Chapter 175: Wind Release needs rest, you should go to sleep too.
The extreme heat instantly melted and vitrified the surface layer of sand.
The pungent smell of burning and heat waves scattered in all directions.
The sand wall was scorched at a speed visible to the naked eye, forming glass mixed with a large amount of Impurities.
Large chunks of sand, burned into a charred glass-like state, kept peeling off the wall and smashing onto the roof with dull cracking sounds.
Rasa's defense against this level of Fire Release using ordinary sand was significantly less effective.
If he weren't an Edo Tensei right now, Rasa would have fled long ago.
The sand wall was rapidly thinning.
Finally, after the sand wall was mostly incinerated, barely withstanding the fiercest wave of the fire's impact, the remaining flames gradually died out.
Orochimaru took the opportunity to retreat rapidly, escaping the danger zone, appearing somewhat disheveled.
Rasa also breathed a sigh of relief and dispersed the sand wall.
He glanced at Orochimaru, who had just steadied himself beside him, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction and questioning:
"Don't get distracted! And..."
He paused, his voice lowering.
"My Gold Dust, did you take it or not?"
Previously, after Orochimaru killed Rasa, he had taken the large amount of Gold Dust that Rasa habitually used, stored in a special scroll.
This resulted in the Kazekage being forced to use ordinary sand to face his enemies in this high-end duel, his strength greatly reduced and his fighting style incredibly stifled.
As Rasa spoke, he manipulated the sand beneath his feet to form a sand cloud, lifting him into the air.
He flew to Orochimaru's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him once again to face the aggressively approaching Jiraiya, who was preparing to pounce again.
Orochimaru licked his dry lips; facing Rasa's questioning, he didn't hide anything, though his tone was somewhat helpless: "I haven't exchanged it for money yet. But..."
He glanced at Jiraiya across from them, whose Sage Art Chakra was surging, with two toads perched on his shoulders, looking for all the world like he wouldn't stop until he tore them to pieces, and his mouth twitched:
"Against the current Jiraiya, even with Gold Dust, it wouldn't be of much use, would it?"
This was the truth; Jiraiya's Sage Art Fire Release was incredibly powerful. Even Gold Dust, under such continuous high-temperature calcination, would only be melted into a giant lump of metal, which might instead become a burden.
That being said, Orochimaru still opened his mouth and spat out a sealing scroll, tossing it casually to Rasa.
Rasa reached out and caught the scroll, but his face darkened further—it was covered in Orochimaru's saliva... He naturally knew that what Orochimaru said made sense; against Fire Release of Jiraiya's level, the advantage of Gold Dust was indeed greatly countered.
But... "Hmph!"
Rasa gave a cold snort, expressing his displeasure.
Ever since he had mastered the Magnet Release: Gold Dust, he had never used ordinary sand for a formal battle.
Having grown accustomed to using gold, suddenly being forced back to using ordinary sand—that sense of frustration and awkwardness was almost unbearable!
He didn't waste any more words and directly injected Chakra into the scroll in his hand.
"Release!"
The sealing runes lit up, and the scroll automatically unfurled.
In an instant, a dazzling and brilliant golden torrent surged out of the scroll like a dam breaking.
It was a flowing river of gold, composed of countless minute particles of Gold Dust.
Under Rasa's exquisite Magnet Release control, they rapidly gathered and swirled, emitting a low rustling sound, like the most loyal soldiers surrounding him.
With the Gold Dust, Rasa's entire Aura and expression changed instantly.
The Rasa from just now, who seemed cautious because of using ordinary sand, whose offense and defense were always somewhat sluggish and who was forced to retreat while fighting, seemed to have been injected with a shot of adrenaline.
His eyes became sharp and confident, and the coldness and majesty belonging to the "Fourth Kazekage" reappeared between his brows, and he even stood a bit straighter.
The Gold Dust flowed, reflecting the light of the battle, making him look like a golden god of war.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Cube!"
Rasa cupped his hands slightly, his mind moving.
Wanting to comfort, yet not knowing from what standpoint
Listening to you talk, watching you cry until your hair is wet~
I have received my punishment~
The swirling torrent of Gold Dust instantly condensed and deformed, assembling in front of him into a massive and heavy golden cube, with sharp edges and a texture that radiated indestructibility.
The Kazekage who barely managed to parry with ordinary sand had left the stage; now, it was the turn of the Shadow of Gold Dust!
Command blocks take the lead; even if three thousand come, it's still this move!
Facing the Gold Dust Cube, Jiraiya chose to respond directly with a Rasengan infused with Sage Art Chakra.
Jiraiya still remembered the scene during the Second Ninja World War when Orochimaru said they should leave him behind.
