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"Really?! So this elderly lady is actually that amazing of a person!"
Just as Hidan and Kakuzu were conversing, Naruto across from them paused for a moment, then looked at Granny Chiyo with a face full of delighted surprise.
Kakashi lifted the forehead protector covering his left eye with one hand and placed his other hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Naruto... although Granny Chiyo is very formidable, these two before us are also not easy to deal with. We cannot be careless! What comes next—reclaiming the Kazekage—is the most difficult part!"
Naruto drew a deep breath and quickly calmed himself. "I understand, Kakashi-sensei."
When faced with a comrade in crisis, Naruto would display a composure entirely unlike his usual self.
Granny Chiyo cast a sidelong glance at Naruto, inwardly somewhat surprised.
This brat... normally, doesn't he give off the feeling of being utterly reckless and brainless? To think he can also be this calm... not bad.
Then, Granny Chiyo turned her gaze back toward Kakuzu and Hidan.
"Mm... setting aside that young brat for now... but as for the one with his face covered—if I'm not mistaken, you should be Kakuzu, the rogue ninja of the Hidden Waterfall, known as the Immortal Shinobi, correct? Your age is no less than this old body's. Calling me 'Granny'... I can't quite accept that."
Kakuzu spoke coldly. "That is merely a title everyone has grown accustomed to. Besides... you are destined to die before me. It's only proper that I address you with a term of respect."
"Are you implying... you can kill this old body right here?"
"Of course. Your heart is far too feeble and weak. I have no use for it. But I can still take responsibility for shattering it."
"Although I am indeed very aged... teaching you a lesson shouldn't be much of a problem. I was already quite displeased at not being able to see my dear grandson... to think there would also be a tactless old fossil like you here. It seems I've been in seclusion for too long and made some people forget about me."
"I have not forgotten. But... since you decided to go into seclusion, then don't come back out. To have aged to this degree... hmph. This is no longer the era of an old fossil like you."
Granny Chiyo and Kakuzu glared at each other with ruthless, piercing intensity. In the very next second, both moved simultaneously and charged straight at one another!
These two bore no particular grudge against each other. But both understood perfectly well that their battle was unavoidable. Thus, they had unhesitatingly and mercilessly mocked and taunted each other.
Hidan took the massive, triple-bladed scythe from his back and held it in his hand. Unlike Kakuzu, he didn't waste words. He simply bared his teeth in a wide, savage grin at Kakashi.
"Allow me... to offer you to Lord Jashin!"
Then, without the slightest pause, he charged directly at Kakashi.
Just as Naruto and the others were beginning their battle, over at the Ryuchi Cave area, Kagaya was still instructing Haku in his training.
Why was he instructing Haku instead of training himself? Ah... once again, the same reason. Kagaya had now more or less completely given up on Inorganic Reanimation. Learning it? Impossible. Absolutely impossible, not in this lifetime. The young ladies around him were all beautiful and spoke so pleasantly. Why would he go off and study all by himself?
Wait... Haku was a guy. Oh. Never mind, then.
"Using it only to freeze people seems like a bit of a waste. Why not try transforming it into a sharper, more lethal weapon? Or perhaps... shape it into the forms of various animals. Mm... though those would probably just look cool and not be of much actual use in combat."
Kagaya watched Haku train as he offered guidance.
In truth, it wasn't really guidance. He was just providing Haku with some ideas. Because Kagaya felt Haku's Ice Release attacks were somewhat too simplistic and one-dimensional, he wanted to give Haku more offensive options, which would allow him to be more flexible when facing enemies.
Thus, drawing on inspiration from the animated shows he'd watched in his previous life, Kagaya began offering Haku various ideas.
However, after practical testing, they found that many of them didn't work. Things like shaping ice into a dragon, a lion, or the like—while they looked incredibly cool, they were practically useless in real combat.
Turning the ice into some kind of colossal, massive sharp weapon was far more practical.
For example, shaping it into a thirty-meter greatsword. That thing would be far more ferocious than any dragon.
Of course, Haku currently didn't have the ability to create a sword that large. If he could truly create a sword of that size... then Haku would be able to wield that greatsword and clash against a fully formed Susanoo for a short while.
The sword of a fully formed Susanoo was only about sixty meters long, after all.
Haku took a step back, facing Kagaya directly. He raised both hands, and a smile surfaced on his fair, snow-white face.
"Kagaya... take a look at this. What do you think?"
Crackle, crackle... The sounds of freezing ice continuously entered Kagaya's ears. Then, rapidly, behind Haku, a brilliantly white, nearly translucent giant serpent took form. It was extraordinarily beautiful.
Kagaya rolled his eyes.
"No... didn't we already try this before? These animal-shaped constructs are only good for showing off. Their practical combat use isn't very great."
Haku smiled faintly.
"Kagaya... sense it carefully. This snake... is alive, you know."
Kagaya furrowed his brow, not understanding what Haku meant. Then, he carefully extended his senses toward that brilliantly white serpent.
