"Little Jiraiya, have you run into another problem?" Fukasaku and Shima appeared as they were summoned.
"Two Great Sages, I've encountered an extremely formidable opponent this time. I have no choice but to seek your help," Jiraiya replied.
"Even with your current strength, you can't handle it?" Fukasaku was skeptical at first, but the moment he laid eyes on Nagato, he understood immediately.
"So it's the Rinnegan... No wonder you summoned us."
"Then let's fight together," the two sages leapt onto Jiraiya's shoulders, just like they had done in the past.
However, this time, Jiraiya shook his head. "No! Two Great Sages."
"I need you to help Gamabunta and the others take care of the enemy's summoned beasts first. One of the opponent's abilities calculates the cooldown period based on the impact force of our attacks."
"In this case, Gamabunta and the others will be invaluable."
Fukasaku nodded in understanding. "Got it."
"You figured out my ability so quickly? As expected of Jiraiya-sensei," Nagato said, dashing forward unexpectedly, closing the distance in an attempt to engage in close combat with Jiraiya.
Without the Six Paths and with his summons neutralized, Nagato's offensive options against a Kage-level opponent were somewhat limited. He did have Chibaku Tensei, but it wasn't yet time to use his trump card.
He's coming in close? A great opportunity!
Jiraiya also charged forward, exchanging a few taijutsu blows with Nagato. The moment he turned, a Rasengan formed in his hand, and he struck swiftly at Nagato's abdomen.
"Rasengan!"
Sizzle!
The Rasengan was absorbed by the Preta Path's ability. Seizing Jiraiya's brief moment of shock, Nagato grabbed his arm. When his attempt to stab him with a black rod was blocked, he immediately activated Shinra Tensei.
"Urgh!" Jiraiya grunted as he was sent flying. Though Shinra Tensei alone wasn't enough to severely injure a Kage-level ninja, the force at close range—especially while being physically restrained—made it much more dangerous.
Fortunately, in Sage Mode, his durability was significantly enhanced, and he wasn't too badly hurt.
Banshō Ten'in!
Just as Jiraiya was about to get up, a hidden Wood Clone attacked. This was the terrifying aspect of Wood Clones—they could even replicate dōjutsu abilities.
After all, later on, even Madara was able to use Susanoo with his Wood Clones.
Shadow Clones, on the other hand, couldn't do the same.
Damn it!
Jiraiya was startled—his body was completely out of his control. Nagato's real body pressed forward relentlessly.
"Sage Art: Needle Jizō!" In his urgency, Jiraiya enveloped his entire body in his hardened, spiky white hair, turning himself into a human porcupine, with spikes sharper than any blade.
"Hmph!" Nagato hesitated for a moment, then Konan's paper shards, laced with explosive tags, swarmed toward Jiraiya.
As they stuck onto him, a violent explosion erupted.
"Konan, ordinary explosive tags are useless against me," Jiraiya called out.
"Wait… this is…?" His voice turned into one of shock.
The number of explosive tags didn't decrease after the blast—they multiplied exponentially instead.
"The Second Hokage's Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tags technique!" Jiraiya's real body appeared from another direction, wiping sweat from his brow. "If that had been me instead of a clone just now, I would've died."
"Even a Tailed Beast wouldn't survive that technique."
Did he use a clone at the moment he was blasted away by Shinra Tensei? Nagato pondered, but his hands never stopped moving.
This time, his real body and Wood Clone attacked together, engaging Jiraiya in close combat once again.
"Sage Art: Big Flame Bullet!" Jiraiya unleashed a massive Fire Release attack, using the moment Nagato absorbed his chakra to retreat quickly. Initially, he had wanted to close the distance, but now he realized that fighting alone at close range was a disadvantage.
"Gamabunta, are you guys done over there?!" Jiraiya shouted.
He was reaching his limit. It wasn't that he wasn't strong enough—it was that his opponent was equally powerful and had abilities that countered his own. Every Sage Art he launched was either repelled or absorbed.
How the hell was he supposed to fight like this?
"Oh, we're on our way!" Gamabunta leapt over, his massive frame shaking the ground. Behind him followed Gamaken, Gamahiro, and the two Great Sages, Fukasaku and Shima.
Meanwhile, the three enemy summons had been completely eliminated.
"Nagato, are you okay?" Konan asked.
Throughout the battle, both she and Nagato had been holding back. After all, Jiraiya was once their teacher, and Nagato no longer adhered to his previous ideals.
Otherwise, with Konan's Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tags, the three Great Toads would have been obliterated long ago.
Nagato nodded. "Don't worry, Jiraiya-sensei walked right into my trap from the beginning."
"No matter what, I've already won."
On the other side, with reinforcements arriving, Jiraiya regained his confidence.
"Prepare yourself, Nagato!"
"I may be clumsy, but I'll do my best!" Gamaken charged first, but Nagato dodged him effortlessly.
Gamahiro followed up, wielding twin swords in a rapid assault. Nagato had just landed and had no time to evade.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Gamahiro's attack was halted mid-motion, and he was blasted away.
Jiraiya's eyes gleamed. "Now's my chance!"
Since Nagato had just used a Shinra Tensei strong enough to send Gamahiro flying, there had to be a cooldown period of at least one to two seconds.
Gamabunta had already been waiting for this. He sprang into the air—not toward Nagato, but toward Konan. His job was to keep her from interfering.
As he felt the explosive tags rapidly sticking to his belly, Gamabunta's body stiffened.
"Jiraiya, hurry it up! I'm about to be blown to bits!" he roared.
Jiraiya made his move. Sprinting forward, he unleashed his most powerful Fire Release technique.
Sizzle!
Nagato's Wood Clone stepped forward, using the Preta Path's ability to absorb the flames. While Nagato's real body could also absorb chakra, using Preta Path left him immobile, and this technique wasn't like Rasengan—it couldn't be absorbed instantly.
Hmm? What's going on?
Nagato's eyes widened in confusion as his Wood Clone slowly turned into a frog.
"Nagato, Myōboku's Sage Chakra isn't something you can absorb at will. With this, your clone is dealt with," Jiraiya said. He had long noticed this weakness, which was why he had deliberately used such a powerful Sage Art—to ensure Nagato's clone was completely neutralized.
Now, only Nagato remained, and he couldn't use Shinra Tensei for a brief moment.
"Two Great Sages!"
"Understood!" Fukasaku and Shima launched their attacks.
"Sage Art: Frog Kumite!" They struck from a distance, their attacks landing directly on Nagato's face, disrupting his movements and leaving him wide open for Jiraiya's final attack.
"Nagato, I win—!" Jiraiya's words cut off as searing pain spread through his chest. Looking down, he saw a wooden spike piercing through him.
In that instant, he understood everything.
Konan's explosive tags weren't meant to conceal a clone.
They were meant to hide the Wood Release attack that had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I win," Nagato said softly, watching the distant explosion.
Not just in our battle.
The war between Amegakure and Konoha…
I will win that as well!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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