This was the ideal location.
Honestly, Jiraiya couldn't have found a better environment to carry out what he needed to do.
Sasuke landed back on ground level, emotionlessly staring at Jiraiya, seemingly indifferent that the battlefield had shifted from the fresh outdoor air into this hastily dug underground tunnel created by the massive serpent.
"I suppose I've unraveled a mystery that has puzzled people for years. A maimed hermit named Jiraiya with only one arm is actually stronger than Orochimaru, who was bedridden and barely alive. Congratulations."
"Well then, thank you." Sarcastic remarks from an arrogant kid wouldn't bother Jiraiya in the least.
He'd lived through the era when half of the absurd ninja techniques in use today were created.
Whether Sasuke realized it or not, Jiraiya already controlled the situation completely, regardless of whether he could truly kill his opponent or not.
He'd heard about Sasuke's techniques from Naruto, clearly remembering how he'd stopped Sasuke's Final Blow during their three-way battle against the Uchiha brothers, which instantly destroyed a fortress.
But Sasuke wouldn't give Jiraiya time to make more hand seals—not before he acted first.
[Great Fire Dragon Technique!]
A massive flame shaped like a dragon's head erupted from Sasuke's mouth, charging directly toward Jiraiya, who had nowhere to dodge inside the narrow tunnel.
"Never engage an Uchiha without preparation," thought Jiraiya as he opened a prepared scroll, tossing it forward while forming a single hand seal with one hand. [Fire Sealing Method!]
Seeing his technique get absorbed into the scroll greatly annoyed Sasuke.
It reminded him of how Naruto had managed to suppress his older brother's jutsu. He wasn't sure if even his most refined strategies could counter that technique.
But he would never get the chance to prove it.
Naruto interfered in their fight, killed both of them, and stole that opportunity from me.
"I'll kill you so he feels it too—just so Naruto can experience my hatred!" It was the first time since his revival that Sasuke had raised his voice. "How dare he kill Itachi?"
"Naruto didn't kill Itachi," Jiraiya said, absorbing all the flames into the scroll. "He only killed you. Itachi survived that battle and later died during a fight in the desert. That's where they found bloodstains belonging to his teammate, leading them to believe he had died there as well."
As for the whole confusing matter regarding Danzo's disappearance—that was another story entirely.
That place was like a battlezone Bermuda Triangle—no one who entered ever returned.
Upon hearing this news, Sasuke's eyes widened.
After death, he hadn't been able to learn any recent developments.
In that barren hell, there were no newspapers or bingo games to pass the time. But this revelation hit him like the coldest wind imaginable.
In his heart, Itachi would always be the last *true* member of the Uchiha clan on Terra, no matter who that masked weirdo really was. If his body still housed a real heart, he might have felt sick at that thought.
Jiraiya didn't hesitate—he took immediate action. He quickly formed a series of hand seals and slammed his palm onto the ground.
[Frog Stomach Binding Jutsu!]
The tunnel morphed into a fleshy, throat-like void.
Those meaty walls began climbing up Sasuke's feet and ankles, trying to pin him in place. He broke free, but not before Jiraiya seized the moment to act again.
On Jiraiya's shoulder, Shima formed a hand seal. Her tongue stretched out, growing longer as it extended from her mouth—its tip formed a gnarling, flesh-eating maw lined with razor-sharp teeth.
It lunged forward, wrapping tightly around Sasuke's body and binding his arms firmly to his sides.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya himself quickly closed the distance, slammed Sasuke hard against the wall, and pressed him there. The fleshy wall swallowed his body, pulling him inward.
It brought back memories of Orochimaru trying to possess him—except this time, the Sharingan offered no means of escape.
Once Sasuke was sufficiently swallowed to satisfy him, Fukasaku stepped in to slap on a sealing tag in Jiraiya's place, since Jiraiya couldn't let go of his one hand currently holding Sasuke down. He slapped the sealing tag onto Sasuke's chest, and immediately afterward, the flesh completely covered his body.
"I can't kill you," Jiraiya said, now only Sasuke's face remained visible. "So until I find a proper way to truly set you free, stay locked away in this frog's stomach dimension."
His only chance of escaping was for someone to remove the sealing tag—and the only way in was through the near-unbreakable frog stomach summoned by Jiraiya. Only two summoners in the world could control it—Naruto or Jiraiya.
Sasuke glared silently at Jiraiya until even his face vanished into the flesh.
"Hmm." His mouth was sealed too. Like that, Jiraiya ended the Frog Stomach Binding Jutsu and bolted from the tunnel at full speed.
Taking down someone like Sasuke was already a nightmare for anyone his age.
And now Team 8 had to face off alone against Kabuto Yakushi—a monster fused with Orochimaru's cells, possessing an Immortal Body and who knows what other abilities—and they'd have to fight him on his territory—which changed everything.
******
A ship piloted by ninjas from Kumogakure carried Naruto back toward his homeland so he could return to Konoha Village.
Everyone aboard stared in awe and fear at Suigetsu, whose body had swollen to match a tailed beast in scale—and kept growing fast.
Now everyone finally understood why the Mist Village hadn't sent any ships to the mainland for war reinforcements—the guy had been on sea patrol all along. Those poor guys probably never even stood a chance.
"We're doomed!" cried out someone. "Chakra attacks don't work on him!" This was already confirmed. Naruto himself had attempted it, and some brave allies on the ship had also done their best, but all had failed.
"If we keep staying here, our ship will become a target!" another ninja called out. "Even if he's not targeting us intentionally! Given his current size, how wide is the range of his jutsu? What should we do? What about B?"
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