Jiraiya thought, a hint of surprise flashing through his mind. Kids these days are getting terrifying.
But even as the thought crossed his mind, his hands were already moving, forming seals without the slightest hesitation.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
A torrent of blazing fire burst forth from his mouth, the scorching heat spreading rapidly through the forest.
When the roaring flames collided head-on with Natsuhiko's water technique, a violent reaction erupted, and in an instant, thick steam engulfed the entire area.
The lone surviving Grass ninja, witnessing the chaos unfold, scrambled to his feet and tried to flee, crawling and stumbling in desperation.
But he had barely taken a few steps when a sudden, crushing pain tore through his abdomen. Before he could even react, his body was sent flying backward, slamming violently into a nearby tree.
"I don't recall saying you could leave."
Natsuhiko's voice drifted through the dense steam, calm and cold.
Then, concealed by the mist, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
The Grass ninja's heart sank.
He knew what it meant—that man was launching another fatal strike.
And the cruelest part was that he had no way to defend himself.
Hatred surged within him.
He despised people like this—lawless monsters who could invade other villages and do as they pleased without restraint, trampling over rules and lives alike simply because they possessed overwhelming strength.
If only I had power… if only I could capture people like this…
His thoughts screamed in despair.
But just as death seemed inevitable, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
A crisp metallic clang rang out as a kunai fell to the ground, and in the next instant, two figures blurred into motion, clashing repeatedly. Their movements were so fast they were almost impossible to follow, and the sheer force of their battle spilled outward in violent waves.
At that moment, the Grass ninja truly felt how insignificant he was.
Even the residual shockwaves from their clash felt like they could tear him apart.
He didn't dare move.
Caught between two monsters, even the slightest motion might cost him his life.
And yet, amidst the fear, a new resolve began to take shape in his heart.
He could not stay in the Land of Grass any longer.
He had to go—to Hōzuki Castle.
Mui… you can do this. You have to. Only by going to Hōzuki Castle will you gain the strength to deal with people like them!
Natsuhiko, of course, had no idea that the Grass ninja frozen in place before him would one day become Mui, the future warden of Hōzuki Castle.
Nor did he know that Kakuzu—the first member of the Akatsuki he had ever encountered—had already been killed by his own hand.
Right now, all of Natsuhiko's attention was focused entirely on Jiraiya.
Even so, he wasn't fighting at full strength.
To this day, he had yet to encounter anyone besides himself who could use Sage Mode.
Half a year ago, he had sparred with Minato Namikaze, but during that exchange, Minato hadn't used Sage Mode, leaving Natsuhiko with a lingering sense of regret.
He had always wondered—just how did another person's Sage Mode compare to his own?
And besides…
Facing Jiraiya like this, Natsuhiko found that he didn't mind taking things slowly.
After all, beyond his senjutsu, Jiraiya's combat awareness and battle experience alone were more than enough to make him a worthy opponent—someone Natsuhiko could learn from.
In his previous life, Natsuhiko hadn't paid much attention to Boruto. Still, he had been lured in by the hype surrounding the so-called "Jiraiya's revival" and ended up watching a few episodes out of curiosity.
What he saw had genuinely surprised him.
That masked Jiraiya had actually managed to push an Ōtsutsuki opponent to the brink, overwhelming him to the point of near defeat.
If not for the overwhelming gap in information—and the sheer disparity in power… not to mention how underwhelming that particular Ōtsutsuki had seemed in combat—
Natsuhiko had even thought, at the time, that "Jiraiya" might really have been capable of killing him… that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, or whatever his name was.
Of course, he later learned the truth.
That wasn't the real Jiraiya at all, but merely a clone.
And that Ōtsutsuki hadn't even fully revived—he was closer to a half-dead existence than a true living being.
Even so, that clone had inherited Jiraiya's combat instincts and battle experience.
The level of skill it displayed had left a deep impression on Natsuhiko.
And now…
He was facing the real one.
Naturally, he wanted to see for himself.
Bang!
The moment their fists collided, chakra erupted outward in a violent surge.
An invisible shockwave burst forth, flattening the surrounding trees in an instant as if a storm had swept through.
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, staring at the silver-haired youth before him. For the first time, he felt a genuine sense of difficulty creeping in.
This kid's strength is this great too?
His thoughts raced.
From what he had observed earlier, this young man's speed was already beyond reason. Judging by his age, Jiraiya had assumed physical strength might be his weakness.
Even if he couldn't keep up with that speed, he had believed there would still be an opening somewhere.
But now…
Not only was the boy refraining from using that terrifying speed, he was meeting him head-on—matching him in taijutsu and raw strength.
