Shinno had thought that at such close range, his Daytime Tiger would blow Jiraiya to pieces. But right after he spoke, the ground beneath his feet suddenly shot out two hands that gripped tightly around his ankles.
Feeling those hands trying to drag him into the earth, Shinno let out a derisive chuckle. Harnessing the tremendous strength granted by the Eight Gates Release, he leapt upward, yanking Jiraiya, who had been hiding underground, out with him.
Once he released his grip, Jiraiya landed near the others, realizing how troublesome his opponent truly was.
"This guy… he must have gone through the forbidden techniques catalog. That's how he can use something like the Eight Gates."
It was Jiraiya's first time fighting against someone using the Eight Gates technique, and he couldn't immediately adapt to that overwhelming speed.
"To think you actually survived the Daytime Tiger... you're pretty good."
Shinno rolled his neck, surprised that Jiraiya was still alive.
Just then, the iron-armed toad that had been sent flying by Shinno's punch hopped in front of Jiraiya, grumbling unhappily,
"Damn it! If I hadn't used Reverse Summoning in time, Jiraiya, you'd be dead by now!"
"Haha, thanks a lot."
The iron-armed toad wasn't wrong. It was only because he'd used Reverse Summoning that Jiraiya managed to escape before the Daytime Tiger's explosion reached full force.
"But you saw it too. Even though he couldn't completely break through my defense, my body can't take many more hits like that. Sorry, but I won't be much help in this fight anymore."
It was already impressive that the toad's armor had stayed intact after taking a direct punch from Shinno. His immense power was simply far beyond what a small creature like that could withstand.
"Actually..."
Behind his high collar, Aburame Shikuro's expression darkened.
"What's wrong?"
Inuzuka Tsume glanced warily at Shinno, not daring to turn around.
"Ever since the fight started, my kikaichū have been devouring his flesh... but it's having no effect."
Shikuro's words confirmed Jiraiya's suspicion.
"As I thought, he's developed a body regeneration technique."
Both Tsume and Shikuro were shocked by Jiraiya's revelation.
"There's actually a jutsu that terrifying in the ninja world?"
"Konoha's been researching similar techniques too. But enough talk—watch his movements!"
Sensing that Shinno was about to make a move, Jiraiya quickly shouted a warning.
"Jump!"
Tsume immediately called out to Kuromaru.
Shikuro expanded the swarm of kikaichū, changing their type—from those that devoured flesh to those that consumed chakra instead.
"Petty tricks!"
Feeling his chakra being drained, Shinno roared in anger. A violent surge of chakra burst from his body, scattering the kikaichū clinging to him.
"Don't even think about it! Summoning Jutsu!"
With a thunderous crash, Gamabunta fell from the sky, slamming down on Shinno—who was still bound by the kikaichū—and pinning him underneath.
The earth-shaking impact was followed by Gamabunta's irritated voice.
"Jiraiya! You summoned me to some weird place again, didn't you?!"
"Sorry, sorry, Bunta! Now's not the time for that!"
Jiraiya landed on top of Gamabunta's head, apologizing while warning him that the one beneath him wasn't an ordinary foe.
Gamabunta felt the immense resistance underfoot and drew his blade, intending to see what kind of monster he was stepping on—something with more strength than a Tailed Beast.
"Eight Gates—Death Gate, open!"
Before Gamabunta could react, a wave of red energy erupted, blasting his massive body away. The kikaichū scattered to the ground as the chakra storm consumed the area.
"You've gotta be kidding me… he's opening the Death Gate already?"
Hearing Shinno's roar, Jiraiya's expression hardened. He hadn't expected his opponent to go this far. Was Shinno planning to die together with him?
No... if he truly possessed body regeneration, could that technique negate the Death Gate's lethal toll entirely?
Realizing this, Jiraiya didn't hesitate. He immediately abandoned Gamabunta and shouted a warning.
"Everyone, get away from here—now!"
Kuromaru, far more sensitive to danger than any human, had already taken Tsume and bolted before Jiraiya even spoke.
Aburame Shikuro quickly formed a black cloud of kikaichū beneath him and used it to lift himself away.
"Bunta, you should retreat too!"
Still flipping from the explosion, Gamabunta didn't argue. With a snort, he dispelled the summoning himself.
"They all ran... but you can't."
Shinno, now with the Death Gate fully open, didn't rush to attack. He looked at Jiraiya with a twisted grin.
Seeing that, Jiraiya became even more certain—the Death Gate wasn't affecting this man at all.
"Hmph. I am Jiraiya of Mount Myōboku, the Toad Sage! When facing a strong enemy, I only know how to stand and fight—I'll never turn and run!"
Jiraiya raised his hand, pointing confidently at Shinno, a fearless smile spreading across his face.
"Interesting. Once I break every bone in your body, let's see if you can still smile like that."
Having said his piece, Shinno prepared to rush in and savor his revenge on the man who had been such a persistent thorn in his side.
But just as he was about to move, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared before him—space itself twisting in their gaze.
"Vanish quietly."
With the activation of both eyes' Kamui, Shinno's entire body was sucked into the distortion of space.
----------------
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (445 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)