Chapter 154: Dueling Sage Jiraiya!

In reality, this exercise imposed many restrictions on Fujinaka Genma.

The familiar Lei Dun could not be used, and the traces of Hiraishin were too obvious.

And the blade techniques too.

After much thought, it seemed he could only rely on taijutsu and the Sharingan.

Impersonating Uchiha Shuichi seemed like a good choice.

So.

Watching the shadow clone of Jiraiya and Gamaken, Number One rapidly formed hand seals.

Fire Release—Great Fireball Technique!

BOOM!

A colossal fireball, rivaling Gamaken’s massive size, roared through the air as it frictioned against it, hurtling toward Gamaken and Jiraiya’s shadow clone.

“No wonder it’s Genma…”

Jiraiya was secretly startled, his hands moving swiftly to form seals, while Gamaken opened his mouth.

Jiraiya used Lei Dun, while Gamaken used Shui Dun; the wind amplified the water’s force, colliding with Number One’s giant fireball, triggering a thunderous explosion as rolling steam rose and obscured vision.

“Watch out!”

Jiraiya shouted.

“Understood!”

Gamaken growled; his vast battle experience allowed him, even with blinded vision, to perfectly block Number One’s swift strike with his shield.

Yet this kick from Number One was far stronger than the one he’d delivered to Tsunade earlier.

Though it didn’t shatter Gamaken’s shield, the terrifying force sent Gamaken flying, crashing through a building behind him with a thunderous crash.

“This guy’s strength is even more terrifying than mine in Sage Mode!”

Jiraiya’s shadow clone, still airborne with Gamaken, was stunned again; having never experienced it before, he now personally felt the terrifying power of Fujinaka Genma.

At that moment, Number One attacked again, swiftly closing in.

Jiraiya’s shadow clone, standing steadily atop Gamaken’s head, immediately moved to intercept.

Fire Release—Great Flame Ball!

He spat out a series of highly condensed fireballs aimed at the charging Number One.

Yet Number One easily dodged each one.

His movements were incredibly agile, his speed astonishing; Gamaken appeared clumsy beside him, and even with coordination from Jiraiya’s shadow clone, he couldn’t even graze Number One’s clothing.

Jiraiya’s shadow clone fought while retreating, waiting for an opening.

But suddenly, Gamaken’s body froze and collapsed straight down.

“Genjutsu!”

Jiraiya was startled again.

According to him, Fujinaka Genma was not skilled in genjutsu.

Gamaken, from Myoboku Mountain, had high resistance to genjutsu—yet he’d been instantly incapacitated.

“Just how many abilities does this guy hide?”

Jiraiya’s shadow clone quickly retreated.

But how could his speed compare to Number One’s?

He was soon caught up, and after two or three strikes, he exploded with a loud pop.

On the other side, Jiraiya atop Gamabunta watched as his shadow clone and Gamaken were effortlessly defeated, his mouth twitching.

This guy doesn’t even hold back…

Beside him, Tsunade frowned, glanced at Jiraiya still preparing his ninjutsu, then at the burning ruins of Konoha, cursed under her breath, clenched her teeth, and staggered to her feet.

“Tsunade, what are Itachi doing?”

Jiraiya was startled.

“I’ll buy time!”

Tsunade struggled to form hand seals, and faint chakra light shimmered along her arms.

Self-Healing!

While healing, Tsunade walked forward, then leapt down from Gamabunta’s head, standing before Number One.

Looking at Tsunade’s resolute face, Number One smiled: “No wonder Itachi’re one of the Legendary Sannin!”

“Die, bastard!”

Tsunade suddenly surged forward, attacking while still healing.

No—she was kicking.

One downward kick split the four-story building they stood on right down the middle.

But it missed.

“Too slow!”

“Your movements mean nothing before me!”

Number One’s voice appeared behind Tsunade.

“Uchiha Shuichi!”

Tsunade sneered—this tone of voice.

She spun, sweeping her leg backward.

But it missed again.

Yet by then, her arms were healed; her fierce battle instinct made her instinctively brace her hands on the ground and leap backward.

BOOM!

Number One’s foot came down, crushing the ceiling.

Tsunade was a taijutsu specialist too, but now she was completely on the defensive.

Neither her prized strength nor her pure speed matched Number One’s.

She was entirely dominated.

On Gamabunta’s head, Jiraiya was speechless.

Wasn’t I supposed to be the hero saving the damsel?

“Gamabunta!”

Jiraiya refused to sit idle, leaping from Gamabunta’s head and ordering him to join the fight.

Gamabunta leapt into the air and unleashed three consecutive Water Iron Cannon shots, successfully forcing Number One back and reducing buildings to rubble.

After landing, Gamabunta immediately leapt again, drawing his blade to slash at Number One.

Number One dodged, then casually grabbed chunks of stone and hurled them like cannonballs at Gamabunta.

Gamabunta slashed repeatedly, shattering each stone, but Number One seized the chance to kick upward—like an ant striking an elephant—and sent Gamabunta flying.

After landing, he immediately turned and charged toward Tsunade.

He sensed Jiraiya’s senjutsu was nearly complete.

After three strikes, Tsunade was kicked into the air, spitting blood.

At that moment, Tsunade’s blood phobia erupted. Though her injuries weren’t severe, her face twisted in terror, and she lost all combat capability.

“One of the Legendary Sannin suffers from blood phobia…”

Number One smiled and shook his head, stepping closer to Tsunade; he glanced at the terrified, childlike Tsunade, shook his head again, then turned and charged toward Jiraiya.

Tsunade turned back, her pupils contracting sharply, “Jiraiya!”

Tsunade screamed!

Number One kicked upward.

With a deafening crash, thick dust billowed up.

Tsunade stared wide-eyed, tears streaming down her face.

Suddenly, Number One retreated, landing on a power pole.

Tsunade froze—then saw a figure step out from the swirling dust.

Jiraiya!

And alongside him, the Sage of Myoboku, Deepzen, and his wife, Shima.

Sage Jiraiya!

“This…”

Tsunade was first delighted, then stunned.

So ugly!

This was her first time seeing Jiraiya use senjutsu.

“Is he really this disheveled?”

Deepzen spotted Tsunade; Shima surveyed the ruined Konoha and asked, “Who could have caused this?”

“None of that matters—first, deal with the enemy before us.”

Jiraiya spoke; he couldn’t admit it was his own men doing this.

One exercise nearly destroyed Konoha—no doubt Minato was already headaching.

A fleeting thought passed through his mind; Jiraiya walked to Tsunade’s side. “Leave the rest to me!”

Saying this, he kicked off his shoes, planted his limbs on the ground, and his muscles swelled violently.

This guy has incredible taijutsu and is also extremely fast.

Jiraiya spoke up.

Shinzo the Immortal nodded. “Understood!”

Shimama the Immortal, however, brought her forelimbs together. “Then let’s give it a try!”

Saying this, she opened her mouth and her tongue shot out like a snake, wrapping directly toward No. 1—its speed was bizarre and its range vast.

No. 1 leapt and dodged, but as soon as he landed, a stream of water shot toward him.

With a flick of his toe, No. 1 dodged again.

But where he had stood was sliced open by the water stream—while Shimama’s tongue continued coiling toward him.

Their coordination was seamless.

Just as No. 1 was about to use ninjutsu to deal with the annoying tongue, he saw Jiraiya leap upward, thrust both hands forward, and a massive Rasengan materialized.

At that moment, Shinzo the Immortal switched ninjutsu.

Toad’s Chant!

Sound-based genjutsu.

No. 1 could not resist it—he was instantly frozen in place.