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The mongoose noticed the shift and reminded sharply, "Ye dou, he's going to strike!"
"I know!" Ye Dou replied, frowning.
He raised his blade once more and slashed at the approaching threat.
But this time, Uchiha Itachi didn't need to dodge. Instead, he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and summoned Susanoo, drawing forth the Totsuka Blade from its gourd-like sheath.
Boom!
Their weapons clashed with an explosive force. The hotel structure couldn't withstand the impact—it crumbled entirely, reduced to ruins.
Ye Dou wasn't hit directly, but the sheer force of the collision sent him skidding backward.
It was hard to believe—despite his formidable physical strength, he was being overpowered.
But there was no helping it. The enemy's blade, massive and ethereal, could level a building with a single sweep. Its power far surpassed ordinary weapons.
The Totsuka Blade wasn't a conventional weapon. Stored within a gourd held by Susanoo, it manifested as a sword engulfed in spiritual fire. It was imbued with sealing capabilities, trapping its target in an eternal genjutsu-like illusion once pierced.
"You were quite troublesome earlier," Itachi said calmly.
Then, with a subtle gesture, Susanoo brought forth the Yata Mirror, its absolute defense. The mirror surged forward like a colossal shield, striking Ye Dou and sending him flying.
"Ye Dou!" someone cried out.
The scene was nightmarish. Although the Yata Mirror took the shape of a shield, its mass and velocity were monstrous—like being struck by dozens of giant shields at once. No human could withstand such force. Might Guy grew visibly anxious and prepared to intervene, but Kisame Hoshigaki restrained him.
In that critical moment, smoke burst forth violently from the battlefield.
A massive toad emerged beside Ye Dou in a puff of summoning smoke.
This toad radiated an intimidating aura. Enormous in size—rivaling even Susanoo—it had a pipe clenched in its mouth and wielded a massive blade in both hands, intercepting the Yata Mirror's strike.
"This old toad again... It's been a while, Mr. Itachi," Jiraiya's voice called out as he stood atop the toad's head.
Both Kisame and Itachi were visibly startled. They immediately recognized who had summoned the toad.
In today's ninja world, many shinobi had contracts with summoning beasts—like Kakashi's ninken or Guy's tortoise—but those were relatively ordinary.
This was different.
Gamabunta, the Chief Toad of Mount Myōboku, was on the battlefield now. Not only was his size comparable to a tailed beast's, but he could also wield a massive tanto and perform powerful ninjutsu.
With a single swing, he could cleave through armies.
Only a few could summon beings of this caliber.
For instance, Jiraiya had been chosen by the Great Toad Sage himself and granted a contract with Mount Myōboku. For most ninja, the location of the mountain was a mystery, let alone the chance to sign a contract with its residents.
"You underestimate me," Jiraiya said, carrying the woman Itachi had hypnotized over his shoulder. "A true man doesn't fall for seduction. Women chase me, not the other way around!"
He struck a strange pose atop Gamabunta's head, still boasting.
Naruto scowled. "Don't lie, you're just a pervy sage! Even a wink from a woman gets you tricked!"
Still, Naruto felt a strange sense of relief. The arrival of Gamabunta and Jiraiya brought him a renewed sense of hope.
"Hey, Jiraiya," Gamabunta muttered solemnly, "You've been stirring up a lot lately. First it was Shukaku, and now this?"
As the boss toad, Gamabunta stood just beneath the Great Toad Sage in status and knowledge. He instantly recognized Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan.
He knew the danger these eyes represented.
Uchiha Madara himself had once enslaved the Nine-Tails with nothing but his ocular power. The thought was terrifying.
"That's exactly why I need your help, Bunta," Jiraiya said, setting the woman gently on the ground and staring at Itachi with grim resolve. "Only a coward uses genjutsu on defenseless women. You've fallen, Uchiha Itachi."
Despite his lecherous nature, Jiraiya had a clear moral compass. He would never stoop to such vile tactics.
"You should be grateful," Itachi replied coldly, unbothered. "I gave her a moment of peace."
Still, he was already calculating his retreat. His mission had been completed—there was no longer a reason to remain.
[Offense and Defense in Perfect Harmony—Susanoo]
---
Far away, on the border of the Land of Fire...
A strange creature emerged from the earth—half black, half white.
"I didn't expect this..." it muttered. "Itachi and Kisame seem to be in trouble."
This was Zetsu, the Akatsuki's top spy. The dual being—Black Zetsu and White Zetsu—operated as a single entity. Most members simply referred to them collectively as "Zetsu."
Before him stood a mysterious figure in a swirling mask—Uchiha Obito, thought to have died in the Third Great Ninja War. To the world, he no longer existed.
"What happened?" Obito asked, his voice low.
While the official leader of Akatsuki was Nagato, Obito pulled the strings from the shadows. Nagato was merely a pawn.
"They encountered resistance in Suba Town. It's not going well," Zetsu answered.
"Resistance? From Konoha?"
Obito's tone hinted at disbelief. In his mind, few in the current Konoha could match Itachi and Kisame.
"They ran into Jiraiya," White Zetsu said flatly. "And the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki is with him."
Obito's expression darkened.
Zetsu, a being created from Hashirama Senju's cells and the chakra of the Ten Tails, born through Yin-Yang Release and the will of ancient times, was deeply attuned to the secrets of the world.
He knew better than anyone—this battle was far from over.
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