Jiraiya sized up the enemies glaring at him from all sides, and suddenly his expression became incomparably serious.
He formed hand seals with both hands, his fingers moving rapidly as he completed an extremely complex sequence of seals. Chakra surged violently from his body, causing the surrounding air currents to begin swirling.
"In that case..."
"I can only use that forbidden jutsu!"
A's pupils contracted, and he instinctively stepped back half a step.
B even thickened his Tailed Beast cloak another layer.
The surrounding ninja also retreated one after another, afraid of being caught within the range of the legendary "forbidden jutsu."
Jiraiya took a deep breath and suddenly slammed both hands onto the ground.
Bang!
A massive cloud of smoke exploded outward, instantly enveloping dozens of meters around him and Hiruzen.
The smoke was so thick that no one could see what was happening inside.
A narrowed his eyes.
Golden Lightning Release chakra flickered across the surface of his body as he stared warily at the cloud of smoke.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
The smoke gradually dispersed.
A's pupils suddenly shrank.
Jiraiya was gone.
Hiruzen was gone too!
Only the gigantic Gamabunta remained crouched in place, his pipe clenched in his mouth, his eyes seemingly carrying a trace of helplessness.
"Gamabunta, cover me!"
Jiraiya's voice came from the distance, sounding somewhat hurried.
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice, only to see Jiraiya already carrying Hiruzen several hundred meters away.
He was rapidly leaping through the trees in his wooden sandals.
"..."
A's mouth twitched.
"..."
B stared with his mouth hanging open.
"..."
The Hidden Stone ninja looked at one another in confusion.
What happened to the forbidden jutsu?
What happened to the explosive finish?
Gamabunta inhaled deeply and spat out a massive water cannon, forcing back the Hidden Cloud ninja who were about to pursue.
The water cannon exploded across the ground, forming a rushing river that temporarily blocked the pursuers.
Then Gamabunta also dispersed into smoke and returned to Mount Myoboku.
"After them!"
Realizing he had been fooled, A roared furiously.
Just as he was about to pursue personally, a figure blocked his path.
"Lord Raikage, please stop."
Kitsuchi stepped out from Hidden Stone's camp with dozens of Hidden Stone ninja following behind him.
"This is Hidden Stone's battlefield. Hidden Cloud has crossed the line!"
A stopped and coldly glanced at Kitsuchi.
"Hmph!"
A snorted coldly.
"Narrow-minded fool! If we had joined forces to pursue them just now, the Third Hokage would certainly have died!"
"Does your Hidden Stone not even possess that much strategic vision?"
He stared at the large man before him for a moment before waving his hand.
"Retreat!"
The Hidden Cloud ninja regrouped and withdrew northward at once.
In his view, Hiruzen had already been struck by his Lariat.
Even without pursuit, Hiruzen's severe injuries meant he would not have much time left.
Kitsuchi watched the departing Hidden Cloud ninja, then turned around and ordered the pursuit of the Hidden Leaf ninja who were fleeing in defeat.
...
Elsewhere.
Jiraiya carried Hiruzen while sprinting at full speed, wind whistling beneath his feet as his wooden sandals made crisp sounds atop the tree branches.
Hiruzen continuously coughed up blood over Jiraiya's shoulder.
"Jiraiya... why did you come..."
Hiruzen's voice was weak.
Without turning his head, Jiraiya replied:
"Old man, I was originally traveling around the shinobi world collecting material along the way."
"When I heard Hidden Leaf was being besieged by three shinobi villages, I rushed back."
"I didn't expect that the moment I arrived nearby, I'd see you getting beaten up by a whole crowd."
He paused, his tone turning serious.
"You can't die yet. Hidden Leaf still needs you."
Hiruzen opened his mouth as if to say something, but another violent coughing fit overtook him, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Jiraiya frowned tightly.
"Stop talking. I'll take you back to Hidden Leaf for treatment immediately."
…
Half a day later.
Jiraiya carried Hiruzen through a dense forest. Just as he was about to cross a hill ahead, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He narrowed his eyes and looked forward.
Below the hill was an open plain.
Standing upon the plain was a densely packed ninja force numbering roughly three to four hundred men.
Jiraiya's expression tightened, and he instinctively considered taking a detour to retreat.
Abruptly, then, his expression shifted as he realized their outfits were actually Hidden Leaf standard flak jackets.
Yet at this moment, their formation was disorderly and morale was low.
Jiraiya felt somewhat puzzled.
Why would Hidden Leaf's forces appear here?
Nevertheless, he still decided to move closer and take a look.
Carrying Hiruzen over his shoulder, Jiraiya cautiously approached the force.
The other side quickly noticed them and immediately became alert. Several ninja raised their kunai and shouted loudly:
"Stop! Who goes there?!"
"It's me."
Jiraiya stepped out from behind the trees, his white hair fluttering in the wind.
"Jiraiya of Mount Myoboku."
