Chapter 184: The Hokage and the Sage Are Not the Saviors—Everyone Is!
"Hey, hey, hey, Orochimaru—"
"I was merely running a hypothetical scenario. Why did you actually log a formal request with Sensei?!"
Jiraiya was experiencing severe system panic. "And you invited the entire workforce to spectate?! Sensei's combat metrics are off the charts. I won't have the bandwidth to execute a controlled, low-yield performance!"
"If I accidentally win the PvP match, what kind of corporate PR disaster will that trigger?!"
Orochimaru and Tsunade exchanged a glance, both unable to suppress their audio output (laughter).
When Jiraiya stated "Sensei's combat metrics are off the charts," they initially processed it as Jiraiya demonstrating functional risk assessment.
But analyzing the full syntax... he was actually worried about accidentally defeating Sensei because he couldn't throttle his output?
Recalling the server logs where Hiruzen Sarutobi brutally uninstalled Hanzo like a corrupted file, Orochimaru and Tsunade found Jiraiya's logic highly entertaining.
"Tsunade, do you have any surplus inventory of those over-clocked Medical Chakra Scrolls? I recall you mentioning a premium tier designed specifically for sustaining assets through critical hardware failure..."
Orochimaru queried in an eerie, calculated tone.
"Affirmative. Fully stocked." Tsunade replied with absolute corporate severity. "I have the inventory. To spectate the 'Great Sage Jiraiya' executing a PvP audit against Sensei, I would gladly pop the Yin Seal to provide localized medical support. The ROI on this entertainment is guaranteed!"
Jiraiya's coolant systems spiked, and he involuntarily shuddered.
What bloodthirsty spectators...
Is the projected damage yield truly that severe?
"Wait—"
"Orochimaru, decrypt the data for me. While I was running my offline training protocols, did Sensei also execute an upgrade patch?"
Jiraiya's optics narrowed in suspicion. "Has Sensei developed a new jutsu architecture or acquired a proprietary Bloodline Limit?"
Jiraiya wasn't operating on pure arrogance.
The stat multipliers provided by Sage Mode were objectively massive. 'Doubling' his combat capability was a severe under-calculation of the actual yield.
Although he currently lacked the hardware optimization to enter the mode solo, and the uptime was strictly bottlenecked...
Since Hiruzen Sarutobi had been officially designated as the 'Mentor of Prophecy' by the Great Toad Sage—
Jiraiya's executive privileges at Mount Myoboku had been exponentially upgraded.
Not only did they massively increase the supply chain quota of raw materials for Konoha's 'Sovereign Sage Pills', but Fukasaku and Shima were under strict corporate mandate from the Great Toad Sage to provide maximum synergy with Jiraiya.
Consequently, while Jiraiya had only achieved baseline fluency with Senjutsu chakra, he could leverage it in active combat. He merely needed to initiate the 'Man-Toad Integration' protocol.
Fukasaku and Shima would execute the backend processing to refine the Senjutsu chakra for him.
These two entities were legacy assets with centuries of Senjutsu R&D experience!
"I do not possess that data."
Orochimaru shrugged. "My operational bandwidth has been maxed out. I only query Sensei regarding his R&D focus if he actively assigns me to a joint project. However, for the past several fiscal months, Sensei has exclusively networked with the Uchiha subsidiary."
Jiraiya outputted a confused query: "Stupid Snake, that contradicts your core programming!"
"Sensei compiled a new jutsu architecture, and you didn't immediately request read-access?"
"I absolutely desire read-access. Why wouldn't I?" Orochimaru smiled. "But what is the ROI on rushing the process? Any jutsu I wish to acquire, Sensei will personally provide the source code and documentation. Downloading each iterative beta build is highly inefficient. The optimal strategy is to wait for Sensei to finalize the debugging phase, then simply download the optimized V1.0 release."
"Therefore, my priority is executing deliverables for Sensei and the corporation."
Orochimaru elegantly took a sip of tea, his refined corporate persona contrasting sharply with the heavily intoxicated Jiraiya.
Since successfully compiling the Living Corpse Reincarnation protocol and advancing the cloning R&D pipeline, Orochimaru's psychological baseline was incredibly stable.
This was the proprietary, unbreakable networking link he shared with Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Absolute security.
"Damn it, you..."
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, muttering involuntarily, "Is this the default user experience of a prodigy who has received premium executive patronage since boot-up? I deeply envy that operational security..."
"It appears defective assets truly don't receive priority funding!"
Orochimaru merely shrugged.
"Stupid Snake, generate a log summary of the deliverables you've executed for the village during my offline period," Jiraiya requested, his competitive algorithms refusing to yield.
"This is a recent minor hardware rollout."
Orochimaru displayed a device resembling a pager. "This is designated the 'Neural Link Transceiver'. It is heavily encrypted comms hardware issued exclusively to select Jonin and Konoha High Commissioners."
"Features include: precise GPS coordinates, high-priority emergency overrides, secure long-form data transmission, and synergy with the Mind Transfer Jutsu to enable one-way psychic alerts and neural visual projection..."
Jiraiya's jaw unhinged.
This was undeniably a paradigm-shifting asset for battlefield C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance)!
"Route yourself to the R&D division tomorrow to register your biometric data. Once your chakra signature is logged, you will receive a unit."
