Chapter 284: Jiraiya's Life Flashing Before His Eyes!
Whoosh—
Jiraiya's long white hair whipped through the air, creating a shrill tearing sound.
The Shadow Clone, which was using the Shadow Binding Jutsu to control Jiraiya, was unable to dodge and was instead connected to and bound by the white hair.
Although his body was constrained by the Shadow Binding Jutsu, Jiraiya's chakra and spiritual will were not.
Under Jiraiya's mental manipulation, his white hair acted like a rope, tightly bundling the Shadow Clone.
Neither the Shadow Binding Jutsu, the Shadow Neck-Mutilation Jutsu, nor their upgraded versions like Shadow Imitation Technique, Shadow Manipulation Technique, or even Shadow Body Manipulation Technique had the detail or depth to control an opponent's hair!
'This is slightly bad…'
The Shadow Clone tried to struggle, but the toughness of the Wild Lion's Mane Technique far exceeded its imagination, and it realized the danger.
The Shadow Clone, having been converted from a Spiraling Shadow Imitation Bullet, only contained a limited amount of Yin Release chakra, and not an ample supply at that.
If this were an unreserved one-on-one fight using only Yin Release secret techniques, the Shadow Clone could have leveraged the Shadow Manipulation Technique or the "shadow-form" property inherent to the Shadow Clone Jutsu to evade the Wild Lion's Mane Technique's binding, or even reverse-control Jiraiya.
But in this sparring match, Nara Keisuke was intentionally controlling the outflow of information.
Neither the Shadow Manipulation Technique nor the "shadow-form" property were abilities that could be exposed to Jiraiya.
And by only using other shadow secret techniques, the Shadow Clone couldn't sustain the chakra cost of techniques like Black Samurai and thus couldn't forcefully break through the Wild Lion's Mane Technique using brute force.
Unless… it abandoned the shadow-series Yin Release secret techniques and used a Genjutsu!
At such close range, the control effect of Genjutsu: Lacquer Eye was not inferior to any shadow secret technique!
The Shadow Clone's mind spun rapidly, formulating a new combat strategy. It decisively looked up, seeking eye contact with Jiraiya.
However, Jiraiya was also aware of the intelligence that the "Shadow of Darkness excels at visual Genjutsu."
The fluffy white hair of the Wild Lion's Mane Technique layered like a spider web, blocking the Shadow Clone's line of sight.
Jiraiya increased the binding force of the Wild Lion's Mane Technique. The Shadow Clone was helpless and was forced to be "logged off."
Poof!
With another faint popping sound, the Shadow Clone was destroyed by Jiraiya's Wild Lion's Mane Technique, dissipating into a puff of smoke in the air.
With the clone's disappearance, the Shadow Binding Jutsu also lost its effect.
Jiraiya was free again.
The sequence of this fight seemed complicated, but it happened with extreme speed.
The Shadow Clone had hoped to use the Spiraling Shadow Imitation Bullet to "send off" Jiraiya directly, but it hadn't expected the Sannin to forcibly destroy the Shadow Clone in such a short amount of time.
'He's the first opponent to break the Spiraling Shadow Imitation Bullet and its accompanying tactics from the front.'
The Shadow Clone internally sighed with admiration.
'Jiraiya's hair-based ninjutsu is much more impressive than I thought…'
Despite the admiration, the Shadow Clone's attack speed did not slow down in the slightest.
Almost the instant the first Shadow Clone was destroyed, the second Shadow Clone immediately materialized several more shadow bullets, firing them at Jiraiya in quick succession.
Spiraling Shadow Piercing Bullet!
In terms of hand-seal speed or ninjutsu experience, the Shadow Clone knew it couldn't compare to Jiraiya.
Nor did it need to compete with him in those two areas.
Can't beat his hand-seal speed?
Then just use no-seal ninjutsu!
