"It's time to begin!"
Fully prepared, Jiraiya felt an overwhelming surge of strength within him. In an instant, his figure vanished, reappearing between the Three Snake Princesses.
With a sweeping kick, they barely had time to raise their arms before being sent flying by his strike.
In the next heartbeat, he appeared before Naruto. Before Naruto could even react, Jiraiya stomped down hard and kicked him away.
"We can't fight him head-on!"
Seeing this, Tsunade immediately abandoned her clash with Danzo and leapt back at full speed.
Jiraiya gave her a deep look before turning to the man controlling everything—Kaede.
"Are you challenging me?" Kaede smirked.
"Forget it. I'll simply send off a hero like you on his final journey."
With that, he descended slowly to stand directly in front of Jiraiya.
Kaede had never intended to take Jiraiya as a subordinate. The man's will was unshakable, like an unbreakable wall. Against such a person, Kaede preferred destruction over domination.
In truth, in his past life, Kaede had admired Jiraiya—aside from his lecherous tendencies.
If they weren't on opposing sides, Kaede wouldn't have minded sharing a few drinks with him.
Gripping the hilt of Kyōka Suigetsu, Kaede said calmly,
"If you were to die today just because Ōnoki and the others ganged up on you, it would tarnish the dignity of a true strong man."
"So, let me be the one to send you off."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, then turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Old man, take the surviving shinobi and return to Konoha immediately. In the vision the Great Toad Sage saw, only Konoha can stop Kaede!"
Hiruzen's pupils shrank. Was there really someone in Konoha who could stand against Kaede? But right now, they had no choice but to trust Jiraiya.
Looking at him in genuine remorse, Hiruzen said, "It was I who failed you as a teacher."
Without hesitation, he grabbed Danzo and rushed toward Konoha, shouting to the remaining shinobi,
"Return to Konoha! We still have someone who can deal with Kaede!"
Kaede watched quietly without making a move. He even gestured for Tsunade and the others to halt their pursuit.
"I want to see what methods they have left to stop me," Kaede said with a faint smile. In his heart, he already knew the answer—he simply wanted to see it for himself.
Ōnoki opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. He wasn't in a position to oppose Kaede.
Kaede smiled at Jiraiya. "Come, let me see just how unyielding your will truly is."
"Hahahaha!" Jiraiya laughed heartily.
"So, you acknowledge my strength after all?"
Kaede shook his head. "Don't misunderstand. In my eyes, the only thing I admire is your will."
"Is that so?" Jiraiya retorted, his tone laced with mockery.
He knew full well—if the Great Toad Sage, who had lived for over a thousand years, had fallen, then even with the combined natural energy of the toads within him, he stood no chance against Kaede.
Still, Jiraiya met Kaede's gaze firmly.
"Before we fight, I have a few questions for you."
Kaede smiled faintly. "Let's hear them."
"Your power is enough to protect the entire Uchiha clan," Jiraiya said gravely. "Why spread war to other nations? And why attack Mount Myōboku?"
Kaede shook his head lightly. "Why? Because it's fun, perhaps."
"To you, I may seem like a god—invincible. But there are many hidden powers in this world, some far beyond my current strength."
"Uniting the shinobi world is one way to increase my power and secure a stable rear base."
"As for attacking Mount Myōboku… simple—killing them increases my strength, and it ensures my rear remains secure so I can face those greater powers without distraction."
Jiraiya shuddered involuntarily. He didn't believe the latter half of Kaede's words—it sounded more like a self-justifying excuse.
If such beings stronger than Kaede truly existed, why hadn't they appeared to stop him?
"So all of this… just to gain more power?" Jiraiya asked bitterly.
"Do you realize how many will die in your wars? The toads of Mount Myōboku were innocent!"
Kaede shrugged. "They stood in my way. If they'd simply submitted, I'd have no reason to deal with such weaklings."
"And as for Mount Myōboku being innocent…" Kaede sneered.
"A thousand years ago, before shinobi existed, a Divine Tree appeared in the world, drawing the planet's life force into itself. It bore a fruit that was eaten by a woman who unified the world—praised as the Moon Goddess. She bore two sons, one of whom became the Sage of Six Paths."
"But her power came from the Divine Tree, which itself drew on the world's life force. The young Great Toad Sage aided the Sage of Six Paths in sealing her away, and the tree vanished."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "That…"
Kaede waved him silent and continued.
"I know what you want to say—that Mount Myōboku saved the shinobi world. You're wrong."
"Do you know how much natural energy is hoarded by Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest? They are no different from the Divine Tree, constantly siphoning energy from the world."
"They fought the woman not to be heroes, but because the Divine Tree stole energy faster than they did, threatening their own interests."
"These secrets, I learned directly from Mount Myōboku."
Jiraiya turned to Fukasaku and Shima on his shoulders in disbelief.
The two lowered their heads. "We do draw energy from the world, but never to the point of destroying it. It's fundamentally different from the Divine Tree."
Kaede scoffed. "Laughable. Your 'balanced' drain has still kept the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and other regions barren for a thousand years."
Ōnoki's eyes went wide at that revelation—so Mount Myōboku had a hand in his country's harsh environment all along.
Kaede ended the discussion, his eyes on Jiraiya.
"I've answered your questions. Are you ready to die?"
Jiraiya took a deep breath, casting aside his shock. This was for Konoha's future.
Then he roared, "Fight!"
But no matter how strong his will, against Kaede's overwhelming power, his fate was already sealed.
…
(End of Chapter)
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