In response to Jiraiya's antics, Fukasaku's face was full of displeasure.
"Every time before a battle, you always put on this over-the-top act! Hurry up and finish so I can get back; I still need to prepare the midnight snack!"
"Hey, Fukasaku! Compared to the midnight snack, these two reanimated bodies are the real trouble. We mustn't underestimate them! One is the God of Shinobi, and the other is a master of forbidden techniques! We can't take them lightly!"
"Hmph! So what? Don't underestimate a housewife who has to worry about preparing meals every day!"
"Fukasaku will use Wind Release, Little Jiraiya will use oil, and I'll use Fire Release. Let's start with some fried reanimated bodies for a change!"
Jiraiya and Fukasaku nodded in agreement, "Alright!"
The three of them formed their respective hand signs, and with their years of seamless cooperation, they shouted in unison, "Sage Art: Goemon!"
Combining their three sage techniques, they unleashed a devastatingly powerful attack. The surrounding temperature rapidly rose, and even those who weren't directly hit by the technique would feel a burning sensation on their skin.
Fukasaku's Wind Release enhanced the fire, and Shima's Fire Release heated the oil. The vast amount of boiling oil poured down, causing immense damage. This technique's ultimate secret was its sheer destructive power.
Anyone caught within it would be reduced to ashes.
This technique couldn't be countered by ordinary Water Release due to the sheer volume of oil, comparable to a small lake.
However, for Tobirama Senju, this wasn't a problem.
If the enemy could summon a lake, he could summon an ocean.
In terms of Water Release, Tobirama had absolute confidence.
"Water Release: Severing Wave!"
Tobirama clasped his hands together, and from his mouth erupted a torrent of water, surging like an endless river. The massive waves crashed forward, instantly diluting Jiraiya's boiling oil.
Seeing this, Shima sighed in admiration, "Such an enormous amount of water... Truly unbelievable. Tobirama Senju is indeed terrifying."
Fukasaku quickly reminded, "Little Jiraiya, get out of there! This technique will eventually turn into a spherical water prison. If we get trapped inside, we're in big trouble!"
"I understand, Fukasaku! Don't worry; everything is going according to my plan!" Jiraiya said, disappearing into the ground.
"Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!"
This technique allowed the user to burrow underground, ideal for surprise attacks or evading enemy strikes.
"Barrier: Toad Gourd Prison!"
While moving freely underground, Jiraiya set up a transparent, spherical detection barrier. As long as it wasn't destroyed, he could expand his sensing range freely.
Using his sensing, Jiraiya quickly located Tobirama and Hashirama's positions.
On the surface, Tobirama and Hashirama stood expressionless within the massive water prison. Due to their reanimated bodies, they didn't need to breathe.
As Jiraiya vanished, Tobirama's face tensed. He looked down and said coldly, "He's underground, approaching us rapidly..."
Tobirama had once been the greatest sensor-type ninja in the shinobi world, even surpassing his older brother, Hashirama, in sensory abilities.
"Understood," Hashirama responded, clasping his hands together and shouting, "Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
Instantly, the ground began to tremble.
"What's happening?" Jiraiya, burrowing underground, was shocked. He had planned to attack Tobirama from below and look for an opportunity to seal him, but the tremors disrupted his rhythm.
In the next second, numerous vines surged around Jiraiya, too fast and numerous for him to dodge. The moment he noticed them, the vines had already erupted, forcibly lifting him out of the ground.
On the battlefield, countless thick vines burst from the ground, binding Jiraiya and even breaking through Tobirama's water prison.
"Ugh!" Jiraiya groaned in pain. "This Wood Release is really something!"
"Don't worry! I'll cut these damn vines!" Fukasaku quickly formed hand signs, gathering sage chakra in his throat.
"Sage Art: Water Severing Wave!"
A razor-sharp water stream shot from Fukasaku's mouth, slicing through the dense vines around Jiraiya in an instant.
"Great job, Fukasaku! You're the best!" Jiraiya praised with a smile.
But as he smiled, his expression suddenly changed, cold sweat forming on his forehead as he felt a chilling presence behind him.
Tobirama's chakra appeared, pressing tightly against his back.
"Damn!" Jiraiya turned abruptly, but it was too late. Tobirama had already infused his kunai with Water Release and stabbed towards Jiraiya's back.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
Two minutes later...
"Ugh!" Jiraiya grunted as the sharp water-infused kunai pierced his chest.
Fukasaku called out in concern, "Little Jiraiya!"
"Damn it... Even in Sage Mode, I can't handle two Hokage..." Jiraiya collapsed, unwilling to accept his defeat.
Seeing Jiraiya injured, Tsunade, who had been watching, couldn't hold back any longer. She jumped to Jiraiya's side, holding him in her arms.
"Jiraiya! Are you alright?"
In her concern, she forgot that Jiraiya was bleeding.
As she held him, Tsunade's hands were stained with blood...
"Blood... This is... blood!" Tsunade trembled, her eyes filled with terror as she looked at the bleeding Jiraiya in her arms.
Those traumatic memories flooded her mind once again...
"Tsunade! You need to heal Jiraiya. Pa and I will handle those reanimated bodies!"
"What are you waiting for? Heal him now!"
"If you delay any longer, Jiraiya will die!!"
"I... I..." Tsunade's body continued to tremble, her voice filled with panic.
Jiraiya opened his eyes slightly, weakly reassuring her, "It's okay, Tsunade, don't force yourself... If I die, I've lived long enough... No regrets..."
"No! I can't let you die!"
Having lost her loved ones before, Tsunade couldn't bear to lose another comrade.
In the past, she hadn't been there to save her two dearest ones.
This time, with the chance to heal right before her, she couldn't let it slip away.
Two green chakras gathered in Tsunade's palms.
Suddenly, her body stopped trembling.
Her hemophobia was gone!
"Jiraiya, as long as I'm here, you won't die!"
Tsunade placed her hands on Jiraiya's wound.
"Bear with it; it'll be over soon..."
"Hmm?"
"What... What's this?"
During the healing process, Tsunade suddenly realized... Jiraiya's wound was just a large scratch!
It wasn't even a fatal wound, not even deep enough to lose flesh.
"What... is this?" Tsunade was bewildered. She looked at Jiraiya, who was grinning mischievously at her.
At the same time, Fukasaku and Shima had stopped fighting Hashirama and Tobirama, standing beside her with smiles.
Hashirama patted Tsunade's shoulder gently, saying, "Little Tsunade, you've grown up. I knew my granddaughter would be a great beauty."
"Grandpa, you... broke free from the control?"
Hashirama shrugged, spreading his hands.
"I'm not sure what happened. Suddenly, I regained control of my will. Maybe... hmm... something like that."
Tobirama crossed his arms and sighed.
"Brother, let me explain. A few minutes ago, the chakra controlling us through the Reanimation Jutsu disappeared, allowing our consciousness to return."
"Just now, I informed this toad boy of our regained consciousness. He came up with the idea of pretending to be seriously injured to help you overcome your phobia. Looks like it worked."
Tsunade: "..."
Jiraiya got up, looking unscathed. He reverted from Sage Mode to his usual self, looking around curiously.
"Strange, where did Orochimaru go...?"
At that moment, Orochimaru was sitting dazed on the steps.
Her mind was still blank...
"Who am I?"
"Where am I?"
"What did Natsuhane just do to me...?"
Subconsciously, she touched her lips, feeling the lingering warmth.
"I feel... unclean..."
And so, the story continues. If you enjoyed this chapter, please remember to add to the library and follow for more updates and support me on my Patreon if you want good quality and more chapters: patreon.com/Betek.