The Spiraling Shadow Piercing Bullets raced toward Jiraiya, each black projectile aimed at a vulnerable part of his body.
But Jiraiya's combat experience was too rich.
Catching sight of the Shadow of Darkness's attack from the corner of his eye, Jiraiya immediately retracted the Wild Lion's Mane Technique. The thick, vigorous white hair enveloped his body like armor, forming a robust physical barrier.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizō!"
Sunlight shone on Jiraiya's white hair, making it subtly shimmer with a metallic, silver sheen.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several Spiraling Shadow Piercing Bullets struck Jiraiya's hair barrier, but failed to pierce or shatter it. They merely snapped a few strands of silvery-white hair.
'The destructive power of these black pellets is immense!'
Jiraiya, who was well aware of the defensive capability of the Needle Jizō, was slightly shocked.
'If it were a normal shinobi, one of these bullets would be enough to kill him!'
The Shadow Clone narrowed its eyes, firing one more Spiraling Shadow Piercing Bullet, aiming this time at Jiraiya's forehead.
Jiraiya's pupils constricted slightly. He immediately manipulated the Needle Jizō to cover the only exposed part of his face, his upper half.
Bang!
The final Spiraling Shadow Piercing Bullet struck Jiraiya's head, but just like before, it only broke a few white hairs.
The Shadow Clone seized the opportunity while the opponent's vision was obscured and fired one more black shadow bullet.
Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullet!
Bang!
The black shadow bullet struck Jiraiya's white hair once more, but unlike the previous times, it did not unleash great destructive power. Instead, it transformed into strips of shadow tentacles, restraining the opponent's body to the spot.
'The opponent has changed their attack method!'
Even inside the protection of the Ninja Art: Needle Jizō, Jiraiya felt the change in the attack he had received.
'I've been hit by a Nara Clan control secret technique again! I need to cancel the Needle Jizō defense first…'
Jiraiya cautiously loosened the defense of the Needle Jizō, intending to search his surroundings for Nara Keisuke's clone.
But an exceptionally dazzling, orange-red flame immediately shone through the gaps in the Needle Jizō, reflecting in Jiraiya's eyes.
Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!
The physical defense of the Ninja Art: Needle Jizō was superb, so the answer was to use a "magic attack"!
The Shadow Clone released the Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullet merely to briefly restrict Jiraiya's movement.
The real attack was this high-level Fire Style Ninjutsu, originally from the Uchiha Clan!
Aside from the no-seal Fire Style ninjutsu that could be released using the Nature Mask, the Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation was undoubtedly the fastest Fire Style ninjutsu Nara Keisuke knew.
Because it was a single-seal jutsu!
In the blink of an eye, the overwhelming flames flew in front of Jiraiya.
Restricted by the Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullet attack, Jiraiya could not dodge as nimbly as before. He could only rely on the Needle Jizō to tank the Fire Style ninjutsu.
Boom!
The Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation instantly struck Jiraiya.
The hair defensive shield formed by the Needle Jizō seemed to turn into a giant white candle at that moment.
The instant the orange-red flames made contact with the silvery-white hard hair, the former immediately ignited the latter.
The seemingly steel-hard white hair appeared so brittle under the searing flames. Large patches of scorched black marks immediately appeared on the otherwise perfect silver shield, and a strongly pungent, burnt smell spread outward.
Jiraiya, protected inside the Needle Jizō, couldn't worry about his hair.
Every second controlled by the Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullet felt incredibly long.
As soon as the constraining force weakened, Jiraiya rapidly formed seals, skillfully releasing the high-level Water Style secret technique refined by the Second Hokage.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
A powerful water dragon burst out of the Needle Jizō's defensive barrier, meeting the still-raging Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation.
Against Fire Style ninjutsu, Water Style was always the optimal solution.
Supported by Jiraiya's abundant Water Style chakra, the Water Dragon Jutsu burst forth with extremely tenacious vitality.