And most unbelievable of all—
He wasn't losing.
Am I being underestimated? And that chakra… it's monstrously dense. Just who is this kid?
As the thought crossed his mind, Natsuhiko suddenly shifted his stance.
With a subtle turn of his body, he pivoted smoothly and lashed out with a powerful kick aimed straight at Jiraiya.
Despite his momentary distraction, Jiraiya's instincts remained razor-sharp. Even though his reaction lagged by half a beat, he still managed to cross his arms in front of his chest in time to block.
The impact forced him backward, his body sliding across the ground, but he avoided any real injury.
Natsuhiko paused, lowering his leg as a faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's best not to lose focus in a fight," he said calmly, his tone almost casual. "Next time, it might cost you your life."
He gave a slight shake of his head before continuing.
"We've already caused quite a commotion. While I don't particularly care about Kusagakure, I'd rather not invite unnecessary trouble." His gaze sharpened slightly. "Let's be serious now, Lord Jiraiya."
"Not invite unnecessary trouble…?"
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed the moment he heard that.
His analytical mind was quick to pick up on implications, even from a few casual words.
He didn't know what other cards this young man was hiding, but one thing was certain—his strength was anything but ordinary.
In fact, even if the shinobi of Kusagakure were drawn here, this boy would likely still be able to escape without much difficulty.
And yet… he didn't want to.
Which meant he was avoiding exposure—whether it was his identity, the organization behind him, or perhaps even the village he belonged to.
Realizing this, Jiraiya's expression grew completely serious.
"I'll ask you one more time," he said, his voice low and firm, "who exactly are you?"
"It seems, Lord Jiraiya… there's still something you haven't quite understood."
Natsuhiko let out a soft sigh, and in the next instant, the chakra within his body began to surge violently.
It wasn't just his own chakra—deep within him, the sealed power of the Ryūmyaku also responded, circulating in tandem as if answering his call.
He made no attempt to draw on the Nine-Tails' chakra. There was no telling whether Jiraiya could recognize that power, and publicly, "Senju Natsuhiko" had never displayed any connection to it. He had no intention of letting his identities overlap or expose inconsistencies.
As the chakra roared to life, a brilliant blue aura erupted across his body, enveloping him completely.
Boom—!
The moment his chakra spilled outward, the ground itself began to tremble.
Beneath Natsuhiko's feet, the earth fractured instantly, cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb as the terrain collapsed in all directions.
An overwhelming, suffocating pressure surged forward, bearing down mercilessly on Jiraiya and Mui.
In that instant, both of them felt their breathing grow heavy, as though the very air had thickened.
For Mui, the sensation was even more profound.
He felt small.
Powerless.
He had never imagined that this lawless intruder could possess such terrifying strength.
Jiraiya, however, fared far better. He was no ordinary shinobi.
Even so, under the crushing weight of that oppressive aura, his expression turned grave. He understood one thing with absolute clarity—
He would have to go all out.
This is… unbelievable, Jiraiya thought, gritting his teeth. I've never felt pressure like this before. It's as if I could be killed at any moment… When did someone like this appear in the shinobi world? Who is he?
His hands moved without hesitation, rapidly forming seals as he made his decision.
"In that case—Fire Release: Big Flame Bullet!"
Chakra surged through his body, and in the next instant, a massive torrent of flames burst forth from his mouth, roaring forward with devastating force.
But Jiraiya didn't bother to observe the destruction his attack would cause.
Instead, he leapt backward, widening the distance between them in one swift motion.
As he retreated, he bit down on his finger, drawing blood, and swiftly smeared it across the corners of his eyes, marking the beginnings of Sage Mode.
The moment that was done, his hands moved again, forming another sequence of seals—this time to summon Gamabunta.
Faced with such an overwhelming opponent, Jiraiya knew he had only two options: run… or enter Sage Mode.
And running was no longer realistic.
He hadn't forgotten the terrifying speed of that silver-haired youth. Escaping now would be nearly impossible.
The enemy before him was far too dangerous, far too unpredictable.
Which meant there was only one path left—
Sage Mode.
The only problem was that entering Sage Mode required time.
And time… was exactly what he didn't have.
That was why he needed Gamabunta—to buy him those crucial moments.
Otherwise, everything would be over.
Boom!
With a burst of smoke, a massive toad appeared in the distance.
The moment Natsuhiko saw it—and sensed the natural energy beginning to gather around Jiraiya—he immediately understood.
Jiraiya was preparing Sage Mode.
To Natsuhiko, this was actually good news.
After all, he hadn't been fighting seriously up to this point. His real intention had always been to witness Jiraiya's Sage Mode firsthand.
