Chapter 40: Jiraiya vs. the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and A-B Combination
Northern front of the Land of Fire.
Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, was assigned as the overall commander. With the tense situation across the battlefronts, he couldn't leave the Land of Fire and was tasked with fortifying its defenses.
One particular reason for his location was its proximity to the Land of Hot Springs.
Ah, the famed land of hot baths...
Though not one to shirk his duties during war, Jiraiya couldn't help but dream of the post-war era, envisioning himself relaxing amidst the steam, rejuvenating his weary spirit.
Inside the command tent, Jiraiya meticulously examined the defenses along the border. His sharp eyes scanned the map, occasionally lingering over a small corner marked Land of Hot Springs.
"End the war quickly," he murmured, "I need some inspiration for my next book."
Suddenly, a panicked ninja rushed into the tent without waiting for permission.
"Jiraiya-sama!"
The ninja's face was pale, his voice trembling. "The sensory unit has detected an enormous chakra presence near the frontline!"
"Far beyond that of any ordinary ninja… it might be a Tailed Beast's Jinchūriki!"
Jiraiya's brows furrowed. "Which one?"
Typically, unless they were like Roshi or Han—Jinchūriki known to unleash their Tailed Beasts' power frequently—most villages kept their Jinchūriki identities secret, especially the Cloud. Their Tailed Beasts were said to be sealed within the Six Paths' tools for years.
"Is it the Two-Tails? Or… the Eight-Tails?"
Jiraiya pondered the possibility of the Cloud finding suitable hosts for their Tailed Beasts.
"Or could it be someone from the Stone?"
He shook his head. "No time for speculation. I'll go check."
Swiftly gathering his gear and scrolls, Jiraiya issued orders. "Report this to the village. I'll investigate myself."
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By the time Jiraiya arrived at the scene, it was a disaster. The stationed Leaf ninja were either injured or killed, the battlefield littered with debris.
Whoosh!
A kunai suddenly shot toward him, aimed directly at his face.
Clang!
Jiraiya deflected the kunai with a casual swipe and shifted his gaze toward a shadowed figure.
Emerging from the trees was a team of Cloud ninjas. At their lead stood a tall man with an eyepatch covering his left eye, his demeanor stern and imposing.
"So, it's Jiraiya," the man said, his tone calm but firm. "It's been a while."
Jiraiya's expression darkened. "Dodai… are you Clouds trying to break the peace treaty?"
Dodai, a close advisor to the Raikage and a master of Lava Release, was akin to Jiraiya's standing in the Leaf. His presence here could only mean one thing.
"The treaty? You mean the one the Leaf ignores whenever it suits them?" Dodai retorted, his voice even. "You've been slaughtering Stone ninja despite your agreements."
Before Jiraiya could respond, another voice boomed.
"Enough talk, Dodai! Let's get straight to it!"
A muscular young man with dark skin and short blonde hair grinned broadly. "I heard the Leaf's Uchiha are great for awakening the Sharingan. Hand over a few, especially that Uchiha Kagami brat, and we'll leave!"
Jiraiya clenched his fists, taking a step back. Demanding my students outright…
He wouldn't tolerate anyone targeting his comrades, especially his students. His gaze sharpened, and his hands flew into a flurry of hand seals.
Dodai immediately noticed the shift and shouted, "Everyone, spread out!"
Jiraiya slammed his palm to the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive plume of smoke erupted, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
When the smoke cleared, an enormous toad loomed over the battlefield, a giant pipe in its mouth and a short blade at its side.
"Oi, Jiraiya," grumbled the toad. "You know this is my lunch hour, don't you?"
"Sorry, Gamabunta," Jiraiya apologized, his voice tense. "The situation's urgent. Enemies are strong."
Gamabunta took in the scene, his large eyes narrowing at the figures before him. His pipe tilted slightly as he exhaled. "Tsk, fine. But you owe me sake after this."
Jiraiya's focus turned to the opposing forces, particularly a figure exuding a sinister, overwhelming chakra. His eyes narrowed as he studied the man.
The green-and-white-haired ninja with a purple marking on his right cheek stood out. The aura surrounding him felt ominous and unnatural.
That chakra…
Jiraiya's stomach churned. He knew exactly what this was.
"Gamabunta," he called out, his voice grim. "Use oil."
"Got it!"
Dodai felt his heart sink as he sensed the massive chakra buildup. "Prepare yourselves!" he bellowed to his squad.
But before they could act, Gamabunta's cheeks swelled, and a torrent of oil burst forth, immediately followed by Jiraiya's fire release.
"Fire Style: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
The combined technique unleashed a blazing inferno, the searing heat and explosive force obliterating everything in its path.
Trees ignited and crumbled instantly. The intense flames roared, consuming the battlefield.
"Fall back!" A younger ninja named Bee yelped in a strange rhythm, grabbing his companion as they dodged the advancing flames.
"Aye, Bee, stay focused!" yelled the muscular blonde ninja, whose excitement was clear. "This is our chance to make a name for ourselves!"
Dodai quickly formed seals and spat out a protective barrier.
"Lava Release: Rubber Wall!"
The elastic membrane stretched before them, shielding the Cloud forces from the incoming flames. But the pressure was immense, and the barrier trembled under the combined attack's might.
"Step back, Dodai," a cold, detached voice rang out.
The Cloud shinobi glanced back to see the green-haired man enveloped in a crimson chakra cloak. His eyes gleamed with a sharp focus as the Tailed Beast chakra surged around him.
He spoke calmly. "This is no longer a fight for ordinary shinobi."
A clawed, chakra-formed hand emerged, swatting away the flames with ease. The sheer power of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki created a gust that extinguished the raging fire.
Jiraiya, watching from atop Gamabunta's head, grimaced as he counted the number of tails behind the man.
"Four, five… eight," he muttered, his throat tightening. "It's the Eight-Tails."
This just got a lot more complicated.
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