The long, massive water dragon coiled and flew through the sea of fire, continuously neutralizing the Fire Style's power. Puffs of white steam erupted and spread toward the surroundings and the sky.
The Shadow Clone knew its chakra reserves were definitely inferior to Jiraiya's, so it didn't insist on a ninjutsu clash.
Once the surrounding white steam reached a certain density, the Shadow Clone decisively stopped releasing the Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation. At the same time, using the steam to obscure the view, it quickly rushed toward Jiraiya's position.
Wind Release and Fire Release condensed and merged within the Shadow Clone's body, forming the new Swift Release.
The Swift Release, which inherently focuses on speed enhancement, combined with the Shadow Clone's already swift movement, made its approach as fast as a bolt of lightning.
Jiraiya, on the other side, had just stopped releasing the "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu" and retracted the Needle Jizō defense, looking at his singed and spotted white hair with a pained expression.
Suddenly, a terrifying sound of high-speed movement reached his ears.
At the same time, an increasingly distinct sense of danger rapidly approached from the front.
'This is bad!'
Jiraiya's eyes widened, looking toward the dense steam ahead. A black figure grew larger and larger within the white vapor, moving too fast for anyone to react.
In an instant.
The Shadow Clone dashed into Jiraiya's personal space, raising its right fist. The stored chakra surged forward like a mountain torrent, violently crashing toward the opponent in front of him.
Monstrous Strength!
The urgency of the moment and the clone's chakra limitations prevented it from condensing Boil Release chakra internally to augment the power of this direct punch.
But even so, with the help of the Shadow Clone's already unmatched speed, the impact force and attack effectiveness of the Monstrous Strength were significantly amplified.
The simplest Monstrous Strength delivered the most practical damage.
Bang—Crack!
The instant Nara Keisuke's fist connected with Jiraiya's abdomen, a dull, heavy sound erupted in the dense steam, followed by a very clear cracking of bones.
Jiraiya felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. His eyes bulged, and he spat out a mouthful of scarlet blood. His life immediately flashed before his eyes.
From his childhood apprenticeship and the formation of his squad, to participating in the Second Great War and achieving the title of Sannin, and then pursuing the prophecy and wandering the shinobi world…
'Is this how my life ends…'
Scene after scene of memories flashed before Jiraiya's eyes like a kaleidoscope.
'The power of this punch… it feels just like Tsunade's…'
Jiraiya's final thought crossed his mind, and his vision blurred.
A whistling wind reached his ears. Nara Keisuke's figure and the dense steam in the air rapidly moved away from him.
Like a prawn freshly fried in oil, Jiraiya's body violently arched, and he flew backward like a meteor at extreme speed. His speed showed no signs of slowing down until he flew out of the range of the water vapor.
The Shadow Clone, worried that the attack's damage might not be enough, immediately activated its Swift Release chakra, continuing to chase after Jiraiya.
With the augmentation of Swift Release chakra, the speed the Shadow Clone displayed even surpassed Jiraiya's.
In just a few breaths.
The Shadow Clone caught up to the rapidly retreating Jiraiya.
It raised its right hand, preparing to use the last bit of chakra to deliver a finishing blow.
But at that moment.
Poof!
The Shadow Clone burst into a puff of smoke. The attack did not land on the tightly closed eyes of Jiraiya.
[You have defeated the A-Rank Ninja Battle Mission target!]
[You have obtained one A-Rank Secret Ninja Scroll!]
'Seriously, Toad Sage?'
Nara Keisuke scanned the message on his panel. As he dispelled the Shadow Clone Jutsu, he also deactivated the Camouflage Hiding Technique, his figure appearing in the gradually dispersing white steam.
'You didn't even go all out! You didn't enter Sage Mode yet!'
'I was hoping you'd enter your strongest Toad Fusion form and maybe raise the difficulty level of the battle mission!'
'And you just... laid down?'
'I only hit you once!'
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