I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 289 Immortal Techniques VS. Pseudo-Immortal Techniques!

[S-Rank Mission: Sage Jiraiya]

[Mission Objective: Defeat/Kill Jiraiya]

[Mission Reward: S-Rank Ninja Scroll]

"Same situation as before with Yekura!"

Nara Rinkachi breathed a sigh of relief.

Even during the mission cooldown period, as long as the target's strength level increases significantly, you can still trigger their higher-level missions.

If Jiraiya's S-rank mission isn't triggered today.

Even if he actually defeated his opponent and obtained the "Telescope Technique," Nara Ranke would still feel like he had lost out.

Ultimately, the Telescope Technique is only an A-rank ninjutsu.

Jiraiya's S-rank mission was equivalent to an S-rank ninjutsu.

After going back and forth a bit, rounding it up or down...

Nara's attempt to capture the sage only resulted in the loss of an S-rank ninjutsu, didn't it?

Fortunately, Jiraiya the Sage did not disappoint Nara Rinka.

"We must complete this S-rank mission! We must also obtain Sage Jiraiya's S-rank scroll!"

Nara Rinka put aside all distractions and focused intently on dealing with the raging inferno ahead.

He had a very thorough grasp of the general information about Jiraiya and Sage Mode.

Without the assistance of the two toad sages, Fukasaku and Shima, Jiraiya alone would have absolutely no way to maintain Sage Mode for an extended period of time.

According to Fukasaku, Sage Mode cannot be maintained for too long, at most five minutes.

The duration of Sage Mode will not be discussed here.

Nara Rinka only knew that with the help of the two immortals, Fukasaku and Shima, Jiraiya had completely overcome his "five-minute" weakness, and the natural energy he could now unleash was almost inexhaustible!

To compete in ninjutsu against an opponent who can harness limitless natural energy.

Even if you squeeze all the chakra from Nara Rinka, [Chakra Crystal], and [Yin Seal], you still won't be able to defeat your opponent.

To break this catastrophic "Sage Art: Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet", we must find another way.

The towering sea of ​​fire and the vast flow of water collided and canceled each other out, while milky white steam continued to rise into the sky.

However, with the support of Sage Chakra, the power of Fire Release was clearly superior to that of Water Release, and the momentum of the vast water flow became weaker and weaker, and its range became smaller and smaller.

It was clear that the [Great Explosive Water Wave] was about to be completely suppressed by the "Toad Oil Flame Bullet".

Nara Rinkazu's mind stirred slightly, but without forming any hand seals, he simply created a [shadow clone].

[Summoning Technique: Lightning Sword Transformation]!

The Shadow Clone took a Water Release Mask from the original body, resonated with and guided the Water Release chakra within it, and injected it into the hot spring below where the water level was constantly decreasing.

A stream of warm water, manipulated by the [Shadow Clone], slowly rose from below and, after undergoing extreme shape changes, formed an unstoppable high-pressure water gun.

【Water Release: Water Severing Wave】!

The Shadow Clone technique releases all the chakra within the Water Release Mask and injects it into the water stream.

A streak of silvery white light suddenly pierced through the steam, smashing a bowl-sized hole through the imposing sea of ​​fire, and shot towards Gamabunta, who was still releasing oil.

Jiraiya, the Sage, was protected by two great sages.

In comparison, the large and relatively clumsy Gamabunta is a better target!

"Bunta! Be careful!"

Standing on Jiraiya's shoulders, Fukasaku keenly noticed the silver streak that stretched across the sky. While rapidly forming hand seals, he didn't forget to loudly remind Gamabunta below.

"Sage Art: Water Slash!"

The moment he finished speaking, Fukasaku transformed his Sage Chakra into Water Release and released a thin column of water to block the [Water Severing Wave] that was coming from the front.

Snapped!

The two high-pressure water columns formed by "Water Severing Wave" and "Immortal Technique: Water Slash" collided violently in mid-air, producing a piercing thunderous sound, and water droplets splashed everywhere.

However, Fukasaku Sage's attack was ultimately a follow-up move. His "Sage Art: Water Slash" only managed to block the [Water Severing Wave], failing to obliterate the high-pressure water column at its very tip.

puff--

Gamabunta's seemingly tough and rough skin became as fragile as a sheet of paper under the attack of [Water Severing Wave]. A small hole was pierced through it, and blood gushed out from the wound.

"Croak!"

Gamabunta let out another miserable cry, abruptly ceasing his oil-releasing actions. The "Toad Oil Flame Bullet" lost its supply of toad oil, and its power was immediately reduced significantly.

"Bunta!"

Upon hearing Gamabunta's screams, Jiraiya also stopped using his Sage Mode.

"Are you alright? Or... why don't you just go back to Mount Myōboku now?"

Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta earlier, hoping that this battle-hardened toad would buy him time to activate Sage Mode.

Now that Jiraiya has fully entered Sage Mode, Gamabunta can no longer offer much help in the battle.

