"Tsunade, your gallant Sage has arrived!"
"Shut it, you damn perv!"
Tsunade didn't hesitate. The moment she heard Jiraiya's dramatic declaration, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Quit posing and get over here already!"
At the same time, she deactivated her Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Looking at her still-smooth arm, she nodded to herself, panting softly.
"Good. I didn't overextend myself."
Just then—
Like a hero descending from the heavens, Jiraiya landed beside her and supported the slightly winded Tsunade. He glanced at the swarm of ninja surrounding them from all sides.
He hadn't expected that he'd only been meditating for a short while—and already that many 4WDs had caught up.
Then his thoughts turned to that woman—
The one who'd been breezing through from the very beginning without a single obstacle.
His expression turned grave as he looked at Tsunade beside him, panting heavily.
His heart ached. "Tsunade… Let's give up."
Even though it pained him—especially considering he'd placed a hefty bet himself—there was no way they could win now.
No—actually…
From the moment Tsunade placed her bet, unless she miraculously gained another dead relative—or he himself met some unexpected accident—there was no chance she'd win.
But for a mere ten billion ryō…
Jiraiya wasn't about to die for it.
"You probably can't keep racing either," he said gently. "Pushing forward won't help now."
But—
"No!" Tsunade's tone was firm. She looked him squarely in the eyes and shook her head. "I'm not giving up. Just like Grandpa Hashirama and Great Uncle Tobirama—no matter what hardship comes, I won't back down. I'll see this through!"
"Tsunade, you…"
Moved by her determined expression, Jiraiya felt a stir of admiration—but before he could voice it—
"It's TEN BILLION, you hear me?!
"Gramps and Great Uncle barely left me anything useful. This prize—I'm taking it!"
She raised her fist confidently.
"..."
Give me my admiration back.
Jiraiya sighed helplessly, staring at the Byakugō car and Toad Sage car now surrounded on all sides.
"So what now?"
"Break through."
"But you're still recovering…"
"I'm fine," Tsunade cut him off, steadying her breath. "Didn't overuse the seal. I just need a short rest. Carry me! You take the lead. Once I'm good, I'll take over again!"
"…"
Tsunade, you really haven't changed.
Jiraiya, already numb to her shamelessness, bent his head and—like the fool he was—stole a quick glance at the generous view in front of him…
"AHH!!"
Whack!
She smacked him in the face.
"What the hell are you looking at?! Get moving!"
"Okay, okay!" Jiraiya winced, blinking through teary eyes as he slung Tsunade onto his back.
He then guided the Toad Sage forward, extending its tongue to drag the Byakugō car along with them.
"Yo, Lady Tsunade~ Been a while," said Fukasaku cheerfully from Jiraiya's shoulder.
"Master Fukasaku. Master Shima."
Tsunade, having worked with Mount Myōboku toads before, quickly recognized them. She carefully avoided touching the two toads and offered a respectful nod.
"Thanks for the help."
"No trouble at all," Fukasaku replied. "Even if I don't quite know what's going on, if Little Jiraiya asked, we'd obviously help."
"Exactly," Shima chimed in. She looked Tsunade over curiously. "Now then, Tsunade-chan, care to explain what exactly is happening here?"
"Sorry, Master Shima," Tsunade replied with a strained smile. "I need to rest for a bit. Can we talk later?"
"Of course, dear. You just focus on recovering. With me and the old man here, you've got nothing to worry about."
No, it's very much something to worry about!
Jiraiya groaned internally.
These enemies clearly aren't letting us go.
If they wanted any chance of catching up, they couldn't afford to waste time fighting other racers. Full speed ahead was the only way to even hope to reach the front.
His Sage Mode wouldn't last long.
And leaping away while dragging another car wasn't an option either. If they got knocked down mid-jump, it'd be over.
Having to pull another car within a full-blown encirclement was seriously restricting the Toad Sage car mobility.
He frowned, eyes sweeping across the enemy racers keeping tight formation.
"What do we do now?"
And then—
"Jiraiya-sama! Tsunade-sama!"
A calm, gentle voice rang out.
"I've come to help."
"Shisui?!"
Jiraiya turned, startled, and saw the young man charging toward them, 4WD in tow.
"I didn't think you were still in the race," he said, genuinely surprised.
"Barely," Uchiha Shisui replied with a smile. "Most of the racers moved up to focus on ambushing Tsunade-sama. I got lucky—there weren't many left behind. With some help from my teammates, I managed to catch up."
Then his expression turned serious.
"Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama—please go on ahead. I'll hold them off."
"But… there's too many—"
"Even so…" Shisui said firmly. "The Uchiha are part of Konoha too. As a Leaf shinobi, I'm ready to make that sacrifice."
"Shisui, you…"
Jiraiya was deeply moved by the resolve on Shisui's face.
It reminded him of himself…
Of days long past…
Of that youthful fire when he too once stood between death and his comrades.
Ah… those were the days.
"I understand." Jiraiya gave a firm nod. "Then I'm counting on you."
Eyes red and filled with conviction, he turned, hoisted Tsunade more securely on his back, and charged ahead.
"Uchiha Shisui... truly a shinobi who carries the Will of Fire!"
"Good luck, Jiraiya-sama! Tsunade-sama!"
Smiling, Shisui turned his back to them and faced the horde before him.
Like a lone hero, he drove his 4WD head-on into the oncoming swarm.
"Sorry. This road's closed."
"Tch! Arrogant bastard! One car thinks it can block us all? Keep dreaming!"
"Right! We're not like the scrubs up front. Uchiha Shisui—your car's done for today!"
"Take him out! Smash him!"
Amid the jeering and shouting, Shisui's 4WD surged forward like a solitary blade into the flood.
The wind howled like it wept.
The warrior marches to death with no regrets.
Even the spectators fell silent, their hearts stirred by the scene.
To protect his comrades—facing a deathtrap without fear…
It was noble. It was heroic.
Everyone held their breath, watching that one lone 4WD dive into the encirclement.
No one knew how long passed before—
"Let's go!! Let's go!!"
"Uchiha Shisui, you got this! Go Konoha!"
"Keep fighting!"
The stands erupted in thunderous cheers.
Even little Naruto, Sasuke, and Itachi were yelling with all their might.
"GO, SHISUI!!"
Only one person wasn't cheering.
Kakashi.
Watching the scene unfold with a deadpan expression, he sighed.
It's just a race, people…
Do you really have to take it this far?
Even he felt his heart clench a little.