Mm...
Mm???
Mm!!!
Damn!
"Are you serious?! Senjutsu?! Haku... you learned Senjutsu?! No... I only briefly mentioned Senjutsu to you before. How did you learn it?! And what is this?! Inorganic Reanimation?! Are you serious?! You learned it?!"
Kagaya completely lost his composure and shouted out loud. Learning Senjutsu was one thing... but what the hell was Inorganic Reanimation?! He himself had studied it to the point of utter despair and self-isolation. And now, someone who had started learning it after him... had actually mastered it before him?!
Haku smiled sheepishly, a little embarrassed.
"After hearing Kagaya talk about this thing called Senjutsu before... I went and secretly studied with the White Snake Sage for a while. I didn't expect... it seems my talent is actually not bad. I learned Senjutsu. And then I also learned that Inorganic Reanimation thing. Originally, I learned Inorganic Reanimation hoping it might help you, Kagaya. But after learning it... I discovered that this technique is completely impossible to describe or explain. It's just like breathing—you know you're breathing, but you can't possibly explain in detail how you're doing it. S-so... I'm terribly sorry! Kagaya... I'm so sorry... I couldn't be of any help to you either. I truly am very sorry."
Kagaya sighed.
"Alright... there's no need for you to apologize. You learned it, so you learned it. This is a good thing. It seems your Senjutsu talent is higher than mine. From now on, you should continue studying with the White Snake Sage and learn her other Senjutsu abilities. Oh, and Haku... how long does it take you to enter Sage Mode?"
Haku thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Probably... close to a minute?"
Kagaya reflexively blurted out.
"That long?!"
"Huh?!"
Haku let out a startled gasp and looked up with a face full of innocent bewilderment. He spoke cautiously.
"But... the White Snake Sage said my speed is already very fast... practically genius-level... Could it be... I was deceived?"
Kagaya fell silent. At this point, he had finally discovered what was abnormal about himself.
"No... close to a minute is indeed very fast. Don't worry about it, Haku."
Close to a minute was indeed very fast. Yet Kagaya himself could enter Sage Mode in just a few short seconds. That was why he had reflexively asked, "That long?!"
Originally, based on the White Snake Sage's and Kagaya's earlier speculation, Kagaya should have been someone with extremely high Senjutsu talent. His learning speed had only been so slow because his Sharingan had interfered. And because of that, after learning Senjutsu, his time to enter Sage Mode was very short.
But now... his complete lack of progress with Inorganic Reanimation very clearly indicated that Kagaya's Senjutsu talent truly wasn't high.
Then... a contradiction emerged. If Kagaya's Senjutsu talent wasn't high... why could he enter Sage Mode so quickly?
This shouldn't make sense. Something must be wrong somewhere.
Although this was a good thing, Kagaya still decided to ask the White Snake Sage about it again. When it came to issues regarding his own body, it was always best to clarify things as thoroughly as possible.
But there was no rush to ask immediately. For now, he would continue instructing Haku.
Afterward, through practical testing, they discovered that Haku's giant serpent, due to the incorporation of Inorganic Reanimation, could act autonomously. In other words, after releasing that Ice Release giant serpent, one could simply ignore it, and it would automatically attack enemies.
On this point alone, the value of this ninjutsu had been elevated by a huge margin.
Furthermore, this technique could also freeze the surrounding environment and create ice.
This ability, which seemed rather useless on the surface, was actually what Kagaya praised the most.
Water Release shinobi could enhance their combat power when in areas with large amounts of water. The same applied to Ice Release shinobi. As the ice surface expanded, Haku's combat effectiveness would also correspondingly, continuously increase.
Thus, this Ice Release giant serpent was a serpent that could attack autonomously while gradually increasing Haku's combat power.
Overall... it was an extremely powerful support ability.
Just as Kagaya and Haku were researching what else they could add to that giant serpent to further optimize it, Karin arrived and spoke these words:
"Kagaya... I sense the chakra of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, and another unfamiliar chakra signature. They're several kilometers ahead of us. Soon, they'll pass by our location. At that time, they should be able to sense us."
To this, Kagaya merely spoke flatly. "They're probably just passing by. Ignore them. I don't believe he'd dare come down and look for me."
Then, Karin went back.
Here, let's briefly describe what the others usually did while Kagaya was training.
As for Haku, he would occasionally come to check on Kagaya. The rest of the time, he would be training. Now, Kagaya had also learned that Haku had gone to the White Snake Sage to train in Senjutsu.
As for Karin, she came to find Kagaya the most frequently, dropping by at every opportunity. But each time, Kagaya quickly shooed her away to go train in the Adamantine Sealing Chains. So Karin was either by Kagaya's side or training her Adamantine Sealing Chains.
The last one, Ajisai, came to find Kagaya the least often. Because the area around Ryuchi Cave was an uninhabited region, it was home to many rare and exotic beasts. "Rare" was one thing, but "exotic beasts"—Ajisai was absolutely, incredibly fascinated by them. She was nowhere to be seen every single day, running around everywhere capturing summon beasts.