Rather than leave it to suffer the beating.

It would be better to let it return to Mount Myōboku, rest well, and await the next spiritual summoning.

Gamabunta covered his stomach with both hands, temporarily stopping the blood that was gushing out like a spring, and glared angrily at Nara Rinka.

"Jiraiya! If you lose this battle, don't call me next time!"

Bang!

With this final statement, Gamabunta's massive body exploded into a cloud of smoke and returned directly to Mount Myōboku.

Jiraiya could understand this principle, and Gamabunta could certainly understand it too.

Despite being repeatedly injured by Nara Rinka, it never found a chance to take revenge.

However, if Gamabunta continues to stay and fight, his injuries will only worsen.

In order to avoid further attacks, Gamabunta chose to make a strategic retreat.

Without Gamabunta's support, Jiraiya and the two sages on his shoulders landed on the ground.

At the same time, the vast torrent of water and the raging sea of ​​fire vanished from the battlefield, turning into rising water vapor that floated into the sky and merged into the clouds.

Rumbling--

The leaden clouds rubbed against each other, producing a muffled rumble of thunder.

"Be careful, Jiraiya."

Shima Senjin looked up at the sky with some wariness, staring at the dark clouds flashing with arcs of electricity.

"The natural energy in the atmosphere is somewhat restless."

"Understood, Master Shima."

Jiraiya's face was painted a deeper crimson, the blood-red marks covering almost half of his face.

"I won't be careless!"

"Speaking of which, Jiraiya, you just said that the little guy over there is also a ninja from your Konoha, right?"

Fukasaku only glanced briefly at the thunderclouds in the sky before turning his attention to the distant Nara Ranka.

"There were also traces of natural energy flowing through him, but they were very faint..."

"There are also traces of natural energy flow on the other person?"

Jiraiya was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised by this information.

Little did he know that Nara Rinka also possessed magical powers—

No! Wait!

What Fukasaku the hermit was referring to was the presence of faint traces of natural energy flow on Nara Rinka's body.

and so……

Is this the real reason why the other party is so obsessed with the inheritance of the sage techniques of Mount Myōboku?

Do you want to understand higher levels of power because you've come into contact with the existence of natural energy?

It seems Nara Ranka is a similar type of guy to Orochimaru...

Various thoughts flashed through Jiraiya's mind, but he quickly put them aside.

He heard another reminder in his ear.

"Jiraiya, on the left."

Master Shima grabbed Jiraiya's ear.

"That thing over there, whether it's the real body or a clone, is raising its hand in this direction!"

Jiraiya looked in the direction of the sound and saw the shadow clone that hadn't dissipated raising its right hand towards the location where he and the two sages were, releasing a series of black bullets.

"Be careful! Two immortals!"

Jiraiya channeled his Sage Chakra into his limbs and bones, maximizing his movement speed.

"This is a Yin Release technique of the Nara clan, a very special and troublesome shadow ninjutsu. Avoid contact with these projectiles!"

With the boost from Sage Mode, Jiraiya's movement speed increased dramatically, allowing him to easily evade the final attack of the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

The Shadow Clone, which already had very little chakra left, exploded into a cloud of smoke after this final round of attacks, having exhausted its chakra.

"Now!"

Jiraiya's eyes lit up as he found a flat spot and lay prone on the ground like a toad, his long, silver-white hair standing on end as if he had been electrocuted.

"Immortal Technique: Thousand Needles of Hair!"

The continuous strands of long, silvery-white hair transformed into sharp, slender steel needles, shooting densely towards the location of Nara Ranke and his [shadow clone].

"Oh, it's this technique..."

Nara Rinka's eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized it as [Sage Art: Thousand Needles].

He originally intended to use Earth Release or Water Release to create a protective wall to withstand the rapid attacks of [Sage Art: Thousand Needles].

However, the attack speed of [Sage Art: Thousand Needles] is too fast. The flying speed of those silver needles is almost comparable to shadow bullet ninjutsu such as [Spiral Shadow Piercing Bullet].

Nara failed to form a hand seal with the cassia tree, so he had to send out his shadow clone.

[Shadow Armor Technique]!

A hexagonal, jet-black shield appeared in front of Nara Rinka, blocking the [Sage Art: Thousand Needles] that was being aimed at Jiraiya.

"Now!"

Jiraiya's eyes lit up.

The opponent has now used a defensive ninjutsu that obstructs vision.

That would be the perfect time to escalate the attack!

Jiraiya, together with the two sages, prepared to unleash a brand new Sage Art in the direction of Nara's Osaka.

"Sage Art: Goemon!"

And at this time.

Nara, with its cassia trees in bloom, also looks up at the sky.

He originally planned to have a real duel with Jiraiya.

Unexpectedly, the opponent persisted in using ninjutsu to exchange blows.

Let's go then!

Nara Rinka raises one hand to the sky, guiding the lightning in the heavens.

"Qilin!"

(End of this chapter)