The ground quaked as Gamabunta's weight settled. Dust scattered across the narrow pass. Below, samurai froze mid-charge, their blades trembling in their hands. The caravan horses reared in panic, and the Silk Baron looked on in amazement.
Gamabunta grinned, thick smoke drifting from his pipe. "Tch. I was enjoying my nap too."
The nearest samurai regained his senses with a shaky roar. "Kill the beast!"
'How much debt do they have to see a toad five times their size and still go forward?' I thought with a frown.
Seven samurai surged toward us, their battle cries sounding more pathetic by the second. It was amazing they even found the will to keep moving, fighting to the death anyway.
Gamabunta drew his tanto in one smooth motion.
*SHING*
*Splurt*
In an instant, two samurai were cut clean in half as my body shivered watching this.
'Fuck, lock in, Jiraiya. Get in there.' I thought, a fire burning in my eyes. Despite the death around me, my resolve had been building throughout the mission.
Now wasn't the time to hesitate.
I leapt from Gamabunta's head mid-swing, [Body Enhancement] now active.
My boots slammed into the dirt with a crack, kicking up gravel. The nearest swordsman rushed me, desperate. In my sight were five samurai with decent distance between themselves.
"HAH!" the samurai shouted, swinging his blade. I parried the hit with my shin guard and grabbed his right hand. A full-power strike straight to the forehead which sent him flying down. Just for Gamabunta to step on his head right after.
*Crack!*
Another came from the right, but before I could duck, a colossal tanto slashed him in half right beside me.
*Splat*
"T-This monster, retreat! Captain Onazawa will avenge the others!" one of the three remaining samurai screamed.
Watching two try to run while one stayed to face us, my body stiffened. Blood splattered across my armor and face from Gamabunta's kill. My mind raced as I saw the lone samurai charging despite the orders that were just given.
This man wanted to die.
Showing no fear, I charged at him in turn, adjusting my body as his blade struck my armor. I forced him into a clinch despite him being way taller. My left arm was holding his right hand hand down.
While my right hand grabbed his arm.
"Ha!" I shouted, driving a knee straight into his dick, the guy's eyes widen in pain. Then, releasing my right hand, I drove an elbow strike to his mid section forcing him to kneel.
Right where I wanted him.
Grabbing his head with both hands, I knee his head inside his helmet.
*Crack-*
His body went limp.
"Now where do you think you're going..." Gamabunta growled. Hearing his words, I turned around just in time to see the massive toad leaping into the air.
Holy shit.
*BOOM!*
The sheer impact as he landed crushed the last two remaining samurai.
"Holy fuck," I muttered, my heart racing.
Gamabunta laughed, his voice booming. "You've got some spunk brat."
For a moment, I stood alone on the dirt road, surrounded by stillness. Then a distant crash echoed from the other side of the convoy. There were screams and dirt debris flying throughout the air.
"Gamabunta how are my teamates doing!" I shout realising he was tall enough to see over the caravans.
"Those brats? They seem to have already won."
His words calming me a little.
It seems like the archer escaped but my teammates are more important here.
...
---
[Omniscient POV (4 minutes ago)]
The other side of the caravans was chaos. Eight samurai flooded the slope like an angry tide, blades flashing as they charged the caravan flank. Orochimaru who was next to the caravans, still tens of meters away took out some kunai.
Civilians behind him who ran back inside, terrified.
"Orochimaru!" The voice of Tsunade running towards him, made the genius sigh in relief.
Her hands blurred through seals.
Boar → Ox
[Earth Style: Earthquake Slam]
The ground split apart with a deafening CRACK, the front line of samurai stumbling as the dirt crumbled beneath their feet. Horses screamed the while men tumbled into the fissure.
Orochimaru moved the instant she finished, calm as ever. Three kunai left his hand in a clean arc.
Before they even reached the samurai, his hands flashed again.
Ox → Dog → Dragon → Rat → Dog → Boar → Snake → Tiger[1]
[Kunai Shadow Clone Technique]
The air filled with steel. Twenty-five blades rained down, damaging the already weak armour and tearing through flesh. Two men dropped instantly. The rest staggered back, panic flickering in their eyes.
"What—what the hell are these kids!?" one of them gasped, his sword trembling.
They started to hesitate before then turned to flee.
Tsunade's lips tightened now with a frown on her face. "Cowards."
She inhaled sharply, weaving another quick seal.
Tiger → Ox → Tiger → Rat
[Water Release: Water Bullet Technique]
A blast of water burst from her mouth, slamming into the retreating soldiers and throwing two off their feet. The rest scrambled, soaked and disoriented.
"Now!" she barked again.
Orochimaru's eyes flashed red for an instant, one hand seal and now he [Body Flicker] right in front of a samurai. Two more hand seals and now the same samurai without being able to react was screaming.
[Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique (D-rank)]
"AHHHH!"
Tsunade who saw this murmured to herself. "Genjutsu."
Orochimaru pulling out shuriken this time made more hand signs in a hurry as the samurai neared in. They realised escape wasn't possible against shinobi and they had to fully commit to the kill.
"Watch out!" A samurai shouts seeing his teammate rush in.
But this man wasn't paying attention as he ran forward to Orochimaru, a sudden punch from the side sent him hurling to the ground.
Before they could regroup, Orochimaru flicked his wrist again, this time unleashing a handful of shuriken.
[Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique]
Dozens of spinning stars tore through the air, cutting down the last of the resistance. Metal clattered, bodies fell, and the air went still except for the sound of water dripping from broken armor.
Tsunade exhaled, lowering her hands. Mud streaked her cheeks, chest rose and fell heavily, but her gaze tired. "They're done."
Orochimaru nodded, his expression unreadable. "Lets tie them up."
From the distance, a massive BOOM echoed through the ground, shaking the dirt beneath their feet.
Tsunade looked up in amazement. "I can see the big toad from here!"
"...Or his toad," Orochimaru said, faint amusement in his tone.
Moments later, a familiar blur of white hair and cracked armor sprinted into view. Jiraiya's face was streaked with grime and blood, but his eyes were sharp. He looked at the scene—the fallen samurai, Tsunade and Orochimaru still standing—and a small smile tugged at his lips.
"You two alright?" he asked, stopping beside them. "Don't worry. I'm here now."
Orochimaru shook his head, still breathing hard. "My heart feels heavy."
"Then you should take a breather," Jiraiya softly smiled, glancing at the wreckage, "You guys did amazing."
Tsunade rolled her eyes but said nothing, her tone softer than before. "Next time, just try not to bring an earthquake with you."
"No promises." Jiraiya chuckled under his breath pulling his two teammates into a group hug to which they were too tired to move. They could only let it happen but seeing the small smiles on their faces it didn't seem all bad after all.
...
---
[POV - Jiraiya]
After gathering the loot, weapons and showing the kills to the Merchant, we took a short break.
Orochimaru and I had to vomit to the side as Tsunade just watched rubbing out backs.
The fatigue of our bodies finaly hit as we sluggishly walked beside the caravans. In the end though we persisted.
The caravan rolled out of the pass and into the open countryside of the Land of Fire. Hills stretching wide and green beneath the morning sun, a stark contrast to the chaos they'd left behind.
I scanned the horizon, keeping my senses sharp for any stragglers, but the pass behind us was finally quiet.
The Silk Baron practically glowed with excitement in his gilded robes. "My brave escorts! The students of Lord Third himself protecting me! Everyone will know today how you saved me from those rogue samurai!"
Tsunade grumbles beside me, arms crossed. "What's this guy up to.."
I glanced at her, then at Orochimaru, who simply nodded with that calm, unreadable expression of his. "Relax," I said. "He's not being rude. He's basically advertising us. Reputation like this means better jobs later, higher pay, and less nonsense missions."
"Hm. I suppose that makes sense." Tsunade's brow furrowed, then eased as she processed it. Orochimaru who was too the side was nodding.
"More money means more ninjutsu." He whispers to himself.
The Baron's carriage rolled through the town, merchants and townsfolk staring as we passed. I stayed close to the Silk Baron, ready to act if any threat appeared, though the chaos on the other side of the pass had already taught me that we could handle ourselves.
Looking at myself, the splattered blood might of intimidated a few civilains.
Even though I tried my best to clean up on the way here with a few rivers, it wasn't the best job.
When we arrived at his estate, the Baron leapt down, clapping his hands. "Marvelous! My caravans are protected by the students of the Third Hokage himself! And you, young Jiraiya," he said, pointing at me, "you saved my life back there! Truly remarkable with that big beast!"
I bowed slightly. "It's my job. I'm glad you're safe. Make sure to take care of yourself."
The Baron beamed.
Once the Baron was safely inside, I turned to my teammates. "Sensei should be outside."
...
The road back to Konoha was quieter than the journey out. Of course not before I took the fattest shit. The sun had climbed higher, casting long shadows across the rolling hills. My body ached, muscles sore from the fights, but my mind was clear.
Tsunade and Orochimaru were running side by side with me as we followed Hiruzen sensei.
By late afternoon, the gates of Konoha came into view. The city's usual bustle seemed almost welcoming after the chaos of the mountain pass.
"Good work today," he said, nodding at each of us in turn. "Tsunade, that Earth Style technique… your timing was excellent. Orochimaru, the precision and efficiency of your attacks, combined with your use of genjutsu, was very clever. And Jiraiya," he paused, looking directly at me, "your quick thinking and decision-making ensured the civilians' safety. That's the mark of a capable shinobi leader. Amazing job overall on top of talking with the client."
I gave a thumbs up.
"Thank you, sensei. Everyone did their part." Putting my arms around their shoulders they didn't resist but laughed.
Tsunade rolled her shoulders, stretching. "I could go for some food right now."
"Indeed. Sensei can we go eat." Orochimaru's smile caused Hiruzen to cover his face. The dangerous technique Orochimaru was showing to sensei might be a genjutsu the way he was avoiding eye contact.
"Sure, you lot deserved it anyways." He fake sighs unable to say no to his students.
As we walked towards our favourite restaurant, we were all silent.
My thoughts wandered off.
'I should hand in my ninjutsu to sensei for a ninjutsu back.' I thought.
Currently my repertoire of ninjutsu was pitiful to say the least. While yeah I still needed to master [Body Flicker] and maybe improve [Body Enhancement]. Those come with time while a ninjutsu would help me out tremendously.
Which one though...
Maybe one that would boost my training time.
[1] Are you guys fine with me adding hand seals. I mean I probably won't add them if there's too many. But stuff like 2-7.