However, Ajisai and Karin got along quite well. Karin would also constantly keep her terrifying sensory range enveloped around Ajisai, ensuring that even if Ajisai wandered everywhere, nothing would happen to her.
As for Kagaya... it was even simpler. Before, he had been training Inorganic Reanimation nonstop every single day. Now... he had just given up on training Inorganic Reanimation and entered full-on slacker mode.
Ten minutes later.
"BWAHAHAHAHA! We meet again!"
Jiraiya laughed boisterously as he greeted Kagaya.
Haku spoke softly.
"Kagaya... didn't you say he wouldn't dare come down and find you?"
"..."
To be perfectly honest, with Kagaya's current level of strength, he truly wasn't afraid of a mere Sannin coming to pick a fight. And he genuinely didn't believe the Sannin would dare to come pick a fight with him. But... the other party apparently wasn't here to pick a fight. This was extremely awkward.
He had spoken too absolutely before. He should have said, "I don't believe he'd dare come and pick a fight with me." That would have been correct.
"Jiraiya... what are you here for? Mm... and you even brought an Anbu. Don't tell me you're here to capture me. Also... I really hate the Anbu. That Anbu beside you—either get out of my sight... or take off that Anbu mask."
Kagaya's attitude toward Jiraiya was still quite calm and even. But toward that masked Anbu... it was filled with absolute, undisguised malice and loathing. His disgust was practically plastered all over his face without any attempt to hide it.
Kagaya's experiences destined that he would never, ever feel any goodwill toward something like the Anbu.
"Uh—"
The little Anbu was badly startled. When he had seen the man before him earlier, he hadn't felt much of anything. But now, the moment this man spoke... even before the Anbu's heart could register anything, his body had already begun to weaken and tremble involuntarily. A bone-deep chill spread through him, as if an invisible, intangible hand had clamped around his throat.
I'm going to die!
Even though the Anbu still couldn't sense any chakra from the man before him... the very depths of his soul were already screaming and roaring without pause.
If I don't do as he says... I'll die! I'll definitely die!
Without a doubt!
Step!
Jiraiya took a step forward, subtly positioning himself in front of the Anbu.
"You may withdraw."
These words were directed at the Anbu.
Jiraiya had absolutely no desire to get into a conflict with Kagaya. Besides, Kagaya wasn't unreasonably demanding the Anbu's death. He had merely told the Anbu to withdraw or take off his mask. Considering Kagaya's experiences... this was actually very reasonable.
But of course, the most "reasonable" part was still that Kagaya's strength was simply far too overwhelming. That was the most reasonable aspect of all.
Otherwise, if a Genin from some other nation had spoken those words, did they really think Jiraiya would pay him any mind?
The Anbu withdrew, vanishing from Kagaya's sight.
Kagaya casually found a thick, sturdy tree root and leaned against it, sitting down.
"Alright. The eyesore is gone. So tell me... what business brings you here?"
The suffocating pressure dispersed in an instant. That was all Jiraiya could feel. Just moments ago, even though Kagaya hadn't emitted a single trace of chakra... that invisible, formless pressure had seemed as if it would collapse the very heavens and earth around them. If Jiraiya hadn't spoken up, that Anbu would probably have been paralyzed with sheer terror, frozen stiff and unable to move. And now, with that Anbu's departure, that pressure had also vanished.
The Kagaya before him had casually sat down. At this very moment, he truly resembled a harmless, ordinary youth, looking at Jiraiya with a puzzled expression.
It seems he holds no malice toward me.
This was the conclusion Jiraiya reached. This made things much easier.
"I wish to ask a favor of you."
Kagaya spoke without any surprise whatsoever. "Mm. What's the matter? If I can help... I will."
Jiraiya had brought Naruto along and saved Haku. That was something Kagaya had not forgotten. He actually held quite a bit of goodwill toward Jiraiya. Since Jiraiya had come to ask him for help... he would naturally help if he could.
Moreover, Kagaya was currently in a state of having absolutely nothing to do. Having something come up... actually made Kagaya a little happy.
Jiraiya spoke with utmost seriousness.
"I hope... you can come with me. If the Nine-Tails within Naruto erupts... I want to ask you to help suppress it."
"Ha?" Kagaya spoke with puzzlement.
"Doesn't your Leaf Village have that ma— Forget it. It's none of my business anyway. Since you're asking me... then I'll make the trip. I've got nothing else to do anyway."
In Kagaya's memory, the Leaf Village's Yamato could suppress the Nine-Tails. There was absolutely no need for them to come to him. But thinking about it... the Leaf Village must surely know their own situation better than he did. If they weren't using Yamato... there must be some consideration behind it.
Kagaya couldn't be bothered to investigate further. Since Jiraiya had come personally... it wouldn't hurt to go himself.
And besides, he'd be heading to where Naruto was anyway. He could teach Hidan a lesson while he was at it. Killing two birds with one stone.