Jiraiya didn't make the mistake of trying to compete with Kaede in taijutsu.
The feats Kaede had shown were more than enough to prove that his taijutsu was the strongest in the shinobi world.
Jiraiya quickly began forming hand seals, while Fukasaku and Shima on his shoulders moved in perfect sync.
"Sage Art: Goemon!"
In an instant, blazing fireballs infused with natural energy roared toward Kaede.
However, Kaede simply raised Kyōka Suigetsu and swung it downward.
The next second, the incoming fireballs split neatly in two!
The separated halves hit the ground, erupting into a sea of dazzling flames—yet the flames were stopped before they could touch Kaede.
He stood there calmly, the ground beneath his feet completely unscathed.
Jiraiya frowned deeply. "This guy's power is terrifying!"
This combination attack with Fukasaku and Shima was already among the most powerful techniques he could use.
"Since that's the case…"
Jiraiya didn't hesitate—this time, he charged directly at Kaede.
When he was within ten meters, Fukasaku and Shima leapt from his shoulders.
At the same time, they both formed hand seals and spat out a large amount of toad oil!
From above, Fukasaku and Shima struck first.
"Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant!"
In an instant, the sound of the toads' chanting rang in everyone's ears.
Soon, they began to feel dizzy, trapped in a terrifying genjutsu barrier.
"This genjutsu again?"
Kaede closed his eyes—and then snapped them open.
"Mangekyō Sharingan!"
In just a moment, the genjutsu barrier shattered, freeing everyone trapped inside.
But by then, Fukasaku and Shima's goal had been achieved.
Jiraiya leapt high into the air, his hands clasping together as he unleashed a massive wave of toad oil directly toward Kaede.
And in his hands, the Rasengan had already transformed from blue to a deep crimson.
"Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasengan!"
This was Jiraiya's sudden inspiration—fusing his best Fire Release into a Super Big Ball Rasengan.
With Fukasaku and Shima's help, he'd succeeded on the first try!
Unfortunately, such an attack would have no effect on Kaede's body.
The moment the two massive Rasengan descended, Kaede's Mangekyō eye technique activated.
"Devour!"
Instantly, the two Rasengan began shrinking visibly, and within seconds, they disappeared completely.
"What?!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened. This was the first time he'd encountered such a strange power.
Kaede smirked. "Here—take them back!"
With a wave of his hand, the two massive Rasengan shot back toward Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima.
"Jiraiya boy!"
Fukasaku and Shima quickly jumped back onto his shoulders, and Jiraiya slammed his hands onto the ground.
"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!"
The ground beneath him turned to a swamp, and his body quickly sank into it.
The Rasengan slammed down, blasting two deep craters into the swamp.
Moments later, Jiraiya burst up from the muck, gasping.
"That was close!"
If he'd used a normal Earth Style instead of the swamp, he would have been dead.
Glancing at the devastation, Jiraiya muttered, "Were those Rasengan even stronger than when I used them?"
Kaede smiled faintly. "Even now, you're still holding back. Does that mean you're underestimating me?"
In a flash, Kaede appeared before him, Kyōka Suigetsu slicing toward Jiraiya's neck.
Jiraiya couldn't dodge in time.
"Jiraiya boy!"
At the last moment, Shima leapt in front of the blade.
The sword's trajectory shifted slightly as it cut her in half.
"Old woman!"
"Shima-sama!"
Jiraiya and Fukasaku's grief was overwhelming, but they could only watch helplessly as Shima's body fell in two.
"Die!"
Fueled by rage, Jiraiya formed another Rasengan and thrust it at Kaede's head.
Shima's sacrifice had bought him this one chance—but it was futile.
"Just die in peace."
A flash of swordlight, and Jiraiya didn't even see Kyōka Suigetsu's movement before Fukasaku's body, too, was severed.
"Fukasaku-sama…"
Jiraiya's heart ached again. He had failed them both.
Even with the toads' lives on the line, he could not hinder Kaede in the slightest.
"It seems my life ends here," Jiraiya thought as he closed his eyes.
But the expected pain never came.
Opening them, he saw Kaede's sword halted at his throat.
"With a will like yours," Kaede said calmly, "even in death, you can light the way for others."
"So—do you have any last words?"
Jiraiya smiled bitterly. With Fukasaku and Shima gone, the immense natural energy in his body was quickly running wild. Even lifting an arm was now impossible.
Without Kaede's intervention, he would soon explode and die.
After a brief moment of sorrow, Jiraiya suddenly laughed freely.
"Haha! If I have any last words, it's this—may you truly make this world free of war, just as you claim!"
"Hahahaha…"
As his laughter rang out, Kaede's blade swept across his neck.
Dying from losing control of his body would have been disgraceful, so as the strongest man in the shinobi world, Kaede granted him an honorable death.
"…Jiraiya…"
Tsunade closed her eyes, and even Orochimaru showed sorrow.
They had been teammates for nearly twenty years, and no matter what had happened, that bond couldn't simply vanish.
Kaede looked at Orochimaru. "As his teammate, you deal with her."
Then his gaze turned toward Ōnoki and his group in the distance.
In an instant, the old Tsuchikage's scalp prickled. He quickly said, "Thank you for helping us. We're willing to return all the Fire Country land we've taken as payment!"
Kaede's brief display of strength was enough to make him wary—his body likely couldn't withstand even a fraction of Kaede's power.
But Kaede chuckled. "Not enough."
Ōnoki's eyes went wide. This wasn't enough for Kaede? What did he want?!
Kaede smiled faintly. "The price for my intervention… will be your entire Hidden Stone Village."
"Impossible!"
Ōnoki refused instantly.
With a single step forward, Kaede's entire group advanced in unison, all eyes fixed on the Hidden Stone's direction.
Tsunade, Orochimaru, Mifune, the Three Snake Princesses—more Kage-level fighters than Iwagakure had ever seen—and Kaede, who could destroy a village on his own.
For the Hidden Stone, resisting would mean annihilation.
"Die, or live and submit," Kaede said coldly. "Make your choice."
(End of Chapter)
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