On the battlefield,
By the time the misty vapor dispersed, only the ravaged forest remained.
The area within a thousand-meter radius had been destroyed, littered with debris and shocking traces of battle everywhere.
This was the great clash between mid Kage-level Ninjas!
Amidst the frenzied energy explosions, the terrain had been flattened in entire swathes, its terrifying power seeming to destroy all of creation.
"He escaped?"
Watching Jiraiya's fleeing figure gradually disappear from view, Mei said with a somewhat dazed expression, "I never thought the renowned Konoha's Sannin would have such a disgraceful day. This is simply fleeing helter-skelter in panic..."
Mei was utterly astonished.
After all,
In her understanding, Konoha's Jiraiya was a powerhouse on the same level as the Third Mizukage.
When she come here, she was filled with the determination to die.
Yet, she never expected that Sora could single-handedly suppress Jiraiya head-on, and even cut through the team of Konoha's Jonins.
This was just too insane, too unbelievable!
"Sora!"
"Don't pursue a fleeing enemy!"
Yagura forcefully suppressed the shock in his heart and cautioned, "We need to withdraw too. Having failed in our strike, we've already alerted the enemy. If Jiraiya regains his composure and summons Konoha's main forces to surround us, the situation will become dangerous."
"Yes."
Even Fuguki spoke with a kindly expression, "Yuki, you have already done exceptionally well. Slaying the Eight Gates User, defeating one of Konoha's Sannin... this battle record is already unmatched."
Too astonishing!
Fuguki had personally witnessed the battle against the Eight Gates User, so he knew just how formidable the weight of this achievement was.
"What a pity..."
Sora took a deep breath, sheathing Hyorinmaru, his tone carrying a hint of regret, "A misstep in the strategy. If my condition had been a bit better, I should have been able to finish off Jiraiya directly."
It was indeed somewhat regrettable.
One could only say that Hyorinmaru in Shikai still couldn't achieve an overwhelming effect against a powerful Kage-level opponent.
Sora believed that if he had had Hyorinmaru's Bankai just now, he could have slain Jiraiya in Sage Mode head-on.
Hearing this, the corner of Mei Terumi's mouth twitched uncontrollably. She was still marveling at Sora's defeat of Jiraiya, but it turned out this guy was actually feeling regretful for not having killed Jiraiya.
'This...'
'Is this the world of the strong?'
"Don't worry!"
Yagura, however, laughed, "There will be chances. Sora, you are still young. In less than three years, you might grow into an existence that even Konoha's Sannin would look up to."
"I hope so!"
Sora shrugged.
"An existence that Konoha's Sannin would look up to?"
Feeling the terrifying aura emanating from Sora, Juzo couldn't help but edge a bit further away, afraid that Sora really held a grudge and would cut him in half like those unfortunate Konoha's Jonins.
After Jiraiya's escape, the group didn't linger and quickly left the scene of the battle.
Yagura, Fuguki, and Juzo were severely wounded, Raiga had exhausted ninety percent of his Chakra, and the only one at full strength, Mei, was still the rookie of the group.
And Sora, after consecutive battles with Duy with the Eight Gates and Jiraiya, had also expended most of his energy and was in no state to pursue Jiraiya further.
After all, Sora was quite clear about Jiraiya's capabilities.
The other party clearly still had reserves. If he summoned the toads from Mount Myoboku, it would likely become a fight to the death.
Of course,
Sora's gains from this encounter were still very substantial.
Rank 5 Reiatsu!
Plus the high-level Bakudo, Rikujokoro!
This directly caused his combat power to skyrocket crazily!
'Nohara Rin, Kakashi, Obito, Namikaze Minato...'
A thoughtful smile suddenly appeared on Sora's face.
'If just one Might Duy brought me such rich rewards, then the legendary Team Minato would probably trigger even more terrifying rewards, right?'
Sora remembered very clearly that a single special storyline task like [Capture Nohara Rin] could net him 50,000 Reiatsu points, plus high-level Kido and special rewards.
Adding in the other members of Team Minato, he might just be able to raise his Reiatsu level directly to the Rank 6!!!
…
Land of Fire.
Konoha's Kirigakure Frontline Camp.
A blood-stained Jiraiya appeared here, looking utterly disheveled. Behind him followed his three surviving subordinates.
None of them spoke, merely walking into the camp with dark expressions, silent.
The Ninjas on guard duty at the entrance, seeing Jiraiya's gloomy face, didn't dare say a word. Even a fool could tell that something major must have happened.
"Jiraiya-sama!"
"You are injured?"
"What is this situation!??"
Konoha's Ninjas stationed in the camp, seeing Jiraiya's wounded and miserable state, exclaimed in disbelief.
This is Konoha's Sannin, Jiraiya!
To Konoha's Ninjas, he was like a spiritual symbol, an idol worshipped in the hearts of countless Konoha's Ninjas!
This existence was a super-powerhouse capable of rivaling a Kage!
'Who could have injured Jiraiya-sama to this extent!??'