"Which unit are you?"
The other side froze for a moment before someone recognized him.
"It really is Lord Jiraiya! One of the legendary Sannin!"
"Lord Jiraiya! You've returned!"
Their guard dropped right away, and several ninja hurried over.
A man stepped out from the crowd. It was Yamada, the commander of the northern battlefield.
Yamada walked forward with hurried steps and respectfully bowed toward Jiraiya.
"Lord Jiraiya! Why are you here?"
His gaze landed on Jiraiya's shoulder. The moment he saw the blood-covered old man barely clinging to life, his expression changed drastically.
"Th-This is the Third Hokage?!"
Jiraiya nodded.
"He's badly injured and needs treatment immediately. Are there any Medical Ninja in the unit?"
"Yes! Yes!"
Yamada hurriedly waved his hand and called over the unit's Medical Ninja.
The Medical Ninja quickly stepped forward, took Hiruzen from Jiraiya's shoulder, laid him flat on the ground, and immediately began emergency treatment.
Hiruzen's face was pale as paper.
Although the wound on his left chest had stopped bleeding, the massive blood loss combined with his old age had left him in a semi-conscious state.
After emergency treatment, Hiruzen's complexion improved barely.
He slowly opened his eyes. Seeing the familiar faces around him, and then Yamada's exhausted face, his heart filled with questions.
"Yamada... why are you here? Weren't you on the northern front?"
Yamada lowered his head, his voice filled with guilt and anger.
"Third Hokage... the northern front... collapsed."
When Hiruzen had been attacked from both sides by Hidden Cloud ninja, he had anticipated this outcome, but he still pressed on:
"What happened? Where's Homura? Where's the Chinoike clan?"
Yamada gritted his teeth and truthfully recounted everything: how arrogant and overconfident Homura had been, how he had forcibly seized command authority, how he had ordered the Chinoike clan to lead the assault, and how he had been the first to flee once defeat became inevitable.
"The Chinoike clan suffered more than half their members dead or wounded. Fewer than twenty survivors remain among those who awakened the Ketsuryugan."
"We lost more than four hundred men. Our total casualties over the past three years were not even as high as what we suffered in a single day."
Yamada's voice trembled.
"Lord Homura... fled the moment the battle began collapsing."
"I gathered the routed survivors and followed behind Hidden Cloud's main force the whole way, hoping to find opportunities to harass them. I never expected to run into you and Lord Jiraiya."
As Hiruzen listened, his expression became increasingly ugly, his chest heaving uncontrollably.
He suddenly forced himself upright, his voice hoarse and furious.
"How could this happen?! Where is Homura?!"
Yamada lowered his head.
"His whereabouts are unknown. He likely escaped back to Hidden Leaf..."
"Pfft!"
Hiruzen spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the side, falling unconscious.
"Third Hokage!"
Everyone was shocked and hurriedly rushed forward to check on him.
After examining him, one of the Medical Ninja let out a long breath.
"He's only unconscious."
"But the Third Hokage's injuries are too severe. He needs to return to the village and recuperate as soon as possible."
Jiraiya pondered for a moment before speaking in a deep voice:
"Withdraw. We return directly to Hidden Leaf and shift to defensive operations."
"In our current state, continuing to fight would only mean throwing our lives away."
Yamada nodded and ordered the troops to retreat toward Hidden Leaf.
...
Two days later.
Hidden Leaf Hospital.
Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes as his consciousness gradually emerged from the haze.
He lay upon the hospital bed, his body wrapped in bandages, while the wound on his left chest still throbbed faintly with pain.
"Hiruzen! You're awake!"
Koharu hurried over, her face filled with concern.
Sitting beside the bed, she grabbed Hiruzen's hand, and there were even traces of tears in her eyes.
"You scared us to death."
Homura was absent.
It was said that after fleeing back to Hidden Leaf, he had hidden himself inside his home and refused to come out.
There were also several Anbu and a few small clan heads who had rushed over after hearing the news.
When they saw Hiruzen awaken, they all revealed expressions of relief.
Hiruzen ignored Koharu and paid no attention to the others.
Slowly raising a hand, his voice hoarse and weak, he said:
"Where's Jiraiya?"
"Call Jiraiya here."
Not long afterward, Jiraiya pushed open the door and walked in.
He still wore that red outer robe as he walked to the bedside.
"Old man, you're awake?"
Jiraiya leaned against the wall.
Looking at Jiraiya's carefree attitude, complicated emotions surged within Hiruzen's heart.
He did not blame Jiraiya for his laziness and instead got straight to the point.
"Jiraiya, my time is running out."
The atmosphere inside the hospital room became heavy at once.
"Hidden Leaf now urgently needs someone to become the Fifth Hokage."
"In the current Hidden Leaf Village, only you possess both the strength and prestige necessary to convince everyone."
"I want you to succeed me as Hokage!"
---
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