As for Jiraiya in his normal state…
Natsuhiko had already seen enough.
His technique, experience, combat awareness, strength, and speed—all of them were undeniably exceptional.
But exceptional wasn't enough.
None of those qualities surpassed Natsuhiko to an overwhelming degree.
On the contrary—
In at least one aspect, Natsuhiko held absolute dominance.
Speed.
Even without using the Flying Thunder God Technique, his natural speed already exceeded the limits of ordinary comprehension.
And it was precisely that advantage that left Jiraiya with no effective way to deal with him in a conventional fight.
"Still… the speed at which he's gathering natural energy is far too slow. If that's the case…"
Natsuhiko turned his head slightly, his gaze shifting toward the underground laboratory nearby. The disturbance caused by their battle had been far too great—there was no way it had gone unnoticed.
Sure enough, the people below had already reacted.
He could sense a large number of shinobi gathering within the laboratory, hastily setting up defenses. At the same time, even farther away, more chakra signatures were converging, clearly rushing toward this location.
If he dragged things out any longer, the situation would only grow more troublesome.
With that thought, Natsuhiko's chakra pulsed—
—and in the next instant, he vanished.
While I have the time… I might as well retrieve the Uzumaki descendant first.
When he reappeared, he was already inside the underground laboratory.
His sudden arrival sent a wave of shock through the assembled shinobi, their expressions instantly turning to fear.
"Who is that?!"
"How did he get in here?!"
"Attack him—now!"
The moment panic broke out, the shinobi launched their assault without hesitation.
Weapons were drawn as they rushed toward him from all sides. In such a confined space, a coordinated attack like this left almost no room to evade—no matter how strong the target might be.
Unfortunately for them…
Natsuhiko was no ordinary opponent.
Though he raised an eyebrow slightly at the incoming assault, he moved the very next moment.
Before a single weapon could touch him, a golden chakra flared around his body, and he drove his fist forward toward the fastest approaching Grass ninja.
Bang!
A dull, heavy impact echoed through the chamber.
The struck shinobi was sent flying backward, his chest caving in instantly from the sheer force. The momentum didn't stop there—his body slammed into those behind him, sending several others crashing away like scattered leaves.
The underground laboratory descended into chaos.
And yet, Natsuhiko showed no mercy.
Forming a seal with one hand, he let his chakra surge violently once more.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave."
A highly compressed stream of water burst from his mouth in an instant.
It was thin—almost needle-like—but its sharpness surpassed that of any blade.
In the cramped space, the Grass shinobi had nowhere to run.
Those who had fallen, and those who couldn't even advance, could only watch in horror as the water jet sliced through them mercilessly.
Screams erupted one after another.
Bodies were torn apart with brutal precision, blood mist spreading through the air.
Within moments, the underground laboratory had turned into a living hell—littered with mangled corpses and filled with agonized cries.
Yet Natsuhiko remained completely unmoved.
He had seen far worse.
As a member of the ANBU, he had long since grown accustomed to the darkest corners of the shinobi world—places where ambition and power intertwined with death, where survival itself often meant walking through hell.
Ignoring the carnage before him, he formed another seal.
"Wood Release: Cutting Technique."
His chakra surged once more.
In an instant, countless wooden spikes burst forth within the narrow laboratory, erupting from every direction.
They pierced into the surviving Grass shinobi, as well as those rushing in from the rear.
But it didn't stop there.
The wooden spikes continued to grow, branching and expanding under Natsuhiko's control. After impaling their targets, they tore through their bodies from within before extending outward again—dripping with blood as they drove toward the next victims behind them.
In such a confined environment, while Natsuhiko himself faced the risk of being attacked…
his enemies had no chance of escape.
"...That should be enough."
Amid the hellish scene, with heart-wrenching screams echoing endlessly in his ears, Natsuhiko simply nodded, his expression calm and indifferent.
Then, his gaze shifted—
locking onto a figure standing at the very back.
A man dressed like a researcher.
Natsuhiko had no idea where the Uzumaki descendant was being held, nor did he know whether that woman even possessed chakra.
But none of that really mattered.
The reason he hadn't completely wiped everyone out was simple—he needed information.
"Do you want to live?"
In a flicker, Natsuhiko appeared beside a researcher who had only suffered relatively minor injuries. A faint smile rested on his face as he looked down at the man and asked the question in a calm, almost gentle tone.
Yet that very smile, set against the hellish scene of blood and broken bodies filling the underground chamber, nearly stopped the researcher's heart on the spot.
Natsuhiko, however, paid no attention to his terror. His voice remained steady as he continued,
"I ask, you answer. This will be over quickly. Understood?"
