The unyielding rock remained as firm as a mountain, unbudging despite Jiraiya's attempts to manipulate it with Senjutsu Chakra.
Not only that, but the muddy water in the swamp surged upwards, writhing like vines, and unexpectedly turned the tables, forcing Jiraiya out of the Yellow Spring Swamp.
"Tsk tsk... seems like you're not all that you're cracked up to be."
'Yakushi Kabuto' cackled wickedly, rising from the swamp and landing on the central piece of solid ground. He looked at Jiraiya perched on a treetop and mocked, "Are you really one of the 'Konoha Sannin' spoken of in the same breath as Orochimaru-sama?"
Actually, Jiraiya lost this exchange due to a lack of information. Orochimaru was extremely familiar with his fighting style, but he didn't know that 'Inorganic Reincarnation' could control all inanimate matter.
Whether it was dirt, flowing water, or a mixture of the two, everything within this area was susceptible. The 'Yellow Spring Swamp' not only didn't hinder Orochimaru, but actually provided him with a considerable home advantage.
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed slightly. He paid no mind to 'Yakushi Kabuto's' taunts. If the 'Konoha Sannin' ever needed to be expelled, it certainly wouldn't be him.
Moreover, being taken advantage of due to insufficient information was commonplace. He wasn't afraid of Yakushi Kabuto seizing this advantage; what he really needed to worry about was the other party's wholehearted desire to escape.
Forming hand seals, a Shadow Clone appeared on either side of him. The Jiraiya Sannin stood in a row, spewing wind, fire, and toad oil.
"Sage Art: Goemon!"
Orochimaru's expression changed slightly, recognizing the Ninjutsu Jiraiya was using. As a long-time companion, he knew the power of this technique well.
"Hey hey, this doesn't look like you plan to hold back."
Without further hesitation, he plunged his hands into the swamp, summoning mud and water to form a tidal wave.
The mud wall crashed into the Senjutsu flames before they could fully erupt, but even so, the searing heat, reaching thousands of degrees, easily vaporized it, baking it into crystals.
The intense flames devoured the muddy area inch by inch, closing in like peeling silk from a cocoon.
Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged as he probed the earth's depths with his mental energy, extracting the metal ore he had sensed earlier.
Chunks of black rock replaced the mud, forming a sturdy stone wall between water and fire, instantly slowing the flames.
Jiraiya was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Ryuuchi Cave's Senjutsu to be so profound, capable of manipulating not just water and earth, but even iron and rock.
If that were the case, wouldn't the opponent be equivalent to a bloodline ninja who could control sand iron?
But even Magnet Release ninjas weren't something Jiraiya took seriously, let alone this current situation of attrition, which was exactly what he wanted.
Jiraiya could see that while Yakushi Kabuto was exceptionally talented, having mastered Senjutsu at a young age, that youth, while indicating a bright future, was also his weakness.
At least in terms of Chakra, this guy was far from his peak, barely comparable to an ordinary shadow-level fighter.
"Let me test your limits."
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, and the Chakra flowing through his meridians intensified, causing the flames to surge instantly.
The minerals that Orochimaru painstakingly pulled from the earth were consumed by the fire dragon like candy, quickly dissolving into molten iron.
Despite this clearly unfavorable exchange, Orochimaru remained calm and unhurriedly fed more ore into the flames.
The combustible materials in the ore ignited and evaporated, impurities and residue peeled away and fell to the ground, while the molten iron in the air accumulated, forming a solid red wall, blocking the flames.
Seeing the flames being pushed back, Jiraiya finally sensed something was amiss.
A veteran of countless battles, he had never witnessed anything like this.
As he hesitated whether to stop, the molten iron suddenly transformed into a barrage of arrows, showering towards him from above.
Jiraiya's pupils constricted as he sensed immense danger. He immediately stopped the Sage Technique and leaped away.
Swish swish swish...
The crimson arrows pierced into tree trunks and vines, instantly reducing them to charcoal. The quenched iron released massive amounts of heat, continuing to scorch everything nearby.
Witnessing the aftermath of the red-hot arrows, Jiraiya was grim. But based on his combat experience, he had no idea what was happening, but knew he had been taken advantage of once again.
"The younger generation is truly formidable," Jiraiya thought.
Actually, if Jiraiya lost on his first move, it was due to a lack of information, but now it was due to a lack of education.
But this was normal. Besides those in special countries like the Land of Craftsmen, what ninja would bother to understand the knowledge of blast furnace metallurgy?
"It's a shame. If your fire was two or three thousand degrees hotter, vaporizing this metal completely, it would be troublesome for me."
After the flames subsided, Orochimaru gathered the remaining molten iron into a ball, while the black residue solidified into a stone pillar, lifting the red sun high.
Looking at Jiraiya, whose face was now displeased, Orochimaru smiled slightly, clasped his hands together, and unleashed a barrage of arrows from this ammunition depot Jiraiya had helped him create.
Ordinary water arrows were limited by their weight. No one, except for the Second Mizukage, Senju Tobirama, could unleash their true power, their only use being a massive water flow impact.
But this wasn't a problem for ore that had been turned into molten iron. And with the high temperature as a boost, even Jiraiya in Sage Mode didn't dare to touch it, as it was more dangerous than any poison.
Faced with the incoming red arrows, Jiraiya slammed his hands down, instantly raising a thick earthen wall.
The searing heat struck the earth, leaving it pitted and uneven, but the arrow's power was exhausted, and it ultimately failed to breach the earth.
However, just to be safe, Jiraiya retreated after raising the wall, remembering that the other party's Senjutsu also had the power to control earth.
But upon seeing the worst outcome he had envisioned did not occur, Jiraiya looked toward 'Yakushi Kabuto' alongside the red sun, and finally let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed maintaining that molten metal wasn't easy, and he couldn't divide his attention.
Swish swish swish...
The red arrows chased after Jiraiya, scattering fire and heat in the forest and causing him to be in a sorry state. But his mind was now calm.
With the molten iron, he couldn't get close enough to fight with a Rasengan, and his own Fire Release would only boost the other party's arsenal.
Other techniques like 'Lion's Mane Technique' or 'Water Release'... were also incompatible.
Summoning Gamabunta would be a good option, but his safety couldn't be guaranteed. After all, he was too big and almost a sitting duck.
"There's no way Kabuto could do this; it must be that bastard Orochimaru. Only he knows me so well."
Jiraiya cursed inwardly, deciding he needed to get an explanation from Orochimaru.
Despite the current disadvantages, time was on his side. Once the iron cooled or his Chakra was exhausted, he could begin his counterattack.
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