Chapter 877

Using rapidly condensed ice illusions in the mist, Hakue of the Mizukagami clan launched relentless ambushes from behind the enemies, driving sharp Ice Release senbon directly into the napes of their necks.

"Though I deeply dislike killing, you've threatened Kakashi-sensei."

There were many Mist ninja; no one knew by what means they had infiltrated so massively into the heart of the Land of Fire—but this was not something Jiraiya and the others needed to consider now. All they had in mind was to make the enemy bleed.

Since leaving the first safehouse, this was likely the fifth wave of attacks. Had it not been for three Leaf Anbu holding back even more enemies in the forest, Jiraiya and his group, focused solely on retreating, would have been forced into another breakout.

"Come on, come on, stick your heads out—I'll treat you to curry sticks!" Amid the chaos of the battlefield, Young Yuanzi remained strikingly conspicuous: a seemingly harmless little girl, yet wielding a long blade that continuously emitted pale purple solidified energy. Strangely, she swung it without effort, and every Mist ninja she struck was scattered like leaves swept away by a gale.

"Too far away from everyone…" Lin Cheng, holding Xiao Jue, watched anxiously as Young Yuanzi charged about slashing. Her Byakugan could observe the entire battlefield, so every perilous moment Young Yuanzi faced was clearly visible to her—but thankfully, Young Yuanzi was extremely agile, and some unseen presence always intervened at critical moments to block enemy attacks.

Overall, the situation favored Yuanzi's side: Jiraiya summoned several toads to help eliminate stragglers attempting to circle around toward Lin Cheng.

The Mist ninja seemed to have hit a bottleneck: numerous in number, yet lacking true elites.

Merely relying on sheer numbers to wear them down appeared to hold no real significance for Yuanzi's group.

"Wait—no! Nine o'clock direction—is that a flood????" Suddenly entering Lin Cheng's Byakugan range was a massive torrent—more accurately, a Water Release technique saturated with chakra, obliterating everything in its path as it surged rapidly toward them. There was no need for Lin Cheng to report: the roaring flood had already drawn near enough to be seen with the naked eye. Jiraiya immediately hurled the dazed Mist ninja he was holding onto the ground, adjusting his crooked forehead protector.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique? This scale is absurd—this must be a strategic-level combined jutsu."

The desperate Mist ninja had no idea—they were merely pawns bought for time.

Jiraiya calmly summoned Gamabunta, and alongside him were Young Yuanzi and the others. What had appeared as an overwhelming flood on the ground moments earlier crashed violently against Gamabunta's body—but with his mountain-sized frame and the instant he drew his blade to meet the impact, the flood, charged with destructive force, was cleanly split in two, parting cleanly along either side of his body.

"Huh… Jiraiya, did you suddenly call me out just to go swimming? Why is there suddenly so much water on land?!" Gamabunta, standing in the "puddle," clearly hadn't grasped the situation. After barely stabilizing himself, he retracted his blade, intending to ask Jiraiya what had happened.

"Dodged it… but this isn't an ordinary Water Release—try this!"

Before Jiraiya could speak, a completely unfamiliar voice rang out—extremely close! Lin Cheng was the most shocked: she never imagined anyone could evade her Byakugan.

"How could you not have been seen?"

"Of course not. From the moment I used Water Release: Torrential Surge, you couldn't see me, little Hyuga girl."

"You bastard! How dare you climb onto me without permission?!" The angriest one now was Gamabunta, who still hadn't fully understood the situation, as the intruder walked past him.

"Ugh—!" Gamabunta suddenly groaned in pain. His raised hand, meant to fling the intruder off, instead slammed down to brace his body. Upon closer look, the water beneath him hadn't seeped into the ground despite the lack of a source—instead, it slowly gathered around him, forming sharks that circled him in swirling currents, occasionally lunging to bite.

I recognize you—you were the newcomer who fought alongside the Third Mizukage and pushed Mizuna into a brutal struggle.

Finally… has the Mist ninja's trump card been revealed?

Slightly flexing his wrists, Jiraiya felt both relief and dread: relief, because the invisible sword hanging over them for so long had finally surfaced; dread, because breaking this sword of the Mist ninja would be difficult.