A fireball hot enough to melt metal struck the elongated tongue shooting toward them, instantly charring and melting it, releasing a strong aroma of cooked flesh.
The tongue immediately retracted upon receiving damage. From the river then emerged a colossal figure—mouth holding a two-meter-long pipe, body wrapped in a black cloak, and waist carrying an enormous blade over ten meters long.
Gamabunta endured the burning orange flames still blazing on his tongue before he painfully swung his sword, slicing off half his own tongue to put out the fire.
After putting out the Orange Fire, he finally lifted his head, growling through a pained voice: "Who did that?!"
However, Aozora and Taiyi had already changed disguises and were flying away atop a giant eagle.
Gazing at the eagle vanishing into the distance, Gamabunta roared: "Don't you dare run away!"
He was just napping in the river like always when he happened to spot an odd-looking bird flying overhead. He merely tried to hunt it like normal—how did he end up with such misfortune?
With that thought, he suddenly exploded from his spot, muscles and chakra surging in his hind legs, launching him through the air like a cannonball straight toward Aozora.
Instantly, massive waves burst from beneath his feet. He crashed through countless trees, kicking up towering clouds of dust into the sky as he rapidly closed in on Aozora and the others riding the giant eagle.
Seeing this, Aozora suggested, "What if we go underground?"
But Taiyi replied calmly, "Not yet. Let's test Gamabunta's strength first."
Aozora turned and looked at Keshin, asking seriously, "Do you really want to rule the Summoning Realm?"
"I told you long ago!" Taiyi responded.
I thought you were joking, Aozora thought to himself.
After a moment's pause, Aozora suggested, "Let's increase the distance. Mount Myoboku has many powerful experts. Even without mentioning the unfathomable Great Toad Sage, facing someone like Fukasaku or Shima would already be beyond our capabilities."
"Fine!"
Taiyi nodded and urged the eagle, "Kingfeather, faster!"
Upon hearing that, the eagle accelerated further, but Gamabunta kept getting closer with terrifying leaping speed.
Aozora crossed his arms and watched Taiyi, waiting for him to take action.
Taiyi stretched out his right hand. In an instant, a bright orange fireball appeared directly in his palm.
When the fireball grew to the size of a basketball, glowing as brilliantly as the sun, he hurled it forward.
The orange fireball expanded instantly upon leaving Taiyi's palm, almost like a second sun falling from the heavens, hurtling straight toward the pursuing Gamabunta.
Knowing firsthand the power of the Orange Fire, Gamabunta naturally dared not take the hit head-on. With all four limbs pushing off simultaneously, he dodged sharply sideways.
Boom!
The fireball slammed into the ground, leaving behind a small mushroom cloud.
Without hesitation, Gamabunta resumed chasing right after.
Looking at Taiyi's now crimson-red palm, Aozora muttered dryly, "You've ruined the Great Fireball Jutsu. Weakened its power and even hurt yourself."
Shaking his head, Taiyi replied, "You wouldn't understand. Using basic Fire Release techniques is too simplistic. It doesn't match my name at all."
Aozora sighed but began considering alternative ways to perform Fire Release techniques.
It wasn't just about form—it was about surprise tactics in battle.
Ahead, Taiyi lazily hurled fireball after fireball, while Gamabunta furiously wove from side to side to dodge each blast.
The fireball didn't hit Gamabunta directly, but it did slow his pursuit.
Chasing and fleeing rapidly, they soon left Mount Myoboku far behind and arrived above a continuous range of desolate mountains.
"This place is fine! Kingfeather, fall back first!"
After saying this, Taiyi jumped down from the eagle's back. Aozora followed closely after.
Looking at the two wearing red robes with cloud patterns standing on a huge rock, Gamabunta frowned and questioned fiercely, "Who are you people? Daring to intrude into the Summoning Realm and attack me, Boss Toad!"
Gamabunta had completely forgotten that he was the one who originally attacked Aozora's eagle.
Taiyi had no intention of arguing with Gamabunta and simply said, "Too noisy!"
After speaking, he immediately channeled the chakra within his body and instantly spat out a blazing flame.
The flame transformed under the wind, quickly becoming a gigantic fire raven over ten meters tall, rushing toward Gamabunta.