—
Meanwhile, outside, Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta's head, focusing intently as he gathered senjutsu chakra. Gamabunta himself remained tense, his massive body coiled and ready, waiting for the enemy's next move.
He already knew this was no ordinary opponent.
Anyone capable of forcing Jiraiya to resort to Sage Mode was, without question, a terrifying existence.
And yet…
To both of their surprise, nothing happened.
They waited.
And waited.
But no attack came.
If not for the faint chakra fluctuations and the increasingly thick scent of blood drifting from the underground laboratory nearby, they might have thought their opponent had simply fled.
The situation was… awkward.
And at the same time, deeply unsettling.
Was this arrogance?
That man had clearly noticed what Jiraiya was doing, yet he made no move to interfere, as if deliberately allowing him to complete Sage Mode without concern.
Jiraiya, at least, was somewhat used to this kind of discomfort—after all, he had once spent plenty of time around Orochimaru.
But for Gamabunta, this was something else entirely.
He had seen arrogance before, but this kind of blatant disregard… this was new.
Still, beneath the awkwardness, a realization began to take shape.
That man…
He seemed to know Jiraiya very well.
Or perhaps—
He was familiar with Sage Mode itself.
"Jiraiya," Gamabunta said, his voice low as he kept his senses spread wide, "just what kind of enemy are you dealing with this time?"
"I don't know," Jiraiya replied, his focus never wavering as he continued gathering natural energy. "All I know is that this kid attacked a Konoha outpost… and he's been slaughtering Grass ninja without restraint."
His voice grew more serious.
"I don't know his purpose, but one thing's certain—he's extremely dangerous."
Gamabunta gave a slight nod.
Attacking a Konoha outpost… combined with such indiscriminate killing of Grass shinobi…
He could already imagine the fate of the Konoha ninja stationed there.
No wonder Jiraiya had intervened.
After all, Jiraiya was still a shinobi of Konoha.
More than that, he was someone who believed in peace—someone who would act against this kind of brutality even if it had nothing to do with his village.
Gamabunta opened his mouth, about to say something more—
—but in the next instant, his entire demeanor changed.
His hand moved to the hilt of his blade, his senses locking forward as the chakra within his body surged to life.
Someone was coming.
"Still not finished?"
A gentle voice suddenly drifted through the air.
Moments later, a silver-haired boy stepped into view, walking toward them at an unhurried pace.
"It's done."
Jiraiya spoke at that exact moment.
Slowly, he opened his eyes.
His presence had completely changed.
Senjutsu chakra flowed through his body, transforming his aura into something far more profound and powerful.
He stared intently at Natsuhiko, then suddenly asked,
"You… seem to know me quite well. Or rather… you understand Sage Mode."
"To be precise," Natsuhiko replied with a slight nod, "I understand both."
As he spoke, he gently closed his eyes.
In that instant—
Jiraiya's expression changed.
Gamabunta's did too.
Because they both felt it.
The same kind of power… emerging from Natsuhiko.
Senjutsu chakra.
"You—!" Jiraiya raised a hand, pointing at him in disbelief, but for a moment, he found himself completely at a loss for words.
"No need to be so surprised, Lord Jiraiya."
Natsuhiko slowly opened his eyes, and a trace of red pigmentation had already formed around them, marking the activation of Sage Mode.
"I can use Sage Mode as well," he continued calmly. "Though, it seems your control over it isn't quite… refined."
"You—!"
Jiraiya clenched his teeth, but the agitation in his expression quickly settled into firm resolve.
"That may be true," he admitted, his voice steady, "I'm not perfect at entering Sage Mode. But whether I can bring out its power… is a different matter entirely!"
The moment his words fell—
he vanished.
In the next instant, Jiraiya was already in front of Natsuhiko.
His speed had skyrocketed far beyond what he had shown before, and as his fist came crashing forward, the sheer force of the wind it generated felt suffocating.
Yet even so, Natsuhiko merely shifted his body slightly, dodging the punch with effortless ease.
But at the very moment he evaded—
his expression changed.
His heightened perception caught something instantly.
The natural energy in the surroundings… had shifted.
"Frog Kumite…?"
Natsuhiko immediately recognized the technique.
He had seen something similar before—when Naruto fought against the Six Paths of Pain. That peculiar taijutsu, utilizing natural energy as an invisible extension of one's attacks, originated from Mount Myoboku.
If Naruto could learn it, there was no way Jiraiya hadn't mastered it as well.
Interesting…
The thought flashed through his mind as his evasive movement expanded into a wider, more deliberate dodge.
