Chapter 97: The Sage mode
"Water Style: Water Bullet!"
Gamabunta spat out a series of large water bullets, blasting through a swath of vines. He followed up by swinging his short sword, expertly deflecting the rest of the incoming vines.
Watching the toad's relentless effort, Baishi decided it was time to escalate.
However, he noticed a change—two small toads had appeared on Jiraiya's shoulders. One had white hair and eyebrows, while the other sported purple hair and lips.
"Fukasaku! Shima!"
Baishi immediately recognized the two Toad Sages and slowed his attacks.
His aim had never been to kill Jiraiya; he only wanted to force him into Sage Mode.
Now that the Toad Sages were present, his objective was achieved.
"No need to push too hard. If I disrupt the process of activating Sage Mode, everything I've done so far will be wasted."
Adjusting his approach, Baishi reduced his offensive intensity to allow Jiraiya the time he needed to absorb natural energy and gather sage chakra.
In the meantime, Baishi focused on the opportunity to feel the presence of natural energy firsthand.
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Time passed slowly.
Baishi split his attention—controlling the vines battling Gamabunta while simultaneously sensing the changes around Jiraiya.
Eventually, he let out a murmur of admiration: "So this is natural energy. How fascinating!"
Memorizing the sensation, Baishi withdrew his focus.
At that moment, Jiraiya's transformation became evident—his body exhibited clear frog-like traits, and his chakra surged to a new level.
Even before they crossed blows, Baishi could feel the latent danger emanating from Jiraiya.
"Sage Mode... truly extraordinary!"
Taking no chances, Baishi immediately created distance between them.
Jiraiya didn't waste time, combining Shima's oil technique and Fukasaku's wind-style jutsu to amplify his fire-style jutsu into Sage Art: Goemon.
The blazing inferno incinerated the entire forest Baishi had painstakingly grown with Deep Forest Emergence in a matter of seconds.
"Impressive... this is the power of Sage Arts," Baishi muttered, observing the smoldering aftermath.
On the other hand, Jiraiya was far from calm. He glared at Baishi, his voice carrying an icy edge: "You've gone too far, kid. Let me show you the consequences of angering a sage!"
With astonishing speed, Jiraiya formed a series of hand seals before unleashing Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon.
Countless hardened hair strands shot out, raining down like a storm of needles. The attack was not only blindingly fast but also covered an extensive range.
Baishi's expression shifted as he quickly formed seals, summoning Wood Style: Wooden Shield Technique at the last second.
A massive wooden shield with a demonic visage rose to block the barrage of needles.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of impacts echoed relentlessly as Baishi held his ground, the shield absorbing the brunt of the assault.
When the noise finally subsided, Baishi lowered the shield.
In that instant, Jiraiya closed the distance, his fist aimed squarely at Baishi's face.
Not one to retreat, Baishi surged forward, meeting Jiraiya head-on.
Boom!
Their clash sent shockwaves rippling outward.
As Baishi's leg connected with Jiraiya's block, he felt a surprising amount of resistance. His eyes lit up in appreciation.
"The strength amplification from Sage Mode is remarkable!"
The realization only heightened his anticipation for the fight. Since surpassing a hundred points in Strength and Agility, Baishi had yet to encounter anyone who could match him physically.
Finally, a worthy opponent.
However, Jiraiya's thoughts were the opposite.
Despite the Sage Mode enhancements, Jiraiya found himself struggling to hold his ground. Baishi's raw power exceeded even his.
But this was no time to dwell on that. Baishi's counterattack was already in motion.
Jiraiya deflected Baishi's punch with a well-timed knee block and retaliated with a swift strike aimed at Baishi's temple.
Forced to defend, Baishi lost his offensive momentum, ceding the initiative to Jiraiya.
In close-quarters combat, Jiraiya's years of experience shone through.
While Baishi was highly skilled, his lack of experience in drawn-out battles showed. With the assistance of Fukasaku and Shima, Jiraiya began to overwhelm him.
Shima unleashed sprays of corrosive venom whenever Baishi exposed an opening. Despite Baishi's Toxin Resistance, the venom—enhanced with natural energy—still managed to corrode his skin.
Baishi's system displayed a new warning:
[Warning: Unknown toxin detected. Duration: 6 hours, 12 minutes, 35 seconds.]
In ordinary circumstances, Baishi would welcome the challenge as an opportunity to evolve his resistance further. But in the heat of battle, the toxin was a serious hindrance.
Meanwhile, Fukasaku exploited gaps in Baishi's defenses, firing high-pressure water bullets that stripped flesh from his body.
By the time Baishi adjusted his defenses, he had already suffered several injuries.
Only his formidable Self-Healing ability and resilient physique kept him in the fight.
"So this is Sage Mode's full might…"
As the battle raged, Baishi gained a clear understanding of Jiraiya's enhanced power.
Jiraiya, bolstered by his natural energy reserves, far surpassed the standard of a jonin. However, the boost came with a noticeable drawback—limited endurance.
Baishi was confident he could outlast Jiraiya if he avoided taking excessive risks.
Still, both sides had held back from dealing lethal blows, leaving the final outcome uncertain.
Eyeing the faint fatigue creeping into Jiraiya's movements, Baishi decided it was time to end the fight.
Dodging Jiraiya's next strike, Baishi abruptly disengaged, creating a wide gap between them.
(End of Chapter)
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