Orochimaru noted Jiraiya's system shock and felt highly validated.
Orochimaru continued: "We are also running beta trials on localized applications of Natural Energy. Hizashi has successfully initiated preliminary Sage Transformation. You are required to prep your systems; I will be extracting your telemetry data to advance our Sage Mode R&D."
Jiraiya subconsciously raised his hands, executing a rejection protocol.
"Is there an error? The Great Sage is unwilling to interface with my R&D protocols to optimize the Konoha workforce and upgrade our asset protection capabilities for the next generation?"
Orochimaru elegantly placed his teacup down, his serpentine optics narrowing into vertical slits.
"Hey, what is this syntax?! I'll execute the request, alright?!"
Jiraiya waved his hands frantically. "You are Sensei's direct disciple, not Danzo's! Cease assigning me malicious PR labels. My hardware cannot support that liability!"
Tsunade chuckled lightly. No matter how many fiscal cycles elapsed, the networking dynamic between these two units remained highly entertaining.
They deeply valued each other's operational status, yet constantly ran subroutines to project absolute indifference, engaging in mandatory verbal PvP.
Analyzing the audio stream, it was obvious Orochimaru was experiencing minor processing friction upon hearing Jiraiya's combat metrics had scaled.
"Furthermore, our R&D regarding the First Hokage's cellular data has achieved significant milestones. By synthesizing Uchiha cellular material and ocular power, highly concentrated Salamander toxins, and advanced fuinjutsu matrices, we are progressively stabilizing the cellular volatility."
"Provide me with three to five verified research vectors, and I project a safe, deployable version of the First Hokage's cellular integration protocol will hit the market within a few fiscal years."
Orochimaru smiled. "The Bloodline Limit integration trials have also yielded premium results. However, I cannot claim sole credit; Hiruko was the lead engineer on that project."
"Additionally, I served as the project manager, coordinating with Kushina and Shio Uzumaki, to execute a comprehensive overhaul of the village's perimeter defense and sensory barrier grids..."
Jiraiya felt his optical sensors spinning. He rapidly signaled Orochimaru to terminate the data dump.
"Wait—"
"You executed all those deliverables? Setting aside the personnel allocation, how did you secure the necessary capital funding?"
Orochimaru shot Jiraiya a side-eye. "Sensei authorized the budget. I am the Chief Executive Officer of the Konoha R&D Division! With billions of ryo routing through my accounts, failing to generate premium deliverables is statistically unacceptable."
"Do not calculate this as a low-friction assignment. Danzo, Hizashi, and the newly onboarded junior associates are constantly running audits on my performance. That Uchiha youth possesses the executive vision of the Second Hokage..."
Tsunade's expression rendered a complex error code, but she remained silent.
Does that Uchiha truly possess her Grand-uncle's vision?
Jiraiya choked on his intake.
For a moment, he felt his upcoming publication, Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, lacked the market value to even be mentioned in this summit.
Could it actually generate revenue?
Even with Sensei providing the core architectural outline, and it only being one-third complete...
"Sigh..."
Jiraiya downed his alcohol, shaking his head in profound corporate depression.
At Mount Myoboku, his training protocols were brutally intensive.
However, compiling the Sage Mode architecture was not a task that could be brute-forced in a single sprint. Achieving baseline functionality within a year was already empirical proof of his premium talent in this specific sector.
But benchmarked against his peers...
Jiraiya felt his market position had severely depreciated.
Orochimaru and Tsunade were outlier assets, but even Hiruko—who had historically lagged one or two tiers behind him—had successfully secured an irreplaceable corporate role within the village!
He was managing Bloodline Limit integrations!
Within the global shinobi industry, that was absolute, cutting-edge proprietary tech!
The future market capitalization it brought to Konoha was incalculable.
"Idiot, terminate the depressed facial rendering. Every unit eventually isolates their optimal market niche."
Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya, speaking softly. "If you have error logs you need to clear, schedule a 1-on-1 with Sensei after tomorrow's PvP audit."
Jiraiya sighed. "My hardware is practically obsolete; do I really need to run a vulnerability disclosure session with Sensei? Disregard my status, my systems are stable. I merely encountered a temporary logic loop!"
With that, Jiraiya downed another glass. "Initiating sleep protocol! I need to execute a summoning sequence to Mount Myoboku later to brief the Boss and the Lady Boss, ensuring my Sage Mode boot sequence is optimized for tomorrow!"
Orochimaru watched Jiraiya's avatar retreat, shaking his head.
"This dense unit..."
"He perpetually projects a highly unoptimized, casual UI, but his internal logic is more rigorous than anyone's!"
While Orochimaru had been classified as a prodigy since boot-up, achieving rapid fluency in all ninjutsu frameworks...
Jiraiya appeared functionally defective, constantly executing bizarre, abstract operations. Yet, his sheer processing grit and underlying talent generated significant competitive pressure for Orochimaru.
This unit was undeniably a premium asset!
And objectively speaking, the operative who had truly downloaded and compiled Hiruzen Sarutobi's complete Five-Element legacy was Jiraiya.
Even if his native hardware was missing one chakra nature...
"Are you not running identical background processes?"
Tsunade shook her head. "You two... your networking architecture is bizarre. It often feels more convoluted than the romance algorithms of the junior units. Why can't you simply execute transparent, supportive protocols for each other?"