At the same time, Jiraiya's own sensory abilities had been greatly enhanced. Seizing the opening, he acted without hesitation.
"Sage Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
As the two passed each other, Jiraiya completed his hand seals, and his long white hair surged outward, extending rapidly as it shot toward Natsuhiko like a barrage of sharpened blades.
"Impressive…"
Even Natsuhiko couldn't help but admire it. Jiraiya's combat instincts and experience were exceptional, and the seamless combination of techniques demonstrated just how refined his battle awareness was.
But admiration didn't mean hesitation.
Facing the oncoming strands of hair—each as sharp as a ninja blade—Natsuhiko's sword flashed from its sheath in an instant.
A layer of brilliant blue chakra coated the blade as he swung.
The incoming hair, though formidable, was severed cleanly, falling apart under the edge of his strike as though it were nothing more than fragile threads.
In just a moment, the entire assault had been cut down.
But at that very instant—
Jiraiya had already disengaged.
And in his place, Gamabunta swung his massive blade down toward Natsuhiko with overwhelming force.
Natsuhiko reacted immediately, leaping into the air to avoid the strike.
Yet the moment his feet left the ground, his senses flared again.
The terrain… had changed.
Though the ground still appeared solid, he could clearly feel it—it had already transformed into a swamp.
"A swamp created with senjutsu… the Swamp of the Underworld, huh?"
A glance was all it took for him to understand.
"So that's your plan—limit my speed. Use Gamabunta's attack to force me into the air, then trap my landing point. A clever distraction."
Speed had always been the one advantage Jiraiya struggled to counter.
Naturally, restricting it became his priority.
Forcing Natsuhiko to jump, then turning his landing zone into a swamp—under normal circumstances, it would have been a perfect trap.
A truly tactical approach.
Annoyingly effective, even.
But—
Natsuhiko had no intention of being caught so easily.
Especially since… Jiraiya had underestimated something.
His sensory perception had picked up even more than that.
"Very interesting."
Natsuhiko landed steadily atop the swamp, his footing somehow unwavering despite the treacherous ground. Looking up at Jiraiya, who now stood on Gamabunta's head, he smiled faintly, playing along.
"You're trying to limit my speed, but this alone isn't nearly enough."
"True," Jiraiya replied with a grave nod. "But you're a little too confident… what makes you think this is all there is?"
The moment he finished speaking—
another Jiraiya burst out from beneath the swamp.
"Got you! You're not getting away this time!"
The clone lunged forward, grabbing hold of Natsuhiko. His entire body was coated in a special oil infused with chakra, binding Natsuhiko firmly in place.
At the same time, Jiraiya and Gamabunta formed seals in perfect synchronization.
"Sage Art: Fire Release—Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
A massive torrent of fire surged forward, sweeping toward Natsuhiko in an instant.
Bound by the shadow clone, he had no room to move.
And the flames were already upon him.
The raging flames swept across the swamp, instantly engulfing the area where Natsuhiko stood.
Beneath the swamp, however, lay something far more dangerous—thick layers of toad oil, carefully concealed in advance. The moment the fire made contact with it, a violent chain reaction was triggered.
Boom—!
A deafening explosion tore through Kusagakure, followed by even more terrifying shockwaves that rippled outward in all directions.
Countless trees were cleaved in half by the force, only to be swallowed by the spreading inferno moments later.
In an instant, the forest was transformed into a blazing sea of fire. Animals caught within it had no time to flee, their lives extinguished as they were reduced to ash.
Standing atop Gamabunta's head, Jiraiya panted heavily, the strain of Sage Mode evident in every breath. Gamabunta, too, had already leapt away from the epicenter, avoiding the devastating blast.
"Is it… over?" Jiraiya muttered, his voice laced with fatigue. Maintaining Sage Mode was an immense burden on him.
"I would think so." A calm, gentle voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
Jiraiya's pupils shrank in an instant.
"That was quite the setup," the voice continued, unhurried, almost conversational. "You hid a shadow clone beneath the Swamp of the Underworld, saturating it with toad oil beforehand. Then you led me to believe the swamp was only meant to restrict my movement, luring me into landing within it."
Step by step, the voice dissected his plan.
"Once I was grounded, the clone restrained me… and finally, you unleashed a fire technique, using the oil within the swamp to amplify its power—turning it into an explosion I couldn't escape from."
There was a faint hint of admiration in his tone.
"I have to say, Lord Jiraiya… your tactics are quite impressive."
As those words fell, Jiraiya could feel it clearly—
the senjutsu chakra within his body was beginning to dissipate.
And at that moment, a chilling realization gripped him.
It felt as though he had fallen straight into an icy abyss.