Chapter 105: Sage Art — Goemon
Orochimaru's heart burned with excitement. He had never expected that one of the sacred lands harbored a secret technique capable of multiplying a shinobi's strength several times over.
If he could obtain this Sage Mode for himself… and then refine it, evolving it from a mere several-fold boost into a dozens-fold increase… then perhaps even the Rinnegan of the Akatsuki's mysterious leader would be within his grasp.
The thought of those legendary eyes ignited a fire in Orochimaru's chest. For the moment, even Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan seemed insignificant in comparison. Between the Uchiha's power and the eyes of legend, Orochimaru knew which he desired more.
Lost in thought, Orochimaru stood still until Jiraiya shot him a questioning look. The snake sannin quickly masked his expression and caught up.
As they advanced through the forest, Orochimaru asked, "Jiraiya, how long can you maintain this Sage Mode of yours?"
"I'm not very proficient yet," Jiraiya admitted openly. "At most, about six minutes. So we'll need to make them count."
Orochimaru nodded thoughtfully. Of the three Sannin, Jiraiya was considered the least innately gifted — yet the most diligent. If he could only hold Sage Mode for six minutes, then even true mastery wouldn't extend it indefinitely. Orochimaru resolved that he would have to improve it himself.
But for now, they had another priority: Sasori of the Red Sand.
With a hiss, Orochimaru shook his sleeves. Colorful serpents poured forth, venom dripping from their fangs as they slithered toward the clearing.
Above, the crescent moon slid behind a bank of clouds, plunging the night forest into shadow.
Sasori stood calmly in the darkness, one puppet arm dangling from his grip. Hearing movement, he looked up impatiently.
"You're late, Orochimaru. You—"
Before he could finish, a sticky white appendage shot from the trees like lightning, wrapping tightly around him.
A sharp female voice echoed, "I've got him, dear!"
"Good!" another voice followed.
A moment later, a violent torrent of water blasted forth, sharp enough to cut stone. It streaked toward Sasori with terrifying speed.
His eyes narrowed. Dangerous… I can't let that hit me.
With a flicker of movement, the scorpion tail hidden beneath his cloak lashed out, severing the sticky white binding. The cut surface turned a dark purplish black, poisoned instantly.
Freed, Sasori slammed his palms to the ground, twisted his body, and barely dodged the water jet, regaining his footing with fluid grace.
High in the trees, Shima's face twisted in pain. Her "tongue" — the sticky white appendage — had been severed and poisoned. Without hesitation, she bit off the corrupted section and sealed the wound with Sage Chakra.
"Careful, everyone!" she called grimly. "His tail is laced with poison."
The female sage hadn't expected their ambush to fail — or to lose a portion of her tongue in the process. Fortunately, it was only an extended tongue technique; the sacrifice did not hinder her fatally.
"This one's not simple," Fukasaku warned gravely. "Jiraiya boy, we'll need to get serious."
Jiraiya was already forming seals, his expression calm. His chest swelled, and with a roar he exhaled a massive torrent of flame.
"Sage Art: Great Fire Dragon!"
The blazing dragon, dark red from its infusion of natural energy, wasn't as large as a typical Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, but it was vastly denser, its destructive power magnified severalfold. The heat scorched the forest in its path.
Even before it reached him, Sasori felt the oppressive heat surging forward. His face darkened. With a snap of his fingers and a puff of smoke, a tall, robed figure appeared before him.
The puppet raised its arms, and a torrent of dark brown sand surged forth.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wall!"
The Third Kazekage's Iron Sand rose in a thick barrier. The fiery dragon struck with a roar, blasting a hole into the wall — but the defense held.
"That's Iron Sand, all right. Magnet Release," Fukasaku muttered, instantly recognizing it.
"How pitiful," Shima said with a sigh. "To be the Kazekage of a great village, only to end up as a puppet."
Jiraiya's gaze hardened. "Boss, Big Sis — let's use that technique."
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison.
"The Third Kazekage… the strongest in Sunagakure's history," Shima murmured. "He's worth it."
All three moved at once. Jiraiya formed hand seals while Fukasaku and Shima did the same. Their timing was perfect — one man and two toads, synchronized.
"Sage Art: Goemon!" they shouted together.
Jiraiya's chest expanded again, this time spitting a thick stream of viscous oil. Shima exhaled fire to ignite it, while Fukasaku added wind to amplify the flames.
The three elements combined into a devastating torrent. Scalding, burning oil swept forward in a boiling tide, its heat intense enough to melt anything it touched.
The searing wave crashed into the Iron Sand Wall.
SSSSHHH—!
The sound of rapid corrosion rang out as the Sand Iron melted away under the boiling oil. Despite Sasori's desperate efforts to replenish it, the wall disintegrated in seconds, devoured entirely by the Sage Art.
The inferno surged onward, devouring trees and earth alike.
Even before it closed the distance, Sasori felt the temperature inside Hiruko rise drastically. His face grew grim. Not even Jiraiya's earlier Fire Dragon had produced this kind of heat.
This technique… it's far too dangerous. I can't block it directly.
With a flick of his fingers, the Third Kazekage puppet swooped to his side, scooping him up and carrying him skyward. He would evade from above.
But as Sasori ascended, a vast shadow suddenly descended from the heavens above him.
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