Amidst the valley, fierce winds carried scorching heat and dust, while the entire earth trembled.
The Chakra Waves of the Rock ninja army surged one after another, with Earth Release Techniques layered upon each other, as if intending to overturn the entire mountain range.
Jiraiya signaled for Gamabunta to leave first, as the Three Ninja could handle what came next on their own.
Bringing along a large companion like Gamabunta would be inconvenient.
However, before leaving, Gamabunta noticed the egg on Jiraiya's back, which seemed to be hatching.
What was this?
Orochimaru's Snake Egg?
Gamabunta had no time to ponder further before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Amidst the chaos and roaring of the heavens and earth, Jiraiya suddenly felt an unusual vibration from his back.
He turned sharply to see the bundle on his back trembling violently, with a dazzling blue light shining through.
The next moment—
Crack, crack, crack!
The patterns on the eggshell rapidly fractured, and a gentle yet immense energy spread out.
The sound of the shell breaking was exceptionally clear.
Accompanied by a crisp cry, a small blue creature leaped out, landing steadily on the ground.
Its skin was smooth, with a moist sheen; the fin on its head stood tall, and its orange gills quivered slightly; its tail fin was broad, as if capable of parting turbulent currents effortlessly.
As soon as it appeared, the scorching atmosphere in the air was replaced by a hint of cool freshness.
Jiraiya froze for a moment, his eyes flashing with shock and confusion.
"This... is..."
Meanwhile, at the Breeding House.
Shiroishi's glasses reflected a glowing screen.
The screen flickered before his eyes, displaying a line of prompt text:
[Host Compatibility Confirmed—Jiraiya (Mudkip)]
[Inherited Skill Activated: Wide Guard]
"Mudkip?"
Back on the battlefield.
The Rock ninja's assault had already taken shape.
Six elite ninja led the charge, followed by dozens of mid-level ninja, with Roshi commanding from the rear.
The fluctuations of Chakra converged into an oppressive wave.
Earth Release!
Mudslides surged like raging tidal waves, pouring down from all directions.
Crushed rocks and molten lava intertwined, forming waves of destruction.
Even the air hummed under the pressure.
Jiraiya instinctively stepped back, about to form hand seals, but the small blue creature that had suddenly leaped up beat him to it.
Mudkip kicked off the ground, leaping high and landing steadily on Jiraiya's head.
It raised its head, its orange gills slightly puffing, as if observing the flow of air.
Its demeanor created a peculiar contrast with its small size.
Jiraiya's lips twitched, his face full of exasperation. "Hey, hey... stay calm in this situation, don't move around recklessly."
But Mudkip paid no heed.
It closed its eyes, blue light swirling within its body, and waves of energy rippled outward from its form.
At that moment, a series of strange, murmuring, eerie voices flashed through Jiraiya's mind, causing his gaze to grow somewhat dazed and muddled.
It was as if someone was whispering softly.
After standing in a daze for a long time, Tsunade and Orochimaru were completely baffled by the sight of Jiraiya and Mudkip standing motionless together.
Suddenly!
Jiraiya's eyes sharpened, and Sealing Runes lit up in his palm.
The unfamiliar incantations perfectly synchronized with Mudkip's energy fluctuations.
He raised his hand, the hand seals forming almost instinctively.
"Earth Release: Wide Guard!"
Boom!
Golden radiance erupted instantly.
Centered around Jiraiya, the ground within a radius of several dozen meters abruptly swelled upward.
Rocks and soil solidified, crystallized, and hardened under the pull of Chakra!
Forming layers of golden, semi-transparent defensive walls.
The mudslide crashed against the barrier, unleashing earth-shaking tremors.
Countless rocks struck the crystalline wall, sparks flying in all directions, yet not even a half-inch crack appeared.
For a moment, the entire battlefield was illuminated by that golden radiance.
Numerous Rock ninja stared wide-eyed, unable to believe the sight of that impenetrable wall!
This was no ordinary Earth Release—it blended water's fluidity with the resilience of Yang Release.
"What kind of technique is this?!"
At the center of the defensive wall, Jiraiya looked down at the little creature perched on his head.
Mudkip flicked its tail, eyes gleaming with determination.
"You little rascal…"
Jiraiya couldn't help but chuckle, a note of relief in his voice. "Seems we make a pretty good team."
