The massive boulder shot upward the instant Jiraiya doubled back.
From the front, a roaring vortex of water surged forward, carrying with it a terrifying cutting force.
It left Jiraiya no time to weave hand signs.
Yuichi opened his mouth slightly and whispered a single word.
"Boom…"
At that moment, the world erupted.
Two colossal slabs of earth slammed together, crushing inward with a force that seemed ready to grind Jiraiya into nothing more than a pool of flesh and blood.
In the blink of an eye, the two boulders collided without leaving so much as a gap.
The impact exploded into dust and smoke, rolling outward in waves.
Two Wood Style clones rose to their feet, leaping back quickly.
The giant Rasengan faded away, replaced by the raging spiral torrent of the Hard Vortex Water Blade as it spun wildly, tearing apart the underground cavern.
The sound of rock splintering beneath the force of the raging waters echoed loudly.
Water droplets whipped forward, striking Yuichi's body. But the chakra that shimmered across his skin shielded him, and his dark eyes remained fixed on the growing maelstrom before him.
Slowly, his gaze dropped downward.
Amid the roaring flood, another faint sound stirred—the cracking of earth.
Boom—
In an instant, Jiraiya erupted from the ground, twenty meters away.
"You went underground to dodge…?"
"In that state, he still had time to tunnel away? This guy's incredible!"
The two Wood Style clones were shocked.
It had been a death sentence—yet he had survived.
But not without cost.
Jiraiya's right arm, from wrist to shoulder, was torn open in spiraling blood patterns. When he abandoned control of the Big Ball Rasengan, the chakra backlash had ripped through his body, leaving the limb ruined.
He could no longer fight with it.
But even sacrificing an arm, he had preserved his life.
"Pointless struggle."
Yuichi's cold voice cut through the chaos. Water surged from his hands again.
The sharp hiss of the forming jutsu made Jiraiya's face darken further. His body trembled from strain.
This chakra… it's monstrous…
Yuichi had unleashed devastating Earth, Fire, Water, and Wood Style techniques one after another. He had just fired off an S-rank ninjutsu—and now, without pause, was readying another.
If Jiraiya hadn't mastered Sage Mode himself, he might have thought Yuichi was also drawing on natural energy without limit.
From the start of this battle, Yuichi hadn't slowed. His power was relentless. His chakra bottomless.
He's like a walking tailed beast…
A monster.
Whoosh!
Yuichi hurled the Hard Vortex Water Blade again, the whirling spear screaming through the air.
It ripped forward with a gale, closing in on Jiraiya in an instant.
Jiraiya clenched his teeth. His right hand was useless—his fingers twitching uncontrollably—so his left hand gripped it tightly, forcing the seals together.
He staggered back, retreating frantically.
The blade was nearly upon him.
With blood smearing his left hand from his wounded arm, he slammed his palm to the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
Bang!!
A huge cloud of white smoke exploded outward.
At the same instant, the Hard Vortex Water Blade slammed into the creature Jiraiya had summoned.
"Damn, that hurts… What the hell is this technique?"
The torrent exploded, splitting into violent waterspouts that twisted and tore at the summoning beast's body.
"Wen Tai! I'm sorry—it's an emergency! You have to hold on!"
"Jiraiya… this Water Style is too strong! I won't last long!"
"Just endure a little longer!" Jiraiya shouted, already forming a Rasengan in his left hand.
The water blade's force drove them all the way toward the cavern's edge.
Looking upward, Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. I can hear faint sounds from outside… Yes. This is the same location I memorized…
"He's trying to escape!"
One Wood Style clone stiffened, ready to rush forward.
But the spreading torrent of water blocked the path, cutting them off.
"Dammit… the real body—!"
Jiraiya leapt upward, Rasengan in hand, slamming it into the ceiling above.
Chakra light flared. The red markings of Sage Mode around his eyes flickered—dim, fading. His reserves were nearly gone.
This was the last of his strength.
Bang!!
The Rasengan tore through the thick Wood Style blocking the cavern roof, shredding it into splinters.
"Break for me!!"
Heart pounding, Jiraiya pushed the last of his Sage chakra into the attack.
If the barrier didn't give way now, he would die here.
The chakra glow sputtered, then faded—
—and a dim light leaked through a crack above.
The light of hope.
Jiraiya's face lit up. He drove his fists into the wood again and again.
Yuichi's Wood Style, infused with his monstrous chakra, was harder than Yamato's, though not as strong as the First Hokage's. Still, it would not yield easily.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jiraiya's fists, raw and bloodied, pounded relentlessly until the opening was wide enough.
With a final heave, he pulled himself through.
"Wen Tai!"
Below, the giant toad was shredded with wounds, barely holding against the torrent.
"It's over… I can't take any more…!"
With a weary sigh, Wen Tai prepared to release the summoning and return to recover.
But at that moment—
Jiraiya, dragging himself free, froze.
Dozens of figures stood waiting above, their eyes calm and cold, gazes locked on him.
Yuichi's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"I told you… only one of us leaves alive. Why didn't you listen?"
Shhhk!
Ten figures vanished at once, reappearing in a ring around Jiraiya.
Kunai glinted with cold steel as they sliced open flesh and sank deep.
Blood sprayed into the air, scattering across the ground.
The night swallowed the sound of his cry.