Chapter 372: Fate, Part Six
Jiraiya may not have mastered all elemental releases like Orochimaru, but he had developed his abilities to their fullest extent. More than that, Jiraiya possessed one innate advantage Orochimaru lacked: a vast reserve of natural chakra. This was one reason he had once been selected as a disciple of the Third Hokage.
"Earth Style: Earth Style Wall!"
Ninjutsu is not a one size fits all craft; the power of each technique varies depending on the user's strength and skill. The three tiered Earth Style Wall that Jiraiya summoned from the ground was as formidable as Orochimaru's Triple Rashomon, withstanding the monstrous force of Orochimaru's attack.
But Jiraiya wasn't about to settle for defense. The moment he established his barrier, he initiated a counterattack.
"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!"
The dry sands below the eight headed serpent began to dampen, transforming almost instantly into a wide mire that trapped Orochimaru's massive form. Jiraiya's experience in dealing with tailed beasts was evident. The first step in subduing them was immobilization; their raw, unfocused power could devastate everything in reach, risking the lives of his allies.
Watching Jiraiya's tactic from afar, Itachi was impressed. "No wonder they call him one of the Legendary Sannin. To create a swamp this size in a desert is incredible."
But a moment later, Itachi's expression grew tense.
The serpent writhed, unleashing fire from each of its eight heads, evaporating the swamp and burning a path to freedom. Its injuries healed almost instantly.
"Regeneration at this speed it's just like Yin Healing Wound Destruction!" Jiraiya muttered, recognizing the technique as a formidable Yang Release ability.
Hissing, the serpent surged forward, aiming to crush Jiraiya beneath its sheer mass. Jiraiya responded with a Shadow Clone Jutsu, summoning two shadow clones to his side. Each prepared a massive Rasengan, and all three launched themselves at Orochimaru.
The eight headed serpent recoiled slightly, seemingly cautious. It countered with a spray of elemental attacks, and the collision resulted in a tremendous explosion. Itachi, assisting from a distance, felt a flicker of concern.
In such close combat, Jiraiya was exposing himself to tremendous danger. Could he withstand this brutal confrontation?
Itachi began to contemplate a contingency plan, including activating another Mangekyo Sharingan technique. But he quickly reconsidered. Amaterasu, while powerful, wasn't lethal enough; it would only irritate the eight headed serpent and might harm Jiraiya. As for Tsukuyomi, it required direct eye contact, and Orochimaru's eight headed form had its own unusual sensory mechanisms, relying on thermal perception rather than conventional sight.
With the explosion dissipating, Itachi searched for Jiraiya's form. But only then did he realize that all three clones had been shadow copies. The real Jiraiya was hidden somewhere nearby.
The versatility of Shadow Clone Jutsu had been noted countless times, but its value couldn't be overstated. It was virtually impossible to distinguish real from clone even the Byakugan struggled.
Orochimaru sensed a sudden spike of chakra behind him and turned, his eyes widening.
"This chakra..."
Jiraiya revealed himself from behind a sand dune, his form now distinctly altered. Perched on each shoulder sat a small toad sage, while his face bore red markings that framed his widened eyes and distinct, horizontal pupils traits of Sage Mode. The transformation was unmistakable.
Orochimaru pulled back his serpent heads, the dark look in his eyes a mixture of calculation and resignation.
"Is that... the Sage Mode of Mount Myoboku?" Orochimaru asked, his tone hard to discern.
"More or less." Jiraiya replied calmly, "It's not a perfect Sage Mode; I still need the support of these two to maintain it."
"This is your last chance, Orochimaru," Jiraiya's voice held the steely resolve of one who had survived countless battles. "Come back to the village and repent, or I may be forced to kill you here."
Though Jiraiya lacked Orochimaru's ruthless, calculating demeanor, the weight of his combat experience was palpable. Even from afar, Itachi could sense his formidable presence. However, Itachi's thoughts remained analytical; both Jiraiya and Orochimaru had once trained under the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, a leader whose actions against the Uchiha had left a dark legacy.
Perhaps these two needed to be eliminated as well. But that was a decision best left to the Hokage. With Lord Ye Wen's power supporting Konoha, Itachi trusted that any threat could be neutralized if necessary.
Meanwhile, Fukasaku, the elder sage on Jiraiya's shoulder, grumbled, "Let's get this over with, Jiraiya! This dry desert air is unbearable I feel my skin cracking already!"
"I understand, Elder Fukasaku," Jiraiya replied. "Prepare the Wind and Oil. It's time to finish this."
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