The Town of Hot Water—
A place renowned across the Land of Hot Springs for its soothing baths and tranquil atmosphere.
After nightfall, the entire town seemed to transform.
Soft white mist drifted through the streets, rising from the countless hot springs scattered throughout the area. Lanterns cast a warm golden glow over the cobblestone paths, their light reflecting gently off the damp ground.
People dressed in yukata strolled leisurely, their conversations blending with the soothing sounds of flowing water. Laughter spilled out from taverns and bathhouses, creating a lively yet peaceful atmosphere.
It was a place meant for rest.
For escape.
For forgetting the troubles of the world.
"Caw—!!"
The sudden, piercing cry shattered that peace.
Everyone froze.
A massive shadow swept across the town.
Heads tilted upward.
Eyes widened.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Above the mist-covered streets—
A gigantic black bird circled the sky.
Its wings stretched wide, its body spanning over ten meters in length.
Its presence alone—
Was overwhelming.
Panic rippled through the crowd.
People stumbled backward.
Some pointed in shock.
Others ran.
And then—
A voice rang out.
"Lady Tsunade! One of the Sannin!"
"Jiraiya is dying! Please, come help!"
Standing atop the bird's back—
Nao shouted at the top of her lungs.
Her small body trembled, yet her voice carried through the entire town.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Her desperate cry echoed in every direction.
At first—
The townspeople froze in fear.
But when no attack came—
When the bird simply circled above—
Their panic slowly turned into confusion.
"…What is that?"
"…Did she just say Jiraiya?"
"…Is this some kind of joke?"
Whispers spread.
Curiosity replaced fear.
Meanwhile—
Yatagarasu continued to glide slowly through the sky, its massive wings cutting through the mist.
Wherever it passed—
All eyes followed.
And on its back—
Nao kept shouting.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Her voice grew hoarse.
Her throat burned.
But she didn't stop.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Please…!"
Her hands clenched tightly.
Brother Yoru—
Was running out of time.
"Wuu… Brother Yoru…"
Her voice cracked.
"I'm useless… I can't find Tsunade…"
After circling nearly the entire town—
With no response—
Nao finally broke.
She collapsed to her knees on Yatagarasu's back.
And cried.
Desperate.
Helpless.
At that moment—
A voice spoke behind her.
"Hey… little girl."
"Girls don't look pretty when they cry."
Nao froze.
She turned sharply.
Behind her—
Stood a man.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
With long, silver-white hair flowing down his back.
He wore a forehead protector engraved with the kanji for "Oil."
Two red lines ran down from his eyes.
And on his back—
Was a massive scroll.
His expression—
Relaxed.
Almost teasing.
Yatagarasu reacted instantly.
Its head whipped around in shock.
When did he get here?!
It hadn't sensed him at all.
If not for its master's orders—
If not for the presence of the girl—
It would have spun mid-air and thrown him off immediately.
Who does this low-level creature think he is—standing on my back?!
Nao, however, didn't relax.
She stared at the man cautiously.
"Who are you?" she asked.
This man—
Was not Tsunade.
The man smirked slightly.
"I am the 'Jiraiya' you've been shouting about."
He scratched his cheek, looking somewhat annoyed.
"Thanks to you… the entire town now thinks I'm dying."
Nao blinked.
"…Huh?"
But before she could respond—
Jiraiya's expression changed.
The casual demeanor vanished.
His gaze shifted—
To the figure lying behind her.
Aoki Yoru.
The moment he saw him—
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed.
"…Yoru?"
His voice dropped.
Serious.
"How did he end up like this?"
Nao tensed slightly.
Yatagarasu remained on guard.
Sensing their vigilance—
Jiraiya sighed.
"Relax," he said. "I'm his companion."
His gaze softened slightly.
"His condition is critical."
"I need to take a look."
Nao stared at him for a few seconds.
Then—
Slowly—
She nodded.
She trusted her instincts.
Since childhood—
She had been able to sense emotions.
Good.
Evil.
And from this man—
She felt no malice.
Only concern.
Jiraiya stepped forward and crouched beside Aoki Yoru.
Carefully—
He examined him.
Moments passed.
His brows furrowed deeply.
"…This is bad."
Aoki Yoru's life force—
Was fading.
