Chapter 104: Sage Mode
Jiraiya nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Of course I haven't forgotten." Then he frowned slightly. "But tell me, Orochimaru… is your companion really that strong? You even need both of us to make a move?"
Both he and Orochimaru were seasoned shinobi, men who had long since reached the heights of Kage-level power. There weren't many people in the shinobi world who could force the two of them to join hands. Certainly not some obscure mercenary.
From afar, Jiraiya had only caught a glimpse of Orochimaru's partner — a hunched, elderly-looking man. He couldn't remember anyone like that among the famous powerhouses of the ninja world.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed slightly. Having worked alongside Sasori for a time, he understood more than Jiraiya just how dangerous his "ally" was.
"This one," Orochimaru said evenly, "is a shinobi of Sunagakure… and he controls a puppet of the Kazekage."
Jiraiya's expression instantly hardened. "A Kazekage puppet?"
Memories stirred within him. He recalled the mysterious disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the incident that had set off the Third Shinobi World War.
"You mean…" Jiraiya said slowly, his voice low. "The Kazekage puppet he controls… is the missing Third Kazekage?"
Orochimaru did not confirm it outright, but his silence said enough. Of the Kazekage in Sunagakure's history, the First and Second were long dead, and the Fourth had only risen to power in recent years. The only Kazekage to have vanished without a trace was the Third.
That left only one conclusion.
Jiraiya's jaw tightened. To abduct the strongest Kazekage in Sunagakure's history and turn him into a puppet — and to do it so silently that no one in the village even realized until it was too late — such a feat required terrifying strength. Whoever could do such a thing was no ordinary opponent.
And now, after so many years, his strength had likely only grown more monstrous.
"What do you think?" Jiraiya asked, raising an eyebrow.
Orochimaru's pale lips curved faintly. "The same as always."
Jiraiya smirked. "Then wait a moment. Let me bring out a little trick first."
He clapped his hands together, forming a familiar seal. "Summoning Technique!"
With a loud bang, smoke erupted on the ground before him. When it cleared, two small figures stood revealed — an elderly green toad with white whiskers and brows, and a stout purple female toad with sharp eyes and an impatient scowl.
The moment Orochimaru's gaze fell on them, his golden pupils flashed. He could feel it — the strange, dense chakra that radiated from the pair. These were no ordinary creatures.
He knew their names from past encounters: Fukasaku and Shima, two of the Great Toad Sages of Mount Myōboku. Their presence meant only one thing: Jiraiya was preparing to fight in earnest.
"Little Jiraiya!" Shima snapped, her mouth half full of a wriggling insect. "Why did you summon us now of all times? We were eating!"
Jiraiya offered her a sheepish grin. "Big Sis, I need your help."
"You always drag us out at the worst possible moment," Shima muttered, rolling her eyes as she crunched down the rest of her meal.
Fukasaku, kinder and calmer, gave a soft chuckle. "Trouble again, eh, Jiraiya boy?" His gaze shifted — and for the first time, he noticed Orochimaru standing nearby. His eyes widened briefly in surprise, then softened. "Orochimaru, eh? Been a long time, heh heh."
Orochimaru gave a thin smile. "The honor is mine, Fukasaku."
But Jiraiya cut straight to the point. "Boss, Big Sis — do you remember the disappearance of the Third Kazekage?"
Fukasaku frowned, humming in thought, his memory foggy.
Shima nudged him with a sigh. "Dear, it was the incident that triggered the Third Great War, remember?" She glanced at Jiraiya. "That's what you mean, isn't it?"
"Exactly." Jiraiya's tone grew grim. "The culprit who made the Third Kazekage disappear — we're about to face him. He turned the Kazekage into a puppet. I don't know the extent of his power now, so I want to be careful. I'll need Sage Mode."
"Good." Fukasaku nodded firmly, his voice approving. "Never underestimate an opponent. Going all out from the start is the right call."
Jiraiya pressed his hands together in gratitude. "Please, Boss. Big Sis. I'll be in your care."
"Leave it to us," Fukasaku said, leaping up onto Jiraiya's right shoulder. Shima followed, settling onto his left.
"Orochimaru," Jiraiya said, settling into a cross-legged position, "give me a moment. I need to enter Sage Mode."
Closing his eyes, he stilled his breath. On either side, Fukasaku and Shima mirrored him, their small hands clasped, faces solemn.
Orochimaru's eyes glinted with curiosity.
Sage Mode?
He had heard Jiraiya mention it twice now, but this was the first time he was witnessing it with his own eyes. The words alone intrigued him — he could guess it was no ordinary ninjutsu. Likely one of the secret techniques passed down by the so-called Sacred Lands.
If Mount Myōboku had this power, then perhaps Ryūchi Cave — home of the White Snake Sage — possessed its own version. Orochimaru's thoughts stirred darkly. Perhaps, in time, he would go there and seek that power for himself.
But for now, he would observe.
Jiraiya inhaled slowly. With Fukasaku and Shima channeling natural energy for him, he began drawing in the very life-force of the world around them, merging it with his chakra. A strange power coursed through him, seeping into every cell of his body.
Dark red markings appeared around his eyes, spreading across his face. His pupils shifted, round human irises becoming the wide, horizontal slits of a toad. His nose sprouted small warty bumps, his features twisting into something more beast than man.
Orochimaru's tongue flicked against his lips in fascination. The change was grotesque, yet the surge of chakra that radiated from Jiraiya was undeniable.
When Jiraiya opened his eyes again, his aura had changed entirely — heavy, immense, brimming with raw natural power.
"Orochimaru," Jiraiya said, his transformed voice low and resonant. "Let's go. We can start now."
Even Orochimaru, who rarely betrayed emotion, felt his heart jolt. In his senses, Jiraiya's power had multiplied several times over.
This… was Sage Mode.
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