Chapter 41: Am I Late, Jiraiya-sensei?
Normally, a ninja's prime falls between the ages of twenty and forty. Few exceptional individuals manage to extend this peak.
Jiraiya was chosen as a disciple by Hiruzen Sarutobi in his youth due to his vast chakra reserves. His training on Mount Myoboku transformed him from a struggling underdog into an equal to Orochimaru.
Among the Sannin, Jiraiya's combat style was the most versatile, mirroring his sensei's. He was adept at handling nearly any situation.
The title of "Legendary Sannin" was initially a term of derision. It was the later contributions of Jiraiya and Orochimaru during the war that elevated it to legendary status.
Jiraiya had pushed himself to the limits of what an ordinary human could achieve.
But today, he faced monsters.
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The fierce battle raged on.
The vast forest at the border of the Land of Hot Springs was reduced to scorched earth.
The half-tailed beast form of Blue B unleashed an immense, compressed ball of yin and yang chakra in an 8:2 ratio.
BOOM!
The pressure alone caused the ground to crack and sink underfoot.
Behind him, A and B stood side by side, their clothes tattered.
"B, you need to eat more meat and grow stronger," A teased. "If you could match my power with your Lightning Style Double Lariat, that guy would be toast!"
"Got it, bro! Yo! Let's go!"
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"Jiraiya, I can't stop that thing," Gamabunta muttered, his breath heavy as he gripped his short blade.
Regular Tailed Beast attacks were one thing, but Tailed Beast Balls? Gamabunta had no answer for that.
"You can head back, Gamabunta," Jiraiya said. "If there's still time, reverse-summon me to Mount Myoboku."
"What?! You think—"
Poof!
Before Gamabunta could finish, Jiraiya unsummoned him. He couldn't bear to use his companion as a shield.
"Earth Style: Multiple Earth Walls!"
Layer upon layer of thick earth walls rose from the ground, forming a barrier.
"Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya's white hair extended and enveloped him in a protective cocoon, leaving only one eye exposed.
Can this hold?
He thought grimly. If only Orochimaru were here, his Triple Rashomon might stand a chance.
---
WHOOM!
The massive Tailed Beast Ball tore through the air, obliterating everything in its path. The ground ruptured and burned as it traveled, leaving deep scars across the battlefield.
The earth walls crumbled like paper, offering no resistance.
The devastating attack barreled toward Jiraiya with unstoppable force.
---
"Am I late, Jiraiya-sensei?"
A warm chakra presence, radiating like sunlight, enveloped the battlefield.
Jiraiya peeked out from his protective hair cocoon.
"Minato! Kagami! Wait, is that—?"
The red-haired woman, cloaked in a fiery chakra aura, smirked. "Let me deal with this first, and then we'll talk."
In an instant, a crimson chakra shroud enveloped her, and a black sphere began to condense in front of her.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief.
Kushina… she's using the Nine-Tails' chakra?!
---
The atmosphere froze as two massive forces collided head-on.
BOOM!!!!
The resulting explosion was blinding, brighter than the sun. A shockwave radiated outward, tearing through the ground and creating fissures as if a colossal hammer had struck the earth.
The sheer force of the clash sent debris flying and obscured the battlefield with a dense cloud of smoke and dust.
---
As the dust settled, Jiraiya retracted his hair defenses.
"You look awful, you pervert," a voice teased.
The young, dark-haired Kagami turned, his crimson Sharingan eyes glinting with faint amusement.
"It's just a Tailed Beast. No big deal."
"Hah," Jiraiya chuckled, relieved. "Show some respect for your teacher, kid!"
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"It's the Crimson Eye of the Leaf…"
The nickname and description of Kagami had spread across the underworld and among enemy villages.
"Who's the woman?" A asked, puzzled. "Wasn't the Leaf's Jinchūriki supposed to be Kagami?"
A's mind wasn't suited for analysis, and the situation left him more confused than ever.
Then Jiraiya noticed an older ninja who had gone largely unnoticed.
"Kosuke! You're here too?"
"Yes, Jiraiya-sama," Kosuke Maruboshi replied humbly. "But please, don't call me that."
---
More Cloud ninja arrived, creating a tense standoff between the two forces.
"Red hair… but the intel said the Jinchūriki was an Uchiha?" murmured one of the Cloud ninjas.
"Wait… that's…"
"The Crimson Eye, Kagami Uchiha!"
---
Kagami's expression darkened with irritation.
Which idiot came up with that nickname? So embarrassing.
His sharp gaze landed on the younger ninja with sunglasses—Bee—and the larger man beside him.
Their distinct features made them easy to recognize.
That must be A… and Bee, the future Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.
If Kagami's memory served, Orochimaru's schemes led to the Eight-Tails being extracted from Blue B, paving the way for Bee to become its next host.
Blue B was likely still a novice Jinchūriki, unlike the well-integrated Killer Bee of the future.
---
Whether the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was Kushina or Kagami didn't matter.
The presence of a Nine-Tails Jinchūriki on the battlefield was tantamount to declaring war.
The Cloud wasn't ready for a full-scale confrontation. Their original intent was to test the Eight-Tails' power, and perhaps score some minor victories.
"Tch! It's the Cloud!" Kushina's disgust was palpable.
Years ago, the Cloud had attempted to kidnap her, a memory that still filled her with rage.
"Jiraiya-sensei," Minato said quietly, "are you still able to fight?"
Jiraiya sensed the pull from Mount Myoboku. He disconnected the link and grinned.
"Of course I can fight! It's time to show Kagami what a teacher can really do!"
"Don't worry," Kagami quipped. "I already got a sense of your 'prowess' after that incident with the women's bath."
As Kagami drew his short sword, Shirayuki, he strode calmly toward the Cloud forces.
There was no hesitation, no fear in his steps.
Facing the half-tailed beast form of Blue B, Kagami showed only indifference.
If it were the fully synchronized Killer Bee, he might reconsider.
But against Blue B? A fledgling Jinchūriki?
Kagami found it laughable.
"You little punk!" A bellowed, stepping forward. "You're way too arrogant!"
Kagami didn't stop, each step measured and precise, as if strolling through the park.
His crimson Sharingan eyes burned coldly.
"Get out of my way."
A storm of slashes erupted, raining down like a relentless torrent.
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