Jiraiya leaped back onto a rooftop, his face grim.
The Swamp of the Underworld technique had failed.
The shrine engulfed in flames, sank, but above the swamp hung a sinister rift emitting red light.
A huge purple eye, filled with malice, stared greedily at the outside world.
*Plop, plop.*
The chewing sounds ceased, replaced by the unmistakable dripping of saliva.
"The taste of flesh is so good~"
"So good! So good! So good!!!"
The monster shrieked crazily, more disgusting tendrils squeezing out from the rift.
This time, they didn't attack anyone but twisted and coiled, trying to tear the rift wider!
Jiraiya couldn't imagine how terrifying it would be if that thing got out, shouting to Konan:
"It's trying to come through!!"
"Stop it!"
He flung himself forward, his white hair turning into countless senbon, hitting the tendrils with no effect!
Meanwhile, Konan attacked again!
Diving, she bombarded the rift with paper bombs folded into planes!
Jiraiya seized the moment to form seals again!
A series of powerful fire techniques bombarded the target!
After several seconds, the smoke cleared, the tendrils showing only cracks, no real damage!
"Monster!"
Jiraiya cursed, forming a seal and pressing down with one hand!
"Summoning Technique!"
With a burst of white smoke, Gamabunta appeared, pipe in the mouth:
"What's the job this time, Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya pointed behind him, shouting:
"No time for questions, Bunta!"
"Cut those tendrils with all your strength, avoid the corrosive blood!"
Gamabunta followed Jiraiya's gaze, startled by the horrifying scene:
"What is that thing!"
In the constant explosions, the tendrils cracked but healed instantly, ignoring damage, and tearing the rift wider!
Seconds passed, the rift expanding further!
*Swish!*
Gamabunta drew his massive katana, leaping and slashing down with unmatched force!
*Slash!*
The tendrils were severed!
Gamabunta dodged the splattering blood, laughing:
"Jiraiya, you need my help for this? Watch me..."
But before he finished, countless new tendrils grew, writhing towards him!
"What's this, worse than slugs!"
Gamabunta slashed frantically, retreating!
But the numerous tendrils splattered blood on him, feeling like being doused in lava!
The pain enraged him!
"I've never felt such pain, die!"
Gamabunta roared, launching himself at the rift!
Ignoring the tendrils, he thrust his sword at the giant eye!
The next second, he froze!
The massive sword from Mount Myoboku lost sight in the rift, swallowed by darkness, not reaching the eye!
His hand tightened, holding only the hilt.
Gamabunta panicked.
Unable to understand, he turned to flee!
But the tendrils had ensnared him!
"Tasty! Tasty!"
The tendrils' purple patterns wriggled, weakening Gamabunta, his consciousness fading!
"Save me, Jir..."
His weak cry trailed off as he passed out!
Jiraiya's face paled, shocked Gamabunta fell so fast, unable to escape back to Mount Myoboku!
He quickly formed seals, canceling the summoning!
With a *poof*, Gamabunta vanished before being dragged into the expanded rift!
The tendrils stiffened momentarily!
A deafening roar erupted from the rift:
"Damn! Damn! Damn!"
"My food!"
In the sky, Konan covered her ears, feeling her technique slipping from the roar!
Her face showed a trace of fear:
"What did Hidan summon!"
"Could it really be an evil god?"
Jiraiya's shout from below:
"Konan, buy me some time!"
He recognized the woman as his former student, shocked by the encounter, and her Akatsuki robe.
But those details were secondary now!
The evil god gave him a terrible premonition!
Konan nodded.
Papers folded into countless shurikens, slicing the tendrils!
She worried why Nagato hadn't come, depleting Jiraiya's chakra felt unwise!
The summoning sound came from bellow.
She saw two old toads on Jiraiya's shoulders!
Fukasaku and Shima shouted.
"Jiraiya, what's going on, our son came back unconscious!"
"Dear, enough, look at that thing!"
Shima turned, gasping:
"Lots of octopus legs, did Bunta overeat?"
Fukasaku sighed:
"Dear, not everything is food, this would cause indigestion."
Jiraiya, hands in prayer, gathering senjutsu chakra, said:
"Stop chatting, it's a monster summoned by an evil god follower, tearing through space, I can't imagine its true form's terror!"
"Bunta nearly died from just the tendrils!"
"Is there any record of evil gods in Mount Myoboku?"
Fukasaku's face turned serious, recalling, then shook his head:
"Never heard of it."
"Sounds like a human myth."
No answer, Jiraiya didn't waste words:
"Konan can't hold, try sound attacks!"
"No problem!"
Fukasaku and Shima joined hands, releasing terrifying croaks as sound waves covered the tendrils!
Instantly, the tendrils slowed visibly!
Jiraiya was delighted!
Though a genjutsu, it was also a sound attack.
He guessed it was the latter's effect.
If so, no need to gather senjutsu chakra, sealing would suffice!
But then.
The tendrils rose again, the effect weakening!
In the sky!
Konan was amazed by the toads' power.
The sound made her feel danger, affecting the tendrils!
But within seconds, the jutsu lost effect!
What kind of resistance and adaptability was this?
A sharp screech sounded!
Jiraiya looked up, seeing a large yellow bird with black rods and purple ripple eyes.
Familiar, a woman in Akatsuki's robe jumped down!
As she landed, she completed a summoning seal!
*Poof, poof, poof, poof, poof!*
Five figures appeared!
Jiraiya's eyes widened, recognizing one as Yahiko!
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