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Orochimaru skillfully used his tongue to wash his face, then spoke in a sinister tone.
"Hehe, though I imagined many people might come to stop me, I never expected it to be you, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya didn't respond but instead sized up the duo before him, then turned his gaze toward the jar in Orochimaru's hand.
Inside should be the jinchūriki from Sunagakure.
After confirming the intelligence, Jiraiya immediately launched an attack.
"Fire Release: Flame Barrage!!!"
With just a single hand seal, Jiraiya unleashed a rapid succession of small-scale fire techniques that surged directly toward Orochimaru and Sasori.
Such ninjutsu might be devastating against ordinary shinobi, but these two were S-rank missing-nin—true Kage-level powerhouses. Both wore expressions of disdain.
Clever tricks wouldn't work here.
*Boom—boom!* Two wooden posts appeared in their place.
Unbeknownst to Jiraiya, Orochimaru and Sasori had already used the infamous ninja world bug technique—the Body Replacement Technique—to evade his attack.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru's right arm transformed into a massive serpent, lunging from behind to bite down on Jiraiya.
*Boom!*
Another substitution technique.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru were two different types of prodigies who had grown up together, each knowing the other's strengths and weaknesses inside out.
"It seems you haven't fallen behind," Orochimaru remarked with a chilling smile.
"You haven't either!"
Jiraiya's voice came from behind Orochimaru, and the two began engaging in close-quarters combat.
Sasori, on the other hand, made no move to intervene and instead quietly observed the battle.
"As expected of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, successors to that man. Their taijutsu far surpasses even the Third Kazekage. If given the chance, I'd love to turn them into puppets under my control."
Sasori's heart burned with excitement. For someone like him—a rogue puppet master—high-quality ninja bodies were the most coveted material for his craft.
Perhaps growing tired of close combat with Jiraiya, Orochimaru put on a show: he spat out a snake, which in turn spat out a sword.
In an instant, the sharp Kusanagi blade clashed with Jiraiya's Rasengan, creating a violent gust of wind that kicked up a massive cloud of dust.
But skilled ninja could fight without relying on sight.
"Summoning Technique: Gamabunta!"
"Summoning Technique: Manda!"
An even larger cloud of smoke erupted, revealing two colossal creatures on the desolate desert sands—an overwhelming aura of terror filled the air.
Jiraiya stood imposingly atop Gamabunta, the boss toad exuding a gangster-like presence.
Orochimaru, not to be outdone, stood atop Manda, the massive purple snake with horns.
Though snakes were natural predators of toads, in this extraordinary world, nothing was absolute.
Manda and Gamabunta were old rivals.
Manda narrowed its sinister snake eyes. "Orochimaru, though I despise that stinking toad, the cost for my services remains unchanged—300 sacrifices. No problem, right?"
"Hehehe, if you can take him down, I don't mind paying up."
"Good! Let me show you my strength!"
With that, Manda's hundred-meter-long serpentine body surged forward, lunging at Jiraiya and Gamabunta.
Giant summoning beasts were universally recognized as devastating weapons in the ninja world, capable of unleashing attacks rivaling A-rank ninjutsu with every movement.
Though powerful, Jiraiya dared not let his guard down. "Here it comes!!!"
Gamabunta's scarred body showed he had seen countless battles since birth. He swiftly drew his massive short sword.
"Understood!"
In an instant, Manda coiled tightly around Gamabunta. But Gamabunta wasn't one to back down—he pushed against Manda's head with one hand while wielding his short sword with the other, locking the two in a fierce stalemate.
Seizing the moment, Jiraiya formed a massive Rasengan and hurled it straight at Manda's head.
Though simple in concept, the destructive power of the Rasengan was astonishing. Even Manda couldn't afford to take it head-on and hastily released Gamabunta to dodge.
From nearby, Orochimaru's chilling laughter echoed in Manda's ear.
"How pitiful, Manda. It seems I'll have to step in myself. Ninja Art: Myriad Snakes Roaming Array."
Instantly, countless thumb-thick venomous snakes poured out of Orochimaru's mouth, forming a terrifying tide of serpents.
While dozens of snakes might not faze Jiraiya, the sheer number now exceeded a thousand, nearing ten thousand. The overwhelming sight sent shivers down Jiraiya's spine. He quickly shouted, "Gamabunta! Oil!"
Years of cooperation allowed Gamabunta to instantly understand Jiraiya's intent. He quickly channeled his chakra, converting it into toad oil.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Fire Bullet x2!"
The massive amount of toad oil ignited under Jiraiya's Fire Release, creating a blazing inferno that surged toward the serpent tide. The collision between the two forces was a spectacular sight.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru transformed into a giant snake and swiftly approached Jiraiya from behind.
Though Orochimaru concealed himself well, Jiraiya, having trained in Sage Mode (though not fully mastering it), remained acutely aware of his surroundings.
"Got you!"
Orochimaru spat out the Kusanagi blade, his eyes gleaming with triumph, as if victory was already his.
But Jiraiya's knowledge was vast and versatile. Though he hadn't mastered as many techniques as Orochimaru, he knew how to adapt to any situation.
"Ninja Art: Needle Hair Defense!"
Jiraiya shifted his hand seals, and his already spiky hair rapidly grew, enveloping his body. Finally, the hair transformed into countless senbon needles, launching toward Orochimaru.
The lack of intelligence and the sudden close-range assault caught even Orochimaru off guard. He was pierced through completely, blood gushing from his wounds, leaving him looking utterly battered.
Jiraiya pressed his advantage, shedding the armor formed by his hair and delivering a series of powerful frog-style strikes that sent Orochimaru flying.
Just as Jiraiya was about to press on and consolidate his victory, the soft desert beneath him erupted violently. Manda blocked Jiraiya's path.
"Damn it!" Jiraiya clicked his tongue in frustration. The feeling of being so close to victory only to have it snatched away was infuriating.
Orochimaru used this opportunity to create distance, examining his wounds with an amused expression.
"Not bad, Jiraiya. Who would've thought the dead-last could grow so strong?"
Rather than feeling pleased by Orochimaru's praise, Jiraiya frowned. Though Orochimaru appeared near death, his demeanor was too strange.
But soon, Jiraiya understood the source of Orochimaru's confidence.
Orochimaru suddenly opened his snake-like mouth wide, and a pair of hands emerged from within.
The next moment, a limited-edition, soaked-in-saliva version of Orochimaru appeared before Jiraiya.
"Ninja Art: Great Snake Style Substitution Technique."
Seeing Orochimaru unscathed, Jiraiya's eye twitched uncontrollably—partly out of disgust, partly out of exasperation.
He had nearly brought the fight to its conclusion, only for everything to reset. This was simply unfair.
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