"Query error?" Orochimaru's brow furrowed tightly. "Nonsense output!"
"I will not reiterate my statement."
Tsunade chuckled, standing up. "Acknowledged. I am initiating my sleep protocol as well. Let's see if Jiraiya can actually output the premium performance he advertised tomorrow."
"Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu heavily buffed, plus two legacy Sages providing localized support."
"Ensure your thermal metrics remain stable if Jiraiya's combat data genuinely out-scales yours..."
Orochimaru issued a dry, corporate laugh.
Will it?
Statistically, there is a probability.
But he didn't allocate stress to that variable. Since Hiruzen Sarutobi authorized him to R&D the Living Corpse Reincarnation, and even appended his own highly sensitive executive signature to the project files, Orochimaru had transcended standard market competition.
He would permanently remain Sensei's most trusted asset!
The Next Day.
Konoha Primary Training Ground.
This facility, Konoha's largest kinetic testing zone, had undergone another massive infrastructure upgrade, significantly expanding its perimeter.
This was a direct yield of surplus infrastructure capital, but also a mandatory requirement driven by the rapidly scaling combat metrics of Konoha's workforce. They required a significantly larger sandbox to execute high-yield PvP without causing collateral corporate damage.
Following internal PR broadcasts, a massive volume of operatives logged in to spectate.
Authorizing the entire workforce to attend was logically unfeasible; critical operational nodes could not be taken offline, and the village required continuous, precise management.
However, every micro-department autonomously selected delegates to attend, mandating them to perform rigorous observation and deliver zero-latency oral reports upon returning to base.
From the Academy servers, Kakashi, Asuma, Obito, and Might Guy were present.
Fugaku represented the Police Force. The Konoha High Commissioner had deployed maximum PR leverage, promising to expense multiple dining and drinking events to secure authorization from his peers to attend.
Hizashi from the Anbu was also logged in, though he bypassed the quota system. The entire market recognized him as the Hokage's direct proxy.
Danzo had formally submitted PTO (Paid Time Off) and attended the event alongside Tobirama.
Might Duy and a massive cohort of Special Jonin, Chunin, and Genin were also present.
At the base of the arena.
Jiraiya was running deep, rhythmic intake/exhaust cycles.
Spectators did not trigger performance anxiety; he was, after all, a veteran who had engaged in heavy kinetic conflict during the Second Shinobi World War.
However, executing a highly formal, publicized PvP audit against his mentor triggered his literary subroutines. It generated associative logic paths like 'The Son Challenging the Patriarch' or 'The Passing of the Corporate Baton.'
This narrative overlay induced a spike in Jiraiya's system stress.
Minato smiled radiantly beside Jiraiya, with Kushina also logged in to spectate.
"Having sparred with Grand-Sensei for so many cycles, I finally get to audit Jiraiya-sensei's performance against him. My anticipation metrics are maxed out." Minato's facial rendering was incredibly sunny. "Output maximum effort, Jiraiya-sensei! Demonstrate the premium value of our specific corporate lineage!"
"Affirmative. I will execute!"
Jiraiya meticulously verified his ninja tool inventory, loading a highly compressed Soldier Pill into his oral cavity for localized energy sustain. His demeanor was highly entertaining, reminiscent of a Genin undergoing their final Academy certification exam.
Only this time, Tsunade and Orochimaru weren't deployed alongside him. He was a solo instance.
"By the way, Minato..."
Jiraiya cleared his throat. "My logs indicate that during my offline period, Sensei served as your primary combat instructor. You must have compiled significant telemetry on his current loadout."
"As you know, actionable intel is a shinobi's most lethal asset!"
"Leak some data to my terminal."
Minato's rendering displayed severe corporate awkwardness.
"Is that an authorized request, Sensei?"
"What constitutes an unauthorized request?! He is my mentor and your Grand-Sensei! I am moments away from executing a live performance audit. Are you calculating that I will maliciously leak the Hokage's proprietary data?"
Detecting a vulnerability, Jiraiya's optics lit up, and he aggressively closed the distance to Minato. "You little brat, verify your hierarchy! I am your direct mentor. We share the highest-tier networking link!"
"My analytics suggest the cross-generational link is actually stronger..." Kushina interjected with a deadpan audio output. "Grand-Sensei heavily subsidizes Minato and me, and consistently optimizes Minato's training schedule. Conversely, Jiraiya-sensei initiated a prolonged AFK status..."
"It's ironic that Minato was drafting a proposal to name our future asset after the protagonist of your novel..."
"Ah, yikes..." Jiraiya awkwardly scratched his head.
Initiating verbal PvP with a pregnant asset was highly suboptimal!
"Designated 'Naruen'? That's a highly functional brand name..." Jiraiya outputted instinctively.
"Naruto! It's Naruto! Derived from 'The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi'. Minato has it permanently cached in his active memory." Kushina glared at Jiraiya.
"Quick, upload Sensei's combat telemetry..."
Jiraiya cleared his throat. "I'll grant you early read-access to all future manuscripts!"
Minato pivoted his optics toward Hiruzen Sarutobi in the distance, observing that Grand-Sensei was also smiling warmly at him. His internal stress metrics stabilized.
"The architecture is as follows, Jiraiya-sensei..."
