"Katon: Endan!"
("Fire Style: Flame Bullet!")
The two stood locked in a stalemate for a brief moment before Orochimaru finally lost his patience. With a heavy stomp and a powerful push of his arms, he launched Jiraiya backward.
However, Jiraiya used the momentum to his advantage—spinning 360 degrees mid-air and completing his hand seals, unleashing a B-rank Fire Release jutsu.
Unlike ordinary Fire Release techniques, Katon: Endan requires the user to first refine chakra into oil, hold it in their mouth, and then ignite it with Fire chakra.
This method produces flames that not only burn hotter but also cling more persistently, and can continue burning over time.
A single jutsu like this would be enough to overwhelm most jōnin.
But Orochimaru wasn't just any jōnin—he wasn't even a jōnin at all.
As one of the Legendary Sannin, a true Kage-level shinobi, there was no way a B-rank technique like this would bring him down.
More importantly, Orochimaru had known Jiraiya for decades. He was intimately familiar with Jiraiya's arsenal.
The moment Jiraiya began forming seals, Orochimaru already knew which jutsu was coming.
Naturally, he could respond ahead of time.
In a flash, he raised his hands and completed a set of hand seals, activating the jutsu — Sen'eijashu ("Hidden Shadow Snake Hands").
Instantly, countless venomous snakes burst forth from his sleeves like a crashing wave, launching themselves at Jiraiya's incoming flame bullet.
BOOM!
KRAK!
The two forces collided in midair with a muffled thud, followed by a violent explosion.
As the flames died down, the anguished hissing of snakes filled the air.
The snakes Orochimaru had summoned were completely engulfed, transforming into fiery serpents writhing on the ground.
The smell of charred flesh filled the air—a gruesome sight.
Yet Orochimaru didn't even flinch.
Not only because of his cold and calculating nature—but also because he sensed Jiraiya's second wave of attack already incoming.
Sure enough, undeterred by the failed strike, Jiraiya swiftly formed another set of seals and unleashed a more advanced jutsu—Katon: Dai Endan!
("Fire Style: Great Flame Bullet!")
Just from the name, it was clear this was an upgraded version of Endan.
Its power far surpassed the original—by nearly tenfold.
The moment it appeared, the heat distorted the air, warping the surroundings.
"I can't take that head-on."
Orochimaru made the call instantly.
With a blur of motion, he retreated.
Jiraiya guided the massive fireball forward, but it lacked the agility of a human body—it failed to hit its mark.
FWOOOM—!!
The massive flame engulfed a tree, reducing it to charcoal in an instant.
Orochimaru, now off to the side, watched this out of the corner of his eye. His face twitched slightly before he promptly responded with an upgraded jutsu of his own—Sen'eita Jashu! ("Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands").
This was one of Orochimaru's signature versatile techniques, capable of summoning numerous different snakes with various functions.
Like now—he summoned over a dozen serpents, each with a different role: surprise attacks, direct confrontation, visual interference, and more.
Faced with this multi-layered assault, Jiraiya opted for a universal response.
With a quick step back to gain distance, he formed seals and activated his self-created defensive jutsu—Hari Jizō!
("Needle Jizō!")
In an instant, chakra surged into his long white hair.
The strands rapidly grew, swelling in volume and strength, becoming tough as steel cables.
Jiraiya manipulated them to wrap around him layer upon layer, forming a dense mesh of hair that acted as both shield and armor.
This tight weave served as a shock absorber and damage reducer, proving highly effective against physical and chakra-based attacks.
But it wasn't just for defense.
With a single thought, Jiraiya made the outermost layer of hair stand upright and harden—turning into a forest of needle-like spikes, all pointed outward.
He now resembled a hedgehog with its spines drawn in, a perfect defense mechanism that also punished any who dared approach.
Sure enough, as Orochimaru's summoned snakes struck, not only did they fail to wound Jiraiya—they were pierced clean through by the steel-like hair.
Agonized hisses rang out once more.
Without hesitation, Jiraiya manipulated his hair to fling the snakes away, then transformed it into a long, whip-like tendril that lashed toward Orochimaru.
This was no ordinary move—this was a combination follow-up technique, Ranji Shigami no Jutsu!
("Wild Lion's Mane Technique!")
It allowed Jiraiya to stretch and sharpen his hair at will. Once it ensnared an opponent, it could shred them in an instant—a deadly technique.
Naturally, Orochimaru, being Jiraiya's former comrade, knew how dangerous this move was. Rather than counter, he immediately retreated out of range.
Before Jiraiya could make a second strike with his hair, Orochimaru was already forming hand seals—activating a Wind Release jutsu: Fūton: Kazekiri no Jutsu!
("Wind Style: Wind Cutter Technique!")
This technique was similar to the Kaze no Yaiba ("Blade of Wind") used by Aoba Yamashiro—both generated razor-sharp wind blades.
However, Aoba's technique could only produce a single wind blade at a time for mid-to-long-range attacks.
Orochimaru's Kazekiri focused on close-range but could conjure multiple blades simultaneously.
Just like now—as he finished the seals and swept his arm, five sharp wind blades shot forward, slicing cleanly through Jiraiya's extended white hair.
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
Though it was only hair clashing against wind, the sound echoed like clashing metal.
The techniques canceled each other out—Jiraiya was forced to withdraw his hair, and the wind blades dissipated.
This exchange proved just how evenly matched they were. Neither side had the upper hand.
What followed was a prolonged battle—waves of jutsu and taijutsu, chakra flying like water, laying waste to the entire forest.
The battle raged on for over an hour. As dawn began to lighten the sky, neither combatant had gained a clear advantage.
Hidden underground, Seimei had been observing the entire fight.
From what he'd seen, Jiraiya had the upper hand in straightforward combat—but Orochimaru's techniques were far more cunning and sinister.
Just when Jiraiya would seize the advantage, Orochimaru would respond with some underhanded move, forcing Jiraiya on the defensive once more.
The balance of power remained perfectly level.
It was clear—unless one of them revealed their trump card, this fight would go on indefinitely.
And judging by the signs, Seimei could tell that moment wasn't far off.
With that thought, he slipped deeper into the shadows, hiding himself even more securely.