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BOOM!
The King Cobra's tail strike, falling from the sky, crashed into the deep, bottomless Sealing Fire: Yellow Spring Swamp and was instantly muted. Then, it began to sink, unstoppable.
In the end… the King Cobra's entire tail and most of its massive body were swallowed by the mire. Only its head and a small part of its torso remained above the surface, its serpentine eyes glaring with pure malice at Jiraiya on the cliff wall!!
"You bastard…!!! You humans only know how to play these despicable tricks! Don't you dare face me head-on!!!"
Jiraiya laughed heartily. "Ha ha ha! I can tell you have quite the personality. But we humans don't have bodies as strong as yours. Injury and bleeding come with the risk of death. So, when facing a powerful enemy, our instinct is to consider first how to win at the smallest cost. King Cobra, you seem to look down on humanity. However, since our paths have crossed here, call it fate. I hope you can understand: every species has its own way of survival. You don't have to revere it, but you should have the most basic respect…"
"Such bold words. You dare lecture me…" The King Cobra narrowed its eyes, its tone dangerous. Yet, the sheer viciousness deep in its gaze seemed to have lessened slightly.
"Well then… I'm in a hurry, so I'll take my leave."
With that… Jiraiya's hands formed a seal.
– Summoning: Toad Drop!
BOOM…!!
Gamahiro descended from the heavens… and slammed the King Cobra's exposed body deep into the Yellow Spring Swamp!
By the time the summoning smoke cleared, Jiraiya was already gone.
No more enemies blocked his path the rest of the way.
"Hah."
Before the temple gates, Jiraiya took a moment to adjust his breath, then reached to knock!
Two snake maidens clad in white haori dropped from the sky, blocking the entrance!!
They were the Second Snake Sages, Ichikishimahime and Tagorihime!
"This sacred temple prohibits entry to any species other than snakes and humans…"
Shima threw her arms up. "Are you insulting frogs?!?!"
Fukasaku: "Calm down, old woman!! The sage power those two possess is no weaker than ours!!"
Jiraiya said, "Honored Sages, since we've come this far, surely that one won't lower herself to trouble me further. Let me enter alone."
"Very well… but be extremely careful!!"
Fukasaku and Shima leapt from Jiraiya's shoulders. Yet, his Sage Mode did not fade.
Hssss… Hssss…
Ichikishimahime and Tagorihime flicked their tongues, their gazes tracking Jiraiya as he entered the temple.
Jiraiya finally stood before the seat of the White Snake Sage.
But… that being, the White Snake Sage, was vastly different from the ancient, imposing, and awe-inspiring figure he had imagined.
Damn it!! That old geezer… why didn't he warn me the White Snake Sage was such a bombshell of a beauty!!!
Exhaling a cloud of smoke, the White Snake Sage stared directly at the white-haired man below her throne. "Jiraiya, is it? I hear you're quite the figure in the human world. One of the Legendary Three Sannin, like Orochimaru…"
Jiraiya covered the lower half of his face with a hand, his eyes respectfully lowered.
"Not at all… Before an elder of your stature, the title of Sannin is truly insignificant."
"That was once true. But now, that brat Orochimaru is a different story. He holds many secrets even I cannot see through. You're not bad either… a perfect Sage Mode, and your unique Wood Release. Good, good. An Itachi, and now you. Shikkotsu Forest and Mount Myōboku have worthy successors. Of course, on my side, Kabuto is a fine seedling as well."
Here, the White Snake Sage blew a perfect smoke ring, her tone deepening.
"The three of you… will surely be of great use in the years to come."
"…" Jiraiya lifted his gaze. The lecherous gleam in his eyes was gone, replaced by utter seriousness.
"Could it be… you also know? Did Orochimaru tell you?"
The White Snake Sage chuckled. "That brat Orochimaru told me nothing. I imagine he did it on purpose. Deliberately letting the old toad sell me this favor. His calculations run deep. But it makes sense now. Sasuke Uchiha… I saw it the moment I laid eyes on him. His future achievements will not be inferior to the Sage of Six Paths…"
Jiraiya: "Ah… I see. So, it was my own great elder who told you. No wonder he was so confident in sending me to pay my respects to you."
Yes… the Great Toad Sage had already told the White Snake Sage everything about the previous timeline, and about Sasuke returning to this era.
Only thus could the centuries-old grudges between Ryūchi Cave and the other two great sage realms be rapidly dissolved, unifying their front.
To put it plainly… having the White Snake Sage divine Obito's current whereabouts was just a minor pretext. A way to facilitate the initial collaboration between the three great sage realms.
"In that case, it will be easier for this junior to speak…"
Jiraiya went down on one knee.
"I beseech you to use your 'Divination' Technique to confirm the whereabouts of Obito Uchiha! So that I may find a way to rescue the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade, who has fallen into his hands!!"
Pfft~!
The White Snake Sage exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
"Are you certain? This is no joking matter."
Jiraiya: "I know… Your Divination Technique consumes a tremendous amount of sage power, and can only be used once every three years."
The White Snake Sage shook her head, her voice grave. "Sage power and time limits are trivial matters. Divination requires a 'cause.' The 'topic' you propose for the divination is that cause. The truth of the cause must be guaranteed, or the divination will not succeed. Otherwise… not only will no result be divined, but I myself will suffer harm."
"So… this is no joking matter, Jiraiya. Are you certain? Are you certain that what you just said—that the Fifth Hokage Tsunade is in Obito Uchiha's hands—is true? Katsuyu's original words to Gamamaru were that this intelligence came from a nobody named 'Haruno Sakura,' correct?"
The White Snake Sage's vertical pupils fixed intently on Jiraiya.
Jiraiya felt it… the pressure emanating from above!
Yes. No one could guarantee that Sakura's intelligence was one hundred percent accurate. More critically, that intelligence was itself Sakura's deduction.
At this point… how could Jiraiya possibly vouch for Sakura?
His heart was bitter, but his expression was resolute.
"White Snake Sage, as you say… I cannot guarantee its authenticity one hundred percent. But I believe this intelligence is reliable. If… if your injury is truly caused by an error in the intelligence, then I, your junior… am willing… willing to offer my life in atonement!"
"Hmph. If it truly came to that, what use would your life be to me? Enough. I'm not one to shy away from a gamble. I am simply stating the stakes clearly, so you understand what you're asking…"
As she spoke, the White Snake Sage used her fair arm to support her reclining form, sitting up properly on her throne.
Then… the crystal ball on the table before her began to glow… HUM!
– Divination Technique!
A face filled with bitter hatred and deep suffering materialized within
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