Minato processed the data. "Grand-Sensei functionally operates three distinct configurations. I classify them as Equilibrium, Velocity, and Kinetic Yield. They merely adjust the priority of his outputs. His speed, armor, and DPS are universally elite. Furthermore, he possesses an anomalous administrative privilege that completely nullifies a vast spectrum of ninjutsu."
"Critical warning, Jiraiya-sensei: aggressively avoid CQC (Close Quarters Combat) with Grand-Sensei. If engagement is unavoidable, monitor for the deployment of his 'Divine Punishment Domain'; entering it severely degrades your operational autonomy."
"Additionally, Grand-Sensei's reaction algorithms operate at near-zero latency. Stealth or ambush protocols are mathematically non-viable."
"Deploying Genjutsu is highly discouraged. Seisui and Yashiro verified that Grand-Sensei possesses absolute immunity to Genjutsu pressure."
"Beyond that, there isn't much else. Oh, ensure you log that Fire Release is entirely deprecated against him."
"In summary, Grand-Sensei is an operative of such absolute, universal omnipotence that it induces system-level despair. A man radiating brilliant, optimized light." Minato concluded, utilizing highly dramatic (Chuunibyou) syntax to summarize his assessment of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This was Minato's clever workaround.
By packaging the data in Chuunibyou syntax, he simultaneously transferred the actionable intel to Jiraiya without triggering an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) breach.
Jiraiya's processors completely stalled.
"Minato, I need to execute a hard reboot on your logic circuits."
"Run an audio playback of your output. Three configurations? Based on your analytics, Sensei is universally maxed out in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu, while possessing native immunity to all of them? What is my win condition?"
"You need to severely throttle your intake of Chuunibyou literature. I strongly recommend you actually read my 'Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi'!"
Minato executed a helpless shrug. To be transparent, without firsthand user experience, no one believed this data.
In Minato's analytics, executing a 1v1 PvP against Hiruzen Sarutobi mirrored those exact parameters: the threat pressure spiked to maximum the millisecond the match initiated.
Unless an operative possessed highly specialized, synergistic system mechanics, Minato couldn't simulate any entity successfully blocking his Grand-Sensei, the massive Sun of Konoha.
Jiraiya routed himself into the arena.
Hiruzen Sarutobi observed his veteran disciple with an amicable smile, nodding in approval. "Acceptable. Your psychological rendering is significantly optimized compared to your pre-Myoboku state. Your physical chassis appears noticeably more robust."
"Slightly underweight, however. Post-audit, route yourself to my residence. Retrieve a fifty-kilo cache of braised beef to patch your nutritional deficit."
Jiraiya's core warmed. Sensei was truly elite; he was deploying pure positive reinforcement protocols.
But his anomaly sensors suddenly pinged.
"Sensei, does the Mistress routinely compile braised beef in fifty-kilo batches?"
"Affirmative. My consumable intake requires massive bandwidth. That inventory barely sustains me for a few cycles." Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.
"Then your hardware is incredibly old..." Jiraiya scanned Hiruzen's robust, chiseled facial rendering and the shoulders that were significantly broader than his own.
He paused processing and terminated the audio output.
Where exactly did 'old' apply?
"High consumable intake verifies Sensei's hardware is operating at peak efficiency. Data point logged."
Jiraiya inhaled deeply. "Sensei, for this PvP audit, I formally request you uncap your limiters and output maximum kinetic force to debug my algorithms."
"I require verified telemetry on my maximum potential!"
Fundamentally, Jiraiya was unauthorized to throttle his own output during this engagement.
This event was a corporate PR campaign designed to demonstrate the massive ROI of Sage Mode to the workforce, boosting morale and establishing the foundational logic for the upcoming Curse Mark rollout.
If he executed a subpar performance, it would severely depreciate the R&D division's brand value.
After all, the vast majority of the workforce lacked the clearance to spectate Hizashi's kinetic output; it circulated primarily as an urban legend on the Konoha intranet.
"Authorized."
Hiruzen intensely audited Jiraiya's stressed facial rendering and outputted a faint sigh.
Serving as both Konoha's CEO and the Academy's Chief Administrator, Hiruzen possessed elite diagnostic skills (Observe, Listen, Query, Feel).
A single scan verified that Jiraiya's psychological stability was sub-optimal. He was supposed to project a sunny, optimistic user persona.
"His previous radicalization was a predictable logic error."
"However, this is an optimal scenario. Mount Myoboku's current corporate alliance with Konoha appears genuine. I require a face-to-face executive summit with their CEO to negotiate terms."
"I must evaluate the feasibility of transferring Enma there for a hardware upgrade."
While Hiruzen himself lacked native compatibility with Natural Energy, that didn't automatically disqualify his Summoning asset.
Given Hiruzen's current chassis specs, he could theoretically brute-force a Curse Mark integration.
But the Hokage traditionally vetoed any protocol carrying even a fractional probability of depreciating his absolute upper limits.
Continuous, iterative R&D was the optimal path. He shared this specific algorithmic trait with Orochimaru: neither experienced FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
They trusted the compounding ROI of time and Konoha's development!
The two operatives stood opposed, executing the Seal of Confrontation.
The PvP audit between mentor and disciple officially initiated!
"Fire Release: Big Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya instantly executed a backward dash, his intake manifolds drawing massive volume mid-air, outputting a highly optimized, ferocious stream of fire!