Like a flickering candle—
On the verge of going out.
But that wasn't the worst part.
Wrapped around his soul—
Was a dark, sinister energy.
Corrosive.
Relentless.
"…Jashin…"
Jiraiya muttered.
Without hesitation—
He raised his hand.
Chakra surged.
Blue energy flared from his fingertips—
Then spread across his entire palm.
He slammed his hand onto Aoki Yoru's chest.
"Evil Sealing Method!"
"Five Elements Seal!"
Dense sealing patterns spread instantly across Aoki Yoru's body.
The effect—
Was immediate.
His breathing steadied.
The pain on his face eased.
Jiraiya exhaled slowly.
"That should hold it for now…"
But—
Before he could finish—
Crack.
The seal—
Broke.
Like fragile glass—
It shattered.
Fragments of dark golden light scattered into the air—
And vanished.
Jiraiya froze.
"…What?!"
Aoki Yoru gasped violently.
"Ha… ha…!"
The suppressed energy surged back.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
His life force—
Began to fade again.
"Brother Yoru!"
Nao rushed forward.
Without hesitation—
She rolled up her sleeve.
Revealing two old bite marks on her arm.
She extended it—
Toward Aoki Yoru's mouth.
He bit down.
Her body trembled.
Pain shot through her.
But—
She didn't cry out.
She endured it.
Tears streamed silently down her face.
Jiraiya watched.
And something in his chest—
Tightened.
"…This girl…"
His expression hardened.
Without another word—
He bit his finger.
Blood.
He drew markings across his cheeks.
Then—
His hands moved rapidly.
"Boar—Dog—Rooster—Monkey—Ram!"
Clap!
"Sage Art… Sage Mode!"
Two toads appeared on his shoulders.
"Jiraiya! Why did you summon us again?" one complained.
"You should learn to enter Sage Mode properly yourself!"
"Not now," Jiraiya said seriously.
"Please… help me check his condition."
The two sages fell silent.
They looked at Aoki Yoru—
And immediately—
Their expressions changed.
They jumped down.
Closed their eyes.
And sensed.
Moments later—
Fukasaku opened his eyes.
"…Jashin's energy."
His voice was heavy.
"How did this child provoke something like that?"
Jiraiya frowned.
"The Jashin Cult… is it related?"
Fukasaku nodded.
"Yes."
"The origins of Jashin… are unknown."
"But it existed… long before the Age of Myth."
"Even I…"
"…only heard of it once—from the Great Toad Sage."
Shima opened her eyes as well.
"…He's at his limit."
Her voice was grim.
"If we don't remove this energy soon…"
"…he won't survive."
Jiraiya's fists clenched.
"Is there a way?"
Hope flickered.
Nao looked up.
Eyes filled with tears.
But—
The answer—
Was not what they wanted.
"…No."
"Perhaps the Great Toad Sage knows."
"But…"
"He hasn't awakened in decades."
Jiraiya's expression darkened.
Then—
He took a deep breath.
"…Then we seal it."
"For now."
The two sages returned to his shoulders.
Natural Energy surged.
Together—
They formed seals.
"Sage Art: Evil Sealing Method!"
"Sage Art: Five Elements Seal!"
"Sage Art: Eight Trigrams Seal!"
Three layers of sealing—
Locked into place.
The dark energy—
Was forced back.
Contained.
Trapped in a corner of Aoki Yoru's being.
His breathing stabilized.
The pain faded.
Silence.
"…It's done."
Fukasaku nodded.
"We're returning."
"If the Great Toad Sage awakens…"
"…we'll seek a solution."
And just like that—
They vanished.
Leaving behind—
Jiraiya.
Nao.
And Yatagarasu.
Nao looked up.
"…Lord Jiraiya…"
Her voice was small.
"…Is Brother Yoru… okay?"
Jiraiya looked down at her.
Then—
He smiled gently.
Ruffling her red hair.
"At least for now…"
"…he's stable."
"He won't die anytime soon."
Nao's eyes filled with relief.
Jiraiya looked up at the night sky.
His expression—
Serious.
"…Next…"
"We find Tsunade."
His voice was firm.
"She's the best medical ninja alive."
"If anyone can save him…"
"…it's her."
And under the dim, mist-covered sky—
Their journey—
Continued.
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