Jiraiya trapped Rasa inside the sealed cavity of Gamaguchi's mouth.
Because he was confined within, Rasa couldn't manipulate large quantities of Gold Dust for offensive purposes, causing his combat effectiveness to plummet drastically.
Rasa attacked the walls using whatever Gold Dust remained, desperately trying to break free.
But if escaping were that easy, Jiraiya wouldn't have used this technique in the first place.
"Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
Jiraiya extended his hair and shook his head, forming a lion's mane that lunged toward Rasa.
Rasa attempted to defend with his Gold Dust, but from the side several paper shuriken shot toward him.
As Rasa dodged, the paper shuriken exploded. The blast created a gap in the Gold Dust defense, allowing Jiraiya's hair to successfully wrap around Rasa's arm through the opening.
Rasa inwardly grimaced as he struggled to break free, but the hair only tightened further.
The very same arm Rasa had lost to Shindai's Kannazuki strike was crushed once again—this time by Jiraiya's hair.
Biting back the pain, Rasa manipulated his Gold Dust.
[Magnet Release! Golden Sand Rain!]
Countless golden needles formed from sand and shot rapidly toward Jiraiya and Konan.
Sakura unleashed a secret Paper Release technique, conjuring a paper wall.
The paper wall completely blocked all of Rasa's golden needles.
The instant the paper wall dispersed, Jiraiya charged toward Rasa.
[Sage Art: Super-Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!]
In Sage Mode, Jiraiya quickly gathered a Rasengan in his palm—this one dozens of times larger than normal—and slammed it forcefully into Rasa.
Under this Rasengan's impact, Rasa suddenly felt no pain—not because he blocked, but because he had already lost consciousness.
Vivid flashbacks flooded Rasa's mind, replaying scenes from his past repeatedly.
However, when Shindai's face appeared in these memories, Rasa's expression twisted with hatred.
It was all Shindai's doing—he had destroyed Rasa's entire future!
Rasa blamed every misfortune he'd suffered on Shindai.
Consumed by hatred toward Shindai, Rasa was ultimately struck down by the Rasengan.
"Huff."
Jiraiya exhaled deeply and released the Toad Mouth Bind.
When Jiraiya and Konan laid eyes on Hiruzen and Danzo, they both felt a sharp pang of alarm.
Hiruzen and Danzo appeared severely battered.
A deep wound marred Hiruzen's left shoulder—caused by Danzo's Wind Release Ninjutsu.
Danzo also looked ragged—every Sharingan embedded in his right arm had shut down.
This meant Danzo could activate Izanagi one last time—using the Spinning Three-Tomoe Sharingan embedded in his right eye.
"Old friend!"
Jiraiya wanted to help Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Hiruzen stopped him. "Jiraiya, let me handle this myself!"
Jiraiya halted his movements. This was Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision as a ninja, and he needed to respect his will.
Danzo's expression turned fierce with hysteria as he roared, "Again and again, why do you keep opposing me over and over again!"
Hiruzen declared solemnly, "Because! I am the Third Hokage of Konoha!"
Danzo performed Hand Seals.
"Wind Release! Great Vacuum Cannon!"
Danzo expelled a high-pressure sphere of wind from his mouth toward Hiruzen at great speed.
At the same time Danzo was performing seals, Hiruzen and his shadow clone also began performing seals.
[Combination Ninjutsu! Lightning-Water Dragon Bullet!]
Hiruzen released Water Release: Water Dragon Projectile while his shadow clone used a Lightning Release technique. The two techniques combined into an electrified water dragon that attacked its enemy, completely neutralizing the wind sphere before striking Danzo directly.
Danzo was forced to use Izanagi again, reappearing on another side.
The Sharingan on Danzo's right eye gradually dimmed and closed shut.
"Danzo, no matter how many times your Izanagi alters reality in your favor, nothing will change—because you've always been nothing more than a coward. You fear battle and can only hide in the shadows, reaping rewards without effort. Your abilities have never improved!
Where the leaves dance, fire burns. The fire's shadow lights the village, and from its warmth, new leaves bloom anew. You've never understood this saying—you only seek to use those leaves to shine for yourself!
It's time to end this. Along with your ambition, I will destroy you, and in doing so, atone for my past mistakes!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi created three additional Shadow Clones.
Jiraiya watched Hiruzen with confusion.
Hiruzen had very little chakra left—why would he create more clones?
"I won't die here! I shall establish a new Konoha! I will prove to all of you that I am truly the one destined to lead Konoha to become the strongest village!"
Danzo charged toward Hiruzen and shouted, "Wood Release! Wildwood Barrage!"
His right arm transformed into branches rapidly growing into a tree whose limbs reached out toward Hiruzen.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and his four shadow clones simultaneously performed hand seals.
[Five-Nature Combined Art! Grand Blast Bullet Technique!]
Hiruzen and his clones unleashed five different nature transformation techniques—Fire, Lightning, Water, Earth, and Wind—at once against Danzo.
Instantly, a devastating explosion erupted.
Depleted of strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi collapsed onto the ground. As he was about to be caught within the blast radius, Jiraiya quickly wrapped his hair around him, shouted to Konan, and fled immediately.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's jutsu essentially destroyed the entire Root Hidden Village.
Jiraiya, Konan, and Hiruzen Sarutobi all escaped the blast radius.
Jiraiya said helplessly, "Old friend, you really went too far that time!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to smile, but due to nearly exhausting all his Chakra, he lost consciousness.
Sighing, Jiraiya turned to Konan and said, "Konan, we don't have time to rest. We should return to the battlefield as soon as possible."
Konan nodded in agreement. "Okay!"
Meanwhile, on the other battlefield, the battle had reached a fever pitch.
The combined Susanoo of Hikaku Uchiha, Shindai, and Pakura, along with Obito, Shisui, and Itachi's Susanoo, plus the Four Kages who had recovered from the pollen toxin thanks to Katsuyu's healing, and Minato Namikaze working together seemed locked in a stalemate against Madara Uchiha—but they clearly held no advantage.
Everyone could tell Madara Uchiha wasn't even serious—he was fighting like he was just playing around.
[Divine Fusion Iron Sand Body Armor] on Shindai's Susanoo fired beams of light at Madara Uchiha—completely ineffectual, like scratching an itch.
Obito and the other two launched their Susanoos in a simultaneous attack on Madara Uchiha's Susanoo, but Madara's Susanoo simply swung both of its massive swords and easily forced them back.
As for the Five Kages' attacks… they couldn't even scratch him.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ **4 bonus chapters** this weekend if I get kind comments.
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>