Over on the other side.
On the Fourth Division's defensive line, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa advanced like a one-man army, manipulating gold dust with terrifying precision. The Fourth Division was driven back step by step.
Temari and Maki commanded the Allied Shinobi Forces, putting up a grueling, desperate resistance.
Rasa even tried to persuade them. "You two, stop struggling. You're not my opponents. Retreat while you can. Temari, remember to protect Gaara. As his father… I'm sorry. You and Kankuro, as his big sister and big brother, you have to protect your little brother."
Temari immediately broke down in tears, and could only nod through sobs.
But retreat was impossible. This was the alliance's defensive line. If it collapsed, everyone behind them would be in danger.
Just then, an eagle's cry rang down from the sky.
Temari's eyes lit up. She quickly looked up.
Konan descended with wings spread behind her, almost like an angel.
The moment Konan landed, she lifted Temari into the air. "I promised Gaara I'd protect you. Otherwise he wouldn't stay in the main camp with peace of mind."
Hearing that, Temari sighed helplessly. "That's just how he is. Even when he runs into you, he has to be held back."
"No need to thank me. This is what I should do."
Konan simply shook her head, then looked toward Rasa, who was still controlling the gold dust. She had no intention of joining the fight, because someone else would make a move.
Sure enough, Jiraiya leapt off the eagle's back and used Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique) midair, calling forth several toads. He himself stood atop the head of a massive toad.
Boom!
The toads slammed down, kicking up a commotion that instantly drew everyone's attention.
Jiraiya struck what he believed was a handsome pose and proclaimed loudly, "The Toad Sage Jiraiya has arrived!"
"It's Jiraiya-dono!"
"Great! It's Jiraiya-dono! We're dead!"
"Uh, you mean we're saved! With Jiraiya-dono here, the next battle is definitely fine!"
As expected, Jiraiya didn't waste a second. With the giant toad's support, he unleashed Katon: Gama Yūendan (Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet), melting the gold dust that filled the sky. In an instant, Rasa's assault was cut off—and his defense was broken.
In the next moment, Jiraiya moved behind a toad with fiery-red lips, slammed his palm onto its back, and the toad immediately spat out Suiton: Teppōdama (Water Release: Toad Oil Bullet).
This Teppōdama was nothing like ordinary water techniques—its penetration was top-tier, and its speed was extremely fast.
Sure enough, in the very next second, the Teppōdama pierced straight through Rasa's abdomen, splitting him cleanly in two.
"Yeah! Jiraiya-dono is the best!"
The shinobi couldn't help cheering. Victory at last.
At that moment, two other toads extended their long tongues, each wrapping up one half of the bisected Rasa and pulling them into their mouths. Rasa's Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) body tried to re-form and recover, but it couldn't.
Jiraiya was just about to strike another handsome pose when he sensed something and immediately looked into the distance.
Konan set Temari down and also looked the same way. Tears instantly streamed down her face. "How can this be… Yahiko, Nagato… you two as well…"
In the distance, two figures approached—more precisely, an orange-haired man supporting a white-haired man as they limped forward.
Yahiko and Nagato, who were already dead.
They too had been brought back by Kabuto's Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation)!
Kabuto had already seized Yahiko's body (the Deva Path). And with Kabuto's grave-robbing skills, finding Nagato's grave wouldn't be difficult. Konan and Jiraiya simply never expected Kabuto to desecrate the two of them as well.
For a moment, sorrow spread through the air.
Yahiko and Nagato took a long time to reach them.
Yahiko greeted them with a smile. "Yo! Konan, Jiraiya-sensei, long time no see. How have you been?"
He was still that sunny boy. That smile made people want to protect him.
Konan and Jiraiya couldn't control their tears at all. They wanted to step forward and embrace them, but they knew they couldn't—because the two of them were not in control of themselves now.
Nagato explained, "We were with Rasa just now. But my legs don't move fast, so we ended up much slower."
So that was it. No wonder it looked like Rasa was attacking alone—he'd had teammates all along.
It was just that the teammates… didn't seem very reliable.
"Yahiko, Nagato, I… I… I…" Konan choked, unable to form words.
"Konan, it's good that you're okay. Stay by Jiraiya-sensei's side. Sensei will protect you." Yahiko's gentle comfort only made Konan cry harder.
"Yahiko, don't worry. I'll protect Konan."
Jiraiya spoke solemnly. "And I won't allow anyone to profane your souls! Next I'll fight with everything I have and seal you away. Prepare yourselves!"
Yahiko tried to say something, but his body moved against his will, launching Suiton: Suidanha (Water Release: Water Severing Wave) straight at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya immediately answered with Katon: Dai Endan (Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet). The collision erupted into thick steam, obscuring the area. Taking advantage of the cover, Jiraiya swiftly ordered Maki to organize a sealing squad.
He could seal them himself, yes—but he didn't have the hands to do it right now.
So the division's sealing team needed to seal the bisected Rasa first, so he wouldn't escape later.
Jiraiya couldn't spare attention for Rasa. He had to subdue his two students first. Whatever needed to be said could be said later.
But at that moment, Nagato also had to act. With a single Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull), he yanked Konan over. With his other hand, he pulled a massive boulder from nearby—clearly about to smash Konan to death.
In terms of manipulating the Rinnegan, Nagato was far superior to Uchiha Obito.
Fortunately, a toad shot out its tongue, wrapped Konan, and yanked her back with a hard pull, dragging her out of danger.
"Konan, are you okay?"
Jiraiya checked on her, but he still had to keep fighting.
He dashed forward, easily dodging Yahiko's Suidanha, and once he was close, he drove a Rasengan (Spiraling Sphere) down, slamming his student into the ground.
Yahiko's body was damaged, but as an Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) vessel, he wouldn't die.
Jiraiya was about to seal him when Nagato's Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) detonated outward—so fast it was almost impossible to react. Jiraiya was blasted a great distance away. If he weren't so tough, he might have been killed on the spot.
"Hahaha, what a world. The student beating up the teacher!"
Jiraiya even had the mood to joke, which showed he was fine.
Dealing with Yahiko was still manageable. Dealing with Nagato, however, was extremely difficult—because the Rinnegan was truly a nightmare to face.
At least Konan had recovered as well. No matter how unwilling she was to do this to her two family members, she still chose to seal them away. She still had a mission to complete, and she couldn't afford to be delayed here.
So she said to Jiraiya, "Sensei, I'll handle Yahiko. Nagato is yours!"
"Alright! Be careful!"
Jiraiya wasn't too worried. With Yahiko's ability level, he shouldn't be a match for Konan.
The hardest problem, in truth, was Nagato alone.
(End of Chapter)
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