At that time, Tsunade was desperately trying to save him, and he flashed a peace sign at Orochimaru.
How could he not know the importance of a Medical Ninja?
At that time, they were facing enemies on multiple fronts, and the Village's medical pressure was already high; training Medical Ninja at the hardest moment of the war was completely unrealistic.
Because at that time, even the school teachers who weren't good at fighting had gone to the battlefield; he had gone to persuade Tsunade after the meeting to let her slow down.
The Old Man at the time also realized this problem, so after Tsunade left, he still spent a large amount of resources to build up a medical unit between the Second and Third Wars.
He had indeed spent his life missing out, but today he had rushed back.
No matter who the opponent was, if they wanted to destroy Hidden Leaf Village, they would have to step over Jiraiya's corpse!
This time, it was time to give Orochimaru a Rasengan.
Today, Jiraiya only wanted to kill the opponent or be killed by them.
Having lived in this world for fifty years and traversed the Ninja World for thirty, today was the moment Jiraiya most wanted to die on the battlefield.
Even when facing Hanzou before, Jiraiya wanted to live, but today... perhaps, The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya should come to an end!
Moonlight falls and crows cry through the frosty sky~
A thousand miles to Jiangling, returned in a single day~
Let not the golden goblet stand empty under the moon~~
"Rasengan!"
The blue light illuminated Jiraiya's horizontal pupils; there wasn't a trace of attachment to life in his eyes, only the calmness of facing an enemy.
——————————
Naruto withdrew his gaze from the intense Kage-level duel on the roof and the perilous situation where the Third Hokage was struggling against two Edo Tensei legends.
He didn't seem particularly worried about the life and death of Jiraiya and the Third Hokage.
His gaze fell upon the chaotic battlefield below.
There, the Sunagakure's leading Jonin, Baki, had somehow broken through the Konoha Ninja's obstruction and found Gaara, who was tightly bound by the Wood Prison Technique and had fallen into a deep sleep.
Baki was using Wind Release Ninjutsu to laboriously cut through the tough Wood Release restraints, attempting to rescue Gaara.
Naruto frowned slightly.
Gaara's mission as the One tail Jinchuriki was already complete.
Let the kid sleep for a while.
But Baki obviously didn't think so.
As the commander of this Sunagakure operation and Gaara's teacher, his duty drove him to rescue Gaara.
The Konoha Crush Plan also needed Shukaku's power.
"This guy Baki... he's actually going to wake him up."
He needed to go down and handle it.
He couldn't let Baki take Gaara away.
Thinking of this, Naruto turned to Uzumaki Kushina, who had just obtained her "Autonomous Edo Tensei" state and was eager to help.
Naruto said, "...Go behind the Hokage Rock."
Kushina was startled, the excitement and Battle Intent on her face instantly turning into confusion: "Eh? But Naruto, I want to help you fight too!"
Naruto shook his head and explained, "I have two friends behind the Hokage Rock, and one of my Shadow Clones is looking after them.
I can handle things here; they need you more over there."
He paused, his voice softening a bit: "There's a red-haired girl from the Uzumaki Clan I found there; her name is Karin."
Naruto's words made Kushina understand instantly.
Uzumaki Clan... red-haired girl... clansman... these words held extraordinary meaning for her.
"Compared to the chaotic battle here, she needs someone's company and protection more, needs an... elder like you to soothe her and tell her everything will be alright."
Naruto looked into his mother's eyes and said seriously, "Moreover, although my Shadow Clone can keep her safe, there are some things... only a true elder can give."
Kushina fell silent.
Her current strength was very weak; only her Sealing Jutsu could be of use.
Since Naruto said he could handle it here, he definitely could.
She nodded vigorously, a warm and firm smile reappearing on her face: "I understand, Naruto, go ahead with peace of mind. Leave this to Mom!
No... leave the area behind the Hokage Rock to Mom, I will definitely take good care of them!"
She glanced at the distant battle between Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and the others, then her gaze returned to Naruto, her eyes full of trust: "Be careful yourself!"
After saying that, she no longer hesitated, turned around, and sped towards the Hokage Rock, her figure quickly disappearing over the edge of the roof.
After sending Kushina away, Naruto refocused his attention below.
He lightly drew his wooden sword, his gaze locking onto Baki, who had finally cut through the last vine and was dragging the unconscious Gaara out of the Wood Release restraint.
"Alright, game time is over."
Naruto said softly, his figure flickering and disappearing from the top of the Wood Person's head.
The next moment, he appeared like a ghost in front of Baki, raising his wooden sword with his right hand.
"Gaara needs rest, you should go to sleep too."
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