"[Great Fire Dragon Jutsu] replaced with [Great Fire Raven Jutsu]?"
Aozora couldn't help but admit that the Keshin had way too much time on his hands, even bothering to create such flashy techniques. It seemed like he would need to assign more tasks in the future.
The wide coverage area made Gamabunta abandon the idea of dodging. His two front legs formed hand seals just like human hands, puffing up his cheeks greatly.
[Water Release – Cannonball Torrent!]
In the next moment, he suddenly opened his mouth and spat out several massive water spheres, whistling while continuously smashing into the giant fire raven.
Boom!
Hiss—
The indestructible water bullets collided with the massive fire raven, instantly shattering into large quantities of rainwater, evaporated into vapor by the scorching waves of heat.
Yet, the fire raven also staggered slightly and dimmed somewhat.
Seeing this, Gamabunta promptly spit out another series of cannonball-like water spheres.
Boom! Boom! Boom! —
Hiss—
Rising mist filled the sky, and the enormous fire raven had already vanished.
Witnessing this, Taiyi was stunned, and Aozora couldn't help but frown.
"[Yakton] was actually extinguished by water—is it [Sage Art]? No… probably similar to myself—just having infused natural energy into chakra. Indeed, the Three Great Holy Lands have never truly passed [Sage Art] outside their sects."
On the other side, Hama narrowed his eyes into thin slits upon hearing this, solemnly staring at the two figures not far away.
He originally thought he'd come across a couple of foolhardy insects who didn't know their place—but now realized he had misjudged. He had run into two formidable experts.
Staring intently at Aozora and the other man, an awe-inspiring aura like the abyss and rampant killing intent filled the entire battlefield.
Aozora once faced the giant serpent [Summoned] by Orochimaru; although similarly massive in size, its presence and chakra were far inferior to what stood before him now—Gamabunta.
At this moment, he even felt an overwhelming pressure from Gamabunta equal to that of a true Kage-level expert.
Aozora spoke, "Need any help, Taiyi?"
Taiyi firmly rejected, "Are you kidding? Just a stupid toad!"
Aozora saw this and remained silent.
The Keshin's personality was surprisingly more eccentric than his own; within just one or two months, he had become the king of the Ninja Ravens Clan, won over his subordinates, begun cultivating inside a palace, and aimed to unify the Summoning Realm.
Although Aozora had no thoughts about suppressing the Keshin, he certainly didn't want to get dragged into battles against the Three Great Holy Lands due to him in the future.
Therefore, Aozora thought that letting the Keshin suffer some losses might actually be a good thing.
Back to the battle—Gamabunta had already launched another attack.
[Water Release – Cannonball Torrent!]
Seven or eight massive water orbs rocketed toward Taiyi and Aozora like cannonfire.
Taiyi once again unleashed his Kāya no Jutsu, completely knocking all the water projectiles aside.
But before the splash settled, Gamabunta slammed his foot down and launched skyward.
[Toad Short Blade Slash!]
Boom!
The ground beneath him exploded in a spiderweb of cracks as he became a black blur.
In an instant, Gamabunta was like a moving mountain crashing into Taiyi, the blade in his hand spinning with insane speed.
The sword sliced through the air, sending razor-sharp wind slashes flying, each followed by a thunderous boom!
The black shadow pressed down like a peak falling from the heavens, hundreds of gleaming crescents slashing downward like falling moons.
This strike carried no technique—at least, not in the traditional sense. Every movement focused purely on power and speed.
[Earth Release – Earth Wall!]
Taiyi began building layers of earthen walls to block Gamabunta's path.
But those thick defenses were like paper. Not even a moment of resistance.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—
In the blink of an eye, Gamabunta smashed through six solid earth walls along with his blade and stood face-to-face with Taiyi.
Taiyi stared as Gamabunta cut through six walls in a row. For the first time, sweat beaded on his forehead. That overwhelming sense of danger—he hadn't felt it since the war.
Seeing the monstrous blade flash downward, Taiyi's heart twisted—part relief, but mostly a desperate yearning to survive.
At the last second, a searing pain erupted at his right waist—and just like that, his body was sent flying.
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