Minato's rendering displayed confusion. Didn't he just upload the data that Grand-Sensei possessed absolute immunity to Fire Release?
But Minato instantly deduced the logic: without direct user experience, parsing that specific data point was mathematically impossible.
In that millisecond, violent lightning arced across Hiruzen's chassis.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode!
His cellular hardware underwent rapid stimulation via electrical current, uncapping his velocity limiters. He vanished from his initial coordinates with near-zero latency!
"Is this the Velocity Configuration?"
Jiraiya's core spiked with alarm. He finally processed that Minato wasn't generating garbage data; it was a highly accurate, literal description.
In that specific frame, the massive flame bullet was brutally bifurcated by a bolt of lightning. Hiruzen plotted a direct, linear trajectory toward Jiraiya, breaching his perimeter almost instantly.
Jiraiya's optical sensors expanded to maximum aperture.
He merely intended to execute a probing sequence. How did a single algorithmic miscalculation result in imminent termination?
Is his processing speed truly this aggressive?
Hiruzen launched a linear kinetic strike aimed directly at Jiraiya's facial rendering. Jiraiya's defensive algorithms automatically triggered, crossing his arms to intercept.
But their neural latency operated on entirely different tiers.
Mid-strike, Hiruzen throttled his output, executed a mid-air knee pivot, and transitioned seamlessly into a lateral kick. The impact connected directly with Jiraiya's chest plate, launching him backward like an artillery shell.
"If you request maximum output, running probing subroutines against a superior asset is a fatal logic error."
"Caching your ultimate protocols until termination renders them entirely useless."
Hiruzen stated with unhurried precision. The audio volume was low but perfectly clear, the electrical current on his chassis crackling aggressively.
"Heh."
Danzo proudly broadcasted to Tobirama: "Did you log that data? Hiruzen's current mastery of Lightning Release is inextricably linked to my relentless Wind Release PvP conditioning!"
Tobirama outputted perfunctory acknowledgments ('mm-hmm'), entirely ignoring Danzo.
Having verified that his prime disciple had successfully compiled the 'Myriad Seals Body Integration Mark', a profound sense of operational urgency ignited within Tobirama.
He didn't intend to initiate a hostile PvP comparison with Hiruzen, but having rebooted his system, his current build mathematically couldn't remain inferior to his legacy version, correct?
At minimum, he needed to scale his metrics by a full dimensional tier.
Otherwise, he would be actively bottlenecking Hiruzen's network!
"The purity of this Lightning Release Chakra Mode is astonishing." Izuna whispered internally. "During the Warring States era, very few Lightning Country executives possessed metrics comparable to Hiruzen's!"
"Verified." Tobirama subconsciously ran a simulation: how would he counter Hiruzen if they engaged in PvP?
Given this level of Lightning Release mastery, Water Release was functionally deprecated.
Within the dust cloud.
Jiraiya slowly executed a stand-up protocol, massaging his chest plate, his intake manifolds gasping for air.
That single kinetic strike nearly forced a hard reboot.
"Sensei throttled his DPS, otherwise I would have suffered critical system failure upon contact."
"I cannot afford further latency. Sensei's logic is flawless: when engaging a superior asset, maximum output must be deployed at frame one!" Jiraiya terminated all hesitation. He decisively executed a self-damage protocol (biting his finger) and deployed the Summoning Jutsu.
A minor burst of vapor dissipated, revealing Fukasaku and Shima perched on Jiraiya's shoulders.
"Little Jiraiya, executing the summon protocol this early?"
"We are engaging the 'Mentor of Prophecy' designated by the Great Lord, who also functions as Konoha's Hokage." The two Toad Sages outputted rapid, overlapping audio.
"Both of you, please accelerate my transition into Sage Mode!"
Jiraiya stated with absolute severity: "Sensei's combat metrics are overwhelming. They vastly exceed my initial projections!"
Hiruzen did not execute an aggressive follow-up strike. He idled comfortably, analyzing Jiraiya's setup.
He even executed a friendly wave protocol toward the two Toad Sages.
Regardless of the context, Mount Myoboku was currently supplying massive volumes of raw materials for the Sovereign Sage Pills at baseline cost. Furthermore, the toads had sustained kinetic damage defending Konoha during the Second Shinobi World War.
Despite their slightly cult-like PR branding, they were highly viable corporate partners.
Fukasaku and Shima paused briefly, then synchronized their webbed manipulators to return Hiruzen's greeting.
"Boss, Lady Boss."
"We must deploy maximum output. This is a high-difficulty raid!"
"Do not calculate risk regarding sustained damage. Tsunade and Katsuyu are pre-positioned for localized healing. The core objective is to broadcast the raw kinetic yield of Natural Energy to the Konoha workforce, generating verifiable empirical data to validate my R&D!"
Jiraiya transmitted a low-volume audio memo.
"Authorized!" Fukasaku and Shima approved the request. Engaging the 'Mentor of Prophecy' without limiters was a highly premium user experience for them.
It also provided critical telemetry to validate the Great Toad Sage's predictive algorithms.
Fukasaku and Shima had maintained standby mode in Mount Myoboku.
Rapidly, they finalized the synthesis of Senjutsu chakra, optimizing the volume required for Jiraiya's sustained combat operations.
