"You've gotta be kidding me, right?" Kiba was the first to react, his voice brimming with disbelief. "This can't be real. Naruto wouldn't lie. He might dodge questions or skirt around topics he doesn't want to discuss, but he's never lied to us. I believe what he said—Sasuke died that day."
Naruto had always been straightforward—he never told a lie. Sometimes he avoided giving clear answers, but on the subject of Sasuke, he'd never held back at all.
He clearly told them that Sasuke had died in that battle, and nothing more. There was no reason for anyone to lie about something like this.
"I don't know," Hinata said softly, her voice carrying a noticeable sense of worry. "All I know is what I saw. I saw Sasuke Uchiha, without a doubt. It wasn't a Transformation Jutsu—this was truly him."
Though Shino had his doubts, he also understood that Hinata's observational skills far surpassed their own. Given the circumstances, it was best to follow their temporary squad leader's orders.
"Master Jiraiya," he said, turning to their leader for guidance. "What do you think we should do? If it really is Sasuke Uchiha, how should we proceed?"
Jiraiya frowned deeply. Everything about this felt off. His instincts were usually dead-on, and the last time he'd ignored them cost him an arm.
No, this was just too bizarre. If this was indeed some kind of Kinjutsu, then he was the most qualified person to handle it—without question.
"Kiba, can you and Akamaru still pick up his scent?"
"Yeah, we've still got the trail," Kiba replied.
"Then keep tracking," Jiraiya said, as he stopped on a tree branch. The members of Team 8 followed suit, only realizing afterward that Jiraiya hadn't joined them.
"Don't move recklessly. Once you locate them, don't engage—wait for me."
The way he said it made it clear he didn't intend to catch up with them at all.
Shino quickly picked up on this.
"What if you don't join us? How'll we know when to act?"
"...If I don't show up, you'll get the message soon enough. Trust me." Jiraiya assured them in a low voice, before turning sharply and waving impatiently. "Now go. Don't make me force you. I don't know you well enough to fight alongside you. That's final."
The three Chunin and the Ninja Hounds didn't argue—they simply turned and left their temporary leader behind. Jiraiya stood alone, gazing intently toward where Sasuke had appeared.
"It's been ages since I faced someone from the Uchiha clan… Let alone one who's come back from the dead. This is truly unprecedented."
He tried to lighten the tension with some self-deprecating humor, but his fingers on his left hand twitched uncontrollably, hinting at the battle ahead.
In the next moment, Sasuke Uchiha's figure appeared on a tree branch in front of him, eyes cold as they locked onto him.
Good grief, the kid was barely grown. He looked about the same age as Naruto.
Jiraiya felt a pang of hesitation in his heart. He didn't want to take the life of such a young man, but he knew there was no room for mercy at this moment.
"You must be Jiraiya," Sasuke spoke first, his voice devoid of emotion. "I never expected I'd have the chance to fight another of the Sannin after my death."
Indeed, Sasuke had ultimately killed Orochimaru. Jiraiya thought perhaps he should even be grateful for that.
"Well, strictly speaking..." Jiraiya broke the silence, his voice slightly bitter, "you haven't actually fought a fellow Sannin... You know why, because you're already dead."
He hesitated before asking, "How did you come back? I've seen this technique before, but usually the summoned lack consciousness."
"Impure World Reincarnation," Sasuke answered coldly with four words.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in shock.
Impure World Reincarnation—the forbidden jutsu Orochimaru once used during his invasion years ago to command the First and Second Hokage against their own teacher, the Third Hokage. This was going to be trouble.
"But you killed Orochimaru."
"I didn't kill Kabuto. Obviously, he learned this technique."
Dammit! Jiraiya cursed under his breath.
Clearly, the conversation was over. Sasuke suddenly launched an attack, his long sword transforming into a streak of cold light, aiming directly at Jiraiya's vital spot.
Though Sasuke moved with blinding speed, Jiraiya reacted just as swiftly. He nimbly dodged Sasuke's attack and silently thought to himself:
"Looks like Orochimaru trained him well after all."
Although Sasuke's sword style differed from Orochimaru's, his movements clearly carried the shadow of serpentine footwork—fluid yet lethal.
Jiraiya swiftly formed hand seals and unleashed [Needle Hell].
With a flash, his wild mane of white hair turned into a storm of countless steel needles, flying through the air like a storm toward Sasuke.
The razor-sharp needles tore through tree trunks, leaving gaping holes behind. However, Sasuke was prepared. He used the Substitution Jutsu to dodge the first wave of attacks, then avoided the remaining needles with incredible speed.
"It looks like it's my turn now." Sasuke said, gathering blinding lightning in his right hand. "Chidori Senbon!"
The chakra surged into countless miniature chidori, barreling toward Jiraiya like a storm's wrath. Jiraiya evaded again, unfazed.
He leapt down from the tree branch, but before landing on the ground, he had already looped a ninja wire around the branch.
Using the wire's tension, he landed steadily on the ground, settling into a defensive posture.
As Sasuke's assault came to an end, Jiraiya stood prepared.
He swiftly formed hand seals and unleashed [Earth Release: Earth Cracking]. The ground erupted with a thunderous roar, directly toppling the tree where Sasuke had been standing.
Sasuke had already predicted Jiraiya's intention. As soon as the tree began to fall, he jumped up and carefully avoided the crater left on the ground, avoiding being trapped.
Jiraiya stood prepared. He summoned two Shadow Clones, each poised to strike at any moment. Just as Sasuke took flight, trying to evade, Jiraiya barked the command: "[Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique]!"
Jiraiya's two Shadow Clones unleashed intense flames resembling napalm, cutting off all possible escape routes in midair and completely engulfing the young ninja in flames.
The roaring flames rapidly spread, devouring a vast stretch of forest in an instant.
Without hesitation, Jiraiya chose to retreat, avoiding injury from his own fiery creation.
Yet, a faint sense of unease stirred inside him.
"Hmph. Using just one hand forced you into such a desperate situation. I suppose I should feel honored. It looks like you underestimated me—a true legendary ninja."
Jiraiya spun around just in time to see Sasuke calmly step out of the inferno—completely unharmed!
His body, once engulfed in flames, regenerated repeatedly through the dust and ashes. Even his clothes reverted to their original state—the power of Impure World Reincarnation!
"So this is the kind of monster the Third Hokage faced back then..." Jiraiya mused. "He had to face not only a genius ninja, but also the two strongest figures in Konoha's history—both with Immortal Bodies... Surviving such a battle unscathed, my teacher truly was incredible. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the Dead Demon Consuming Seal like he did..."
Jiraiya took a deep breath, reminding himself: he was now the leader of an entire squad, the commander of a ninja unit—he couldn't afford to recklessly sacrifice himself.
Besides, even if he attempted to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, there was no guarantee it would successfully seal away Sasuke.
Looks like he would need another plan. If only he'd known beforehand that he'd be facing someone resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation, he should've come better prepared...
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