Blossom Deer Squad's taijutsu was no match for Jiraiya.
To him, they moved as if in slow motion.
Yako didn't join in. A fight with someone like Jiraiya was a rare opportunity—one any shinobi would treasure.
Besides, Jiraiya was agitated but hadn't shown true killing intent. There was no real danger to his squad, so it was a valuable test for them.
Jiraiya's combat style wasn't flashy. His taijutsu was solid, unembellished, brutally effective.
He barely dodged.
When Leaf Monkey punched, Jiraiya blocked with his forearm, then countered with a crushing blow.
When Ironstag swept a kick, Jiraiya checked it with his knee, then spun and launched a devastating whip kick, knocking him flat.
Realizing their taijutsu was a losing match, Blossom Deer called for a retreat and activated their Ten Seals, drawing out huge chakra reserves.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A classic combo—wind fuels fire. The Fire Dragon Cyclone roared forward.
Jiraiya threw up a Mud Wall.
But behind the wall, he frowned. Why aren't these ANBU conserving chakra? Is their chakra pool really this large?
After only a few seconds, the flaming vortex blasted apart the wall.
Blossom Deer stiffened in alarm. Crap! Did we just kill Jiraiya?!
He looked toward Yako, but his captain was already turning—gaze fixed high in the trees.
Blossom Deer followed his line of sight.
Jiraiya stood on a high branch, perfectly fine.
He slipped behind the wall and used Body Flicker? I didn't even notice!
Yako narrowed his eyes. Jiraiya hadn't even summoned any toads or used Sage Mode, and he was still overwhelming a full squad.
Does he even have Sage Mode yet? Might be worth extracting something from him this month… or maybe not if he hasn't learned it yet.
Suddenly Jiraiya shouted, "No! An ANBU is dead!"
Yako didn't look back.
Was it Nagato who acted, or… has the real enemy arrived?
He asked coldly,
"Jiraiya-sama, didn't you teach your students not to kill fellow Konoha shinobi?"
Jiraiya winced. Nagato's parents had been killed by Konoha ninja. Resentment like that doesn't fade quickly. Could he blame them?
He blurred forward—trying to reach his students.
But a fist crashed into his chest.
Yako's punch forced him to cross his arms in defense—his forearms throbbed from the impact.
So strong! And so hard!
He flew backward, slammed into a tree, bark cracking under his weight. His back stung where his clothes tore against splinters.
"You rushed in too fast, Jiraiya-sama. Forgot to check my position."
Jiraiya's eyes grew cold—this time, deadly serious.
Just moments ago, he'd seen two ANBU get launched into the air, then sliced into pieces. Slaughtered.
Was it Nagato? But how?
Could three orphans really overpower trained ANBU?
The four from earlier had excellent coordination, discipline, high-level tactics—true elites.
If Nagato had somehow killed men like that…
Worse still—his Rinnegan. The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
What if he used a power I don't even know exists?
Whether the ANBU were dying—or Nagato was—either outcome was unacceptable.
"Get out of my way, Fox! Don't force me to kill you!"
"Kill me?" Yako raised a brow.
"Jiraiya-sama, don't interfere. You're the Third's student. I'd rather not punch you again.
The Hokage wouldn't like that… and I'd hate to disappoint him."
Jiraiya bit his thumb, blood welling instantly. His hands blurred through seals.
He's getting serious.
A burst of smoke exploded—though the heavy rain smothered most of it.
Standing tall was Gamabunta's son, the crimson Gama-ken. Still young, half his full size, but already formidable.
"Rain again?! Dammit, my pipe keeps getting soaked."
"Ken! Hold off the ANBU. I have to save Nagato!"
With that, Jiraiya vanished.
Yako moved to stop him—
—but a twenty-meter blade slammed down in front of him.
Gama-ken was fast.
Yako evaded, but even with his Bronze Light Defense, a direct hit from that sword could've caused serious injury.
Jiraiya vanished from sight. Yako turned back, charging the toad.
Gama-ken swung again and again—missing each time.
Agile opponents annoyed him.
Midair, he slapped his belly.
"Water Release: Gunshot Cannon!"
A high-speed glob of water tore toward the ground.
Yako's single seal activated:
"Water Severing Wave!"
A thin arc of pressurized water cut the attack in two.
Gama-ken blinked in shock.
What jutsu is that? And only one seal?
As he landed, Yako leapt and slammed a palm into the toad's midsection.
"Self-Binding Curse Mark!"
Chakra surged from the Ten Seal on his back, locking Gama-ken's body in place.
The toad strained—muscles flexing, but unmoving.
Looking down with narrowed eyes, he grimaced.
This guy's terrifying.
He dispelled himself in a puff of smoke. I've got to warn the others in Mount Myōboku—there's a dangerous new ANBU in Konoha.
Blossom Deer watched, awed.
He'd always known Fox was strong—but to seal a toad from Mount Myōboku?
Incredible.
Yako and his team raced after Jiraiya.
In the distance, a massive Wood Dragon reared its head—snaking through the trees.
Madara Uchiha had arrived.
Yako grinned under his mask.
There you are. Let's see how Root and Lynx Squad handle him.
Danzo wanted Uzumaki remnants?
Well, here's the biggest prize of all.
Nagato, wielder of the Rinnegan—Madara's "chosen one."
And as long as Nagato lived, Madara's shadow would never be far behind.