On the lake.
Yahiko stood at the center of the water's surface, chakra steadily supporting him as ripples spread beneath his feet.
Charmander stood behind him, tail flame flickering with spirited energy.
"Dragon Breath!"
Yahiko took a deep breath, forming hand signs as the chakra within his body resonated with Charmander's energy.
Instantly, a blazing cyan light erupted from his chest and mouth.
The light burst outward, transforming into a brilliant beam crackling with the shrieks of lightning and wind!
The cyan Dragon Breath shot forth, tearing through the air and making the lake's surface boil.
Where the beam passed, water vapor erupted and the surface churned into white foam.
With crackling sounds, cyan electrical arcs danced across the lake like roaring thunder dragons, their presence terrifying.
Shiroishi watched from the shore, a faint glimmer in his eyes.
He adjusted his glasses, and the system's interface appeared before him.
[Dragon Breath Technique: Possesses a certain chance of paralysis.]
"...I see."
The chakra within Yahiko's body was actually resonating with the World Tree's new energy.
This was no coincidence.
After absorbing the White Zetsu into the World Tree, the tree's energy structure had subtly changed.
The bizarre life form of White Zetsu, originally born from the Ten-Tails' remains combined with natural chakra, had unexpectedly unlocked a new genetic module - the Dragon Attribute - when absorbed by the World Tree.
This meant the World Tree's energy structure was gradually becoming more complete.
Shiroishi's gaze fell upon the purple-cyan egg behind him.
Its surface swirled with interwoven shades of purple and cyan, radiating mystery.
Now it was vibrating gently in rhythm with the Dragon Breath released by Yahiko and Charmander.
The patterns on the eggshell pulsed like breathing, resonating with the Dragon Breath over the lake,
seemingly absorbing that hybrid energy containing both lightning and wind.
He adjusted his glasses as the information on the screen updated:
[New World Tree Attribute Module: Dragon-type genes unlocked.]
[Dragon Release: Wind Attribute + Lightning Attribute + Yang Release energy structure confirmed]
Even Dragon Release, a hybrid system that shouldn't exist, could naturally derive through external stimulation.
At the lake's center, Yahiko had stopped releasing chakra.
Enveloped in rising steam, sweat trickled down his cheeks, but his face was filled with excitement and satisfaction.
"Hah..."
He exhaled softly, then turned to smile at his partner behind him.
"Charmander, you're amazing!"
"Char!"
Charmander cried out happily, its tail flame blazing brighter.
The fire illuminated its face, flickering light brimming with pride.
Shiroishi approached the lakeside, observing the tacit understanding between the two.
While organizing the basic data based on the unlocked Dragon Release information.
In the valleys of the Earth Country, bitter winds howled.
Low clouds hung heavy, the air thick with dust.
Jiraiya, cloaked and crouched behind a rock, watched the meeting point at the valley's center ahead.
He found himself missing the four youngsters.
This mission should have been straightforward.
According to the Third Hokage's intelligence, the Hidden Rock Village had recently conducted a private transaction with a Fire Country noble, obtaining extremely classified information from him.
Mission objectives: intercept the transaction, recover the intelligence, and bring the traitorous noble back to Konoha.
For Jiraiya, this type of espionage mission was routine.
This time, however, his backpack carried an unusual companion—the spirit egg obtained from Shiroishi, on the verge of hatching.
He gently patted the bundle on his back and chuckled softly:
"Hey, little one, now's not the time to join the fun."
Yet as soon as he spoke, the egg behind him trembled slightly.
A faint Chakra Wave seeped from the shell, like a heartbeat's response.
Jiraiya froze, his lips twitching.
"Hope it doesn't hatch now."
He muttered under his breath, channeling Chakra to suppress his own aura.
Strangely, as if understanding his words, the egg gradually quieted down, leaving only a faint warmth.
"Phew... so perceptive." Jiraiya shook his head with a wry smile. "Even an egg is this obedient."
He refocused his attention ahead.
The meeting point was at the center of the valley, flanked by towering cliffs along a narrow stone path—a terrain extremely unfavorable for escape.
Amid the gray-brown rocks, several figures faintly emerged.
Moments later, the contacts from both sides appeared.
From the Rock Village, six ninjas, all clad in earth-colored armor, burly in build, their Chakra as heavy as mountains.
They cautiously scanned their surroundings, while across from them, a man draped in the robes of a Fire Nation noble slowly stepped forward.
Adorned with gold ornaments, his demeanor reserved, he held a black scroll—the core of the transaction.
"A Fire Nation noble... nothing special."
The lead Jonin from the Rock Village sneered, "Dogs raised by Konoha are so easily bought."
"Hmph, save the chatter." The noble lifted his head, voice trembling slightly. "I've brought the intel. Give me what I want, quickly."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly.
The moment had come.
He reached up to touch his forehead protector, cleared his throat softly,
then stepped out of the shadows as if materializing from thin air, standing with the wind.
"Well, hello everyone."
His tone was lazy, yet the moment he landed, the air in the entire valley tensed up.
"One of Konoha's Three Legendary Ninjas?"
Since Hanzo's recent acknowledgment, the title of Konoha's Three Legendary Ninjas had spread far and wide.
The Rock ninjas reacted instantly, all six stepping back in unison, Chakra surging wildly.
The ground cracked with a series of snaps, earthen walls rising to form an encirclement.
Meanwhile, the Fire Nation noble, upon seeing Jiraiya's face, turned and fled in sheer terror.
"Running pretty fast." Jiraiya's lips curled slightly as he tapped his toes,
transforming into a blur, appearing almost instantly behind the noble.
"Mission over."
He reached out, fingers slightly spread, ready to seize the man.
Just as his fingertips brushed the noble's sleeve, an intense Chakra shockwave erupted violently!
"Boom!"
The blast kicked up clouds of dust, shattered rocks, and tore through the air.
Jiraiya was forced back several steps, his gaze sharpening abruptly.
"Something's wrong!"
He looked up to see the noble's aura had completely transformed.
The originally pale, weak face was now covered in dark patterns.
Eerie red light glowed in his eyes, his voice chillingly cold.
"Heh... didn't expect to lure in a big fish like one of Konoha's Three Legendary Ninjas."
"You're not a Fire Nation noble... Who are you?"
"Me?" The man's lips curved into a sinister smile.
"Naturally..."
As the words fell, the figure before him suddenly dissolved into a flowing puddle of mud, followed by terrifying purple flames erupting all around.
It burst directly from the ground, lunging straight at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya snapped back to his senses in an instant.
A Jinchuriki?
"Shouldn't it be the other way around? Ninjas are the dogs raised by the nobility."