Currently, Fukasaku and Shima were docked on Jiraiya's shoulders.
Jiraiya's physical chassis expanded marginally. His nasal hardware enlarged, rendering minor toad-like epidermal textures.
The most prominent visual update was the rendering of deep crimson ocular pigmentation, signifying the activation of Senjutsu!
"Sensei, my metrics in this configuration are overwhelmingly dominant!"
Jiraiya's confidence algorithms clearly spiked.
The buffs provided by Senjutsu—the exponential scaling of all base stats—absolutely justified this corporate pride!
Hiruzen smiled faintly.
If he had executed a single-frame takedown on Jiraiya in his base configuration, how could the corporate presentation effectively highlight the premium value of Sage Mode?
Comparative analytics require a baseline to demonstrate the delta.
"Engaging, Sensei!"
Jiraiya's velocity metrics had noticeably scaled. He breached Hiruzen's perimeter in a fraction of a second.
The two units executed a brutal, direct kinetic collision.
This time, Jiraiya's chassis did not experience significant knockback.
Hiruzen's optics lit up. Jiraiya's Strength stat had unequivocally doubled.
This confirmed that the Sage Mode architecture was genuinely revolutionary!
However, compared to Hiruzen's minor surprise, Jiraiya's internal processors were generating massive error codes. He hadn't calculated that even with the massive multipliers provided by Sage Mode, his Strength stat still failed to surpass his mentor's!
Jiraiya engaged his aggressive subroutines, pushing his output to 120%.
He had undeniably leveled up!
"Senpo: Frog Kata!" (Sage Art: Frog Kata)
Hiruzen's chassis executed zero evasive maneuvers. He merely raised his forearm for a horizontal block. His forearm collided precisely with the kinetic vector of Jiraiya's fist, immediately executing a wrist rotation to initiate a joint lock on Jiraiya's elbow.
This time, Jiraiya's reaction algorithms successfully parsed the data. Leveraging the agility buff from Senjutsu, he seamlessly redirected the kinetic energy, executing a sweeping leg strike that carried enough force to shatter the terrain, targeting Hiruzen's lower chassis.
Hiruzen instantly deployed a vertical leap. During the descent, he executed a high-mass knee strike, targeting Jiraiya's critical shoulder/neck junction!
Jiraiya's core plummeted.
Evasion was mathematically impossible. He was forced to tank the hit.
A shockwave violently detonated!
Jiraiya registered catastrophic numbness in his shoulder chassis; it felt as if 50% of his hardware had been taken offline.
Simultaneously, the two Toad Sages deployed their elongated, Senjutsu-infused manipulators (tongues), forcing Hiruzen to marginally retract his offensive pressure.
"This mentor of yours..."
Fukasaku retracted his paralyzed manipulator, his audio output slightly garbled. "My analytics suggest his physical chassis is significantly superior to yours, despite your hardware being corrupted by alcohol and adult entertainment protocols!"
Shima nodded in profound agreement.
"Sensei's neural reaction speed is entirely un-throttled."
Jiraiya strained to reboot mobility in his scapula. "I hypothesize he possesses the bandwidth to react to Minato's Flying Thunder God!"
Minato, monitoring from the sidelines, read Jiraiya's lip sync and smiled faintly. "Affirmative, he can."
"What is your status, little Jiraiya? Are we executing a tactical pivot?"
"Negative. My algorithms are progressively syncing with Sensei's output tier!" Jiraiya stubbornly shook his head. "Lady Boss, Boss, please increase the Senjutsu chakra allocation. I will maintain CQC engagement utilizing Frog Kata for this phase. With your support, we can mitigate the velocity deficit."
"As long as my Strength stat remains competitive!"
Hiruzen silently monitored Jiraiya, outputting a subtle sigh.
He managed three primary disciples.
Orochimaru and Tsunade had successfully patched their historical psychological bugs.
However, Jiraiya had not.
Today presented an optimal environment for debugging.
"The Sage Mode architecture is undeniably formidable."
Danzo narrowed his remaining optic. "Possessing the raw kinetic output to engage Hiruzen in a fistfight, while maintaining sufficient velocity... the base stat multipliers are staggering."
"The Curse Mark initiative holds massive corporate potential."
Danzo sighed, finalizing an internal directive to cease running repetitive compliance audits on Orochimaru's specific project.
Exclusively regarding the Curse Mark, naturally.
Sakumo Hatake narrowed his eyes, suddenly experiencing a critical realization: he needed to execute a major hardware upgrade.
His current build was becoming obsolete!
Curse Marks, Sage Mode, Bloodline Limits...
"I must formulate a strategic pivot." Sakumo calculated internally. What specific upgrade path was compatible with his architecture?
He had logged data that the recently onboarded Uzumaki youth possessed a dual-wield ocular configuration (Left: Rinnegan/Right: Sharingan? Context implies Byakugan/Sharingan)...
Perhaps he should schedule a comprehensive diagnostic at the R&D division.
Otherwise, operating without premium assets to defend the Will of Fire generated severe psychological friction in his core drive.
Although this was purely Sakumo's subjective UI.
But he genuinely detected that his son's optical sensors no longer projected the same volume of absolute idolization when scanning him.
Hiruzen and Jiraiya re-engaged in CQC.