Nearby, Tsunade watched in astonishment, sensing the barrier's extraordinary stability.
This was far beyond the level of ordinary defensive jutsu.
Such a chakra combination…
Could it be an entirely new technique?
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened, his curiosity thoroughly ignited.
"Heh… Interesting. It seems related to that Ninja Beast on your head?"
He extended his tongue, lightly licking the corner of his mouth.
The explosive dust was dissolved by chakra winds into a fine mist.
Roshi stared at the glowing barrier, his brow deeply furrowed.
As the smoke cleared, the Sannin had already vanished.
Seeing their retreat, the Rock ninja made no move to pursue.
Though they had intended to lure them in, capturing all three Sannin at once would have been nearly impossible.
Along with other Rock leadership, Roshi decided to abandon the chase for now.
The fading sunset cast its glow across the valley, dyeing the woodland border between the Land of Rain and Land of Earth in shades of gold and crimson.
The air remained damp with moisture.
Three figures raced through the terrain—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade had finally shaken off their pursuers from Iwagakure.
Confirming their safety, they landed beside a babbling stream.
Jiraiya let out a long exhale. Mudkip, perched cheerfully on his shoulder, wagged its tail energetically, seemingly more spirited than its master.
"Phew… Finally lost them."
Tsunade brushed the dust from her sleeves, about to complain when her attention was caught by the small blue creature.
Noticing her gaze, Mudkip blinked its round eyes, let out a soft "guru guru," and flicked its tail fin, splashing a few water droplets.
It then leaped nimbly onto Jiraiya's shoulder, settling comfortably into place.
Tsunade crossed her arms, scrutinizing it with a skeptical tone. "...What kind of Ninja Beast is this?"
Her doubt was evident—after all, the defensive power it displayed on the battlefield was far beyond any ordinary Ninja Beast.
Jiraiya scratched his head, wearing a well-practiced, excuse-ready grin.
"Well, haha… I found it during a mission."
"Found it?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, disbelief written across her face.
"Since when is your luck so good that you just stumble upon a Ninja Beast with Barrier Technique-level defense?"
"Aw, don't look at me like that."
Jiraiya feigned innocence, gently patting Mudkip's head. "See how well-behaved it is?"
Hearing the praise, Mudkip swayed its head and tail contentedly.
Its clear blue eyes reflected the color of the sky.
Tsunade's lip twitched.
She had witnessed firsthand how this little creature deployed a barrier defense on the battlefield, blocking a combined assault from hundreds of Rock ninja.
And now it was pretending to be harmless?
Nearby, Orochimaru watched the scene unfold, his expression unreadable.
Those golden vertical pupils narrowed with a predator-like curiosity.
"Heh... What a peculiar life form."
He extended his hand, seemingly wanting to observe the strange Chakra Wave.
However, Mudkip seemed to sense something, lightly flicking its tail fin while revealing a hint of disgust at the corner of its mouth.
Splash!
A drop of water splattered right onto Orochimaru's face.
In that instant, Orochimaru's smile froze slightly.
He remained silent for two seconds, the corner of his mouth twitching as he let out a very soft "Heh..."
Tsunade found this utterly hilarious, laughing so hard she could barely stand straight.
"Hahaha! It seems this little guy dislikes snakes even more than you do, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, shadows concealing his expression.
"Alright, stop scaring it."
Tsunade interrupted him, then turned to look at Jiraiya.
"But seriously, Jiraiya, you'd better be honest. Where did it really come from? I've never seen this kind of Ninja Beast before."
"I really did find it."
Jiraiya scratched his head with a guilty laugh. "A chance encounter, you could call it fate."
Tsunade rolled her eyes, clearly not buying it.
"Suit yourself. But this little guy does look quite cute."
Her tone softened as she couldn't resist reaching out to touch its smooth skin.
Seeing this, Mudkip stiffened but didn't dodge, instead letting out a yawn.
Then, the entire little creature plopped down on Jiraiya's head and began spacing out with its eyes closed.
As Mudkip grew drowsy, Jiraiya was affected as well.
"Hmm... why... suddenly feeling..."
He let out a big yawn, actually starting to feel sleepy himself.
Tsunade's mouth twitched as she raised her hand and knocked him on the forehead.
"Idiot Jiraiya! Even your timing for falling asleep is this ridiculous?"
Jiraiya: "..."