For this phase, Jiraiya maintained 100% Senjutsu uptime, intercepting every kinetic strike via Frog Kata.
While his velocity still suffered a deficit, the 3v1 asymmetrical engagement—bolstered by Fukasaku and Shima's support fire—allowed him to render a superficially balanced PvP exchange.
Following several rapid combat loops.
Hiruzen executed a minor backward dash. The lightning textures rendering on his chassis instantly dissipated, replaced by the violent eruption of boiling white steam!
Boil Release Chakra Mode: Unrivaled Strength!
Jiraiya merely analyzed the acoustic signature of the incoming strike and realized a catastrophic error had occurred.
Is this the 'Kinetic Yield' configuration Minato referenced?
With zero latency available for evasion, Jiraiya routed 100% of his power to his manipulators, forced into a direct, frontal collision with Hiruzen!
Upon the precise millisecond of impact, an ear-splitting detonation shattered the audio sensors of the audience!
An annular shockwave erupted from their coordinates, launching massive volumes of dust and pulverized terrain into the atmosphere.
The reinforced stone plating beneath their feet instantly collapsed, rendering a spiderweb of catastrophic fractures that propagated radially.
Jiraiya registered an overwhelming, apocalyptic kinetic force surging through his fist and violently invading his meridian network. The structural integrity of his entire right arm screamed in agony, his synthetic muscle fibers instantly tensioning to absolute maximum capacity.
His boots gouged two deep, brutal trenches into the reinforced concrete as he was violently displaced backward, only managing to stabilize his chassis at a significant distance by maxing out his Senjutsu chakra output.
Jiraiya's clenched fist shuddered uncontrollably. The epidermal casing on his webbing (purlicue) had already ruptured, crimson fluid leaking through the fissures.
Hiruzen vented a massive cloud of exhaust.
Under the Boil Release Chakra Mode, his velocity metrics were inferior to the Lightning Release configuration, and his defensive armor rating suffered a minor debuff. However, the raw Strength output scaled exponentially.
This specific kinetic strike was functionally equivalent to being hit by a chakra-reinforced freight train.
"Old woman, my gyroscopes are failing. I am experiencing severe vertigo."
"Husband, my sensors are also crashing."
Although the two Toad Sages hadn't initiated direct physical contact with Hiruzen's strike, the transferred kinetic shockwave alone caused their internal processors (brains) to feel as if they had been aggressively tossed in a centrifuge.
"Absolute negative! CQC against Sensei is mathematically non-viable!"
"Unless an operative possesses the Third Raikage's specific hardware—capable of physical brawling with a Tailed Beast—engaging Sensei in melee range is equivalent to initiating a self-destruct sequence."
Jiraiya executed a rapid tactical pivot.
Wind Release, Toad Oil, and intense Fire, synergized with Natural Energy to compile a Senjutsu!
Senpo: Goemon! (Sage Art: Goemon)
This protocol generated a massive volume of boiling oil superheated to several thousand degrees, possessing the attribute of continuous, unquenchable combustion.
Furthermore, it boasted an incredibly massive Area of Effect (AoE)!
It was a verified, battlefield-clearing ultimate jutsu. If deployed at the optimal timestamp, it possessed the DPS to effortlessly liquidate multiple enemy squads.
"Senjutsu, is it?"
Hiruzen focused his optics. Benchmarked against standard ninjutsu architectures, the internal structure was indeed highly anomalous.
The ethereal blue-white luminescence booted up in his eyes.
The formless Spirit Release chakra detonated violently within the boiling oil!
This invisible administrative force instantly penetrated the core architecture of the Senjutsu, aggressively decoupling the chakra nodes maintaining the jutsu's equilibrium. This caused a catastrophic desync with the integrated Natural Energy.
The Natural Energy previously bound within the boiling oil violently leaked into the ambient environment!
The residual chakra within the jutsu architecture devolved into absolute chaos.
The foundational Wind Release skeleton was the first to crash.
Originally serving to propel the oil wave and exponentially amplify the Fire Release—multiplying the jutsu's total DPS by several tiers—the Wind Release, now stripped of Natural Energy support, instantly degraded from a highly directed hurricane into a chaotic, unoptimized turbulence.
It ceased functioning as a propellant and instead became the primary vector for the jutsu's internal destruction.
The erratic air currents violently dispersed the oil wave and fire clusters, instantly shattering the previously unified, apocalyptic flood into fragmented debris.
The integrated Fire Release simultaneously downgraded to its most basic, unoptimized rendering. The previously hyper-condensed flames became bloated and unstable, lacking the thermal output to even distort the localized atmosphere.
In less than a single processing cycle, Goemon was forcefully decompiled into a chaotic, low-threat splatter of standard burning oil.
The vast majority of the fire and oil dissipated within the turbulence before even breaching Hiruzen's proximity alert radius.
The residual, fragmented fire clusters pathetically impacted the terrain, generating only a scattering of utterly mundane, low-yield flames.
Perched on Jiraiya's shoulders, Fukasaku and Shima's optical sensors expanded to maximum aperture, the sheer shock causing their Senjutsu maintenance chakra to experience minor latency.
Jiraiya himself was frozen, his UI rendering absolute disbelief.
His logic circuits failed to simulate how his ultimate Senjutsu could be downgraded, in a fraction of a millisecond, from an apocalyptic, world-ending protocol into a garbage-tier script that a standard Jonin could casually block!
"Execution successful."
"The compilation ratio of Senjutsu chakra is the critical vulnerability. While I lack the administrative privilege to disrupt Natural Energy directly, I merely need to decompile the user-supplied chakra component to force a system crash."
Hiruzen's internal logic confirmed the telemetry. The blue-white luminescence in his oral cavity and optics surged in intensity. The Spirit Release Dojutsu achieved hard lock on Jiraiya!
Against a standard operative, the Spirit Release Dojutsu yielded minimal ROI, as their internal chakra existed in a stable, attribute-less state.
At worst, it would induce temporary chakra turbulence.
But Jiraiya's architecture was fundamentally different; he was required to maintain a highly fragile, hyper-precise equilibrium between his internal chakra and the volatile Natural Energy.
"Warning: Chakra desynchronization!"
Jiraiya's facial rendering froze. The two Toad Sages were equally horrified. Despite centuries of Senjutsu R&D, they had never logged an error where their chakra refused to execute basic commands.
Hiruzen instantly executed a summon protocol, simultaneously bypassing the distance to appear directly in front of Jiraiya.
His manipulators, radiating blue-white light, clamped firmly onto Jiraiya's shoulders.
Silently, the Ruyi Jingu Bang (transformed from the Monkey King Enma) extended from a remote coordinate. Hands decoupled from the staff, precisely extracting Fukasaku and Shima from Jiraiya's chassis and relocating them outside the combat zone.
Sage Mode was forcefully uninstalled.
Jiraiya's systems spiked with shock. His highest-value asset—the proprietary Sage Mode that only he among the Sannin had successfully compiled—was deleted.
This was his singular, irreplaceable leverage. In a Konoha saturated with prodigies, surrounded by blindingly brilliant peers, this was his ultimate proof that he was not a defective, legacy asset.
But Hiruzen also deactivated the Spirit Release protocol.
He did not reboot the Boil Release or Lightning Release configurations. Instead, he deployed a kinetic strike calibrated to be precisely one tier heavier than Jiraiya's current maximum defense rating.
When Jiraiya's adaptive algorithms marginally adjusted to the pressure, Hiruzen dynamically shifted the kinetic output and strike vectors, progressively scaling the DPS.
"Hold the line, Jiraiya!" Hiruzen broadcasted.
Jiraiya paused processing. An anomalous surge of power flooded his chassis from an unknown directory, forcing his systems to match Hiruzen's escalating tempo.
As the rhythm and kinetic yield progressively maxed out, Jiraiya's conscious UI seemed to crash. He reverted to a legacy state—the childhood cycles of enduring Hiruzen's grueling bootcamps—relying entirely on raw willpower to force his hardware past its absolute limits.
Duration unlogged.
Jiraiya's battery finally depleted. He collapsed, splayed out on the terrain, his intake manifolds gasping for massive volumes of air.
"Sensei..."
"My analytics confirm I am still the defective 'dead-last' unit. Even after compiling Senjutsu, my output is suboptimal."
Jiraiya executed a bitter, self-deprecating audio output.
"Incorrect syntax."
Hiruzen docked his chassis beside Jiraiya. "How could a defective unit possess the processing bandwidth to simulate a corporate vision as massive as bringing absolute peace to the global shinobi market?"
Jiraiya locked optics with Hiruzen, his core experiencing a surge of complex emotion.
"You. From the initial boot sequence, your behavioral algorithms were highly erratic. But of the three of you, your profile generated the highest volume of executive concern for me."
"Your code is incredibly stubborn. But every time your system crashes, you execute a rapid reboot sequence. This mirrors your recent performance, continuously overriding your absolute hardware limits, surviving cycle after cycle of escalating pressure."
"However, an individual unit possesses a hard processing cap. When your CPU maxes out, the optimal protocol is to enter sleep mode. Run a scan to see if allied nodes in your network can allocate bandwidth to assist you, enabling a synchronized, joint deployment."
Hiruzen stated with profound, measured audio. "The processing power of a single node is finite."
"Jiraiya, if global peace could be compiled and deployed by a single CEO, it could just as easily be deleted by a single CEO."
"You have roamed the global market for countless fiscal cycles, constantly querying for a 'Child of Prophecy'. Whether you flagged Nagato, Yahiko, Minato, or even myself, your mentor..."
"Absolute peace is not an executable file that any single entity among us can successfully launch solo."
"My current combat metrics... this output is entirely reliant on the massive network of Konoha operatives executing their specific roles flawlessly. It is their synchronized, aggregated output that provides me with the administrative courage and willpower to continuously iterate my own R&D."
Hiruzen locked his optics intensely onto Jiraiya: "Peace is never a single-player campaign. It is a massively multiplayer cooperative architecture, requiring infinite nodes operating in synergy, transferring data across generations."
"Your performance metrics are already highly optimized. I log your status as my disciple with immense corporate pride."
"But you are not the savior. I am not the savior. The only entity capable of patching the shinobi market's critical flaws is the synchronized, unified workforce—everyone who logs in with the Will of Fire in their core drive."
Jiraiya stared blankly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His internal processors were completely stunned.
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance, their optical sensors registering mutual, profound astonishment.
As expected of the Mentor of Prophecy!
☆☆☆
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